Saturday, December 31, 2016

Vietnam: PVN has finished 2016 exploiting plan

Vietnam: PVN has finished 2016 exploiting plan

On December 28, 2016, PVN implemented exploitation of 15,02 million ton of
crude oil to remark finishing it's 2016 exploiting plan.

Previously, on November 29, 2016, PVN already finished gas exploiting target
with 9.608 billion m3

2016 is the consecutive eighth year PVN exceed the exploiting plan with
total production of 27.73 million ton of equivalent oil, among which
exceeded production to year plan of oil as 7.3%, gas as 9.7%.

To achieve this success in situations when the world market oil prices
mournfully fell (44$/barrel), all of PVN fields had to maximally cut the
costs and even some of them ware likely to stop exploitation, PVN had
outstanding efforts for directing its units to mobilize all means and
manpower, realize all solutions to finish and exceed petroleum exploiting
plan.

The active and timely solutions PVN already took to ensure the productions
at 30 domestic fields as to carry out the measures for increasing equipment
operation factor, oil recovery ratio; and activities of equipment
maintenance and repair; and to put into operation two new projects as Thien
Ung field and RC-9 drilling rig.

Besides, in 2016 PVN also implemented well activities for management and
optimal exploitation of the fields, and for shortening repair and
maintenance process at the projects; and as well as received the timely
support from management agencies in assessing and approving additional works
that contributed to production increase.

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Link to Original Article:
http://nangluongvietnam.vn/news/en/oil-and-gas/pvn-has-finished-2016-exploit
ing-plan.html


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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com

Wind power holds key to address Vietnam's sustainable energy strategy

Wind power holds key to address Vietnam's sustainable energy strategy

Investing in renewable energy sources, particularly wind power, is key to
address Vietnam's growing electricity demand and to ensure the nation's
energy security as well as green growth strategy. The successful path
towards this ultimate goal now depend on what policies and technologies
Vietnam will take on to make the nation's fully untapped potential a truly
reality.

The tapping potential

According to the World Bank (WB) research, Vietnam was found out as a
country with the largest wind resource potential, surpassing other Southeast
Asian countries including Cambodia, Laos and Thailand. The country's
potential of wind energy was estimated to be around 513,360 megawatts(MW),
approximately six folds higher than the forecasted capacity of the
electricity sector by 2020. The WB's study showed that 8.6 per cent of the
total land area in Vietnam has very high potential for the development of
large wind energy farms, while the figures for Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand
are 0.2, 2.9, and 0.2 per cent, respectively.

Meanwhile, the International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that onshore wind
would be one of quickest alternative sources of energy to develop, compared
to other targeted sources like supercritical coal, geothermal and nuclear
power plants. Wind is produced by the uneven heating of the earth's surface
by the sun. As long as the sun shines, there will always be wind, and
therefore, an energy source.

According to data released by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), a
total of 50 wind farm projects have been registered in Vietnam, but only
four with the total installed capacity of 159.2MW are generating
commercially.

Construction of Cong Ly Construction-Trade-Tourism Company's Bac Lieu Wind
Farm – the biggest among the four operating wind farms in Vietnam - started
on September 9, 2010. The offshore wind farm in the Mekong Delta province of
Bac Lieu, has 62 turbines, with the total capacity of 99.2MW, and an output
of 320 million kWh per year. The project has a total area of 1,300 hectares
with the total investment of VND5.2 trillion ($233.2 million) which comes
from the investor's pocket and government's funds. The first phase started
operation in May 2013, contributing 16MW to the national grid. In January
2016, all 62 turbines have been installed and put to use.

Second, Tuy Phong Wind Farm by Vietnam Renewable Energy in the central
province of Binh Thuan started operation with 20 turbines and a combined
capacity of 30MW in 2012.

Also in Binh Thuan, the $17-million Phu Quy Wind Farm, which was invested by
PetroVietnam Power Renewable Energy Limited Company (PV Power RE - a PV
Power subsidiary), has three turbines with a combined capacity of 6MW. It
came into operation in July 2012.

The most recent addition to the national grid was Phu Lac Wind Farm invested
by Thuan Binh Wind Power in Binh Thuan with a capacity of 24MW and the
investment capital of VND1 trillion ($44.8 million). The plant started
operation in September this year.

It is certainly seen that Vietnam's wind energy has not been tapped to its
full potential. According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade's Energy
General Department, under the country's latest revised power development
master plan, Vietnam's total wind power capacity would increase to 800MW by
2020, 2,000MW by 2025, and 6,000MW by 2030.

Technology: key to the dream

While Vietnam is in the early stages of wind power development, the world is
making big strides ahead. According to the Global Wind Energy Council
headquartered in Brussels, as of the end of 2015, the total global wind
power capacity was 432.42GW, up 17 per cent on-year and, for the first time
in history, higher than that of nuclear energy. It is notable that many big
companies in the world are investing in developing wind power technology.

GE is one of these companies. By 2016, the company has invested $2 billion
into research and development in the field and has obtained capabilities to
meet customers' demands, be it for turbines, wind farms, or grid solutions.

It all starts with GE's Digital Wind Farm. The Digital Wind Farm ecosystem
begins with the wind farms themselves. Because the wind whips around the
turbines and terrain in unique ways, GE Renewable Energy has developed
technology that creates a digital twin of each turbine to model how to get
the most energy out of a given landscape before planting the iron in the
earth. The approach could improve a farm's energy production by as much as
20 per cent and generate $100 million of value over the lifetime of a 100MW
farm.

Plus, with its patented turbine technology, GE can be the game-changer
companies are looking for: the carbon fibre blades make for quieter,
lighter, and more efficient operation.

GE technology can help operate, monitor, maintain, and optimise wind power
plants. The WindSCADA system allows an accessible view into the plant's
performance thanks to plant and turbine-level output heat displays. It
allows operators to control turbines remotely and share data beyond the site
as well as to identify performance variations through advanced analysis and
reporting.

On the other hand, the PulsePoint software helps analyse drive-train
vibration data and detect SCADA data anomalies. It can help operators save
more than 10 per cent on annual maintenance costs through avoiding repair
costs, decreasing downtime, and increasing lifecycle output.

GE monitors plants through remote operations centres. At the moment, GE is
monitoring 8,500 operating turbines over the world, saving an average $7,000
on troubleshooting per turbine per year. The average return to service time
for faulty turbines is 6 minutes. With these technologies, GE enables
operators to manage their wind farms like a conventional power plant.

At the moment, GE has deployed more than 30,000 wind turbines with the
combined capacity of 50GW in 35 countries.

Some parts of GE's wind turbines have been produced in Vietnam. GE's
Vietnamese wind turbine production plant in Nomura Industrial Zone in the
northern port city of Haiphong is one of its most modern plants in the
world. The main product of the plant is the 60Hz wind turbine generator
which, along with other wind power equipment, is exported to the North
American market. The facility has an output of 1,000-1,500 generators per
year and it produces 50Hz wind turbine generators for local use.

Springboard for Vietnam

Vietnam has the chance to accelerate wind power development as GE has
brought in technologies as part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
with MoIT.

The MoU was signed in May this year on the occasion of US President Barack
Obama's visit to Vietnam. GE will utilise its global wind development
expertise and work with local developers to identify potential projects.
Furthermore, the group will support the implementation of Vietnam's national
target programme through local manufacturing of wind turbine equipment and
components at GE's Haiphong facility, plus collaboration with other local
suppliers.

The ultimate purpose of both parties, accordingly, is to develop a minimum
of 1,000MW of new wind farms by 2025. This represents enough energy to power
the equivalent of approximately 1.8 million Vietnamese homes.

A part of the MoU has been implemented in September this year with GE
signing a cooperation agreement with renewable energy producer Mainstream
Renewable Power to develop wind power plants in Vietnam.

Immediately responding to the agreement, in mid-November, these two big
players in the global renewable energy signed a cooperation agreement with
Phu Cuong Group to jointly develop, build, and operate Phu Cuong Power Plant
in the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang.

The project is located just off the coast with a planned capacity up to
800MW and in the first phase, the project is going to have a capacity of
150-200MW. The developer is going to finish arranging the finances for the
first phase in 2018.

Besides wind power, GE expects to bring other technologies to Vietnam too.
Jérôme Pécresse, president and CEO of GE Renewable Energy, said that the
company can help Vietnam in a multitude of areas, including wind power
development, national grid connectivity and management to ensure the grid
operates more stably even in periods when wind power is not available.

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Link to Original Article:
http://nangluongvietnam.vn/news/en/nuclear-renewable/wind-power-holds-key-to
-address-vietnams-sustainable-energy-strategy.html


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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com

Indonesia Set to Become World's 2nd Largest Geothermal Power Producer

Indonesia Set to Become World's 2nd Largest Geothermal Power Producer

Indonesia is set to become the world's second largest geothermal power
producer, overtaking the Philippines, with its capacity to generate
geothermal electricity expected to increase by 385 megawatts next year.

Despite siting on the world's largest geothermal energy reserves, Indonesia
today generates only 1,647 megawatts from geothermal wells, less than half
of the United States' geothermal power output (3,450 megawatts) and still
behind the Philippines (1,870 megawatts).

