Power Engineering International articles from July 2004

Power Engineering International archives from July 2004

Correction.(Correction Notice)
July 1, 2004... In the news story "Largest landfill launched" on page 11 of our April 2004 issue, we incorrectly stated that Kepco would participate in a consortium to construct a landfill gas power project in Incheon near Seoul. In fact KOPEC (Korea Power...

The mountain comes to Mohammed.(Up Front)(electric equipment industry)
July 1, 2004... They say you can't bring the mountain to Mohammed. Yet every so often there are particular events in time which remind us that anything can happen in a changing world. Not so long ago the landscape for equipment orders looked very different to...

Alstom cuts a deal: the approval of a comprehensive financing package will help Alstom's recovery. The terms of the deal, however, require that Alstom enters into industrial partnerships, leaving the door open to possible mergers with rival groups. Sian Green reports.(Analysis)
July 1, 2004... Alstom and the French government have reached a deal with the European Commission on a financing package that assures the immediate future of the troubled engineering group. The deal follows the announcement in September 2003 of a rescue plan...

Nigeria approves funding for five new power plants.(International)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Nigeria's federal government has given its approval to funding of around N25.1bn ($188m) out of the 2004 budget towards an investment programme that will see five new power plants constructed across the country. Liyel Imoke, Nigeria's...

Irish to transform Kosovo Energy.(International)(Kosovo Energy Corp)(UN Mission in Kosova)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... ESB International (ESBI), a subsidiary of Ireland's national electric utility ESB, has won a UN-sponsored contract to restructure the Kosovo Energy Corp. (KEK). The contract is valued at [euro]3.7m ($4.5m) and ESBI will be supported by its...

PB completes Nigeria study.(International)
July 1, 2004... Consulting firm PB Power has completed a nine-month study that will assist in the commercialization of Nigeria's electricity system ahead of an eventual privatization. PB Power was appointed by Nigeria's Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE)...

Bulgaria resumes nuclear project.(International)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Bulgaria has announced plans to complete the construction of its second nuclear power plant on the river Danube. The prime minister, Simeon Saxe-Coberg, said the Belene development would help maintain Bulgaria's position as the leading exporter...

Russian genco sale plan approved.(International)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The Russian government approved in June a plan for selling wholesale electricity generating companies at special cash auctions, although the price for shares in the gencos has yet been decided. However, prime minister Mikhail Fradkov is...

Algeria.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Algeria: SNC Lavalin has awarded Alstom an order worth around [euro]1.4m ($1.7m) to supply the Alstom ALSPA P320 Decentralized Control System for its 880 MW CCGT power plant located at Skikda.

Bulgaria.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Bulgaria: The Bulgarian Privatization Agency moved the deadline for the sell-off of seven electricity distribution companies to July 9 from 25 June after potential buyers requested more time to carry out due diligence for the three available...

Iraq.(News Digest)(Program Management Office of the Coalition Provisional Authority)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Iraq: Washington Group International announced that it and its subcontractors are now employing more than 1000 Iraqi citizens to help rebuild Iraq's electrical, water and other critical infrastructure. Washington Group has been awarded four...

Jordan.(News Digest)(Finance)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Jordan: The $300m Jordanian Gas Transportation Pipeline project is expected to achieve financial close shortly. The project is part of a regional pipeline project that aims to transport gas from Egypt to Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and beyond.

Namibia.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Namibia: Namibia is undertaking a feasibility study into the possible construction of a $950m combined cycle gas turbine plant located at Oranjemund, around 800 km from Windhoek. The plant would be rated between 800 and 1600 MW and would use...

Romania.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Romania: Five foreign companies have shown interest in the privatization of Romanian power distribution companies Electrica Oltenia and Electrica Moldova, said the country's trade minister. These are AES of the US, Greece's Public Power...

Slovakia.(News Digest)(Mergers, acquisitions and divestments)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Slovakia: Slovakia is to sell the state's remaining shares in west Slovakian power distributor Zapadoslovenska Energetika. E.ON is expected to bid for the 41 per cent of the company that is to be sold to a strategic investor with a further ten...

Turkey.(News Digest)(Energy policy)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Turkey: The Turkish government is planning to launch tenders to sell power distribution companies in five or six regions in October 2004 as part of its privatization process. Privatization of power generation facilities is scheduled to begin in...

