AG&P Announces Integrated Plug-and-Play Solutions for LNG Supply Network in Asia
AG&P (Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific Company), the global leader of infrastructure solutions, today announced two standardized modular products for the LNG supply network that will drive down costs, accelerate schedule and enable last-mile delivery to LNG demand centers scattered across Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Caribbean. Speaking at Gastech 2017, the company presented designs incorporating standardized equipment to deliver a scalable LNG delivery platform and a fit-for-purpose, onshore modular regasification unit. These ‘plug and play’ packages, based on standard solutions, are built in AG&P’s dedicated, state-of-the-art, 150-hectare modularization facilities which helps speed delivery times and significantly reduces the cost of customized engineering and project man-hours while increasing productivity and quality. Cost-effective and built for transportation across the world, AG&P believes these off-the-shelf products have the potential to bolster the small and mid-scale LNG market. Key benefits include: Scalable LNG delivery platform Onshore modular, standardized regasification unit AG&P has focused on optimizing the storage and marine design to drive cost efficiencies and adoption Selection of shallow draft barge design and conventional vessel hull design allow for fixed cost hull construction over a scalable range, typically: Platform 1: 4,000 to 8,000m³ capacity for shallow water delivery Platform 2: 6,000 to 16,500m³ for open water delivery Utilizes identical hull design and equipment from 6,000, 7,500,10,000 up to 16,500m³ Products utilize existing GTT hull designs specifically configured to optimize membrane tank configuration Geometrical membrane tanks are standardized which reduces re-engineering costs Detailed designs are completed by AGP/GET, integrating standardized equipment/technologies and prefabricated in our manufacturing facilities in Manila, Philippines, All kits, including accommodation fitments and bridge equipment are standardized packages Modularized and pre-commissioned in our state-of-the-art facilities in the Philippines Each unit consists of: TEMA NJN plate and tube exchanger utilizing indirect glycol/water heat transfer Uses configuration of 125mmscfd process train, typically, in 250mmscfd modularized package Each individual 250mmscfd module consists of: High-pressure pump Tube and shell exchanger Boil-off gas (BOG) recondenser HIPPS ESDV/F&G/CAMS Central control room (E-house) Off module equipment or shared utilities consisting of: Glycol water plate exchanger circuit BOG compressor LP booster pumps All equipment is purchased utilizing an in-house approved vendor list Allows competitive pricing based on standard product requiring no re-engineering Enables shorter procurement times based on standard product Typical schedule -12 months ex-works “While there is increasing preference for small-scale and mid-scale LNG solutions in emerging economies like Indonesia and India, uptake remains slow with few projects underway. Standardization and modular solutions will be the circuit-breaker that will bring projects online, enabling the switch to LNG as a clean and affordable energy source,, said Mr. Albert Altura, President AG&P. “AG&P is combining its modularization capabilities and unique alliances with engineering and technology partners to provide the complete spectrum of infrastructure assets that enable LNG distribution and last-mile delivery. Serving as a single point of contact for customers across the LNG value chain, we deliver a whole terminal and sell tolled gas to power plants, mines, bunker fuel operations, transportation fleets, cold storage and other industrial applications,, added Mr. Albert Altura. AG&P has a long and successful track record of delivering pragmatic solutions for the oil and gas industry with expertise in LNG. It is only one of three companies worldwide to have a global technical and licensing agreement for membrane tank design from the French giant, GTT. In addition, AG&P owns a major stake in GAS Entec, the leading Korea-based engineering firm and has entered a joint venture with Risco Energy Group of Indonesia. Gerry Cheevers Jersey
India’s ONGC submits revised plan for Farzad B gas field in Iran
The overseas arm of India’s Oil and Natural Gas Corp has submitted a revised plan to develop the giant Farzad B gas block in Iran, including a commitment to spend more than $3 billion, a senior executive said on Tuesday. ONGC Videsh expects to produce between 1 billion and 1.6 billion cubic feet per day of gas in five years from the start of development of the block, N. K. Verma, the company’s managing director told Reuters in Mumbai on Tuesday. India is the second-largest buyer of Iranian crude, and was among the few countries to continue trade with Iran while the country faced Western sanctions over its nuclear programme. But since the lifting of some of the sanctions last year, Iran has sought other investors and there is some uncertainty whether the Farzad block contract will be awarded to an Indian company. The impasse has led Indian refiners to plan on cutting imports from Iran by a fifth in 2017-18. Verma also commented that ONGC Videsh expects to raise production during the fiscal year ending in March 2018 to 14 million tonnes oil equivalent, up from 12 million tonnes in the fiscal year of 2017. The company also plans to invest $45 million to produce from gas wells owned by Imperial Energy, which ONGC Videsh acquired in 2008. “We are setting up gas processing facilities… we have dug four pilot wells and have got encouraging response,” Verma said. Ryan Schraeder Authentic Jersey