Yunus Saefulhak, director of geothermal energy at the Ministry of Energy and
Mineral Resources, said that by the end of this year Indonesia's geothermal
power capacity will have increased by 130 megawatts, and by 255 megawatts
next year.

"If everything goes to plan, our capacity will soon reach 1,908 megawatts,
higher than the Philippines'," Yunus said.

"We will hopefully catch up with the US in 2021," he said, adding that the
superpower is unlikely to expand its geothermal power capacity.

Next month, the Lahendong geothermal power plant in North Sulawesi will open
a sixth unit that will increase its output by 20 megawatts.

The Sarulla geothermal power plant in North Tapanuli in North Sumatra, with
a capacity of 255 megawatts, will also open next month.

The power plant is being developed by Medco Power Indonesia, Japan's Itochu
Corporation and US-based Ormat Technologies.

Indonesia has a total of 28,994 megawatts in geothermal power reserves - the
largest in the world - but conflicting laws, complicated pricing scheme and
opposition from local communities have posed difficulties in harnessing them
effectively.

A recent government decision to allow geothermal exploitation in
conservation areas - a successful practice learnt from the Philippines - is
likely to speed up the process and prove that conservation and power
generation can go hand in hand.

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Link to Original Article:
http://jakartaglobe.id/business/indonesia-set-become-worlds-2nd-largest-geot
hermal-power-producer/


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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com

Malaysia's Serba Dinamik Engineering Group Will Open IPO In February

Malaysia's Serba Dinamik Engineering Group Will Open IPO In February

February, its CEO said, in what would be the country's biggest listing in 19
months.

Serba, which provides engineering solutions to the oil and gas and power
sectors, will use part of the IPO proceeds for cross-border acquisitions,
focusing on companies with manufacturing capabilities, CEO Mohd Abdul Karim
Abdullah said.

"We want to add on to our field services and offshore capabilities. [Through
these acquisitions] we can also supply parts to the clients," he said.

The company will offer 389.4 million shares in the IPO with a retail price
of 1.50 ringgit each, though the final offer price will be determined after
a book-building exercise with institutional investors in January, Karim told
Reuters in an interview.

Reuters had reported in August citing sources that the group was looking to
raise about 600 million ringgit in an IPO.

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Link to Original Article:
https://www.oilandgasinvestor.com/malaysias-serba-dinamik-engineering-group-
will-open-ipo-february-1456256?mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiTnpoaVpEazRNR1ZtTkRRMyIsInQiO
iJIWkxJSjh1M1Vob1wvTGhmS1ZQUk9GTHRcL2piaXFqMzhXQit4MThyNWllMXBmdFptS200V01Pc

ENpa2RPM0JiU0psb2RnWWJnaVprM3BIY05sUkpMTkVVQXZZbzd1QlM3OVlOM0FrMUp5ZGRVaUxVd
CtwYitwbVwvXC9LS0ZqNDJPWUkifQ%3D%3D

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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com

Indonesia: Pertamina's geothermal power capacity to rise to 1,037 MW in 2021

Indonesia: Pertamina's geothermal power capacity to rise to 1,037 MW in 2021

Indonesia state owned energy company PT Pertamina said its subsidiary PT
Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE) installed capacity is expected to increase
by 14% per annum in between 2017 to 2021, a company official said.

Director for Upstream of Pertamina Syamsu Alam was quoted by Investor Daily
as saying that the installed capacity of PGE will gradually increase to
1,037 MW in 2021 from 532 MW at present,

He said PGE will step up its efforts to explore and develop the existing
geothermal energy projects. Some of the geothermal power plants will begin
commercial operation this year and next year.

PGE produces steam from its geothermal well and sell to other parties,
including PLN to generate power as the case of Kamojang Power Plant Unit 1
and 2. In other case it produces steam and develop its owned geothermal
power plants.

Syamsu said in 2017, Pertamina targets to operate two new geothermal power
plants, namely PLTP Ulubelu Unit 4 with capacity of 55 MW and PLTP Karaha
Unit 1 with capacity of 30 MW. This will raise PGE's geothermal energy
installed capacity to 617 MW by the end of 2017.

In addition, five geothermal energy projects are being developed, namely
PLTP Kamojang new unit, Karhaa, Lahedong, Ulubelu and Lumut Balai as well as
two steam field development projects, namely Sungai Penuh and Hululais.

PGE is also exploring four geothermal working areas (WKs), namely Selulawah,
Bukit Daun, Margabayur and Lawu.

The latest geothermal plant of the company is PLTP Lahendong Unit 6, which
began commercial operation on Dec. 9, 2016 with installed capacity of 20 MW.
In July 2016, it operated PLTP Ulubelu Unit 3 with capacity of 55 MW.

The other existing geothermal plants are PLTP Kamojang 235 MW, PLTP
Lahendong 100 MW, PLTP Ulubelu 165 MW and PLTP Sibayak 12 MW.

Pertamina through PGE owns and manages 15 geothermal WKs in Indonesia, the
largest company in term of the number of WKs.

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Link to Original Article:
http://www.rambuenergy.com/2016/12/pertaminas-geothermal-power-capacity-to-r
ise-to-1037-mw-in-2021/


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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com

Thailand: 'Smart' micro power grids to be tested over next five years

Thailand: 'Smart' micro power grids to be tested over next five years

STATE-OWNED power utilities are expected to spend Bt5 billion for three to
five pilot 'smart-grid' projects during the next five years, said Twarath
Sutabutr, spokesman of the Energy Ministry and director-general of the
Energy Policy and Planning Office.

The National Energy Policy Council has approved the Master Plan for Thailand
Smart Grid Development (2015-2036), which is expected to involve a total
investment of about Bt200 billion for the 20-year period.

Twarath said between three and five pilot projects, two |of them in |Mae
Hong Son province, would be implemented during the first five years by the
Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat), the Provincial
Electricity Authority (PEA), and the Metropolitan Electricity Authority
(MEA).

Egat has chosen Muang district of Mae Hong Son to trial its first
smart-grid project, while PEA has selected Mae Sariang in the same province
and Betong in Yala.

The MEA, meanwhile, is eyeing some industrial estates in its coverage area,
which comprises Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan, to test a smart grid.

These pioneer smart-grid projects are expected to reduce peak power demand
by a total of 350 megawatts.

Private companies will be allowed to invest in smart-grid projects in the
future, he said.

The smart grids' objectives are to enhance energy security, improve
productivity and services through information and |communication technology,
and move towards a more sustainable, low-carbon economy, with greater use of
renewable resources.

Pongsakorn Yuthagovit, PEA deputy director for system planning, said the
electricity distribution utility chose Mae Sariang to trial its smart
micro-grid project because the district has one of the highest records of
power outages in the country.

National security is another reason, as the military would like the
district, which shares a border with Myanmar, to have a more reliable power
supply.

The target is to cut the number of outages in Mae Sariang from 755 minutes
per user per year in 2014 to 150 minutes per user per year after the
micro-grid project is commenced in 2019.

"It could be even lower, since technology has continued to progress. The
number of outages could come down to as low as Chiang Mai's," he said.

The PEA is preparing to hire a consultant and expects to start constructing
the Mae Sariang micro grid from the fourth quarter of next year, taking
about 18 months to complete.

Pongsakorn said the Bt265-million micro-grid project was expected to yield
an annual financial return of negative 8-9 per cent. However, the loss would
be lower if it includes savings from the deferment of a high-voltage
transmission-line project to connect the district to the national grid.

Furthermore, battery prices have shrunk remarkably since 2012 when the PEA
conducted the feasibility study on the micro-grid project, which includes an
energy-storage facility.

"If this project succeeds, it will encourage communities to build their own
[small] power plants that will help reduce the state's investment burden,"
the PEA official said.

Twarath said smart grids would have to prove that they could become an
alternative to transmission lines, and if so, could lead to an amendment of
the national Power Development Plan to bring down the country's investment
costs for electricity transmission.

"Instead of building a lot of transmission lines, we could build more micro
grids," he said.

An Egat official said it chose Mae Hong Son for its pilot |projects because
the province has a lot of highlands and forest fires, resulting in frequent
blackouts and difficulties in building |power lines.

Egat will invest Bt720 million on the smart-grid project, which includes an
expansion of its Pha Bong solar farm and diesel-powered generating stations,
installation of a 4MW energy-storage system, a micro energy management
system, smart billboards, a building energy management system, an
electric-vehicle charging station, and a smart-grid learning centre in Muang
district.

The system will be remotely controlled from a centre at Chulalongkorn
University in Bangkok. Chula is a consultant for the project, whose terms of
reference will be issued for interested bidders next month.

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Link to Original Article:
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/business/corporate/30303176?utm_source=
feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Nationmultimediacom-Busines
s+%28NationMultimedia.com+-+Business%29


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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com

Many important power grid projects in Southern Vietnam have been completed

Many important power grid projects in Southern Vietnam have been completed

In 2016, Southern Power Corporation (EVNSPC) has powered 619 power grid
projects with a total investment level of about VND 6,548 billion. Among
these projects there are many important projects.

