(EnergyAsia, January 25) — The rise of China and India presents both a potential crisis and an opportunity, leading the world towards either growing ecological and political instability or a development path based on efficient technologies and better stewardship of resources.   “Rising demand for energy, food, and raw materials by 2.5 billion Chinese and...

(EnergyAsia, January 25) — China National Nuclear Corp (CNNC), Guangdong Electric Power Design Institute (GEDI) and other firms have signed the design contracts for the Ling’ao phase II nuclear project in Guangdong province, China Daily reported.        Two CNNC owned nuclear engineering institutes will design two reactors for the second phase of the project at...

(EnergyAsia, January 25) — India’s 17-state-owned refineries operated at record utilisation rates last year. Last October, the 17 plants reported throughputs of 106.5% of 8-million tonne/year nameplate capacity, compared to 98.3% in October 2004.             Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) refinery in Mumbai reported the highest throughput of 169.6% of capacity in October The refinery has...

(EnergyAsia, January 25) — The northwestern Chinese city of Xi’an has told businesses, offices, schools and residents to keep their indoor temperatures between 16 and 20 degrees Celsius to help save natural gas, Xinhua reported.   Xi’an, the capital of Shaanxi province, has been hard hit by a natural gas supply shortfall in past months....

(EnergyAsia, January 25) — China National Nuclear Corp (CNNC), Guangdong Electric Power Design Institute (GEDI) and other firms have signed the design contracts for the Ling’ao phase II nuclear project in Guangdong province, China Daily reported.             Two CNNC owned nuclear engineering institutes will design two reactors for the second phase of the project at...

(EnergyAsia, January 25) — Finland’s W’rtsil’ Corporation said it has been awarded two contracts to supply natural gas-fuelled W’rtsil’ 50DF engines for two captive power plants in Pakistan. The 50DF is the most powerful dual-fuel engine on the market today and provides for high-efficiency power generation from natural gas. The two contracted plants will have...

(EnergyAsia, January 25) — Singapore’s Keppel FELS Limited (Keppel FELS) has delivered ENSCO 107, a KFELS B Class design jackup drilling rig, to ENSCO International Inc (ENSCO) one month ahead of contractual schedule and within budget. Guests-of-Honour S. Dhanabalan, chairman of Temasek Holdings Pte Limited and Lim Chee Onn, executive chairman of Keppel Corporation Limited,...

(EnergyAsia, January 25) — Singapore’s Keppel FELS Limited (Keppel FELS) has delivered ENSCO 107, a KFELS B Class design jackup drilling rig, to ENSCO International Inc (ENSCO) one month ahead of contractual schedule and within budget. Guests-of-Honour S. Dhanabalan, chairman of Temasek Holdings Pte Limited and Lim Chee Onn, executive chairman of Keppel Corporation Limited,...

(EnergyAsia, January 25) — The Australian Gas Light Company (AGL) said it has finalised an agreement with Oil Search Limited for the acquisition of a 10% interest in the Papua New Guinea Gas Project for around US$400 million including interests in gas and oil reserves, production and processing infrastructure. An initial payment of about 90%...

(EnergyAsia, January 25) — The city of Lanzhou in China’s Gansu province has been selected as the site for an UN-backed international centre to promote solar energy, Xinhua reported.             The centre will be built with support from the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO). Beijing will contribute US$18.5 million for the project.             There...

(EnergyAsia, January 24) — “Our global civilisation today is on an economic path that is environmentally unsustainable, a path that is leading us toward economic decline and eventual collapse,” said Lester Brown in his latest book, “Plan B 2.0: Rescuing a Planet Under Stress and a Civilization in Trouble.”   “Environmental scientists have been saying...

(EnergyAsia, January 24) — Cantor Fitzgerald Brokerage, L.P., an affiliate of US-based Cantor Fitzgerald LP, and a leading environmental brokerage, has announced that it has hired Spencer Vosko as a manager to run its crude oil, refined products and natural gas brokerage desks.   Mr Vosko reports to Haroon Imtiaz, vice president of Cantor Fitzgerald’s...

