Thailand to auction petroleum concessions for Erawan, Bongkot fields in Dec
Thailand will auction petroleum concessions for Erawan and Bongkot gas
fields in December, the country's energy minister said on Friday.
"An official announcement is expected within July, and auctions in
December," energy minister General Anantaporn Kanjanarat told reporters.
The Erawan gas concession, operated by Chevron Corp, and the Bongkot gas
concession, operated by state-backed PTTEP Exploration and Production PCL,
will expire in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
They have a combined production of 2.2 billion cubic feet per day, or 76
percent of output in the Gulf of Thailand.
The minister's comment comes after the country's military-appointed
parliament approved an amendment to a petroleum law on Thursday which will
give companies more options for exploration and production operations.
Currently, oil and gas companies must get a concession to operate in a Thai
field.
The approved amendment will add the option of striking production sharing
agreements (PSA) or service contracts.
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Link to Original Article:
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-energy-auction-idUSKBN1720DR
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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
Friday, March 31, 2017
Philippines: Japan extends P348.8-M grant aid for Bangsamoro energy project
Philippines: Japan extends P348.8-M grant aid for Bangsamoro energy project
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the National Economic
Development Authority (NEDA) on Thursday signed the grant aid for the
Project for Improvement of Equipment for Power Distribution in Bangsamoro.
The project will upgrade the power distribution equipment of the six
electric cooperatives (ECs) operating in the area.
The JICA grant aid will help reduce the energy distribution losses to about
7 percent and assure reliable, resilient energy supply to nearly 44,000
households in the Bangsamoro area.
"By helping resolve the power supply issues in conflict-affected areas, we
aim to help the Philippines create more economic activities in the region,"
said JICA Chief Representative Susumu Ito.
The project will be implemented by the National Electrification
Administration (NEA) of the Department of Energy (DOE).
JICA's support to the energy infrastructure in Bangsamoro is also part of
the agency's development cooperation with the Philippines.
The energy project was identified under the JICA-assisted Bangsamoro
Development Plan 2 meant to jumpstart economic activities in Mindanao's
conflict areas and draw up a medium- to long-term development plan
(2016-2022) for the region's inclusive and sustainable development.
For his part, NEDA Director General Ernesto Pernia said the project was
expected to contribute to the long-term goal of lowering of system loss by
13 percent, and increase in line capacity by 130 percent.
"Beyond addressing the basic need to improve power supply stability in that
area of Mindanao where household electrification level stands only at 72.38
percent, we also see this project as a confidence-building undertaking and a
gesture of goodwill that will prove helpful as we continue to work towards
achieving lasting peace and development in the region," Pernia said.
He said Japan was the Philippine top source of official development
assistance.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://news.mb.com.ph/2017/03/30/japan-extends-p348-8-m-grant-aid-for-bangsa
moro-energy-project/
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the National Economic
Development Authority (NEDA) on Thursday signed the grant aid for the
Project for Improvement of Equipment for Power Distribution in Bangsamoro.
The project will upgrade the power distribution equipment of the six
electric cooperatives (ECs) operating in the area.
The JICA grant aid will help reduce the energy distribution losses to about
7 percent and assure reliable, resilient energy supply to nearly 44,000
households in the Bangsamoro area.
"By helping resolve the power supply issues in conflict-affected areas, we
aim to help the Philippines create more economic activities in the region,"
said JICA Chief Representative Susumu Ito.
The project will be implemented by the National Electrification
Administration (NEA) of the Department of Energy (DOE).
JICA's support to the energy infrastructure in Bangsamoro is also part of
the agency's development cooperation with the Philippines.
The energy project was identified under the JICA-assisted Bangsamoro
Development Plan 2 meant to jumpstart economic activities in Mindanao's
conflict areas and draw up a medium- to long-term development plan
(2016-2022) for the region's inclusive and sustainable development.
For his part, NEDA Director General Ernesto Pernia said the project was
expected to contribute to the long-term goal of lowering of system loss by
13 percent, and increase in line capacity by 130 percent.
"Beyond addressing the basic need to improve power supply stability in that
area of Mindanao where household electrification level stands only at 72.38
percent, we also see this project as a confidence-building undertaking and a
gesture of goodwill that will prove helpful as we continue to work towards
achieving lasting peace and development in the region," Pernia said.
He said Japan was the Philippine top source of official development
assistance.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://news.mb.com.ph/2017/03/30/japan-extends-p348-8-m-grant-aid-for-bangsa
moro-energy-project/
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
Myanmar: Electricity of 224 Megawatt needs for this summer
Myanmar: Electricity of 224 Megawatt needs for this summer
The Ministry of Electricity and Power has estimated that the maximum
electricity requirement during the summer is about 3,100 megawatts and the
actual production may be 2,856 megawatts.
Eighteen plants of 230 kilovolts and 66 kilovolts have been extended. As a
result, 10 cities, and 333 villages got power within the year, according to
minister Pe Zin Tun.
In Myanmar, there are 10.87 households and only 3.69 households get
electricity. In 2016-17, about 4.05 households can access electricity and
about 3.24 per cent have increased accessibility to electricity, according
to ministry statistics.
In order to get a stable supply, electricity from hydro power, natural gas,
coal and renewable energy is needed, said the Minister.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article: http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/local/8555
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
The Ministry of Electricity and Power has estimated that the maximum
electricity requirement during the summer is about 3,100 megawatts and the
actual production may be 2,856 megawatts.
Eighteen plants of 230 kilovolts and 66 kilovolts have been extended. As a
result, 10 cities, and 333 villages got power within the year, according to
minister Pe Zin Tun.
In Myanmar, there are 10.87 households and only 3.69 households get
electricity. In 2016-17, about 4.05 households can access electricity and
about 3.24 per cent have increased accessibility to electricity, according
to ministry statistics.
In order to get a stable supply, electricity from hydro power, natural gas,
coal and renewable energy is needed, said the Minister.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article: http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/local/8555
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
Thailand: NLA kills Oil Corp plan
Thailand: NLA kills Oil Corp plan
The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) voted to approve a controversial
petroleum bill Thursday but removed a heavily criticised provision to set up
a national oil corporation (NOC).
Following a lengthy debate on the bill, NLA Chairman Pornpetch
Wichitcholchai said he and NLA whips agreed that Section 10/1 of the bill,
which deals with the establishment of the NOC, should be withdrawn.
The NOC proposal will be annexed to the end of the bill and a one-year study
period required before an NOC can be set up, the assembly chief said.
Observers noted that such an annex is not usually legally binding and that
it is up to the government to consider whether to use it.
In this case, it is tantamount to cancelling the proposal, which raised
critics' concerns of a power grab by the military. However, the NLA voted
227-1 to pass the petroleum bill on its third reading.
Section 10/1 of the bill states that a national oil corporation (NOC), which
would have authority over the county's petroleum resources, would be set up
"when everything is ready".
This would be based on a feasibility study conducted by various agencies.
But the proposed NOC has met with opposition from prominent figures
including former deputy prime minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula.
During the NLA meeting, the People's Alliance for Energy Reform (PAER),
which supports the NOC proposal but opposes the bill, gathered outside
parliament to hand over a protest letter against it and another on related
income tax.
The group said it wants the NLA to withdraw the bills, arguing they would
allow the existing concessionaire to maintain its monopoly on energy
resources.
The NLA debated both bills Thursday, with the second and third readings held
for the income tax bill.
The PAER protesters then moved from parliament to Government House as police
set up barricades to block them at Chamai Maruchet Bridge.
Authorities told them their gathering was banned as it was illegal under the
law regulating public assembly.
Kamolphan Cheewaphansri, a key member of the PAER, was detained and taken to
the 11th Army Circle base.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has stressed that he will not allow the
military to control national energy resources.
"I'd stake my life on it. I will not allow anyone to seek [an unfair]
benefit. I insist the military will not seek any role in energy issues. If
anyone has such an idea, I will not allow it. Trust me," he said.
The prime minister said the government should listen to the public but also
protect the nation's interests.
He handed out copies of a six-page document at Government Housem detailing
how the controversial petroleum bill came into being.
It was issued by the secretariat of the Senate acting on behalf of the NLA.
The document claims the government had to propose the bill as operating
concessions for the Erawan and Bongkot petroleum blocks in the Gulf of
Thailand are due to expire in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
Initially, the bill aimed to cover both the system of awarding concessions
to companies and a production-sharing contract (PSC).
It was tabled to the NLA for deliberation, with an NLA committee on energy
tasked with gathering opinions from civil groups that subsequently called
for the NOC to be set up.
This proposal was then forwarded to the cabinet, which agreed to have it
included in the petroleum bill at the NLA committee scrutiny stage.
The proposal was not raised in its first reading by the NLA because the
government did not want the matter to cause conflict, according to the
statement.
Moreover, the bill clearly stated that the NOC would be set up only "when
everything is ready", which would be based on a feasibility study conducted
by various agencies, the document said.
NLA energy committee chairman Gen Sakon Sajjanit said at the deliberation
meeting that the country's petroleum supplies have been acquired through the
concession system without relying on hiring contracts or other systems.
But the petroleum bill focuses only on exploration and production, Gen Sakon
said.
Gen Sakon stressed that the NOC is a major issue that requires careful
action.
The NOC proposal should be a long-term plan that needs to be thoroughly
studied first.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/1224088/nla-kills-oil-corp-plan
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) voted to approve a controversial
petroleum bill Thursday but removed a heavily criticised provision to set up
a national oil corporation (NOC).
Following a lengthy debate on the bill, NLA Chairman Pornpetch
Wichitcholchai said he and NLA whips agreed that Section 10/1 of the bill,
which deals with the establishment of the NOC, should be withdrawn.
The NOC proposal will be annexed to the end of the bill and a one-year study
period required before an NOC can be set up, the assembly chief said.
Observers noted that such an annex is not usually legally binding and that
it is up to the government to consider whether to use it.
In this case, it is tantamount to cancelling the proposal, which raised
critics' concerns of a power grab by the military. However, the NLA voted
227-1 to pass the petroleum bill on its third reading.
Section 10/1 of the bill states that a national oil corporation (NOC), which
would have authority over the county's petroleum resources, would be set up
"when everything is ready".
This would be based on a feasibility study conducted by various agencies.
But the proposed NOC has met with opposition from prominent figures
including former deputy prime minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula.
During the NLA meeting, the People's Alliance for Energy Reform (PAER),
which supports the NOC proposal but opposes the bill, gathered outside
parliament to hand over a protest letter against it and another on related
income tax.
The group said it wants the NLA to withdraw the bills, arguing they would
allow the existing concessionaire to maintain its monopoly on energy
resources.
The NLA debated both bills Thursday, with the second and third readings held
for the income tax bill.
The PAER protesters then moved from parliament to Government House as police
set up barricades to block them at Chamai Maruchet Bridge.
Authorities told them their gathering was banned as it was illegal under the
law regulating public assembly.
Kamolphan Cheewaphansri, a key member of the PAER, was detained and taken to
the 11th Army Circle base.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has stressed that he will not allow the
military to control national energy resources.
"I'd stake my life on it. I will not allow anyone to seek [an unfair]
benefit. I insist the military will not seek any role in energy issues. If
anyone has such an idea, I will not allow it. Trust me," he said.
The prime minister said the government should listen to the public but also
protect the nation's interests.
He handed out copies of a six-page document at Government Housem detailing
how the controversial petroleum bill came into being.
It was issued by the secretariat of the Senate acting on behalf of the NLA.
The document claims the government had to propose the bill as operating
concessions for the Erawan and Bongkot petroleum blocks in the Gulf of
Thailand are due to expire in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
Initially, the bill aimed to cover both the system of awarding concessions
to companies and a production-sharing contract (PSC).
It was tabled to the NLA for deliberation, with an NLA committee on energy
tasked with gathering opinions from civil groups that subsequently called
for the NOC to be set up.
This proposal was then forwarded to the cabinet, which agreed to have it
included in the petroleum bill at the NLA committee scrutiny stage.
The proposal was not raised in its first reading by the NLA because the
government did not want the matter to cause conflict, according to the
statement.
Moreover, the bill clearly stated that the NOC would be set up only "when
everything is ready", which would be based on a feasibility study conducted
by various agencies, the document said.
NLA energy committee chairman Gen Sakon Sajjanit said at the deliberation
meeting that the country's petroleum supplies have been acquired through the
concession system without relying on hiring contracts or other systems.
But the petroleum bill focuses only on exploration and production, Gen Sakon
said.
Gen Sakon stressed that the NOC is a major issue that requires careful
action.
The NOC proposal should be a long-term plan that needs to be thoroughly
studied first.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/1224088/nla-kills-oil-corp-plan
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
Tien Ching, UMILE to invest in 49 MW floating PV in Malaysia
Tien Ching, UMILE to invest in 49 MW floating PV in Malaysia
The Taiwanese company has agreed to start a feasibility study next month on
the possibility of developing the country's first floating solar array, in
cooperation with UMILE Ltd Liability Partnership.
The two sides have agreed to set up a special purpose vehicle to build an
80-hectare project on a lake near the town of Pasir Mas, near the Thailand
border in the state of Kelantan, Tien Ching Energy said in an online
statement.
If completed, the project would be the largest floating PV array in the
world.
Total investment in the project could reach 400 million ringgit ($90.4
million), according to Malaysian state news agency Bernama.
UMILE aims to integrate the array with an aquaculture project.
Taichung-based Tien Ching Energy primarily sells solar water heaters and
pumps.
Floating solar projects are increasingly gaining traction with investors,
particularly in land-scarce countries such as Japan.
French floating PV pioneer Ciel et Terre expects to complete Taiwan's first
such project in June, in cooperation with GermanSolar Asia.
And earlier this month, Ciel & Terre installed a 220 kW floating project in
Portugal. The array — built at a hydroelectric dam on the Rabagão River — is
the first utility-scale floating PV project in the world to be integrated
with hydropower.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2017/03/30/tien-ching-umile-to-invest-in-49-mw-f
loating-pv-in-malaysia/
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
The Taiwanese company has agreed to start a feasibility study next month on
the possibility of developing the country's first floating solar array, in
cooperation with UMILE Ltd Liability Partnership.
The two sides have agreed to set up a special purpose vehicle to build an
80-hectare project on a lake near the town of Pasir Mas, near the Thailand
border in the state of Kelantan, Tien Ching Energy said in an online
statement.
If completed, the project would be the largest floating PV array in the
world.
Total investment in the project could reach 400 million ringgit ($90.4
million), according to Malaysian state news agency Bernama.
UMILE aims to integrate the array with an aquaculture project.
Taichung-based Tien Ching Energy primarily sells solar water heaters and
pumps.
Floating solar projects are increasingly gaining traction with investors,
particularly in land-scarce countries such as Japan.
French floating PV pioneer Ciel et Terre expects to complete Taiwan's first
such project in June, in cooperation with GermanSolar Asia.
And earlier this month, Ciel & Terre installed a 220 kW floating project in
Portugal. The array — built at a hydroelectric dam on the Rabagão River — is
the first utility-scale floating PV project in the world to be integrated
with hydropower.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2017/03/30/tien-ching-umile-to-invest-in-49-mw-f
loating-pv-in-malaysia/
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
Wärtsilä to Supply, Operate and Maintain Five Multi-Fuel Power Plants in Indonesia
Wärtsilä to Supply, Operate and Maintain Five Multi-Fuel Power Plants in
Indonesia
A consortium between the technology group Wärtsilä and an Indonesian
construction company, PT PP (Persero) Tbk, has been contracted to supply
five power plants, totalling 255MW, to PT PLN, the Indonesian state utility.
The consortium will be responsible for the complete engineering, procurement
and construction (EPC) of the projects, and will also operate and maintain
the power plants for a five-year period.
The five plants are covered by two separate orders. One order comprises four
modular gas cube power plants, totalling 115 MW. The gas cubes will be
located in Ternate, Nabire, Bontang and Flores. The second order, a 140 MW
power plant, will be located in Bangkanai, in Central Kalimantan on the
island of Borneo. All five power plants include Wärtsilä 34DF engines
capable of running on multiple fuels, such as liquid fuels and natural gas.
This significantly increases the operational flexibility and reliability of
the plants. The four gas cube power plants are scheduled to be operational
in late 2017 and early 2018, and the Bangkanai plant in late 2018. The
orders have been booked in the first quarter of 2017.
The four gas cube power plants are part of a public tender announced by PT
PLN last year, and they will provide flexible baseload power to the
Indonesian grid. Wärtsilä announced the award of a contract for two similar
plant deliveries in December 2016. The Wärtsilä gas cube is a ready-to-use,
pre-engineered, modular power plant package especially designed for
fast-track delivery with minimal site work. In addition to the short
installation time, it can also be easily dismantled and re-installed in
another location if required.
The 140MW Bangkanai phase II power plant will complement an existing
Wärtsilä-built gas power plant located in the middle of jungle terrain in
Bangkanai. The two plants will have a key role in producing electricity for
the Kalimantan grid and helping to meet the area's growing electricity
demand.