According to EVNSPC, these 619 power projects consist of 110 projects of 110
kV grid, including 326 km of the lines and 2243 MVA of transformer
substations, and 509 projects of distribution grid, including 1766 km of
medium voltage lines and 2924 km of low voltage lines, and 348 MVA of
transformer substations. Among them, the most important one is the 110 kV
line from An Bien in main land to Lai Son island (Kien Giang province) with
a length of 24 km and investment capital of VND 467 billion, having been put
into operation on November 26, 2016 to supply electricity for about 2000
households in the island.

Additionally, the focusing projects started for construction and investment
in 2016 including the rural electricity supply from national power grid for
12 provinces under Program for electricity supplying rural, mountainous
areas and islands in accordance with the Decision of the Prime Minister
(with an integration of electricity supplying medium and small pumper
stations in Mekong River Delta in dry season), and the project for
supporting reform policy in power sector, phase 3 funded by WB (US$ 30
million), EVNSPC will speed up progress to complete them in 2017.

Besides, EVNSPC still deployed the projects for upgrading distribution
electricity networks in medium and small towns by KfW loans equal to over
VND 4000 billion for decreasing electricity losses, promoting stable and
uninterrupted power supply ability and minimize overload situation in
electricity networks.

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Link to Original Article:
http://nangluongvietnam.vn/news/en/electricity/many-important-power-grid-pro
jects-in-southern-vietnam-have-been-completed.html


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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com

Friday, December 30, 2016

Philippines: 3 power projects get support

Philippines: 3 power projects get support

Only three power projects were endorsed by the Department of Energy (DOE)
for commercial operations in November, government data showed.

The DOE has issued certificates of endorsements (COE) for three power
projects - one solar project, one coal-fired power plant and one battery
storage project.

The solar plant is a development of First Toledo Solar Energy Corp., which
will put up a 60-megawatt (MW) solar farm in Toledo City, Cebu.

Minergy Power Corp. also received a COE from DOE for its 110-MW coal-fired
power plant in Balingasag. Misamis Oriental.

The last company to get an endorsement is AES Philippines Energy Storage Co.
Ltd. for its 40-MW battery storage in Kabankalan, Negros Occidental.

The COE is a requirement for the issuance of Certificate of Compliance (COC)
by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). It is a prerequisite before any
generating company can start operating its power project.

As of end-November, the DOE has endorsed 57 projects to the ERC.

Of the total, 29 projects are renewable energy plants - 25 of which are
solar, two hydropower, one wind and one biomass.

The DOE also endorsed seven coal power projects, 18 diesel plants and two
battery energy storage facilities.

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Link to Original Article:
http://www.philstar.com/business/2016/12/30/1657907/3-power-projects-get-sup
port

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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com

Thailand: Kaset Thai upbeat on Q4 ethanol revenue

Thailand: Kaset Thai upbeat on Q4 ethanol revenue

SET-listed Kaset Thai International Sugar Corporation Plc (KTIS) expects
seasonal rising petrol demand in the last quarter of this year to boost its
ethanol business and help lift its revenue to support its core sugar
business.

Chief executive Nathapun Siriviriyakul said the company sold 54.6 million
litres of ethanol in the first nine months, up 10% from the same period last
year, gaining around 1.2 billion baht of revenue from the biofuel business.

KTIS expects ethanol sales could rise to 70 million litres for all of 2016,
making up 6% of Thai annual ethanol demand of 1.2 billion litres.

"The last quarter is when ethanol demand reaches it peak. Our ethanol
production of 230,000 litres per day is expected to be sold out at rising
prices, in line with higher petrol prices," he said.

KTIS operates its ethanol business through its fully-owned subsidiary,
Ekarat Pattana Co (EPC), which produces ethanol from molasses, a byproduct
derived from the sugar production process. The parent's sugar business
ensures EPC is unlikely to have a raw material shortage.

The Energy Ministry recently warned about a possible shortage of ethanol
that might have been caused by mismanagement among ethanol factories and a
delay in molasses production this year. In response, the government set up a
plan to prevent an ethanol shortage in cooperation with major oil retailers
such as PTT Plc, Shell and Chevron.

However, industry officials said fears of insufficient molasses supply are
about to subside as Thailand, the world's second-largest sugar exporter,
started its 2016/17 sugar-crushing season on Dec 6.

Thailand normally produces around 4 million tonnes of molasses a year. Some
1.2 million tonnes go to the liqueur industry and around 500,000 tonnes are
exported, leaving around 2.5-2.7 million tonnes for the ethanol industry.

KTIS claims to have the country's highest sugar-crushing capacity of 88,000
tonnes a day, allowing it to develop other sugar-related businesses apart
from ethanol.

It announced a plan earlier this year to increase its biobusinesses to
cushion against future uncertainties in sugar prices.

KTIS posted a net loss of 118 million baht in the third quarter this year,
compared with a net profit of 529 million year on year.

In the first nine months this year, the company had a net profit of 25.9
million baht, down from 1.2 billion last year.

KTIS shares closed yesterday on the SET at 7.25 baht, up 10 satang, in trade
worth 2.33 million baht.

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Link to Original Article:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/1171217/kaset-thai-upbeat-on-q4-eth
anol-revenue


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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com

Myanmar takes measures to ensure sufficient power supply by summer

Myanmar takes measures to ensure sufficient power supply by summer

Myanmar authorities are taking measures to ensure sufficient power supply to
Yangon region in the coming summer season with full voltage and
un-interrupted power supply, the official Global New Light of Myanmar
reported Thursday.

A 300-megawatt power station is being built in Serikkyi Khanaungto township
in the region and a power station vessel capable of generating 300 megawatts
will be docked at Thilawa Terminal to supply electricity to the region, Daw
Nilar Kyaw, Yangon Region Minister of Electric Power, Industry and Road
Transportation was quoted as saying.

Being a commercial hub of the country, electricity consumption in the region
is increasing year by year.

She called for efficient distribution of power, saying that the region faces
13.5 percent loss along its power grids.

Charges for electricity in the region are so cheap that the ministry faced
loss of 470 billion kyats (361.53 million US dollars) each year, she said,
adding that with the new power generating facilities, the ministry will
suffer a loss of 900 billion kyats this year.

According to the minister, Myanmar is also drafting a master plan to
establish special economic zones, a seaport and a new international airport
in the southern district of Yangon region and the master plan is being
worked out with international organizations and experts to be submitted to
the parliament in next March.

Yangon region has a population of over 6 million.

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Link to Original Article:
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1026303.shtml

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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com

Thursday, December 29, 2016

Vietnam: A waste-to-energy plant in Can Tho city has been licensed for investment

Vietnam: A waste-to-energy plant in Can Tho city has been licensed for
investment

Can Tho City People's Committee has handed the Investment License for a
waste-to-energy plant of China Ever-bright International Ltd. This is a
project of solid waste treatment with the technology of waste incineration
to generate electricity.

The project with a total investment of over VND 1000 Billion, occupies an
area of more than 50 ha in Truong Xuan commune, Thoi Lai district, Can Tho
city.

The Thoi Lai waste-to-energy plant with treating about 400 tons of waste per
day for power generation expects to be started for construction in Feb. 2017
and put into operation after one year.

This is the first project of China Ever-bright International Ltd in Vietnam
and, at the same time, also is the first waste fired power plant in Vietnam.

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Link to Original Article:
http://nangluongvietnam.vn/news/en/nuclear-renewable/a-waste-to-energy-plant
-in-can-tho-city-has-been-licensed-for-investment.html


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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com

Vietnam: NPT has started construction of five 220 kV transformer substations

Vietnam: NPT has started construction of five 220 kV transformer substations

On December 25, 2016, the Central Power Management Board (CPMB),
Contractors, Local Administrators and relevant agencies started construction
of five 220 kV transformer substations (TS) planed in 2016 as Luu Xa (Thai
Nguyen), Nong Cong (Thanh Hoa), Phong Dien (Thua Thien - Hue), Phu My (Binh
Dinh) and Dak Nong (Dak Nong province).

Luu Xa 220/110/22 kV TS includes a 250 MVA transformer, a 220 kV double
circuit line (conductor of 2xACSR/43) with a length of 0.94km from Luu Xa TS
to 220 kV Thai Nguyen - Phu Binh line, 727.8 m of 22kV line, supplying self-
use electricity for Luu Xa TS. The total investment level of the project is
VND 269.67 billion.

Nong Cong 220/110/22 kV TS includes a 250 MVA transformer in the first stage
(full scale of 2x250 MVA), two 220 kV double circuit lines from 220 kV line
Nghi Son - Thanh Hoa to Nong Cong TS of which a line of 1,353 m and another
one of 1,398 m. The total investment level of the project is VND 434. 694
billion.

Phong Dien 220/110/22kV TS includes a 125 MVA transformer (full scale of
2x125 MVA) appointed from other place, a 220 kV double circuit line from 220
kV Dong Ha - Hue to Phong Dien substation with a length of 1,346m and a 22kV
double circuit line for TS self-use with a length of 936m. The total
investment level of the project is VND 205. 140 billion.

