(EnergyAsia, July 8 2010, Thursday) — Biodiesel consumption by Taiwan’s automobiles is expected to nearly double this year, said the Ministry of Economic Affairs. In a statement, the ministry’s Bureau of Energy has projected that the island’s biodiesel consumption will rise to 100 million litres this year. The government has supported the launch of several...

(EnergyAsia, July 8 2010, Thursday) — The Regional Development Council in the Philippines’ northern Cordillera region is urging local governments to establish corporations to develop hydropower projects. The policy-making regional body is setting an example by setting its own corporation that will identify, establish and operate a mini-hydro power plant along the Chico River to...

(EnergyAsia, July 8 2010, Thursday) – Geologists and economists have expressed doubts over US military claims that its officials have uncovered US$1 trillion worth of mineral reserves in Afghanistan. According to an exclusive New York Times, a team of US geologists and Pentagon officials found large deposits of iron, copper, cobalt, gold and critical industrial...

(EnergyAsia, July 8 2010, Thursday) — NYSE-listed AES Corporation said its wholly owned subsidiary, AES China Hydropower Investment Co Pte Ltd, has agreed to acquire a 49% interest in the Jianghe Rural Electricity Development Co Ltd joint venture. AES China Hydropower is acquiring the interest from Hong Kong-listed China Water Affairs Group for RMB333.2 million....

(EnergyAsia, July 8 2010, Thursday) — Law firm Herbert Smith said it recently advised Hanergy Group, one of the largest non-state-owned clean energy generation enterprises in China, on its US$150 million purchase of a 23.08% stake in Hong Kong-listed solar PV manufacturer Apollo Solar Energy Technology Holdings. By way of a share subscription, Hanergy Group...

(EnergyAsia, July 7 2010, Wednesday) — Thailand’s largest coal miner, Banpu Public Company Limited, said its first quarter net profit plunged 43% to 2.717 billion baht from year-ago level on account of lower coal prices, higher fuel cost and an appreciation of the local currency against the US dollar. However, the company, which also produces...

(EnergyAsia, July 7 2010, Wednesday) — Three leading Japanese companies, Hitachi Ltd, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd, said they have agreed to discuss consolidating their hydroelectric power generation system operations with the view to jointly establishing a company in October. They will look to integrate their hydroelectric power generation systems, including marketing,...

(EnergyAsia, July 7 2010, Wednesday) — Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) is expected to soon unveil a set of incentives for local firms to invest in offshore wind power projects. The ministry is expected to announce specific sites and operating details for companies to develop wind power generation plants. Its studies have found that...

(EnergyAsia, July 7 2010, Wednesday) — The Qatar government has offered to build 12 air-conditioned outdoor stadiums using solar power if it wins the right to hold the World Cup football competition in 2022. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, son of the Emir of Qatar, said the stadia will be cooled to between...

(EnergyAsia, July 7 2010, Wednesday) — Cellulosic ethanol project developers in the US are complaining that they are unable to get financial backing or loans given the risks and uncertainties associated with the new technology. Cellulosic ethanol has been heralded as an “ethical” form of bioenergy as it is made from corn stalks, wood chips...

(EnergyAsia, July 7 2010, Wednesday) — Exxon Mobil Corp’s Altona oil refinery in Australia’s Victoria state faces greater scrutiny after the state’s environmental agency (EPA) cancelled the plant’s accredited licence following environmental breaches. The loss of accreditation means Exxon’s Mobil Refining Australia Pty Ltd will no longer be entitled to a reduced licence fee and...

(EnergyAsia, July 7 2010, Wednesday) — Trina Solar Limited, a leading China-based integrated manufacturer of solar photovoltaic (PV) products, said it expects to supply PV modules to the University of Queensland’s St Lucia campus in Brisbane, Australia, to be used for a 1.2 MW solar system which will be installed on the rooftops of four...

(EnergyAsia, July 6 2010, Tuesday) — The Chinese government has released a detailed programme to subsidise the use of energy efficient vehicles for both public and private transportation in major cities across the country. In a statement, the Ministry of Finance said that it would provide the subsidies to provincial and municipal government in 20...

(EnergyAsia, July 6 2010, Tuesday) — Indonesia’s coal production could rise by 10% to 275 million tonnes this year, and 321 million tonnes five years latersaid the directorate for mineral resources, coal and geothermal affairs.   About 65 million tonnes of this output are projected to be consumed domestically while as much as 75% will...

(EnergyAsia, July 6 2010, Tuesday) — The Indonesian government is moving to calm business fears over its new moratorium on forest-clearing permits, after some plantation, forestry and manufacturing companies claimed they had not been consulted on the move.   Agust Purnomo, head of the National Climate Change Council, said that licence holders that have begun...

(EnergyAsia, July 6 2010, Tuesday) — Police have arrested nine Indian Oil Corp (IOC) staff in connection with the fire that destroyed an oil storage depot in India’s Jaipur city last October that killed nine people and injured more than a hundred.   Among those picked up on charges of criminal negligence was Gautam Bose,...

(EnergyAsia, July 6 2010, Tuesday) — By Wayne Madsen Report (WMR) for Oilprice.com   US President Barack Obama and Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, and Defence Secretary Robert Gates were informed that BP would drill an unprecedented 35,000 feet well bore at the Macondo site off the coast of Louisiana....

(EnergyAsia, July 6 2010, Tuesday) — A joint study released by Melbourne University Energy Institute and Beyond Zero Emissions said it is both feasible and imperative for Australia to completely rely on renewable energy and become carbon-neutral. The ‘Zero Carbon Australia Stationary Energy Plan’, launched by Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, and Senators...

(EnergyAsia, July 6 2010, Tuesday) — Shenhua Group, China’s top coal producer, expects to start up the country’s first commercial carbon capture and storage plant in Ordos city in Inner Mongolia by the end of 2010. The 210 million yuan plant’s liquefaction facility is expected to capture 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year. (US$1=6.8...

(EnergyAsia, July 5 2010, Monday) — Vietnam has reported higher coal output this year but sharply lower exports, due mostly to rising domestic consumption. For the first half, the country’s coal miners raised their production by 5.4% to 22.067 million tons, said the General Statistics Office (GSO). The government expects Vietnam’s coal output to reach...

(EnergyAsia, July 5 2010, Monday) — GreenWave Reality, a global company with significant operations in Singapore, Copenhagen (Denmark) and Irvine (California) has announced the expansion of its global R&D operations in Singapore for the company’s innovative home energy management platform. GreenWave Reality gives utilities a cost-effective energy management solution that enhances their relationship with consumers...

(EnergyAsia, July 5 2010, Monday) — By Dave Forest for Oilprice.com. Geothermal energy looks to be approaching a rolling boil. A few more positive indicators on the sector presented themselves recently.  First came news that the US state of Alaska will reduce royalty rates for geothermal projects on state lands. Previously, state geothermal royalties had...

(EnergyAsia, July 5 2010, Monday) —: The Maldives Stock Exchange (MSE) is the first stock exchange in the world to achieve CarbonNeutral® company certification, said The CarbonNeutral Company, a world-leading provider of carbon reduction solutions, which measures and reduces carbon dioxide emissions. The MSE measured the greenhouse gas emissions that it produced from the energy...