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| AUSTRALIA: Noble Group names two top executives to lead coal strategy |
| Thursday, 28 February 2008 | |
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(EnergyAsia, February 28, Thursday) --- Noble Group Limited, a global supply chain manager of agricultural, industrial and energy products, said it has appointed Gavin May, Gloucester Coal’s former CEO, and former CFO Barry Tudor, to lead Noble’s coal asset strategy in Australia. The company’s Australian coal assets include coking and thermal coal mines in the states of New South Wales and Queensland, through a majority interest in Donaldson Coal Pty Ltd, which owns coal mines in the Hunter Valley, a 19.7% interest in Gloucester Coal Ltd, a 30% interest in the Middlemount Coal Project, and potential strategic joint venture investments with Macarthur Coal in Monto Coal and Dingo West Projects. Noble Group CEO, Richard Elman, said: “We are extremely pleased to have executives of the calibre of Gavin and Barry joining Noble at such a critical stage of the organisation’s expansion into asset ownership. They bring with them a strong, industry specific skill set which will allow Noble to advance its coal asset strategy. Noble now has all the ingredients to assemble and develop a highly successful coal company.” Noble Energy director Will Randall said: “Gavin and Barry have proven themselves to be a solid management team delivering results in the Australian coal sector over many years. We look forward to them getting involved in our asset platform and taking it to the next level. This is another step in the progression of our coal asset strategy.” Singapore-listed Noble Group manages a diversified portfolio of raw materials from over 80 offices in more than 40 countries. An experienced team of 10,000 people serve approximately 4,000 customers. |
| ASIA: Environment Ministers seek new funds to combat climate change |
| Thursday, 28 February 2008 | |
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(EnergyAsia, February 28, Thursday) --- Environment ministers from the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) are asking their development partners for additional financial and technical assistance to improve their environmental and natural resource management. In a joint statement issued after the second GMS Environment Ministers Meeting in Vientiane, Laos last month, the ministers called for the need to take a pragmatic and pro-active approach to sustainable and inclusive economic growth. In 2005, at the first GMS Environmental Ministers Meeting, ministers launched their Core Environment Program, and its flagship Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Initiative. A key issue of concern at the recent meeting, which was funded through a technical assistance grant from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), was climate change and the increasing risks it poses to biodiversity, livelihoods and economic competitiveness of the GMS. The ministers want additional financial resources, including the promotion of public-private partnerships, to address and respond to climate change risks. “Considering our common concern that poverty alleviation remains at the core of our developmental efforts, we are confident that our efforts through the Core Environment Program/Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Initiative (CEP/BCI) can assist us in promoting sound environmental management and contribute toward generating income and reducing livelihood vulnerabilities,” the ministers said in the joint statement. They emphasised the need for sustainable and efficient use of natural resources to improve environmental management and economic competitiveness in the GMS. Launched in 2006, the GMS Core Environment Program is a long-term programme funded by the ADB. It is implemented under the GMS Economic Cooperation Program with a long-term goal of a poverty-free and ecologically rich GMS. Its implementation is coordinated by the GMS Environment Operations Center in Bangkok, Thailand. |
| PHILIPPINES: World Bank’s IFC partners with BPI to expand access to sustainable energy finance |
| Wednesday, 27 February 2008 | |
