Daily Energy News
Policy & Regulatory
Thailand’s updated NDC keeps GHG emissions reduction target unchanged
28 Oct 2020Thailand has updated its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), keeping its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction target unchanged. The country intends to reduce its GHG emissions by 20% by 2030 compared to the business-as-usual (BAU) scenario, using its domestic resources. The GHG emission cut target could be further increased from 20% to 25%, with international support through bilateral, multilateral cooperation and implementation of mechanisms under the Paris Agreement.
Read moreGerman onshore wind tender for 826 MW only attracts 769 MW
28 Oct 2020The German Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur or BNetzA) has published the results of the latest tenders for onshore wind and solar capacity, with a bidding date set for 1 October 2020. The auction for 826 MW of onshore wind capacity attracted 89 bids totalling 769 MW, with price ranging from €5.60c/kWh to €6.20c/kWh (weighted average of €6.11c/kWh). Three bids were excluded. Many projects were awarded in Schleswig-Holstein (23 awards totalling 109 MW) and in Lower Saxony (18 awards, totalling 235 MW).
Read moreThe Japanese government targets carbon neutrality by 2050
27 Oct 2020Japan intends to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. To cut greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions to zero by 2050, the country will invest in new solar cells and carbon recycling, intensifying research and development in those areas, and digitalise its economy.
Read moreIsrael targets 30% of renewables in power generation by 2030
27 Oct 2020The Israeli government has approved an plan to increase the share of renewable energy sources in power generation to 30% by 2030, with the remaining 70% covered by gas, tapping large domestic resources in the Mediterranean Sea. The country aims to generate 20% of electricity from renewable energy sources by 2025. The targets for 2030 will be evaluated and updated in 2024.
Read moreCompanies
Galp sells its gas distribution business in Portugal to Allianz
28 Oct 2020The Portuguese energy group Galp Energia has signed an agreement with Allianz Capital Partners to sell a 75% stake in Galp Gás Natural Distribuição (GGND) for €368m; Galp will retain a 2.5% stake in GGND. GGND owns nine regional gas distribution companies in Portugal with a length of over 13,000 km that is serving 1.1 million households, including Lisbon. The transaction is subject to approval and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2021.
Read moreEurope clears the sale of innogy’s Czech power and gas assets to MVM
28 Oct 2020The European Commission has authorised, under the EU merger regulations, the Hungarian state-owned energy company MVM Group to acquire innogy Česká republika (iCR), innogy’s entire electricity and gas retail business in Czechia. In July 2020, the German energy group E.ON agreed to sell innogy Česká republika to MVM Group for an undisclosed amount. The sale includes a portfolio of 1.2 million gas customers and 0.4 million electricity customers, along with cogeneration assets and a wholesale and e-mobility portfolio. The transaction is expected to close before the end of 2020.
Read moreEnergy & Climate Markets
Eskom (South Africa) seeks Koeberg nuclear plant’s life extension
28 Oct 2020The South African state-owned power utility Eskom will seek approval from the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) to extend the operating life of its 1,860 MW Koeberg nuclear power plant by 20 years until 2044. The pressurised water reactor (PWR) nuclear plant located in Koeberg, near Cape Town, has two 930 MW reactors that were commissioned in 1984 and 1985, respectively, and that are currently licensed until 2024.
Read moreInfrastructure & Investments
China’s Sinopec completes the 7.2 bcm/year Qingdao-Nanjing gas pipeline
28 Oct 2020The Chinese state-owned oil and gas company Sinopec has completed the construction of a 536 km gas pipeline linking the Qingdao LNG import terminal in the Shandong province to Nanjing city in the Jiangsu province. The 7.2 bcm/year pipeline, which will be taken over by the newly created Chinese oil and gas pipeline company PipeChina, is also connected to the Sichuan-East gas pipeline. In 2014, Sinopec commissioned the Qingdao LNG import terminal, with a total capacity of 4.1 bcm/year. A 1.4 bcm/year extension is currently under construction and is expected to be operational in 2021.
Read moreNeoen reaches financial close on a 460 MW solar project in Australia
28 Oct 2020Neoen has reached financial close on its 460 MW Western Downs Green Power Hub solar project located near Chinchilla in South West Queensland (Australia). The AUD600M (US$430m) project is supported by a 352 MW power purchase agreement (PPA) with CleanCo Queensland, which aims to reach 1 GW of new renewable power by 2025. Construction should start soon and commissioning is expected in 2022.
Read moreTanzania and Total sign agreement on the East African Crude Oil Pipeline
28 Oct 2020Tanzania has signed a Host Government Agreement (HGA) with Total to build the 1,445-km East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project. The project will enable Uganda to export crude oil production from the Lake Albert field to the Chongoleani Peninsula near Tanga Port in Tanzania. Construction is expected to start in late 2020 or in early 2021.
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