Daily Energy News
Policy & Regulatory
Switzerland proposes a new power sector reform
23 Jun 2021
The Swiss Federal Council has adopted a new law that set bidding rules to increase new renewable power generation to at least 17 TWh in 2035 and 39 TWh in 2050 and hydropower generation to at least 37.4 TWh in 2035 and 38.6 TWh in 2050.
Albania initiates a 100 MW onshore wind tender
23 Jun 2021
The Ministry for Infrastructure and Energy of Albania has launched its first wind tender for 100 MW of utility-scale onshore wind power plants. Projects with a capacity between 10 MW and 75 MW can bid and the tendered volume may increase to 150 MW. Winners will be announced in the first half of 2023. The tender is supported by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which recently supported tenders for the 140 MW Karavasta and 100 MW Spitallë solar PV projects in the country.
Morocco upgrades its Nationally Determined Contribution
23 Jun 2021
Morocco has unveiled a new Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). The country commits to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2025 below a business-as-usual (BAU) scenario by 18.3% using its domestic resources (unconditional target) or by 45.5% with international support (conditional target). The new BAU scenario includes additional sub-sectors of the industry, namely the production of cement and the production of phosphates.
Canada launches a US$1.2bn Clean Fuels Fund
23 Jun 2021
The Canadian Department of Natural Resources (Natural Resources Canada) has launched a CAD1.5bn (US$1.2bn) Clean Fuels Fund to increase the domestic production of cleaner fuels. The country has launched a call for proposals to expand the existing supply of hydrogen, renewable diesel, synthetic fuels and cleaner aviation fuels and natural gas blends. The fund will provide up to 30% of total project costs up to a maximum of CAD150m (US$122m), for projects commissioned by the end of March 2026.
Argentina strengthens Ieasa’s control over the energy sector
22 Jun 2021
The Argentinian government has granted greater power to the state-owned power utility Ieasa (former Enarsa), strengthening the development capacity of the company in the national energy sector and repealing a previous administration’s plan to privatise US$1bn of energy assets.
Energy Prices & Taxes
Spain will halve VAT on electricity until the end of 2021
23 Jun 2021
The Spanish government plans to halve the value-added tax (VAT) on electricity from 21% to 10%. The reduction, applied until the end of 2021 for all vulnerable consumers and those contracted for up to 10 kW of power, aims to provide relief for residential consumers and small businesses amid rising electricity prices, driven by hot summer temperatures that raise electricity demand.
Infrastructure & Investments
Mozambique will sell a majority stake in the 1.5 GW Mpanda Nkuwa dam project
23 Jun 2021
Mozambique plans to sell a majority stake the 1.5 GW Mpanda Nkuwa hydropower plant on the Zambezi river in the western province of Tete. A request for proposal will be issued in 2021, and the authorities will take several months to select the winner.
Angola’s Sonangol will launch a tender for the Lobito refinery project
23 Jun 2021
The Angolan state-owned oil and gas company Sonangol will issue a public tender in July 2021 to select entities that will acquire a stake in the 200,000 bbl/d (10 Mt/year) refinery project in Lobito, Benguela province and fund the project. Construction started in 2012 but stopped several times. The project is expected to be completed in 2025.
MSEDCL’s tender for 500 MW of solar projects attracts 4 GW of bids (India)
23 Jun 2021
The Indian regional state-owned power utility Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) has received bids totalling 4 GW for its tender to procure 500 MW of interstate or intrastate grid-connected solar projects on a long-term basis launched in early May 2021. This tender did not include a ceiling tariff and its earnest money deposit was lower than in previous tenders. The company received bids from Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (MAHAGENCO), NTPC, Tata Power, Adani Green, and ACME Solar, among others.
Companies
NTPC’s electricity production increased by 8% in FY 2021 (India)
22 Jun 2021
The Indian national power utility NTPC (51% state-owned) has generated 314 TWh in the fiscal year ended 31 March 2021 (+8% compared to FY 2020). The company’s revenue reached INR1,035.5bn (US$14bn, +3% compared to FY 2020). NTPC’s installed capacity stood at 65.8 GW as of 31 March 2021.
In 2020, India’s electricity production declined by 2.5% at 1,557 TWh. The country has an installed capacity of 412 GW (end-2020).
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