CLIMATE CHANGE: Greenpeace says World Heritage sites threatened by Bush’s ignorance

(EnergyAsia, March 24) — “Ignore the Bush Administration’s apparent reckless intent to ravage the planet,” said Greenpeace last week as experts attended an urgently convened meeting on World Heritage and climate change. Greenpeace called on the experts to ignore a challenge from the administration and continue with its deliberations and subsequent recommendations on protecting listed...

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MALAYSIA: Sixteen apply to build biodiesel plants

(EnergyAsia, March 24) — Sixteen companies have applied to build biodiesel plants in Malaysia, said Deputy Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Anifah Aman.   “To date, only three companies have the licences from the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) to set up palm biodiesel plants using the MPOB patented technology, each with an annual production...

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SINGAPORE: PEARL OIL sets up new subsidiary

(EnergyAsia, March 24) — Singapore-based PEARL Energy Limited said it has incorporated a subsidiary, PEARL OIL (Isan) Limited, in Thailand with an issued capital of 100 million baht divided into 100,000 ordinary shares of 1,000 baht each and paid-up capital of 25 million baht (US$1=40 baht).   PEARL Isan is a wholly-owned subsidiary of PEARL’s...

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UAE: ENOC unit opens storage terminal for hazardous waste in Jebel Ali

(EnergyAsia, March 24) — A state-of-the-art storage terminal with 8,000 sq m of capacity for hazardous chemicals has opened as part of Phase III of an exclusive facility in the Jebel Ali Free Zone in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The terminal has 36,000 drums and loading bays capable of handling up to 30 trucks...

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MIDDLE EAST: Revenue of Gulf oil producing countries topped US$23 billion in January despite output

(EnergyAsia, March 24) — The leading oil producing countries in the Arab Gulf earned revenues of US$23.15 billion in January, up $3 billion from December, despite a 20,000 b/d decline in oil production. According to a Gulf Research Centre report, the UAE’s oil revenues reached $3.89 billion, second only to Saudi Arabia’s US$12.66 billion. Kuwait...

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SINGAPORE: INTERTANKO holds tanker event March 29-31

(EnergyAsia, March 24) — INTERTANKO’s annual Tanker Event, which brings together the tanker industry and the local tanker shipping community, is this year taking place in Singapore on March 29-31. INTERTANKO is the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners.             The event will bring together distinguished speakers from the tanker industry who will address international...

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NEPAL: Anti-government forces capture nine oil truck tankers

(EnergyAsia, March 24) — Guerrillas fighting the government captured nine oil truck tankers in mid-western Nepal recently, said the Nepal Petroleum Dealers’ Association (NPDA).             The trucks were taken in the Khairikhola area along the Lamahi-Kohalpur road section of the Mahendra Highway of Nepal some 600 km west of Kathmandu, said an NPDA press statement...

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JAPAN: Plug Power, Honda to enter next phase of home energy station and R&D collaboration

(EnergyAsia, March 24) — NASDAQ-listed Plug Power Inc, a leader in providing clean, reliable on-site energy, has announced two new agreements with Japan’s Honda R&D Company Ltd.   The first agreement covers the fourth consecutive phase of joint development of the Home Energy Station, a fuel cell system that provides electricity and heat to a...

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INDIA: GAIL eyes natural gas ventures with Chinese companies

(EnergyAsia, March 24) — State-owned Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) is looking to step up its involvement in China’s market through joint ventures with local companies.   GAIL is keen to work on compressed natural gas (CNG) and piped natural gas (PNG) projects in Beijing with Beijing Gas, the city’s biggest gas distributor. GAIL...

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BANGLADESH: France’s Total buys into two offshore exploration permits

(EnergyAsia, March 24) — France’s Total said it has bought a 60% interest in two exploration blocks off the waters of Bangladesh. It bought the stakes in Blocks 17 and 18 off the coast of southeast Bangladesh from Tullow Bangladesh Ltd (operator, 32%), Okland Bangladesh Ltd. (4%) and Rexwood Offshore Holdings Ltd. (4%).  The purchase...

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SINGAPORE: Keppel clinches US$177 million upgrade of deepwater semi rig

(EnergyAsia, March 23) — Singapore’s Keppel FELS Limited said it has secured a US$177 million contract for the upgrading of a semisubmersible (semi) drilling rig Blackford Dolphin for Blackford Dolphin Pte Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fred Olsen Energy ASA.   Blackford Dolphin, the former Ocean Liberator built in 1974 will undergo fast-track refurbishment and...

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AUSTRALIA: Rio Tinto wins part of A$700 million deal to supply coal to Mexico

(EnergyAsia, March 23) — Australian mining conglomerate Rio Tinto has secured more than half of a deal worth A$700 million to supply eight million tonnes of Australian thermal coal to the Mexican Federal Electricity Commission.   Coal and Allied, a Rio Tinto subsidiary, said it will ship 4.29 million tonnes of coal to the Petacalco...

