Latest Energy News
Policy & Regulatory
Japan maintains 2030 climate goals unchanged in new NDC
31 Mar 2020Japan has submitted an update to its National Determined Contribution (NDC) to the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), in which the country maintains its target of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 26% by 2030 compared to 2013. The Japanese government intends to engage in further efforts both in the future to cut GHG emissions beyond this level, though without setting a more ambitious target.
Read moreHungary selects 72 projects (132 MW) in renewable auction
31 Mar 2020The Hungarian Energy and Public Utility Regulatory Authority (MEKH) has announced the winners of the country’s first technology-neutral renewable power auction launched in October 2019. MEKH had earmarked a total of HUF1bn (€3m) under the renewable power support scheme METÁR, corresponding to up to 200 GWh/year over 15 years.
Read moreSouth Africa eases rules for small-scale power generation
31 Mar 2020South Africa has issued a new regulation exempting generators with a capacity of less than 1 MW from the need to obtain a license from the regulator. Many energy-intensive industrial groups such as mining companies were requesting deregulation of approval procedures to develop their own power capacities, to ensure reliable power supply in a context of rolling load-shedding episodes. They were calling for scrapping licenses for power plants up to 10 MW.
Read moreEuropean Commission maintains EU ETS deadline despite delay calls
30 Mar 2020The European Commission has decided to maintain the 30 April 2020 deadline for European companies to surrender emissions trading system (ETS) carbon allowances, considering that the existing rules provide enough flexibility for companies to submit verified emissions reports around that date.
Read moreUS suspends plans to buy crude oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve
30 Mar 2020The US administration has suspended plans to purchase US crude oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), after failing to secure funding from the Congress, and has withdrawn a tender for the first part of its oil purchase programme.
Read moreCompanies
Rosneft sells Venezuelan oil assets to Russian state firm
31 Mar 2020Russia’s oil company Rosneft has sold all its Venezuelan assets to an entity fully owned by the Russian government in a bid to protect the company from US sanctions. The transaction encompasses all Rosneft’s participation in Venezuela, including stakes in oil producing companies Petromonagas (16.67% owned by Rosneft), Petroperija, Boqueron, Petromiranda and Petrovictoria, in oilfield service firms and trading operations. In turn, Rosneft will receive a package of 9.6% of its own shares.
Read moreForecasts
India may reach 54 GW of wind capacity by 2020, missing its 60 GW target
31 Mar 2020According to the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), India’s wind capacity could reach between 48 GW and 54 GW by 2020, below the government’s 60 GW target. This is due to supply-side constraints mainly caused by transmission costs and access to land. In addition, unavailability of finance, low tariffs and payments delays are also hindering wind capacity development.
Read moreAustralian states may have to import LNG as of 2024
31 Mar 2020According to the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), southern and southeastern Australian states will have to import LNG by 2024 to avoid gas shortfalls on peak winter days, as the southern gas supply is forecast to fall by more than 35% over the next five years. Indeed, several existing gas fields in Victoria are expected to stop production between mid-2023 and mid-2024. Consequently, new gas fields could be developed and gas pipelines should be expanded – at least pipeline capacity limitations should be addressed – to delay shortfalls until 2026.
Read moreInfrastructure & Investments
Gazprom plans 50 bcm/year Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline to China
31 Mar 2020Gazprom plans to build a new gas pipeline in Eastern Siberia, Power of Siberia 2, with a capacity of 50 bcm/year. The new project would connect Russia to western China via Mongolia. The Russian state-owned company has carried out a preliminary feasibility study and has been authorised to start the pre-investment phase, including a feasibility study and the design-and-survey works.
Read moreOPG completes Darlington-2 nuclear unit rebuild (Canada)
31 Mar 2020The Canadian power group Ontario Power Generation (OPG) has completed the reconstruction of unit 2 at the Darlington nuclear power plant in Bowmanville, Ontario (Canada) and will now seek approval from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission to restart the reactor.
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