Russia claims it has disrupted Ukraine’s power grid and weapons supplies with a massive strike
Russia announced on Monday that it had launched a massive attack on Ukraine, which it claimed had disrupted electricity supplies and rail transport of weapons and ammunition to front-line positions. Ukrainian officials claimed earlier that Russia launched over 100 missiles, and approximately 100 drones of attack at Ukraine during morning rush hour. And striking energy plants nationwide. In a press release, the Russian Defence Ministry stated that missiles were fired from air and sea.
Russian Pipeline: Bringing Gas and Building Trust
A discussion over energy at the summit last week between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has excited the government in South Korea, where the government is desperately looking to entice the North Koreans to come in out of the cold.Among the topics that came up was access for the North Koreans to Russian electricity supplies and the question of North Korea allowing the Russians to build a pipeline that would ship natural gas from Vladivostok…
India, China to Lead Rapid Growth in Energy
The major chunk of global energy supply growth is expected to come from renewables and natural gas over the next two decades, but steep investment in oil exploration and production will be needed to meet crude demand in 2040.The global energy demand is set to rise by around a third by 2040, driven by improvement in living standards, particularly in India, China and across Asia.- These are the key…
China Ramping Up Renewable Power
China will ramp up electricity generated by renewable energy this summer and give priority to residential use as some regions are due to experience power shortages, a spokesman for the nation's central policy planner said at a news briefing."The maximum load on the power grid has increased from last summer, leading to tight electricity supplies in some regions. Utilities will increase power output.
Blackrock, Lightsource Target UK Solar Power Portfolio
Asset manager Blackrock and solar energy firm Lightsource have agreed to jointly create a 1 billion pound ($1.3 billion) portfolio of solar power assets in Britain over the next three years, the two companies said on Tuesday. The partnership, called Kingfisher, will initially include 25 of Lightsource's British solar assets with a combined capacity of 156 megawatts (MW), which have already secured government subsidies for their power production.
Vitol Launches JV for UK Battery Project
Vitol owned VPI Immingham and renewable investment fund Low Carbon Ltd have launched a joint venture to invest up to 250 million pounds ($311 million) in energy storage and distributed power generation in Britain, the companies said on Tuesday. The VLC Energy joint venture will initially build two battery storage plants, one in Cleator, Cumbria and one in Glassenbury, Kent, to be connected to Britain's electricity grid by the end of the year.
National Grid Warns of Costs if Britain Exits EU Energy Market
Taking Britain out of Europe's energy market could stymie development of new power links designed to help avert a looming supply crunch and also drive up the cost of imported European electricity, National Grid warned on Friday. Prime Minister Theresa May signalled a so-called hard Brexit on Tuesday, which would involve leaving Europe's single market when Britain quits the European Union (EU). May gave no indication of what this would mean for energy markets in her speech.
California Power Grid Tested as Heat Soars
California's power grid operator extended its call for consumers to conserve electricity into Thursday as a heat wave continued to bake the state, especially the inland cities. Electricity supplies statewide were expected to be tight as consumers cranked up their air conditioners, the California Independent System Operator (ISO) said in a statement. The ISO said it was also dealing with power plant outages…
South Korea to Shut 10 Coal-Fired Power Plants by 2025
South Korea plans to shut 10 ageing coal-fired power plants by 2025, as Asia's fourth-largest economy seeks to cut its reliance on dirtier fuels after a pledge at last year's Paris climate summit to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Coal accounts for 40 percent of South Korea's electricity supplies, but in a tilt towards cleaner fuels Seoul recently said it was targeting $37 billion in renewable energy investment by 2020.
Blow to $1 bln Trafford Gas Plant as Britain Withdraws Subsidy
Britain's government has withdrawn a subsidy for an 800 million pound ($1.04 billion) gas plant project in Manchester, its developers said on Tuesday, following its failure to secure investment needed to build the plant. Carlton Power's Trafford gas-fired power station was the only new large-scale gas plant to secure financing under the government's capacity market scheme, designed to secure the country's electricity supplies.