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CHINA: Coal pricing dispute could disrupt electricity production

(EnergyAsia, March 23) — Disagreements between mining and power generating enterprises over the price of coal could affect electricity output in China, said analysts.   This year, the dispute has become so serious that major power plants and mines had yet to sign coal supply agreements until the authorities threatened to intervene. The State Development...

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CHINA: PetroChina, France’s Total to develop Sulige field

(EnergyAsia, March 23) — France’s Total and PetroChina have signed a production sharing contract to evaluate, develop and produce natural gas from the South Sulige block of Ordos Basin, an area of around 2,390 sq km in the province of Inner Mongolia. The contract is subject to approval by Chinese authorities, said Total.   The...

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AUSTRALIA: Australian Ethanol Ltd bought US Beatrice Biodiesel LLC

(EnergyAsia, March 23) — ASX-listed Australian Ethanol Limited (AAE) said its 100%-owned subsidiary US Biofuels Inc has acquired Beatrice Biodiesel LLC (BBL), a Nebraska Limited Liability Company. BBL owns the Beatrice Biodiesel Project, the largest biodiesel production facility to be announced in the US, planned to be developed in Beatrice, 50 km south of Lincoln...

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SINGAPORE: Local company Marvis Pte Ltd invited to explore in Gabon

(EnergyAsia, March 23) — The African state of Gabon is seeking collaboration with Asian companies to develop its oil and gas resources.   Francois Orevouno, the Gabon’s director general of hydrocarbon, is leading a delegation to Singapore on March 22-23 to promote its oil and gas prospecting concessions.   Mr Orevouno and his delegation is...

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INDIA: Higher coal prices for “non-core” consumers on the cards

(EnergyAsia, March 23) — State-owned Coal India Ltd (CIL) said domestic users may have to pay more for their coal, especially if they are deemed to be “non-core” users.   The company is planning to make compulsory the use of its Internet-based auctions for buyers and sellers, a move that could force prices to rise,...

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CHINA: Ministry of Agriculture and D1 Oils signed memorandum of understanding to promote biodiesel

(EnergyAsia, March 23) — UK’s D1 Oils plc said it and China’s Ministry of Agriculture have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to promote the production and use of biodiesel produced from the jatropha curcas plant in southern China. The MOU signed with the ministry’s Center for Energy and Environment Protection (CEEP) early this month...

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ASIA: ADB to help boost economic links between East and South Asia

(EnergyAsia, March 23) — The Asia Development Bank (ADB) said its Office of Regional Economic Integration (OREI) will study how to facilitate more effective economic cooperation and integration between developing countries in East and South Asia.   Over the past decade, East Asia, excluding Japan, and South Asia were two of the fastest growing sub-regions...

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CHINA: Delegation of solar power specialists in California this week

(EnergyAsia, March 23) — A Chinese delegation of solar experts is in Los Angeles city in the US state of California to tour solar and fuel cell facilities. Sponsored by the World Bank and Global Environmental Facility, the delegation visited American Apparel, the largest apparel manufacturer in North America which recently installed solar panels at...

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SINGAPORE: Keppel’s contract with Atwood for a newbuild jackup is now effective

(EnergyAsia, March 22) — Singapore’s Keppel AmFELS Inc said that its contract with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Atwood Oceanics Inc for the construction of a new jackup rig is now effective. The contract follows the signing of a letter of intent between the two companies announced on February 7.   The rig, excluding owner furnished...

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UAE: Horizon’s Djibouti terminal to expand capacity by over 50%

(EnergyAsia, March 22) — UAE’s ENOC said its affiliate, Horizon Djibouti Terminals Ltd (HDTLS), has signed a US$21.3 million term facility with Emirates Bank International (EBI) to expand its Djibouti Terminal. The second-phase expansion of the Djibouti terminal will see HDTLS’s capacity expanded by 131,500 cubic meters (cbm) to 371,150 cbm.   On completion, HDTLS’s...

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SINGAPORE: Ex-CEO of China Aviation Oil sentenced to jail, fined S$335,000

(EnergyAsia, March 22) — The former chief executive of China Aviation Oil (Singapore) Ltd has been sentenced to four years and three months in jail and fined 335,000 Singapore dollars (US$1=S$1.6) for his role in the near collapse of the company from disastrous oil derivatives trades in 2004.   Chen Jiulin, 44, had pleaded guilty...

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CHINA: Agreement to share coal liquefaction technology with India

(EnergyAsia, March 22) — China has agreed to share its coal liquefaction technology with India, and to explore possibilities for joint projects in coal-bed methane (CBM) development and underground coal gasification.   Recent energy talks between the two sides have opened a new chapter in their attempts to develop broadbased relationships, said the Indian ambassador...

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QATAR: Siemens receives 110 million euro follow-up order to expand power supply system

(EnergyAsia, March 22) — Siemens Power Transmission and Distribution (PTD), a member of Germany’s Siemens group, said it has been awarded another major order worth around 110 million euros by the Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation (Kahramaa) for a power transmission system expansion project currently in progress in Qatar. (US$1=0.85 Euro).   The new...

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