SINGAPORE: Keppel builds US$95 million accommodation platform for use in offshore oil use

(EnergyAsia, Feb 24) — Singapore’s Keppel Offshore & Marine Limited (Keppel O&M) and Sweden’s JCE Group (JCE) have invested in a US$95 million semi-submersible accommodation platform in anticipation of expected strong demand for such offshore supporting units.   Based on Keppel O&M’s proprietary design, the platform is being built by Keppel FELS Ltd and will...

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BIOFUELS: Adelaide buses and trains to be powered by biodiesel from March

(EnergyAsia, Feb 24) — As its contribution to combat global warming, the Australian state of Adelaide will use 5%-biodiesel to power all its metropolitan trains and diesel buses from March 1. The fuel will be made from mustard seed, canola oil and recycled cooking oil.             Premier Mike Rann said 535 of the state’s 810-bus...

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INDIA: Biofuels to be part of Hyderabad Biotech Park’s research efforts

(EnergyAsia, Feb 24) — Biofuels will be area of research at the Shapoorji Pallonji Biotechnology Park near Hyderabad in India. The state’s chief minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, announced a list of other biotech activities in revealing that the construction of the park’s third phase would start on March 31. Speaking to participants at a recent...

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BIOFUELS: UK’s D1 to develop biodiesel for Saudi Arabia

(EnergyAsia, Feb 24) — A listed British company, D1 Oils, and a Saudi Arabian company, Jazeera For Modern Technology, have entered into a joint venture to develop biodiesel for use in the world’s biggest crude exporter.   The fuel is to be produced from plantations of jatropha trees on land that used to be desert,...

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THAILAND: Diesel price up sharply as government surprises with subsidy cuts

(EnergyAsia, Feb 24) — The Thai government has made a surprise move to cut fuel subsidies, causing retail diesel cost to rise 0.60 baht to 15.19 baht per litre at the pump on Tuesday (Feb22). (US$1=38 baht). Until early this month, there were still doubts that Bangkok would hold back on threats to slash fuel...

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SINGAPORE: PCS to expand cracker capacity, build a metathesis plant on Jurong Island

(EnergyAsia, Feb 24) — Petrochemical Corporation of Singapore Pte Ltd (PCS) will be building a metathesis plant for the production of propylene as well as debottlenecking one of its two cracker complexes. PCS is a joint venture between Sumitomo Chemical Company-led Japan-Singapore Petrochemicals Company Limited and Shell Eastern Petroleum (Pte) Ltd, a unit of the...

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AUSTRALIA: Two new appointments to Santos Board

(EnergyAsia, Feb 24) — Australian upstream company Santos Limited has announced the appointment of Kenneth Dean and Christopher Recny to its board of directors.             Mr Dean, 52, has extensive financial experience in the international petroleum industry and is CEO of Shell Financial Services for Shell International in London. During his 30 year career with...

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INDIA: GAIL and Canada’s Ergo to jointly develop coal gasification pilot projects

(EnergyAsia, Feb 24) — Indian gas company GAIL and Canada’s Ergo Exergy Technologies Inc are jointly working to develop and implement several commercial in-situ coal lignite gasification projects in India.   They have begun discussion with the state government of Rajasthan to build a pilot project in Barmer town to produce gas from coal to...

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RUSSIA: Sakhalin Energy ‘commends’ IUCN report for contribution to studying impact of phase II p

(EnergyAsia, Feb 23) — Sakhalin Energy has commended the Independent Scientific Review Panel, convened by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) for its contribution in studying the impacts of Sakhalin II Phase 2 on western gray whales. The challenge that the report highlights is that ‘anticipation and avoidance of potential risks to the population is essential’...

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AZERBAIJAN: Oil production inaugurated at the Azeri-Chirag-Deepwater Gunashli field

(EnergyAsia, Feb 23) — A ceremony was held last week to mark the start-up of crude oil production at the Central Azeri platform at the Azeri-Chirag-Deepwater Gunashli field. Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev inaugurated the ceremony that was attended by David Woodward, president of the Azerbaijan International Operating Company, Natig Aliyev, president of the State Oil...

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JAPAN: Company announcements by Nippon Oil, Mitsui & Co, Teikoku Oil

(EnergyAsia, Feb 23) — Nippon Petroleum Refining (NPR), the oil refining unit of Nippon Oil Corporation, is planning to build a new facility for lubricant and grease production at its refinery in Yokohama. NPR said it has applied for a Kanagawa Prefecture’s facility reorganisation subsidy programme that was implemented in November 2004. Nippon Oil will...

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THAILAND:Bangkok approves biodiesel promotion plan

(EnergyAsia, Feb 23) — The Thai Cabinet has approved a biodiesel development and utilisation promotion plan proposed by the Energy Ministry aimed at encouraging the production and use of diesel with a 10% palm oil content within the next seven years.             “The ministry plans to achieve the goal in seven years but I do...