Capitals power demand hits new peak for March
With temperatures soaring, power demand in the city has touched a new high. The peak power demand on March 31 touched 4,139 MW — the highest recorded demand for this month. The maximum temperature recorded in the city was 39 degrees Celsius, seven notches above the season’s normal, according to Meteorological Department officials. According to data from BSES, one of the power discoms in the city, power demand here crossed the 4,000 MW mark in March. After a record demand of 4,116 MW on March 30, the demand rose to 4,139 MW the next day. From just 259 MW peak demand in 1971, the demand for power has only gone up drastically. Gruelling summer Power discoms however claimed that they’re prepared for summer months, which according to the Meteorological Department will be gruelling. “These arrangements include long-term power purchase agreements [PPAs] and banking arrangements with other States. The BRPL will get around 200 MW of power through banking arrangements and BYPL around 170 MW. In case of unforeseen contingencies due to low generation and outages at power plants, the discoms will purchase short-term power from the exchange,” BSES said. Biggest guzzler Stating that the domestic sector was the biggest guzzler of electricity in Delhi, experts said providing more power to the city wasn’t a comprehensive solution. A report released by Central Electricity Authority (CEA) on Load Generation Balance Report last year highlighted that Delhi consumes more electricity than Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Kerala, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Sikkim and all the North-East States. It also uses more power than all other metros put together. Household electricity consumption per capita is about 43 units per month against the national average of 25, they added. Vicious circle Anumita Roychowdhury, the executive director at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said high temperatures and dependence on air-conditioners was a vicious circle that Delhiites needed to break. According to CSE analysis, Delhi’s peak power consumption will double by 2021 at this rate. Power subsidy “High use of ACs is also a contributor to global warming and we depend on these due to growing temperature. This cycle needs to break and that can only be done when the government takes some stringent measures,” Ms. Roychowdhury added. She said the Delhi government gives 50% power subsidy to households for monthly consumption of up to 400kWh. Delhi’s average consumption is only about 181 kWh and nearly two-fifths of households consume less than 100 kWh per month. The subsidy thus allows comfortable use of a number of appliances like air conditioners and cushions substantial household energy costs. “The government must introduce a mandatory energy audit and consumption-based energy billing to improve operational efficiency of all buildings. It must also make it obligatory for all buildings to publicly disclose data on annual energy usage along with the built-up area,” Ms. Roychowdhury added further. Rhys Hoskins Jersey
Highway construction highest ever, but 45% short of target
Highway construction in 2016-17 touched all time high at 8,144 km, which is 33% more than last year. Similarly award of works also increased to the maximum at 16,031 km, which is 60% more than last year. However, this is much less than what highway minister Nitin Gadkari had set as target for National Highways Authority of India and his ministry. Gadkari had set 15,000 km as target of construction and 25,000 km for award. Data accessed by TOI show that the maximum share of the achievements have come from the ministry, which executes projects through the state Public Works Departments. For example, while NHAI completed construction and expansion of 2,628 km of national highways (NH) till March 31, the ministry achieved widening of the over 5,500 km. While works undertaken by NHAI involves four-laning and six-laning, which requires more fund, land and resources; most of the projects executed by the ministry are confined to widen highway stretches to only two and half lanes. “It’s an accepted fact that the quantity of construction will come from ministry and the quality will come from NHAI,” said an official. In the case of award of projects, NHAI has tendered works for 4,335 kms while works for the rest 11,696 km were awarded by state PWDs. “The high rate of award for works will result in pushing construction in the next two years to a new height. All works awarded till March end will either get completed or near completion by 2019,” the official said. Recently, the ministry had told Parliament that “The slow speed of construction of NHs are mainly due to land acquisition, utility shifting, non-availability of soil/ aggregates, poor performance of contractors, environment/ forest/ wildlife clearance, rail over bridge and rail under bridge issue with railways, public agitation for additional facilities, arbitration/ contractual disputes with contractors etc.” Nick Shore Jersey
NMPT records 12.25% growth in traffic handling