Putin: Russia Should Restart Coal Supplies to Ukraine
Russia should restart supplying its coal to Ukraine after Kiev resumed electricity supplies to Crimea, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday. "In principle, we no longer need electricity from Ukraine," Putin told a government meeting. "But since they have now resumed (electricity) supplies, we will give them coal in return." (Reporting by Denis Pinchuk)
UK: Nation Must Move Away from Coal
Coal provided a third of UK electricity in 2014; new gas plants and nuclear must be built. Britain must move away from dirty and aging coal-fired power stations and encourage new gas and nuclear power plants, its energy minister will say on Wednesday when unveiling a new direction for energy policy in the country. "It cannot be satisfactory for an advanced economy like the UK to be relying on polluting…
Electricity firm CEOs urge clear policies for low-carbon shift
Heads of 11 companies that generate a third of the world's electricity urged governments on Sunday to agree clear, long-term policies to underpin a shift to lower-carbon energy as part of a U.N. agreement on climate change due in December. They also issued a report about how new technologies can both raise electricity supplies and limit greenhouse gases. These included more-efficient solar power, sea-based floating wind turbines and methods to capture emissions from coal-fired power plants.
Facing Heat, Iraq's Electricity Minister Passes Parliament Quizzing
Iraq's parliament on Saturday expressed confidence in the answers of Electricity Minister Qassim al-Fahdawi following an interrogation about a persistent power crisis that has prompted widespread protests and a new push for reform. Demonstrations in Baghdad and many southern cities, precipitated last month by anger at widespread electricity cuts amid a sweltering heatwave, have evolved in recent…
Eskom Signs Agreements with 10 Non-paying Municipalities
South Africa's power utility Eskom said on Wednesday it had reached agreements with 10 out of 20 municipalities which owe the cash-strapped 3.68 billion rand ($314 million) in unpaid bills. The utility, which is getting a 23 billion rand cash injection from government this year, said earlier in April it would cut power to the top 20 defaulting municipalities from June 5. Eskom said in a statement…
Thatcher's Secret Weapon in Miners' Strike Shuts, Ending an Era
Littlebrook power station, which towers grimly over the lower Thames near Dartford in Kent, ceases operations today after almost 35 years, the last of Britain's big oil-fired power plants to close. Littlebrook is an unlikely symbol of modern Britain. But the power plant played a critical role helping the Conservative government led by Margaret Thatcher break the miners' strike of 1984/85. Now its closure marks the impact of higher oil prices and EU-wide policies…
Forcados Pipeline Resumes After Sabotage
Forcados carries more than 200,000 bpd; closure also affected nearly half Nigeria's gas supplies. Nigeria resumed operations on its Trans Forcados oil pipeline, a senior oil official said on Monday, bringing back on stream part of the network whose closure also led to a near halving of the country's gas production. The pipeline, which had been shut for a week due to sabotage, resumed on Saturday afternoon…
Ukraine: Russia Gas Resumes on Dec. 11
Ukraine's gas transport monopoly Ukrtransgaz said on Monday Russia would resume supplies of natural gas on Dec. 11 after a six-month gap due to a dispute over prices and unpaid debts. Without Russian gas and hit by separatist violence that has disrupted its own coal mining, Ukraine has been forced to introduce widespread power cuts. The energy ministry had expected flows from Russia to resume on Monday. Hard frosts have boosted consumption to record volumes in recent weeks.
Cold Weather Boosts Spot, Near Curve Prices
Colder weather in the region pushed central European day ahead prices higher on Wednesday, offsetting a rise in renewables, traders said. Czech electricity for Thursday ticked 20 cents higher to 43 euros ($53.79) per megawatt hour and Hungarian day ahead shot 7.25 euros higher to 54 euros in over-the-counter trade. On regional exchanges, Hungarian and Romanian prompt gained 4 percent to 51.83 euros.
Ukraine to Prepay for Russian Gas Today or Tomorrow
Ukraine will make a prepayment for 1 billion cubic metres of Russian gas on Wednesday or Thursday, Ukrainian Energy Minister Volodymyr Demchyshyn said, as the deepening winter forces the country to rely for energy on its powerful neighbour. Russia, which cut off supplies to Ukraine in June because of a standoff over prices, has insisted that Ukraine pay for supplies in advance. So far, Kiev has not committed to new orders as a separatist conflict weighs on its flagging economy.