Wärtsilä will take on the daily operation and maintenance of these five
power plants, to optimise the performance and production lifecycle of the
installations. The five-year operations and maintenance agreement includes
expertise areas such as recruitment, management and training of local
personnel, technical support, maintenance planning, performance monitoring
and logistics management, as well as preventive and predictive maintenance
to meet local health, safety and environmental requirements.
"These contracts showcase the strength of our relationship with the state
utility, PT PLN. The customer values our EPC capability and comprehensive
O&M offering. The Bangkanai plant is located in a rather demanding
environment and PT PLN knows that we can deliver an EPC on-time, even in
such tough conditions. The operations & maintenance agreement supports
efficient plant performance and profitability; we can maximise the lifetime
of these installations and ensure their availability in a challenging
environment." says Frederic Carron, Regional Director at Wärtsilä.
Wärtsilä and PT PLN have a long and healthy business relationship. The two
parties recently signed a MoU to build and develop power generation projects
in Indonesia. Wärtsilä's installed capacity in Indonesia will exceed 3.4GW
during 2017.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://www.power-technology.com/contractors/powerplantequip/wartsila/presswr
tsil-to-supply-operate-and-maintain-five-multi-fuel-power-plants-in-indonesi
a.html?WT.mc_id=DN_PR
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
Indonesia
A consortium between the technology group Wärtsilä and an Indonesian
construction company, PT PP (Persero) Tbk, has been contracted to supply
five power plants, totalling 255MW, to PT PLN, the Indonesian state utility.
The consortium will be responsible for the complete engineering, procurement
and construction (EPC) of the projects, and will also operate and maintain
the power plants for a five-year period.
The five plants are covered by two separate orders. One order comprises four
modular gas cube power plants, totalling 115 MW. The gas cubes will be
located in Ternate, Nabire, Bontang and Flores. The second order, a 140 MW
power plant, will be located in Bangkanai, in Central Kalimantan on the
island of Borneo. All five power plants include Wärtsilä 34DF engines
capable of running on multiple fuels, such as liquid fuels and natural gas.
This significantly increases the operational flexibility and reliability of
the plants. The four gas cube power plants are scheduled to be operational
in late 2017 and early 2018, and the Bangkanai plant in late 2018. The
orders have been booked in the first quarter of 2017.
The four gas cube power plants are part of a public tender announced by PT
PLN last year, and they will provide flexible baseload power to the
Indonesian grid. Wärtsilä announced the award of a contract for two similar
plant deliveries in December 2016. The Wärtsilä gas cube is a ready-to-use,
pre-engineered, modular power plant package especially designed for
fast-track delivery with minimal site work. In addition to the short
installation time, it can also be easily dismantled and re-installed in
another location if required.
The 140MW Bangkanai phase II power plant will complement an existing
Wärtsilä-built gas power plant located in the middle of jungle terrain in
Bangkanai. The two plants will have a key role in producing electricity for
the Kalimantan grid and helping to meet the area's growing electricity
demand.
Wärtsilä will take on the daily operation and maintenance of these five
power plants, to optimise the performance and production lifecycle of the
installations. The five-year operations and maintenance agreement includes
expertise areas such as recruitment, management and training of local
personnel, technical support, maintenance planning, performance monitoring
and logistics management, as well as preventive and predictive maintenance
to meet local health, safety and environmental requirements.
"These contracts showcase the strength of our relationship with the state
utility, PT PLN. The customer values our EPC capability and comprehensive
O&M offering. The Bangkanai plant is located in a rather demanding
environment and PT PLN knows that we can deliver an EPC on-time, even in
such tough conditions. The operations & maintenance agreement supports
efficient plant performance and profitability; we can maximise the lifetime
of these installations and ensure their availability in a challenging
environment." says Frederic Carron, Regional Director at Wärtsilä.
Wärtsilä and PT PLN have a long and healthy business relationship. The two
parties recently signed a MoU to build and develop power generation projects
in Indonesia. Wärtsilä's installed capacity in Indonesia will exceed 3.4GW
during 2017.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://www.power-technology.com/contractors/powerplantequip/wartsila/presswr
tsil-to-supply-operate-and-maintain-five-multi-fuel-power-plants-in-indonesi
a.html?WT.mc_id=DN_PR
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
Thailand: PTTEP sets sights on M&A feasibility under stable oil prices
Thailand: PTTEP sets sights on M&A feasibility under stable oil prices
PTT Exploration and Production Plc, (PTTEP), the only SET-listed upstream
petroleum firm, says higher and more stable global oil prices will make it
easier for the company to acquire or merge with other petroleum exploration
and production companies.
Wirat Uanarumit, PTT director and board member, said PTTEP plans to raise
its proven petroleum reserves by 125% from the average level of four years
to 10 years.
PTTEP's mergers and acquisitions plans are aimed at maintaining a production
level of about 320,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day and rise to 600,000
boed by 2025.
"Oil prices have become quite stable and major exploration and production
(E&P) companies are expected to re-adjust their asset portfolios and are
mulling plans to sell some assets in Asia, especially those companies whose
E&P activities stopped for a few years when oil prices fell below US$50 a
barrel," said Mr Wirat.
The collapse in oil prices to around $30 a barrel forced E&P companies to
stop drilling for petroleum and pushed down the value of E&P assets, making
them no longer worth investing in, nor worth selling. However, rebounding
oil prices could push up E&P asset prices, and encourage E&P companies to
sell them off.
PTTEP reports its proven petroleum reserves will decline sharply to 263,000
boed in 2021 from 312,000 boed if there are no new mergers and acquisitions
(M&As) to help increase reserves or if the Bongkot gasfield in the Gulf of
Thailand is not granted a new concession.
Mr Wirat, who is also the chief operating officer of upstream petroleum and
gas business at national oil and gas conglomerate PTT Plc, said PTT and
PTTEP are considering setting up a joint venture with a massive capital
expenditure to develop a liquefaction plant adjacent to the Mozambique
Rovuma Offshore Area 1 to produce liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Details and total value of the project are due to be finalised by early next
year, he said.
The Rovuma Area 1 is estimated to have proven petroleum reserves of about 65
trillion cubic feet and shareholders of the development consortium are due
to make a final investment decision by the end of the year on when
production would start, he added.
Pannalin Mahawongtikul, PTTEP's executive vice-president for finance and
accounting, said as of the end of last year the company had cash on hand of
about $4 billion, which is ready to be used for M&As over the next few
years.
The cash is in addition to its five-year capital expenditure (2017-21) of
$8.84 billion baht, she said.
In order to prevent depletion of the company's proven petroleum reserves in
less than a year, Ms Pannalin said PTTEP plans to accelerate the
developments of Mozambique's Rovuma, Algeria's Hassi Bir Rekaiz and Ubon
Field in the Gulf of Thailand.
The Ubon field will produce another 25,000-30,000 boed, while Rovuma could
produce another 300,000 boed and Hassi Bir Rekaiz could produce another
50,000 boed, she said.
Jakapong Chawangsri, a stock analyst at Kasikorn Securities, estimated that
at least one deal from the four deals that PTTEP is in talks with E&P firms
could be sealed by the middle of this year.
He said the project most likely to manifest is the Yadana gas field in
Myanmar and the SK 316 offshore gas field in Malaysia.
PTTEP recently failed to acquire Royal Dutch Shell's 22.22% shares in KUFPEC
Thailand Holding, which operates the Erawan gasfield in the Gulf of
Thailand.
PTTEP shares closed yesterday on the Stock Exchange of Thailand at 93 baht,
up 75 satang, in trade worth 895 million baht.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/1224260/pttep-sets-sights-on-ma-fea
sibility-under-stable-oil-prices
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
PTT Exploration and Production Plc, (PTTEP), the only SET-listed upstream
petroleum firm, says higher and more stable global oil prices will make it
easier for the company to acquire or merge with other petroleum exploration
and production companies.
Wirat Uanarumit, PTT director and board member, said PTTEP plans to raise
its proven petroleum reserves by 125% from the average level of four years
to 10 years.
PTTEP's mergers and acquisitions plans are aimed at maintaining a production
level of about 320,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day and rise to 600,000
boed by 2025.
"Oil prices have become quite stable and major exploration and production
(E&P) companies are expected to re-adjust their asset portfolios and are
mulling plans to sell some assets in Asia, especially those companies whose
E&P activities stopped for a few years when oil prices fell below US$50 a
barrel," said Mr Wirat.
The collapse in oil prices to around $30 a barrel forced E&P companies to
stop drilling for petroleum and pushed down the value of E&P assets, making
them no longer worth investing in, nor worth selling. However, rebounding
oil prices could push up E&P asset prices, and encourage E&P companies to
sell them off.
PTTEP reports its proven petroleum reserves will decline sharply to 263,000
boed in 2021 from 312,000 boed if there are no new mergers and acquisitions
(M&As) to help increase reserves or if the Bongkot gasfield in the Gulf of
Thailand is not granted a new concession.
Mr Wirat, who is also the chief operating officer of upstream petroleum and
gas business at national oil and gas conglomerate PTT Plc, said PTT and
PTTEP are considering setting up a joint venture with a massive capital
expenditure to develop a liquefaction plant adjacent to the Mozambique
Rovuma Offshore Area 1 to produce liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Details and total value of the project are due to be finalised by early next
year, he said.
The Rovuma Area 1 is estimated to have proven petroleum reserves of about 65
trillion cubic feet and shareholders of the development consortium are due
to make a final investment decision by the end of the year on when
production would start, he added.
Pannalin Mahawongtikul, PTTEP's executive vice-president for finance and
accounting, said as of the end of last year the company had cash on hand of
about $4 billion, which is ready to be used for M&As over the next few
years.
The cash is in addition to its five-year capital expenditure (2017-21) of
$8.84 billion baht, she said.
In order to prevent depletion of the company's proven petroleum reserves in
less than a year, Ms Pannalin said PTTEP plans to accelerate the
developments of Mozambique's Rovuma, Algeria's Hassi Bir Rekaiz and Ubon
Field in the Gulf of Thailand.
The Ubon field will produce another 25,000-30,000 boed, while Rovuma could
produce another 300,000 boed and Hassi Bir Rekaiz could produce another
50,000 boed, she said.
Jakapong Chawangsri, a stock analyst at Kasikorn Securities, estimated that
at least one deal from the four deals that PTTEP is in talks with E&P firms
could be sealed by the middle of this year.
He said the project most likely to manifest is the Yadana gas field in
Myanmar and the SK 316 offshore gas field in Malaysia.
PTTEP recently failed to acquire Royal Dutch Shell's 22.22% shares in KUFPEC
Thailand Holding, which operates the Erawan gasfield in the Gulf of
Thailand.
PTTEP shares closed yesterday on the Stock Exchange of Thailand at 93 baht,
up 75 satang, in trade worth 895 million baht.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/1224260/pttep-sets-sights-on-ma-fea
sibility-under-stable-oil-prices
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
Thursday, March 30, 2017
Malaysia: Edra to build RM400 mln solar plant in Kedah
Malaysia: Edra to build RM400 mln solar plant in Kedah
The biggest investment seen in Kedah in years is set to become a reality
with a RM400 million solar power plant by Edra Power Holdings Sdn Bhd.
The plant in Kuala Ketil will turn the once agricultural land into an
industrial site and support the long-established industrial park in Kulim,
said Edra President and Executive Director Datuk Mark Ling.
"The importance of having the Kedah solar plant is that it could footprint
the first 50MWAC solar panel farm that will be the largest in Malaysia," he
told Bernama.
Edra, recently acquired by China's China General Nuclear Power Corp for
RM9.83 billion - the largest single foreign investment in Malaysia - was
excited to share the group's vast experience in Malaysia in such a large
renewable energy scheme, he said.
"The solar power plant is also to meet the government mix-fuel policy, that
there must be a mix of coal and gas and maybe hydro in line with efforts to
cut down the carbon emission footprint," he added.
Ling described solar energy as the most feasible renewable energy programme
in the country, which does not have the luxury of wind.
The Malaysian government via the Energy Commission has put in place all the
guidelines and processes for the bidding for renewable energy mix coming on
stream, renewable energy on the continuous yearly, half-yearly basis based
on different segments of the country to deliver and where land is a crucial
factor.
Ling said Kedah with abundant flat land in the right places proved to be the
ideal location for solar plants compared with states like Kelantan and
Terengganu which are more hilly.
"The stability of land is extremely important hence Kedah and Perlis are the
first pick," he said.
He gave full marks to the Kedah state government for its very encouraging
support to Edra's programme especially in the efficiency in the conversion
of the 200-acre land for the project.
The existence of the plant is also expected to give a big boost to the
state's own industrialisation pace as well as the Energy Commission's green
energy statement and Malaysia's going green programme.
Ling said the plant would also enhance local development in the area for the
community such as providing jobs and other spill-over effects.
"It will also eventually turn a lot of agricultural land in the state into
industrial land. Apart from the investment land development, there's also
clearly people migrating to live in Kedah because there will be businesses
created from job opportunities," he said.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/05/147173/edra-build-rm400-mln-solar-plant-k
edah
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
The biggest investment seen in Kedah in years is set to become a reality
with a RM400 million solar power plant by Edra Power Holdings Sdn Bhd.
The plant in Kuala Ketil will turn the once agricultural land into an
industrial site and support the long-established industrial park in Kulim,
said Edra President and Executive Director Datuk Mark Ling.
"The importance of having the Kedah solar plant is that it could footprint
the first 50MWAC solar panel farm that will be the largest in Malaysia," he
told Bernama.
Edra, recently acquired by China's China General Nuclear Power Corp for
RM9.83 billion - the largest single foreign investment in Malaysia - was
excited to share the group's vast experience in Malaysia in such a large
renewable energy scheme, he said.
"The solar power plant is also to meet the government mix-fuel policy, that
there must be a mix of coal and gas and maybe hydro in line with efforts to
cut down the carbon emission footprint," he added.
Ling described solar energy as the most feasible renewable energy programme
in the country, which does not have the luxury of wind.
The Malaysian government via the Energy Commission has put in place all the
guidelines and processes for the bidding for renewable energy mix coming on
stream, renewable energy on the continuous yearly, half-yearly basis based
on different segments of the country to deliver and where land is a crucial
factor.
Ling said Kedah with abundant flat land in the right places proved to be the
ideal location for solar plants compared with states like Kelantan and
Terengganu which are more hilly.
"The stability of land is extremely important hence Kedah and Perlis are the
first pick," he said.
He gave full marks to the Kedah state government for its very encouraging
support to Edra's programme especially in the efficiency in the conversion
of the 200-acre land for the project.
The existence of the plant is also expected to give a big boost to the
state's own industrialisation pace as well as the Energy Commission's green
energy statement and Malaysia's going green programme.
Ling said the plant would also enhance local development in the area for the
community such as providing jobs and other spill-over effects.
"It will also eventually turn a lot of agricultural land in the state into
industrial land. Apart from the investment land development, there's also
clearly people migrating to live in Kedah because there will be businesses
created from job opportunities," he said.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/05/147173/edra-build-rm400-mln-solar-plant-k
edah
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
Malaysia: Palm oil board refutes economist's claim on biodiesel
Malaysia: Palm oil board refutes economist's claim on biodiesel
Malaysia has been actively carrying out research and development activities
in palm oil-derived biodiesel since the 1980s, contrary to claims by a
prominent economist that such efforts were "too modest".
Economist Jomo Kwame Sundaram had said Malaysia's R&D efforts were "too
modest" and that it had failed to place a strong enough foundation to
develop biodiesel energy when compared with other countries.
But Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) principal research officer Harrison Lau
defended Malaysia's R&D efforts, saying these efforts had seen MPOB become a
leading player in biodiesel technology, on a par with other international
players.
"The government, through MPOB, has developed the technology for the
production of biodiesel as a renewable fuel from palm oil since the 1980s,
which resulted in numerous patents and publications.
"MPOB had established the first continuous palm biodiesel pilot plant in
1985.
"It carried out exhaustive field trials using palm biodiesel," he told FMT,
adding MPOB's research efforts had enabled palm biodiesel to be established
as a diesel substitute.
One of the most extensive field trials, MPOB said, was carried out in
collaboration with Mercedes Benz Daimler in Germany, involving 36 commercial
buses using pure diesel (B0), blends of B50 (50% petroleum diesel and 50%
palm biodiesel) and palm biodiesel (B100).
"Other commercial trials conducted include trials using B5 with Kuala Lumpur
City Hall (DBKL), involving 3,900 vehicles, technical deliberations with
Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (Jama) and B10/B20 (80% petroleum
diesel and 20% palm biodiesel) trials with MPOB and DBKL vehicles.
Lau said, as a result of these R&D efforts, the government was able to
implement the B5 (95% petroleum diesel and 5% palm biodiesel) in 2011 and B7
(93% petroleum diesel and 7% palm biodiesel) in 2015.
"Jomo's statement is not really fair as the palm oil industry has
implemented renewable energy practices and also promoted sustainable
development through the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and
Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certifications.
"For example, all palm oil mills use their oil palm shell and fibre as fuel
for their boilers instead of fossil fuel.
"Today, Malaysia is at the forefront of palm oil research and development in
the world.
"We would be happy to brief Sundaram and have further discussions and share
views on this."
