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Bioenergy

Malaysia’s biodiesel output, exports set to hit records

19 October 2018

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Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian biodiesel production is likely to hit record levels this year and next, with 2018 exports on track to double from 2017, pushed up as higher oil prices boost the appeal of biofuels, the head of an industry association said on Wednesday.

The Southeast Asian nation is the world’s No.2 producer of palm oil, which can be used as feedstock to make the bio components of biodiesel.

“I believe Malaysian (biodiesel) production might hit 900,000 tonnes and exports 475,000 tonnes if the current price differential between crude palm oil and gasoil remains,” U.R.
Unnithan (pic), president of the Malaysian Biodiesel Association, told Reuters by text message.

“These would be record high (output and export) levels for Malaysia,” he said.

Malaysia churned out 720,410 tonnes of biodiesel in 2017 and exported 235,291 tonnes, according to local data.

The country said in July that it would raise its so-called biodiesel mandate next year to 10 percent from the current 7 percent. The mandate refers to the percentage of bio-content that must be contained in biodiesel.

If the government goes through with that plan and crude prices hold, Malaysia could produce up to 1.2 million tonnes of biodiesel in 2019, said Unnithan.

Diesel’s premium over palm oil has widened in recent months amid stronger crude prices and weaker palm markets. Its spread over palm hit $219 per tonne in early October, its widest in four years, and was around $178 on Wednesday.

Unnithan’s latest outlook marks an upward revision to estimates he made in April, when he said Malaysian biodiesel production could decline to 500,000 tonnes in the face of competitive shipments from Indonesia. Diesel’s spread over palm was about $20 a tonne at that time. – Reuters

Bioenergy

Malaysia keeps Nov crude palm oil export tax at zero pct

19 October 2018

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Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 17): Malaysia maintained its export tax on crude palm oil for November at zero percent, according to a circular on the Malaysian Palm Oil Board’s website on Wednesday, citing the national customs department.

The export tax was at zero percent in October.

Malaysia is the world’s second-largest producer of palm oil.

The Southeast Asian nation calculated a palm oil reference price of 2,073.97 ringgit (US$499.51) per tonne for November. Any price above 2,250 ringgit incurs a tax.

Malaysian benchmark palm oil futures were last up 0.3% at 2,250 ringgit a tonne in early trade on Wednesday.

(US$1 = 4.1520 ringgit)

Renewables

European Green Energy SMEs Eyeing Market Opportunities in Southeast Asia

19 October 2018

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ASEAN

About 40 European companies from 15 different European Union (EU) Member States will embark on a week-long Green Energy Technologies business mission to Indonesia and Singapore.

Singapore, Singapore, October 17, 2018 –(PR.com)– On 28 October, about 40 European companies from 15 different European Union (EU) Member States will embark on a week-long Green Energy Technologies business mission to Indonesia and Singapore. This mission will showcase innovative technologies in the areas of biomass, biogas, carbon capturing, energy conservation and energy efficient solutions, smart grid, smart building solar, hydropower, wind power, waste-to-energy, and other green solutions.

South East Asia is one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. ASEAN’s economy is currently ranked the seventh largest in the world, with a combined GDP of US$2.4 trillion and is projected to rank as the fourth largest economy by 2050.This impressive growth creates regional energy and environmental sustainability challenges.

As such, the energy consumption in South East Asia is expected to double by 2040. The diversification of the regional energy supply through investments in renewable energies offers a viable option to support this expansion and also helps to achieve wider socio-economic and sustainable environmental benefits.

All ASEAN countries have taken steps to tap into this immense opportunity. The adoption of national and regional renewable energy targets, combined with active efforts to reduce carbon emissions under the 2015 Paris Agreement, signal the region’s firm commitment to transforming the energy sector. To reach the aspirational target of 23% renewables in the region’s primary energy mix by 2025, South East Asian countries will have to substantially scale-up their deployment of renewables in the power sector, as well as in heating, cooling and transport.

