(EnergyAsia, April 3, Thursday) --- Royal Dutch Shell and Virent Energy Systems Inc of Madison, Wisconsin in the US have announced a joint research and development effort to convert plant sugars directly into gasoline and gasoline blend components, rather than ethanol.

Shell said the collaboration could herald the availability of new biofuels that can be used at high blend rates in standard gasoline engines.  This could potentially eliminate the need for specialised infrastructure, new engine designs and blending equipment.

Shell said these new ‘biogasoline’ molecules have higher energy content than ethanol (or butanol) and deliver better fuel efficiency.

The major said: “They can be blended seamlessly to make conventional gasoline or combined with gasoline containing ethanol.

“The sugars can be sourced from non-food sources like corn stover, switch grass, wheat straw and sugarcane pulp, in addition to conventional biofuel feedstock like wheat, corn and sugarcane.

The companies have so far collaborated for one year on the research.  The BioForming(TM) technology has advanced rapidly, exceeding milestones for yield, product composition, and cost.  Future efforts will focus on further improving the technology and scaling it up for larger volume commercial production.

“The technical properties of today’s biofuels pose some challenges to widespread adoption,” said Graeme Sweeney, Shell Executive Vice President Future Fuels and C02. “Fuel distribution infrastructure and vehicle engines are being modified to cope but new fuels on the horizon, such as Virent’s, with characteristics similar or even superior to gasoline and diesel, are very exciting.”

Randy Cortright, Virent CTO, co-founder and executive vice president, said: “Virent has proven that sugars can be converted into the same hydrocarbon mixtures of today’s gasoline blends.  Our products match petroleum gasoline in functionality and performance.

“Virent’s unique catalytic process uses a variety of biomass-derived feedstocks to generate biogasoline at competitive costs.  Our results to date fully justify accelerating commercialization of this technology.”

Virent is a biofuels company commercialising an advanced biofuel technology to power today’s vehicles in place of fossil fuels. Its patented BioForming(TM) process converts biomass-derived feedstocks into conventional hydrocarbon fuels and products, including gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.  The process delivers more net energy and offers a scalable, cost-effective alternative to traditional biofuel production routes.

Virent has 68 employees located in a state-of-the-art catalytic biorefining development facility in Madison city.  The technology is based on the aqueous phase reforming process, which Virent has exclusively licensed from the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation.

(EnergyAsia, April 3, Thursday) --- The courtship between the Middle East and Asia is starting to narrow down to a handful of partners.

Not all Middle Eastern countries are rich or blessed with lots of oil, and not all Asian countries are dynamic and have bright economic prospects.

Last month, the Philippines lost an ace investor in Saudi Aramco, which is divesting its 40% stake in Petron after 14 years with only modest results to show. Despite its credentials as the largest Muslim country in the world, Indonesia has been unable to court serious investment from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
 
For the rest of this article and others, please see the April issue of EnergyAsia Report.

(EnergyAsia, April 2, Wednesday) --- The US and China must make accommodations to curb greenhouse gas emissions if both countries are to break their “suicide pact” of self-destructive, energy-using behaviour, said the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Together, the two countries produce 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Yet both demand that the other take responsibility for climate change, meanwhile the threat of environmental disaster grows.

(EnergyAsia, April 1, Tuesday) --- EnergyAsia has launched a new service: a series of interviews with senior executives of companies involved in the energy business.

For use of these copyright interviews, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Rotary Engineering, Chia Kim Piow
Rotary Engineering chairman and MD Chia Kim Piow shares his thoughts on the oil and gas industry in the face of rising costs, the global competition for labour and talents, and the turbulence on the world financial markets.
Rotary Engineering, a market leader in providing engineering design, procurement, construction and maintenance services which serves the oil, gas, petrochemical and pharmaceutical industries, has just reported its best ever set of financial results for FY 2007
 
Shell Global Solutions International, Suleyman Ozmen
Shell Global Solutions International CRI-Criterion Global Licensing General Manager, Suleyman Ozmen, on its effort to help oil refiners in Asia and the Middle East reduce their environmental impact and improve their profitability.
Shell Global Solutions provides business and operational consultancy, technical services and research and development expertise to the energy and processing industries worldwide.
 
Australian High Commissioner to Singapore, Miles Kupa
Mr Miles Kupa talks about how Australia-Singapore trade and investment ties will benefit if Woodside Energy is awarded the contract to supply LNG to Singapore.
 
Woodside Energy, Don Voelte
Mr Voelte answers the following: Why Woodside wants to sell LNG to Singapore even though it has other ready buyers. Will Singapore have to pay record prices for Woodside’s LNG supplies. Will spot LNG trading emerge?
As a pioneer upstream company, Woodside has grown to become Australia’s largest independent producer of oil and gas and one of the world’s largest LNG producers with large operations and interests around the world.
 
