News Clipping Archive - Page 1227 of 1320

Electricity/Power Grid

Electricity supply disrupted for nearly 1.5 hours in parts of Singapore

26 January 2019

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Singapore

SINGAPORE – A power outage that lasted about one and a half hours hit parts of Singapore on Saturday afternoon (Jan 26).

Residents in Bishan, Toa Payoh and Shunfu reported that electricity in their homes was cut, and lifts and traffic lights were also affected.

An update on electricity provider SP Group’s Facebook page at 3.19pm said that electricity supply was fully restored at 2.58pm. The disruption started at 1.30pm, affecting parts of Ang Mo Kio, Bishan, Sin Ming and Thomson, and electricity supply was progressively restored from 1.46pm.

SP Group said its officers were immediately activated and its priority was to restore electricity supply as quickly and safely as possible.

A preliminary investigation found that the incident was related to a fire at a substation in Bright Hill.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said that it was alerted to the fire in Bright Hill Road at about 1.30pm. An equipment-related fire at the site was extinguished by the SCDF, and a firefighter was taken to Singapore General Hospital for smoke inhalation.

The Straits Times understands that the fire was extinguished in under 10 minutes, and the firefighter was conscious and stable.

A spokesman from the Energy Market Authority (EMA) said the energy regulator takes a serious view of electricity supply disruptions.

The spokesman added that EMA will work with the energy industry to take appropriate measures, so as to minimise the risk of such a disruption from taking place again.

EMA, SP Group and SCDF are investigating the incident.

Shunfu resident Jane Oh told The Straits Times in Mandarin that she was buying eggs at a provision shop on the ground floor when the blackout happened.

She also said that staff from the town council came by at around 2pm to check on the situation and make sure no one was still trapped inside the lifts as electricity was gradually restored.

“I started hearing the emergency alarm being rung in the lift, and realised that people were trapped inside, and the blackout had affected at least the whole block.”

She said that the power went out at around 1.30pm, and was restored at around 2pm.

An elderly couple, who were leaving after visiting their daughter on the 10th storey, was trapped in the lift, said Ms Oh, 56, a freelance teacher.

“The lift had already reached the first floor, then the power was cut, trapping them inside. When the lift started working again at around 2pm, the auntie told us that she didn’t want to take the lift anymore and told us not to take it too,” she added.

“But I live on the 13th storey and don’t have enough energy to climb so many stairs. Another resident was also sitting at the void deck with many bags of groceries waiting for lift services to be restored,” said Ms Oh. She added that this was her first time experiencing an electricity supply cut in over 20 years of living in Shunfu.

Mr Eddie Osman Zaieuddin, 42, said the whole of Block 303 Shunfu Road where he lives had no power. “I saw the essential services maintenance unit at my block trying to reset the lift,” said Mr Eddie, who is self-employed.

His power was cut at around 1.40pm and restored at 2.05pm.

Freelancer Mohamad Syahid Arif, 38, was getting ready to head out from his second-floor home at Block 97 Toa Payoh Lorong 3 when the outage occurred.

“There was totally no power. The lift was also not working. I could hear that there was someone stuck in the lift, pressing the emergency button,” he said.

Mr Syahid also said that while he could not contact Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council through its emergency hotline, it was responsive when he messaged the town council via Facebook.

He said: “It was quite calm, and there wasn’t much chaos.” In his case, the power outage started at around 1.25pm and ended at 1.50pm.

Around 4.30pm, a spokesman for the town council said that no one was injured during the outage, and that electricity supply has resumed across the GRC. The spokesman also described the situation as “calm and managed”.

Residents in other areas such as Bishan Street 22 and Sin Ming Avenue were still experiencing disruptions to their electricity supply after 2pm.

On social media, Twitter user Fyra Hilspears said that electricity had been cut in Bishan.

“Lifts, traffic lights and electrical appliances are down,” she wrote.

Others

AC Energy raises $225 million from maiden green bonds

26 January 2019

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Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — AC Energy Inc., the energy platform of the Ayala conglomerate, has successfully raised $225 million from its maiden green bond issuance which will bankroll its renewable energy portfolio expansion.

The inaugural US dollar-denominated senior green bond issuance has a five-year tenor and a coupon of 4.75 percent per annum, priced at 99.451.

AC Energy Finance International Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of AC Energy, issued the bonds, a drawdown from the recently established $1 billion medium term note program.