Europe has many success stories to share. Ms. Barbara Plinkert, Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Singapore, said: “In Europe, the quantity of renewable energy production increased by 66.6% between 2006 and 2016, thanks to the innovative technologies that European companies have developed. I am sure that the South East Asia region can also benefit from some of these technologies to help the region transform its energy mix to meet its energy demands.”

The European Union is tightening its emissions-trading scheme through raising the price of carbon. Large producers of carbon dioxide are being incentivized to move away from fossil fuels. At the same time, the cost of energy storage is coming down, allowing countries to add more intermittent solar and wind power to their energy mix.

The EU Business Avenues in South East Asia programme aims to facilitate collaborations between European solution providers and South East Asian energy players through a series of coaching and business matching services.

The Green Energy Technologies business mission is the 11th mission, under the EU Business Avenues in South East Asia programme. The contingent of 37 companies will travel to Jakarta, Indonesia for two days of site visit and business meetings before traveling to Singapore to participate in the Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW), co-locating with Asia Clean Energy Summit.

Renewables

Renewable energy high priority for Mekong region: scientists

19 October 2018

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Cambodia ,
Lao PDR ,
Vietnam

QUẢNG NINH — Cambodia, Laos and Việt Nam must work closer together to make the shift to using more renewable energy.

This a vital step in attaining the region’s as well as each country’s sustainable development, said Prof. Đặng Nguyên Anh, Vice President of the Việt Nam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS).

“Energy and water security are two of the most important issues for the three neighbouring countries. Cross-border cooperation helps cut environmental costs, secure clean water and protect natural resources for local communities in protected areas,” Anh said.

VASS’s scientists and researchers gathered with their peers from the Royal Academy of Cambodia (RAC), the Lao Academy of Social Sciences (LASS) and the Korea Environment Institute at a conference themed “Green movement for energy and water security for the Mekong region” in Quảng Ninh, Việt Nam.

RAC President Eap Ponna said while a number of reserves built on the Mekong River were bringing certain benefits, the consequences on nature and communities might be unpredictable as the management of such reserves was still a new area of expertise to the region, which would require time to carefully study.

Eap Ponna called for a unified and coordinated mechanism between governments, social and economic enterprises and civil organisations to develop the region and protect natural resources.

Trần Minh, an expert on sustainable development from VASS, said while Việt Nam boasted great potential for renewable energy, its growth left much to be desired in recent years.

Waste, technological limitations and ineffective policies hindered the growth of renewable energy in the region.

Assoc. Prof Somchith Souksavath from LASS said energy production remained a key target for the Laos Government in ensuring energy security, fighting poverty and supporting the country’s socio-economic development. One of the Laos Government’s priorities for the energy sector would be to improve its capacity to produce renewable energy, both in short term and long term.

Dr Ik Jae Kim from KEI stressed on the importance of assessing the impact of climate change on the region’s water resource management and ecosystem.

Kim said while hydropower plants were necessary for development it was also very important to establish effective surveillance and warning systems in the management of the region’s water resources to reduce risks for all parties involved. This would be especially crucial for the Mekong River, which runs through multiple countries.

The green energy movement is expected to bring the three countries together to work to ensure the region’s energy and water security as well as to fight the adverse effects of climate change. Experts urged policymakers to provide mechanisms to encourage solutions, technological exchanges, sharing of information and cooperation between stakeholders in the region.

The Xepian-Xe Nam Noy hydropower dam in Laos’ province of Attapeu collapsed on July 23 this year. Five billion cubic metres of water, equivalent to more than two million Olympic-size swimming pools, swept away houses and flooded a number of villages downstream with hundreds went missing and dozens lost their lives in the disaster. — VNS

Oil & Gas

UAE firms encouraged to expand investment in Vietnam

19 October 2018

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Vietnam

Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnamese Government will create favourable conditions for Mubadala Petroleum and other enterprises of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to invest and expand business in Vietnam, said Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung.

Dung made the pledge at a reception in Hanoi on October 17 for Naser Al Hajri, Mubadala Petroleum’s Senior Vice President for Operations in Southeast Asia, during which he applauded the company’s achievements as well as its future investment initiatives in Vietnam.