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INDIA: Joint venture company to build first bio-diesel plant

(EnergyAsia, Feb 23) — India will soon have its first bio-diesel plant, a Rs1.39 billion joint venture project to be set up by Natural Bio-Energy with Austria’s Energia GmdH at the Kakinada Special Economic Zone (KSEZ). The 300 tons/day integrated plant would be set up in the port town of Kakinada. KSEZ is being jointly...

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INDONESIA: Official says proven oil reserves to last only 12 years

(EnergyAsia, Feb 23) — Indonesia has only 12 years of proven oil reserves at the current production rate of 1 million barrels/day, said a government official. According to Hardy Prasetyo, a deputy chairman in a state fuel oil committee, Indonesia’s proven oil reserves now stand at 4.82 billion barrels. Indonesia has been unable to attract...

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MALAYSIA: Petronas-Shell joint venture makes third successive discovery

(EnergyAsia, Feb 23) — CS Mutiara Petroleum Sdn Bhd, an equal joint venture company between Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd and Shell Exploration and Production Malaysia B.V., has made another significant gas discovery in Block PM301, off the northeast coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Petronas Carigali is the upstream subsidiary of Malaysian state oil and gas company...

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THAILAND: Korean company awarded US$280-million pipeline contract

(EnergyAsia, Feb 23) — Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries Co Ltd (HHI) has won a US$280-million contract to build the a gas pipeline project for Thailand’s PTT Public Company Ltd (PTT). Hyundai will undertake the engineering, installation and commissioning for laying of the 606km-long sub-sea pipelines for delivering gas produced from the Malaysia-Thailand Joint Development Area...

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THAILAND: PTT to supply crude to Bangchak

(EnergyAsia, Feb 23) — Thailand’s state oil company PTT has clinched a deal to supply Baht65 billion worth of crude oil to Bangchak Petroleum over the next five years, The Bangkok Post reported (US$1=Baht39.5).   PTT president Prasert Bunsumpun was quoted as saying that the supply deal will benefit Thailand’s economy by reducing the need...

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INDIA: Strategy to use Iran, China to access Caspian oil and gas

(EnergyAsia, Feb 23) — India is looking at using Iran and China to access oil and gas in Central Asian nations like Kazakhstan where its flagship firms are pitching for stake in oilfields and setting up gas processing and petrochemical plants, according to the Press Trust of India. Changing its strategy, New Delhi is now...

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JAPAN: China asked again on East China Sea gas project

(EnergyAsia, Feb 23) — The Japanese government has renewed its demand that China provide information on its natural gas development projects in the East China Sea, which lie close to Japan’s exclusive economic zone, economic minister Shoichi Nakagawa said. According to the Japan Times, he said it is “highly likely” that natural gas fields on...

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AUSTRALIA: Antares Energy says Oklahoma gas field ready to start up

(EnergyAsia, Feb 23) — Australian upstream company Antares Energy said its Ellis County gas wells in Oklahoma state in the US will soon begin production after the completion of the pipeline connections linking the well to the regional line.             Antares said the connections have been tested and are ready to start up. The company...

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AUSTRALIA: Queensland stepping up ethanol blending

(EnergyAsia, Feb 22) — Australia’s Queensland state is increasing the number of retail stations selling ethanol-blended gasoline. Acording to The Australian newspaper, the state will have another 17 outlets selling gasoline with a 10% ethanol content, bringing the total to 27 outlets. Queensland has mandated that gasoline sold in the state must be ethanol-blended Queensland...

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THAILAND: NEC turns down Prachin Buri’s ethanol proposal

(EnergyAsia, Feb 22) — Thailand’s National Ethanol Council (NEC) has rejected Picnic Ethanol Co’s plans to build a 500,000 litres/day ethanol plant in Prachin Buri due to a raw material shortage there, according to the Bangkok Post.             NEC said it fears that there is insufficient supply of cassava for use as feedstock for the...

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INDONESIA: Minister insists country is still a net oil exporter

(EnergyAsia, Feb 22) — Indonesian authorities insist that the country is still a net exporter of oil, refuting claims that it has become a net importer, Antara news agency reported.             Indonesia’s Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro was quoted as telling Parliament that the country remains a net exporter. He said Indonesia is...

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INDIA: Calls for joint strategy with China, proposes Asian gas grid

(EnergyAsia, Feb 22) — India’s Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar is championing greater co-operation with China in their respective search for oil and gas assets around the world. He has also made a surprise call for a proposed gas pipeline linking Iran and Pakistan to be extended to China, a move aimed at enhancing the...

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INDIA: Refiners will miss 1 April Euro-III deadline

(EnergyAsia, Feb 22) — India’s refiners will not be able to meet the 1 April the deadline to introduce Euro-III grade fuel in the country, Business Standard reported. The new standards will require that sulphur content in gasoline will be cut to 0.015%, from 0.05% now, while the octane number will be hiked to 91...

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