(EnergyAsia, January 24) — Engineering giant GE said its oil and gas unit has been selected as an equipment supplier for the expansion of China’s West-East gas pipeline project, one of the country’s most critical infrastructure projects. Under a contract worth more than US$196 million, GE will provide gas turbines, compressors and installation services for...

(Energy Asia, January 24) — Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL), which manages a financial aid programme for the Bangladeshi government’s Economic Relations Division (ERD), and KfW of Germany have agreed to implement a renewable energy programme.   KfW will provide EUR16.5 million to the Bangladesh government as a grant. IDCOL will use the fund to...

(Energy Asia, January 24) — Vietnam attracted US$5.8 billion in foreign direct investments (FDI) last year, the highest in eight years, said the ministry of planning and investment (MPI).   Nearly $4 billion came from 771 newly licensed FDI projects while the remainder were additional investment injected into existing projects, according to the Vietnam News...

(EnergyAsia, January 24) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has appointed Bindu Lohani as special advisor on clean energy and environment. Mr Lohani reports to the ADB president, reflecting the increasing importance of energy and environment on development in the Asia Pacific region.   Mr Lohani will concurrently continue to serve as director general and...

(EnergyAsia, January 24) — Austral Pacific said it has appointed two new directors to its board from January 1 2006. They are former Shell executive Douglas Ellenor of Vancouver, BC, Canada and former BP executive Peter Hill of London, UK.   The addition of Mr Ellenor and Mr Hill strengthens the board’s experience in the...

(EnergyAsia, January24) — Suntech, the world’s largest solar power firm, will set aside US$20 million over the next two years to bankroll the research and development of new technologies, the China Daily has reported.   CEO Shi Zhengrong expressed their interest to design new technology solutions to increase the amount of power produced from each...

(EnergyAsia, January 24) — Thailand’s state-owned Bangchak Petroleum Plc will no longer sell premium or octane 95 gasoline in Bangkok and nearby provinces from June as it achieves early compliance with the government’s campaign to halt the use of such fuel.   The fuel would be replaced by gasohol, or ethanol-blended gasoline, at all its...

(EnergyAsia, January 24) — EnviroMission Limited, a publicly listed power company in Australia, has announced plans to build the world’s first large-scale solar thermal power facility at Buronga in the Wentworth Shire of New South Wales.   Melbourne-based EnviroMission said it will build five solar tower power stations, each of 200MW capacity to power 200,000...

(Energy Asia, January 23) — The Iranian government plans to build oil refineries to process heavy crude oil from several oil fields including Sorush, Noruz, and the Abadan-based Azadegan and Yadavaran fields, said Asadollah Mikaili, an official from the National Iranian Oil Products Refining and Distribution Company (NIOPRDC).   Each plant would have a production...

(EnergyAsia, January 23) — China has started complaining about continuing delays in the development of Pakistan’s Gwadar deep sea port project. The port is key to China’s strategic interest as it opens a sea route for its westernmost landlocked province, Xinjiang.   Gawdar’s inauguration will not take place in June as scheduled due to construction...

(Energy Asia, January 23) — Vietnam’s Dung Quat economic zone is set to attract a number of key industries following the start of construction of a US$2.5 billion oil refinery last November. Already, the central coastal province has attracted infrastructure investments worth more than VND2.2 trillion (US$1=15,000 dong). Officials expect investment figure to exceed exceed...

(EnergyAsia, January 23) — China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and Russia’s Gazprom are planning to build an underground gas storage facility at the Renqiu oil field, SinoCast reported.   The two majors have already signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to conduct a project feasibility study.   Renqiu is an ideal site for a gas...

(EnergyAsia, January 23) — Woodside Natural Gas Inc has announced plans to seek approval for an offshore sea-to-land pipeline that would bring a new secure supply of affordable natural gas to California, the US. The company is a unit of Australia upstream company Woodside Energy Ltd.   The project, known as OceanWay, would use safe,...