News Clipping Archive - Page 1202 of 1226

Renewables

Philippines utility aims to become ‘major player’ in renewable energy

2 November 2018

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Philippines

The Manila Electric Company (Meralco), the major utility of the Philippines, plans to set up 1GW of solar and wind projects in the medium term, according to the head of the firm’s power generation unit.

Rogelio Singson, president of Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGen), told PV Tech: “There is a clear recognition that we want to be a major player in renewable energy.”

He also confirmed that the plans are for the projects to supply power to the Luzon grid and for 500MW-1GW of solar to be set up within 2-3 years.

Singson also confirmed that the key challenges remain in securing land and transmission. Over the last year, large-scale clean energy projects in the Southeast Asian country have been held up by major regulatory challenges and delays, however this has been the case for the entire domestic power sector at large.

three years ago, Meralco also said it planned to develop a portfolio of up to 100MW worth of rooftop PV installations in the Philippines.

Renewables

New target needed on Asean energy

2 November 2018

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Thailand

THAILAND’S Energy Minister Siri Jirapongphan has asked the Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency (DEDE) to conduct a study to revise the target for energy use under Asean Ministers on Energy Meetings (AMEM) after Asean countries reached the exisiting target sooner than planned in 2021.

Siri said that a committee will study the new target for reduction of the energy intensity as committed at 20 per cent within 2021. All 10 Asean countries have reached the committed target earlier, lowering the energy intensity by 21.9 per cent in 2016, compared to the base year in 2005.

The committee will take one year for the study from now and the results will be proposed to the 37th AMEM, to be hosted by Thailand.

Next year, Thailand will be well-prepared to host AMEM and Asean Plus Three (China, South Korea and Japan) meeting with the United States and India.

These three countries intend to have alternative energy as the main energy source and there could be much changes related to energy in the future.

“Next year’s main topics will focus on the changes of energy use in Asean and the world. It’s Energy Transition. Use of energy will be lower but quality of life will be good as is or better. And main energy such as coal and natural gas will be used less, slowly giving way to alternative energy. Thailand will focus on biomass energy and biogas.

But prices must be inexpensive,” Siri said.

Sarat Prakobchart, director of DEDE’s Bureau of Energy Efficiency Promotion, said that DEDE will conduct a study before proposing the revised target for energy use in the AMEM, which will be hosted by Thailand next year. As committed, the reduction of energy use was set at 20 per cent in 2021 and at 30 per cent in 2025.

Thailand, as the AMEM host, will have to study the new target, he said. In this year’s meeting, reduction of energy use and increase of energy efficiency in the transportation sector were discussed and could become a part of the measures which will be proposed in next year’s meeting.

Renewables

TNB connects first phase of Malaysia’s largest solar project to the grid

2 November 2018

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Malaysia

Major Malaysian utility Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) has started supplying power to the national grid from a part-completed 50MW solar power project in Selangor, Peninsula Malaysia, which will be the largest project in the country once completed.

The project, won in the government-led Large Scale Solar (LSS) auction by TNB’s subsidiary, TNB Sepang Solar Sdn Bhd, is located at Mukim Tanjung 12, Kuala Langat, south of the capital Kuala Lumpur. The proejct is set to reach its full generating capacity of 50MW before the end of this year.

The plant uses 230,000 solar panels and 10km of 132kV power and fiber optic underground cable, spread across 98 hectares of land. Work started on the plant in July 2017.

The EPC partner for the project was another subsidiary TNB Engineering Corporation Sdn Bhd.

Earlier this month, TNB announced a major new venture, a new zero upfront cost solution for rooftop solar PV for commercial and Industrial (C&I) customers and a similar solution for the residential segment will be available by year-end.

Malaysia’s Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Ministry has set a target of 20% of the country’s electricity to be generated from renewable sources by 2030, up from the current 2%. Around 53% of Peninsular Malaysia’s power generation is from coal, 42% from natural gas and 5% from hydro, together with other forms of renewable energy.

The country’s LSS programme has seen periodic 500MW solar auctions, the second of which saw 586MW_(AC) of awards back in December 2017.

Malaysia’s intent to progress its renewable energy sector was made clear earlier this month in a number of announcements, including plans to install solar along a major highway, introducing both the first solar insurance scheme and monitoring system, as well as inking support agreements with powerful foreign organisations.