The bonds will be listed on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Ltd. (SGX-ST).

“We are very pleased to see the success of our maiden green bond. This will enable AC Energy to scale up its renewable energy investments in the region,” said AC Energy chairman Fernando Zobel de Ayala.

“We are very encouraged by the strong reception among bond investors within the current volatile environment. This reflects confidence in AC Energy’s capability to execute its plans and meet investor expectations,” AC Energy chief financial officer Cora Dizon said.

The bonds have received certification under the Climate Bonds Standard (CBS) from the Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI), and will be the first publicly syndicated CBI-certified dollar-denominated green bond in Southeast Asia.

The CBS certification provides assurance that proceeds from any issuance of bonds will be used to finance projects and assets that are consistent with delivering a low-carbon and climate resilient economy.

AC Energy’s green bond framework sets out well-defined guidelines for use of proceeds for renewable energy projects, with comprehensive monitoring and reporting commitments.

In 2018, AC Energy generated 2,800 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of attributable energy, of which 48 percent was from renewable sources.

AC Energy’s 2025 goal is to reach 5GW of renewable energy capacity, with renewables contributing at least 50 percent of total energy output.

Based on its equity interest in power generation businesses, it owns approximately 1.7 GW of generation capacity in operations and under construction.

HSBC acted as sole global coordinator, Bank of America Merrill Lynch acted as sole green structuring agent, and BofAML, CLSA and HSBC acted as joint bookrunners and joint lead managers, with the participation of BDO Capital, BPI Capital Corp., and China Bank Capital as domestic managers.

Oil & Gas

Completion of institutions needed to develop oil and gas sector

25 January 2019

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Vietnam

Hanoi (VNA) – Politburo member and head of the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission Nguyen Van Binh on January 25 stressed the need to complete institutions for the development of the oil and gas sector.

During a working session with leading officials of the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam), Binh asked the group to review the implementation of the Politburo’s Resolution No.41 on orienting the Vietnam Oil and Gas Development Strategy by 2025 with a vision to 2035 to submit to the Politburo to issue a new resolution so as to cope with challenges and overcome difficulties facing the group, as well as the entire sector.

For difficulties in dealing with projects and businesses with bad performances, the group should seek a correct approach and quickly make proposals towards the promulgation of specific policies, he suggested.

After three years implementing Resolution No.41, PetroVietnam has well carried out disseminations and put forward several action plans and programmes to institutionalize the resolution’s content, he noted.

The group has gained remarkable achievements in business and production. Restructuring work has met requirements, and equitisation has been carried out drastically and effectively, with PetroVietnam Oil Corporation, PetroVietnam Power Corporation and Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical JSC (BSR) equitized in 2018.

To fulfill its set targets for 2019, PetroVietnam is striving to increase oil and gas reserves of 10-15 million tonnes of oil equivalent, pump 12.37 million tonnes of oil, and produce 1.58 million tonnes of nitrogenous fertiliser, 21.6 billion kWh of electricity and 10.35 million tonnes of gasoline.-VNA

Others

Philippines’ largest green office building to rise in Cebu

25 January 2019

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Philippines

CEBU CITY — Green developer ArthaLand Corp. is bringing a new brand of sustainable development in Cebu, as the company builds the country’s largest “green” office building, the Cebu Exchange.

Top executives unveiled the company’s newest marketing campaign dubbed as “Business in Harmony.” It showcases the Cebu Exchange as a masterpiece of sustainable development, a well-balanced ecosystem of green office technologies, plush amenities and a diverse retail mix where businesses and individuals can thrive in harmony.

“In constructing a building, there are a lot of moving parts—the developer, architect, contractor, interior designer,” said Leo Po, executive vice president and treasurer for Arthaland, during a recent press briefing in Cebu City.

“In building this massive and innovative project, we’re working together not just to build a beautiful building but also a sustainable one that will help save energy and water,” said Po.

Chris Narciso, executive vice president for ArthaLand, presenting the country’s first-ever “Consolidated Leasing Solutions by ArthaLand,” before a full-house of guests at the Seda Hotel, Cebu Business Park, Cebu City. Released

ArthaLand noted that Cebu Exchange is a holistic, sustainable and highly connected work environment where harmony is not just a way of life, but a way of doing business.

The company is on track to complete the office project at the gateway of the Cebu IT Park.

