AP power utilities to cash in on surplus
Even as the State has reached a comfortable position in the power supply situation, the Andhra Pradesh power utilities are gearing up to participate in the tenders invited for supply of power by the other States. To begin with, the utilities have decided to participate in the bids called by Kerala Government for supply of 100 MW power. The decision was taken after assessing the availability of power in the State factoring in the increased demand from agriculture, industry, domestic and commercial segments. The State had become surplus in power with the addition of the Krishnapatnam and Hinduja power plants besides addition of close to 1,000 MW power through the renewable energy sources like solar and wind power. In addition, the APGenco is hopeful of installing the fourth unit of the Rayalaseema Thermal Power Plant by the middle of next year. “ Energy from the renewable sources is being treated as spillover reserve to secure grid stability in the event of deficit supply from the existing plants” APTransco joint managing director Dinesh Parchuri told The Hindu. He said absence of a corridor to supply power to Kerala would not be a problem for the power utilities as they would rely on the network of the Power Grid Corporation of India. Asked about the aggregate revenue requirement report that the utilities needed to submit to the regulator AP Electricity Regulatory Commission, he said the utilities were engaged in the preparation of the report based on the availability of power and demand from different sectors besides assessing the revenue requirements of the utilities. The utilities were actively working on incorporating the prospect of revenues through sale of surplus power to the States with deficit supply. Glenn Dorsey Authentic Jersey
Bengal not ready to join Centre’s UDAY scheme
The Bengal government denied joining power scheme UDAY on Thursday. While addressing media here the state power minister Sobhandeb Chatterjee said that the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led state government refused to sign any agreement to join the scheme and as ‘it doesn’t believe in any forceful agreement to promulgate center’s scheme.’ However, the minister also mentioned, “We have assured the Center of the state’s support over joint-mechanism. Initially they pressurised us to sign the UDAY agreement, but our CM denied and assured co-operation in its different schemes.” The Minister of State with Independent Charge for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy and Mines Piyush Goyal urged the state government to join the scheme meant for revival of debt-ridden power distribution companies in the nation and claimed that only 22 villages are un-electrified in the state. He also asserted the government’s effort to ensure affordable 24X7 power to all by 2019 is an integral part of the state by joining UDAY. On this context Chatterjee claimed, “West, Bengal is one of the states which now can provide 24X7 power to all in two years to 97% of the entire population successfully.” “There are 15 villages which are un-electrified. 14 are in a coastal area and one in Purulia district,” the minister added further. Chatterjee also emphasised on the “Alternate Power Source” and raised the matter in a power summit, organised by both the Centre and Indian Chamber of Commerce in the national Capital on Thursday. The state also asked the Center to divide the entire power system of India. “We are looking forward to enhance power manufacturing into Hydraulic and Solar sectors. We have targeted to generate 100 MW Solar Power in one year,” Chatterjee mentioned. Ryane Clowe Womens Jersey
NGT: Shut power plants, stop construction on bad air days
The National Green Tribunal said on Thursday that whenever air pollution reaches severe levels, Delhi and its four neighbouring states would have to take a set of emergency measures that include sprinkling water from choppers, stopping construction activities and shutting down polluting power plants and gensets. Passing a host of directions to tackle air pollution in Delhi and its neighbourhood, the NGT also asked for the setting up of a central and five state-level monitoring committees to check implementation of its orders and form action plans to check pollution. “When PM 2.5 and PM 10 levels cross 251 and 431 microgramscubic metre, it is an ‘environment emergency’ and states would have to take measures to tackle the situation. In other situations, normal measures will continue to be implemented,” said a bench headed by NGT chairperson Swatanter Kumar. The NGT said farmers must be given “happy seeders” — machines that sow wheat without burning paddy residues — to prevent crop fires. During the period of severe air pollution, all construction, transport of construction material and stone-crushing activities must be stopped. States would also have to shut down power plants, hot-mixers, brick kilns and diesel generator sets whose emissions are above the prescribed limit, the National Green Tribunal said in its interim order. The green court further directed the state governments to gradually shift to mechanised cleaning of roads by purchasing vacuum machines.”Cleaning of dust manually should be stopped in a gradual manner and mechanised cleaning through machines should be introduced to reduce dust levels,” the bench said. It asked the four neighbouring states of Delhi — Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan — to consider banning diesel vehicles older than 10 years while directing Delhi to ensure strict implementation of its orders on diesel vehicles. Brandon Williams Authentic Jersey
GAIL pipeline breakdown in Vizag affects LPG cylinder deliveries