New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) registered a growth of 12.25 per cent in traffic handling during 2016-17. The port handled 39.94 mt of cargo during 2016-17 as against 35.58 mt in 2015-16. A press release said here on Monday the port also achieved a growth of 5.11 per cent over the target of 38 mt fixed by the Shipping Ministry. Increase in the handling of crude oil for Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL), coal for Udupi Power Corporation Ltd and iron ore for KIOCL Ltd contributed significantly to this growth, it said. NMPT handled 16.68 mt of crude oil and 3.53 mt of coal for MRPL and Udupi Power Corporation Ltd, respectively, during 2016-17 as against 15.88 mt and 3.31 mt in the corresponding previous fiscal. The port handled 94,928 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of containers during 2016-17 as against 75,709 TEUs in the previous fiscal, recording a growth of 25.39 per cent. Phillip Danault Jersey
Air Carnival to change hands, 100% stake sale likely this week
Promoters of Air Carnival are all set to sell their 100 per cent stake “possibly this week” for about Rs 73 crore in the regional airline, which started flying less than a year ago. Air Carnival is the second regional carrier after grounded Air Pegasus to scout for new owners amid funding issues. Promoted by Coimbatore Marine College (CMC) group, Air Carnival commenced operations in July last year with one ATR- 72 aircraft. Confirming that the airline is on the block, Air Carnival Chairman and MD S Irudaya Nathan said discussions are in “advanced stages”. “We are diluting entire stake in the carrier. The discussions (with the prospective buyer) are about to be finalised within this week,” Nathan told PTI from Coimbatore. He said the airline had planned to acquire two more aircraft by October 2016, but the efforts did not materialise as it could not raise the requisite funds. Subsequently, it was decided to “sell it (the airline) to a new owner and keep it afloat”, Nathan said. Without divulging details about the potential investor, he said, “The new investor has been chosen on first come first serve basis.” According to him, a price of Rs 73 crore has been quoted for the stake sale and that the “deal is likely to be signed by this Friday”. Air Carnival operates 10 daily flights to three cities — Chennai, Trichy and Tuticorn — from Coimbatore. While starting operations, the promoters had announced funds infusion to the tune of USD 12 million and plans to have a fleet of three aircraft by October 2016. Cassius Marsh Jersey
Government Releases a record 3.25 Cr LPG connections in FY 2016-17
Thanks to the government’s flagship programme Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), where the government wants to make Indian rural kitchens smoke free by providing access to clean cooking fuel, the state-owned Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have successfully released 3.25 crore new LPG connections during FY 2016-17, the highest ever number of LPG connections released in a financial year so far in the LPG history of the country. The connections released includes 2 crore connections released under PMUY, which was launched on 1st May 2016 by Prime Minister and 1.25 crore connections to new consumers other than PMUY beneficiaries. Under PMUY, women of BPL families especially residing in rural areas have been given LPG connections. This increase in connections has resulted in a jump in the LPG coverage and as on 01.04.2017, the national LPG coverage is estimated to be 72.8% with 19.88 crore active consumers. The government has mandated oil companies to add 10 crore new cooking gas customers between April 2016 and March 2019. Half of the new connections have to go to poor households under the government’s Ujjwala Yojana. “When Modi ji took over as prime minister, the country had 14 crore active LPG consumers, which has today expanded to 19.80 crore. So, we have achieved 5.8 crore in less than three years,” oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan recently said. “When we formed government, it used to be less than 1 crore new connections a year,” he said, adding that 3.16 crore connections had been given by March 24. This exceeds the 2016-17 target of 3 crore connections and is way ahead of 1.77 crore new customers added in 2015-16,” he added. Craig Robertson Womens Jersey
Benefits Of UDAY Scheme Have Started Showing With Steep Fall in Financial Losses of States, Piyush Goyal
Impressive reduction in financial losses of states who have joined the UDAY scheme have come to fore. Union minister of power, coal, RE and mines Piyush Goyal shared on Monday how the financial losses of Tamil Nadu are expected to come down by one-third this year while that of Rajasthan (that stood at Rs 15000 crore) will come down to about Rs 5500 crore. UDAY (or Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana) seeks to turnaround DISCOMs and a total of 27 states and UTs have joined. The minister said that 85% UDAY bonds have already been issued (Rs 2.32 lakh crore out of total Rs 2.72 lakh crore). On the T&D losses in states, the minister said he has asked for collation of the data. However, he added that more than the menace of T&D losses is the problem of unaccounted or unmetered connections that have not been shared by certain states. The minister said he was shocked to find that there were 63 lakhs unmetered connections in Uttar Pradesh, a