Daily Energy News
Policy & Regulatory
France plans to auction a 1 GW offshore wind project in 2022
8 Dec 2020The French government has selected an area located 32 km off the coast of Cotentin (Normandy) to build a 1 GW offshore wind project. The tender is scheduled in 2022. The government’s current multi-year energy plan targets 2.3 GW of offshore wind capacity in 2023 and at least 5 GW by 2028.
Read moreJapan revokes operating permits for Ohi-3 and 4 nuclear units (2.2 GW)
8 Dec 2020The Osaka district court has revoked the operating permits for Ohi-3 and Ohi-4 reactors at Kansai Electric’s nuclear power plant in Fukui prefecture (Japan). According to the court, the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA)’s assessment did not sufficiently take into account the vulnerability of the units to major earthquakes.
Read moreCzechia’s Coal Commission recommends ending coal-fired generation in 2038
8 Dec 2020The Czech Coal Commission has recommended ending the use of coal in power generation and heat production in Czechia in 2038, after assessing several coal phase out scenarios in 2033, 2038 and 2043. The 2038 target is on par with the phase-out date set by Germany and much ahead of that set by Poland (2049). The government will have the final say.
Read moreThe US will lease oil, gas licences in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
8 Dec 2020The US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has scheduled an auction for oil and gas drilling rights in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) on 6 January 2021. In August 2020, the US authorities presented a plan to authorise drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, with the objective to auction off oil and gas exploration rights. The program includes the construction of four airstrips and major well pads, 280 km of roads, vertical supports for pipelines, a seawater treatment plant, a barge landing, and storage sites.
Read moreThe UK’s updated NDC targets 68% GHG emissions cut by 2030
7 Dec 2020The UK government has updated its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). The country aims to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 68% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels, compared to a previous NDC target of 53%. In June 2019, the United Kingdom adopted a law with an objective to reach net-zero emission by 2050. This means that the UK will continue to cut its GHG emissions and that residual emissions will have to be balanced by schemes to offset an equivalent amount of GHG, such as planting trees or using technology like carbon capture and storage (CCS).
Read moreDenmark ends new oil and gas exploration in the North Sea
7 Dec 2020Denmark has cancelled the ongoing 8th licensing round and all future rounds to extract oil and gas in the North Sea, after a majority in the Danish Parliament agreed to phase out fossil fuel extraction by 2050. In 2019, Denmark produced 102,000 bbl/d of crude oil and 3.3 bcm of natural gas. In December 2019, the Danish parliament adopted a new Climate Act with a legally binding objective to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 70% by 2030 (compared to the 1990 level).
Read moreEnergy & Climate Markets
Vietnam signs agreements to purchase 508 MW of power from Lao PDR
8 Dec 2020Vietnam’s state-owned power company Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) has signed three agreements to buy power from Laotian companies Phongsubthavy Group and Kong Sup Hydro Development. EVN will buy electricity from Phongsubthavy Group, which is developing the 84 MW Nam Yeuang hydropower project and the 300 MW Nam Phan coal-fired power project in Laos; they are expected to start supplying electricity to Vietnam in 2024 and 2025.
Read moreGlencore will close four thermal coal mines in Australia
8 Dec 2020Glencore plans to shut down the 4.5 Mt/year Liddel semi-soft and thermal open-pit coal mine, the 2 Mt/year Integra underground thermal coal mine and the 3.7 Mt/year Glendell open-pit thermal coal mine in New South Wales (NSW), in Australia, by 2023. The 5.5 Mt/year Newlands thermal and coking coal mine in Queensland is also scheduled for closing by this date. The four mines produced a total of 13.1 Mt/year of coal in 2019. Glencore is considering resuming production at the Glendell and Newland mines if the market demands it.
Read moreInfrastructure & Investments
Uganda grants environmental consent to East African Crude Oil Pipeline
8 Dec 2020The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) of Uganda has approved the Environment and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the construction of the 1,445-km East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project worth US$3.5bn. Construction is expected to start in 2021. In September 2020, Uganda and Tanzania reached an agreement to build the oil pipeline.
Read moreThe ADB awards a US$171m loan to expand electricity access in Myanmar
8 Dec 2020The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a US$171m loan to finance Myanmar’s Accelerated Rural Electrification Project, which is expected to expand the power grid across country. Under this programme, 44 medium-voltage substations should be built, along with 1,006 km of distribution lines across Kayin state and the Ayeyarwady, east Bago, and Magway regions. The project will set up Myanmar’s first computerized distribution automation system, which will optimize power distribution through real-time monitoring and the management of network faults.
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