Daily Energy News
Policy & Regulatory
Nersa issues plan to procure 12 GW of power in South Africa
15 Sep 2020The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has issued a second concurrence to a Section 34 Ministerial Determination, which will allow the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) to procure more power. The decision will allow the DMRE to secure 11,813 MW of power (including 6.8 GW of solar, 3 GW of gas-fired capacity, 1.5 GW of coal-fired capacity, and 513 MW of electricity storage). Potential suppliers must submit bids by 24 November 2020. Preferred bidders are expected to be announced on 15 December 2020 with a financial close expected on 30 April 2021.
Read moreAustralia unveils a plan to support domestic refineries
15 Sep 2020The Australian government has decided to invest AUD211m (US$154m) to increase domestic fuel storage capacities by building an additional 780 megalitres of onshore diesel storage. It will also introduce a minimum stockholding obligation of 24 days for petrol and jet fuel stocks (28 days for diesel) and will subsidise local refineries to keep them open, in order to secure its long-term fuel supply as the coronavirus-driven demand fall threatens to close refining capacities.
Read moreGermany plans to introduce a new plan to reach climate neutrality by 2050
15 Sep 2020The German government is planning to raise the price of CO2 for transport and heating buildings, as the European Commission would be considering raising its 2030 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions cut target. The German authorities are planning to introduce a charter for climate neutrality and economic power, which would codify the target for climate neutrality by 2050 for each government level (federal, state, and municipal). In addition, the text would introduce carbon "contracts for difference" for sectors and companies that commit to a quick transformation process.
Read moreNew Jersey (US) launches new 2.4 GW offshore wind tender
14 Sep 2020The state-government of New Jersey (United States), through the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, has launched a second offshore wind tender to award between 1.2 and 2.4 GW of offshore wind capacity. The application period started on 10 September 2020 and is scheduled to end on 10 December 2020. A 1,100 MW offshore wind project was already awarded to Ocean Wind (the joint venture of Ørsted and PSEG) in June 2019 (commissioning expected in 2024).
Read moreEuropean MPs proposes to cut GHG emissions by 60% in 2030 compared to 1990 (EU)
14 Sep 2020The Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety of the European Parliament has approved a proposal to make climate neutrality mandatory by 2050 in both EU and member states. In addition, the Committee recommends reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 60% in 2030 compared to 1990, instead of “at least 50% towards 55%”, as the European Commission proposed, and requires an interim target for 2040 to ensure the EU is on track to reach its 2050 target. According to the Committee, EU member states should be climate neutral individually by 2050 and climate negative after 2050.
Read moreCompanies
Elecnor exits a consortium to build a 100 MW wind plant in Mauritania
15 Sep 2020The Spanish infrastructure group Elecnor has left a consortium with Gamesa to build a 100 MW onshore wind power plant in Boulenouar (Mauritania), 80 km north of Nouadhibou, and will be replaced by Siemens. Siemens Gamesa will now execute the €140m project in partnership with the Mauritanian power utility Somelec (Société mauritanienne d’électricité).
Read moreInfrastructure & Investments
The ADB lends US$128m for a power transmission project in Cambodia
15 Sep 2020The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has awarded an US$127.8m loan to the Cambodian state-owned power utility Électricité du Cambodge for the construction of four 115–230 kV transmission lines and 10 substations in Phnom Penh and in the Kampong Chhang, Kamong Cham, and Takeo provinces. The project also includes the first utility-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) in Cambodia, which will be funded by a $6.7m grant; the 16 MWh BESS will be located near the ADB-supported 100 MW National Solar Park. The government plans to increase solar solar capacity to 415 MW by 2022.
Read moreCTCI will build a 6.3 Mt/year LNG import terminal in Taichung (Taiwan)
15 Sep 2020The Taiwanese company CTCI has won an engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning (EPCC° contract worth TWD19bn (nearly US$650m) to build a 6.3 Mt/year LNG import terminal at Taipower’s Taichung power plant. Commissioning is expected in 2023.
Read moreUganda and Tanzania agree on the East African Crude Oil Pipeline
15 Sep 2020Uganda and Tanzania have reached an agreement to build the 1,445-km East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project worth US$3.5bn and construction is expected to start in 2021. In addition, Total has signed an agreement with the Ugandan government on the conditions of entry of the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) in the project as well as on the Host Government Agreement (HGA), which will govern the export pipeline project in Uganda.
Read moreNorthern Ireland (UK) clears 400 kV power interconnection with Ireland
15 Sep 2020The government of Northern Ireland (United Kingdom), through its Department for Infrastructure, has granted full planning permission for the 400 kV North South Interconnector (NSI) project. The €280m line will be built by the Irish national grid operator Eirgrid. It is meant to connect the grids of Northern Ireland (UK) and Ireland. As of today, both sides of Ireland already have a 600 MW interconnection capacity.
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