trend that was so far kept under wraps by the previous state government. A recent review by him of the power sector in Uttar Pradesh has revealed that as many as 63 lakh connections are unmetered in the state, Goyal said, adding that this trend is going on for years. Instructions have been issued to relevant authorities in this regard, he said. While in the previous regime Uttar Pradesh was hardly buying any power but they bought around 1100 mw power from the exchange on Sunday, Goyal said. Commenting on the power availability, the minister said that even during the peak hours during the ongoing summers, power is available at Rs 2.66 a unit on the exchanges across the nation. He disclosed that he was informed by the Chief Minister of Maharashtra two days back that during the heat wave in the state, the peak demand had reached 23,055 mw but there were no outages reported. On the RE front, Goyal said the government will encourage more local solar manufacturing for the solar energy sector that is heavily dependent on imports of solar panels and modules. “Those setting up solar manufacturing units should locate them close to NTPC’s power plants so that power supply is not a problem,” he said. Goyal further said that with surplus coal production in India (with 60 mt of stock with Coal India), states were being encouraged to shift their plans to set up imported coal-based ultra-mega power plants to domestic coal-based plants. He said Tamil Nadu has agreed to shelve its imported coal-based ultra-mega power plant at Cheyyur and would set up a domestic coal-based UMPP. The minister said the total coal production has increased to 554 MT in 2016-17 from 462 MT in 2013-14. After sufficient production, coal quality is the next frontier after achieving adequate coal for all power plants, he added. Carlos Dunlap Womens Jersey
Adani Group meets Amarinder Singh, wants to invest in Punjab
The Adani Group has shown interest in investing in Punjab and the companies’ top functionaries met Chief Minister Amarinder Singh here on Monday to pursue the matter, officials said. Adani Group president and chairman of several key companies of the Gujarat-based group, Pranav V. Adani met Amarinder Singh here to discuss possible areas of investment in Punjab. The Adani Group is already running a solar power generation unit in Bathinda and have showed interest in expanding their presence in the state, the officials said here. Adani Green Energy Ltd had, in 2016, had commissioned Punjab’s largest solar power plant of 100 MW in Bathinda with an investment of Rs 640 crore. Another Adani company has set up silos worth RS 250 crore for grain storage in Punjab. An investment of another RS 210 crore is being made in this field. Adani told the Chief Minister that the Group’s businesses, which also include real estate and city gas distribution (CNG and pipeline network), have a big potential to scale up Punjab’s progress. “The Group’s emerging businesses, such as water purification, defence and aerospace, drones manufacture etc, also find synergies with the state’s public welfare and strategic growth interests,” he noted. Philadelphia Phillies Womens Jersey
Surmounting AT&C losses negating effect of cheap power
Despite having an installed capacity of 18755 MW including that from Independent Power Producers (IPP), Madhya Pradesh needs to plug Aggregate Transmission and Commercial (AT&C) losses for providing cheap power to the end users, according to a top HPPPL official. “In 2003, Government of India brought about major power sector reforms through Electricity Act, 2003. At that time, MP was facing huge power cuts and supply demand mismatch due to lower generation base of 4673 MW. The state took a decision to bring about investor friendly policies to encourage private sector investment in the power sector. This led to increased participation of IPPs in the sector and installed capacity grew by almost 300% at 18755 MW in the span of 12 years,” Hindustan Power Projects Private Ltd Chairman Ratul Puri told today. “This has resulted in a very competitive Average Cost of Supply (ACS) for state discoms as compared to many other states. Despite having one of the lowest ACS, the state is facing challenge of increased gaps due to lower Average Revenue. This gap can be minimised by Tariff rationalisation and reduction in AT&C losses,” he said. However Puri pointed out that state discoms stand at cumulative losses of Rs 28,777 crore as of FY 2015 and these surmounting losses are negating the effect of the cheap power available from IPPs and burdening the end consumer with the higher tariff. “Discoms need to strengthen their infrastructure, do some re-engineering to stop the energy pilferage. Such measures will reap more fruits in reduction of AT&C losses without increase in the consumer tariff,” he suggested. The increase in the capacity because of private sector which stand at almost 45% (8347 MW) has made the state of Madhya Pradesh a power sufficient state. Madhya Pradesh now takes pride in supplying round the clock reliable power to the consumers and being one of the fastest growing states in the country having annual state GDP growth rate of more than 10 per cent. Further, the MP government has also signed Government of India (GOI) initiative of 24X7 power for all by 2019 but that requires to bring down the AT&C losses from current 23.15 per cent to 17 per cent by financial year 2019, he added. Derek Rivers Jersey