CWC School of Energy, A. Pedro van Meurs
Dr van Meurs, an expert on world fiscal systems for the oil and gas industry, comments on the recent outbreak of resource nationalism among oil producing countries including the dispute between ExxonMobil and Venezuela, and the situation in Alberta, the US and Russia. The CWC School for Energy offers key training courses for international oil, gas and power industry executives.
 
Royal Vopak, John Paul Broeders
Chairman John Paul Broeders speaks on growth prospects for the Dutch oil and chemical logistic and storage firm in some of the world's fastest growing economies
 
Chesterton International, Patrick Foong
Chesterton International is a leading provider of integrated services in the domestic and international property markets. Senior executive director Patrick Foong sees huge potential in bringing energy savings and efficiency to the thousands of commercial buildings in Singapore.
 
Banyan Utilities Pte Ltd,  Pete Tin
Managing Director Pete Tin was the prime mover in launching Banyan Utlities Pte Ltd which is building a 5-MW cogen power plant on Jurong Island.
 
Federal International (2000) Ltd, Sanjeev Gupta
Executive director and chief operating officer Sanjeev Gupta explains how Federal International entered the carbon credit business through its 60% stake in Banyan Utlities, and how the new business will boost the company’s cash flow over the next 12 years.
Established in 1974, Federal International (2000) Ltd  distributes, procures, sells, modifies and installs high-grade pressure flowline control, electrical and marine products for the oil, gas, petrochemical and refinery industries.

(EnergyAsia, April 1, Tuesday) --- ‘Options Pricing and Applications’, a workshop offered by the Oxford Princeton Programme, will be held in Singapore on April 16.

(EnergyAsia, March 31, Monday) --- ‘Fundamentals of Energy Options’, a workshop offered by the Oxford Princeton Programme, will be held in London on April 8 and Singapore on April 15.

This full-day workshop which includes a trading simulation and a comprehensive review of the course, will cover premium valuation to advanced trading strategies on exchange traded options and energy commodities such as oil, gas and electricity.

As part of Oxford Princeton’s blended learning package, PrincetonLive.com’s ‘Options Always Die’ 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 on futures terminology and trading. This programme will cover the different energy commodities which include oil, gas and electricity.

Participants are required to complete Princeton Energy Programme’s ‘Fundamentals of Energy Futures’ before enrolling for ‘Fundamentals of Energy Options’.

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 31, Monday) --- ‘Coaltrans Brazil’ will be held at the Sofitel Hotel in Rio de Janeiro from May 12 to 13.

The rapidly growing economies of India and China, as well as Brazil’s increasing domestic demand for steel, continues to drive the growth of steel production, said organisers CoalTrans Conferences.

As coal imports increase by 32% over the next two years and new slabs-for-export projects come on line, the strains on port infrastructure will be higher than ever. This, combined with the volatility of the freight markets, make this year’s logistics session a key focus for procurers of raw materials in Brazil.

Thermal coal in Brazil’s energy sector has traditionally played a relatively small role, but times are changing. Concern over energy security has led to the planned development of coastal power plants using imported thermal coal, making thermal power developments a major talking point for Brazil’s coal users.

‘Coaltrans Brazil’ provides a unique platform for discussion, uniting BSMs with the producers, traders and shippers of met coal, as well as focusing strongly on the need for energy security in Brazil.

The conference will explore current and future developments in the Brazilian steel and new capacity and expected coal requirements, examine new opportunities and challenges for coking coal procurement in the Latin American metallurgical industry, provide delegates with insights into the expanding role of thermal coal in the country’s energy industry, analyse key fundamentals in freight and logistics and provide networking opportunities for the consumers and producers of coal in the market.

Speakers include Luiz Fernando Sarcinelli Garcia (Sage Consultoria Tecnica), Rinaldo Campos Soares and Eduardo Costa de Faria (USIMINAS), Renato Paladino, Fabio Brasileiro and James Pessoa (Vale), Jackson Chiabi Duarte (ArcelorMittal Tubarão), Edmo Chagas (UBS Pactual), Lucio Teixeira Coelho (Comexport), Graham Wailes (AME Mineral Economics), Douglas Fagundes Moreira (Solid Fuels), Franz Blancquaert (ArcelorMittal), Richard McLaughlin (Hatch Beddows), John Hogg (Western Canadian Coal Corp), Terry Hale (Patriot Coal Company), Jairo Caicedo (C. I. Milpa S. A.),  Australian junior miners, Kevin Kanamori (QCoal Pty Ltd), Peter Malpas (Braemar Seascope Group), Marcelo Perrupato (Ministry of Transport, Brazil),