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2017/03/29/palm-oil-board-r
efutes-economists-claim-on-biodiesel/
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
Malaysia has been actively carrying out research and development activities
in palm oil-derived biodiesel since the 1980s, contrary to claims by a
prominent economist that such efforts were "too modest".
Economist Jomo Kwame Sundaram had said Malaysia's R&D efforts were "too
modest" and that it had failed to place a strong enough foundation to
develop biodiesel energy when compared with other countries.
But Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) principal research officer Harrison Lau
defended Malaysia's R&D efforts, saying these efforts had seen MPOB become a
leading player in biodiesel technology, on a par with other international
players.
"The government, through MPOB, has developed the technology for the
production of biodiesel as a renewable fuel from palm oil since the 1980s,
which resulted in numerous patents and publications.
"MPOB had established the first continuous palm biodiesel pilot plant in
1985.
"It carried out exhaustive field trials using palm biodiesel," he told FMT,
adding MPOB's research efforts had enabled palm biodiesel to be established
as a diesel substitute.
One of the most extensive field trials, MPOB said, was carried out in
collaboration with Mercedes Benz Daimler in Germany, involving 36 commercial
buses using pure diesel (B0), blends of B50 (50% petroleum diesel and 50%
palm biodiesel) and palm biodiesel (B100).
"Other commercial trials conducted include trials using B5 with Kuala Lumpur
City Hall (DBKL), involving 3,900 vehicles, technical deliberations with
Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (Jama) and B10/B20 (80% petroleum
diesel and 20% palm biodiesel) trials with MPOB and DBKL vehicles.
Lau said, as a result of these R&D efforts, the government was able to
implement the B5 (95% petroleum diesel and 5% palm biodiesel) in 2011 and B7
(93% petroleum diesel and 7% palm biodiesel) in 2015.
"Jomo's statement is not really fair as the palm oil industry has
implemented renewable energy practices and also promoted sustainable
development through the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and
Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certifications.
"For example, all palm oil mills use their oil palm shell and fibre as fuel
for their boilers instead of fossil fuel.
"Today, Malaysia is at the forefront of palm oil research and development in
the world.
"We would be happy to brief Sundaram and have further discussions and share
views on this."
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2017/03/29/palm-oil-board-r
efutes-economists-claim-on-biodiesel/
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
Philippines: PSALM postpones Malaya thermal plant bidding anew
Philippines: PSALM postpones Malaya thermal plant bidding anew
THE POWER SECTOR ASSETS AND LIABILITIES MANAGEMENT CORP. (PSALM) HAS PUT THE
BIDDING FOR THE 650-MEGAWATT (MW) MALAYA THERMAL POWER PLANT ON HOLD ANEW.
Lourdes Alzona, PSALM officer-in-charge, said that the bidding for the
Rizal-based asset is "deferred until further notice."
"Bidding has been moved to have more time for the evaluation of options for
the Board, in consideration of the DOE policy to ensure sufficiency of the
power supply in the Luzon grid," Alzona said.
The state-run firm is still waiting for Department of Energy's instructions
regarding the privatization of the MTPP.
The bidding was originally set on March 8 but was moved to March 30 in
consideration of DOE's proposal to convert the facility into a liquefied
natural gas (LNG) plant.
Before DOE's proposal, the Malaya plant was supposed to be sold on an
"as-is, where is" basis.
Alzona said that the final transaction document will take the requirement of
DOE for the Malaya's conversion to a baseload LNG plant into consideration.
The conversion of the MTPP will assure reliable power supply in the future
and will allow the county to have a cleaner, more efficient and reliable
power plant, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://powerphilippines.com/2017/03/30/psalm-postpones-malaya-thermal-plant-
bidding-anew/
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
THE POWER SECTOR ASSETS AND LIABILITIES MANAGEMENT CORP. (PSALM) HAS PUT THE
BIDDING FOR THE 650-MEGAWATT (MW) MALAYA THERMAL POWER PLANT ON HOLD ANEW.
Lourdes Alzona, PSALM officer-in-charge, said that the bidding for the
Rizal-based asset is "deferred until further notice."
"Bidding has been moved to have more time for the evaluation of options for
the Board, in consideration of the DOE policy to ensure sufficiency of the
power supply in the Luzon grid," Alzona said.
The state-run firm is still waiting for Department of Energy's instructions
regarding the privatization of the MTPP.
The bidding was originally set on March 8 but was moved to March 30 in
consideration of DOE's proposal to convert the facility into a liquefied
natural gas (LNG) plant.
Before DOE's proposal, the Malaya plant was supposed to be sold on an
"as-is, where is" basis.
Alzona said that the final transaction document will take the requirement of
DOE for the Malaya's conversion to a baseload LNG plant into consideration.
The conversion of the MTPP will assure reliable power supply in the future
and will allow the county to have a cleaner, more efficient and reliable
power plant, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://powerphilippines.com/2017/03/30/psalm-postpones-malaya-thermal-plant-
bidding-anew/
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
Vietnam: Petrolimex to list on HCM City stock exchange
Vietnam: Petrolimex to list on HCM City stock exchange
The Vietnam National Petroleum Group (Petrolimex) will list its shares coded
PLX on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HOSE) some time between April 18 and
21.
The information was released at an event held on March 29 by Petrolimex and
Saigon Securities Inc. (SSI).
According to Bui Ngoc Bao, Chairman of Petrolimex Board of Directors, the
price of listed PLX shares will not be lower than the price sold to
strategic shareholders, which ranges from 47,000 to 50,000 VND (2.06 USD to
2.19 USD) per share to ensure the liquidity of shares and shareholders'
interests.
The group also pledged a dividend rate of at least 12 percent in the next
three years.
2016 was a successful year of Petrolimex with combined profit of 6 trillion
VND (nearly 264 million USD) and a planned dividend rate of 16 percent.
In 2017, Petrolimex aims for 163 trillion VND (7.16 billion USD) in revenue
and pretax profit of 4 trillion VND (176 million USD).
In upcoming time, Petrolimex would focus on its core business of petrol and
oil trading, thus maintaining its leading position in retail and
distribution. It will also promote research and investment in clean energy.
The company aims for a place in the top five companies in Vietnam in terms
of scale and efficiency.
According to Petrolimex's Business Report, the corporation has a chartered
capital reaches nearly 13 trillion VND (571 million USD) and market
capitalization of 52 trillion VND (2.28 billion USD), one of the 20
companies with the largest market capitalisation on the market.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/175530/petrolimex-to-list-on-hcm-c
ity-stock-exchange.html
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
The Vietnam National Petroleum Group (Petrolimex) will list its shares coded
PLX on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HOSE) some time between April 18 and
21.
The information was released at an event held on March 29 by Petrolimex and
Saigon Securities Inc. (SSI).
According to Bui Ngoc Bao, Chairman of Petrolimex Board of Directors, the
price of listed PLX shares will not be lower than the price sold to
strategic shareholders, which ranges from 47,000 to 50,000 VND (2.06 USD to
2.19 USD) per share to ensure the liquidity of shares and shareholders'
interests.
The group also pledged a dividend rate of at least 12 percent in the next
three years.
2016 was a successful year of Petrolimex with combined profit of 6 trillion
VND (nearly 264 million USD) and a planned dividend rate of 16 percent.
In 2017, Petrolimex aims for 163 trillion VND (7.16 billion USD) in revenue
and pretax profit of 4 trillion VND (176 million USD).
In upcoming time, Petrolimex would focus on its core business of petrol and
oil trading, thus maintaining its leading position in retail and
distribution. It will also promote research and investment in clean energy.
The company aims for a place in the top five companies in Vietnam in terms
of scale and efficiency.
According to Petrolimex's Business Report, the corporation has a chartered
capital reaches nearly 13 trillion VND (571 million USD) and market
capitalization of 52 trillion VND (2.28 billion USD), one of the 20
companies with the largest market capitalisation on the market.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/175530/petrolimex-to-list-on-hcm-c
ity-stock-exchange.html
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
ENGIE signs three partnership agreements in Indonesia
ENGIE signs three partnership agreements in Indonesia
ENGIE Group, a global energy player, today signed three partnership
agreements in Jakarta to develop, co-finance, build, operate and maintain
microgrid and
other renewable energy projects in various parts of Indonesia, for a total
value of USD 1.25 billion over the next five years.
The three partnership agreements were signed as part of French President
Hollande's visit to Southeast Asia, covering Singapore, Malaysia and
Indonesia, from 26 to 29 March 2017.
Didier Holleaux, Executive Vice President of ENGIE Group, said: "These three
partnership agreements reaffirm our commitment to Indonesia to provide
access to energy for all. The projects will be a significant step towards
Indonesia's goal to reduce the country's dependence on fossil-based energy
sources, and to provide 97% of the population with electricity by 2019. Our
strategy is to work through an ecosystem of partners to co-develop and scale
renewable energy and innovative low-carbon technology solutions to meet the
country's unique energy challenges."
ENGIE and Sugar Group Companies to develop various renewable energy projects
The agreement between ENGIE and Sugar Group Companies is for a joint
investment of USD 1 billion over the next five years to develop photovoltaic
power plants and biomass power plants, with a total power generation
capacity of 500 megawatts in Sumatera and Eastern Indonesia. The projects
will significantly contribute to the implementation of the national program
to reduce greenhouse gases and climate change, with an estimated carbon
avoidance of 1.5 million ton of CO2e per annum.
The solar parks in Sumatera and Eastern Indonesia will have a total power
generation capacity of 300 megawatts and will include a 140-megawatt solar
park in the province of Lampung, making it one of the largest solar power
facilities in Southeast Asia.
Meanwhile, the biomass power plants with a total power generation capacity
of 200 megawatts will use agricultural waste as well as land clearing
material, thus enabling Indonesia to achieve its renewable energy goals and
reducing pollution from land clearing activities.
ENGIE and Electric Vine Industries on microgrid development
In this partnership agreement, ENGIE and Electric Vine Industries plan to
jointly develop, finance, build, operate and maintain photovoltaic smart
microgrids, providing sustainable 24-hour power for 3,000 villages in the
Province of Papua over a 20-year period. With this new project,
approximately 2.5 million
people across Papua will be able to enjoy clean and reliable energy without
interruption. The total investment is expected to be USD 240 million over
the next five years.
ENGIE and PT Arya Watala Capital to develop solar power plants
In signing this partnership agreement, ENGIE and PT Arya Watala Capital,
have committed to jointly invest USD 15 million over the next three years to
develop a total power generative capacity of up to 10 megawatt peak (MWp) in
East Nusa Tenggara, the southernmost province of Indonesia. The projects
will be located in ten different areas in the province within the major
islands such as West Timor, Flores and Sumba.
These agreements are in line with the ambitions of the Terrawatt Initiative,
a non-profit organization that was launched by ENGIE during COP21 to promote
affordable solar energy and adding more than 1 terawatt of photovoltaic
solar power production capacity between 2016 and 2030.
As part of President Hollande's visit to Southeast Asia, ENGIE will be
signing another four partnership agreements in Malaysia and Singapore to
develop renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in the areas of
solar energy, green mobility and integrated facility management services for
mission-critical sectors, urban safety and traffic regulation solutions.
ENGIE Indonesia is committed to contributing to the sustainable development
of one of the world's fastest-growing economies, through increasing energy
supply with natural gas and renewable power (geothermal, solar, biogas), as
well as improving energy efficiency and providing solutions to the
challenges of rapid urbanization. ENGIE has started construction in
Indonesia of its first high temperature geothermal power generation plant in
the world, Muara Laboh, which is also the Group's first renewable project in
the country.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
https://www.engie.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/press-release-engie-29-marc
h-2017-indonesia.pdf
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
ENGIE Group, a global energy player, today signed three partnership
agreements in Jakarta to develop, co-finance, build, operate and maintain
microgrid and
other renewable energy projects in various parts of Indonesia, for a total
value of USD 1.25 billion over the next five years.
The three partnership agreements were signed as part of French President
Hollande's visit to Southeast Asia, covering Singapore, Malaysia and
Indonesia, from 26 to 29 March 2017.
Didier Holleaux, Executive Vice President of ENGIE Group, said: "These three
partnership agreements reaffirm our commitment to Indonesia to provide
access to energy for all. The projects will be a significant step towards
Indonesia's goal to reduce the country's dependence on fossil-based energy
sources, and to provide 97% of the population with electricity by 2019. Our
strategy is to work through an ecosystem of partners to co-develop and scale
renewable energy and innovative low-carbon technology solutions to meet the
country's unique energy challenges."
ENGIE and Sugar Group Companies to develop various renewable energy projects
The agreement between ENGIE and Sugar Group Companies is for a joint
investment of USD 1 billion over the next five years to develop photovoltaic
power plants and biomass power plants, with a total power generation
capacity of 500 megawatts in Sumatera and Eastern Indonesia. The projects
will significantly contribute to the implementation of the national program
to reduce greenhouse gases and climate change, with an estimated carbon
avoidance of 1.5 million ton of CO2e per annum.
The solar parks in Sumatera and Eastern Indonesia will have a total power
generation capacity of 300 megawatts and will include a 140-megawatt solar
park in the province of Lampung, making it one of the largest solar power
facilities in Southeast Asia.
Meanwhile, the biomass power plants with a total power generation capacity
of 200 megawatts will use agricultural waste as well as land clearing
material, thus enabling Indonesia to achieve its renewable energy goals and
reducing pollution from land clearing activities.
ENGIE and Electric Vine Industries on microgrid development
In this partnership agreement, ENGIE and Electric Vine Industries plan to
jointly develop, finance, build, operate and maintain photovoltaic smart
microgrids, providing sustainable 24-hour power for 3,000 villages in the
Province of Papua over a 20-year period. With this new project,
approximately 2.5 million
people across Papua will be able to enjoy clean and reliable energy without
interruption. The total investment is expected to be USD 240 million over
the next five years.
ENGIE and PT Arya Watala Capital to develop solar power plants
In signing this partnership agreement, ENGIE and PT Arya Watala Capital,
have committed to jointly invest USD 15 million over the next three years to
develop a total power generative capacity of up to 10 megawatt peak (MWp) in
East Nusa Tenggara, the southernmost province of Indonesia. The projects
will be located in ten different areas in the province within the major
islands such as West Timor, Flores and Sumba.
These agreements are in line with the ambitions of the Terrawatt Initiative,
a non-profit organization that was launched by ENGIE during COP21 to promote
affordable solar energy and adding more than 1 terawatt of photovoltaic
solar power production capacity between 2016 and 2030.
As part of President Hollande's visit to Southeast Asia, ENGIE will be
signing another four partnership agreements in Malaysia and Singapore to
develop renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in the areas of
solar energy, green mobility and integrated facility management services for
mission-critical sectors, urban safety and traffic regulation solutions.
ENGIE Indonesia is committed to contributing to the sustainable development
of one of the world's fastest-growing economies, through increasing energy
supply with natural gas and renewable power (geothermal, solar, biogas), as
well as improving energy efficiency and providing solutions to the
challenges of rapid urbanization. ENGIE has started construction in
Indonesia of its first high temperature geothermal power generation plant in
the world, Muara Laboh, which is also the Group's first renewable project in
the country.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
https://www.engie.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/press-release-engie-29-marc
h-2017-indonesia.pdf
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
Tidal energy plans for Indonesia
Tidal energy plans for Indonesia
Indonesia could be home to new tidal energy projects under plans unveiled
today by DCNS Energies and PT AIR.
During a visit to Indonesia by the French President, François Hollande, the
firms signed a Letter of Intent that will see them combine their
complementary skills and capabilities to analyze and assess the commercial
and economic conditions required to build a tidal energy industry. This will
allow the two partners to develop a roadmap to ensure the creation of a
sustainable Indonesian tidal industry.
DCNS Energies said it will bring its expertise in the development of marine
renewable energy projects along with the experience of its subsidiary
OpenHydro, the tidal technology company, in designing, manufacturing and
installing tidal turbines in various maritime environments. PT AIR will
bring its knowledge of the Indonesian tidal environment and of local
development process and stakeholders.
"Over the last two years, we have been working closely with PT AIR to
assess the most suitable sites for the development of tidal energy projects
in Indonesia," explained Hervé Guillou, CEO of DCNS group. "Today's signing
of the Letter of Intent, is a further step in our cooperation that will
allow us to structure our organizations and industrial plans for the
creation of a tidal industry in the country, with a high level of local
manufacturing content".
Panji Adhikumuro Soeharto, President Director at PT AIR, added: "Our
ambition is to build a local tidal industry with economic and social
benefits for Indonesia.
In that purpose, our cooperation with DCNS Energies will be a serious asset
to convince Indonesian authorities that thanks to its regularity and
predictability, tidal energy is an investment that will contribute to
fulfill Indonesia's renewable energy targets as a maritime country".
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://www.waterpowermagazine.com/news/newstidal-energy-plans-for-indonesia-
5773911
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
Indonesia could be home to new tidal energy projects under plans unveiled
today by DCNS Energies and PT AIR.
During a visit to Indonesia by the French President, François Hollande, the
firms signed a Letter of Intent that will see them combine their
complementary skills and capabilities to analyze and assess the commercial
and economic conditions required to build a tidal energy industry. This will
allow the two partners to develop a roadmap to ensure the creation of a
sustainable Indonesian tidal industry.
