(EnergyAsia, March 17, Monday) --- US major Chevron Corp said it and its partners will invest about US$3.1 billion to construct the shallow water Platong Gas II natural gas project in the Gulf of Thailand.

Due to start up in the first quarter 2011, Platong Gas II, located 200 km offshore, is designed to add 420 million cubic feet of natural gas per day processing capacity. The project will meet Thailand’s growing demand for gas.

“The Asia-Pacific region is poised to become the world’s most significant oil and gas consumer, with demand forecasted to grow by about 90% by 2030,” said Jim Blackwell, president of Chevron Asia Pacific Exploration and Production Co. “Chevron is well positioned with a robust queue of major projects across the region to help satisfy future demand.

“The Platong Gas II project alone has the potential to satisfy 14% of the natural gas used for power generation in Thailand. Platong Gas II is a milestone that builds on the 45-year relationship between Chevron and Thailand.”

Tara Tiradnakorn, president of Chevron Thailand Exploration and Production, said:
“Platong Gas II is a world-class natural gas project that will generate new jobs and revenue for the Kingdom, as well as provide a future source of energy for the Thai people and industry for decades to come.”

Chevron recently signed an agreement with the Thai Energy Ministry to increase its daily contract quantity of natural gas by 500 million cubic feet to 1.2 billion by 2012 from company-operated offshore blocks 10, 11, 12 and 13. Platong Gas II is expected to be the major source of this increase in production.

Last October, the company received 10-year lease extensions until 2022 for blocks 10 through 13. Chevron has ownership interests in these blocks ranging from 60% to 80%.

Chevron operates more than 195 platforms in the Gulf of Thailand with 2007 total average daily production of 138,000 barrels of oil and condensate (71,000 net) and 1.7 billion gross cubic feet of gas (916 million net).

(EnergyAsia, March 17, Monday) --- ‘Fundamentals of Energy Futures’, a workshop offered by the Oxford Princeton Programme, will be held in London on April 7 and Singapore on April 14.

This introductory course on energy futures, contracts and markets is a highly interactive workshop which includes a trading simulation and a comprehensive review of the course at the end of the day.

As part of Oxford Princeton’s blended learning package, PrincetonLive.com’s ‘A Guided Tour of Commodity Derivatives’ is recommended as a pre-classroom study. Delegates are advised to take the appropriate online study as close to the classroom date as possible to optimise the classroom experience.

This class is recommended for trade support staff, senior management, professionals who require the basics on futures terminology and trading and, as a refresher course for those who would like to sharpen their skills. This programme will cover the different energy commodities which include oil, gas and electricity.

For more information on this course and other courses offered, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

(EnergyAsia, March 17, Monday) --- Petroleum Economists, one of the world’s most recognised energy publishing brands, has released three books: Fundamentals of Carbon Capture & Storage Technology, Fundamentals of the Global LNG Industry 2007 and Fundamentals of the Global Oil and Gas Industry 2007.

This book is an up-to-date assessment of the state of the industry and a valuable resource for government policy makers, lawyers, industry, executives, non-governmental organisations, analysts and bankers.

Fundamentals of the Global LNG Industry 2007
Over the past decade, developments in the LNG business have been impressive. New players have entered the industry and by 2007 there were 13 exporting and 17 importing countries. Liquefaction capacity more than doubled in 2006, from 86 million tonnes a year (t/y) to about 183m t/y. Regasification capacity was also up sharply, from 242m t/y to 373m t/y in 2006.
  
In 2006, the US reopened all of its mothballed LNG import terminals and deliveries to the UK began for the first time since 1990. The LNG tanker fleet is developing quickly, with around 220 ships servicing the industry today, compared with 90 in 1995. The types of company involved have also diversified, with power utilities joining the ranks as markets reshape. With so many changes, it is essential to have the latest information easily to hand.

‘Fundamentals of the Global LNG Industry’ is the pre-eminent guide to LNG. This book contains 35 articles in which leading industry executives examine the industry’s key issues.

Fundamentals of the Global Oil and Gas Industry 2007
Population growth and globalisation have led to a phenomenal rise in the use of energy. Demand for oil and gas continues to grow and must be met through traditional as well as unconventional sources. Experience shows that price volatility and alternating boom and bust cycles are harmful to both the industry and the consumers.

The challenge for the industry in a world in transition is to ensure continuous, affordable and reliable supply, meeting society's expectations in a sustainable, transparent, ethical and environmentally sound manner.

In ‘Fundamentals of the Global Oil and Gas Industry 2007’, journalists from the Petroleum Economist and experienced industry commentators examine the issues that are challenging the industry. The 130-page book covers a range of topics which include environmental responsibility and its challenges, mergers and acquisitions, the role of new graduates in the oil industry and dispute resolution.
 
For more information, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

(EnergyAsia, March 13, Thursday) --- China is expected to provide Nepal soft loans worth a total of US$187 million for the construction of two hydropower projects.

(EnergyAsia, March 12, Wednesday) --- ‘Strategic Talent Management for Oil and Gas 2008’, a conference on skilled labour and professional workers, will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from April 7 to 9.

The shortage of skilled engineers in the oil and gas industry is a problem that has persisted for many years. The last oil bust in 1999 caused many major oil and gas companies to slow down their recruitment programmes.