UAE.(News Digest)(Energy policy)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... UAE: Areva's Transmission and Distribution division has been awarded a [euro]70m ($85m) contract from the United Arab Emirates' Ministry of Electricity and Water for the design and installation of a new high voltage substation in Dhaid to...

Eurelectric calls for coherent framework.(Europe)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Hans Haider, president of the Union of the Electricity Industry (Eurelectric), has called for a more coherent energy regulatory framework in Europe to help meet the goals of economic development, energy security and environmental...

Renewables 2004 sets targets.(Europe)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The International Conference for Renewable Energies was last month declared a success by its German hosts when its aim of establishing an International Action Plan on renewable energy was achieved. It also succeeded in agreement on a shared...

Capgemini surveys utilities.(Europe)(Electric utilities)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Capgemini's third annual Global Utilities Survey has highlighted a number of issues faced by the European and global electricity markets as they grow increasingly competitive. The report flagged particular concerns over the customer switching...

Eclipse starts offshore hybrid plant.(Europe)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Eclipse Energy has started the engineering design and consultation phase of its innovative 'wind and gas to wire' project in the east Irish Sea. The Ormonde project will be centered on two undeveloped natural gas fields and an offshore wind...

Scotland rewires.(Europe)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... UK utility ScottishPower has announced a [pounds sterling]400m ($732m) project to upgrade high voltage power lines in Scotland in order to meet the demands of an increased level of renewable energy in the system. The new lines will bring the...

Europe.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Europe: A report from Prospex Research has found that European electricity trading volumes increased in 2003, with the largest volumes seen in Germany. Excluding the Nordic region, total power trading volumes in Western Europe in the...

Finland.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Finland: Teollisuuden Voima Oy (TVO) has signed a contract with Areva for the supply of uranium and transformation services required to manufacture nuclear fuel for the Olkiluoto 3 reactor. The [euro]100m ($121m) contract covers the supply of...

Germany.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Germany: German investigators have searched several Siemens AG offices in Germany in connection with a bribery probe in Italy involving former managers of the company. The Italian investigation is trying to determine whether three former...

Ireland.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Ireland: ESB Ireland is planning to construct a [pounds sterling]275m ($500m), 400 MW combined cycle gas turbine plant at the existing Aghada site. Siemens, Alstom and a partnership of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and NEL Power are expected to...

Italy.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Italy: Foster Wheeler Italiana has been awarded two contracts by ERG Raffinerie Mediterranee for the expansion of an existing power station and construction of a new ultra-desulphurization unit at the ISAB refinery at Priolo Gargallo, Italy....

Italy.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Italy: Rolls-Royce and the University of Genoa in Italy have formally inaugurated a university technology centre (UTC) to conduct research into fuel cell systems. Rolls-Royce recently formed a new company--Rolls-Royce Fuel Cell Systems...

Sweden.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Sweden: Swedish and Norwegian power grid operators Svenska Kraftnat and Statnett plan to construct an 850 MW high voltage interconnector between Sweden and Norway. The line would replace an existing 550 MW line, and would be completed by 2009.

UK.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... UK: Cleanaway Ltd is planning to develop a [pounds sterling]12m ($22m) landfill gas power plant at the Pitsea landfill site near Basildon, Essex. The initial plant will be 8 MW, with an option to increase it to 14 MW depending on gas...

Three Gorges hydro plant adds new HVDC link.(Asia-Pacific)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... State Grid Corporation of China has awarded ABB a $390m contract to build a key power link from the Three Gorges hydropower plant in central China to the coastal city of Shanghai. The 3000 MW high voltage direct current (HVDC) link, which...

Cambodia powers up.(Asia-Pacific)(Khmer Electrical Power Co. (KEP))( Electricite du Cambodge (EDC))(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Independent power producer, Khmer Electrical Power Co. (KEP), is to develop a 30 MWe diesel power plant in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The power generated will be sold to the state utility, Electricite du Cambodge (EDC) under a power purchase...

Indian textile company to install Rolls B-gas engine.(Asia-Pacific)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Indian's leading textile company, Garden Silk Mills, has awarded Rolls-Royce a contract for a cogeneration plant based on Rolls-Royce's Bergen B gas engine. This order is the first for the Bergen B engine in India and is the world's most...

Pakistan issues LOI for 740 MW Munda hydropower project.(Asia-Pacific)(Amzo Corp.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The Pakistan Power Infrastructure Board (PPIB) issued a letter of interest to Amzo Corp. of the US for construction of the 740 MW Munda multi-purpose dam project (MMDP). The $1.2bn project is to be situated in the Northwest Frontier...