DCNS Energies said it will bring its expertise in the development of marine
renewable energy projects along with the experience of its subsidiary
OpenHydro, the tidal technology company, in designing, manufacturing and
installing tidal turbines in various maritime environments. PT AIR will
bring its knowledge of the Indonesian tidal environment and of local
development process and stakeholders.
"Over the last two years, we have been working closely with PT AIR to
assess the most suitable sites for the development of tidal energy projects
in Indonesia," explained Hervé Guillou, CEO of DCNS group. "Today's signing
of the Letter of Intent, is a further step in our cooperation that will
allow us to structure our organizations and industrial plans for the
creation of a tidal industry in the country, with a high level of local
manufacturing content".
Panji Adhikumuro Soeharto, President Director at PT AIR, added: "Our
ambition is to build a local tidal industry with economic and social
benefits for Indonesia.
In that purpose, our cooperation with DCNS Energies will be a serious asset
to convince Indonesian authorities that thanks to its regularity and
predictability, tidal energy is an investment that will contribute to
fulfill Indonesia's renewable energy targets as a maritime country".
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://www.waterpowermagazine.com/news/newstidal-energy-plans-for-indonesia-
5773911
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
Philippines: to adopt int'l standards on energy-efficient motors
Philippines: to adopt int'l standards on energy-efficient motors
The Philippines is adopting the international standard classification for
electrical machineries in the run-up to mandating the use of high-efficiency
motors across industries to reduce electricity consumption.
"In about a month's time, the IEC standard will be adopted by the
Philippines. It will become the Philippine National Standard and this
standard is actually the energy efficiency classification standard for
motors," Marvin Ryan Bathan, project manager of Switch to High Efficiency
Motors (HEMs) project, told GMA News Online in an interview on the sidelines
of a workshop in Pasay City.
Funded by the European Union, HEMs is a four-year project that aims to
encourage a switch to more efficient electric motors and lower operating
costs.
Adopting the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standard
60034-1 is the policy component of HEMs, Bathan noted.
"Part of the HEMs team is involved in the technical working committee for
the Bureau of Product Standards of the DTI (Department of Trade and
Industry)," he said.
"Once this standard is adopted it will become a Philippine National
Standard. Contained in that standard are the different classifications of
motors in terms of efficiencies. We have IE-1 as a standard efficient motor,
and then IE-2 as high efficient, and EI-3 as premium," he added.
By next month, the IEC 60034-1 will become a PNS if there are no major
objections and comments from the public regarding the standard.
"Once this standard is in place, the DOE (Department of Energy) can come up
with the MEPS or the Minimum Efficiency Performance Standards. MEPS will
mandate the efficiency class of motors in the industries," Bathan said.
"The process kasi, before the MEPS is enforced there has to be a certain
reference standard that has to be followed or used and as of now we do not
have that motor standard. So our team is most involved in the deliberation
and facilitation of the IEC 60034-1," he added.
Bathan underscored the importance of having an electric motors standard.
"As of now, we don't have any standards that says industries should use a
particular efficiency class of motors. So most of the motors in the industry
now are standard efficient motors, but once the MEPS is in place then we
could have a high-efficiency motors IE-2, or IE-3 as the minimum motor that
will be sold in the market," he said.
"Other countries in ASEAN already have their own MEPS for motors. So, a lot
of inventory of standard efficient motors are coming into the Philippines.
And that is sad . kasi 'young mga low-efficiency as at in napupunta," he
added.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/605102/money/companies/phl-to-adopt-int
-l-standards-on-energy-efficient-motors
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
The Philippines is adopting the international standard classification for
electrical machineries in the run-up to mandating the use of high-efficiency
motors across industries to reduce electricity consumption.
"In about a month's time, the IEC standard will be adopted by the
Philippines. It will become the Philippine National Standard and this
standard is actually the energy efficiency classification standard for
motors," Marvin Ryan Bathan, project manager of Switch to High Efficiency
Motors (HEMs) project, told GMA News Online in an interview on the sidelines
of a workshop in Pasay City.
Funded by the European Union, HEMs is a four-year project that aims to
encourage a switch to more efficient electric motors and lower operating
costs.
Adopting the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standard
60034-1 is the policy component of HEMs, Bathan noted.
"Part of the HEMs team is involved in the technical working committee for
the Bureau of Product Standards of the DTI (Department of Trade and
Industry)," he said.
"Once this standard is adopted it will become a Philippine National
Standard. Contained in that standard are the different classifications of
motors in terms of efficiencies. We have IE-1 as a standard efficient motor,
and then IE-2 as high efficient, and EI-3 as premium," he added.
By next month, the IEC 60034-1 will become a PNS if there are no major
objections and comments from the public regarding the standard.
"Once this standard is in place, the DOE (Department of Energy) can come up
with the MEPS or the Minimum Efficiency Performance Standards. MEPS will
mandate the efficiency class of motors in the industries," Bathan said.
"The process kasi, before the MEPS is enforced there has to be a certain
reference standard that has to be followed or used and as of now we do not
have that motor standard. So our team is most involved in the deliberation
and facilitation of the IEC 60034-1," he added.
Bathan underscored the importance of having an electric motors standard.
"As of now, we don't have any standards that says industries should use a
particular efficiency class of motors. So most of the motors in the industry
now are standard efficient motors, but once the MEPS is in place then we
could have a high-efficiency motors IE-2, or IE-3 as the minimum motor that
will be sold in the market," he said.
"Other countries in ASEAN already have their own MEPS for motors. So, a lot
of inventory of standard efficient motors are coming into the Philippines.
And that is sad . kasi 'young mga low-efficiency as at in napupunta," he
added.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/605102/money/companies/phl-to-adopt-int
-l-standards-on-energy-efficient-motors
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
Indonesia: PLN and French companies sign agreements on renewable energy development
Indonesia: PLN and French companies sign agreements on renewable energy
development
The Indonesian State-owned electricity company PT PLN and a number of French
companies signed here on Wednesday a memorandum of understanding on
development of renewable energy (EBT) in Indonesia.
Head of the Corporate Communication Unit of PLN I Made Suprateka said PLN is
set to boost development of renewable energy in the country including
through cooperation with foreign investors.
"A number of French companies are eager to be involved in building renewable
energy based power generating facilities in the country," Made said.
The MoU was signed between PLN and Think Smartgrids, PT Akuo Energy
Indonesia, and Pace Energy Pte Ltd in front of French State Minister of
Digital Industry and Innovation Christope Sirugue.
Think Smartgrids is an association of French experts in smart grids.
The MoU, signed by PLNs Planning Director Nicke Widyawati and Chairman of
Think Smartgrids Philippe Monloubou, concern transfer of knowledge in
planning and implementing smart grid to integrate renewable energy with the
existing systems.
MoU between PLN and PT Akuo Energy Indonesia on feasibility study and
analysis of system of using solar and wind energy was signed by Nicke
Widyawati and President of AKI Christophe Moyon.
Another MoU between PLN and Pace Energy Pte Ltd on feasibility study on the
use of solar and wind energy was signed by Nicke Widyawati and Director and
CEO of Pace Michael Vawser.
Nicke said the signing of the MoU reflected the seriousness of PLN in
reaching the target in the contribution of 23 percent of renewable energy to
the national energy mix in 2025.
"Indonesia has big potential of renewable energy. We also plan to develop
smart grids to increase penetration of renewable energy into PLNs networks
and at the same time to strengthen the effectiveness of the countrys
electricity systems," she said.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/110213/pln-and-french-companies-sign-agree
ments-on-renewable-energy-development
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
development
The Indonesian State-owned electricity company PT PLN and a number of French
companies signed here on Wednesday a memorandum of understanding on
development of renewable energy (EBT) in Indonesia.
Head of the Corporate Communication Unit of PLN I Made Suprateka said PLN is
set to boost development of renewable energy in the country including
through cooperation with foreign investors.
"A number of French companies are eager to be involved in building renewable
energy based power generating facilities in the country," Made said.
The MoU was signed between PLN and Think Smartgrids, PT Akuo Energy
Indonesia, and Pace Energy Pte Ltd in front of French State Minister of
Digital Industry and Innovation Christope Sirugue.
Think Smartgrids is an association of French experts in smart grids.
The MoU, signed by PLNs Planning Director Nicke Widyawati and Chairman of
Think Smartgrids Philippe Monloubou, concern transfer of knowledge in
planning and implementing smart grid to integrate renewable energy with the
existing systems.
MoU between PLN and PT Akuo Energy Indonesia on feasibility study and
analysis of system of using solar and wind energy was signed by Nicke
Widyawati and President of AKI Christophe Moyon.
Another MoU between PLN and Pace Energy Pte Ltd on feasibility study on the
use of solar and wind energy was signed by Nicke Widyawati and Director and
CEO of Pace Michael Vawser.
Nicke said the signing of the MoU reflected the seriousness of PLN in
reaching the target in the contribution of 23 percent of renewable energy to
the national energy mix in 2025.
"Indonesia has big potential of renewable energy. We also plan to develop
smart grids to increase penetration of renewable energy into PLNs networks
and at the same time to strengthen the effectiveness of the countrys
electricity systems," she said.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/110213/pln-and-french-companies-sign-agree
ments-on-renewable-energy-development
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
AC Energy eyes Vietnam-based investments
AC Energy eyes Vietnam-based investments
THE AC ENERGY HOLDINGS INC. IS EYEING TO EXPAND ITS PRESENCE IN VIETNAM, ITS
SECOND REGIONAL INVESTMENT FOLLOWING INDONESIA.
The company is also studying market opportunities in Southeast Asia, AC
Energy president Eric Francia said.
"While it may take time to strengthen our presence in Indonesia, we have
started to look around the Southeast Asia region and we hope to make our
second regional investment in about 12 to 18 months," he said.
The AC Energy official said that investment opportunities are blooming in
Vietnam as it has a similar macroeconomic picture with Indonesia and the
Philippines.
"The population, the growth potential, the market size, supply-demand
outlook-frankly it's similar to what we have here in the Philippines.
Indonesia - it's much larger in magnitude because of population. But you
have those elements of growth and size, and the infrastructure, supply gap,"
Francia said.
The Ayala - owned company is now looking for a local partner and possible
technologies to invest in.
"The partner has to be a good local partner with values that are aligned,
local capabilities, a good pipeline of projects. We're flexible in terms of
technology. It could be renewable energy, gas, coal or it could be a
combination," Francia said.
He added that he prefers to have a small mid-size partner "where we can be a
more meaningful partner as opposed to a very large platform where we are a
financial minority investor."
Meanwhile, AC Energy is also opportunistic in other markets like in Myanmar.
"In terms of being systematic, putting our limited resources to work outside
the Philippines, it's really Indonesia first and number two is Vietnam. The
rest, it will be opportunistic," Francia said.
The overseas expansion is a part of the company's transformation from
Philippine - focused energy investment holding firm in becoming a regional
energy platform with investment, development, operations, and retail
capacity.
"AC Energy is at a critical inflection point. Our transformation is enabled
by rapid organic growth and key strategic acquisitions," Francia stressed.
The Ayala Group's presence can already be felt in Vietnam through the Manila
Water Co. under local units Thu Duc Water and Kenh Dong Water as well as Ho
Chi Minh City Infrastructure Investment Joint Stock Co.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://powerphilippines.com/2017/03/30/ac-energy-vietnam-investments/
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
THE AC ENERGY HOLDINGS INC. IS EYEING TO EXPAND ITS PRESENCE IN VIETNAM, ITS
SECOND REGIONAL INVESTMENT FOLLOWING INDONESIA.
The company is also studying market opportunities in Southeast Asia, AC
Energy president Eric Francia said.
"While it may take time to strengthen our presence in Indonesia, we have
started to look around the Southeast Asia region and we hope to make our
second regional investment in about 12 to 18 months," he said.
The AC Energy official said that investment opportunities are blooming in
Vietnam as it has a similar macroeconomic picture with Indonesia and the
Philippines.
"The population, the growth potential, the market size, supply-demand
outlook-frankly it's similar to what we have here in the Philippines.
Indonesia - it's much larger in magnitude because of population. But you
have those elements of growth and size, and the infrastructure, supply gap,"
Francia said.
The Ayala - owned company is now looking for a local partner and possible
technologies to invest in.
"The partner has to be a good local partner with values that are aligned,
local capabilities, a good pipeline of projects. We're flexible in terms of
technology. It could be renewable energy, gas, coal or it could be a
combination," Francia said.
He added that he prefers to have a small mid-size partner "where we can be a
more meaningful partner as opposed to a very large platform where we are a
financial minority investor."
Meanwhile, AC Energy is also opportunistic in other markets like in Myanmar.
"In terms of being systematic, putting our limited resources to work outside
the Philippines, it's really Indonesia first and number two is Vietnam. The
rest, it will be opportunistic," Francia said.
The overseas expansion is a part of the company's transformation from
Philippine - focused energy investment holding firm in becoming a regional
energy platform with investment, development, operations, and retail
capacity.
"AC Energy is at a critical inflection point. Our transformation is enabled
by rapid organic growth and key strategic acquisitions," Francia stressed.
The Ayala Group's presence can already be felt in Vietnam through the Manila
Water Co. under local units Thu Duc Water and Kenh Dong Water as well as Ho
Chi Minh City Infrastructure Investment Joint Stock Co.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://powerphilippines.com/2017/03/30/ac-energy-vietnam-investments/
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
Indonesia revises upward target of renewable energy usage
Indonesia revises upward target of renewable energy usage
The Indonesian government has set a higher target of renewable energy usage
in a bid to expand the use of clean and sustainable energy.
Indonesian Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan said
Wednesday that the government expected a 22-percent usage of renewable
energy by 2025, higher than the initial expectation of 19.6 percent.
"So the primary sources of the renewable energy are water, geothermal and
others which will be 22 percent by 2025," he said.
Indonesia has been at the forefront in fighting against global warming along
with other countries which have large rain forests.
The move was in line with the government's efforts to ease the country's
reliance on fossil fuel energy whose reserve has been dwindling in recent
decades.
Indonesia has a huge amount of resources for renewable energy, including
hydro, geothermal, crude palm oil, wind among others.
Indonesia has 129 active volcanoes which primarily contribute to the
production of geothermal energy.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1040188.shtml
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
The Indonesian government has set a higher target of renewable energy usage
in a bid to expand the use of clean and sustainable energy.
Indonesian Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan said
Wednesday that the government expected a 22-percent usage of renewable
energy by 2025, higher than the initial expectation of 19.6 percent.
"So the primary sources of the renewable energy are water, geothermal and
others which will be 22 percent by 2025," he said.
Indonesia has been at the forefront in fighting against global warming along
with other countries which have large rain forests.
The move was in line with the government's efforts to ease the country's
reliance on fossil fuel energy whose reserve has been dwindling in recent
decades.
Indonesia has a huge amount of resources for renewable energy, including
hydro, geothermal, crude palm oil, wind among others.
Indonesia has 129 active volcanoes which primarily contribute to the
production of geothermal energy.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1040188.shtml
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
Philippines: Is ERC undermining DOE?
Philippines: Is ERC undermining DOE?
It's summer, and with it comes the scorching heat - and brownouts.
The country's power supply situation continues to be in such a precarious
state, so much so that a power disruption is highly possible if one big
power plant in the national grid trips or shuts down for any technical
reason.
Despite the exuberance of businesses in investing in the country's power
sector, the needed new power plants that should ensure adequate electricity
supply to keep up the Philippine economy's momentum of growth are just not
being built fast enough.
The projects remain stranded in the mess of ERC.
Something rotten and smelly at ERC?
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), which has to approve power supply
agreements (PSAs) between generation companies and distribution utilities
and to issue certificates of compliance (COCs) to generating plants before
they can start operations, is taking its sweet time in processing the
permits.
Currently, pending with the ERC are some 4,000 megawatts of power capacity
that should have been started the previous year, but for some unseen reason,
continue to be passed from one bureaucrat's desk to another in the agency
for an unnecessarily long time.
The question that comes to mind is whether the ERC has the personnel
qualified to process PSAs and COCs, or if there is indeed truth behind the
pronouncement of Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez of widespread corruption among
its officials.
Earlier, the reported suicide of ERC director Francisco Jose Villa Jr. was
linked to a note he supposedly left that divulged of alleged shady deals and
irregular practices in the ERC.
Risk to economic health
Perhaps, it is indeed high time to review the wisdom of having the ERC vet
proposed PSAs, especially since the agency's primary role by law is merely
to set rates for utilities that serve captive electricity consumers, and to
prevent anti-competitive behavior for retail electricity suppliers to
contestable customers.
By sitting on PSAs and COCs for an unreasonable length of time, the ERC in
effect is putting at risk the country's economic health by exposing our
manufacturing plants and commercial establishments to severe power outages
in the coming years.
The suggestion of Alvarez to abolish the ERC and instead replace it with a
Board of Energy attached to the Department of Energy makes sense since this
will ensure that the newly created board would be within the regulatory
ambit of the government and directly under the control and supervision of a
Cabinet member reporting directly to the President.
The Speaker's proposed bill, filed in February this year, provides that the
created BOE will perform the functions of the ERC, but will be under the
supervision and control of the DOE.