Jyoti Radhakishan has been living on food from restaurants for the last few days as she didn’t have an LPG cylinder replacement that was booked last month. While she is coping with the difficulty, scores of other households too are having to look for alternatives in the face of acute shortage. The shortage and delay, attributed to breakdown in Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) pipeline in Visakhapatnam is having a huge toll in Secunderabad. The city gets LPG supplies from the bottling units in Cherlapally via this pipeline. “The problem began on October 24. It will take another 10 days for the supply to improve,” said Ashok Kumar, president of city’s Gas Dealers Association. The string of Diwali holidays also affected the cylinder delivery schedule, he added. “Many who booked cylinders on November 1 are still waiting,” said V Ranga Rao, a resident of Secunderabad. According to oil companies, the city needs some 2,000 tons of LPG every day. “GAIL is carrying out repair-maintenance on pipelines. The LPG supply will stabilise soon,” said Madhukar Ingole, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) representative in Telangana. Oil companies managed just about 1,000 tons of LPG during the supply-shortage period. HPCL, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) have four bottling units. The twin cities of Hyderabad-Secunderabad have 13 lakh domestic and commercial connections while neighbouring Rangareddy district has 13 lakh connections. Jake Guentzel Authentic Jersey
Puma Energy Acquires BP Terminal in Northern Ireland
Puma Energy, the globally integrated midstream and downstream energy company, today announced that it has signed a purchase agreement with BP to buy its bulk storage fuel terminal in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The addition takes Puma Energy’s global network of bulk storage terminals to 100, culminating in a total storage volume of 7.9 million m3 of storage capacity. This acquisition builds on the purchase of the 1.4 million m3 capacity Milford Haven Terminal in 2015, further supporting Puma Energy’s growth within the European Market, and helping to ensure high quality, reliable fuels supply to Northern Ireland. The Belfast Terminal provides storage for gasoline, distillates and aviation fuels, with road gantry loading facilities and a Jetty Berth capable of handling MR class vessels. The site comprises 20 bulk fuel storage tanks with a working capacity of ca. 143 000 m3. The 53 acre former refinery site is located between George Best Belfast City Airport and Belfast Harbour in NI. The refinery was opened in 1964 and converted to a Terminal in 1982. Puma Energy has a wealth of experience in the construction, maintenance and operation of terminals and offshore mooring systems to the highest international standards. Commenting on the acquisition, Puma Energy’s CEO Pierre Eladari said, “This deal marks an additional milestone in the growth of our business, further supporting Puma Energy’s position as one of the largest independent, integrated midstream and downstream companies operating today”. About Puma Energy Puma Energy International is a global integrated midstream and downstream oil company active in 47 countries. Formed in 1997 in Central America, Puma Energy has since expanded its activities worldwide, achieving rapid growth, diversification and product line development. The company directly manages over 7,844 employees. Headquartered in Singapore, it has regional hubs in Johannesburg (South Africa), San Juan (Puerto Rico), Brisbane (Australia) and Tallinn (Estonia). Puma Energy’s core activities in the midstream sector include the supply, storage and transportation of petroleum products via a network of over 100 bulk storage terminals. Puma Energy’s activities are underpinned by investment in infrastructure which optimises supply chain systems, capturing value as both asset owner and marketer of product. Puma Energy’s downstream activities include the distribution, retail sales and wholesale of a wide range of refined products, with additional product offerings in the lubricants, bitumen, LPG and marine bunkering sectors. Puma Energy currently has a global network of over 2,468 retail service stations and supplies 62 airports. Puma Energy also provides a robust platform for independent entrepreneurs to develop their businesses, by providing a viable alternative to traditional market supply sources. Andy Lee Womens Jersey
Discovered small fields may be offered in first HELP round
India’s first bid round to implement its new Hydrocarbon Exploration Licensing Policy (HELP) may also offer some of the discovered small fields (DSF), if there are no takers for them. With the nine bid rounds under the New Exploration Licensing Policy unable to attract the desired level of investments, the National Democratic Alliance government approved marketing freedom for crude oil and natural gas under HELP in March this year. These discovered fields were earlier held by state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corp. Ltd (ONGC) and Oil India Ltd. DSF bidding was launched in New Delhi on 25 May 2016. Under this round, India is offering 46 contract areas with 67 oil and gas fields, estimated to hold over 625 million barrels of oil and oil equivalent gas in-place, spread over 1,500 sq. km. “If there are discovered small fields that remain unsold after the bids, they shall be added with the fields under HELP,” said a petroleum ministry official requesting anonymity. With bid submission deadline for discovered small fields extended, first round under HELP may be delayed. Another government official, who also did not want to be named, confirmed the development. The first bid round under HELP will mark the culmination of the government’s bet for a revenue-sharing model from the controversial cost-recovery model which involves cost recovery by firms before the government receives its share of the revenue. Also, state-run ONGC is betting on its relinquished blocks under HELP. Experts concur with the government’s strategy. “The discovered small fields have been the government’s primary concern after which it shall concentrate on HELP. With fields remaining unsold they have to find a way to utilise them,” said Sanjay Grover, partner at EY, a consultancy. Queries emailed to a petroleum ministry spokesperson on 8 October remained unanswered. This comes in the backdrop of India’s stagnant hydrocarbon production. The government has made energy security one of the primary areas of focus in its economic policy in order to achieve fast and sustainable long-term development. India has 26 sedimentary basins covering an area of 3.14 million sq. km, out of which seven basins have established commercial productions in progress. India has a total reserve of 763.476 million tonne of crude oil and 1,488.73 billion cu. metre of natural gas. DeSean Jackson Jersey