Phu My 220/110/22kV TS includes a 125 MVA transformer (full scale of 2x125 +
250 MVA), 8 cupboards of 220 kV distribution system and 15 cupboards of
110kV distribution system, a 220 kV double circuit line with a length of
1.712km for connecting with 220 kV being constructed Quang Ngai - Quy Nhon
(Phuoc An) and a 22 kV line with a length of 668m for supplying TS self-use.
The total investment level of the project is VND 241. 311 billion.

Dak Nong 220/110/22kV TS includes 2x 125 MVA transformers, a 220 kV double
circuit line (conductor of 3xACSR330/43) with a length of 1.19km for
connection with 220 kV double circuit line from Dak Nong 500/220 kV TS to
220 kV TS of Aluminum Electrolysis plant, and a 22 kV line with a length of
0.45km for supplying TS self-use. The total investment level of the project
is VND 364.085 billion.

These projects invested by credit loans and own capital of the EVN National
Power Transmission (EVNNPT), and managed by CPMB on behalf of EVNNPT expect
to be completed from Quarter IV/2017 to Quarter II/2018.

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Link to Original Article:
http://nangluongvietnam.vn/news/en/electricity/npt-has-started-construction-
of-five-220-kv-transformer-substations.html


--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com

Lion Energy achieves record crude oil production from Indonesia

Lion Energy achieves record crude oil production from Indonesia

Lion Energy is witnessing record volume of crude oil production at the Seram
production facility located onshore on the island of Seram, in Eastern
Indonesia.

The company has lifted a total of 500,235 barrels of crude oil as on 25
December 2016, since the commencement of oil production from the Oseil
oilfield.

The production from the Oseil and surrounding oilfields is expected to
exceed 1.39 million barrels for the year.

This would represent an increase of about 14% from 2015 production of 1.22
million barrels.

The realised oil price for the lifting was US$41.50 per barrel with Lion's
share of revenue expected to be about US$490,000 after deduction of
government entitlement.

This lifting brings total liftings for the year to 1,404,582 barrels,
representing a 20% increase from 2015.

Lion's share of liftings for the year, after government entitlement, is
29,847 barrels.

The company is currently awaiting the spud of the Amanah Timur-1 well on or
about 1 January 2017.

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Link to Original Article:
http://energy.einnews.com/article/359762674/7WjDNlAIIKiZBwb2?lcf=MP1UERZM82O
jGa1-zSFQMw%3D%3D


--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Pertamina Geothermal expects to nearly double geothermal capacity by 2021

Pertamina Geothermal expects to nearly double geothermal capacity by 2021

Pertamina Geothermal Energy expects to nearly double geothermal power
generation capacity by 2021 from today 532 to 1,037 MW.

In Indonesia's Investor Daily, Director for Upstream of Pertamina, Syamsu
Alam was quoted that Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE) expects to increase
installed geothermal power generation capacity at around 14% annually over
the next four years, from today 532 mW to 1,037 MW in 2021.

PGE will increase its efforts to explore and develop geothermal projects,
with some of its projects to start commercial operation this and early next
year.

According to Syamsu Alam, Pertamina targets to operate two new geothermal
power plants, namely PLTP Ulubelu Unit 4 with capacity of 55 MW and PLTP
Karaha Unit 1 with capacity of 30 MW. This will raise PGE's geothermal
energy installed capacity to 617 MW by the end of 2017.

Pertamina Geothermal Energy is further developing a new unit at Kamojang,
Karhaa, Lahedong, Ulubelu and Lumut Balai, as well as two steam field
development projects at Sungai Penub and Hululais. In additional the company
is exploring at four geothermal working areas, Selulawah, Bukit Daun,
Margabayur and Lawu.

In 2016, PGE started operations at two of its geothermal projects, 20 MW at
Lahendong Unit 6 in December 2016 and in July 2016, 55 MW at Ulubelu Unit 3.

Currently, PGE has the following geothermal power plants under operation:
PLTP Kamojang 235 MW, PLTP Lahendong 100 MW, PLTP Ulubelu 165 MW and PLTP
Sibayak 12 MW.

Pertamina through PGE owns and manages 15 geothermal working areas in
Indonesia.

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Link to Original Article:
http://www.thinkgeoenergy.com/pertamina-geothermal-expects-to-nearly-double-
geothermal-capacity-by-2021/?utm_source=ThinkGeoEnergy+List&utm_campaign=101
ee81655-TGE_Newsletter_RSS1_12_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_657e42f767-1
01ee81655-415237525


--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com

Philippines must lower power rates to compete in ASEAN region

Philippines must lower power rates to compete in ASEAN region

Consumers will have to pay P1 per kilowatt-hour more early next year due to
the maintenance shutdown of the Malampaya gas-to-power facility, but an
industry expert contends that the Philippines must in fact lower the current
cost of electricity by at least 30 percent to be competitive within the
ASEAN region.

Electricity rates in the Philippines have registered increases higher than
the inflation rate, with the average annual changes for residential
customers up by 8.73 percent from 2004 to 2011, while the inflation rate was
4.83 percent on average in the same comparable period, said Rowaldo R. Del
Mundo, associate professor at the University of the Philippines Diliman.

"Target power rate reduction: 30 percent of current power rates (P3.00 per
kilowatt-hour)," Del Mundo noted in an emailed presentation "Understanding
and Reducing Power Rates in the Philippines."

Del Mundo is an associate professor at the UP Electrical and Electronics
Engineering Institute. His focus is on power systems, electricity markets
and regulation, as well as energy planning.

He also authored the Philippine Grid and Distribution Codes used by the
Energy Regulatory Commissioner (ERC) as part of the technical implementing
rules and regulations of Republic Act 9136 or the Electric Power Industry
Reform Act of 2011 (EPIRA).

Compared with Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar,
Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, electricity rates in the Philippines are
nearly twice higher than the average price in the region, Del Mundo said.

According to the professor, the Philippine residential rate was $0.2483 per
kWh in 2011, compared with a regional average of $0.1349 per kWh.

Del Mundo noted the individual residential rates in other Asean member
states as follows:

$0.1911 per kWh in Brunei
$0.1585 per kWh in Cambodia
$0.1474 per kWh in Indonesia
$0.9590 per kWh in Laos
$0.1146 per kWh in Malaysia
$0.3090 per kWh in Myanmar
$0.1976 per kWh in Singapore
$0.9900 per kWh in Thailand
$0.9170 per kWh in Vietnam

The Department of Energy (DOE) said late last week that electricity rates
are expected to go up by P1 per kWh due to the scheduled maintenance
shutdown of the Malampaya gas-to-power facility early next year.

The DOE statement comes on the heels of a separate announcement by the
Manila Electric Company (Meralco) that residential customers will have to
pay P0.1011 per kWh more or P8.36 per kWh this month because of a weaker
peso against the US dollar.

To be able to lower electricity rates, Del Mundo said the government must
push for a mandatory public bidding of power supply for the captive
customers of distribution utilities like Meralco.

The supply contracts should be able to secure both long-term and short-term
needs of distributions utilities to ensure supply security by having two
different contracts to meet the long-term and immediate needs of power
utilities.

Del Mundo noted that distribution utilities must be required to submit a
schedule of supply procurement to the DOE and ERC, otherwise the government
would have to set the schedule of buying the short-term and long-term
electricity supply.

ASEAN is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations which counts as members
Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Link to Original Article:
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/593819/money/economy/phl-must-lower-pow
er-rates-to-compete-in-asean-region


--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com

Star Energy shortlisted for Gunung Hamiding geothermal working area, Indonesia

Star Energy shortlisted for Gunung Hamiding geothermal working area,
Indonesia

PT Star Energy Geothermal Indonesia has been shortlisted to develop the
Gunung Hamiding geothermal working area with an initial 20 MW development in
North Maluku province in Indonesia.

Announced last week, Indonesia's Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry
(EBTK) has shortlisted PT Star Energy Geothermal Indonesia to develop the
Gunung Hamiding (Mount Hamiding) geothermal working area (WK).

The company will now enter the second phase of the selection process, after
passing the financial and technical criteria with score of 98.75 and 96.28
points respectively.

Gunung Hamiding working area is located in North Halmahera Regency, North
Maluku province.

Key Facts of Gunung Hamiding WK:

WK Name: Gunung Hamiding
Location : North Halmahera Regency, North Maluku province
Estimated reserves : 265 MW
Estimated reservoir temperature 250-300 celcius degree
Area of the WK : 42,100 hectares
Planned capacity of the power plant: 20 MW
Scheme: Total project
Highest reference price : 22.6 cent US$/kWh), Energy

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Link to Original Article:
http://www.thinkgeoenergy.com/star-energy-shortlisted-for-gunung-hamiding-ge
othermal-working-area-indonesia/?utm_source=ThinkGeoEnergy+List&utm_campaign
=101ee81655-TGE_Newsletter_RSS1_12_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_657e42f7
67-101ee81655-415237525


--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com

Thailand: BCPG starts 'community' solar farms

Thailand: BCPG starts 'community' solar farms

BCPG Plc, the power arm of SET-listed Bangchak Petroleum Plc (BCP), has
started commercial operations of two solar farms under the government's
scheme for solar farms development with local agriculture cooperatives.

The two solar farms have a combined power-generating capacity of seven
megawatts.

