(EnergyAsia, October 20) — Australia’s Origin Energy Resources Limited said it has it has received an updated schedule for the completion of repairs to the offshore accommodation vessel, “Safe Concordia”, for use in the Bass Straits gas (BassGas) development project. Origin is the operator for the BassGas project. Origin said the revised schedule of repairs...

(EnergyAsia, October 20) — New Zealand’s Contact Energy Limited said it has completed the sale of its 40% interest in the Valley Power Peaker Station in Victoria, Australia to Snowy Hydro Limited, an Australian generator and retailer of electricity. Contact announced the sale in conjunction with the co-owner of Valley Power, International Power and Mitsui...

(EnergyAsia, October 20) — Energy ministers at the seventh Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Gyeongju, Korea this week have issued a statement pledging to seek solutions to alleviate pressure on the regional economy caused by sustained high energy prices.             While APEC energy ministers usually meet every two years, the statement said this second...

(EnergyAsia, October 20) — The Abu Dhabi Oil Refining Company (Takreer) has announced plans to invest US$4 billion to build a 300,000 b/d oil refinery in Fujairah. The refinery will produce mostly high-value oil products like gasoline and diesel, reported the Khaleej Times.   “Takreer chose Fujairah for its convenient location and also because it...

(EnergyAsia, October 20) — Royal Dutch Sell will open its first retail fuel station in Indonesia next month, according ANTARA news agency. The station is located in Karawaci, Tangerang in Banten province.   “After opening its first station in Karawaci, Shell will also build another gas station in Warung Buncit, South Jakarta,” said Tubagus Haryono,...

(EnergyAsia, October 19) — The Pandacan oil depot will be allowed to continue its operations in Manila city if its owners obtain approval from the central government. The Philippines’ three main oil companies – Petron Corp, Caltex Philippines and Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp – operate the depot.   Business World has reported that the city...

(EnergyAsia, October 19) — More than 200 high-level officials from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) have begun a three-day conference in South Korea since Tuesday to discuss high oil prices and a shortage of raw materials. Officials from the 21 member countries are in the southeastern city of Gyeongju to focus on cooperation on energy...

(EnergyAsia, October 18) — Singapore’s SembCorp Marine said its subsidiary PPL Shipyard has completed its full takeover of Sabine Industries Inc. (SII) and its subsidiaries Sabine Offshore Services, Inc (SOSI) and Sabine Shipyards, Inc (SSI) and a 25% equity interest in Sabine Vessels Inc (SVI) for a total of US$6.4 million. The valuation is based...

(EnergyAsia, October 19) — Sri Lanka’s Shipping Ministry has awarded a US$87 million tender to a Chinese engineering firm to build the proposed Hambantota oil tank farm and bunkering facility. China Huanqiu Contracting & Engineering Corp (HQCEC) is expected to break ground next month on the construction of 10 storage tanks and four pipelines as...

(EnergyAsia, October 19) — Hassan Marican, the CEO and President of Malaysian state oil and gas company Petronas, has resigned as chairman and director of retail subsidiary Petronas Dagangan. Non-executive director Anuar   Ahmad has been named as chairman of Petronas Dagangan. The company did not give any reason for the personnel moves.   Separately,...

(EnergyAsia, October 18) — ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Malaysia Inc (EMEPMI), a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corp, said it is installing a US$280 million gas compression platform at the Guntong E in the South China Sea. The company said Guntong E marks the first phase of the Guntong Hub development that will boost Peninsular Malaysia...

(EnergyAsia, October 19) — Dubai-based Kampac Oil Middle East is interested to list its shares on the stock exchanges of New York and Dubai, reported the Khaleej Times. The assets to be floated include Kampac’s 85% stake in several oil and gas exploration blocks in Senegal, which the company believes are valued at more than...

(EnergyAsia, October 19) — Nasdaq-listed China Energy Savings Technology, Inc (CES), a leading provider of energy saving products in China, said that its wholly-owned Chinese subsidiary Shenzhen Dicken Technology Development Ltd. (SDTD), has signed a distribution agreement with Emerson Network Energy Co Ltd, a subsidiary of Emerson Electric Company, that will allow CES to distribute...