Conflicts between DOE and ERC
Conflicts between the DOE and ERC have been noted when the issue of
inadequate power capacity is discussed, especially when a big power outage
incident occurs. The former had been diligently identifying power projects
and potential investors, but the delays caused by ERC inaction have made
mincemeat of their efforts.
The ERC also passes judgment on all rules and regulations prior to the
operation of the transmission and distribution grids, as well as those
guiding the operations of the wholesale electricity spot market.
Many times, this situation has resulted in conflict with the DOE's planning
and policy directions, and ultimately affecting its mandate as specified by
the law.
Prospective power plant operators have also been complaining about the
inordinately long time the ERC takes to issue PSAs and COCs, and this after
they had gone through a long process of securing permits and clearances from
various other local and national government units and agencies.
The requirements and delays easily add two to three years to the timeline of
building a power plant in the Philippines when it normally would have taken
only five years in other countries.
DOE initiatives to untangle mess
It is understandable why the DOE is asking for the President's approval of a
proposed executive order (EO) that would declare power projects that will
boost the country's power supply level by 2019 and beyond to be of national
importance.
The EO is seen to help expedite the process of securing permits for the
projects, including one that will connect the Visayas and Mindanao grids by
2020. As growth areas, the two strategic island groups of the country will
benefit from the sharing of power resources.
The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP), which assumes the
transmission functions of the National Transmission Corporation (TransCo),
looks after grid expansion and reliability projects that are essential to
providing continuous supply, efficient, reliable and best possible quality
of service to its customers.
The DOE is also lobbying for a law that designates critical energy projects
for the national economy as "Projects of National Significance" to address
the bureaucratic red tape that is preventing the power plant initiatives to
move forward.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian was reportedly thinking about re-filing the bill,
with the same intention of speeding up the process of building power plants
in the Philippines.
ERC and Mini-me
As an aside, allow me to introduce Mini-Me a character in the popular Austin
Power movies. A clone of Dr. Evil, except for the size, having been created
to be only "one-eighth" the size of the original, Mini-Me is regarded as a
surprising tough opponent when pitted against the forces of good.
In fact, as the movie series sometimes portrays, Mini-Me appears to be a far
stronger and powerful version of his larger counterpart. Is this what has
happened to our energy environment? A regulatory agency with narrowly
defined function more powerful than an executive office responsible for
energy policy formulation and execution?
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://www.philstar.com/business/2017/03/30/1685800/erc-undermining-doe
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
It's summer, and with it comes the scorching heat - and brownouts.
The country's power supply situation continues to be in such a precarious
state, so much so that a power disruption is highly possible if one big
power plant in the national grid trips or shuts down for any technical
reason.
Despite the exuberance of businesses in investing in the country's power
sector, the needed new power plants that should ensure adequate electricity
supply to keep up the Philippine economy's momentum of growth are just not
being built fast enough.
The projects remain stranded in the mess of ERC.
Something rotten and smelly at ERC?
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), which has to approve power supply
agreements (PSAs) between generation companies and distribution utilities
and to issue certificates of compliance (COCs) to generating plants before
they can start operations, is taking its sweet time in processing the
permits.
Currently, pending with the ERC are some 4,000 megawatts of power capacity
that should have been started the previous year, but for some unseen reason,
continue to be passed from one bureaucrat's desk to another in the agency
for an unnecessarily long time.
The question that comes to mind is whether the ERC has the personnel
qualified to process PSAs and COCs, or if there is indeed truth behind the
pronouncement of Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez of widespread corruption among
its officials.
Earlier, the reported suicide of ERC director Francisco Jose Villa Jr. was
linked to a note he supposedly left that divulged of alleged shady deals and
irregular practices in the ERC.
Risk to economic health
Perhaps, it is indeed high time to review the wisdom of having the ERC vet
proposed PSAs, especially since the agency's primary role by law is merely
to set rates for utilities that serve captive electricity consumers, and to
prevent anti-competitive behavior for retail electricity suppliers to
contestable customers.
By sitting on PSAs and COCs for an unreasonable length of time, the ERC in
effect is putting at risk the country's economic health by exposing our
manufacturing plants and commercial establishments to severe power outages
in the coming years.
The suggestion of Alvarez to abolish the ERC and instead replace it with a
Board of Energy attached to the Department of Energy makes sense since this
will ensure that the newly created board would be within the regulatory
ambit of the government and directly under the control and supervision of a
Cabinet member reporting directly to the President.
The Speaker's proposed bill, filed in February this year, provides that the
created BOE will perform the functions of the ERC, but will be under the
supervision and control of the DOE.
Conflicts between DOE and ERC
Conflicts between the DOE and ERC have been noted when the issue of
inadequate power capacity is discussed, especially when a big power outage
incident occurs. The former had been diligently identifying power projects
and potential investors, but the delays caused by ERC inaction have made
mincemeat of their efforts.
The ERC also passes judgment on all rules and regulations prior to the
operation of the transmission and distribution grids, as well as those
guiding the operations of the wholesale electricity spot market.
Many times, this situation has resulted in conflict with the DOE's planning
and policy directions, and ultimately affecting its mandate as specified by
the law.
Prospective power plant operators have also been complaining about the
inordinately long time the ERC takes to issue PSAs and COCs, and this after
they had gone through a long process of securing permits and clearances from
various other local and national government units and agencies.
The requirements and delays easily add two to three years to the timeline of
building a power plant in the Philippines when it normally would have taken
only five years in other countries.
DOE initiatives to untangle mess
It is understandable why the DOE is asking for the President's approval of a
proposed executive order (EO) that would declare power projects that will
boost the country's power supply level by 2019 and beyond to be of national
importance.
The EO is seen to help expedite the process of securing permits for the
projects, including one that will connect the Visayas and Mindanao grids by
2020. As growth areas, the two strategic island groups of the country will
benefit from the sharing of power resources.
The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP), which assumes the
transmission functions of the National Transmission Corporation (TransCo),
looks after grid expansion and reliability projects that are essential to
providing continuous supply, efficient, reliable and best possible quality
of service to its customers.
The DOE is also lobbying for a law that designates critical energy projects
for the national economy as "Projects of National Significance" to address
the bureaucratic red tape that is preventing the power plant initiatives to
move forward.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian was reportedly thinking about re-filing the bill,
with the same intention of speeding up the process of building power plants
in the Philippines.
ERC and Mini-me
As an aside, allow me to introduce Mini-Me a character in the popular Austin
Power movies. A clone of Dr. Evil, except for the size, having been created
to be only "one-eighth" the size of the original, Mini-Me is regarded as a
surprising tough opponent when pitted against the forces of good.
In fact, as the movie series sometimes portrays, Mini-Me appears to be a far
stronger and powerful version of his larger counterpart. Is this what has
happened to our energy environment? A regulatory agency with narrowly
defined function more powerful than an executive office responsible for
energy policy formulation and execution?
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://www.philstar.com/business/2017/03/30/1685800/erc-undermining-doe
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
Waiting for grid to arrive, Myanmar villages switch on solar
Waiting for grid to arrive, Myanmar villages switch on solar
F or generations, residents of this farming village in central Myanmar had a
set rhythm to their day - waking up with the sunrise and going to sleep
after dark. Diesel generators and batteries were for the privileged few,
while the candles used by most were a fire hazard for thatch and bamboo
houses.
On a recent, balmy evening, however, the remote village of Nyaung Kone in
Myanmar's central Dry Zone was still abuzz long after night fell.
Women sifted onions and winnowed peanuts under their stilt homes. There were
queues at snack stalls and children recited their lessons. One family
watched a Korean soap opera on TV.
"I used to spend about 200 kyat ($0.15) every night on candles for my sons
to study, and I was always worried it would cause a fire. Now I don't spend
that anymore and can work late into the night," said peanut farmer Than Than
Sint, 44.
A power inverter blinked nearby on the floor of her neighbour's home,
connected to two solar panels.
Access to electricity from clean sources such as solar and small-scale
hydropower is changing the centuries-old way of life in thousands of rural
communities like this across Myanmar.
But experts say unsupportive policies and a lack of political will are
hampering the development of a commercially viable market in renewable
energy.
More than two-thirds of Myanmar's 51 million people lack access to reliable,
affordable electricity, mostly in rural areas.
Yet successive governments have focused on large-scale hydropower, gas and
coal, which critics say are environmentally destructive and costly.
Than Than Sint, whose husband left to work in Malaysia nine years ago, paid
63,000 kyat for her solar system in instalments over 10 months, under a
project led by Pact, an international nonprofit working with businesses to
bring electricity to a million people in rural Myanmar by 2020.
The solar power lights up her shrine, living room and the space beneath her
house, where she works in the evenings.
Half of Nyaung Kone bought solar systems through Pact's programme, while 16
more families later purchased them outright from the same supplier.
The project's second phase, if Pact can find funding, would develop
mini-grids - local power networks that can supply a village, unconnected to
the national grid.
POLITICAL NEGLECT
For over half a century, Myanmar's military rulers neglected their citizens,
leaving nearly 40,000 villages without access to the ageing grid.
But with blackouts plaguing even areas that are grid-connected in the dry
season due to an over-reliance on hydropower people have taken matters into
their own hands.
"With no government support whatsoever, there has risen a market for
household-scale solutions," said Chris Greacen, a consultant on off-grid
electrification who has advised the World Bank and Germany's development
agency GIZ in Myanmar.
According to Myanmar's 2014 census, about 178,000 households used private
water mills as a primary source of lighting, while 945,000 used solar, and 1
million used diesel generators.
Generators are expensive. Pact says one hour of diesel power in rural
Myanmar costs roughly the same as 24 hours of power in Yangon, the
commercial capital. But their prevalence shows villagers' willingness to pay
to get electricity, experts say.
Renewables are greener and cheaper, quicker to set up and well-positioned
for off-grid needs, said Aung Myint, general secretary of the Renewable
Energy Association of Myanmar (REAM).
Yet there is little political will to develop a sustainable market in
renewables, or even consider their potential as the government favours a
centralised system, he said.
Myanmar's Energy Master Plan, drawn up with the Asian Development Bank
(ADB), projects a significant increase in coal's share of national
electricity output by 2030, to almost 30 percent from less than 2 percent in
2015.
Meanwhile, the $5.8-billion National Electrification Plan (NEP) - which aims
to bring power to all of Myanmar by 2030 and overwhelmingly favours grid
extension - is starting with a $400 million loan from the World Bank, which
said the money is not funding coal or hydropower projects.
Industry watchers call the universal access target ambitious. But Sunil
Kumar Khosla, the World Bank's lead energy specialist, said Vietnam, Laos
and Thailand were able to increase electricity coverage from 30 percent to
nearly 100 percent within two decades.
Myanmar's Department of Rural Development, which is responsible for off-grid
electrification, did not respond to requests for comment on government
policy.
UNEVEN PLAYING FIELD
Greacen said renewable energy systems, especially micro-hydro and
mini-grids, are viable options while people wait to be connected to the main
power grid.
In Thailand, a programme for "very small power producers" allows mini-grids
to sell electricity to the national grid at standardised rates.
"That programme has enabled over 3,000 megawatts of small-scale renewables
to come online - that's the same generating capacity as three large nuclear
power plants," said Greacen.
Yet in Myanmar, basic laws governing off-grid and rural electrification have
not been passed. REAM's Aung Myint said this regulatory bottleneck makes
investors reluctant to step in.
In addition, most of Myanmar's off-grid projects so far have been heavily
subsidised by the government or donors.
For example, nearly 500,000 households will benefit from solar home systems
and mini-grids under the NEP, with subsidies of up to 90 percent.
"How can you compete with a free or nearly free product?" asked Evan
Scandling, Myanmar managing director of Sunlabob Renewable Energy Ltd, which
recently built 11 solar mini-grids in remote villages under an ADB
programme.
But with thousands of villages unlikely to be connected to the grid for the
foreseeable future, "there's a market opportunity and a development
opportunity", he added.
The main clients for off-grid solutions in Myanmar are the 4.5 million
households spending more than $200 million per year on candles, kerosene,
batteries and diesel, according to the International Finance Corporation,
the World Bank's private-sector arm which is helping foster a commercial
market for solar devices and kits in the country.
Farmer Myint Maung, 58, has heard rumours the main grid might reach his
isolated village of Aung Thar in the Dry Zone next year - but hook-ups will
cost each household 400,000 kyat.
"I'm not sure how I can afford that. I might as well stick with my solar
system," he said.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFL3N1GX2X6?sp=true
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
F or generations, residents of this farming village in central Myanmar had a
set rhythm to their day - waking up with the sunrise and going to sleep
after dark. Diesel generators and batteries were for the privileged few,
while the candles used by most were a fire hazard for thatch and bamboo
houses.
On a recent, balmy evening, however, the remote village of Nyaung Kone in
Myanmar's central Dry Zone was still abuzz long after night fell.
Women sifted onions and winnowed peanuts under their stilt homes. There were
queues at snack stalls and children recited their lessons. One family
watched a Korean soap opera on TV.
"I used to spend about 200 kyat ($0.15) every night on candles for my sons
to study, and I was always worried it would cause a fire. Now I don't spend
that anymore and can work late into the night," said peanut farmer Than Than
Sint, 44.
A power inverter blinked nearby on the floor of her neighbour's home,
connected to two solar panels.
Access to electricity from clean sources such as solar and small-scale
hydropower is changing the centuries-old way of life in thousands of rural
communities like this across Myanmar.
But experts say unsupportive policies and a lack of political will are
hampering the development of a commercially viable market in renewable
energy.
More than two-thirds of Myanmar's 51 million people lack access to reliable,
affordable electricity, mostly in rural areas.
Yet successive governments have focused on large-scale hydropower, gas and
coal, which critics say are environmentally destructive and costly.
Than Than Sint, whose husband left to work in Malaysia nine years ago, paid
63,000 kyat for her solar system in instalments over 10 months, under a
project led by Pact, an international nonprofit working with businesses to
bring electricity to a million people in rural Myanmar by 2020.
The solar power lights up her shrine, living room and the space beneath her
house, where she works in the evenings.
Half of Nyaung Kone bought solar systems through Pact's programme, while 16
more families later purchased them outright from the same supplier.
The project's second phase, if Pact can find funding, would develop
mini-grids - local power networks that can supply a village, unconnected to
the national grid.
POLITICAL NEGLECT
For over half a century, Myanmar's military rulers neglected their citizens,
leaving nearly 40,000 villages without access to the ageing grid.
But with blackouts plaguing even areas that are grid-connected in the dry
season due to an over-reliance on hydropower people have taken matters into
their own hands.
"With no government support whatsoever, there has risen a market for
household-scale solutions," said Chris Greacen, a consultant on off-grid
electrification who has advised the World Bank and Germany's development
agency GIZ in Myanmar.
According to Myanmar's 2014 census, about 178,000 households used private
water mills as a primary source of lighting, while 945,000 used solar, and 1
million used diesel generators.
Generators are expensive. Pact says one hour of diesel power in rural
Myanmar costs roughly the same as 24 hours of power in Yangon, the
commercial capital. But their prevalence shows villagers' willingness to pay
to get electricity, experts say.
Renewables are greener and cheaper, quicker to set up and well-positioned
for off-grid needs, said Aung Myint, general secretary of the Renewable
Energy Association of Myanmar (REAM).
Yet there is little political will to develop a sustainable market in
renewables, or even consider their potential as the government favours a
centralised system, he said.
Myanmar's Energy Master Plan, drawn up with the Asian Development Bank
(ADB), projects a significant increase in coal's share of national
electricity output by 2030, to almost 30 percent from less than 2 percent in
2015.
Meanwhile, the $5.8-billion National Electrification Plan (NEP) - which aims
to bring power to all of Myanmar by 2030 and overwhelmingly favours grid
extension - is starting with a $400 million loan from the World Bank, which
said the money is not funding coal or hydropower projects.
Industry watchers call the universal access target ambitious. But Sunil
Kumar Khosla, the World Bank's lead energy specialist, said Vietnam, Laos
and Thailand were able to increase electricity coverage from 30 percent to
nearly 100 percent within two decades.
Myanmar's Department of Rural Development, which is responsible for off-grid
electrification, did not respond to requests for comment on government
policy.
UNEVEN PLAYING FIELD
Greacen said renewable energy systems, especially micro-hydro and
mini-grids, are viable options while people wait to be connected to the main
power grid.
In Thailand, a programme for "very small power producers" allows mini-grids
to sell electricity to the national grid at standardised rates.
"That programme has enabled over 3,000 megawatts of small-scale renewables
to come online - that's the same generating capacity as three large nuclear
power plants," said Greacen.
Yet in Myanmar, basic laws governing off-grid and rural electrification have
not been passed. REAM's Aung Myint said this regulatory bottleneck makes
investors reluctant to step in.
In addition, most of Myanmar's off-grid projects so far have been heavily
subsidised by the government or donors.
For example, nearly 500,000 households will benefit from solar home systems
and mini-grids under the NEP, with subsidies of up to 90 percent.
"How can you compete with a free or nearly free product?" asked Evan
Scandling, Myanmar managing director of Sunlabob Renewable Energy Ltd, which
recently built 11 solar mini-grids in remote villages under an ADB
programme.