President and chief executive Bundit Sapianchai said BCPG was the first
company among those that won the draw on April 26 to develop solar farms
with local agricultural cooperatives to commence operations according to
schedule.

"We started operations on Dec 23 and the power plants will help generate
revenue for local communities," he said.

The project was done via BCPG's subsidiary, Bangchak Solar Energy Co
(Prachinburi). The first solar farm is in Ang Thong province with
power-generating capacity of 5MW and the other is in Ayutthaya province with
a capacity of 2MW.

The two solar farms were approved by the Board of Investment (BoI) and have
been granted an eight-year tax exemption.

The two solar farms have a power purchasing agreement with the Electricity
Generating Authority of Thailand with a feed-in tariff rate of 5.66 baht per
kilowatt hour for 25 years.

BCPG posted a total revenue of 2.33 billion baht for the first nine months
of 2016, up 3.1% from the year-earlier period as new projects in Japan began
generating revenue.

Profit in the January-September period fell by 25% year-on-year to 1.21
billion baht.

At the end of September, the aggregate contracted commercial supply of
projects in Kagoshima, Kumamoto, Miyazaki and most recently in Akita rose to
19MW.

The aggregate 118MW contracted capacity from solar power plants in Thailand
will continue to generate regular and stable revenue, Mr Bundit said.

For the Akita project, the BCPG group sold a total 8.8MW of commercial
supply to Tohoku Electric Power Co Ltd under a 20-year feed-in tariff power
supply contract, which increased revenue from Japanese operations by 144%
compared with the previous quarter.

BCPG shares closed yesterday on the SET at 13.70 baht, unchanged, in trade
worth 51.1 million baht.

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Link to Original Article:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/1169797/bcpg-starts-community-solar
-farms


--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com

Drilling at Mabini geothermal project progressing in Luzon, Philippines

Drilling at Mabini geothermal project progressing in Luzon, Philippines

As reported locally, drilling for the Mabini geothermal project is
progressing according to the developers Basic Energy Corp., Trans-Asia Oil
(now called Phinma Energy) and EDC.

"As of December 5, 2016, a casing (3-1/2") inch string has been successfully
installed at a depth of 660 meters. The next steps shall consist of rig and
equipment maintenance prior to resumption of drilling operations," Basic
Energy told Philippine Stock Exchange last week.

"The consortium shall pursue core drilling operations until the target depth
of 1500 meters is reached," it added.

Once done, this will be the second greenfield geothermal project that will
be pursued in the Luzon grid, next to the 20-megawatt (MW) Maibarara project
in which Trans-Asia is also an interest holder.

Drilling started in June this year and with the exploration well now being
drilled, the consortium can "test a potential geothermal resource previously
identified by geophysical and geological techniques."

Basic Energy secured the approval of the Department of Energy (DOE) last
year on the 25-percent interest in the project, while Phinma Energy had been
the taker of the unloaded equity. Together, the two firms indicated that
they will pursue the project's development - from resource exploration to
the setting up of a power facility. The project is expected to have a
potential power generation capacity from 20 to 60 MW.

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Link to Original Article:
http://www.thinkgeoenergy.com/drilling-at-mabini-geothermal-project-progress
ing-in-luzon-philippines/?utm_source=ThinkGeoEnergy+List&utm_campaign=101ee8
1655-TGE_Newsletter_RSS1_12_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_657e42f767-101e
e81655-415237525


--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Egco acquires shares in power plants in Indonesia

Egco acquires shares in power plants in Indonesia

SET-listed Electricity Generating Plc (Egco) has expanded its portfolio in
Indonesia by acquiring shares in two geothermal power plants in West Java
from Chevron's affiliates.

The affiliate of Egco Group, Star Energy Group Holdings Pte Ltd and AC
Energy Holdings Inc entered into an agreement to acquire shares from
Chevron's affiliates in Salak and Darajat geothermal power plants in
Indonesia on Dec 22.

As the result, Egco Group will hold 20.07% indirect ownership interest in
the Project. The share transfer is expected to be completed in the first
quarter of 2017, said Egco president Chanin Chaonirattisai.

Salak and Darajat geothermal power plants are located in West Java province
and composed of several geothermal steam and electricity generating units
with the aggregate capacity of 402 Megawatts of electricity and 235 MW
equivalent of steam.

The power plants have secured long-term energy sales contracts with PT PLN
(Persero), the Indonesian government-owned electricity corporation.

"The acquisition fulfills our business plan in enhancing Egco Group's
presence in Indonesia which we have existing business, and in line with our
strategic directions to pursue investment opportunities in Asia Pacific
region" said Mr Chanin.

Egco Group has started its investment in Indonesia since 2014 by holding 20%
indirect ownership interest in Star Energy's geothermal power plant which
has the total installed capacity of 227MW.

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Link to Original Article:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/1168825/egco-acquires-shares-in-pow
er-plants-in-indonesia


--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com

Nebras acquires 35.5% stake in Indonesian power firm

Nebras acquires 35.5% stake in Indonesian power firm

Nebras Power yesterday announced that it has completed the acquisition of a
35.5 percent stake in Indonesian utility firm PT Paiton Energy through its
wholly owned subsidiary Nebras Power Netherland BV.

In a statement issued by Nebras yesterday said that the acquisition was
completed on December 22.

PT Paiton Energy owns a 2,045 megawatt (MW) thermal power plant in East
Java, which is the first and largest Independent Power Producer (IPP) in
Indonesia, representing 4 percent of the county's total installed generation
capacity.

Paiton Energy sells the entire capacity and output of its power plant under
two long term power purchase agreements with PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara
(Persero)'s (PLN), the Indonesian state-owned vertically integrated
electricity utility. The remaining 64.5 percent equity stake in PT Paiton
Energy is held by well-known international and local utilities and power
development companies.

Nebras has also acquired a 35 percent stake in IPM ASIA Pte which owns 84
percent of PT IPM Operation and Maintenance Indonesia (PT IPMOMI), the
entity responsible for operation and maintenance of Paiton power plant.

The acquisition of Paiton Energy represents Nebras' first investment in the
Indonesian power market and a significant step forward in Nebras' vision to
become a leading international power company. Fahad bin Hamad Al Mohannadi,
Chairman of the Board of Directors of Nebras, said: "We are delighted to
announce the completion of this acquisition, which allows us to add a
remarkable generation asset to our portfolio and opens up a bright future
for Nebras' investments in the Indonesian and South East Asian markets.
Nebras operates very closely with its shareholders and enjoys their full
support as well as the support of the Board of Directors. Nebras aims at
building an investment portfolio of more than 5 GW net by the next five
years and plays a key role under the State of Qatar's diversification
strategy."

Khalid Mohammed Jolo, CEO of Nebras, added: "This acquisition demonstrates
Nebras' commitment to its long-term strategy of investing in high quality
assets with investment grade off-takers. It also reflects our confidence in
the Indonesian market. I congratulate the entire Nebras team for the
successful completion of this landmark transaction and I express my profound
gratitude to the shareholders and the Board of Directors for their
continuous support."

Faisal Al Siddiqi, Director of Business Development, added: "The acquisition
of this significant equity stake in Paiton Energy provides us with an
excellent opportunity to invest in a secure and profitable project that
offers immediate cash flow and substantial value addition to our
shareholders".

Jeffries International Limited acted as sole financial adviser and Clifford
Chance (through its exclusive Jakarta-based affiliate Linda Widyati &
Partners) acted as legal counsel to Nebras Power for this transaction.
Nebras Power is an international power company established in 2014 and
headquartered in Doha, Qatar.

The Company was established with an initial capital of QR3.65bn and with a
mandate to invest in the conventional and renewable energy, water and
utilities sectors globally, outside Qatar.

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Link to Original Article:
https://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/25/12/2016/Nebras-acquires-35.5-st
ake-in-Indonesian-power-firm


--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com

Thailand: B.Grimm's solar power generates B500m

Thailand: B.Grimm's solar power generates B500m

B.Grimm Power Co, a unit of B.Grimm Group, has started commercial operation
of solar power plants in four provinces with a power-generating capacity
totalling 114 megawatts.

President and chief executive Preeyanart Soontornwata said power generated
from the new plants has been sold to the Provincial Electricity Authority
(PEA) and has created 500 million baht in revenue for the company since the
middle of this year.

She said power generation from renewable energy, such as solar, wind, biogas
and biomass, has increased significantly in Thailand over the past three
years.

As of March 2016, Thailand was producing a total of four gigawatts of
electricity from renewable energy, of which about 1.5GW was solar power,
which is expected to reach 3GW by the end of the year.

That means that solar power will account for more than 5% of the country's
total power supply.

B.Grimm Power has developed solar power plants in high sunlight areas in
Bang Len and Don Tum districts in Nakhon Pathom province, and Sena district
in Ayutthaya province, with a combined capacity of 59.7MW.

The company's other solar power plants in Nakhon Pathom, Saraburi and Sa
Kaeo provinces have a combined capacity of 54.5MW.

Electricity is sold to the PEA via 22 kilovolt and 115kV transmission lines
connected to the PEA's substations.

