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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.

Renewables

Green transformation crucial for adaptation to climate change

19 October 2018

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Cambodia ,
Lao PDR ,
Vietnam

Quang Ninh (VNA) – Green transformation for energy and water resource security in the Mekong Sub-region is crucial for Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia to respond to climate change, experts said at a seminar held in the northeastern province of Quang Ninh on October 16.

The event was jointly held by the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS), the Korean Environment Institute (KEI), the Royal Academy of Cambodia (RAC) and the Lao Academy of Social Sciences (LASS).

VASS Vice President Prof. Dr. Dang Nguyen Anh, energy and water resource security is a leading important issue of developing countries. The matter is particularly significant to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia as it has close relations with economy, politics and society in those nations, he said.

Green transformation for energy and water resource security helps increase cooperation among the three nations while contributing to the sustainable growth of each country, Anh said, highlighting that cross-border approach is an innovative solution to reducing environmental costs.

Tran Minh, an expert from the VASS’s Institute of Regional Sustainable Development, said Vietnam has huge potential in terms of green energy and renewable energy but the development of renewable energy remained stagnant due to limitations in finance, technology, and practices.

Also, he laid stress on the effective use of green energy, saying that it play a vital role in reducing pollution and bring in more benefits.

Associate Prof. Dr. Somchith Souksavath, Assistant to the LASS President, underlined that the development of renewable energy is one of the Lao Government’s priority policies to stabilise energy supply, support socio-economic development, alleviate poverty, and serve energy exports to ASEAN member states.

Meanwhile, Dr. Kim Ik-Jae, a senior research fellow from the KEI, emphasized the need to give future orientations in water resource management. He suggested the construction of a water resource monitoring system which facilitates the management in the Mekong Sub-region countries.

RAC Director Eap Ponna said that the management of hydroelectric dams on the Mekong river is father complicated, thus, it is crucial to build official mechanisms, mobilise the involvement of non-governmental organisations.

At the event, experts agreed that countries should focus on improving the possibility of mechanisms and policies, work to diversify energy resources to ensure energy and water security, and enhance information exchange and technology transfer in green transformation.-VNA

Renewables

Sharp builds Vietnam’s 1st mega solar plant

19 October 2018

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Vietnam

TOKYO-Sharp Corp has built a solar power plant with a total solar panel capacity of about 48MW in Thua Thien Hue Province, Vietnam.

According to Sharp, it is the first mega (large-scale) solar power plant in Vietnam.

Sharp Energy Solutions Corp (a subsidiary of Sharp in Yao City, Osaka Prefecture), the Thanh Thanh Cong Group (TTC Group, a conglomerate based in Vietnam) and the Gia Lai Electricity Joint Stock Company (a renewable energy-based power producer affiliated with the TTC group) jointly built the solar power plant and had a ceremony to celebrate the completion of the plant on Oct 5.

The plant is expected to generate about 61,570MWh of electricity, which is equivalent to the amount consumed by 32,628 households in Vietnam, per year, contributing to eliminating about 20,503t of CO2. The solar panel and PV inverter employed for the plant are products of Sharp and Toshiba Mitsubishi-Electric Industrial Systems Corp (TMEIC), respectively.

In addition to the 48MW plant, Sharp is building two solar power plants with an output of about 49MW each in cooperation with the TTC Group. One is located in Binh Thuan Province, and the other is in Long An Province.

Electricity/Power Grid ,
Renewables

Vietnam strives to ease energy pressure

19 October 2018

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Vietnam

HCM City (VNA) – Experts have suggested Vietnam build a balanced energy structure by developing renewable energy, given the increased energy demand in the country.

Statistics show Vietnam uses a great deal of energy, with the industrial sector consuming the most at 47.3 percent of the total.

The southern region faces a severe shortage of electricity as it uses up to 85 billion kWh each year compared with its production capacity of only 70 billion kWh.

Nguyen Phuoc Duc, Deputy General Director of the Southern Power Corporation, said the region is expected to lack about 1.2-1.6 billion kWh each year during 2021-2022, warning the figure may climb higher.

Against this backdrop, experts suggested restructuring power resources in each region and setting up a transmission connectivity system.

According to Nguyen Tan Loc, Vice President and Secretary General of the Vietnam Electrotechnical Industry Association, although Vietnam has developed standby power resources since 2004, the country still faces electricity pressure.

Therefore, he said, renewable energy will help address many issues relating to electricity.

Vietnam has set forth a national renewable energy development strategy, under which renewable energy is hoped to account for 32.3 percent of all energy in 2030 and 44 percent in 2050.

However, natural resources are being exhausted and overexploitation has harmed the environment and human life.

Like other developing countries, Vietnam is seeking renewable energy to replace fossil fuels.

Experts said Vietnam boasts potential for solar energy development, with about 1,600-2,700 sunlight hours per year and the average solar radiation of 4-5 kWh/m2 per day.

Under the national electricity development planning scheme, solar power is expected to become the main renewable energy source in the future, with installed capacity to be increased from 6-7 MW by the end of 2017 to 850 MW by 2020 (1.6% of the country’s power generation) and 12,000 MW by 2030 (3.3% of the country’s power generation).

To that end, the Government has issued preferential policies to encourage investment in solar energy.

Currently, many domestic and foreign businesses are building solar power projects and selecting suitable technologies to materialise these projects.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade said 100 projects in solar power farms have been added to provincial or national planning schemes, with total registered capacity of 4.7 GW in 2020.

Nguyen Ngoc Quynh, from SolarBK Holdings, said connectivity between businesses will help bring solar power closer to production activities and daily life of residents as the source of energy is still a new field and related mechanisms and policies are being finalised.

Other sources of energy such as wind, rain, tide and waves are also forming the new trend of development of the energy sector.-VNA

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