But with thousands of villages unlikely to be connected to the grid for the
foreseeable future, "there's a market opportunity and a development
opportunity", he added.
The main clients for off-grid solutions in Myanmar are the 4.5 million
households spending more than $200 million per year on candles, kerosene,
batteries and diesel, according to the International Finance Corporation,
the World Bank's private-sector arm which is helping foster a commercial
market for solar devices and kits in the country.
Farmer Myint Maung, 58, has heard rumours the main grid might reach his
isolated village of Aung Thar in the Dry Zone next year - but hook-ups will
cost each household 400,000 kyat.
"I'm not sure how I can afford that. I might as well stick with my solar
system," he said.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFL3N1GX2X6?sp=true
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
Vietnam: Dung Quat refinery reports $80.4 million profits
Vietnam: Dung Quat refinery reports $80.4 million profits
The Dung Quat Oil Refinery earned nearly VND1.8 trillion (US$80.4 million)
in after-tax profit in the first quarter of the year, achieving 30 per cent
of its annual target.
Figures released Sunday by Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical Company
(BSR), the plant's operator, showed revenues of VND21 trillion in the first
three months of the year and contributing more than VND2.4 trillion to the
State budget.
At the end of last year, BSR targeted revenues of VND62.4 trillion in 2017,
VND10.1 trillion lower than the previous year. It expected a profit of
VND1.68 trillion.
Tran Ngoc Nguyen, BSR's general director said the 2017 plans were based on
an oil price scenario of $50 a barrel. In addition, it planned to halt
production for 52 days for its third overall maintenance in the middle of
the year.
The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has said that the crude oil price in the first
half of the month was $57 a barrel, $7 higher than the previous estimate.
With the increasing trend of oil prices this year, the Dung Quat Oil
Refinery's business results will be positive, Nguyen said, adding that its
capacity reached 105 per cent while its energy consumption index dropped
significantly.
"This has been a cautious plan. However, we have been trying to reach higher
results as the oil prices have been on an upward trend on world markets,
while the overall maintenance plan could take less time than thought," he
added.
BSR has also implemented an expansion plan of the Dung Quat Oil Refinery
Plant. The Quang Ngai Province People's Committee is expected to complete
land clearance for the expansion by the end of June.
Le Manh Hung, deputy general director of the Viet Nam National Oil and Gas
Group (PetroVietnam) said BSR should focus on its privatisation and
expansion as well as upgrading technologies.
"BSR will face competition when other refineries go into operation. That is
why it should review its product distribution system," said Vu Truong Son,
PetroVietnam's general director cum chairman.
Son also asked BSR to ensure progress of overall maintenance as the work
would have a major effect on its privatisation.
Last year, BSR reported revenues of nearly VND75.2 trillion, a profit of
VND5 trillion and a VND12.4 trillion contribution to the State budget.
During seven years of operation, the $3billion-project has contributed $7
billion to the State budget, showing the effectiveness of the first refinery
project in Viet Nam.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/175404/dung-quat-refinery-reports-
-80-4-million-profits.html
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
The Dung Quat Oil Refinery earned nearly VND1.8 trillion (US$80.4 million)
in after-tax profit in the first quarter of the year, achieving 30 per cent
of its annual target.
Figures released Sunday by Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical Company
(BSR), the plant's operator, showed revenues of VND21 trillion in the first
three months of the year and contributing more than VND2.4 trillion to the
State budget.
At the end of last year, BSR targeted revenues of VND62.4 trillion in 2017,
VND10.1 trillion lower than the previous year. It expected a profit of
VND1.68 trillion.
Tran Ngoc Nguyen, BSR's general director said the 2017 plans were based on
an oil price scenario of $50 a barrel. In addition, it planned to halt
production for 52 days for its third overall maintenance in the middle of
the year.
The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has said that the crude oil price in the first
half of the month was $57 a barrel, $7 higher than the previous estimate.
With the increasing trend of oil prices this year, the Dung Quat Oil
Refinery's business results will be positive, Nguyen said, adding that its
capacity reached 105 per cent while its energy consumption index dropped
significantly.
"This has been a cautious plan. However, we have been trying to reach higher
results as the oil prices have been on an upward trend on world markets,
while the overall maintenance plan could take less time than thought," he
added.
BSR has also implemented an expansion plan of the Dung Quat Oil Refinery
Plant. The Quang Ngai Province People's Committee is expected to complete
land clearance for the expansion by the end of June.
Le Manh Hung, deputy general director of the Viet Nam National Oil and Gas
Group (PetroVietnam) said BSR should focus on its privatisation and
expansion as well as upgrading technologies.
"BSR will face competition when other refineries go into operation. That is
why it should review its product distribution system," said Vu Truong Son,
PetroVietnam's general director cum chairman.
Son also asked BSR to ensure progress of overall maintenance as the work
would have a major effect on its privatisation.
Last year, BSR reported revenues of nearly VND75.2 trillion, a profit of
VND5 trillion and a VND12.4 trillion contribution to the State budget.
During seven years of operation, the $3billion-project has contributed $7
billion to the State budget, showing the effectiveness of the first refinery
project in Viet Nam.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/175404/dung-quat-refinery-reports-
-80-4-million-profits.html
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
Thailand: Call for speed on Gulf oil bids
Thailand: Call for speed on Gulf oil bids
The private sector has urged the government to invoke Section 44 of the
interim charter to ensure that bidding for the operation of the Erawan and
Bongkot petroleum blocks in the Gulf of Thailand takes place this year.
The two blocks' operating concessions are due to expire in 2022 and 2023
respectively.
Federation of Thai Industries vice-chairman Bowon Vongsinudom said he was
not confident that the bidding for the exploration and petroleum production
of the Erawan and Bongkot blocks will be made this year.
The government has been under pressure by people with different views over
the new petroleum bill, which will be voted on by the National Legislative
Assembly (NLA) in its second and third readings today, he said.
He said he wants the regime to use Section 44 to enforce the existing law to
make way for the bidding for the two petroleum blocks or come up with new
legislation with more stringent measures to deal with the issue, Mr Bowon
said.
"I am not confident [the disputes] over the bill will end," said Mr Bowon,
adding the private sector is in favour of the existing law. "I think if the
existing concessionaires of the petroleum blocks win the bids, this would be
a boon to the continuation of gas production."
Mr Bowon was speaking at a seminar on the bill organised by the Economic
Reporters Association yesterday.
PTT Exploration and Production Plc acting executive vice-president Montri
Rawanchaikul said if the bidding for the two petroleum blocks does not take
place late this year, the country's gas production would gradually drop over
the next five years since the company will not increase production.
This could force the country to import more Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to
meet demand, which would subsequently affect power prices, he said.
Thitisak Boonpramote, head of Chulalongkorn University's Department of
Mining and Petroleum Engineering, expressed disagreement over the
replacement of the concession system with production sharing contracts
(PSCs) in petroleum operations.
In addition to the concession system under the existing legislation, the new
bill covers PSCs and hiring contracts.
He said that PSCs are unattractive to investors, which would reduce the
country's competitiveness in the long run.
Meanwhile, former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva expressed no objection to
the concept of a national oil corporation (NOC) under the bill, but wanted
the bill to give more details on when the organisation will be formed and
its authority.
He said the bill paves the way for the option for PSCs instead of a single
method of concession, so it is not a surprise there is a call for an
organisation to be established to deal with the matter.
Former energy minister Pichai Naripthaphan said it is still unclear why the
NOC has to be established.
The minister in the government of Yingluck Shinawatra raised questions about
who would run the organisation and how people could be confident that it
would not be taken advantage of by those handling the organisation's
administration.
Several countries have been successful in the oil business without forming
such corporations, such as the US, where private companies deal with the
matter, he said.
Gen Akanit Muansawad, a spokesman of the NLA subcommittee vetting the
petroleum bill, said a study carried out by the panel shows the NOC must be
formed to deal with the PSC system.
Rosana Tositrakul, a core member of the People's Alliance for Energy Reform,
said anti-bill protesters will assemble at parliament today to wait for the
results of the NLA vote on the bill.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/1223436/call-for-speed-on-gulf-oil-
bids
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
The private sector has urged the government to invoke Section 44 of the
interim charter to ensure that bidding for the operation of the Erawan and
Bongkot petroleum blocks in the Gulf of Thailand takes place this year.
The two blocks' operating concessions are due to expire in 2022 and 2023
respectively.
Federation of Thai Industries vice-chairman Bowon Vongsinudom said he was
not confident that the bidding for the exploration and petroleum production
of the Erawan and Bongkot blocks will be made this year.
The government has been under pressure by people with different views over
the new petroleum bill, which will be voted on by the National Legislative
Assembly (NLA) in its second and third readings today, he said.
He said he wants the regime to use Section 44 to enforce the existing law to
make way for the bidding for the two petroleum blocks or come up with new
legislation with more stringent measures to deal with the issue, Mr Bowon
said.
"I am not confident [the disputes] over the bill will end," said Mr Bowon,
adding the private sector is in favour of the existing law. "I think if the
existing concessionaires of the petroleum blocks win the bids, this would be
a boon to the continuation of gas production."
Mr Bowon was speaking at a seminar on the bill organised by the Economic
Reporters Association yesterday.
PTT Exploration and Production Plc acting executive vice-president Montri
Rawanchaikul said if the bidding for the two petroleum blocks does not take
place late this year, the country's gas production would gradually drop over
the next five years since the company will not increase production.
This could force the country to import more Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to
meet demand, which would subsequently affect power prices, he said.
Thitisak Boonpramote, head of Chulalongkorn University's Department of
Mining and Petroleum Engineering, expressed disagreement over the
replacement of the concession system with production sharing contracts
(PSCs) in petroleum operations.
In addition to the concession system under the existing legislation, the new
bill covers PSCs and hiring contracts.
He said that PSCs are unattractive to investors, which would reduce the
country's competitiveness in the long run.
Meanwhile, former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva expressed no objection to
the concept of a national oil corporation (NOC) under the bill, but wanted
the bill to give more details on when the organisation will be formed and
its authority.
He said the bill paves the way for the option for PSCs instead of a single
method of concession, so it is not a surprise there is a call for an
organisation to be established to deal with the matter.
Former energy minister Pichai Naripthaphan said it is still unclear why the
NOC has to be established.
The minister in the government of Yingluck Shinawatra raised questions about
who would run the organisation and how people could be confident that it
would not be taken advantage of by those handling the organisation's
administration.
Several countries have been successful in the oil business without forming
such corporations, such as the US, where private companies deal with the
matter, he said.
Gen Akanit Muansawad, a spokesman of the NLA subcommittee vetting the
petroleum bill, said a study carried out by the panel shows the NOC must be
formed to deal with the PSC system.
Rosana Tositrakul, a core member of the People's Alliance for Energy Reform,
said anti-bill protesters will assemble at parliament today to wait for the
results of the NLA vote on the bill.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/1223436/call-for-speed-on-gulf-oil-
bids
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
ENGIE and Sime Darby announce partnership to develop solar energy and integrated facilities management services in Malaysia
ENGIE and Sime Darby announce partnership to develop solar energy and
integrated facilities management services in Malaysia
French Group ENGIE, a global energy player, and Sime Darby, a Malaysia-based
diversified multinational corporation, announce today that they will
co-develop business opportunities in solar energy and high-end,
state-of-the-art integrated facilities management services.
Two non-binding partnership agreements were signed today in Kuala Lumpur, as
part of French President Hollande's visit to Southeast Asia, covering
Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, from 26 to 29 March.
"We are pleased to form this strategic partnership with Sime Darby, a most
respected and successful multinational corporation with a strong local
foothold. Our aligned vision on sustainability and performance offers many
opportunities to combine our strengths to positively impact the lives of our
many stakeholders," said Didier Holleaux, Executive Vice President of ENGIE.
The ENGIE Group and Sime Darby will offer high-end and state-of-the-art
integrated facilities management services to mission critical operations
such as airports, hospitals and universities, as well as to luxury retail
developments and hotels.
The companies will also partner to provide reliable low-cost solar PV
energy, thus contributing to Malaysia's ambition to become greener, more
energy efficient and less carbon-intensive.
Toward this end, Tan Sri Dato' Seri Mohd Bakke Salleh, President and Group
Chief Executive of Sime Darby, reiterated: "Our partnership will pave the
way for greater collaboration in the solar and integrated facilities
management space.
With a combination of technical expertise and a deep understanding of the
Malaysian market, we believe this partnership will enable us to
significantly expand into these sectors."
Malaysia's National Renewable Energy Policy and Action Plan (2010) sets
targets for the renewable electricity capacity to reach 2,000 MW by 2020 (10
per cent of total capacity), 3,500 MW by 2030 (13 per cent) and 11,500 MW by
2050 (34 per cent).
President Hollande witnessed the ceremony together with Dato' Sri Mustapa
Mohamed, Minister for International Trade and Industry. Malaysia is one of
France's major economic partners in Southeast Asia.
With commercial exchanges amounting to 3.7 billion euros in 2016, Malaysia
is the fifth-largest trading partner of France in the region with over 270
French companies established in the country.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://www.eco-business.com/press-releases/engie-and-sime-darby-announce-par
tnership-to-develop-solar-energy-and-integrated-facilities-management-servic
es-in-malaysia/
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
integrated facilities management services in Malaysia
French Group ENGIE, a global energy player, and Sime Darby, a Malaysia-based
diversified multinational corporation, announce today that they will
co-develop business opportunities in solar energy and high-end,
state-of-the-art integrated facilities management services.
Two non-binding partnership agreements were signed today in Kuala Lumpur, as
part of French President Hollande's visit to Southeast Asia, covering
Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, from 26 to 29 March.
"We are pleased to form this strategic partnership with Sime Darby, a most
respected and successful multinational corporation with a strong local
foothold. Our aligned vision on sustainability and performance offers many
opportunities to combine our strengths to positively impact the lives of our
many stakeholders," said Didier Holleaux, Executive Vice President of ENGIE.
The ENGIE Group and Sime Darby will offer high-end and state-of-the-art
integrated facilities management services to mission critical operations
such as airports, hospitals and universities, as well as to luxury retail
developments and hotels.
The companies will also partner to provide reliable low-cost solar PV
energy, thus contributing to Malaysia's ambition to become greener, more
energy efficient and less carbon-intensive.
Toward this end, Tan Sri Dato' Seri Mohd Bakke Salleh, President and Group
Chief Executive of Sime Darby, reiterated: "Our partnership will pave the
way for greater collaboration in the solar and integrated facilities
management space.
With a combination of technical expertise and a deep understanding of the
Malaysian market, we believe this partnership will enable us to
significantly expand into these sectors."
Malaysia's National Renewable Energy Policy and Action Plan (2010) sets
targets for the renewable electricity capacity to reach 2,000 MW by 2020 (10
per cent of total capacity), 3,500 MW by 2030 (13 per cent) and 11,500 MW by
2050 (34 per cent).
President Hollande witnessed the ceremony together with Dato' Sri Mustapa
Mohamed, Minister for International Trade and Industry. Malaysia is one of
France's major economic partners in Southeast Asia.
With commercial exchanges amounting to 3.7 billion euros in 2016, Malaysia
is the fifth-largest trading partner of France in the region with over 270
French companies established in the country.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://www.eco-business.com/press-releases/engie-and-sime-darby-announce-par
tnership-to-develop-solar-energy-and-integrated-facilities-management-servic
es-in-malaysia/
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
Laos: Completed Overhaul Boosts Theun-Hinboun Output
Laos: Completed Overhaul Boosts Theun-Hinboun Output
The Theun-Hinboun Power Company (THPC) now has an overall generating
capacity of 520 megawatts (MW) following the recent completion of a major
overhaul.
Efficiency tests conducted on a second new turbine installed at the
company's Theun-Hinboun Powerhouse in Khammouane province confirmed that the
overhaul has added at least 20 MW of production capacity, while the plant
uses the same volume of water as it did before the upgrade.
Replacement of the turbine and maintenance of the generator for the TH1 Unit
was undertaken between December 2016 and February this year by staff from
THPC's Operations and Maintenance Division (OMD), alongside engineers from
Rainpower and GE in Norway.
The work was completed one week ahead of schedule, allowing the upgraded
unit to go into operation in late February, alongside the TH2 unit, which
received a similar upgrade last year.
The two units, now rated at 120 MW each at full load, first began operating
in March 1998. With the 220-MW TH3 unit and the two 30-MW units at the
project's upstream Nam Gnouang Powerhouse, installed as part of the
Theun-Hinboun Expansion Project in 2012, THPC now has a maximum operating
capacity of 520 MW.
THPC's Deputy General Manager, Mr Soulideth Baomanikhoth, congratulated the
company's OMD team and the contractors for finishing the work ahead of tight
deadlines and with a perfect safety record.
"This investment increases both the long-term efficiency and safety of our
plant," said Mr Soulideth. "We can now increase our contribution to the Lao
economy by exporting more power while not using more water".
THPC has so far contributed over US$465 million to the government since
starting operations. With 60% of its shares owned by EDL-Gen, THPC is the
only independent power producer in the country under Lao majority control,
and 99% of the company's workforce is made up of Lao nationals.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article: http://kpl.gov.la/En/Detail.aspx?id=23278
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
The Theun-Hinboun Power Company (THPC) now has an overall generating
capacity of 520 megawatts (MW) following the recent completion of a major
overhaul.