"Electricity generation from solar energy is an important project for
B.Grimm Power that not only strengthens our business but also promotes the
development of renewable energy in Thailand to reduce the reliance on
imported energy and carbon dioxide emissions, which is a primary cause of
global warming," Ms Preeyanart said.

The transmission lines were built solely by B.Grimm Power. The company only
retains ownership of the transmission lines that are within the power
plants' boundaries, while the remaining sections are owned and maintained by
the PEA.

Ms Preeyanart said B.Grimm Power has invested 8 billion baht in the 15 solar
power plants, which together occupy a total of 1,670 rai of land in four
provinces, with a combined generating output of 114.2MW.

In addition, the company has invested through four subsidiaries and joint
ventures: B.Grimm Yanhee Solar Power Ltd, Solarwa Company Ltd, TPS
Commercial Company Ltd and B.Grimm Solar Power Sakaeo Ltd.

It recently signed another contract to raise its total capacity both
domestically and overseas to 2,383MW.

B.Grimm Power, which has set a target capacity of 5,000MW, is conducting
feasibility studies and seeking opportunities in Indonesia, Vietnam,
Cambodia and the Philippines. The long-term goal is to increase renewable
power generation from 10% to 25-30% of its overall capacity.

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Link to Original Article:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/1169225/b-grimms-solar-power-genera
tes-b500m


--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com

Pertamina and Saudi Aramco sign JV deal on Indonesian refinery project

Pertamina and Saudi Aramco sign JV deal on Indonesian refinery project

Indonesian state-owned oil company Pertamina has sgined a Joint Venture
Development Agreement (JVDA) with its Saudi Arabia counterpart Saudi Aramco
to jointly own, upgrade and operate the Cilacap Refinery in central Java,
Indonesia. Pertamina will own 55% in the upgraded refinery, while Saudi
Aramco will own the remaining 45%.

The Cilacap refinery expansion project is estimated at US$4bn to US$5bn and
aims to add 25,000 bbl/d to the existing facility to reach 400,000 bbl/d. It
will be designed to process Arabian crude supplied by Saudi Aramco and will
also improve the quality of oil products (higher complexity level and higher
value-added product) by producing refined products meeting Euro V
specifications, basic petrochemicals, and Group II base oil for lubricants.

To date, the upgraded refinery configuration has been completed and the
process to select technology licensors will start soon with the Basic
Engineering Design work targeted for completion in the first quarter of
2017. Signing this agreement paves the way for the upgraded project to move
to the Front End Engineering Design (FEED) phase in the second quarter 2017
while project start-up is targeted in 2021

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Link to Original Article:
http://www.enerdata.net/enerdatauk/press-and-publication/energy-news-001/per
tamina-and-saudi-aramco-sign-jv-deal-indonesian-refinery-project_39406.html


--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com

Monday, December 26, 2016

Vietnam: Homegrown hydropower plant begins operation

Vietnam: Homegrown hydropower plant begins operation

The Lai Chau hydropower plant was inaugurated on Tuesday in Nam Nhun
district, Lai Chau province. The power plant bears the stamp of Vietnamese
engineers from design to construction, installation, and operation.

The Lai Chau hydropower plant with a total capacity of 1,200MW has
officially connected to the national grid. Nguyen Thanh Oai, Deputy Director
of contractor LILAMA 10 Joint Stock Company, say they have given 3 turbines
a test run to ensure safety and put them into operation ahead of schedule.
"LILAMA 10 has built many electric plants, including the Hoa Binh, Yaly, Sem
3, Sem 4, Pray Crong, and Son La power plants. The turbines at the Lai Chau
power plant are more modern, which means higher precision. Vietnamese
engineers and workers are competent to handle it." Oai said.

Engineers in the control center are all under 30. They mastered the advanced
equipment at a technology transfer course. Engineer Nguyen Van Tiep is Head
of the Operations section of Son La Hydropower Company: "All facilities have
been operating stably. The staff is capable of managing the whole assembly.
The plant has furnished 3.8 billion kW/h of electricity to the national
grid."

The Lai Chau Hydropower Plant, the third biggest in Southeast Asia, was put
into operation a year ahead of schedule. Together with the Hoa Binh and Son
La hydropower plants on the Da river, they will feed 23 billion kW/h of
electricity to the national grid annually.

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Link to Original Article:
https://www.vietmaz.com/2016/12/homegrown-hydropower-plant-begins-operation/
?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+vietmaz+%28Viet
Maz%29


--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com

2016 Indonesia oil production exceeds target

2016 Indonesia oil production exceeds target

Indonesias oil and gas production this year exceeded the target set in the
2016 revised state budget (APBNP 2016) at 820,000 barrels of oil per day
(bpd) and 6,438 million standard cubic feet of oil per day (MMSCFD).

The Upstream Oil and Gas Regulator (SKK Migas) recorded that Indonesias oil
production, as of November 2016, reached 822,000 bpd, while its gas
production during the same period stood at 6,643 MMSCFD.

Further, state-owned oil and gas company PT Pertamina set a 2017 net profit
target of US$3.04 billion, or Rp40.95 trillion, up six percent from US$2.88
billion in 2016.

Pertaminas net profit growth next year will be supported by a planned income
of US$42.59 billion, up 15.01 percent from an estimated US$37.03 billion in
2016.

According to SKK Migas Public Relations Head Taslim Z Yunus, the oil and oil
production target in 2016 could be exceeded, thanks to full operations since
January 2016 of Cepu Blocks Train B in the Banyu Urip oil field along the
border areas of Central and East Java, which has produced 185,000 bpd since
January this year.

The biggest oil contributors included the Rokan Block, Pertamina EP (a
subsidiary of Pertamina) in Mahakam, East Kalimantan, and Offshore Northwest
Java (ONWJ).

The other major block contributors are Berau (East Kalimantan), Corridor
(South Sumatra), and Senoro-Toil (Central Sulawesi).

The nations oil production came from 67 oil and gas working areas, most of
which are old fields with natural declining production. "Up until November
2016, contractors drilled 212 expansion wells, handled 1,055 work-over wells
and performed maintenance work on 33,925 wells," said Taslim.

Regarding exploration activities up until November 2016, contractors carried
out 10 seismic surveys, 36 exploration well drillings and three re-entry
well explorations.

Of the of the 36 exploration wells that were drilled, 20 drilling sites were
completed, with seven wells found to have oil and gas reserves, seven wells
were contained no oil and gas, five displayed indications of hydrocarbon
reserves, and one well was still being evaluated.

Wells with oil recoveries were Bambu Besar (BBS)-4 of Pertamina EP, Tiung-3
of PetroChina International Jabung, Meliwis-1 of Santos Madura Offshore,
Lumbian-2 of Seleraya Merangin 2, AAL-4X of Santos Northwest Natuna B.V.,
ABG-3 of Pertmina EP and Sidayu-4 of Saka Indonesia Pangkah.

In 2016, SKK Migas also endorsed 28 expansion plans in the form of plans of
development (POD) and plans of further development (POFD).

The development of the new fields is expected to increase the countrys oil
and gas reserves by 142.45 million barrels and 0.645 trillion standard cubic
feet (TSCF). The development of these fields requires an investment of
US$2.94 billion, with a target of US6.85 billion in state receipts.

Up until November 2016, the upstream oil and gas investment reached US$10.43
billion, of which US$7.81 billion was for production activities. The
countrys average oil price (Indonesia crude price/ICP) in 2016 was recorded
at US$39.15 per barrel, lower than the 2016 state budget assumption of US$40
per barrels.

"With the ICP condition, state revenues from the upstream oil and gas, until
the end of the year, are estimated at US$9.294 billion, or about Rp125
trillion," noted Taslim.

Meanwhile, Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Minister Ignasius Jonan said,
based upon data in 2016, the capacity of the countrys refineries is about
1.169 bpd. In the future, the government is planning to revitalize the
existing oil plants and build six new refineries.

The new refineries are to be built by Pertamina and the private sector. The
government deliberately offers an opportunity to non-state-owned enterprises
to build their own refineries. For this building, the government will soon
issue a license for private companies willing to build refineries, and they
will also be allowed to carry out exports.

"The process will be made freely and is managed based on current market
conditions," said Jonan.

Serious challenges must be faced in the future, so efforts, and the results
of explorations, must increase. Production should be based on principles of
efficiency, and Minister Ignasius Jonan said the oil and gas industry should
focus on improving their production efficiencies.

"Until now, production has not been efficient. Therefore, the policy in the
oil and gas sector looking ahead is focused on efficiency in production,"
the minister, said addressing a discussion on Oil and Gas Outlook in 2017 in
Jakarta on Monday (Dec 19).

The reason for focusing on production efficiency is due to the uncertainty
in oil prices, Jonan said, adding that the Indonesian oil and gas industry
should learn to become more competitive and to better understand the market.

In the meantime, Deputy ESDM Minister Arcandra Tahar said the biggest
challenge faced by the countrys oil and gas industry lies in technology.

"Indonesias oil wells are too old and less productive. In order to increase
their productivity, they need high technology," Arcandra said, during the
Oil and Gas Outlook in 2017 discussion.