The Cebu Exchange, which will have a gross floor area of 108,500 square meters and a net sellable area of 88,300 square meters, is equivalent to three office buildings combined.

“Once completed, it will have more than 12,000 people working in it, which is a massive number of people. That’s why we’re calling it our biggest and our best project to date,” Po noted.

The 39-storey building will be divided in three zones. The low zone, from the 9th floor to the 15th floor, is designed for business process outsourcing (BPO) locators. The mid zone, composed of the 16th to 29th floor, is expected to house large companies and more BPOs. While the high zone, comprising of the 30th to 39th floor, will serve as headquarters of companies as well as small corporate offices.

Chris Narciso, executive vice president for Business Development and Leo Po, executive vice president and treasurer, posing before a model of Arthaland’s Cebu Exchange, the country’s largest “green” office building. Released

The building’s basement floors until the 8th floor will also serve as retail spaces and will feature a fitness center, health maintenance organization (HMO) clinics, dental clinics, banks, co-working spaces, groceries and restaurants, among others.

ArthaLand’s innovation isn’t only confined to building designs, but to client services as well. The country’s first-ever “Consolidated Leasing Solutions by ArthaLand” guarantees hassle-free leasing services to both buyers and tenants, making everything from negotiation to documentation and property management seamless and hassle-free.

The Cebu Exchange is registered with both the US Green Building Council (USGBC) and pre-certified for the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).

The project is also registered with the Philippine Green Building Council (PhilGBC) and is expected to earn the Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence (BERDE) certification.

The 39-storey building will be divided in three zones. The low zone, designed for business process outsourcing (BPO) locators. The mid zone, to house large companies and more BPOs. While the high zone, will serve as headquarters of companies as well as small corporate offices. Released

“This building is a testament to sustainability. We are the only developer embarking on dual certification with the USGBC and PhilGBC. This shows that we think global but act local. We are bringing a world-class building to this wonderful city,” Po pointed out.

The Cebu Exchange will have several environmentally sustainable and resource-efficient design features.

These include low-voltage lighting, water-saving plumbing systems, water recycling system, a materials recovery facility, energy saving airconditioning system, its own septage treatment plant, optimized building envelope, and a terrace garden and sky park, among others.

The Cebu Exchange had previously earned several awards, namely becoming one of the Best Office Developments in Asia. The office project was also honored as the Best Green Feature Development during the first Japan International Property Awards 2018 in Tokyo.

Meanwhile, ArthaLand was awarded as one of the Best Boutique Developers in Asia and the Best Boutique Developer in the Philippines during the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Finals 2018.

Oil & Gas

Workshop focusses on UK oil and gas assets decommissioning

25 January 2019

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Brunei Darussalam

A FOUR-DAY Decommissioning and Restoration Workshop, hosted by the Ministry of Energy, Manpower and Industry (MEMI) in collaboration with the British High Commission in Brunei Darussalam for oil and gas industry assets, held at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) building, concluded yesterday. Permanent Secretary (Energy) at the MEMI Haji Azhar bin […]

Oil & Gas

RPT-Indonesia embarks on overhaul of oil, gas law to halt output slide

25 January 2019

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Indonesia

* Indonesia’s oil production has plunged in past years

* Fuel imports cost Indonesia $17.6 billion in 2018

* Energy is an election campaign topic in Indonesia

By Fergus Jensen and Wilda Asmarini

JAKARTA, Jan 24 (Reuters) – Indonesia’s government is planning revisions of its oil and gas law with President Joko Widodo this week responding to a proposal initiated by parliament, calling for a plan to revive the ailing sector and boost the country’s energy independence.

Widodo this week met with his senior cabinet members to craft a response to parliamentary proposals for a new law submitted in December.

The revisions should provide momentum for regulatory reforms to make the oil and gas sector more efficient, transparent, straightforward, sustainable and provide added value to the national economy, Widodo said according to a statement from the cabinet secretary issued late on Wednesday.

Formerly an oil exporter and member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Indonesia’s crude output has plunged while its fuel demand has surged, making the country reliant on imports of gasoline and diesel.

The slump in oil and gas output has followed years of regulatory uncertainty. Recent pressure from the government on state-owned energy producer PT Pertamina to take over assets from oil majors like Chevron and Total has stoked concerns among foreign energy investors about the security of their projects.

Indonesia has struggled to revamp its last set of oil and gas laws passed in 2001 and a parliamentary committee finally proposed a new law to the full body in December.

Issues surrounding the oil and gas sector have long been a source of tension with foreign investors, and resolving these matters has proven challenging for Widodo, who is running for re-election in April.

“The aim of this revision must not only be to push to increase oil and gas production, but also to support the strengthening of national capacities, strengthening domestic industries and investment in our human resources in the oil and gas industry,” according to a statement on the cabinet secretary’s website.

Among the changes the parliament proposed and which Widodo and his cabinet will discuss with them is the creation of a new oil and gas business entity that will also serve as a regulator, called BUKMigas, according to a draft of the law reviewed by Reuters.

That agency will take over from the current upstream regulator SKKMigas and the downstream regulator BPHMigas.

In addition to its regulatory role, BUKMigas will also be able to undertake work in oil and gas exploration and production. However, BPHMigas will still maintain oversight of pipeline fuel and gas transportation.

LIST OF PROBLEMS

For the first time, Indonesia would have a state petroleum fund, bankrolled with revenue the government makes from oil and gas production as well as levies and bonuses, according to the draft.

More talks about the proposed law will be held between Widodo’s government and the parliament. Late on Wednesday, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry Legal Bureau Chief Hufron Asrofi told reporters that the government is compiling a list of problems with the current draft for discussion.

According to a note on Indonesia’s oil and gas policy published this week by Fitch Solutions Macro Research, much work is still needed to attract investment to the oil and gas sector.

“When viewed in the context of intensifying competition for foreign direct investments across South and Southeast Asia, Indonesia remains at risk of falling behind, despite its impressive reserves profile and large market, if the tightening state grip over the sector is not loosened.”

Electricity/Power Grid

Myanmar: New electricity rates set to be announced this year

25 January 2019

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Myanmar

Any rise in electricity rates to be announced this year will take into account the needs of ordinary people, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Electricity and Energy (MOEE) U Soe Myint has told� The Myanmar Times.

“An increase in rates will take place this year, but only after we seek recommendations from all stakeholders will we announce the new rates that will not affect the lives of ordinary people too drastically,” U Soe Myint said.

“The rationale for raising the rates has already been explained to committees in the upper and lower houses of the Assembly of the Union, regional and state ministers, and members of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI). The reasons will also be explained to the 600 MPs of the upper and lower houses. Only when this is done and all objections have been heard will the government announce the new rates,” said U Soe Myint.

Representatives from the industrial sector, UMFCCI and government ministries held talks about the rate increases in Nay Pyi Taw this month, said UMFCCI chair U Maung Maung Lay.

“Myanmar’s electricity charge is the lowest in the region. The country loses around K500 billion annually for distributing electricity and this hampers development,” U Maung Maung Lay said, adding that no country in the world can afford to do this.

“The cost of distributing electricity in Myanmar is not balanced between income and expenditure. Any country would have to review its rates if it faces this issue. However, a mechanism should be created so people are not overly burdened.

The rich use more electricity than the poor, so the government must decide how it will implement higher rates,” said U Maung Maung Lay.

Currently, the government incurs costs of K89 per unit to generate and distribute electricity from hydropower, and K178 per unit for electricity from natural gas, according to the Ministry of Electricity and Energy.

In terms of charges for end-users, per-unit prices of electricity for households are K35 from 1 unit to 100 units; K40 from 101 to 200 units; K50 above 201 units and street lights. For businesses the charges are K75 from 1 unit to 500 units and up to K150 per unit above that.

Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy Dr Tun Naing revealed that the government has been subsidising K.23 for the sale of every unit of electricity in the country meaning large amounts are spent on providing electricity to the public, rather than investing in the actual development of the country,

“At the present, 35pc of people in the country have access to electricity at the expense of the state’s finances. So, it’s been a challenging situation for the state to provide electricity to the other areas which don’t have access to it. In my point of view, business owners are enjoying electricity at less than reasonable charges,” he said.

Currently, only over four million households have been electrified out of over 10 million households in the country. Despite the fact that the state is able to generate only over 3,000 MW of electricity at present, electricity demand has been rising by 15pc on a yearly basis. According to the demand forecast, about 6,000 MW will be required in 2020-2021, the Ministry of Electricity and Energy (MOEE) said.

The rate of increase in electricity consumption typically rises by 15 percent per year on average. This fiscal year though, demand is expected to increase by 19pc. As such, the MOEE is aiming to raise supply to 3700 megawatts during the period, from 3400MW this year. The ministry expects to spend K578 billion.