Pedro Brito do Nasciment (Special Secretariat of Ports, Government of Brazil), Paulo Manoel Lenz Cesar Protasio (ANUT), Ricardo Atunes (LLX Logistica SA), Henrique Rodrigues (Fertimport S.A.), Stirling Leech (Clyde & Co), Andrew Jones (Resource-Net), Diamantino A. Carvalho (SOL Coqueria Tubarão), Arun Kumar Jagatramka (Gujarat NRE Coke Ltd), Gennady Lotsman (JSC Siberian Anthracite), Claudio Monteiro (Cosipar Group), João Carlos de Oliveira Mello (Andrade & Canellas Consulting and Engineering), Claudio Sales (Instituto Acende Brasil), Xisto Vieira (MPX Energia), Martin Bloemendal (Energy Edge Ltd), Fernando Zancan (Brazilian Coal Association) and Donizete Macedo Costa (ERM do Brasil).

Delegates will have a chance to visit a Sol Coqueria, a fully operational coke plant, and a steel mill, ArcelorMittal Tubarão, on May 14.

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

(EnergyAsia, March 31, Monday) --- International law firm Herbert Smith said it advised Credit Suisse and Morgan Stanley as joint global coordinators on the HK$3.2 billion Hong Kong IPO and Rule 144A / Regulation S global offering of Honghua Group.

Honghua Group, the second-largest onshore oil rig manufacturer in the world and the largest in China, sold 25% of its enlarged share capital, or 833.36 million shares. The 70% institutional tranche was more than 11 times covered, while the retail tranche attracted about 28 times the number of shares on offer.

Herbert Smith said it advised on both the Hong Kong and US law aspects of the IPO.

The team was led by Shanghai-based partner Gary Lock and Hong Kong-based US Securities partner Kevin Roy. They were assisted by senior associate Jeffrey Yang, and associates Jonathan Barkey, Su-Li Chan, and Vivian Wang.

Mr Lock said: “This latest transaction for Credit Suisse and Morgan Stanley is a further demonstration of the value we deliver to the major investment banks. Our China expertise combined with a leading Hong Kong team is an attractive offering for our clients.”

Mr Roy said: “We are very pleased to have represented Credit Suisse and Morgan Stanley and brought this transaction to a successful close. This is the latest in a number of successful deals we have worked on for both banks. Our reputation as one of the leading practices in the China-Hong Kong market continues to grow.”

Honghua Group was advised by Arculli Fong & Ng on matters of Hong Kong law, Latham & Watkins LLP on matters of US law, King & Wood on matters of PRC law, and Appleby on matters of Cayman Islands law.

Herbert Smith operates a leading China practice from its well-established presence in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. The firm has one of the leading equity capital markets practices in Asia.

(EnergyAsia, March 31, Monday) --- Nasdaq-listed American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC), a leading energy technologies company, said it has received new orders for wind turbine core electrical components and full wind turbine electrical systems from companies in Canada and China.

The buyers are now adopting and scaling up manufacturing of wind turbines designed by AMSC’s wholly owned subsidiary, AMSC Windtec. The wind turbine core electrical components include the company’s proprietary PowerModule™ power converters and enable reliable, high-performance wind turbine operation by controlling power flows, regulating voltage, monitoring system performance and controlling the pitch of wind turbine blades to maximise efficiency.

These latest orders bring the total amount of wind power to be supported by AMSC products to 6.6 gigawatts, equivalent to approximately seven percent of the worldwide installed base of wind generated electricity as of December 2007.

“This series of new orders for wind turbine core electrical components further validates our AMSC Windtec business model,” said AMSC founder and CEO Greg Yurek. “AMSC Windtec helps to quickly establish new wind turbine manufacturers by providing wind turbine designs and helping with local sourcing of core wind turbine components.

“Once our customers go into production of wind turbines, we then sell them the sophisticated core electrical components necessary to operate these systems successfully and efficiently. The sale of wind turbine core electrical components has, in fact, become a very large fraction of our business.

“With the customers we signed in 2007 now beginning to order core electrical components to meet their wind turbine manufacturing needs and new licensees and development partners on the near-term horizon, we expect our wind power business to continue to grow and diversify going forward.”

About 65% of AMSC’s revenues in fiscal 2007, which ends March 31, 2008, are expected to be from the global wind industry.

Mr Yurek said: “This fiscal year, roughly 70% of our sales are international, with the lion’s share of these sales coming from the wind industry.

“With the wind industry expected to continue to grow at double-digit rates for many years to come, we expect sales to this market will remain a large fraction of AMSC’s revenue makeup - even as we continue to ramp up sales of our other products to the power grid market worldwide.”