Indonesia expands generation output.(Asia-Pacific)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Independent power producer, PT Paiton Energy has announced it will install an extra 800 MW at its 1290 MW coal fired plant at the Paiton Complex in east Java, Indonesia. The cost of the project will amount to some $580m. Pending...

China's faces energy bust.(Asia-Pacific)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... China's escalating energy-supply economy could be facing future pitfalls, according to a new report by US-based Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA). The report, titled 'The global impact of China's Energy Quandary', highlights...

China.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... China: GE Energy has received a contract worth $9.9m to supply three hydro turbines and additional equipment for the Sinanjiang River hydropwer station in Mojiang County, China. The new hydro plant, which will enter commercial operation in...

India.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... India: Tata Power Company of India proposes to raise $500m in order to meet capital expenditure for various on-going projects. These include the 330 MW hydropower project in Uttaranchal, the 120 MW project in Jojobera and other power projects....

India.(News Digest)
July 1, 2004... India: Marking its first wind turbine project in India, GE Energy is supplying 18 GE 1.5 MW units for the Nuziveedu Seeds Ltd wind power project. With construction being executed in three phases in Karnataka State, south India, the project will...

India.(News Digest)
July 1, 2004... India: India's state-owned National Thermal Power Corporation said that its fifth 500 MW unit of the Talcher Super Thermal power project has been synchronized one year ahead of schedule. According to the schedule, this unit was to be...

Indonesia.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Indonesia: Amoseas Indonesia, a unit of USA-based ChevronTexaco, says that it will start the construction of a third geothermal power plant, to be called Darajat III in Garut, west Java, by the end of the year as part of its expansion in...

Japan.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Japan: Hydrogenics Corp. a designer and manufacturer of hydrogen and fuel cell systems, has won a contract from Itochu Corp. of Tokyo, Japan to provide a 10 kW fuel cell power module for a demonstration project in Mie Prefecture.

Philippines.(News Digest)(The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA))(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Philippines: The National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) of the Philippines has approved the loan extension for an $82m geothermal power project managed by the state-owned National Power Corporation. The NEDA board approved Napocor's...

Philippines.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Philippines: Sithe Philippines, a local subsidiary of the New York-based Sithe Energy Corp., has concluded negotiations and arrangements for the sale of its 42.5 per cent stake to Japanese firm Marubeni Corp. in the $1.2bn San Roque...

Canada commissions VFT.(Americas)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Hydro Quebec's TransEnergie has commissioned a new variable frequency transformer (VFT) at the Langlois substation. The project marks the commercial debut of the VFT technology developed by GE Energy. The Langlois substation is located near...

Mexico orders 1180 MW CCGT.(Americas)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Iberdrola Energia has awarded a contract to build the 1180 MW, Altamira V combined cycle gas-fired plant in Mexico to engineering company ICA Fluor. Total investment of the project, situated near Tamaulipas, will amount to $570m. Power...

Venezuela receives five bids for Tocoma hydropower project.(Americas)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Venezuela's state-owned generator Edelca has received five bids for the design, construction and installation of ten turbines for its 2200 MW Tocomo hydropower project. Bidders included the GECI--GEEN--GEES--Marubeni consortium, CNMEG del...

Chile fears power shortages.(Americas)(hydroelectric plant )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The operator of Chile's central power grid, CDEC-SIC, has highlighted the possibility of power shortages due to a lack of rainfall and gas supply cuts from Argentina. Argentina is experiencing energy shortages and has curtailed gas exports...

US at "critical juncture".(Americas)
July 1, 2004... Tight world oil supplies, constraints on US natural gas production and geopolitical turmoil are all putting the US energy sector at a critical juncture, according to Deniel Yergin, chairman of Cambridge Energy Research Associates. The US...

EHN eyes US wind market.(Americas)(Blue Canyon)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Spain-based wind turbine manufacturer, EHN, has acquired a share in the Blue Canyon wind power project in Oklahoma. The wind farm comprises 45, 1.65 MW turbines with a combined total capacity of 74 MW. EHN has a 25 per cent interest in the...

Argentina.(News Digest)(Argentina's Energy Department)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Argentina: Argentina's Energy Department has implemented its Rational Energy Use Programme (PURE) to reduce electricity consumption in certain areas of the country. The plan will penalize consumers who use more electricity than in the same...