Myanmar generates most of its energy through gas and hydropower plants. As construction of several hydropower projects is still ongoing, additional energy requirements for the fiscal year will be supplied by three gas-fired power plants.

These include the 225MW combined-cycle Sembcorp Myingyan gas plant, which commenced operations this month, a second gas plant producing 90MW of energy in Myingyan as well as a 145MW plant in Belin, Kyaukse.

Meanwhile, as existing gas fields in Myanmar deplete, the government is preparing to open up tenders for 31 offshore gas fields this year, the first time it has done so in five years. The MOEE is now also revising the terms and conditions of the production sharing contracts that will be offered to the winning bidders in the tender exercise.

In the meantime, it has announced plans to plug the country’s gas deficit with liquefied natural gas.

Electricity/Power Grid

National power plan expands private output

25 January 2019

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Thailand

Monks walk past a solar farm on their way to the temple after morning alms rounds. The latest version of a 20-year energy plan increases the importance of renewable energy. (File photo)

After three years of revising and drawing up a new version of the power development plan (PDP), the National Energy Policy Council (NEPC) has approved the plan for 2018-37, emphasising more participation from private companies in the country’s power generation.

The new version is expected to take effect from the second quarter.

On Thursday the council, chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, approved the PDP, which will be effective until 2037. The plan can be revised every five years as changes and technological trends occur in the power sector.

The plan reduces the proportion of power generated by the state-run Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) from 35% in the previous version to 24%.

The new PDP sees policymakers plan for new power capacity of 56,431 megawatts, up from 46,090MW in 2017.

Of the planned new capacity, 20,766MW will be from renewable power projects.

See also: BCPG sets massive wind power goal

Power plants with a total capacity of 25,310MW will be retired during 2018-37, so total power capacity by 2037 will stand at 77,211MW.

Energy Minister Siri Jirapongphan said non-fossil power will represent 35% of total power capacity by 2037, while coal-fired power plants will be reduced to 12%.

“We are very keen on renewable energy projects and energy conservation plans, while power imported from neighbouring countries is generated from hydropower,” Mr Siri said, adding that Thailand will import 5,857MW by 2037, up from 3,528MW.

He said electricity fees during 2018-37 are estimated at 3.50-3.68 baht per kilowatt-hour or an average of 3.58 baht.

“The NEPC has ordered the Energy Ministry to hold talks with Laos and Cambodia regarding capacity and power prices if the two countries want to establish power plants and sell power to Thailand,” Mr Siri said.

He said the NEPC also authorised the ministry and Egat to study grid development in a bid to maintain the power fee, purchase more renewable power in the future and increase the country’s efficiency to become a centre of purchasing power in the region or a grid connection.

Egat and the Provincial Electricity Authority are required to develop a smart grid in the Eastern Economic Corridor in a bid to lower power fees to draw new investment flows.

The PDP also allows solar panels to be installed on private property and surplus power to be sold to Egat.

“Egat will purchase at least 100MW of solar power a year in the next 10 years, while the ministry will soon put the purchase plan into action,” Mr Siri said.

The NEPC also approved the revision of purchasing power contracts with 25 small power producers (SPP) that are co-generation plants.

The SPP contracts expire over 2016-25 and will be extended.

The SPP purchase rate is 2.80 baht per unit for gas-fired power plants and 2.54 baht for coal-fired ones.

After the new PDP is enacted, four other plans will soon be drawn up and implemented: oil management, natural gas supply, alternative energy development, and energy savings and efficiency.

All five plans will be integrated in the energy blueprint under the country’s energy reform plan.

News Clipping

Chris Narciso, executive vice president for ArthaLand, presenting the country’s first-ever “Consolidated Leasing Solutions by ArthaLand,” before a full-house of guests at the Seda Hotel, Cebu Business Park, Cebu City. Released

Chris Narciso, executive vice president for Business Development and Leo Po, executive vice president and treasurer, posing before a model of Arthaland’s Cebu Exchange, the country’s largest “green” office building. Released

The 39-storey building will be divided in three zones. The low zone, designed for business process outsourcing (BPO) locators. The mid zone, to house large companies and more BPOs. While the high zone, will serve as headquarters of companies as well as small corporate offices. Released

LIST OF PROBLEMS

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