For it is not yet known where the remaining oil and gas reserves are
located, as there is no technology that can precisely detect the locations.
Also, the complexity of technological problems makes oil and gas
explorations expensive.

Adequate technology is still needed, despite the availability of skilled
human resources. Technology improves efficiency in oil and gas production.
One solution is to form partnerships with the private sector, or foreign
investors who have the needed technology.

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Link to Original Article:
http://energy.einnews.com/article/359379758/-jaV25lVwox3aRxC?lcf=MP1UERZM82O
jGa1-zSFQMw%3D%3D


--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com

Philippines: DOE vows to minimize power rate hike next year

Philippines: DOE vows to minimize power rate hike next year

THE Department of Energy (DOE) has started preparatory activities jointly
with industry stakeholders to safeguard energy consumers from a possible
supply shortage and increase in the price of electricity due to a scheduled
shutdown of the Malampaya natural gas facility early next year.

The Malampaya facility is scheduled to undergo maintenance activities from
January 28 to February 16, 2017.

"My directive was clear-the Malampaya maintenance activities should pose no
substantial impact to supply of electricity by using all available resources
and remedies, because power is a basic necessity for our countrymen," Energy
Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said on Thursday.

Distribution utility Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) projects an increase of
around P1 per kilowatt hour (kWh) on the generation cost rate during the
period of the shutdown, which its customers will see in their March 2017
billing.

Meralco's price simulation factored in possible WESM (Wholesale Electricity
Spot Market) prices due to plant outages during the shutdown and the
generation cost of natural gas plants due to the change in liquid fuel
(diesel and condensate), which is more expensive than Malampaya's natural
gas.

"There will be an increase, but what we will do is to minimize the increase
to soften the burden to our consuming public," energy chief said.

Cusi said plans and alternative modes should be in place and ready before
the actual shutdown.

In a meeting with industry participants last December 15, the DOE was
updated by Shell Philippines Exploration Corporation (SPEx), operator of the
facility, about the preparatory works for the Malampaya services maintenance
shutdown (Malampaya SMS).

According to SPEX, the maintenance activities will cover the repair of the
sub-sea facilities, upgrades on the platform, and maintenance on the onshore
plant.

"We have to ensure that the program works for Malampaya [are]within the
prescribed schedule given to the DOE. Historically, SPEX completed its
maintenance period on time. It is expected that it will do the same this
time," Cusi said.

To ensure power reserves during the summer period, the 600-megawatt (MW)
Ilijan Natural Gas Power Plant in Batangas will time its maintenance
shutdown with that of Malampaya to cost-efficiently use the Malampaya
downtime period.

On the power situation outlook, the National Grid Corporation of the
Philippines (NGCP) was tasked to simulate possible power supply scenarios,
while the Philippine Electricity Market Corp. (PEMC) will conduct a
simulation on the WESM prices during the Malampaya shutdown.

"The simulations will be submitted to the DOE for review and evaluation, so
that we will be able to accurately respond to any unwarranted power market
behavior," Cusi said.

The meeting convened by the DOE last 15 December was attended by the
concerned DOE bureaus, SPEX, NGCP, PEMC and Meralco.

The Energy department called for another round of consultations and
coordination last 22 December. In addition to the participants in the first
round of consultations, concerned generation companies, large Interruptible
Load Program participants, and representatives from the secretariat of the
Senate and House Committee on Energy were also invited.

"We assure the public that we will continue coordinate all the activities of
those affected by the Malampaya SMS to avert any situation leading to the
worst case scenario and to maximize the protection for the energy consuming
public," Cusi concluded.

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Link to Original Article:
http://www.manilatimes.net/doe-vows-minimize-power-rate-hike-next-yr/303463/

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com

Philippines: Petron buys San Miguel power plant for $400m

Philippines: Petron buys San Miguel power plant for $400m

Listed oil refining and marketing company Petron Corp has acquired for over
$400 million (P20.29 billion) the 140-megawatt solid fuel-fired power plant
of SMC PowerGen Inc.

The Ang-led company informed the Philippine Stock Exchange that it purchased
on December 23 the power plant's assets located in the Petron Bataan
Refinery, meant "to lower the power and steam costs" of the plant.

SMC PowerGen is one of the subsidiaries of SMC Global Power Holdings, the
energy arm of diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp (SMC).

"The power plant was used by SMC PowerGen Inc for the production of power
and steam and the company intends to devote the power plant for the same
purpose," Petron said in its statement.

Petron paid today, inclusive of value added tax, more than P15.9 billion and
plans to pay the remaining P4.63 billion before July 23, 2017.

"The [amount of] consideration was negotiated and agreed upon based on the
extent of Power Plant assets," the refinery giant added.

The proposal to buy the plant began last September 15, and was approved by
the board of directors on November 8, 2016.

Petron last October made its debut in the Philippine Dealing & Exchange
(PDEx), raising up to $412.5 million (P20 billion) in its fundraising.

PDEx is the dealing exchange for major banks in the Philippines.

Petron's last trading price decreased 0.10 per cent or P0.0100 to close at
P9.59 on December 23.

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Link to Original Article:
http://www.dealstreetasia.com/stories/philippines-petron-acquires-san-miguel
-power-plant-for-400m-61299/


--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com

Saturday, December 24, 2016

Wind Firm Gets Growth Boost

Wind Firm Gets Growth Boost

Southeast Asia's leading wind energy developer The Blue Circle says it has
been selected as the first renewable energy development company to receive
support from the Seed Capital Assistance Facility (SCAF) for early stage,
low carbon projects in the frontier markets of Asia.

The support budget for The Blue Circle's frontier project development is set
at $1.4 million over three years and covers projects in Vietnam, Cambodia,
Indonesia and the Philippines.

After an extensive engagement process, The Blue Circle signed in July 2016 a
cooperating agreement with Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, which
together with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), implements
SCAF's stage II project.

"The financial support will cover parts of The Blue Circle's development
costs to increase its project pipeline, deliver capacity building at local
developer level and get seeded projects up to financial close," the company
said.

"I am very proud that The Blue Circle has been selected by the UN
Environment Program for its SCAF II deployment in Asia," said Olivier
Duguet, chief executive officer of The Blue Circle.

"It will greatly enhance our ability to reach new frontier markets as well
as strengthen our existing later stage projects. Being endorsed by the
United Nations is a great honor and achievement. "It recognizes our
pioneering work in the technically sophisticated development of wind power
sites in Southeast Asia as well as our team's unique expertise and the
strong relationships we have built with local partners."

With now less than 1,000MW of total installed capacity in only three
countries of the entire Southeast Asia region, wind energy has a great
potential to expand the region's energy mix and to advance the Paris
Agreement's target of keeping a global temperature rise of this century
below two degrees Celsius.

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Link to Original Article:
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/33499/wind-firm-gets-growth-boost/

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com

Philippines: 4 firms to bid for 650-MW Malaya thermal complex

Philippines: 4 firms to bid for 650-MW Malaya thermal complex

FOUR firms have expressed interest to participate in next year's auction of
the 650-megawatt (MW) Malaya Thermal Power Plant (MTPP) Complex.

According to Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM) Corp.,
APT Global Inc., Phinma Energy Corp., Riverbend Consolidated Mining Corp.
and AC Energy Holdings Inc. submitted letters of interest on December 20,
the deadline set by the state firm.

PSALM Officer in Charge Lourdes Alzona said the bids will be evaluated in
preparation for the auction set on March 8, 2017.

The bidders can conduct the due diligence up to March 6, 2017, while a bid
conference will be held on January 6 next year.

The power plant would be privatized on an 'as is, where is' basis.

PSALM manages the assets and liabilities of National Power Corp., as
mandated by the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001.

Situated in Pililia, Rizal province, the Malaya plant was rehabilitated in
1995 by the Korea Electric Power Corp. under a 15-year
rehabilitate-operate-manage-maintain agreement. It consists of a 300-MW
unit, with a once-through type boiler and a 350-MW unit fitted with a
conventional boiler.

Malaya currently serves as a security plant, as it was designated as a Must
Run Unit (MRU) meant to address any instability or supply deficiency that
may occur as a result of the sudden unavailability of any operating power
plants in the grid.

The MTPP will continue operating as an MRU until it is privatized.

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Link to Original Article:
http://www.energycentral.com/news/4-firms-bid-650-mw-malaya-thermal-complex?
utm_source=2016_12_23&utm_medium=eNL&utm_content=405584&utm_campaign=DAILY_N

EWS

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com

Vietnam: Lai Chau Hydropower Plant put into commercial operation

Vietnam: Lai Chau Hydropower Plant put into commercial operation

The 1,200-megawatt Lai Chau Hydropower Plant has been put into commercial
operation one year ahead of schedule, becoming the third large hydropower
station on the Da River.

The other two are the Hoa Binh and Son La plants, respectively completed in
1994 and 2012.

With the completion of the Lai Chau Hydropower Plant, the total capacity of
hydropower plants built on the Da River is now 6,500 megawatts. Their annual
output is estimated at 25 billion kWh, equivalent to one third of Vietnam's
total electricity output.

In addition to power generation, Lai Chau and other plants play an important
role in regulating flooding during the rainy season and supplying water
during the dry season for the Red River Delta.