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(EnergyAsia, February 27, Wednesday) --- IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, said it has agreed to help the Bank of the Philippine Islands build a sustainable energy financing loan portfolio. IFC will help BPI expand its financial products, focusing on micro, small, and medium enterprises in manufacturing. The bank will also focus on energy efficiency in hospitals, schools, hotels and shopping malls, and the business process outsourcing industry. Jesse Ang, IFC acting country manager for the Philippines, said: “This project is a part of IFC’s global strategy of climate change mitigation, which is being integrated into our global, regional, and country operations. Through our advisory services, we aim to help BPI expand its portfolio to reach out to forward-thinking businesses that recognise the business case for renewable energy and energy efficiency.” A leading universal bank in the Philippines, BPI is the first in the country to leverage IFC’s Sustainable Energy Finance Program to focus on small and medium enterprises and other key sectors. The bank is also working on climate change mitigation. Last December7, it established a partnership with Kabang Kalikasan ng Pilipinas (World Wildlife Fund Philippines) to establish the Climate Savers’ Program, which aims to reduce the bank’s carbon footprint over the next five years. The BPI Foundation is also engaged in a series of advocacy programs on environmental promotion. A key part of IFC’s strategy in the Philippines is to strengthen the financial sector by supporting local capital market development, sustainable energy finance, access to finance for small and medium enterprises, housing finance, and firms in agriculture and services to improve their competitiveness. IFC said its recently established Sustainable Energy Finance Program in the Philippines builds on experiences of similar programmes in China, Central Europe, and Russia. Through its work in sustainable energy markets, including energy efficiency and renewable energy, IFC has played a pioneering role in helping mobilise private sector investment in clean energy technologies and services in emerging markets. |
| JAPAN: Kyocera to supply solar power systems to 500 households in Tunisia |
| Tuesday, 26 February 2008 | |
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(EnergyAsia, February 26, Tuesday) --- Japan’s Kyocera Corporation said it will supply and install its solar power generating systems in Tunisia under a yen-loan project by the Japanese government through Itochu Corporation. Starting April, Kyocera will install its solar power generating systems in 500 households in villages that do not currently have electricity in the three regions of Kef, Siliana and Beja. This will be the first case in which yen loans will be applied to the delivery and installation of photovoltaic power systems. Yen loans are a form of official development assistance (ODA) provided by the Japanese government. They are a mechanism for lending development funds to developing countries at low interest on a long-term basis. Yen loans are designed to help developing countries stand on their own economically as they strive to become self-reliant. Through the project, Japan’s solar power generating technologies are expected to contribute to the economic development of developing countries. Kyocera embarked on its solar energy business in 1975, and in 1982 became the first company to successfully mass-produce multicrystalline silicon solar cells ― the most widely deployed photovoltaic technology to date. The company has continued to introduce high-quality products to the rapidly expanding markets of Europe, North America and Japan for more than 30 years. Kyocera said it has been supplying solar power generating systems to villages without electricity in Asia and Africa. Such systems have been used in residential homes, schools, medical institutions, water pumping facilities and a wide range of other essential applications. |
| SINGAPORE: BGC to acquire oil broker Radix Energy |
| Monday, 25 February 2008 | |
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(EnergyAsia, February 25, Monday) --- BGC, an international financial brokerage firm, said it has agreed to acquire the assets of Singapore-based Radix Energy through a new BGC subsidiary to be named BGC Radix Energy. The transaction is expected to close in early March 2008. Shaun Lynn, President of BGC, said: “World energy markets have experienced the same tremendous volatility as elsewhere in recent months and acquiring Radix Energy gives BGC the opportunity to offer existing clients access to these markets and clients of Radix access to BGC’s global price discovery, execution and transaction processing services.” Mr Tan said: “It is an important development for Radix Energy, because the business will be able to take advantage of BGC’s technology platform and investment in order to further expand its brokerage of energy products. It will enable BGC Radix Energy to become a major energy brokerage house, providing services to existing clients in Singapore and further afield to new clients in Europe and the US.” The acquisition will mark the latest development in the growth and expansion of BGC which now has more than 1,700 staff in 14 offices around the world. The company recently acquired Euro Brokers, ETC Pollak, Aurel Leven Securities, the equity derivatives business of Marex Financial. BGC is also merging with eSpeed Inc, subject to the relevant regulatory and other approvals. Named after fixed income trading innovator B. Gerald Cantor, BGC has offices in London, New York, Copenhagen, Istanbul, Nyon, Paris, Mexico City, Toronto, Hong Kong, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, Beijing (representative office). |
