News Clipping Archive - Page 1196 of 1232

Coal

Indonesia expects trend of higher coal prices to extend until end-2018

16 November 2018

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Indonesia

Coal production has already hit 48.5 million tonnes or 9% of national production in 2018.

Indonesia is expecting the upward trend of coal prices to continue until the end of the year on the back of increased global demand for the commodity, Antara News reports.

According to Rendra Prasetya Kiswono of the Coordination Function Analysis and Policy Commission of Bank Indonesia for South Sumatra, high demand for coal in the world market is in line with the onset of the winter season in mainland China. China needs adequate coal supply to generate six power plants in the face of the temperature below zero Celsius degrees.

“The price of coal is good at this time, so we recommend that this moment be used to increase the volume of exports,” he told reporters.

Since the increase of coal prices in April 2018, the mining and quarrying sector in South Sumatra hit 19.90% of GDP, marking the highest contribution to the GDP. In 2018, South Sumatra’s total coal production is estimated to be at around 48.5 million tonnes or 9% of national production.

Coal

Steady coal demand buoys Banpu sales, profit

16 November 2018

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Vietnam

BANPU PUBLIC Company Limited recently announced total sales revenue of US$965 million (approximately Bt31.81 billion) for the year’s third quarter, a big jump from the $245 million for the same period last year.

A leading integrated energy solution company in Asia-Pacific, Banpu saw $310 million in EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation), an increase of 18 per cent compared to the same period last year

It reported net profit of $76 million. The operating profit, excluding foreign-exchange loss, was $100 million, a 15-per-cent bump from the previous quarter. This is due to consistent demand for coal in the market given the tight supply in the last quarter, which resulted in a significant increase in the company’s average selling price of coal.

Banpu is also moving forward, applying a “greener and smarter” strategy and diversifying the company portfolio to ensure that it will be able to provide an integrated energy solution for all

Somruedee Chaimongkol, chief executive officer of Banpu Public Co Ltd, said: “Banpu has reported a strong operating result for the third quarter. We have seen growth in all key business units. The coal business delivered higher sales volume, which enabled the business unit to capitalise on the robust coal prices. The power business demonstrated high power-plant efficiency at Hongsa and BLCP. Lastly the gas business reported a strong rise in earnings due to higher gas prices in the US market.”

He said Banpu would continue its mission to be a leading integrated energy solutions company in the region by showcasing its presence in Vietnam and the company’s integration covering upstream, midstream and downstream.

That approach will create maximum benefits for the company throughout the value chain, so as to respond to the continuous increase in energy demands in Vietnam, said Somruedee.

Banpu was recently awarded a contract with Vietnam Electricity (EVN), to supply 1.3 million tonnes of coal. It also established the first crossed-BU office in Ho Chi Minh City to help in future business development.

The company is able to meet various types of demand in Vietnam’s market, said Somruedee, due to its strengths in providing and transporting high quality and customised coal to customers via strong business partnerships and network.

Banpu’s power business is moving its 200MW wind-power plant project forward in Soc Trang, Vietnam. The project is targeted to begin commercial operations by 2021. Banpu’s power business is also exploring further opportunities in conventional power plant and renewable businesses in Vietnam, following the company’s “greener and smarter” core strategy.

“As a leading energy company in the Asia-Pacific, Banpu is committed to sustainable energy management by balancing conventional and renewable energy businesses,” he said.

That balance “will empower Banpu to deliver energy that is affordable, reliable and environmentally friendly to continuously meet the energy demands of consumers, communities and societies, while also creating sustainable value to all stakeholders. This is in line with our brand promise ‘Our Way in Energy’,” Somruedee said.

Electricity/Power Grid

Vietnam to open domestic wholesale power market in 2019

16 November 2018

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Vietnam

It is now training companies and preparing hydropower plants to enter the market.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade will launch the full opening of the domestic electricity wholesale market to competition in 2019, following the establishment of a successful year-long pilot period. The Electricity Regulatory Authority of Vietnam (ERAV) will use the remaining time of the trial period to complete training companies in market operations, to improve information technology infrastructure, and to prepare the integration of Electricity of Vietnam (EVN)’s hydropower plants into the market. Renewable energy producers will also be allowed to connect to the national grid.