(EnergyAsia, October 19) — Independent MP Nick Xenophon has accused the South Australian state government and Energy Minister Patrick Conlon of failing to heed warnings of low gasoline supplies issued by a special government task force in February 2004. The issue became political early this month when South Australia was found to be down to...

(EnergyAsia, October 19) — Vietnam’s Pha Rung Shipbuilding Co has signed a contract to build five oil and chemical tankers worth a total of more than US$55 million for South Korea’s Fortune Marine Co. This is Vietnam’s first ship supply contract to South Korea, the Quang Ninh based-firm told Vietnam News Agency.   In July,...

(EnergyAsia, October 18) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Il said Russian investors are helping to upgrade his country’s Sungri oil refinery and the Kim Chak metallurgical plant, reported Russian news service Itar-Tass.   The report cited Konstantin Pulikovsky, Russia’s representative in the Far Eastern Federal District, as its source after he held a two-hour...

(EnergyAsia, October 18) — Second wave of suicide bombings in Bali. Mysterious packages delivered to embassies in Kuala Lumpur. What’s next? Potential facility sabotage, breach of information security in Singapore or an attack on the island’s oil, gas and power infrastructure?   Government officials in Singapore are taking the threat of terrorism seriously. The SMRT...

(EnergyAsia, October 18) — Oil pricing media Platts has appointed Jimmy Ang as director of oil market reporting for Asia. Mr Ang last worked for Bloomberg and was with the Singapore Exchange before that. New Zealand’s Contact Energy has appointed David Hunt as its new chief executive from October 1. He replaced Steve Barrett, who...

(EnergyAsia, October 18) — Wangkanai Group, Thailand’s leading sugar miller, is investing about 500 million baht to raise sugar output by two kg for every tonne of sugarcane crushed to 106-107 kg. (US$1=40 baht).   The company’s senior director, Tip Rojanakit, said it will also invest 370 million baht to build two new power plants...

(EnergyAsia, October 18) — The following is the edited text of the opening speech by Yaacob Ibrahim, Singapore’s Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, at the opening ceremony of the World Hydrogen Technology Convention in Singapore early this month. The event was organised by the Nanyang Technological University and its R&D subsidiary, the Institute...

(EnergyAsia, October 18) — The 4,000-km Xinjiang-Lanzhou pipeline for crude and oil products is almost completed, said the China Petroleum and Natural Gas Pipeline Bureau which managed the project.             The pipeline starts in Urumqi, the capital of China’s westernmost Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and runs for nearly 4,000 km to end in Lanzhou, the...

(EnergyAsia, October 18) — Malaysia should develop its biodiesel industry for export to Europe as it is more profitable than selling it to the domestic market where it must compete against subsidised diesel, said local analyst OSK Research Sdn Bhd.   In a research note, OSK said: “For companies to break even or make a...

(EnergyAsia, October 18) — France’s AREVA T&D said it has just won a contract with the Guangdong Pumped Storage Co. Ltd (GPSC) for the construction of a gas-insulated substation in Huizhou in southern China.             Under the contract, AREVA T&D will build a gas-insulated substation comprising eight 550 kV T155-type switchgear bays. The substation will...

(EnergyAsia, October 18) — BP Marine has started up a $15 million bunker fuel storage facility at Salalah Port in southern Oman. The facility, comprising five fuel oil tanks with a total capacity of 88,000 metric tonnes and a 500 metric tonne gas oil tank, doubles up the company’s storage capacity at the port.  ...

(EnergyAsia, October 17) — India’s petroleum ministry has announced that effective January 2006, state-owned oil marketing companies will have to purchase bio-diesel at Rs 25 a litre. (US$1=Rs45).   According to Business Standard newspaper, the fixed price will be valid for six months. It will be inclusive of any taxes and duties and transportation cost...