Oil Ministry probes role of ONGC, DGH officials in RIL gas flow case
The Oil Ministry has launched a probe into the role played by officials at ONGC and regulator DGH for their alleged inaction on information about the state- owned firm’s natural gas flowing into adjoining fields of Reliance Industries in the KG basin. Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) had in late 2013 claimed that it suspected extension of reservoirs from its blocks in the Bay of Bengal into RIL’s KG-D6. This was based on seismic data available to it at least since 2007. Confirming sending notice to RIL and its partners BP plc of UK and Canada’s Niko Resources for “unfairly enriching” by producing natural gas belonging to ONGC, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said his ministry is probing the role played by “”those in office” in the ministry, ONGC as well as DGH in the entire issue. “All stakeholders are being looked into as to what role they had played in those days,” he told reporters here. Oil Secretary K D Tripathi is overseeing the probe to find if there were any errors of omission or commission in not taking timely acting on the information provided by the seismic data that ONGC’s natural gas was seeping into KG-D6. “This is an internal mechanism (of investigation). Whosoever is found responsible (for lapses) will be disclosed publicly,” Pradhan said. ONGC has had two Chairmen, R S Sharma and Sudhir Vasudeva, after seismic data is believed to have thrown up leads about its blocks being connected with RIL fields. The Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) first had S K Srivastava and then R N Choubey as the head. It is alleged that while ONGC initially refused to act on the information, DGH did not take cognizance of the issue when the state-owned firm finally acted and brought the issue to its notice in 2013. “It is not just ONGC, but also (petroleum) ministry and DGH which is being investigated,” Pradhan said. His ministry had on November 3 issued a notice to RIL, Niko and BP plc seeking $1.47 billion for producing in the seven years ended March 31, 2016 about 338.332 million British thermal unit of gas that had seeped or migrated from state- owned ONGC blocks into adjoining KG-D6. After deducting $71.71 million royalty paid on the gas produced and adding an interest at the rate of Libor plus 2 per cent, totalling $149.86 million, a total demand of $1.55 billion was made on RIL, BP and Niko. ONGC had in 2014 moved the Delhi High Court seeking Rs 110 billion compensation for its gas that RIL had produced. Under the court’s direction, an independent consultant D&M was appointed to establish connectivity across reservoirs. After D&M quantified the gas that had migrated from ONGC blocks to KG-D6, the ministry appointed a one-man panel headed by Justice (Retd) A P Shah to recommend compensation RIL and partners should pay. It however stated that the compensation should be paid to the government and not to ONGC. Pradhan said the Supreme Court has clearly established that all natural resources belong to the State and using that premise the government is claiming compensation from RIL. Martavis Bryant Authentic Jersey
India’s fuel demand rose 8.1 % year-on-year in October
India’s fuel demand rose 8.1 percent in October compared with the same month last year. Consumption of fuel, a proxy for oil demand, totalled 16.49 million tonnes, data from the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) of the oil ministry showed. Sales of gasoline, or petrol, were 13.8 percent higher from a year earlier at 2.11 million tonnes. Cooking gas or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sales increased 10.3 percent to 1.86 million tonnes, while naphtha sales surged 4.8 percent to 1.11 million tonnes. Sales of bitumen, used for making roads, were 6.9 percent lower, while fuel oil use edged up 8.3 percent in October. Donovan Smith Authentic Jersey
World’s first Very Large Ethane Carrier delivered for Reliance Industries Limited
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. of Japan today announced the delivery of the world’s first Very Large Ethane Carrier (VLEC), Ethane Crystal, built by Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI), to energy and petrochemicals major Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) yesterday. MOL was appointed by Reliance to undertake site supervision of the construction of the six new VLECs ordered by the company and also to be the operator and the manager of these vessels. P.M.S. Prasad, Executive Director and Member of the Board, Reliance Industries Limited, named the vessel as “Ethane Crystal” in the naming ceremony held at SHI, Geoje, South Korea, on October 26, a press release from MOL said. RIL had placed the order for the six VLECs in July 2014. The VLECs will serve to transport Ethane from the United States of America to India, and are the largest vessels ever built for transportation of ethane at an industrial scale. MOL will be the first shipping company in the world to operate such VLECs. The vessels adopt GTT Mark III as a containment system which is unique for ethane transportation, and are designed to cater to latest safety and environment regulations, the release said. MOL will operate the fleet of six VLECs to provide efficient, safe and reliable Ethane transportation for use as a feedstock in large petrochemical complexes owned and operated by Reliance, it said. “Ethane transportation project is a splendid example where an innovative business model was used to meet the customer’s requirements. MOL utilized its experience, knowhow, and network built over the years as one of the largest LNG carrier owners and operators and, significant experience as owners and operators of LPG carriers in order to obtain this business. “MOL’s experience in LNG / LPG segments and its unmatched service, safety, reliability and efficiency precisely met the stringent requirements of Reliance prior being appointed as a suitable shipping partner for Ethane Transportation Project,” the release added. Nickell Robey-Coleman Authentic Jersey