This wholesale market opening decision fits in the country’s long term plan for the electricity sector as mandated in the 2004 Electricity Law. The liberalisation of the Vietnamese power market is moving forward and is taking place in three stages. The power generation market was opened to competition in 2012 and 87 power plants totalling nearly 23 GW have entered the power generation market over the past five years. The second stage of the liberalisation process is the opening of the wholesale market, slated for opening in 2019. The opening of the retail market will be the final stage of the process and will take place later.

Oil & Gas

Singapore Marine Fuel Sales at 5-month High

16 November 2018

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Singapore

Singapore marine fuel sales in October climbed 3 percent on year to a five-month high of 4.125 million tonnes, according to data released by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) on Tuesday.

The latest sales volumes were 0.3 percent higher compared to September, it showed. The higher October sales volumes reflect a slight increase in the number of ships coming to Singapore for refuelling, or bunkering, amid buoyant freight trade and easing concerns of contaminated fuels, trade sources said.

The number of ships that called for bunkers in Singapore, the world’s largest marine refuelling hub, rose to a six-month high of 3,340 ships in October, compared with 3,310 ships in September, MPA data showed.

However, vessels calling at Singapore for bunkers loaded slightly lower quantities of fuel in October, with each ship taking on an average 1,235 tonnes, a three-month low and below the monthly average of 1,270 tonnes so far this year.

However despite the higher October sales volumes, expectations of achieving record bunker fuel sales for a fourth straight year in 2018 have been scaled back as year-to-date sales volumes lagged the record quantities seen in the year before.

Singapore marine fuel sales in the first 10 months of 2018 totalled 41.585 million tonnes, down 1 percent from the record 42.024 million tonnes sold in the same period last year, MPA data showed.

On average, Singapore would have to report sales volumes of 4.526 million tonnes in the last two months of this year to match the record 50.636 million tonnes sold in 2017. Singapore’s monthly sales volumes have averaged 4.158 million tonnes since the start of the year.

FUEL TYPES

Sales of emission control areas-compliant low-sulphur marine gas oil climbed to a record 143,000 tonnes in October, up 47 percent from a year ago and 8 percent higher from September.
Sales of the 380-centistoke (cst) high-sulphur fuel oil climbed to a six-month high of 2.992 million tonnes in October, 2 percent lower than a year earlier but 0.4 percent higher than the previous month.
Sales of the less costly high-viscosity 500-cst marine fuel slipped to a seven-month low of 835,000 tonne in October, up 20 percent from a year ago but 1 percent lower than the previous month.

Sales of the lower-viscosity 180-cst fuel were down to a two-month low of 24,000 tonnes in October.

Renewables

Seraphim Solar Secures 80 MW Supply Agreement in Vietnam

16 November 2018

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Philippines ,
Vietnam

CHANGZHOU, China, Nov. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Jiangsu Seraphim Solar System Co., Ltd. (“Seraphim“) recently signed new landmark supply agreements for two separate PV projects totaling 80MW in Vietnam. The Solar farms are a joint venture project of AMI Renewables of Vietnam and AC Energy of the Philippines. Seraphim agreed to deliver the PV modules for a targeted commission date in late April 2019.

The first project, 30MW BMT Solar Farm Project will be constructed at the Ea Phe and Krong Puk Commune, Krong Pac District, Dak Lak Province; and the second one, 50MW KH Solar Farm Project, will be constructed at Cam An Nam Commune, Cam Lam District, Khanh Hoa Province. Both projects will be constructed by ERS Energy Sdn Bhd, which is one of the leading regional EPC contractors in South East Asia headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

“We are honored to be the sole module supplier for these flagship projects”, said Polaris Li, General Manager of Seraphim, “This is Seraphim‘s first project in Vietnam — more are forthcoming. Vietnam is currently the largest PV market in Southeast Asia, and Seraphim’s performance here will be the benchmark by which future projects measure their success.”

“We are delighted to work with Seraphim,” said Jonathan Kan, Managing Director of ERS Energy Sdn Bhd. “We were impressed by their professionalism and willingness to communicate critical milestones in advance. Seraphim has over six gigawatts installed around the world — we believe this cooperation is the formula for success in Vietnam”, he continued.

About Seraphim

Founded in 2011, Seraphim has racked up impressive achievements in a short time. Seraphim has earned Tier-1 distinction from BNEF, Top Performer status from DNV GL, and loyalty from demanding customers around the world. With a total capacity of 3GW, Seraphim serves global customers with high-quality products and professional services. So far more than six gigawatts of Seraphim products installed in over thirty countries.

