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The Japanese Ministries of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) have identified 11 areas for offshore wind power promotion in 5 prefectures of Japan.

Four areas are more advanced, where councils will be formed by the two Ministries and where wind measurements and geological surveys will start immediately, namely Noshiro (Mitane and Oga), in Akita prefecture; Yurihonjo (north and south), in Akita prefecture; Choshi, in Tokyo prefecture ; and Goto (floating wind), in Nagasaki prefecture.

In addition, seven other areas have been selected as promising for future development: Aomori offshore Japan Sea (north side), Aomori offshore Japan Sea (south side), Mutsu Bay in Aomori Prefecture, Happomachi off Noshiro City in Akita Prefecture, Katagami off Akita Prefecture, Murakami City in Niigata Prefecture, and off Ejima in Nagasaki Prefecture.

RWE has decided to close its 1,560 MW Aberthaw B coal-fired power plant in Wales (United Kingdom) at the end of March 2020. The plant has been operating since 1971.

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has closed its strategic partnership with Eni and OMV: the two European oil and gas companies will buy 20% and 15% stakes, respectively, in ADNOC Refining and in a new trading joint venture in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates). …

The Ministry of Energy has awarded 12 new licences for oil and gas exploration offshore Israel to the two consortia that had submitted bids. The consortium of Cairn Energy (with SOCO International and Ratio Oil) was awarded eight licenses, while the consortium of Energean and Israel Opportunity was awarded four licences in the Zone D (licences 55, 56, 61 and 62).

The New York Power Authority (United States) has launched a US$1.1bn modernisation and digitisation programme to extend the operating life of the Niagara hydropower plant called Next Generation Niagara. The project, commissioned in 1961-1962, consists of 13 units with a combined capacity of more than 2.4 GW.

According to the Federal Ministry of Power of India, India’s coal-fired power capacity is expected to increase by more than 22% by 2022, as domestic electricity demand keeps on rising (though at a slower pace in the last four years). Most of the capacity additions should come from state-owned power utilities (owned by the state or federal governments), such as NTPC.

The government of Argentina has officially opened a tender for a new gas pipeline from the Vaca Muerta shale gas field (in the Neuquén province) to Salliqueló, Greater Buenos Aires and the Litoral area. The gas pipeline project will stretch over 570 km and will have a capacity of 15 mcm/d (nearly 5.5 bcm/year) in its first stage.

The European Commission has deemed the Croatian LNG terminal project on Krk island (Croatia) to be in line with EU State aid rules. The project will contribute to the security and diversification of energy supplies without unduly distorting competition.