Renewables

Revival of 620MW nuclear power plant gets support from Philippine officials

2 November 2018

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Philippines

A plant revival could help lower electricity costs in the country, officials said.

The Philippine Department of Finance (DOF) expressed support for the proposed revival of the cancelled Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP), citing the need to lower electricity costs in the country, local media report.

Finance secretary Carlos G. Dominguez told reporters in a briefing that he is encouraging the DOF to study the revival of the 620MW NPP in central Luzon.

The annual maintenance cost of the NPP is reportedly at $504,248 (Php27m). Moreover, the Philippine energy secretary said that it would cost $2b to make the plant operational.

Energy secretary Alfonso Cusi said costs and social acceptance are amongst the government’s hurdles in reviving the NPP.

Oil & Gas

China Ready to Produce Oil, Gas With Philippines in South China Sea – Minister

2 November 2018

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Philippines

China is ready to study the possibility of joint oil and gas production with the Philippines in the South China Sea, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said.

“The Chinese party is ready to continue exploring the possibility of joint development of oil and gas [fields] in the South China Sea together with the Philippines. To postpone the dispute and engage in the joint development is a proposal full of political wisdom, which [former Chinese leader] Comrade Deng Xiaoping made to the Philippine leadership 32 years ago,” Wang said, as quoted by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

The minister also pointed out that if the parties could implement joint energy development with mutual respect of the sovereignty, that would not only ease the problem of the lack of energy resources in the Philippines, but would also be a means of solving the territorial dispute, as well as a good example for other states, located in the region.
The foreign minister’s statement comes amid China’s involvement in a number of territorial disputes over the islands in the South China Sea. China and the Philippines along with Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam are contesting the Spratly archipelago, whose shelf has significant oil and gas reserves.

In July 2016, the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration said that there was no legal basis for China’s maritime claims in the region after the relevant request of Manila. China refused to recognize the court’s ruling.
Source: Sputni

Oil & Gas

Philippines short-lists three company groups for LNG terminal project

2 November 2018

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Philippines

The Philippines has short-listed three different groups to build and operate its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal and hopes to nominate one by November, its energy minister said on Tuesday.

Short-listed companies were chosen from 18 groups that submitted proposals for the project, Alfonso Cusi told Reuters on the sidelines of the Singapore International Energy Week.

They include state-owned Philippines National Oil Company (PNOC), which is seeking a partner for the project, Cusi said, while Tokyo Gas has partnered with the Philippines’ First Gen Corp.

China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) is also in the running, although it has yet to firm up a local partner, Cusi said. CNOOC has been in talks with the Philippines’ Phoenix Petroleum as a partner, he added.

“Hopefully we can have a conclusion on which proposal to accept by the end of November,” Cusi said.

The Philippines is expected to start importing LNG to feed gas-fired power plants in Batangas province, south of the capital Manila, as domestic gas supplies from its Malampaya field are set to run out in 2024.

Besides meeting local demand, the Philippines also hopes the terminal would become an LNG trading hub for the region, Cusi said.

“We are already the de-facto transhipment port for LNG to China,” Cusi said, adding that large cargoes are often broken up into smaller parcels for deliveries to China via ship-to-ship transfers off the Philippines.

“We should institutionalize this before someone else does.”

PNOC last week formally announced it was seeking a joint-venture partner to design, build, finance, operate and maintain an LNG hub in Batangas Bay, near the gas-fired power plants supplying electricity to the country’s main Luzon island.

Bidders have until Dec. 21 to submit eligibility documents to PNOC.

A First Gen spokeswoman said the company has been open to taking in a partner for the LNG project, but she was not aware of any joint venture agreement or talks between First Gen and Tokyo Gas. First Gen operates four of the country’s five gas-fired power plants.

Tokyo Gas declined to comment.

Phoenix Petroleum, owned by local businessman Dennis Uy who helped fund President Rodrigo Duterte’s 2016 election campaign, in June signed a memorandum of understanding with CNOOC Gas and Power Group Co Ltd to “study, plan and develop” an LNG project in the Philippines.

