(EnergyAsia, August 15) — As China steps up its drive for renewable energy, foreign and domestic firms are rushing in to set up wind farms or build production plants across the country. The latest project is a joint venture between China Aerospace Science and Technology Group and Spain’s Acciona, which has started assembling its...
(EnergyAsia, August 15) — State-owned Guohua Energy Investment Corp has begun construction of a 200,000-kilowatt wind power project in Dongtai in east China’s Jiangsu province. The first phase of the 1.7-billion-yuan project will be completed next year with a 50,000-kw capacity. Guohua Energy Investment plans to build wind power projects with a combined capacity...
(EnergyAsia, August 15) — The Indonesian government has launched an ambitious biofuels production programme aimed at cutting the country’s fossil oil consumption by 10% by 2010. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono told local reporters that planning has begun for the programme’s implementation from next year. The government has established a committee to look into issues...
(EnergyAsia, August 15) — India’s wind power generation capacity grew by 48% to 5,340 megawatt (MW) for the financial year to March 31 2006. Tamil Nadu state was the leader with 2,893 MW or more than half the total installed capacity, followed by Maharashtra with 1,001 MW. The other states with wind power generation...
(EnergyAsia, August 15) — Japan’s Environment Ministry will ease restrictions on setting up wind power generation projects within national parks. The move is aimed at promoting clean energy and help combat global warming. Until now, wind power projects in national parks were largely prohibited and subject to strict regulations, in particular with regard to...
(EnergyAsia, August 14) — The Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA), the country’s leading oil marketing companies and the Petroleum Ministry have met to discuss the issue of pricing ethanol for use as a transportation fuel. From October 1, the oil companies will start offering diesel with a 5% biodiesel content across the country. With this new...
(EnergyAsia, August 14) — State energy company PTT has signed separate contracts with two companies to look into jointly producing biodiesel from palm oil. It will work with Thaksin Palm (1978) Co Ltd to establish a 300,000-liter-per-day plant in Surathani Province by 2008 and with Bio Energy Plus Co Ltd to build a 200,000-liter-per-day...
(EnergyAsia, August 14) — Oil prices retreated sharply on August 10 following news that London had foiled a large-scale terror plot targeting airliners on transatlantic flights from the English capital. Other factors were also at play, including decreased storm threats in the US and the monthly roll of index funds out of front-month future contracts....
(EnergyAsia, August 14) — Green Power Inc, a Washington-based company, has claimed the development and demonstration of a new ‘catalytic depolymerisation’ technology to turn landfill waste into diesel fuel. “We can convert regular household waste, medical waste, anything that is not radioactive, metal, glass or porcelain, into diesel fuel,” said Michael Spitzauer, CEO of...
(EnergyAsia, August 14) — China has announced an ambitious target to produce around 12 million tonnes of biofuels including ethanol and biodiesel by 2020 to meet 15% of its transportation fuel needs, said the US Department of Agriculture. Leading Chinese agency National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) is expected to soon unveil the country’s biofuels...
(EnergyAsia, August 14) — Canada’s Husky Energy Inc said it has signed three petroleum contracts with the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) for exploration blocks in the South China Sea. The three blocks cover approximately 16,871 sq km. According to the Calgary, Alberta company, Block 29/06 is located in the Pearl River Mouth...
(EnergyAsia, August 14) — Indonesian oil and gas service company Apexindo Pratama Duta Tbk has reported a net profit in the first half of the year, turning around a loss in the same period last year. Apexindo booked net profit of Rp191.5 billion compared to the Rp72.5 billion net loss suffered last year. (US$1=Rp9,000). Rising...
(EnergyAsia, August 14) — Oil prices retreated sharply on August 10 following news that London had foiled a large-scale terror plot targeting airliners on transatlantic flights from the English capital. Other factors were also at play, including decreased storm threats in the US and the monthly roll of index funds out of front-month future contracts....
(EnergyAsia, August 14) — India has signed an agreement to buy power from Bhutan’s 1,020 megawatt (MW) hydro-electric project in Tala. The project is the result of a bilateral cooperation pact undertaken by India to develop hydropower in another country. India was represented by Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde while Industry Minister Lyonpo Yeshey...
(EnergyAsia, August 14) — Malaysia-listed Scomi Group Bhd has announced it will list its largest revenue contributor, the oilfields services division, on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited. Scomi said it intends to list 30% of its stake in a restructured subsidiary to raise approximately RM600 million. The company, controlled by the son of...
(EnergyAsia, August 14) — Global venture capital and private equity investment in clean energy companies rebounded strongly in the second quarter after a slow start to the year, according to New Energy Finance, a specialist provider of financial information and services to investors in clean energy. More than $2 billion is estimated to have flooded...
(EnergyAsia, August 11) — Thai upstream company PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP) has given an update of its upcoming plans. – The company said it is stepping up the installation of production facilities and gas pipelines for the Shams field in Oman. The pipelines will deliver natural gas and condensate from...
(EnergyAsia, August 11) — The Saigon Petroleum Company (Saigon Petro) will soon begin producing biodiesel from waste cooking oil in Ho Chi Min City under a pilot project VND9.69 billion($605,000). The company will be the lead investor providing VND8.1 billion to kickstart the first project under the city’s Waste Recycle Fund. According to Huynh...
(EnergyAsia, August 11) — The US Department of Energy (DOE) has announced it will invest $250 million to establish and operate two new Bioenergy Research Centers to accelerate basic research on the development of cellulosic ethanol and other biofuels. In making the announcement, Energy Secretary Samuel W. Bodman, said: “This is an important...
(EnergyAsia, August 11) — World Bank’s IFC has signed a landmark nine-year term loan of $150 million to Cairn Energy PLC, a UK oil and gas company operating in India and Bangladesh. The loan is aimed at alleviating energy shortages in both countries and to partner in innovative community development programs in Rajasthan, one of...
(EnergyAsia, August 11) — Scientists at Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE are trying to develop solar panels to power mobile phones, laptop computers, PDAs, iPODS and other portable devices that require increasing amount of power. The scientists are trying to develop technologies that will make extend operating times of batteries. At the...
(EnergyAsia, August 11) — Chinese demand for Malaysian palm oil could soon reach a record four million tonnes per year in the next few years due to the growing popularity of biofuels. China imports almost three million tonnes a year now, making it a key market for Malaysian palm oil producers, said the Malaysian Palm...
(EnergyAsia, August 11) — The World Bank’s IFC was recently awarded a lead advisory mandate from Vietnam, appointing it to mobilise private sector participation in electricity generation projects. Sin Foong Wong, IFC country manager for Vietnam, and Do Huu Hao, vice minister for industry, signed the mandate in Hanoi last month. The agreement will...
(EnergyAsia, August 11) — Japan’s Chubu Electric Power has announced plans to build two biomass power plants in Malaysia’s eastern state of Sabah. As the world leading palm oil produce, Malaysia faces a growing problem with disposing of waste palm bunches and rotting materials which create methane, a greenhouse gas responsible for global warming. The...
(EnergyAsia, August 11) — ConocoPhillips will give up its operatorship of Dubai’s offshore oil concession to the government from next April. The US independent said its fully owned unit, Dubai Petroleum Company, has led the consortium producing crude oil in the emirate since 1961. In a joint statement, the government of Dubai and DPC...