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According to the Chinese National Energy Administration (NEA), a total of 11.4 GW of new solar PV capacities was connected to the Chinese grid in the first half of 2019, i.e. less than half of the capacity added in the same period in 2018 (24 GW). The new capacity raised the country’s total solar PV capacity to 186 GW (+20% increase compared to the first half of 2018). Centralised PV power plants capacity rose by 6.8 GW (+16%) to 130 GW, while distributed capacity surged by nearly 4.6 GW (+31%) to 55 GW.

The province of Qinghai installed 1.3 GW of new solar capacity, raising its total PV capacity to 10.8 GW, while 1.1 GW were installed in Shanxi (up to 9.8 GW). In the first half of 2019, solar power plants generated nearly 197 TWh, a 30% increase over the same period of 2018, and 2.6 TWh of solar generation were abandoned, mainly in Tibet, Xinjiang, Gansu and Qinghai.

Indian oil company Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL, part of the ONGC group) plans to invest around INR740bn (US$10.3bn) in the expansion of its refining capacity in India over the next five years. The company plans to invest INR149bn (US$2bn) this fiscal year (ending in March 2020) to strengthen its refining capacity, supply chain capabilities and customer reach. …

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of South Korea has unveiled plans to cut its primary energy consumption by 14% by 2030, which could help the country save KRW10,800bn (US$8.9bn) on energy imports. This reduction would be achieved through energy efficiency improvements in local factories, buildings and cars.

Nigeria plans to build a 330 kV power transmission line, which will connect some countries in the West African sub-region. A 330 kV line could be constructed between Shiroro in central Nigeria to Parakou (Benin) and would later connect northern Togo, northern Ghana and the Ivory Coast.

Tasked with meeting the bulk of India’s coal demand, the state-owned enterprise Coal India expects its production target for 2019 (660 Mt) to be 20% inferior to total supply requirement (828 Mt), with coal supply deficit reaching 168 Mt. Demand from power utility could reach 575 Mt and needs of the non-regulated sector (i.e. sponge iron, cement and steel) could attain 115 Mt.

The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has released its 2019 Electricity Statement of Opportunities (ESOO), which forecasts a high risk of expected unserved energy (USE) and greater risks of load shedding over the next 10 years. …

Russian nuclear group Rosatom has launched the first floating nuclear plant, the 70 MW Akademik Lomonosov project, and sent it on a 5,000 km journey across the Arctic. The project will be moored in Pevek, in the Chukotka region of Siberia, and will replace the 33 MW Bilibino nuclear power plant.

Slovenian Prime Minister has announced his support to the construction of a second nuclear reactor at the Krško Nuclear power plant (NEK), Slovenia’s sole nuclear power plant, to replace the existing one beyond 2043. A new reactor would be needed to help sustain the country’s economic growth, facing increasing demand for electricity.