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Policy & Regulatory

German onshore wind tender undersubscribed once again

26 Jun 2020

The Germany Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur, BNetzA), which regulates the energy sector, has published the results of two tenders for 826 MW of onshore wind and 96 MW of solar projects, with a bidding date set for 1 June 2020.

The onshore wind auction was undersubscribed, as 62 offers with a total capacity of 468 MW were submitted, and 61 bids totalling 464 MW were awarded. The value of the submitted bids ranged between €5.90c/kWh and €6.20c/kWh, with an average bidding price of €6.14c/kWh, which is higher than in the previous round (€6.07c/kWh).

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Norway starts an oil licencing round, auctionning 125 blocks in the Arctic

26 Jun 2020

Norway has proposed to include nine areas in its 25th oil exploration licencing round, located in the Barents Sea (8 areas) and in the Norwegian Sea (1 area). The government will tender 136 new oil exploration blocks, with 125 in the Arctic Barents Sea.

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German government approves €4.3bn package for lignite plants operators

25 Jun 2020

The German government has endorsed a €4.3bn compensation package for power utilities RWE, Uniper, EnBW, Vattenfall, Steag and LEAG, which operate lignite-fired power plants in the country. Before the contracting parties can sign, the Bundestag (lower house of the Parliament) must pass the coal exit law and approve the compensation package. Aid approval from the European Commission is also required.

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SECI’s 2 GW ISTS solar tender attracts 4.35 GW in bids (India)

25 Jun 2020

The state-owned Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has received bids for a total capacity of 4.35 GW for its 2 GW tender of interstate transmission system (ISTS) connected solar PV projects opened in March 2020. Some of the bidders included NTPC, Tata Power, Enel, ReNew Power, Azure Power, NLC, and SolarPack.

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Companies

China’s State Grid closes acquisition of Sempra’s power companies in Chile

26 Jun 2020

Sempra Energy has completed the sale of its equity interests in its Chilean businesses to SGID, a fully-owned subsidiary of the Chinese power transmission company State Grid Corporation of China. The sale includes Sempra’s 100% stake in Chilquinta Energía for US$2.23bn in cash, its 100% interest in Tecnored and its 50% stake in Eletrans. In addition, Chilquinta Energía signed an agreement to acquire the 50% held by Sociedad Austral de Electricidad in Eletrans, which will enable Sempra Energy to transfer 100% of Eletrans to SGID.

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Energy & Climate Markets

Israel caps share of coal in power mix at 24.9% by end-2020

26 Jun 2020

The Israeli government has decided to reduce the share of coal use at the power plants operated by the Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) from 30% in 2019 to 24.9% by the end of 2020. The objective is to reduce power plant-related air pollution by 20%.

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Spain’s nuclear regulator approves licence extension for Vandellós II

26 Jun 2020

The Spanish nuclear regulator Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear (CSN) has approved the renewal of the authorisation to operate the Vandellós II nuclear power plant in Tarragona for an additional period of 10 years (over the 2020-2030 period). The licence was due to expire in July 2020. The final decision will be taken by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge.

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Infrastructure & Investments

Iberdrola exits a 1.2 GW CCGT project in Mexico

26 Jun 2020

The Spanish energy group Iberdrola has cancelled a 1,200 MW CCGT power project in Tuxpan, on the Atlantic coast of Mexico. Iberdrola failed to secure an agreement with the Federal Electricity (CFE) for the supply of natural gas from the South Texas-Tuxpan marine pipeline. Local authorities decided to maintain the project, and the CFE will auction the project to a new company. The plant requires a US$1.2bn investment.

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India’s state-owned NTPC will develop a 500 MW solar plant in Mali

26 Jun 2020

The government of Mali has awarded a Project Management Consultancy contract to the Indian state-owned power utility NTPC to develop a 500 MW solar plant in the country. The location of the project, its development timeline and required investment were not disclosed. NTPC is already involved in a similar Project Management Consultancy contract for the development of a 285 MW solar project in Togo.

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Engie’s affiliate GTT will build LNG storage tanks in China

26 Jun 2020

As part of the Tianjin Nangang LNG import project, China Huanqiu Contracting and Engineering has awarded a contract to Engie’s affiliate GTT to design two LNG storage tanks, with a capacity to 220,000 m3 each. The storage tanks will be the largest ones in China when commissioned in the last quarter of 2022. In January 2020, the Chinese government approved Beijing Gas’s 5 Mt/year (6.75 bcm/year) LNG import terminal at Nangang district, Tianjin city.

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