Power Engineering International articles from March 2004

Power Engineering International archives from March 2004

Let's get it on.(Up Front)(foreign investments in Pakistan)
March 1, 2004... When discussing India and Pakistan, the phrase "let's get it on" might conjure up images of legendary fight referee Mills Lane talking to the boxers just before the start of the bout. But with the recent improvement in relations between the two...

Bridging the supply gap: power shortages in China are set to continue throughout 2004. This may not be good news for China, but spells opportunity for equipment manufacturers, writes Sian Green.(Analysis)
March 1, 2004... According to the China Electricity Council (CEC), continued strong economic growth will drive rapid growth in electricity demand in China in 2004. A forecast rise in electricity demand for 2004 of 12 per cent will mean that the country will...

IP closes Saudi financing.(International)(International Power, Saudi Arabian Oil Co.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... International Power and Saudi Oger have announced that they have successfully completed the financing for the Saudi Aramco cogeneration plants. The four cogeneration projects have a combined capacity of 1074 MW and will supply power and steam...

Enel wins Russian power plant management contract.(International)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Italy's Enel SpA and Russian private investment group ESN have won a contract to manage the North West thermal power plant (NWTPP) in St. Petersburg, Russia. The contract is thought to be the first of its kind in Russia won by a non-Russian...

Fluor Corporation awarded Iraq reconstruction contract.(International)(United States. Army. Corps of Engineers)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... The US Army Corps of Engineers has awarded US engineering firm Fluor Corporation three separate task orders worth $154m for electrical power restoration work in Iraq. The task orders call for Fluor to rehabilitate multiple power generation...

Russia delays genco decision.(International)(generating companies)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Further discussions on the creation of Russia's new wholesale generating companies (OGKs) was delayed in February following President Vladimir Putin's decision to sack his government. The creation of ten OGKs and up to 20 regional generating...

Edison sells Turkish unit.(International)(Edison Gas S.p.A., KOC Holding A.S.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Italy's Edison has sold its controlling interest in a Turkish power plant to a unit of Turkish conglomerate Koc Holding for a total consideration of [euro]53.2m ($6.2m). The sale is in line with Edison's plan to divest non-strategic assets...

Areva wins Algeria contract.(International)(Sonelgaz)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Areva's transmission and distribution (T&D) division has been awarded two turnkey contracts by Algerian utility Sonelgaz totalling more than [euro]32m. The contracts are part of the country's on-going electrical network improvement...

Bahrain.(News Digest)(Ministry of Finance and National Economy plans )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Bahrain: The Ministry of Finance and National Economy is seeking expressions of interest for the construction of a $1.15bn, 1000 MWe independent power plant to be built on reclaimed land at the Hidd complex. The first phase of the project,...

Bulgaria.(News Digest)(prequalification process of flue gas)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Bulgaria: The Ministry of Environment and Water has started the prequalification process for a [euro]80m ($100m) project for the delivery, installation and commissioning of flue gas desulphurization systems for the Maritsa 5 and 6 plants.

Czech Republic.(News Digest)(Electricity consumption)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Czech Republic: Electricity consumption in the Czech Republic increased by more than two per cent year-on-year to a record level of 54.8 TWh in 2003. Electricity production grew nine per cent to 83.2 TWh, 75 per cent of which was supplied by...

Kenya.(News Digest)(World Bank loan to electricity sector)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Kenya: The World Bank has given Kenya a KES3.5bn ($45.8m) loan to strengthen power transmission and distribution infrastructure. The project will help to reduce the frequency of blackouts and increase the number of people with access to...

Oman.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Oman: India's National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. (BHEL) have appointed Ernst & Young as their exclusive financial advisor for their upcoming integrated power and desalination plant at Sohar, Oman. The...

Poland.(News Digest)(Morskie Elektrownie Wiatrowe has contracted AWS Scientific of the USA )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Poland: Morskie Elektrownie Wiatrowe (MEW) has contracted AWS Scientific of the USA to conduct a feasibility study into the possible construction of a $450m, 250 MW offshore wind farm to be located at Slupsk Shoals in the Baltic Sea. The wind...