| SINGAPORE: Specialised logistics services firm BDP sets up global network services |
| Friday, 22 February 2008 | |
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(EnergyAsia, February 22, Friday) --- Singapore has been chosen as the location for a new global alliance of small to mid-sized logistics firms created to challenge the dominance of the large multi-national companies, said US-based BDP International. Believed to be the first alliance of its kind in the world, BDP Global Network Services will be led by one of the world’s largest privately owned logistics firms, US-based BDP International. BDP International said Singapore was chosen as the headquarters because it is a world-class logistics hub and offers an exceptionally competitive business environment as well as a skilled workforce. The company said many logistics firms have only two options in an increasingly competitive environment: be swallowed up by a multi-national or gradually lose their competitiveness due to an inability to compete with the volume leaders. With the launch of BDP Global Network Services, the company said independent logistics firms now have a real alternative. Richard J. Bolte Jr, president and CEO of BDP International, said: “The logistics and transport industry is fiercely competitive,” said Bolte. “Survival, let alone success in the twenty-first century, is being driven by better service, more technology, more sales coverage, more aggressive pricing, more global presence and more knowledge.” “The multi-national logistics companies believe bigger is better. We at BDP and our partners have a different view, namely that personal relationships and intimate understanding of our clients are more important than sheer size.” A unit of Singapore-based BDP Global Services Pte Ltd, BDP Global Network Services will invite professional logistics firms from around the world to join. The members themselves will form a leadership team to set direction for the organisation. Two tiers of fee-based membership will be offered, in part to cover marketing of the brand and its international reach in member countries. The benefits to member firms include world-class technology, sales and marketing support in priority trade routes, competitive transportation products, established operations in the world’s leading and emerging markets, expertise in trade and security compliance, finance and legal issues, strong client relationships, global integration and shared administrative services. “We chose Singapore as the base for this exciting initiative,” said Mr Bolte. “It’s a world-class logistics hub, well situated to benefit from Asia’s manufacturing and consumption boom. It also offers an exceptionally competitive business environment as well as a skilled workforce.” Tim Frear, director of BDP Global Network Services, said: “It is our aim to make the BDP Global Network the industry’s most prestigious, mid-market logistics affiliation, representing a select group of BDP and private third-party providers with operations in more than 120 countries. It is a unique, business model that will reduce business complexity for partner members and provide access to the shared assets and geographic presence of a respected global brand.” |
| INDIA: Reliance’s gasoline surplus to flood Asia by year-end, says ESAI |
| Thursday, 21 February 2008 | |
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(EnergyAsia, February 21, Thursday) --- India’s gasoline surplus and Iran’s increasing inability to secure letters of credit will drive Asian gasoline cracks down to below $6 per barrel by the end of 2008, predicts US consultant ESAI. In the February 2008 issue of its Pacific Basin Stockwatch, a six-month outlook on Asia-Pacific product markets, ESAI examines the Asian gasoline market by looking at India’s supply and demand, as well as its gasoline trade with Iran. “Indian gasoline exports into Singapore surged to 43,000 b/d in the last quarter of 2007, compared to just 16,000 b/d in the first nine months of the year,” ESAI’s analyst Joy Siew writes. The imminent launch of Reliance’s 580,000 b/d Jamnagar refinery will further exacerbate the situation. “Reliance’s mammoth Jamnagar refinery is set to commence as early as August this year, and will expand the Indian surplus for the last few months of the year by at least 40,000 b/d from the same period a year ago.” ESAI is an energy research and consulting firm located outside of Boston, Massachusetts. |