About ERS Energy

ERS Energy is an award-winning solar energy company known primarily for solar photovoltaics (PV) EPCC and system integrations capable from large scale solar deployment to small retail systems with their professional workforce and installed solar capacity experience fast approaching the 300MW mark. Established in 2009, ERS Energy has constructed Malaysia’s biggest solar farm; further expanding and contributing to the solar renewable development among the ASEAN countries.

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/seraphim-solar-secures-80-mw-supply-agreement-in-vietnam-300748363.html

Others

ComfortDelGro opens first fast charger for electric cars

16 November 2018

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Singapore

SINGAPORE – Transport giant ComfortDelGro has set up an electric vehicle fast-charger at its premises for public use.

Its Terra 54 direct current fast-charger, supplied by Swiss tech company ABB and set up with EV charging specialist Greenlots, is located in its Braddell Road headquarters and will be open round the clock.

The charger will power up an electric car in as little as 30 minutes, compared with four hours or more for a regular alternate current charger.

ComfortDelGro said the fast-charger – which can accommodate two vehicles at once – is the first here to be made available for public use.

Charging is priced at 40 cents per kWh – about two-thirds more than the household electricity tariff.

ComfortDelGro said Greenlots users who own electrified models from BMW, Hyundai Ioniqs and Renault will have access to the new charger. But, apparently, Teslas are not compatible.

To gain entry into ComfortDelGro’s premises in Braddell, drivers will need to apply for a special access pass with subsidiary ComfortDelGro Engineering, which operates the charger.

EV owners can check availability through the Greenlots App, where payments can also be made.

ComfortDelGro Engineering chief executive Ang Soo Hock said: “We are delighted to introduce Singapore’s first commercial DC fast-charging service. We have always supported the adoption of low-carbon emissions technologies, and hope that the introduction of this service will contribute towards the development of a reliable and accessible EV charging network in Singapore.”

Electricity/Power Grid

China-run operator offers Singaporeans 21% cheaper electricity tariffs than Singapore Power

16 November 2018

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Singapore

Concerns over whether Singapore Power Group (SP Group) had been overcharging consumers for electricity tariffs are circulating online, after competitor Tuas Power began offering electricity tariffs at a sizeable 21 per cent discount.

Earlier this year, the Energy Market Authority (EMA) opened up the electricity market and allowed households and businesses to opt out of SP Group services and choose their preferred electricity retailer.

This is a marked change from the past, when households and businesses had no choice but to use the services of SP Group. A corporatised entity of the former electricity and gas departments of the Government’s Public Utilities Board (PUB), SP is wholly owned by sovereign wealth fund Temasek, which in turn is wholly owned by the Singapore government.

From April this year, residents and businessowners at postal codes between 60-64 were allowed to choose their electricity retailer in the open market. The Open Electricity Market is gradually being rolled out to other zones as well.

After the electricity market monopoly by SP Group was broken, Tuas Power entered the fray. Interestingly, Tuas Power is now offering a much lower electricity tariff of 21% off the regulated tariff from SP Group:

Advertisements promoting Tuas Power’s offer and roadshows that were kicked off yesterday

Originally owned by Singapore, Tuas Power was sold to the Chinese by Temasek a decade ago.

After Temasek sold Tuas Power to Chinese energy conglomerate China Huaneng Group’s (CHNG) subsidiary SinoSing Power for S$4.235 billion in 2008, the company was restructured and transferred to Huaneng Power International, Inc.

Oil & Gas

Singapore’s Pavilion Energy, Russian Novatek to strengthen LNG partnership

16 November 2018

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Singapore

Singapore — Singapore’s Pavilion Energy and Russia’s Novatek have agreed to strengthen their LNG partnership in the areas of supply, trading, logistics and optimization, Pavilion Energy said Tuesday.

The agreement, signed November 13, provides for Pavilion Energy to evaluate a potential participation in and offtake from the Novatek-led Arctic LNG 2 project, and it allows for potential investment and commercial arrangements for shipping and transshipment between the two companies.

“In the context of fast-rising LNG demand in Asia, the agreement combines Pavilion Energy’s strength to connect markets and supplies, with Novatek’s growth plans through cost-competitive LNG projects,” the statement said.

News Clipping

BANPU PUBLIC Company Limited recently announced total sales revenue of US$965 million (approximately Bt31.81 billion) for the year’s third quarter, a big jump from the $245 million for the same period last year.

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