Brazil.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Brazil: Alstom has signed a contract with Votorantim Energia to provide operation and maintenance services for the 160 MW Pedra do Cavalo hydropower plant. The power plant is located on the Paraguacu River, in the state of Bahia.

Brazil.(News Digest)( Eletrobras Termonuclear S.A. )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Brazil: European joint venture Framatome ANP has been awarded a [euro]44m ($54m) contract by Eletrobras Termonuclear S.A. for the supply of two replacement steam generators for the Angra 1 nuclear power plant. Design of the new generators will...

Brazil.(News Digest)
July 1, 2004... Brazil: Brazil's sourthern state of Rio Grande do Sul is expecting power sector investments to reach $4.7bn to double its installed capacity to 8000 MW by 2010. Four coal fired projects, seven hydropower plants and several renewable projects...

Mexico.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Mexico: Electricity demand in Mexico is forecast to grow at 5.6 per cent per year, requiring investments of $58.3bn over the next ten years, according to the country's government. Important policy objectives are to ensure appropriate supply,...

USA.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... USA: Portland General Electric Co. is planning to build a 400 MW combined cycle power plant at Port Westward in Columbia County, Oregon. It expects to select an EPC contractor in the second half of 2006, and construction is due to start by the...

USA.(News Digest)
July 1, 2004... USA: Genpower is seeking government approval for a $940m, 600 MW coal fired supercritical power plant, to be located in West Virginia. One supercritical pulverised coal boiler and one steam turbine will be used in the plant. Start up is...

USA.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... USA: American Superconductor has sold two dynamic voltage control systems to a large North American wind farm. The two D-VAR units will mitigate voltage disturbances in the transmission grid while compensating for natural voltage fluctuations....

Entergy-Koch reviewed.(Companies)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Entergy Corporation and Koch Industries, the 50-50 owners of Houston-based Entergy-Koch LP, have announced a broad strategic review of the company they established in 2001, with a view to a possibility of selling the venture's energy trading...

Deutz AG takes [euro]40m charge in restructuring process.(Companies)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... German engine manufacturer Deutz AG has announced a restructuring of its medium and large engine business operations, aimed at creating a more efficient and profitable organization. In the short term this will result in a provision of...

TXU and Capgemini form new outsource venture.(Companies)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Capgemini and TXU Corp. have agreed to establish Capgemini Energy Limited Partnership, a new company that will initially provide business process services and information technology solutions to TXU, with a plan to offer similar services to...

Twin boost for Trithor 2G HTS.(Companies)(Trithor)(Leibniz Institute )(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... The German manufacturer of high temperature superconducting (HTS) wire for electric power applications, Trithor, has signed agreements with Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden to accelerate developments in HTS...

Gasification deal sealed.(Companies)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Oil company ConocoPhillips and global engineering group Flour Corp. have announced a worldwide alliance to develop, design, construct and operate new energy schemes utilizing ConocoPhillips'E-Gas technology for energy and chemical products. ...

Wartsila, Ballard collect awards.(Companies)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Finnish power group Wartsila has won the 2004 Frost & Sullivan Market Leadership Award for the European cogeneration reciprocating engine market. Frost & Sullivan noted that strong technology innovation has been instrumental in Wartsila's...

Aker Kvaerner positive.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Aker Kvaerner positive: The oil, gas, energy and process group Aker Kvaerner reported positive results in the first quarter of 2004 with EBITDA of NOK324m ($46.8m), compared with NOK209m in the same period last year.

British Energy improves.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... British Energy improves: British Energy posted a UK operating profit of [pounds sterling]57m ($103.7m) for the year to March 2004 compared to [pounds sterling]7m last year and a loss before tax and items of [pounds sterling]194m compared with...

Fortum outsourcing.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Fortum outsourcing: In order to improve service and efficiency, Fortum is in negotiations to outsource its IT infrastructure from September 2004. The chosen provider will handle work stations, server and data communication services as well as...

GE moves on BHA.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... GE moves on BHA: GE Energy has signed an agreement to acquire BHA Group Holdings, a Kansas City-based provider of air quality control products and services, in a cash transaction worth $260m.

MTU growth decade.(News Digest)(MTU Friedrichshafen)(sales)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... MTU growth decade: DaimlerChrysler-owned engine company MTU Friedrichshafen has maintained its revenue growth for a tenth successive year. The 2003 financial year saw sales of approximately [euro]1.3bn ($1.6bn) with over 7000 engines sold.

