Latest Energy News
Policy & Regulatory
Andhra Pradesh (India) plans to create 10 GW solar plants
21 Feb 2020
The government of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh plans to create an affiliate of its AP Power Generation Corporation, named Andhra Pradesh Green Energy Corporation, to develop 10 GW of solar power plants. Andhra Pradesh intends to supply farmers with quality power and ensure that they get nine hours of free electricity per day.
German onshore wind tender for 900 MW only secures 523 MW
20 Feb 2020
The German energy regulator (Bundesnetzagentur or Federal Network Agency) has released the result of the first onshore wind and solar tenders of 2020, which were launched on 1 February 2020.
India will roll out BS-VI fuels as of 1 April 2020
20 Feb 2020
India will transition from BS-IV fuel to BS-VI, equivalent to Euro-VI grade fuel, on 1 April 2020, in an attempt to fight climate change and reduce air pollution. In November 2015 the Ministry of Oil announced plans to introduce BS-IV fuels meeting the Euro IV (i.e. 50 ppm sulphur) by April 2017 and switching over directly from BS-IV to BS-VI (10 ppm sulphur) by April 2020.
Companies
Petrobras (Brazil) posts record profit in 2019
21 Feb 2020
The Brazilian national oil and gas company Petrobras has released its 2019 results, posting a 9.5% decrease in net revenues to US$76.6bn, mostly due to the fall of average oil prices from US$71/bbl in 2018 to US$64/bbl in 2019. However, EBITDA increased by 3.8% to US$32.7bn and net income by 41.5% to US$10.2bn, mainly as a result of capital gains on pestments in its wholly-owned gas pipeline unit TAG (Transportadora Associada de Gás) and E&P assets. Gross debt fell by nearly 25% to US$63bn at the end of 2019 thanks to the inflow of pestment resources.
NTPC launches a tender for 1.2 GW of solar power capacity (India)
21 Feb 2020
India’s largest thermal power generation group NTPC has launched a tender for 1.2 GW of grid-connected solar capacity. Solar projects can be located anywhere in India and will be connected to the insterstate transmission system (ISTS). They will be auctioned through a reverse auction with international competitive bidding, with a deadline for submission on 19 March 2020. Bidders will have to deposit of INR400,000 (US$5,500) per MW.
NTPC is seeking to boost its renewable power capacities. In December 2019, the company tendered 923 MW of domestic content solar.
Nigeria will review the privatisation of power distribution companies
21 Feb 2020
According to the Nigerian Minister of Power, a plan to review the privatization of power distribution companies has been presented to the cabinet for consideration. In January 2020, the National Economic Council (NEC) of Nigeria, which has the mandate to advise the president on economic policy issues and to coordinate planning efforts at different levels of government, passed a motion demanding the re-examination of the power sector privatisation, due to structural problems in electricity supply.
Forecasts
EIA expects US gas production and exports to increase until 2050
21 Feb 2020
According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), US dry gas production is expected to continue to increase through 2050, along with net gas exports. The United States became a net gas exporter in 2017, as the boom in domestic production reduced the need for gas imports from Canada and raised pipeline gas exports to Mexico and LNG exports. Total dry gas production should increase by nearly 1/3 between 2019 and 2050, from around 960 bcm in 2019 to over 1,270 bcm in 2050.
Technology
Shell takes part in 100 MW power storage project in the UK
21 Feb 2020
Shell is taking part to a 100 MW electricity storage project in western England (United Kingdom), that is being built by the Chinese state-owned power group Huaneng and financed by the Chinese investment fund CNIC. The 100 MW / 100 MWh Wiltshire project will consist of two 50 MW batteries, and will be commissioned by the end of 2020. Once operational, it will be one of the largest battery energy storage system (BESS) in Europe.
Infrastructure & Investments
Inpex will supply gas from the Masela project in Indonesia to PT PLN
21 Feb 2020
The Japanese exploration and production company Inpex has signed a preliminary agreement to supply gas from the Masela block off Indonesia to the Indonesian state-owned companies PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) and PT Pupuk Indonesia. Inpex will sell 150 mcm/d of gas from Indonesia’s Masela block via pipeline to Pupuk Indonesia; the fertiliser producer will use the gas to feed a refinery. In addition, Inpex will deliver 2-3 Mt/year of LNG to PT PLN.
Colbun submits application for 719 MW solar PV project in Chile
21 Feb 2020
Colbun, the second-largest power generation company in Chile, has the started environmental impact assessment of its 719 MW Inti Pacha PV project, which requires an investment of US$788m. The project will be built in three phases in María Elena, in the Tocopilla province of the Antofagasta region.
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