Efficiency tests conducted on a second new turbine installed at the
company's Theun-Hinboun Powerhouse in Khammouane province confirmed that the
overhaul has added at least 20 MW of production capacity, while the plant
uses the same volume of water as it did before the upgrade.
Replacement of the turbine and maintenance of the generator for the TH1 Unit
was undertaken between December 2016 and February this year by staff from
THPC's Operations and Maintenance Division (OMD), alongside engineers from
Rainpower and GE in Norway.
The work was completed one week ahead of schedule, allowing the upgraded
unit to go into operation in late February, alongside the TH2 unit, which
received a similar upgrade last year.
The two units, now rated at 120 MW each at full load, first began operating
in March 1998. With the 220-MW TH3 unit and the two 30-MW units at the
project's upstream Nam Gnouang Powerhouse, installed as part of the
Theun-Hinboun Expansion Project in 2012, THPC now has a maximum operating
capacity of 520 MW.
THPC's Deputy General Manager, Mr Soulideth Baomanikhoth, congratulated the
company's OMD team and the contractors for finishing the work ahead of tight
deadlines and with a perfect safety record.
"This investment increases both the long-term efficiency and safety of our
plant," said Mr Soulideth. "We can now increase our contribution to the Lao
economy by exporting more power while not using more water".
THPC has so far contributed over US$465 million to the government since
starting operations. With 60% of its shares owned by EDL-Gen, THPC is the
only independent power producer in the country under Lao majority control,
and 99% of the company's workforce is made up of Lao nationals.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article: http://kpl.gov.la/En/Detail.aspx?id=23278
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
Thailand: Chonburi Clean Energy signs power purchase deal with PEA
Thailand: Chonburi Clean Energy signs power purchase deal with PEA
Chonburi Clean Energy (CCE), a joint venture involving Glow Energy, SUEZ and
WHA Utilities and Power Plc, has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA)
with the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) for a 8.63 MW
industrial-waste-to-energy power plant to be built in the Hemaraj Chonburi
Industrial Estate in Chonburi province.
Brendan Wauters, CEO of Glow Group, said the CCE had signed the PPA with the
PEA for a contracted capacity of 6.90 MW with a contractual term of 20
years.
Wauters said waste-to-energy projects such as those undertaken by CCE are
considered a high priority for Thailand's energy needs.
He such projects are fully aligned with Glow's strategy to focus on
carbon-light opportunities when considering new investments.
Wisate Chungwatana, CEO of WHA Utilities and Power Plc, said that the
project is in the process of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which is
expected to be completed and approved by October.
Then, the project's construction period will take about 24-26 months with
the commercial operation date (COD) scheduled in December 2019. Total
investment on the project is estimated to be around Bt1.5 billion.
Steve Clark, CEO of SUEZ Asia, said SUEZ, with experience in environmental
management involving waste and water, has been operating close to 60
waste-to-energy references worldwide.
"We will bring our international experience and expertise on waste
management and development in waste treatment infrastructure to ensure that
the project will be aligned with world-class standards and will create a
proper norm for industrial waste management in Thailand," Clark said.
"Our goal is to assist the local government in its ambition to create a
circular economy and protect the environment by converting waste into green
energy."
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/business/corporate/30310549
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
Chonburi Clean Energy (CCE), a joint venture involving Glow Energy, SUEZ and
WHA Utilities and Power Plc, has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA)
with the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) for a 8.63 MW
industrial-waste-to-energy power plant to be built in the Hemaraj Chonburi
Industrial Estate in Chonburi province.
Brendan Wauters, CEO of Glow Group, said the CCE had signed the PPA with the
PEA for a contracted capacity of 6.90 MW with a contractual term of 20
years.
Wauters said waste-to-energy projects such as those undertaken by CCE are
considered a high priority for Thailand's energy needs.
He such projects are fully aligned with Glow's strategy to focus on
carbon-light opportunities when considering new investments.
Wisate Chungwatana, CEO of WHA Utilities and Power Plc, said that the
project is in the process of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which is
expected to be completed and approved by October.
Then, the project's construction period will take about 24-26 months with
the commercial operation date (COD) scheduled in December 2019. Total
investment on the project is estimated to be around Bt1.5 billion.
Steve Clark, CEO of SUEZ Asia, said SUEZ, with experience in environmental
management involving waste and water, has been operating close to 60
waste-to-energy references worldwide.
"We will bring our international experience and expertise on waste
management and development in waste treatment infrastructure to ensure that
the project will be aligned with world-class standards and will create a
proper norm for industrial waste management in Thailand," Clark said.
"Our goal is to assist the local government in its ambition to create a
circular economy and protect the environment by converting waste into green
energy."
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/business/corporate/30310549
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
Philippines: Cemex to build 4.5MW waste-to-heat facility
Philippines: Cemex to build 4.5MW waste-to-heat facility
A unit of cement-maker Cemex Holdings Philippines Inc. signed an agreement
with Sinoma Energy Conservation Ltd. of China to build and operate a
4.5-megawatt (MW) waste-heat-to-energy (WHTE) facility in Naga, Cebu.
In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Wednesday, Cemex
announced that the WHTE deal had been signed by its subsidiary APO Cement
Corp.
The power facility will have the capacity to capture excess heat from the
cement plant's kiln and convert it into usable energy. This technology is
expected to generate 25,000 MW hours annually.
The WHTE facility is expected to mitigate the negative effects of power
service interruptions, help reduce dependence on high-cost power sources,
and reduce the cement plant's carbon footprint, the company said.
"Promoting energy efficiency is one of Cemex's objectives in advancing
resource generation best practices. We are delighted to see the good results
of our partnership with Sinoma since the successful construction of the
first WHTE project in one of our plants," said Cemex Philippines president
Pedro Palomino.
"We are pleased to be working with Cemex once again and we are positive that
the upcoming project will contribute significantly to Cemex's operations,"
said Zhang Qi, Sinoma-EC chair.
Apo Cement operates as a building material supplier and cement producer. It
has a plant located in Cebu, founded in 1921, which produces Pozzolan and
Portland cement under the APO Cement brand.
Cemex said it would continuously seek to improve its performance as an
"efficient, agile, and innovative" company by identifying, sharing, and
implementing best practices across its global network of plants and
facilities.
The company said its industry-best processes would allow it to satisfy the
needs of its customers while using the optimal amount of resources.
Cemex is one of the leading cement producers in the Philippines based on
installed annual capacity. It produces and markets cement and cement
products, such as ready-mix concrete and clinker, in the Philippines through
direct sales using its extensive marine and land distribution network.
The company's cement manufacturing subsidiaries have been operating in the
Philippines for over 17 years with well-established brands, such as "APO,"
"Island," and "Rizal," each of which has a multi-decade history in the
country.
Cemex is an indirect subsidiary of Cemex S.A.B. de C.V., one of the largest
cement companies in the world based on annual installed cement production
capacity. The shares of CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. are listed on the Mexican
Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://business.inquirer.net/226992/cemex-build-4-5mw-waste-heat-facility
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
A unit of cement-maker Cemex Holdings Philippines Inc. signed an agreement
with Sinoma Energy Conservation Ltd. of China to build and operate a
4.5-megawatt (MW) waste-heat-to-energy (WHTE) facility in Naga, Cebu.
In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Wednesday, Cemex
announced that the WHTE deal had been signed by its subsidiary APO Cement
Corp.
The power facility will have the capacity to capture excess heat from the
cement plant's kiln and convert it into usable energy. This technology is
expected to generate 25,000 MW hours annually.
The WHTE facility is expected to mitigate the negative effects of power
service interruptions, help reduce dependence on high-cost power sources,
and reduce the cement plant's carbon footprint, the company said.
"Promoting energy efficiency is one of Cemex's objectives in advancing
resource generation best practices. We are delighted to see the good results
of our partnership with Sinoma since the successful construction of the
first WHTE project in one of our plants," said Cemex Philippines president
Pedro Palomino.
"We are pleased to be working with Cemex once again and we are positive that
the upcoming project will contribute significantly to Cemex's operations,"
said Zhang Qi, Sinoma-EC chair.
Apo Cement operates as a building material supplier and cement producer. It
has a plant located in Cebu, founded in 1921, which produces Pozzolan and
Portland cement under the APO Cement brand.
Cemex said it would continuously seek to improve its performance as an
"efficient, agile, and innovative" company by identifying, sharing, and
implementing best practices across its global network of plants and
facilities.
The company said its industry-best processes would allow it to satisfy the
needs of its customers while using the optimal amount of resources.
Cemex is one of the leading cement producers in the Philippines based on
installed annual capacity. It produces and markets cement and cement
products, such as ready-mix concrete and clinker, in the Philippines through
direct sales using its extensive marine and land distribution network.
The company's cement manufacturing subsidiaries have been operating in the
Philippines for over 17 years with well-established brands, such as "APO,"
"Island," and "Rizal," each of which has a multi-decade history in the
country.
Cemex is an indirect subsidiary of Cemex S.A.B. de C.V., one of the largest
cement companies in the world based on annual installed cement production
capacity. The shares of CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. are listed on the Mexican
Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://business.inquirer.net/226992/cemex-build-4-5mw-waste-heat-facility
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
Myanmar plans to boost electricity access with coal
Myanmar plans to boost electricity access with coal
Myanmar has abundant renewable energy resources but less than a third of its
population is connected to the electricity grid.
Here are some facts and figures about the Southeast Asian nation's energy
needs and proposed solutions:
* In 2014, around 70 percent of Myanmar's 51.4 million people did not have
access to national grid power. In rural areas, the figure was 84 percent.
* Myanmar's power distribution utilities added about 200,000 residential
customers in 2013. At that rate, it would take nearly 40 years to get
everyone connected.
* Rural households spend more money on electricity, and use unsustainable
and even dangerous energy sources such as diesel generators, kerosene, car
and motorcycle batteries, and candles. One hour of diesel power in rural
Myanmar costs roughly the same as 24 hours of power in the city of Yangon.
* Myanmar's energy consumption is among the lowest in the world. One Burmese
person, on average, consumes around 160 kilowatt hours (kWh) annually - 20
times less than the world average of 3,000 kWh per capita.
* But this is changing, with peak load demand growing at an average 14
percent per year in the past five years.
* Around two-thirds of Myanmar's 4.6 gigawatt power capacity comes from
hydroelectric dams. Natural gas accounts for 29 percent and coal-fired power
3 percent.
* Due to heavy reliance on hydropower, the system cannot meet peak demand
during the dry season, leading to frequent and prolonged blackouts.
* Myanmar currently has three master plans to meet its future energy needs,
formulated by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Asian
Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank.
* The National Electrification Plan (NEP) aims to make 7.2 million new
household connections, and achieve 100 percent access to electricity by
2030, mainly by extending the grid.
* The NEP's first phase began with a $400 million loan from the World Bank.
The plan calls for investments of $5.8 billion over the next 15 years. As
yet, it is unclear where the rest of the funding will come from.
* The Myanmar Energy Master Plan projects an increase in coal's share of
electricity output to almost 30 percent in 2030, up from less than 2 percent
in 2015. Hydropower is projected to drop from 65 percent to 57 percent but
remains the largest generator. Solar, by comparison, sees a modest rise from
0 to 5 percent.
* Myanmar's coal is considered low quality with high moisture content. Coal
is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions.
* Myanmar's previous administration gave responsibility for off-grid rural
electrification to a department under the agriculture ministry, instead of
the powerful Ministry of Electricity and Energy. This stops other government
agencies from working on renewable energy projects, and limits
private-sector participation, critics say.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFL5N1GX1SF
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
Myanmar has abundant renewable energy resources but less than a third of its
population is connected to the electricity grid.
Here are some facts and figures about the Southeast Asian nation's energy
needs and proposed solutions:
* In 2014, around 70 percent of Myanmar's 51.4 million people did not have
access to national grid power. In rural areas, the figure was 84 percent.
* Myanmar's power distribution utilities added about 200,000 residential
customers in 2013. At that rate, it would take nearly 40 years to get
everyone connected.
* Rural households spend more money on electricity, and use unsustainable
and even dangerous energy sources such as diesel generators, kerosene, car
and motorcycle batteries, and candles. One hour of diesel power in rural
Myanmar costs roughly the same as 24 hours of power in the city of Yangon.
* Myanmar's energy consumption is among the lowest in the world. One Burmese
person, on average, consumes around 160 kilowatt hours (kWh) annually - 20
times less than the world average of 3,000 kWh per capita.
* But this is changing, with peak load demand growing at an average 14
percent per year in the past five years.
* Around two-thirds of Myanmar's 4.6 gigawatt power capacity comes from
hydroelectric dams. Natural gas accounts for 29 percent and coal-fired power
3 percent.
* Due to heavy reliance on hydropower, the system cannot meet peak demand
during the dry season, leading to frequent and prolonged blackouts.
* Myanmar currently has three master plans to meet its future energy needs,
formulated by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Asian
Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank.
* The National Electrification Plan (NEP) aims to make 7.2 million new
household connections, and achieve 100 percent access to electricity by
2030, mainly by extending the grid.
* The NEP's first phase began with a $400 million loan from the World Bank.
The plan calls for investments of $5.8 billion over the next 15 years. As
yet, it is unclear where the rest of the funding will come from.
* The Myanmar Energy Master Plan projects an increase in coal's share of
electricity output to almost 30 percent in 2030, up from less than 2 percent
in 2015. Hydropower is projected to drop from 65 percent to 57 percent but
remains the largest generator. Solar, by comparison, sees a modest rise from
0 to 5 percent.
* Myanmar's coal is considered low quality with high moisture content. Coal
is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions.
* Myanmar's previous administration gave responsibility for off-grid rural
electrification to a department under the agriculture ministry, instead of
the powerful Ministry of Electricity and Energy. This stops other government
agencies from working on renewable energy projects, and limits
private-sector participation, critics say.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFL5N1GX1SF
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
Thailand: Alro clears wind farm development
Thailand: Alro clears wind farm development
The Agricultural Land Reform Office (Alro) said Wednesday that 16 wind farm
projects located on Sor Por Kor government land are legal and can continue
as planned.
The much-awaited decision clears the way for wind farm developers to
continue their multi-billion-baht investment in the renewable projects.
Sompong Inthong, Alro's secretary-general, said the investigation by related
authorities found that all the wind farm projects followed Alro's
regulations, which state that the benefits generated from the land must be
paid to the farmers, meaning they were earned from an agricultural purpose.
A dispute emerged earlier this year when the Supreme Administrative Court
ruled that it was inappropriate to rent out Sor Por Kor land in Chaiyaphum,
which had been designated for farming purposes, to build wind farms. It
further ordered the revocation of a licence to develop a wind farm there.
That ruling immediately raised concerns among other wind farm developers
about whether their licences could be revoked, prompting them to suspend
investment in renewable energy projects.
When the court ruled last month that the Thep Sathit Wind Farm Co project
violated the law on Sor Por Kor land use and ordered it to suspend
operations, the Agricultural Land Reform Committee (ALRC) immediately set up
a panel, which now has wound up its study.
The panel concluded the 16 current wind farms, excepting the one sanctioned
by the court, were legal and unaffected by the court's ruling.
Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Gen Chatchai Sarikulya said it
concluded the case presents no threat to the overall development of wind
farms.
He told a press conference on Wednesday that Alro has full authority to
allow any people who are not farmers or farming organisations to use the
land as long as they meet the condition of enabling certain land reform
benefits.
Meanwhile, the ministerial regulation says that non-farmers who rent the
land can do so as long as it helps improve the living condition of farmers
both socially and economically.
Gen Chatchai said Alro also found that the 16 companies have not violated
the terms of the ALRC's regulations in terms of land rental.
Moreover, the 16 companies were acting in strict accordance with the
regulation by paying farmers 35,000 baht per year per rai, he said.
"Before making a final decision on the matter, we will consider whether
farmers will benefit from Alro's land reform projects or not," he said.
"It is clear that they really have received benefits from our projects," he
said, adding this was based on labour hiring activities in those areas,
improvement to public infrastructure and water sources, and the development
of tourism-related activities.
Mr Sompong said development of Thepsathit Wind Farm in Nakhon Ratchasima
remains halted because it is a separate case in which a group of villagers
filed a lawsuit against the developer and requires a court ruling.
SET-listed Energy Absolute Plc (EA), a renewable power generator, said it
would continue its 20-billion-baht investment to run a 260-megawatt wind
farm in Chaiyaphum province as planned.
Omsin Siri, vice-president for corporate communications, said EA will seek a
loan because construction is due to start this year, with a goal of
operations starting in the second quarter of 2018.
She said the company invested about 40 million baht for design and
preparation of the project.
Mrs Omsin said EA aims to increase its renewable power generation committed
to state utilities to 664MW by 2018, well above 278MW last year.
The additional capacity is expected from new projects in Nakhon Si Thammarat
and Songkhla provinces to come online this year with 126MW from each, and
other new projects.