The Deputy PM suggested Mubadala Petroleum expand its investment in other oil and gas blocks, and other areas such as renewable energy by launching new projects or cooperating with domestic and foreign firms in Vietnam.

Highlighting the fruitful relationship between Vietnam and the UAE, Dung said the two countries have become each other’s important partner based on the pillars of economic, trade and investment cooperation.

The UAE has been a big trade partner of Vietnam and run many investment projects in the country, he said, adding that many Vietnamese living and working in the UAE have significantly contributed to socio-economic development in the host country.

For his part, Naser Al Hajri expressed his hope for stronger cooperation between Mubadala Petroleum and domestic and foreign partners inVietnam to expand investment in oil and gas exploitation.

Mubadala Petroleum wants to realise the initiative on the development of large-scale oil and gas clusters, and increase its investment in other spheres like renewable energy.

Mubadala Petroleum is a leading international, upstream oil and gas exploration and production company. The company manages assets worth up to 40 billion USD and operations spanning 10 countries with a primary geographic focus on the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

It’s total output reached 320,000 equivalent oil barrels in 2016. It has participated in a number of major projects including the world-class Dolphin Gas project, which is central to meeting the energy needs of the UAE; enhanced oil recovery in Oman and most recently in the giant Zohr gas project in Egpyt; plus exploration, development and production activities in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam.

Mubadala Petroleum has been active in Vietnam since 2007 and has non-operated interests in offshore, Block 07/03 containing the Ca Rong Do (CRD or Red Emperor) oil and gas field development and the adjacent exploration Blocks 135 & 136/3.-VNA

Oil & Gas

Schneider Electric donates 1,000 portable solar lamps to PMI for Palu

19 October 2018

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Indonesia ,
Malaysia

Global energy management company Schneider Electric has distributed 1,000 portable light-emitting diode (LED) lamps that uses solar energy to disaster-affected areas in Central Sulawesi, it has said in a statement received on Tuesday.

Schneider Electric Indonesia said the Mobiya portable lamps could store electricity and be used for up to 48 hours.

The statement said that Schneider Electric Indonesia country president Xavier Denoly handed the portable solar lamps to Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) secretary-general Ritola Tasmaya.

The portable lamps are to be distributed in cooperation with PMI, particularly to emergency shelters, medical facilities and schools that were not receiving electricity from state-owned electricity company PLN, the statement said.

Denoly hoped that the portable lamps would help optimize the PMI volunteers provide post-disaster assistance to survivors in Palu, Donggala, Sigi and surrounding areas.

Many locations in Palu and surrounding areas are still relying on generator sets (gensets) to supply electricity.

The PMI’s Ritola appreciated the assistance, stressing that the logistical supplies and equipment contributed from various parties were needed to help the survivors of the Central Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami.

“We express our gratitude to Schneider Electric for their support for PMI. We need the lamps in our operations that frequently take place in areas that do not have electricity,” he added. (bbn)

Energy Cooperation ,
Oil & Gas

Chinese think tank says PHL, China should look at the future as countries eye joint exploration deal

19 October 2018

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Philippines

BEIJING, China — A top think tank here welcomed the upcoming state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Philippines, saying it is a manifestation that the two countries are ready to work together despite competing claims to some parts of the South China Sea.

Xi is set to visit Manila and hold talks with President Rodrigo Duterte after the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Papua New Guinea in November.

“It’s a very important positive sign for both countries, the high level exchanges between our two countries. It will benefit the two sides despite what happened in the past. We look at the future,” Yuan Youwei, Deputy Director-General of the Department of External Affairs for China Center for International Economic Exchanges, told reporters on Tuesday.

“I think if you have this picture in your mind, you think the difference [as] just one point [in the overall bilateral relations]. It is very small. You cannot blind your eye. You cannot overshadow the other things.”

Relations between China and the Philippines have improved considerably under Duterte who temporarily set aside the arbitral ruling that invalidated Beijing’s excessive claims over South China Sea in order to forge stronger trade and economic ties with the Asian power.