Rovsing adds backing.(News Digest)(finance)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Rovsing adds backing: Rovsing, the Danish developer of advanced predictive maintenance and condition monitoring systems, has secured [euro]10m ($12m) in funding from investors for further commercialization of its activities and international...

Sulzer adds OSU.(News Digest)(Sulver Limited's)(mergers and acquisition)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Sulzer adds OSU: Sulver Limited's thermal coatings business has been strengthened by the acquisition of OSU Maschinenbau, a Duisberg-based arc spray specialist. The OSU Maschinenbau product portfolio will now be available through Sulzer Metco's...

Siemens launches HV data lines.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Siemens launches HV data lines: Siemens is marketing a power line carrier system, Powerlink, capable of transferring data via high voltage lines. The system can also send video data, enhancing security at remote transformer substations.

Siemens PG multiplies.(News Digest)(mergers, aquisitions and divestsments)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... Siemens PG multiplies: Since its takeover of Demag Delaval in 2001 and the acquisition of Alstom Industrial Turbine business in 2003, Siemens Power Generation Group has multiplied its business volume tenfold from [euro]270m ($328m) to over...

VA Tech orders up.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2004... VA Tech orders up: first quarter figures of 2004 saw overall orders up 23 per cent at Austria's VA Tech. A steady increase was reported in the power generation division due to increased demand for electricity and a focus on renewable energies.

The cost-service balance: good customer service is a key factor for success in a competitive electricity market. Call centres play an important role in this respect, but can be costly to operate. Salman Wasti of Datamonitor examines the cost-service dynamics of utility call centres.(Utility Call Centres)
July 1, 2004... Residential electricity and gas customers have poorer perceptions of utility customer services than the utilities deserve. However, service excellence is a difficult prospect to promise and deliver cheaply. Both utilities and customers will...

Eskom looks to the future; electricity demand in South Africa is rising, and national utility Eskom is investigating ways of cost-effectively increasing generating capacity. Alstom's EcoRam product has highlighted ways in which existing power plants can be optimized to increase output.(Operation and Maintenance)
July 1, 2004... Since 1999 the electrical peak demand has been increasing at 3-5 per cent per year for Eskom's power stations. It is expected that the need for electrical energy in South Africa and its neighbouring countries will continue to grow in the next...

Seawater FGD debuts at Alba: Fisia Babcock Environment (FBE) has developed its own sea water FGD technology. Its first plant, located in Bahrain with a capacity of 150 MW, has been in operation for more than a year and may serve as a reference for coal fired plants in the EU considering the technology for emission reduction.(Emission Control)(flue gas desulphurization)
July 1, 2004... Over the past 20 years there have been significant advances in the design and operation of flue gas desulphurization (FGD) systems, driven by differences in fuels and economic pressures. Larger coal and oil fired power plants within the...

Gotland: the HVDC pioneer: fifty years ago, the first ever commercial HVDC link was commissioned on Gotland. PEi visited this Swedish island to trace the history of the technology, and to find out what the next step in its development will be.(HVDC Systems)(high voltage direct current)
July 1, 2004... In 1950, high energy prices on the Swedish island of Gotland were affecting the local economy and resulting in depopulation and unemployment. In order to reverse this trend and boost the island's industrial sector, the Swedish government...

New scrubber design for wet FGD applications.(ALSTOM: ADVERTISEMENT)(Flue Gas Desulphurisation)(Advertisement)
July 1, 2004... European countries have made significant progress in reducing pollutant emissions, particularly sulphur dioxide (S[O.sub.2]) emissions. This is clearly the result of the implementation of new environmental policies and regulations, the changes...

The benefit of foresight: wholesale power trading brings numerous challenges for generators, not least avoiding penalties for imbalances. To operate effectively, companies need to integrate their IT systems, giving traders access to accurate and timely information.(IT Focus)
July 1, 2004... Privatized in 1996, British Energy plc is the UK's largest electricity generator. British Energy Power and Energy Trading (BEPET) manages the purchase and sale of electricity in the UK market. With annual output in excess of 70 TWh, the...

Diary dates.(Calendar)
July 1, 2004... July The British Wind Energy Association, 7th-8th July 2004, Manchester, UK Details From: Renewable Energy House, 1 Aztec Row, Berners Road, London, N1 OPW Tel: + 44 (0) 207 689 1960 Fax: + 44 (0) 207 689 1969 Email:...