Regulatory Authority for Energy (RAE) of Greece has announced that the next renewable tender would be held on 2 April 2020, with an application deadline set at 25 February 2020. It will offer feed-in tariffs (FiTs) to up to 500 MW of renewable power projects (for solar projects above 20 MW and wind projects above 50 MW).

Greece’s wind capacity rose by over 700 MW to 3.6 GW in 2019

According to the Hellenic Wind Energy Association (HWEA), Greece’s wind capacity increased by 25% in 2019, to reach 3.6 GW. The country has recorded 727.5 MW of new wind capacity in 2019, with the biggest single wind energy park operating in southern Evia (154.1 MW).

In 2019, foreign companies owned 43% of the Greek wind parks and were responsible for 47% of new investments. The wind capacity is concentrated in Central Greece, with 1.3 GW, followed by the Peloponnese (587 MW) and East Macedonia-Thrace (446 MW).

ADNOC and DUSUP discover huge gas field in the UAE

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announces it has made a new gas discovery of 80 tcf (2,265 bcm) of shallow gas resources. Located at the border between the states of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the area will be jointly developed by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and the Dubai Supply Authority (DUSUP), after the two parties signed an agreement. The Jebel Ali Project is expected to provide new sources of energy supplies and to support the development of the national economy.

Brazil’s oil and gas production rose by 8.1% in 2019

According to the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) of Brazil, Brazilian production of oil and gas rose by 8.1% in 2019 thanks to a 5.3% increase in the State of Rio de Janeiro, driven by the Lula and Búzios fields, which represents 71% of Brazil total production volumes in 2019. Most of the domestic hydrocarbon production (over 61%) came from the pre-salt areas, including 33% from the Lula field in the Santos Basin. Offshore oil and gas fields produced over 96% and 81% of oil and gas production in 2019.

According to the Unified Energy System of Russia (SO UPS), which manages seven power systems in Russia (all Russia excepted northern islands and isolated systems in north-eastern Siberia), the installed power capacity of the UES of Russia increased by 3.1 GW in 2019, as new capacities were added in eastern Russia (+1.4 GW), in the south (+1.3 GW) and in Siberia (+244 MW). At the end of 2019, 67% of the installed capacity was thermal, with 20% of hydropower and 12% of nuclear; wind and solar capacities accounted for less than 1% (0.6% solar and 0.1% wind).

Papua New Guinea LNG expansion plans uncertain after failed negotiations

The government of Papua New Guinea has terminated negotiations with ExxonMobil and Oil Search over the development of the P’nyang gas field, whose gas resources are estimated at 4.36 tcf (approximately 123 bcm). According to Oil Search, the terms proposed by the government would have made the project unprofitable.

The 5 Mt/year Mundra LNG import project starts operations (India)

The 5 Mt/year (6.75 bcm/year) Mundra LNG regasification terminal, located in Gujarat (western India), has entered commercial operation after the facility received its first LNG cargo from Qatar. Inaugurated in October 2018, the facility was technically operational.

Indian Oil plans to raise Barauni refinery capacity by 50% (India)

4 Feb 2020

State-owned oil and gas company Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) plans to invest INR137.8bn (US$1.9bn) to expand the capacity of its Barauni refinery in Bihar state (eastern India) from 90,000 bbl/d to 180,000 bbl/d, with the objective to meet the growing demand for petroleum products in the country. Read more