(EnergyAsia, April 18) — The Indonesian government has approved the proposed development of the Oyong oil and gas field by a consortium led by Australian upstream company Santos Limited. The project is Santos’ first operated offshore oil and gas development in Indonesia. The Oyong field is located in the Sampang Production Sharing Contract area in...

(EnergyAsia, April 15) — ChevronTexaco Corp said its Nigerian subsidiary has awarded the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract totaling $1.7 billion for the Escravos gas-to-liquids (EGTL) project in Nigeria.   The owners of EGTL, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), with 25% equity, and Chevron Nigeria Ltd (CNL), a subsidiary of ChevronTexaco with 75%...

(EnergyAsia, April 15) — Hong Kong-listed upstream company CNOOC Limited said it has agreed to pay C$150 million for a 16.69% stake in Canada’s based oil sands producer, MEG Energy Corp. (US$1=C$1.2). CNOOC said the deal representing 13,636,364 common shares of MEG was signed by wholly owned subsidiary CNOOC Belgium BVBA.   Calgary-based MEG is...

(EnergyAsia, April 15) — Vietnam’s Prime Minister Phan Van Khai has officially opened the country’s largest power complex comprising five thermo-power plants with a total capacity of 2,260MW at Phu My in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau. The five facilities, Phu My Power plants No 1, No 2.1, and No 4, plus the...

(EnergyAsia, April 15) — Pakistan’s State Bank has predicted that oil products import could decline in the first half of the year as the country increased its use of hydro-generated electricity as a result of higher rainfall. The increased operation of an oil refinery by Bosicor Pakistan Limited which started up last July will also...

(EnergyAsia, April 15) — A study prepared by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has recommended the construction of an oil refinery and storage infrastructure as part of a multi-purpose port and dry dock complex envisaged at Oman’s Duqm on the Al Wusta coast. According to the Oman News Agency (ONA), the proposal is one...

(EnergyAsia, April 15) — Oman has announced that it will jointly develop the Hinjam gas field with Iran, noting that the first exploratory well will be dug in forthcoming July.       In a statement to Oman News Agency (ONA), Nassir bin Khamis al Ghashmi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Oil and Gas, said that a...

(EnergyAsia, April 15) — Research house MayBan Securities said it continues to hold an upbeat on the Malaysian oil and gas sector.   In its latest research report, it said: “We expect more award of contracts for the Kikeh deepwater block until the end of the year. Recall that the Kikeh deepwater block was explored...

(EnergyAsia, April 15) — Saudi Aramco is interested in taking a stake in Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd’s Vizag refinery in Andhra Pradesh state in exchange for the Indian state-owned firm acquiring equity in the Saudi oil firm’s proposed refinery on the Red Sea, according to the Press Trust of India. “We have reached an in-principle...

(EnergyAsia, April 15) — To date, more than 100 participants have registered for the forthcoming peak oil event, the ASPO Conference, in Lisbon, Portugal on May 19 to 20. The ‘International Workshop On Oil and Gas Depletion’ conference , focusing on oil depletion and its impact on society, will likely attract extensive media coverage amid...

(EnergyAsia, April 15) — A ship containing a cargo of experimental nuclear fuel made from weapons-grade plutonium arrived in the US early this week after a 4,000-mile round trip to France and back. The cargo, the first of its kind to be brought into the US, was taken from US military plutonium stocks, shipped across...

(EnergyAsia, April 14) — Sinolink Worldwide Holdings Limited will sell its entire holding of 550.79 million shares of Panva Gas to Enerchina Holdings Limited, a move all three Hong Kong-listed companies said is aimed at improving shareholder value. The deal is worth HK$3.30 a share of a total of HK$1.75 billion. (US$1=HK$7.79).   The shares...

(EnergyAsia, April 14) — Wood Group ESP, a subsidiary of international energy services company John Wood Group PLC, has appointed Paul Cook to the new position of Indonesia sales manager, with responsibility for developing new business opportunities in the country.   Mr Cook brings to his new position 13 years of international experience in the...