EA's first renewable energy project was an 8MW solar farm in Lop Buri in
2012. Its total power-generating capacity rose to 188MW in 2015 and 278MW in
2016.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1223656/alro-clears-wind-farm-develo
pment
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
The Agricultural Land Reform Office (Alro) said Wednesday that 16 wind farm
projects located on Sor Por Kor government land are legal and can continue
as planned.
The much-awaited decision clears the way for wind farm developers to
continue their multi-billion-baht investment in the renewable projects.
Sompong Inthong, Alro's secretary-general, said the investigation by related
authorities found that all the wind farm projects followed Alro's
regulations, which state that the benefits generated from the land must be
paid to the farmers, meaning they were earned from an agricultural purpose.
A dispute emerged earlier this year when the Supreme Administrative Court
ruled that it was inappropriate to rent out Sor Por Kor land in Chaiyaphum,
which had been designated for farming purposes, to build wind farms. It
further ordered the revocation of a licence to develop a wind farm there.
That ruling immediately raised concerns among other wind farm developers
about whether their licences could be revoked, prompting them to suspend
investment in renewable energy projects.
When the court ruled last month that the Thep Sathit Wind Farm Co project
violated the law on Sor Por Kor land use and ordered it to suspend
operations, the Agricultural Land Reform Committee (ALRC) immediately set up
a panel, which now has wound up its study.
The panel concluded the 16 current wind farms, excepting the one sanctioned
by the court, were legal and unaffected by the court's ruling.
Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Gen Chatchai Sarikulya said it
concluded the case presents no threat to the overall development of wind
farms.
He told a press conference on Wednesday that Alro has full authority to
allow any people who are not farmers or farming organisations to use the
land as long as they meet the condition of enabling certain land reform
benefits.
Meanwhile, the ministerial regulation says that non-farmers who rent the
land can do so as long as it helps improve the living condition of farmers
both socially and economically.
Gen Chatchai said Alro also found that the 16 companies have not violated
the terms of the ALRC's regulations in terms of land rental.
Moreover, the 16 companies were acting in strict accordance with the
regulation by paying farmers 35,000 baht per year per rai, he said.
"Before making a final decision on the matter, we will consider whether
farmers will benefit from Alro's land reform projects or not," he said.
"It is clear that they really have received benefits from our projects," he
said, adding this was based on labour hiring activities in those areas,
improvement to public infrastructure and water sources, and the development
of tourism-related activities.
Mr Sompong said development of Thepsathit Wind Farm in Nakhon Ratchasima
remains halted because it is a separate case in which a group of villagers
filed a lawsuit against the developer and requires a court ruling.
SET-listed Energy Absolute Plc (EA), a renewable power generator, said it
would continue its 20-billion-baht investment to run a 260-megawatt wind
farm in Chaiyaphum province as planned.
Omsin Siri, vice-president for corporate communications, said EA will seek a
loan because construction is due to start this year, with a goal of
operations starting in the second quarter of 2018.
She said the company invested about 40 million baht for design and
preparation of the project.
Mrs Omsin said EA aims to increase its renewable power generation committed
to state utilities to 664MW by 2018, well above 278MW last year.
The additional capacity is expected from new projects in Nakhon Si Thammarat
and Songkhla provinces to come online this year with 126MW from each, and
other new projects.
EA's first renewable energy project was an 8MW solar farm in Lop Buri in
2012. Its total power-generating capacity rose to 188MW in 2015 and 278MW in
2016.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1223656/alro-clears-wind-farm-develo
pment
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
New deal boosts energy access in and around Singapore
New deal boosts energy access in and around Singapore
An agreement has been signed to improve energy access in Singapore,
South-East Asia and the Pacific.
Schneider Electric, ENGIE Lab and Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
have agreed to boost infrastructure in off-grid areas with a series of
microgrids.
The joint initiative will form part of the existing Renewable Energy
Integration Demonstrator in Singapore (REIDS) project and aims to
potentially provide power to thousands of islands in the region in the
future.
It plans to develop a scalable microgrid demonstrator that can integrate
various renewable sources, storage systems and a power control module to
control intermittency.
The collaboration will bring together operational and planning capabilities
from ENGIE and energy management expertise and innovation from Schneider
Electric.
The partnership will integrate and test a range of solutions to provide a
package of services including electricity and mobility.
Beyond this project, Schneider Electric also intends to set up and develop
facilities in Singapore to help its customers facing growing clean energy
demand.
Singapore plans to impose a carbon tax in the next two years in an effort to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://www.energylivenews.com/2017/03/28/new-deal-boosts-energy-access-in-an
d-around-singapore/
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
An agreement has been signed to improve energy access in Singapore,
South-East Asia and the Pacific.
Schneider Electric, ENGIE Lab and Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
have agreed to boost infrastructure in off-grid areas with a series of
microgrids.
The joint initiative will form part of the existing Renewable Energy
Integration Demonstrator in Singapore (REIDS) project and aims to
potentially provide power to thousands of islands in the region in the
future.
It plans to develop a scalable microgrid demonstrator that can integrate
various renewable sources, storage systems and a power control module to
control intermittency.
The collaboration will bring together operational and planning capabilities
from ENGIE and energy management expertise and innovation from Schneider
Electric.
The partnership will integrate and test a range of solutions to provide a
package of services including electricity and mobility.
Beyond this project, Schneider Electric also intends to set up and develop
facilities in Singapore to help its customers facing growing clean energy
demand.
Singapore plans to impose a carbon tax in the next two years in an effort to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://www.energylivenews.com/2017/03/28/new-deal-boosts-energy-access-in-an
d-around-singapore/
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
Myanmar opens first biomass power plant
Myanmar opens first biomass power plant
Myanmar has utilised Japanese know-how to open its first biomass
gasification power plant in its capital city Nay Pyi Taw.
The rice husk gasification power plant was developed over five months by a
Japanese consortium led by Yanmar Co. The group also includes Chiyoda &
Public Works Co, Chiyoda System Technologies Corp and Kanso Co.
The US$4.7 million undertaking is one part of the Integrated Rice Complex
Project being developed throughout the country by Myanmar Agribusiness
Public Corp, a private business established in 2012 to invest in the
country's agricultural and agro-based industries.
Full operations at the plant began on March 23 after an opening ceremony in
Nay Pyi Taw, attended by Myanmar's ranking government officials, including
Vice President Henry Van Thio.
Chit Khaing, chair of Myanmar Agribusiness, known as MAPCO, said the plant
has a 0.5-megawatt generation capacity and its power output will be used in
the operation of rice mills, which are located next to the plant.
"As we use the power generated from the rice husk, we will be able to reduce
our electricity consumption from the national power grid," he said, adding
that the company also expects to electrify five to 10 neighbouring villages
with the surplus power.
The chairman said MAPCO's second rice husk plant, which has a generating
capacity of 2.2 MW, will be opened in the delta region south and west of
Yangon on May 1 and the third with 1.6 MW output is set to open in the
region in 2018.
Aung Thu, minister for agriculture, livestock and irrigation, said
establishing waste-to-energy technology is beneficial for both the energy
and environmental conservation sectors of Myanmar, where only 30% of the
population is connected to the electricity grid, according to World Bank
statistics released in 2015.
Yanmar also plans to expand its innovative low-carbon emission technology to
other countries and estimates that 15 rice mills in Myanmar will adopt the
system by 2020 and 30 sites by 2030.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/asean/1223355/myanmar-opens-first-biomass-po
wer-plant
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
Myanmar has utilised Japanese know-how to open its first biomass
gasification power plant in its capital city Nay Pyi Taw.
The rice husk gasification power plant was developed over five months by a
Japanese consortium led by Yanmar Co. The group also includes Chiyoda &
Public Works Co, Chiyoda System Technologies Corp and Kanso Co.
The US$4.7 million undertaking is one part of the Integrated Rice Complex
Project being developed throughout the country by Myanmar Agribusiness
Public Corp, a private business established in 2012 to invest in the
country's agricultural and agro-based industries.
Full operations at the plant began on March 23 after an opening ceremony in
Nay Pyi Taw, attended by Myanmar's ranking government officials, including
Vice President Henry Van Thio.
Chit Khaing, chair of Myanmar Agribusiness, known as MAPCO, said the plant
has a 0.5-megawatt generation capacity and its power output will be used in
the operation of rice mills, which are located next to the plant.
"As we use the power generated from the rice husk, we will be able to reduce
our electricity consumption from the national power grid," he said, adding
that the company also expects to electrify five to 10 neighbouring villages
with the surplus power.
The chairman said MAPCO's second rice husk plant, which has a generating
capacity of 2.2 MW, will be opened in the delta region south and west of
Yangon on May 1 and the third with 1.6 MW output is set to open in the
region in 2018.
Aung Thu, minister for agriculture, livestock and irrigation, said
establishing waste-to-energy technology is beneficial for both the energy
and environmental conservation sectors of Myanmar, where only 30% of the
population is connected to the electricity grid, according to World Bank
statistics released in 2015.
Yanmar also plans to expand its innovative low-carbon emission technology to
other countries and estimates that 15 rice mills in Myanmar will adopt the
system by 2020 and 30 sites by 2030.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/asean/1223355/myanmar-opens-first-biomass-po
wer-plant
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
Thailand: PM denies army seeks energy control
Thailand: PM denies army seeks energy control
The government has dismissed claims that the military will seek to control
national energy resources via a national oil corporation (NOC) proposed
under the new petroleum bill, and is blaming an energy activist group for
pushing the controversial energy body.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said Tuesday that efforts had been made to
push for the bill before the military took power in 2014 but that these had
stalled due to various groups trying to push their demands on energy issues.
Gen Prayut made a direct reference to the People's Alliance for Energy
Reform (PAER), with key members including former senator Rosana Tositrakul,
ML Kornkasiwat Kasemsri, former finance minister Thirachai
Phuvanatnaranubala, and Parnthep Pourpongpan, a former co-leader of the
People's Alliance for Democracy.
The prime minister said that when his government came to power, it tabled a
petroleum bill covering both the system of awarding concessions to companies
and a production-sharing contract to the National Legislative Assembly (NLA)
for deliberation.
"But when their demands were relayed to an NLA committee on energy, I
learned that the committee was also pressured by this group, which wanted a
national oil corporation to be set up," Gen Prayut said.
He said there was no need for such a corporation because PTT Plc, the
national oil and gas conglomerate with the Finance Ministry as its major
shareholder, remains operational.
"Still, the group has continued to press for the demands. This time, they
have threatened to surround Government House if the demand for the oil
corporation is not met. Is this right?" Gen Prayut said.
The prime minister was responding to remarks by MR Pridiyathorn Devakula,
former deputy prime minister of his government, who on Monday publicly
criticised an "irregularity" in putting the NOC provision in the bill, which
the NLA will vote on in its second and third readings tomorrow.
MR Pridiyathorn said the provision was added in after the first reading of
the bill. He also claims seven NLA committee members, six of whom are
military officers, visited him to lobby for its inclusion.
The prime minister denied this was done so the military could take over the
management of national energy resources via the Defence Energy Department.
He said the department is not meant to operate a business and it would not
in any case measure up to such a job.
"I've never considered allowing the military to handle this matter. The
government merely wants the petroleum bill to become law. We need this to
handle investment in oil exploration [as we expect to] face energy shortages
in the future," Gen Prayut said.
"The dispute should be settled in the NLA and don't question the government
or the military," he added.
Meanwhile, NLA energy committee chairman Gen Sakon Sajjanit said the NOC
provision was added to the bill in a fully transparent way and with the full
agreement of the cabinet.
The committee believes such a corporation will benefit the country, he said,
adding that most of the opposition to is comes from energy operators who
fear losing out.
The PAER held a media briefing Tuesday, confirming their opposition to the
petroleum bill but not the NOC in principle. Rather, certain details are
proving sticking points, they said.
The bill stipulates that the NOC will be established when "it is ready".
PAER is also pushing for more liberal contracts for producing petroleum
products.
But Ms Rosana said the details of the product-sharing contract stipulated in
the bill do not meet international standards, and the bill does not
stipulate a bidding process for related concessions.
As such, the bill still creates room for the same private company to
benefit, she said.
Mr Parnthep said the group will submit a letter to the NLA chairman to
protest the two bills tomorrow. If the NLA goes ahead and passes them, the
group will petition the prime minister to invoke Section 44 of the interim
charter in a further bid to kill them, he said.
But if the group does not receive clarification from the prime minister it
will stage a demonstration near Government House until the bills are
withdrawn, Mr Parnthep added.
NLA whip spokesman Jate Siratharanont denied reports that efforts had been
made to lobby the NLA committee on energy to set up the NOC.
He said many committee members had supported the proposal to set up the NOC,
not only the six retired military officers revealed by MR Pridiyathorn.
Manoon Siriwan, a former member of the defunct National Reform Council, also
described the move to include the provision in the petroleum bill as
irregular, without providing details.
It is not realistic for the NLA to consider such an important matter without
more information, Mr Manoon said, adding that the assembly should remove the
proposed provision and consider other parts of the bill.
For the NOC to be set up, its proponents should propose another bill with
sufficient information backing it up, Mr Manoon said.
"If you're honest, why add the provision to the bill in an irregular way?"
he asked.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/1222816/pm-denies-army-seeks-energy
-control
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
The government has dismissed claims that the military will seek to control
national energy resources via a national oil corporation (NOC) proposed
under the new petroleum bill, and is blaming an energy activist group for
pushing the controversial energy body.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said Tuesday that efforts had been made to
push for the bill before the military took power in 2014 but that these had
stalled due to various groups trying to push their demands on energy issues.
Gen Prayut made a direct reference to the People's Alliance for Energy
Reform (PAER), with key members including former senator Rosana Tositrakul,
ML Kornkasiwat Kasemsri, former finance minister Thirachai
Phuvanatnaranubala, and Parnthep Pourpongpan, a former co-leader of the
People's Alliance for Democracy.
The prime minister said that when his government came to power, it tabled a
petroleum bill covering both the system of awarding concessions to companies
and a production-sharing contract to the National Legislative Assembly (NLA)
for deliberation.
"But when their demands were relayed to an NLA committee on energy, I
learned that the committee was also pressured by this group, which wanted a
national oil corporation to be set up," Gen Prayut said.
He said there was no need for such a corporation because PTT Plc, the
national oil and gas conglomerate with the Finance Ministry as its major
shareholder, remains operational.
"Still, the group has continued to press for the demands. This time, they
have threatened to surround Government House if the demand for the oil
corporation is not met. Is this right?" Gen Prayut said.
The prime minister was responding to remarks by MR Pridiyathorn Devakula,
former deputy prime minister of his government, who on Monday publicly
criticised an "irregularity" in putting the NOC provision in the bill, which
the NLA will vote on in its second and third readings tomorrow.
MR Pridiyathorn said the provision was added in after the first reading of
the bill. He also claims seven NLA committee members, six of whom are
military officers, visited him to lobby for its inclusion.
The prime minister denied this was done so the military could take over the
management of national energy resources via the Defence Energy Department.
He said the department is not meant to operate a business and it would not
in any case measure up to such a job.
"I've never considered allowing the military to handle this matter. The
government merely wants the petroleum bill to become law. We need this to
handle investment in oil exploration [as we expect to] face energy shortages
in the future," Gen Prayut said.
"The dispute should be settled in the NLA and don't question the government
or the military," he added.
Meanwhile, NLA energy committee chairman Gen Sakon Sajjanit said the NOC
provision was added to the bill in a fully transparent way and with the full
agreement of the cabinet.
The committee believes such a corporation will benefit the country, he said,
adding that most of the opposition to is comes from energy operators who
fear losing out.
The PAER held a media briefing Tuesday, confirming their opposition to the
petroleum bill but not the NOC in principle. Rather, certain details are
proving sticking points, they said.
The bill stipulates that the NOC will be established when "it is ready".
PAER is also pushing for more liberal contracts for producing petroleum
products.
But Ms Rosana said the details of the product-sharing contract stipulated in
the bill do not meet international standards, and the bill does not
stipulate a bidding process for related concessions.
As such, the bill still creates room for the same private company to
benefit, she said.
Mr Parnthep said the group will submit a letter to the NLA chairman to
protest the two bills tomorrow. If the NLA goes ahead and passes them, the
group will petition the prime minister to invoke Section 44 of the interim
charter in a further bid to kill them, he said.
But if the group does not receive clarification from the prime minister it
will stage a demonstration near Government House until the bills are
withdrawn, Mr Parnthep added.
NLA whip spokesman Jate Siratharanont denied reports that efforts had been
made to lobby the NLA committee on energy to set up the NOC.
He said many committee members had supported the proposal to set up the NOC,
not only the six retired military officers revealed by MR Pridiyathorn.
Manoon Siriwan, a former member of the defunct National Reform Council, also
described the move to include the provision in the petroleum bill as
irregular, without providing details.
It is not realistic for the NLA to consider such an important matter without
more information, Mr Manoon said, adding that the assembly should remove the
proposed provision and consider other parts of the bill.
For the NOC to be set up, its proponents should propose another bill with
sufficient information backing it up, Mr Manoon said.
"If you're honest, why add the provision to the bill in an irregular way?"
he asked.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Link to Original Article:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/1222816/pm-denies-army-seeks-energy
-control
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.
www.aptthailand.com
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