(EnergyAsia, March 9) — A seminar on oil and gas negotiation and dispute management will be held in Kuala Lumpur next month. The course, to take place at Crowne Plaza, Mutiara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from April 26 to 27, will focus on understanding the interest of key stakeholders. The seminar is organised by IBC Asia...

(EnergyAsia, March 9) — US major Exxon Mobil Corp expects to start up more than 20 new global projects in the next three years that, at peak, could add one million oil equivalent barrels per day to the company’s base volumes. The project inventory at year-end 2006 is expected to develop 24 billion oil-equivalent barrels...

(EnergyAsia, March 9) — New Zealand has opened its Clean Energy Centre in Taupo in North Island. The joint NZ$6 million private-state sponsored centre will start off by focusing on research into making ethanol from willows and geothermal heat. (US$1=NZ$1.5). Energy Minister David Parker said the centre aligns strategically with the government’s plans to address...

(EnergyAsia, March 9) — MayBan Securities has recommended a ‘buy’ on the stock of Malaysia-listed energy service company Petra Perdana.   HL Management Co Sdn Bhd has emerged as the substantial shareholder of Petra Perdana Berhad (Petra) with the subscription of 27 million Petra shares at RM2.75 per share from a private placement exercise that...

(EnergyAsia, March 9) — Singapore-listed coal company Straits Asia Resources Limited has announced record production, turnover and profits last year.   Production from its Sebuku coal mine was 3.5 million tonnes, up from 3 million tonnes in 2005. Coal sales rose 21% to 3.53 million tonnes, exceeding the target of 3.5 million tonnes published in...

(EnergyAsia, March 9) — Dubai-headquartered Gulf Energy Maritime (GEM), the Middle East’s largest independent commercial product tanker operator, has taken delivery of the second of 13 double-hulled tankers on order with Korea’s Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD) in less than three months. The US$57 million Gulf Elan is the eighth double-hulled tanker in GEM’s rapidly growing...

(EnergyAsia, March 9) — US energy company ConocoPhillips said it started natural gas production from its newly constructed Suban Phase 2 gas processing plant on December 23, 2006.  In the first of a series of planned development wells in support of the Suban Phase 2 Project, the Suban-10 development well was drilled, completed and currently...

(EnergyAsia, March 9) — Australian upstream company Woodside Petroleum has reported record after-tax net profit of A$1,427 million for 2006 that includes a significant item of A$31.1 million from the sale of its interest in the Kipper gas field. (US$1=A$1.3). Its 2005 after-tax net profitof A$1,107.4 million had included significant items which totalled A$69.7 million....

(EnergyAsia, March 9) — In most parts of the world, Chinese state oil companies have developed a fearsome reputation for their bold and aggressive moves to buy over hydrocarbon resources. But in North America where they have little presence, the Chinese have had to face political opposition, and last month, a lawsuit, and growing questions...

(EnergyAsia, March 8) — As part of its global growth drive, GE Energy Financial Services, a unit of General Electric, saidit is financing the construction of a power plant for an Indian cement company and will set up its first office in the country to pursue additional energy and water investments. The moves are part...

(EnergyAsia, March 8) — The Dubai Mercantile Exchange Limited (DME), a joint venture between Tatweer, a member of Dubai Holding, and the New York Mercantile Exchange Inc (NYMEX), said it has received its first approvals from overseas regulators in Singapore and Japan.   The ‘no objection’ letter from International Enterprise Singapore (IES) and the written...

(EnergyAsia, March 8) — The Oxford Princeton Programme Inc, a world leading provider of training solutions to the energy, commodity and derivatives industries, has opened a regional office in Singapore. The office was opened by President and CEO Clara Lippert who was in Singapore in early February.   Created from the merger of two The...

(EnergyAsia, March 8) — As speculation intensifies over whether the US is preparing to launch pre-emptive strikes on Iran, the battle lines are being rapidly drawn on the oil and gas landscape across Asia and the Middle East. While oil has long been at the heart of Middle East politics, the recent emergence of the...

(EnergyAsia, March 8) — Hong Kong-listed China Oilfield Services Limited (COSL) said it and Norway’s Atlantis Deepwater Technology Holding (ADTH) have set up an equal joint venture company, Atlantis Deepwater Orient Limited, to provide deepwater drilling services.   “Atlantis” is a new concept for deepwater drilling. It allows third generation of semi-submersible rig to operate...

(EnergyAsia, March 8) — New Zealand’s Origin Energy said work on the NZ$980 million Kupe gas project is progressing well and a number of important milestones have now been reached on time and on budget. (US$1=NZ$1.55).   The project is expected to start up by mid-2009 and will provide New Zealand with approximately 254 petajoules...

(EnergyAsia, March 8) — The two-day Asia Gas 2007 conference will examine recent developments in the global LNG industry and investment opportunities in Asia, especially China, India, Indonesia. Thailand and Myanmar.   The conference will be held at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel in Singapore from April 10 to 11.   The conference will also...

(EnergyAsia, March 8) — Thai upstream company PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP) said it has found more natural gas in neighbouring Myanmar. The company said it is confident that M9 Block has high potential and is preparing to drill one exploration well and at least four appraisal wells to confirm the petroleum...

(EnergyAsia, March 8) — Schering-Plough Ltd, a wholly owned unit of global pharmaceutical company, Schering-Plough Corporation, and TPGS Green Energy Pte Ltd (TPGS) have signed an agreement to build a 9.2 MW trigeneration facility, the biggest in Singapore to date. The facility will receive the Innovation for Environmental Sustainability (IES) Fund set-up by the National...

(EnergyAsia, March 8) — The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation group (APEC) is inviting consultants to submit a proposal for establishing guidelines to develop biodiesel standards in the region. The objective is to enhance trade of biodiesel among APEC member economies.   The 20-month project would also offer the possibility for a sustainable energy source with...

(EnergyAsia, March 7) — India’s power sector has become more attractive to investors following recent reforms to its state electricity boards. Most generation and transmission firms are now financially viable undertakings that are well-positioned to attract new investment.   The Indian government expects to attract US$100 billion worth of investments into the country’s power generation...

(EnergyAsia, March 7) — Switzerland’s ABB said it has established a regional Asia Pacific Consulting (RAC) group to serve its customers in the Asia Pacific market. The consulting group performs as a satellite of UK-based ABB Engineering Services, formerly part of the global chemical company, ICI, providing a wide range of professional engineering services to...

(EnergyAsia, March 7) — Beijing’s municipal authorities have announced a new target to cut energy and water use by 5% per unit of economic output.   To achieve that, the city will aim to phase out and close less energy efficient industries such as steel, chemicals and cement making plants.   At the same time,...

(EnergyAsia, March 7) — R.S. Sharma has stepped down as acting chief of India’s state upstream company ONGC after his appointment as chairman and managing director of was annulled by the Prime Minister’s Office. However, he remains as the company’s finance director.   Mr Sharma was named to the top job by the Public Enterprise...

(EnergyAsia, March 7) — Shell New Zealand said it has signed a letter of intent with Argent Energy New Zealand Ltd in preparation for meeting the new biofuels sales target announced by the government. The biofuels sales obligation will see the mandated introduction of biofuels commencing in 2008, with the aim of 3.4% of the...

(EnergyAsia, March 7) — Production at the Phu Horm natural gas field in northeastern Thailand has risen to 100 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD), said Energy Minister Piyasvasti Amranand. At a recent ceremony, Mr Piyasvasti presided over the official inauguration of the Phu Horm gas field, with Maroot Mrigadat, President of PTT Exploration...