Tanzania.(News Digest)(FMO acquired Songas stake)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Tanzania: CDC Globeleq has announced that FMO, the Dutch Development Finance Company, has purchased a stake in the Songas natural gas processing, transportation and power generation project in Tanzania for $14.4m. The project comprises a gas...

UAE.(News Digest)(power generation and water desalination project at Qidfa in Fujairah)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... UAE: The Abu Dhabi Union Water & Electricity Company (OWEC) has invited expressions of interest for an equity stake in its power generation and water desalination project at Qidfa in Fujairah, UAE. UWEC is seeking a developer to invest in the...

Ukraine.(News Digest)(State Property Fund stops privatization)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Ukraine: The Ukrainian State Property Fund has cancelled plans to partly privatize the country's regional utilities following a presidential decree on the consolidation of energy assets.

Britain and Spain take top spot in renewable table.(Europe)(energy industries index)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Ernst & Young has published its third Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index, revealing that Great Britain has regained first place as the most attractive national environment for wind power while Spain is first in terms of overall...

Enel to build hydrogen plant.(Europe)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Italian utility Enel has announced plans to construct an industrial scale combined cycle power plant near Venice that will use hydrogen as its fuel. The plant will be constructed as part of the Hydrogen Park project, which will turn Porto...

Council adopts cogen text.(Europe)(European Cogeneration Directive)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... The European Council has formally adopted the European Cogeneration Directive, bringing to an end a series of long and controversial debates on how best to promote cogeneration in the European Union. The directive will enter into force when it...

Italy power exchange delayed.(Europe)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... The start date for Italy's wholesale power exchange has been delayed due to insufficient supply, according to Industry Minister Antonio Marzano. No indication of when the exchange will start up has been given. The exchange had originally...

IEA launches GHG study.(Europe)(International Energy Agency)(Greenhouse Gas Research and Development Programme)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... The International Energy Agency (IEA) has launched a new study under its Greenhouse Gas Research and Development Programme to investigate the capture and recovery of carbon dioxide (C[O.sub.2]) in the power industry. Companies working on the...

Europe.(News Digest)(Association of European Gas and Steam Turbine Manufacturers)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Europe: The Association of European Gas and Steam Turbine Manufacturers has been founded by eight companies in order to help strengthen the competitive position of the industry in Europe and further afield. The founding members include Alstom...

Belgium/France.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Belgium/France: Electricite de France (EDF) and Belgium's Electrabel have reached an agreement to further open their electricity markets to each other to improve competition. The two utilities have agreed to let each other sell electricity from...

Italy.(News Digest)(Energia Molise )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Italy: Energia Molise is to build a [euro]725m ($903m), 800 MW combined cycle power plant at Termoli in the Molise region of Italy. The plant will comprise two GE 9FA gas turbines, two heat recovery boilers and one steam turbine, and will start...

Norway.(News Digest)(green certificate)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Norway: Norway is expected to present a proposal for the introduction of a green certificate market similar to that in Sweden. Under the scheme, electricity companies would be obliged to produce a certain amount of green power. Trade in...

Spain.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Spain: Iberdrola invested over [euro]980m ($1221m) in renewable energy in 2003, bringing its renewable installed capacity to 2257 MW. It added 837 MW of wind capacity, bringing its wind portfolio to 1981 MW across 12 regions of Spain.

Spain.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Spain: Enel Union Fenosa Renovables has launched two new wind farms in Galicia, northwest Spain. The two wind farms will have an installed capacity of 50.7 MW and will require an investment of [euro]50m ($62m).

Switzerland.(News Digest)(power regulators)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Switzerland: A Swiss parliamentary commission has proposed that the country's power market be gradually opened to competition. It has suggested that an independent market regulator is established to control and supervise power transfers. Its...