| SINGAPORE: Federal International’s Banyan Utilities seeking UN carbon credits accreditation |
| Wednesday, 20 February 2008 | |
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(EnergyAsia, February 20, Wednesday) ---Singapore-listed Federal International (2000) Ltd said its 60%-owned subsidiary, Banyan Utilities Pte Ltd, is seeking accreditation under the Clean Development Mechanism of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (CDM-UNFCCC). Last year, Banyan Utilities signed a power and steam purchase agreement with Natural Fuel Pte Ltd to build, operate and transfer a 5MW co-generation facility on Jurong Island. The facility, which supplies power to Natural Fuel’s biodiesel plant on the island, is designed to generate electricity using natural gas, and generate steam from waste heat recovery. Banyan Utilities’ management hopes to leverage on the facility’s greenhouse gas emission reduction capabilities, to apply for the carbon credits. The stakeholder consultation meeting is a platform to allow the public and interested parties to understand and to express their concerns and feedback on the co-gen project’s sustainability issues. Upon approval and accreditation, Banyan Utilities will be awarded carbon credits or Certified Emissions Reductions (CERs), which can be sold to industralised countries and other companies. The facility will contribute towards meeting Singapore’s sustainable development objective by promoting clean energy technology, the transfer of greenhouse gas emission reduction technology, and employment opportunities for elderly people. |
| THAILAND: “BioEnergy Forum 2008” in Bangkok from April 28 to 30 |
| Wednesday, 20 February 2008 | |
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(EnergyAsia, February 20, Wednesday) --- “BioEnergy Forum 2008”, to be held in Bangkok, Thailand from April 28 to 30, will address issues pertaining to the economics and sustainability of biofuels. The speakers include Edgare Kerkwijk (BioX Group), Ajarin Pattanapanchai (Board of Investment, Thailand), Eduardo Gebara (Cargill International Trading Pte Ltd), Dean Lao Jr. (Chemrez Technologies), Wei Hai Guo (China National Petroleum Corporation (Petrochina)), Ka Keung Chan (CLP Renewables), Prateek Tiwari (Regional Trader Fareast, Australasia, & Subcontinent ED&F Man Alcohols Ltd), He Changchui (Agriculture Organization), Chris de Lavigne (Frost & Sullivan), Derom Bangun (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO),Rahman Talukder (Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences), Jyoti K. Parikh (Integrated Research and Action for Development (IRADe),William Dar (International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics), Charlotte de Fraiture (Management Institute), Klanarong Sriroth (Kasetsart University), Caroline Midgley (LMC International), Uwe Zwiefelhofer (Lurgi Sdn Bhd), Michael Dosim Lunjew Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Malaysia), Wantanee Chongkum (National Innovation Agency, Thailand), Captain Dr. Samai Jai-In (National Metals and Material Technology Center, Thailand), Olli Virta (Neste Oil), Clive Gibson (Nexant/Chem Systems), Nattapon Nattasomboon (Ministry of Industry, Thailand), Marco Antonio Costa Tritto (Petrobras), Archie Amarra (Philippine Sugar Millers Association Inc), Yash Mankame (Praj Industries Limited), Suchada Butnark (PTT Research & Technology Institute),Vorakan Burapatana (PTT Research & Technology Institute), Alexander van Oyen (PURAC, Thailand), Thomas Bauer (Rabobank International), Peter Cheng (Van der Horst Biodiesel Pte Ltd), Marcus Gordon (Watson, Farley & Williams LLP) and Rahul Kale (Wilmar International Limited). BioEnergy Forum 2008 is organised by IBC Asia. For more information, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . |
| INDONESIA: Transocean awarded $351 million contract to drill deepwater exploration wells |
| Wednesday, 20 February 2008 | |
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(EnergyAsia, February 20, Tuesday) --- US-based Transocean Inc said it has been awarded a large contract by a Marathon Oil Corp-led consortium to drill exploration wells in a deepwater location in Indonesia. The GSF Explorer is one of TransOcean’s fleet of 18 ultra-deepwater floaters. Constructed in 1972 and upgraded in 1998, the drillship is capable of working in water depths up to 7,800 feet. |
