(EnergyAsia, March 11, Wednesday) — Gulf Energy Maritime (GEM), the Middle East’s largest independent commercial product tanker operator, said it has taken delivery of the first out of six new vessels scheduled for delivery this year from Korea’s Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD), one of the world’s largest ship builders. Named Gulf Muttrah, the IMO II-N2...

(EnergyAsia, March 11, Wednesday) — eSolar, a producer of modular, scalable solar thermal power plants, said it has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with the ACME Group, a leader in the field of energy, environmental and telecommunications infrastructure solutions in India, to build up to 1,000 MW of solar thermal power plants over the next...

(EnergyAsia, March 11, Wednesday) — The Chinese Academy of Agricultural Engineering (CAAE) and Environmental and Energy Development Consulting Ltd (EED) have released a REEEP-funded report “National Action Plan for Rural Biomass Renewable Energy Development in China”, which provides detailed measures to enable China to achieve its biomass development target in the medium and long term....

(EnergyAsia, March 10, Tuesday) — Political and business leaders from China and the US met in Seattle in the north-western US state of Washington last month to enhance cooperation on clean energy projects. The two countries are the world’s largest energy consumers. The talks focused on developing and implementing clean energy technology, increasing energy efficiency...

(EnergyAsia, March 10, Tuesday) — Global port operator Dubai Ports World (DPW) is aiming to cut emissions generated at its Jebel Ali port by 35%. The reduction would be achieved by installing new equipment, engines and cranes, officials said. As one measure, the company recently ordered high efficiency diesel engines. DPW is working to increase...

(EnergyAsia, March 10, Tuesday) — Japan’s Tokyo Electric Power Co is planning to build a solar power plant in California. The proposed 1,000MW plant could come onstream as early as 2010 if everything goes to plan. Tokyo Electric, one of Japan’s largest power producers, plans to implement the project through its subsidiary, Eurus Energy Holdings....

(EnergyAsia, March 10, Tuesday) — The Malaysian government insists its biodiesel blending scheme will help renewable fuels producers even though it is facing a lack of progress in implementing the project. Officials said that for a start, the government will mandate that its vehicles will run on biodiesel from mid-2010. Vehicles operated by the Defence...

(EnergyAsia, March 10, Tuesday) — Singapore-listed Asia Power Corp, which operates power plants in China, said its 2008 net profit plunged by 35.6% to S$7.9 million from S$12.3 million the previous year. The company attributed the lower numbers to increased taxes, rising operating expenses and losses at unnamed associated companies. Its revenue rose by about...

(EnergyAsia, March 10, Tuesday) — Australia’s Origin Energy said its Quarantine Power Station (QPS) helped meet the increased demand on South Australia state’s electricity supply caused by recent extreme temperatures. Andrew Stock, an Origin executive general manager, said: “The power station has now synchronised with the grid, run at full output and if required, is...

(EnergyAsia, March 10, Tuesday) — French major Total said it has signed an upstream agreement with Azerbaijan’s state-owned Socar to explore, develop and produce oil and gas in the Absheron offshore block. This block is located in the Caspian Sea, 100 km from Baku, in a water depth of around 500 meters. Total will be...

(EnergyAsia, March 10, Tuesday) — Swiber Holdings, a Singapore-based offshore oil and gas service provider, has reported a net loss of US$11.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2008. The company blamed the loss on rising costs, and the delayed deliveries of the pipelay barge, Swiber Concorde, and the dive-support work barge, Swiber Supporter. (US$1=S$1.55)....

(EnergyAsia, March 9, Monday) — Russia’s Sakhalin Energy Investment Company Ltd said it has signed a sale and purchase agreement (SPA) to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Japan’s Osaka Gas. Sakhalin Energy will supply approximately 200,000 tonnes per year (t/y) of LNG over a period of more than 20 years. As the second largest...

(EnergyAsia, March 9, Monday) — Singapore-listed Penguin International Ltd recently announced a set of record-breaking financial results for FY2008, with operating profit soaring 36.9% year-on-year to S$11.3 million from its construction, sale and operation of offshore support vessels. (US$1=S$1.55). Revenues experienced strong growth, rising 21.1% year-on-year to S$98.4 million boosted by its shipbuilding and chartering...

(EnergyAsia, March 9, Monday) — Contact Energy Limited, one of New Zealand’s largest publicly listed companies, said it is seeking to raise NZ$300 million through a retail bond offer, with the ability to accept unlimited oversubscriptions. (US$1=NZ$1.65). The offer opened last week and will close on March 31 2009. The bonds offer investors an interest...

(EnergyAsia, March 9, Monday) — Australia’s Origin Energy said its underlying profit rose 38% to A$277 million for the six months to December 31 2008. (US$1=A$1.55). Revenue was up by about 10% to A$4.216 billion compared with the same period last year. The comapny said it significantly strengthened its balance sheet through the establishment of...

(EnergyAsia, March 9, Monday) — Engineering firm KBC Advanced Technologies plc (KBC) said it has opened a branch office in Bahrain. From its new presence in the Almoayyed Tower in Manama city, about 15 minutes from Bahrain International Airport and 45 minutes via King Fahd causeway to Saudi Arabia KBC said it can now provide...

(EnergyAsia, March 9, Monday) — To assist China in meeting its goals of increased energy efficiency and reduced emissions, GE Energy said it recently signed service and maintenance agreements totalling $128 million for two power plants, including the largest gas turbine combined-cycle power plant in Zhejiang province. GE Energy said it will provide inspections and...

(EnergyAsia, March 9, Monday) — In a unique project financed by the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP), Indian lawyers and project developers met recently in New Delhi to learn about legal issues surrounding clean energy projects. The project was implemented by the government of Canada’s RETScreen International in association with The Energy +...

(EnergyAsia, March 6, Friday) — Chloride Group, a UK-based world leader in secure power solutions, aims to beef up its Singapore operations as the regional headquarters and R&D centre to serve customers in Southeast Asia. The company, which last year opened its Singapore and regional headquarters and training academy in Jurong, is targeting to raise...

(EnergyAsia, March 6, Friday) — Singapore’s power market will further open up to competition when a section of its residential users will be allowed to choose their electricity suppliers under a trial next year. The Energy Market Authority (EMA) will offer a portion of the island’s residential electricity market for bidding by the power industry,...

(EnergyAsia, March 6, Friday) — TA Oil said it is looking to invest in a wind farm on Guimaras Island in the Philippines. The island is one of 12 sites identified by the Philippine government as suitable for setting up wind farms. TA Oil President Francisco Viray said he expects to launch studies into the...

(EnergyAsia, March 6, Friday) — New Zealand-based biodiesel firm Solid Energy may not go ahead with a second stage expansion of its facility in Christchurch. The company said that its subsidiary, Biodiesel New Zealand, is unable to proceed with expanding its one-million-litre-per-year plant to 15-million due to the challenge of raising financing and poor market...