(EnergyAsia, March 12, Wednesday) --- China International Electric Power & Electric Engineering Technology Exhibition (EPETEE), rebranded to China EPower, will be held at Intex in Shanghai, China from April 22 to 24.

The rebranding effort is part of the long-term strategy to grow the event into an internationally recognised platform for the global power industry. It also celebrates a new partnership that will take the show into the next expansion phase. 

(EnergyAsia, March 11, Tuesday) --- Billed as the leading conference for the world’s largest coal industry, Coaltrans China will be held at the Sofitel Wanda hotel in Beijing on April 14 to 15.

This year’s conference will focus on freight, infrastructure and logistics challenges for moving coal into and around China, analysis of coal projects in the region, and their likely impact on fuel supply and demand, the pricing for coal in a volatile market, and a review of import scenarios for thermal coal and metcoal.

Delegates will have the opportunities to participate in enhanced networking and communications during the welcome reception and gala dinner, and pre-conference networking tour to the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven.

China’s coal market is undergoing dramatic change. In 2007, thermal coal imports continued to increase and the outlook for 2008 is for more supplies being secured on a long term contract basis.

Domestic coal prices have risen, while import prices continue to be volatile. But the key question remains: What is China’s role likely to be, as a swing supplier or as a permanent source of supply to the international coal markets?

Coaltrans China will discuss issues like coal imports, transport, freight and logistics, new resources and efficiency, and the metcoal and thermal markets.

There will be a detailed debate around the increasingly tight coal markets, including discussion of pricing parameters, where new tonnage is likely to come from, and supply and demand constraints for both international and domestic coal.

There are still significant bottlenecks in the transportation and logistics chain for the efficient movement of coal, especially in relation to coking coal. Despite planned additional capacity of around 60 million tonnes per year, rail network bottlenecks are expected to continue. The coal import ports are also expanding to host the additional handling facilities required to cope with both increased domestic and international freight movements.

Further exploration is revealing new coal resources as China’s coal production frontier moves westward. Despite this, recent reports from the NDRC indicate that China is expected to be a net coal importer for the majority of 2008 with coal mining capacity remaining flat at around 2.5 billion metric tonnes per year. Increased focus is being given to efficiency gains for the new coal mining projects with a combined capacity of around 250 million tonnes per year expected to come on stream in 2008, while the production of similar volumes at older, inefficient mines is expected to shut down.

Speakers will analyse the growth of the Chinese steel industry and implications for managing metcoal resources and imports. In addition, they will provide a detailed review will be given of likely power plant construction in China and across Asia, focusing attention on where coal supply will be in most demand.

The speakers include Gerard Strahan (Coaltrans Conferences), Pu Hongjiu (CNCA), Wang Xianzheng (CNCA), Jing Tianliang (China National Coal Group Corporation), Ling Wen (Shenhua Energy Company), James Beams (Anglo Coal China), Wu Yongping (Datong Coal Mine Group), Ren Runhou (Shanxi Lu’an Coal Mine Group), Jiang Zhimin (CNCA), Yin Zuoru (Kailuan Group), Chen Liming (Sasol China),

Michael Cosgrove (Asian American Coal Inc), Jason Feer (Argus Media Group),
Lee Sang-pal (KEPCO), Juan Carlos J. Guadarrama (National Power Corporation), Karel Eloot (McKinsey & Company), Li Xinchuang (Metallurgical Industry Planning and Research Institute),

Rory Simington (AME Mineral Economics), Hua Zugui (China Coal & Coke Holdings Ltd), Gary Cochrane (Resource Management International), Robert Bell (Elk Valley Coal Corporation), Joseph Jacobelli (Merrill Lynch), Feng Fei (State Council), Martin Daniel (Platts Singapore), Su Wenbin (GreenGen Co Ltd), Meng Quansheng (China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Association), Wu Ruosi (China Huaneng Group), Wei Jianguo (Zhong Neng Power Industry Fuel Co),

Dawei (David) Zhang (Suntrans Energy Pty Ltd), Zhang Wenjiang (Ningxia Coal Mining Group), Mark Dougan (Barlow Jonker Pty Ltd), Dinh Quang Trung (Vinacomin), Kaz Tanaka (Indonesian Coal Mining Association), John T. Bergin (Caterpillar Global Mining), Michael Graham (Joy Mining Machinery), Dong Yan (NDRC), Ken Michie (Clarksons Hong Kong), Mels Boer (Clarksons Hong Kong), Susan Oatway (Drewry Shipping Consultants), Senior Representative (Cosco), Cai Jinlong (Guangzhou Port Group Co Ltd).

The conference is organised by Coaltrans Conferences and the China National Coal Association.

Coaltrans Conferences

Coaltrans Conferences organises large-scale international coal conferences, which attract delegates from all over the world. It also runs focused regional events, exhibitions, field trips and training courses, and has a reputation for employing the highest organisational standards. In 2008, Coaltrans will be holding events in Australia, Brazil, China, the Czech Republic, India, Indonesia, Singapore, South Africa, the UK and the US.

China National Coal Association

The China National Coal Association was founded in 1998 and its 925 members incluinclude coal industry organisations, research institutions and universities. It is the most important non-profit organisation in China’s coal industry. The association acts as an intermediary organisation between the government and China’s coal industry, and assists in carrying out economic policies, laws and regulations.

For more information, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .