(EnergyAsia, March 15) — French energy major Total has named Michel Bénézit, the former director of exploration and production for Northern Europe, as President for its refining and marketing from April 1. He will also become a member of the group’s executive committee. Mr Bénézit succeeds Jean-Paul Vettier who was the unit’s president for 13...

(EnergyAsia, March 15) — Singapore-listed Labroy Marine Limited said its subsidiary Labroy Offshore Ltd has signed two rig building contracts worth a total of S$475 million for the construction of two MSC CJ-46-X 100D design jack-up drilling rigs. (US$1=S$1.62). Labory Marine is a leading marine transportation and shipbuilding group.   The MSC CJ-46-X 100D design...

(EnergyAsia, March 15) — Indonesia’s PT Apexindo Pratama Duta Tbk said it been awarded a US$22 million geothermal drilling contract by Chevron Geothermal Salak Ltd, a subsidiary of the US major. Apexindo will be engaged to drill in Gunung Salak, West Java for two years from the beginning of second quarter 2006. “The company is...

(EnergyAsia, March 15) — Chemstore FZCO, a joint venture between Modern Freight Company LLC (MFC) and Horizon Terminals Limited (HTL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC), recently opened the third phase of its storage facility in the Jebel Ali Free Zone in Dubai.   Chemstore offers a state-of-the-art storage centre for hazardous...

EnergyAsia, March 15) — Norway’s Stolt-Nielsen SA said its wholly-owned subsidiary, Stolt-Nielsen Transportation Group (SNTG), has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Lingang Harbour Affairs Company in Tianjin, China for the long-term lease of prime waterfront property for the construction of a chemical and oil products terminal. The terminal will be owned and operated...

(EnergyAsia, March 14) — Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd (MHI) said it has received an order from Thai state utility EGAT Public Company Limited for a package of major equipment for a 750 MW gas turbine combined-cycle (GTCC) power generation facility to be fired by natural gas. In an environment of favourable economic growth, the...

(EnergyAsia, March 14) — The UAE’s newly established Ministry of Environment is expected to introduce rules and regulations on par with international standards, according to a top official from Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI).   “As we are an oil producing country we need such regulations,” said Abdul Ghanem Al Mutaiwee, DCCI’s director...

(EnergyAsia, March 14) — The fuel retail outlets in Malaysia previously owned by major BP will be rebranded as BHPetrol by new owner Boustead Holdings Bhd in a RM30 million rebranding exercise. (US$1=RM3.7). The exercise involving 245 stations in Peninsula Malaysia could take up to nine months, said Boustead group managing director Lodin Wok Kamaruddin....

(EnergyAsia, March 14) — Singapore’s Keppel Shipyard Ltd said it has landed two contracts valued at S$130 million for the conversion of two new Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facilities for Prosafe Production (US$1=S$1.62).   A leading owner and operator of FPSO and FSO facilities, Prosafe has in the last nine years awarded Keppel...

(EnergyAsia, March 14) — Infrastructure development has a crucial role to play if India is to sustain its high growth, which must become more inclusive as the country matures, ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda told audiences in India last week. He was speaking in the middle of a three-day visit, in which he visited Hyderabad –...

(EnergyAsia, March 14) — China will build two major nuclear power plants over the next five years as part of a plan to quadruple its nuclear capacity by 2020. The government plans to spend 400 billion yuan to boost the country’s nuclear generation capacity to more than 360,000 megawatts by 2020. (US$1 = 8.05 yuan)....

(EnergyAsia, March 14) — East Asia’s enormous infrastructure needs – an estimated US$1 trillion over the next five years – can be met in part by using some of the region’s vast financial reserves for investments at home, ADB Vice President Liqun Jin told the Mekong Development Forum in Singapore last week.   “High saving...

(EnergyAsia, March 14) — Australian oil and gas producer and explorer Beach Petroleum said it more than trebled first half net profit to A$31.2 million for the six months to December 31 2005. (US$1=A$1.35).   The ASX-listed company has declared a half cent a share interim dividend matched with the offer of a 1-for 10...

(EnergyAsia, March 14) — Australian science agency CSIRO said it has built a new energy system using technology to complement smart electricity meters promises consumers more choice and control over their usage. The technology will also help to reduce black-outs and improve the reliability and efficiency of the electricity grid while reducing greenhouse emissions.  ...

(EnergyAsia, March 14) — Exxon Mobil Corporation chairman and CEO Rex Tillerson told analysts at the New York Stock Exchange last week that the company’s financial strength, technological expertise, and superior resource base allow it to meet the challenges of today’s increasing demand for energy while delivering industry-leading returns.   He said: “The world’s energy...

(EnergyAsia, March 13) — Australia’s BHP Billiton said it and members of the North West Shelf Venture have signed an unconditional and binding heads of agreement with Japan’s Chugoku Electric Power Co Inc. for the long-term supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG).   The 12-year agreement, starting April 2009, is for the supply of between...

(EnergyAsia, March 13) — The China Yangtze River Three Gorges Project Development Corporation said it has produced more than 100 billion kwh of electricity to date.   Its turbo-generators with a combined installed capacity of 9.8 million kw together with the Gezhouba power plant of 240 to 250 million kwh of power a day, are...

(EnergyAsia, March 13) — India could soon mandate that coal mines with combined deposits of 10 million tonnes to be opened up for captive mining by power plants, Business Standard reported.   The Energy Coordination Committed under the Prime Minister’s office has directed the coal ministry to identify mines from a list that is currently...

(EnergyAsia, March 13) — India’s leading biofuels and biotechnology company, Praj Industries Limited, said it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Norway’s Aker Kvaerner to co-operate in building bio-ethanol projects in Europe.   The two companies will bring their expertise to jointly pursue business opportunities. Praj will supply the process licence, process engineering...

(EnergyAsia, March 13) — The multi-billion dollar Energy City Qatar has appointed Bob Moore, an experienced industry veteran, as its first CEO.   Gulf Energy, a global consortium of energy experts, is the sponsor of Energy City Qatar.   The appointment of Mr Moore to the helm of the region’s energy business centre is in...

(EnergyAsia, March 13) — Australian motorists will continue to pay higher prices for their gasoline because of the growing reliance on imported products, said a senior oil executive.   Caltex chief executive Dave Reeves told the Australian newspaper that refined petroleum products accounted for more than 20% of the country’s oil demand in 2005 and...

(EnergyAsia, March 13) — China’s top economic planning agency has called for an increase in oil refining capacity.   The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) also suggested raising prices of refined-oil products currently capped by the government.   “Low refined-oil prices and a fragile supply system are major problems facing China’s refining industry,” the...

(EnergyAsia, March 13) — Thai ethanol producers have threatened to export all of their output if they can’t secure higher prices from local buyers.   An ethanol producer told Bangkok Post they would stop supplying the oil companies and would instead focus on export markets after existing supply contracts expire. Ethanol is the feedstock use...

(EnergyAsia, March 13) — Korean automaker Hyundai said it will support the use of biofuels in New Zealand. After winning the local AA’s Environmental Award and the medium-large car award with its widely-praised Sonata sedan, the company said it will maintain its leadership role in biofuels.   Presented with the Vodafone Environmental Award, Hyundai was...

(EnergyAsia, March 13) — The China Yangtze River Three Gorges Project Development Corporation said it has produced more than 100 billion kwh of electricity to date.   Its turbo-generators with a combined installed capacity of 9.8 million kw together with the Gezhouba power plant of 240 to 250 million kwh of power a day, are...