(EnergyAsia, April 21) — Malaysia’s Scomi Marine Bhd, an associate company of Scomi Group Bhd, said it expects to be awarded a contract to provide transportation services of bulk coal for TNB Fuel Services Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Malaysian power company Tenaga National Bhd. Scomi Marine said it received a letter of...
(EnergyAsia, April 21) — The Chinese government has taken action against hundreds of officials in an effort to improve safety of the country’s coal mining operations, Xinhuanet reported. The high rate of accidents and deaths of workers in China’s coal mines are proving an acute embarrassment for the authorities. As part of the crackdown,...
(EnergyAsia, April 21) — Switzerland’s inspection and certification giant SGS is expanding its operations in China on rising demand for inspection, verification and certification from businesses in the country’s fast growing economy. SGS will assist China-based companies and manufacturers in gaining recognition and better access to international markets. On a recent visit to...
(EnergyAsia, April 21) — Oil services company Schlumberger and telecommunications giant BT said they have formed an alliance targeting the communication needs of the exploration and production (E&P) industry. As a result of this alliance, Schlumberger and BT have signed a five-year, $47 million contract for BT to provide network services to Schlumberger. ...
(EnergyAsia, April 21) — Shanxi Lu’an Coal has started construction of China’s first coal-to-liquid (CTL) synthetic oil plant. The 1.89 billion yuan plant in Changzhi city in northern Shanxi province is due for completion in 2008. (US$1=8.02 yuan). The plant’s main technology was developed by Shanxi Research Institute of Coal Chemistry under the...
(EnergyAsia, April 21) — India must liberalise its coal mining and production sector to help meet rising demand. According to the government’s recently released 2005-2006 Economic Survey, the lack of growth in coal supply is hindering overall economic growth. The previous year, Indian coal output rose by 5.6% but supply shortage persisted, despite rising...
(EnergyAsia, April 21) — India and the US are working on follow-ups to several energy agreements signed recently. According to local news reports, the agreements include cooperation in offshore natural gas drilling, coal production and the civilian nuclear energy sector. As part of their deal on nuclear energy for civilian use, both countries...
(EnergyAsia, April 21) — Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has successfully commissioned India’s largest solar-diesel hybrid power plant, Indian news media reported. The plant is located at the Bangaram tourist island, where it will help meet rising power demand. It will help cut back on the use of diesel, which was cited as a...
(EnergyAsia, April 21) — Hong Kong-listed PetroChina Company Limited said its operations achieved steady progress in the first quarter of 2006 riding on strong market demand for oil, gas and chemical products. The company said it achieved “stable” crude oil production and rapid growth in natural gas output. It produced 267 million barrels of...
(EnergyAsia, April 21) — The Indian government should allow businesses to fully pass through fuel costs Ð including cost for cooking gas and kerosene – to consumers, a state economic report urged. The report warned of “serious consequences” for the state budget and the state oil marketing firms if a full pass through of...
(EnergyAsia, April 20) — Malaysian state oil and gas company Petronas is venturing into Indonesia’s retail fuel business with plans to open 22 outlets in the Jakarta and surrounding area including, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi. The first outlet was opened in Cibubur, Bogor last month. Kamarulzaman M Hasyim, head of subsidiary Petronas Niaga...
(EnergyAsia, April 20) — EZRA Holdings Limited, a Singapore-based provider of offshore oil and gas services, said its first half net profits to February 28 2006 more than tripled to S$34.1 million from S$9.2 million for the same period last year. (US$1=S$1.6). Earnings per share rose 220% to 15.35 cents from 4.79 cents on a...
(EnergyAsia, April 20) — Energy tanker company Gulf Energy Maritime (GEM) recently obtained a US$90 million loan agreement from Dubai’s Mashreqbank for the purchase of two new product and chemical tankers. The Gulf Baynunah and Gulf Jumeirah, both 47,000 DWT, high specification double-hulled product/chemical tankers, are to be delivered by 2009. GEM CEO...
(EnergyAsia, April 20) — The Shanghai Futures Exchange could earn the distinction of being the first exchange in Asia to offer liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) futures. Exchange officials told the local media that they have launched studies on launching a LPG futures contract, but they have not set a target deadline for offering the...
(EnergyAsia, April 20) — Three Chinese companies are keen to acquire a 49% stake in Fuzhou Gas Group. Hong Kong and China Gas, Xinao Gas and China Gas, view Fuzhou Gas Group as an attractive target for its monopoly as a piped-gas distributor in Fuzhou city in Fujian province. Fuzhou is the second-largest city...
(EnergyAsia, April 20) — European Union (EU) technology could help China capture and store carbon dioxide (CO2) generated by its growing energy sector and cut environmental impacts, Chinese media reported. Planners on both sides are working to set up a demonstration plant in China by 2015. The project is part of a recently sealed...
(EnergyAsia, April 20) — New York-based consultant Eurasia Group said political risks are continuing to drive energy markets, already at record highs, higher. Concern over Iran’s nuclear intentions Ð and the potential international response Ð has been the primary cause of the spike, while fears of supply disruption from Nigeria have amplified the “Iran premium.”...
(EnergyAsia, April 20) — Indian upstream company Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas stating the company’s performance targets for the financial year 2006-07. M.S. Srinivasan, secretary for the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, and Subir Raha, chairman and...
(EnergyAsia, April 20) — Keeper Resources Inc., Pogo Producing Company and state Vietnam Oil and Gas Corporation (PetroVietnam) have jointly announced that they have signed a production sharing contract (PSC) to explor and produce for hydrocarbons in Block 124 in the Phu Khanh Basin off the coast of Vietnam. The block covers approximately 6,007 square...
(EnergyAsia, April 20) — UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) ministers meeting in Jakarta last week are calling for greater cooperation in sustainable development of natural resources, especially for energy and water. With oil prices at record levels, energy has become one of the most worrying concerns for the...
(EnergyAsia, April 19) — Jurong Shipyard, a subsidiary of Singapore’s SembCorp Marine, said it has secured a rig building contract worth US$165.5 million from JackInvest I Pte Ltd for the construction of a Baker Marine Pacific Class 375 deep drilling offshore jack-up rig. Construction is expected to start next month with delivery scheduled by...
(EnergyAsia, April 19) — The Malaysian government is looking at ways to help the people cope with rising fuel prices. Last month, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, acknowledged growing public anger over the government’s February 28 decision to increase fuel prices by more than 20%. World oil prices set new record high level yesterday...
(EnergyAsia, April 19) — Two Philippines government agencies, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of Energy (DoE) have announced plans to jointly set up a national research and testing facility for biofuels. The centre will be established at the University of the Philippines’ Department of Mechanical Engineering, according to a...
(EnergyAsia, April 19) — Malaysian company E-Gas is gearing to expand its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) business in Sri Lanka. Operating in three regions, the company has 36 dealers from northern Jaffna to eastern Batticaloa and southern Hambantota, making it the third largest LPG supplier in Sri Lanka. E-Gas claims to sell LPG...
(EnergyAsia, April 19) — Hong Kong-listed Titan Petrochemicals Group Limited (Titan) (HK 1192) said its net profit fell 24% to HK$303 million last year despite a 200% rise in turnover to HK$10,464 million. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose 60% to HK$866 million. (US$1=HK$7.78). The company’s board has recommended a final...