It is estimated that the completion of the Lai Chau Hydropower Plant one
year ahead of schedule will bring in an additional VND5 trillion (US$220
million) in revenues, according to an estimate by the State-owned power
utility EVN.

The plant's reservoir has also helped to improve irrigation for the Red
River Delta and to increase the useful operating time for the Son La and Hoa
Binh plants since it was put into operation in 2015.

Speaking at a ceremony to mark the Lai Chau Hydropower Plant's completion on
December 20, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung praised the concerted
efforts of tens of thousands of workers and engineers working on the
project.

He also commended the local authorities in Lai Chau and Dien Bien Provinces
for their good work in site clearance and the settlement of residents
displaced by the project.

The deputy PM requested that the two provinces help affected residents gain
sustainable sources of livelihood, especially ensuring sufficient land for
cultivation and helping them to learn new trades, as well as developing
essential infrastructure appropriate for their customs.

In his address, Deputy PM Dung also asked EVN to operate the plant in a safe
and proper manner to maximise its water regulation function while still
achieving maximum efficiency in power generation.

On the occasion, Deputy PM Dung awarded the Labour Order to the Song Da 5
Corporation, the main contractor of the Lai Chau Hydropower Plant; Vu Duc
Thin, a member of the Steering Committee for Son La-Lai Chau Hydropower
Projects; and other individuals for their contributions to the project.

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Link to Original Article:
http://nangluongvietnam.vn/news/en/electricity/lai-chau-hydropower-plant-put
-into-commercial-operation.html


--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com

Thailand: Public, private sectors unite against coal-fired power plant

Thailand: Public, private sectors unite against coal-fired power plant

Representatives from 11 private and government sector organizations met in
Krabi yesterday to reiterate their stance against the construction of a
coal-fired power plant, which they say will adversely impact the quality of
life for locals and cause billions of baht in tourism losses.

Officials from the Krabi Chamber of Commerce, Krabi Tourism Council of
Thailand (TCT), and Krabi Tourism Association were among those present at
the meeting.

"This is totally against the government's own initiative of 'Krabi Go
Clean'. Since the coal plant project was first tabled by the Electricity
Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), opinion has been divided about it.
However, most of the private sector organizations in Krabi are against it.
We don't mind a power plant, just not a coal plant that will ruin the
environment and drive away tourists," said Amarit Siripornjuthakun, head of
the Krabi TCT.

The location of the plant is reportedly part of the wetlands protected under
the Ramsar Convention, an international treaty for the conservation and
sustainable utilization of wetlands, and was marked out as a protected zone
in 2001, The Nation reports.

"If the coal plant becomes a reality, it will affect tourism for sure.
Tourists came to Krabi to breathe fresh air and see unspoiled natural beauty
- not to breathe in black smoke and ruin their health. EGAT said they will
help those who live within a five-kilometer radius, but what about the rest
of us?" Mr Amarit said.

Plengyos Sakonkittiwat, head of the Krabi Chamber of Commerce, said that
Krabi locals earn more than 80 billion baht from tourism, and about 40
billion baht from agriculture every year.

"Both our main revenue-earning professions will be badly impacted and
billions of baht will be lost. We are collecting signatures to submit a
petition to the government to halt this project and build something else
that does not affect the environment," said Mr Plengyos.

The plant has drawn much resistance from locals and environmental activists
over the years.

In March 2014, Greenpeace members staged a dramatic protest by hanging from
the cliffs of Railay Bay in Krabi.

Others, including the Koh Lanta Tourism Association, local residents and
even fishermen, have joined in the fight by showing up in the hundreds at
public hearings, with some even protesting that the meetings were 'set-ups'
and that locals were not being heard.

Despite attempts from EGAT to push the project forward, Prime Minister Gen
Prayuth Chan-o-cha ordered the hotly-debated project to be put on hold until
a joint committee could ensure that all steps of the pre-construction
process had been legally carried out.

In March of this year, the project's Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
report was rejected amid pressure from the 'Protect Krabi Network'.

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Link to Original Article:
http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/Public-private-sectors-unite-agains
t-coalfired-power/66031?desktopversion#ad-image-0


--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com

Philippines: Competition brings down prices

Philippines: Competition brings down prices

The Department of Energy (DoE) has completed its strategic plans for the
country's power and energy sectors for 2017. By the way things are shaping,
both industry players and consumers stand to gain from these developments.
That is, if these get the support of the 17th Congress as well, especially
measures that require legislation.

Based on the DoE plan, it looks like "competition" will definitely be the
hallmark of the electric power industry.

Competition has been introduced and sped up the procurement and distribution
of electricity under existing laws.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi has given us an initial glimpse of the
strategic plans the DOE will pursue under the administration of President
Rodrigo Duterte. Largely focused on further enhancing energy reforms, the
DoE's strategic plans were crafted during the first six months of the
Duterte administration.

Apparently learning from the mistakes of his predecessors at the helm of the
energy sector, Cusi made sure the Duterte administration will start from the
right track. While still crafting the energy plans, the DoE Secretary
coordinated with the leaders and members of the Joint Congressional Power
Commission (JCPC) to obviously secure the necessary support from lawmakers.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate committee on energy,
confirmed this to us during our breakfast forum the other day. Cusi and
Gatchalian literally led our power-packed discussion during this week's
Kapihan sa Manila Bay at Cafe Adriatico in Malate. From our discussions,
Cusi and Gatchalian echoed the sense of urgency to review the country's
existing power supply situation in a bid to bring down electricity prices.

The senator disclosed the JCPC would start deliberating on these proposed
reforms early in January 2017 with coordination with the DOE headed by
Secretary Cusi. He said he would confer with his counterpart from the House
of Representatives led by Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Jay Velasco who chairs
the House committee on energy.

Offhand, Gatchalian disclosed, the JCPC would focus on necessary remedial
legislations to plug the loopholes and strengthen existing laws, namely, the
Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), Renewable Energy (RE) Law and
Bio-Fuels Act.

Gatchalian believes the proposed energy reforms would make the Philippines
more competitive as an investment destination for power-intensive
manufacturing business. But more than that, the JCPC review would check into
the "social benefits" of the Filipino consumers from these laws in terms of
lower electric prices to both households and industrial users.

For his part, Cusi assured the public the DOE has undertaken steps to
further develop other sources of energy, including the use of nuclear energy
now being studied by experts hired by government. Cusi clarified, however,
the review is not limited to the mothballed 620-megawatt (MW) Bataan nuclear
power plant (BNPP) in Morong.

We share Cusi's view that competition will further spur growth as it will
help bring the prices of electricity down. When the economy grows, the
demand for power increases exponentially. What power generators and
suppliers give up by way of rates, they gain in terms of volume demand.

Some of the world's biggest economies apparently share this view. India, for
example, is aggressively pushing for competition in retail power supply. The
United Kingdom, meanwhile, continues to ensure that its wholesale and retail
electricity markets remain competitive despite controversies involving some
of its biggest players.

Despite controversies facing the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), it
appears the power sector remains optimistic that current reforms will
continue to gain ground. It looks like the sector will still end 2016 on a
high note. The unprecedented good working relationship between the DoE and
ERC has helped a lot in the bid to get the industry to support mandated
reforms.

Unfortunately for ERC, President Duterte announced last Monday he "fired"
all the commissioners, including their chairman Jose Vicente Salazar over
corruption allegations based on the suicide of ex-ERC director Francisco
Villa Jr.

There was initial resistance among industry players to the idea of a
Competitive Supply Procurement (CSP) system when this was first implemented
in our country. It will be recalled that under this system, distribution
utilities are obliged to solicit bids for their power requirements. The
system prevents distributors from favoring power generators who are
affiliated to them. These affiliates have been relegated to the category of
suppliers of last resort. This way, "sweetheart deals" become next to
impossible. This assures consumers that the electricity they buy from
distributors was purchased at the least possible cost.

A controversial feature of the Retail Competition and Open Access (RCOA) is
the requirement for large distributors to register a retail electricity
supplier (RES) affiliate. With the Manila Electric Company (Meralco)
throwing its support to this move with the application for license of its
RES affiliate a few days ago, it looks like most if not the whole of the
industry is now backing the reform.

The RCOA is another policy which was met with resistance initially. The aim
is similar to that of the CSP. Here, power generators and distributors vie
to supply the requirements of large electricity consumers part of what is
called the "contestable market."

Cusi also wants not just players, but also technologies to compete. He
questioned anew the practice of putting a cap on what certain power
generating technologies can contribute to the grid. He pointed out this
policy does not favor the interest of consumers who want a reliable power
supply at the most affordable cost.

This is because some energy technologies like power plants run by RE sources
are definitely more expensive than others.

The advent of stronger competition both for business and in the area of
generation technology is challenging industry players to bring out their
best. Investments are expected to continue to pour into the sector as Cusi
announced his stand that competition should also apply to the generation
technologies.

The biggest winner remains to be the ordinary Filipino consumers who deserve
the assurance that we can continue to afford the price of electricity and
that it is reliably supplied to us.

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Link to Original Article:
http://www.philstar.com/opinion/2016/12/23/1656175/competition-brings-down-p
rices

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com