(EnergyAsia, April 14) — A landmark study released earlier this month said that approximately 60% of the ecosystem services that support life on Earth — such as fresh water, capture fisheries, air and water regulation, and the regulation of regional climate, natural hazards and pests — are being degraded or used unsustainably. Scientists warn that...

(EnergyAsia, April 14) — Malaysian state oil and gas company Petronas said its wholly owned upstream subsidiary, Petronas Carigali (Pakistan) Ltd, has begun producing natural gas from the Rehmat field in Block 2769-4 (Mubarak) in Pakistan’s Sindh Province.   It started supplying processed gas to Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Ltd’s Sawan-Qadirpur trunk line through a...

(EnergyAsia, April 14) — China National Offshore Oil Corp has announced its intention to speed up the development of approved liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects in China to meet faster-than-expected demand for natural gas, according to the Hong Kong Standard.   China’s leading offshore oil producer and leading LNG developer plans to expand the capacity...

(EnergyAsia, April 14) — Despite widespread and destructive flooding in 2004, Bangladesh’s economy is expected to grow at 5.3% this year, slightly lower than last year’s level, according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The Asian Development Outlook 2005 (ADO), the annual ADB flagship publication that forecasts economic trends in the region, said the adverse...

(EnergyAsia, April 14) — On the occasion of the recent 21st Worldwide Battery, Hybrid and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Symposium in Monaco, the French Propane and Butane Federation (CFBP) and the World Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association (WLPGA) showcased a new prototype hybrid electric passenger vehicle engineered to run on clean LPG or autogas.             RM...

(EnergyAsia, April 14) — Shell Gas Lanka Ltd (SGLL) is providing grants toits retailers and dealers on the southern coastline of Sri Lanka worst affected by last December’s killer tsunami. According to Daily News, the grant, which includes cylinders and LPG accessories worth Rs 1 million, will help these dealers resume their livelihood. (US$1=Rs98).  ...

(EnergyAsia, April 14) — Despite high oil prices and the devastating tsunami, developing countries in Asia will experience robust growth in 2005 and continue a healthy expansion in 2006-2007, said an Asian Development Bank (ADB) in a major report.   ADB’s flagship annual economic publication, Asian Development Outlook (ADO), predicted the region’s economy will expand...

(EnergyAsia, April 14) — Thai Petroleum Pipeline Co (Thappline) is preparing to invest 100 million baht to develop its ethanol-mixed fuel business. (US$1=38 baht).   According to the Bangkok Post, Jakchai Barlee, newly appointed managing director of Thappline, believes there is a business opportunity from the government’s policy of replacing methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE),...

(EnergyAsia, April 13) — ChevronTexaco Corporation said The Western Australian Energy Research Alliance (WAERA) and ChevronTexaco Australia Pty Ltd have agreed to undertake petroleum industry research, technology development, and education and training projects. The work from the strategic alliance is expected to benefit ChevronTexaco’s Australian and worldwide operations.             The agreement was signed last week...

(EnergyAsia, April 13) — Australian upstream company Essential Petroleum Resources has announced that it has agreed to acquire a 20% interest in petroleum exploration licence PEL 27 in the Otway Basin from Beach Petroleum Limited.   PEL 27 covers 240 sq km of the north western flank of the Penola Trough, a proven petroleum system....

(EnergyAsia, April 13) — “Negative community perceptions” towards the oil industry are compromising growth in Australia’s wealth and setting the stage for a blow-out in the current account balance, according to an industry lobby group.             “The incorrect perceptions of the oil and gas industry Ð and related government policy – must quickly change if...

(EnergyAsia, April 13) — The Thai government will begin subsidising ethanol-mixed gasoline, also known as gasohol, from April 16 to keep it 1.50 baht cheaper than octane-95 gasoline, the Energy Ministry has announced. (US$1=39 baht).   Cherdpong Sirivit, the Energy Ministry’s permanent secretary, said the subsidy was aimed at encouraging users of octane-95 gasoline to...