Last week, Phoenix said Philippine oil and gas exploration firm PXP Energy Corp may be granted “preferential rights” to acquire up to 49 percent of Phoenix’s interest in the planned LNG joint venture with CNOOC.
Source: Reuters (Reporting by Florence Tan; Additional reporting by Enrico dela Cruz and Manolo Serapio in MANILA, Osamu Tsukimori in TOKYO; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Richard Pullin)

Bioenergy

Isuzu ready to modify vehicles for B20 biodiesel compatibility if Thai govt offers incentives

2 November 2018

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Thailand

Isuzu is ready to carry out modifications on its products for B20 biodiesel fuel compatibility in Thailand if the government supports the policy and offers tax cuts in order to maintain competitive pricing, the company announced in a statement on Monday.

According to distributor Tripetch Isuzu Sales, the government has a policy to promote B20 biodiesel in order to help tackle the oversupply of palm oil as well as to increase income and sustainably improve the quality of life of Thai agriculturists.

It also aims to lower crude-oil dependency and the effects of oil price fluctuations.

“A large number of older Isuzu vehicles that have been sold to the market have not been designed to be compatible with B20. But with the sheer determination of Isuzu, we would, as a leader in diesel-engine technology and renewable-energy fields such as biodiesel, like to comply with the government’s policy.

“We prompt to invest in R&D to ensure that every current Isuzu model, both pickups and trucks, as well as those to be produced in the future, are compatible with B20,” the company stated.

However, at present, the specifications of biodiesel B20 to be sold in the market have not yet been determined.

If there are clear specifications, Isuzu will be able to develop every model of Isuzu pickups and trucks to be B20 compatible in a short period of time, Tripetch Isuzu Sales said.

“Nevertheless, the research and development of B20 vehicles might result in a vehicle production-cost increase from the engine and parts adjustments. If the government considers some incentives, B20 vehicles might be able to compete with standard diesel vehicles in terms of pricing,” it stated.

Isuzu said it has been carrying out business in Thailand for more than 60 years.

“We believe that the B20 promotion will be a part of economic driving forces in accordance with the national strategic plan for stability, prosperity and sustainability, and align with the philosophy of sufficiency economy,” the statement added.

Electricity/Power Grid ,
Energy Economy

US$500 million power plant set to take shape in Ahlone

2 November 2018

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Myanmar

Power lines seen in the outskirts of Yangon. Myanmar must double its electricity supply by 2020 to meet demand. The Myanmar Times

Toyo Thai Power Myanmar Co Ltd (TPMC) plans to invest between US$350 million (K471 billion) to US$500 million to set up a liquefied natural gas (LNG) power plant, U Htet Aung Mon, general manager of TTCL Power Myanmar said.

TPMC is the subsidiary of Thailand-based TTCL Public Co Ltd.

The LNG power plant expected to generate 388Mw of electricity will be located in Alone Township, Yangon.

U Htet Aung Mon said that the LNG to power the plant will be imported.

In July last year, TPMC proposed the project to the Ministry of Electricity and Energy. The ministry issued a Notice to Proceed to TPMC this January.

At present, the company is preparing an environmental impact and socio-economic impact reports for the project. The company is meeting with residents and explaining the project in the townships of Alone, Dagon, Lanmataw, Dala, Sategyi Khanaungto, Sekikan and Thanhlyan in Yangon.

The company says it is hoping to begin construction on the project by the middle of next year, although this also depends on completion of the impact reports.

U Htet Aung Mon said that if construction starts next June, the plant could begin generating power within 28 months.

The TPCM project is one of three large LNG power plants that will be built in the country.

The MOEE also issued Notices to Proceed for a 1230Mw LNG power plant in Kanbauk, Tanintharyi Region, by European conglomerates Total and Siemens, and a 1390 Mw plant in Ayeyarwady Region to be operated by China’s Zhefu Holding Group and local partner Supreme Group.

The MOEE is currently negotiating terms for the power purchase agreements under which it will buy the LNG generated by the three plants to meet the bulk of Myanmar’s energy requirements by 2020.

Myanmar is under pressure to double its power production capacity to 6000 Mw within the next two years, in order to meet rising demand. In the meantime, several power generation projects, the most recent of which is the 225MW Sembcorp Myingyan combined-cycle gas plant, have commenced operations. Next month, a 40MW solar plant in Minbu is expected to come onstream.

News Clipping

Isuzu is ready to carry out modifications on its products for B20 biodiesel fuel compatibility in Thailand if the government supports the policy and offers tax cuts in order to maintain competitive pricing, the company announced in a statement on Monday.

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