Ahead of Xi’s visit, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi will have a meeting with the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs on October 29 aimed at formalizing a framework agreement between the Philippines and China on the joint energy exploration agreement in the South China Sea.

Wang was supposed to be in the Philippines from September 16 to 18 for the talks but it was postponed due to Typhoon Ompong.

Malacañang earlier said a joint exploration deal would help the Philippines meet its energy requirements in the face of rising global fuel costs which impact local prices.

The Palace underscored the need to iron out a deal with China as the supply from the Malampaya gas project in Palawan, which accounts for 20 percent of the country’s electricity requirements, is forecast to start declining by 2022.

Outgoing Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano had said the Philippines was open to a 60-40 deal, in favor of Manila, should a joint development undertaking pushes through with China.

He previously mentioned that Reed Bank or Recto Bank, which is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, could be a site for exploration.

The Philippines suspended exploration in the Reed Bank in 2014 as it pursued international arbitration of its maritime dispute with China.

Cayetano said that any planned energy exploration deal with China would comply with the Philippine Constitution and international laws.

“We need to look at the future. What is the most important thing to both countries? That is the goal we are thinking. We have to look at the bigger picture that is for the benefit of both countries,” Yuan said.

Xi last visited Manila in 2015 for the APEC meetings with the Philippines still under Benigno Aquino III who pursued the arbitration case. —KBK, GMA News

Renewables

Serba Dinamik to acquire stake in firm involved in Laos hydropower project

19 October 2018

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Lao PDR

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 16): Serba Dinamik Holdings Bhd plans to acquire a 49% stake in OHP Ventures Incorporated (OHP Ventures) for US$800,000 or approximately RM3.33 million to expand its EPCC (engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning) business segment and capabilities.

As a shareholder of OHP Ventures, Serba Dinamik may also reap benefits from an energy project OHP Ventures is jointly developing in Laos, it said in a stock exchange filing today.

OHP Ventures has a joint development agreement with Thavone Athsamouth, to develop, finance, construct, commission and operate and maintain two mini hydro installations with an aggregate capacity of 30MW in Houaphan, Laos. The project started in July and will be completed by January 2022.

OHP Ventures also owns 70% of the issued and paid-up shares in Nam Taep 1,2,3 Hydropower Company Ltd (NT), which holds the two concessions for the Laos project. NT inked two power purchase agreements (PPAs) with Électricité du Laos in 2017 for the sale and purchase of the net electrical output generated from the hydropower plants.

Serba Dinamik said its wholly-owned subsidiary Serba Dinamik International Ltd (SDIL) has inked a share sale and purchase agreement (SSA) with OHP Ventures Sdn Bhd, which currently owns the entire issued and paid-up share capital of OHP Ventures, for the stake buy.

On completion of the acquisition, OHP Ventures will become a 49%-owned associated company of SDIL, which gives Serba Dinamik an effective 34% stake in NT. “The proposed acquisition is expected to enhance the Serba Dinamik Group’s financial position and profitability,” the group said, adding the proposed acquisition should be completed by the fourth quarter of this year.

NT is also the company that awarded an EPCC contract to SDIL in July for the Laos project with a contract value of US$66.2 million or about RM275.2 million.

“In line with our business strategy, we will further expand our business into asset ownership. Through this proposed acquisition, it will also allow us to participate in more projects in Laos,” said Serba Dinamik’s group managing director/group chief executive officer Datuk Dr Mohd Abdul Karim Abdullah in a separate statement.

“On top of being able to reap benefits from the projects operated by OHP Ventures, the proposed acquisition will also enlarge our market presence and brand recognition in Laos which, in turn, will enable us to position ourselves to offer our expertise in EPCC and also the operation and maintenance of the hydropower plants upon completion of the EPCC works awarded by NT,” he added.

Shares of Serba Dinamik closed up four sen or 0.98% at RM4.10 today, for a market value of RM6.02 billion. It was listed in February last year at RM1.50 a piece.

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