UK.(News Digest)(IGCC power plant)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... UK: Valleys Energy has applied for planning permission to build a [pounds sterling]370m ($692m) IGCC power plant at Onllwyn in Wales that will use locally-mined coal to produce hydrogen via a gasification cycle. Start-up is planned for 2007,...

UK.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... UK: Mott MacDonald has been appointed by the Carbon Trust to lead a team of companies reviewing the future prospects for tidal stream energy generation in the UK and Europe.

Indonesia orders CCGT plant.(Asia-Pacific)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Indonesia's PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) has awarded a turnkey engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for a 740 MW combined cycle power plant to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. (MHI) and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation....

India plans 3500 MW combined cycle plant.(Asia-Pacific)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Reliance Industries is planning to construct a 3500 MW natural gas fired combined cycle power plant in Uttar Pradesh, India. The plant would be the largest of its kind in the world and would help to reduce the chronic shortage of electricity in...

Chinese industrial park plans CCGT capacity.(Asia-Pacific)(Caojing cogeneration plant )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Black & Veatch has been awarded a contract to supply equipment and services for the 600 MW Caojing cogeneration plant in China. The plant, which will be supplied in consortium with GE Energy to the Shanghai Chemical Industrial Park, will be one...

China to invest in 144 plants.(Asia-Pacific)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... China's government is planning to start construction of 144 power stations with a total capacity of 37 GW in 2004. The plants will be built at a cost of $31bn and will help to alleviate power shortages in the country. China is also...

Kowaco awards contract.(Asia-Pacific)(Honeywell Process Solutions )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Korea Water Resources Corporation (Kowaco) has awarded Honeywell Process Solutions a $3.2m contract to provide automation control systems for hydropower stations and hydraulic dams in South Korea. The contract represents the second phase of a...

Australia.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Australia: Pacific Hydro Ltd has gained planning approval for two new wind power projects in Australia. Construction of the projects--the 57.8 MW Clements Gap and the 59.4 MW Shea Oak Flat wind farms--will start in 2004.

China.(News Digest)(Japan AE Power Systems Corp. has established a joint venture with Tianshui Changcheng Switchgear Factory)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... China: Japan AE Power Systems Corp. has established a joint venture with Tianshui Changcheng Switchgear Factory to manufacture medium voltage C-GIS (cubicle type gas insulated switchgear) and VCBs (vacuum circuit breakers) in China. Demand for...

India.(News Digest)(India Power Fund introduction)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... India: The Indian government has launched the India Power Fund, a financial programme designed to meet the shortfall in equity needs experienced by the power sector. The fund has been set up with an initial contribution of Rs2bn ($44.2m) from...

India.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... India: Bharat Heavy Electrical Ltd. (BHEL) has secured a contract for setting up a 250 MW unit at the New Parli thermal power plant in Maharashtra state. BHEL's scope under the $132m order includes design, engineering, manufacture, supply of...

Indonesia.(News Digest)(Indonesia's Paiton II power plant)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Indonesia: Electric Power Development Co. (J-Power) and Keppel Energy Pte. are to acquire a stake in Indonesia's Paiton II power plant in east Java. The Paiton II plant is the largest coal fired plant in the country.

South Korea.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... South Korea: Korea South-East Power Co. has named Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction Co as the preferred bidder for the supply of boilers to two 870 MW thermal power plants to be built in western South Korea. The two power...

Taiwan.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Taiwan: SNC-Lavalin has signed a $11.5m contract with Taiwan Power Co. to supply a new distribution control system in Taipei. The new system will allow Taiwan Power to remotely control and supervise its power distribution network in the heavily...

Vietnam.(News Digest)(Phu My power plant )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Vietnam: Alstom and Marubeni have been awarded a contract to supply and construct a 170 MW combined cycle add-on unit at the Phu My power plant in Vietnam. By the end of 2005, the Phu My complex will have a generating capacity of 3800 MW....

CFE plans seven projects.(Americas)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Mexico's state power company CFE is to call for bids on seven new power generation projects in 2004. The projects will require an investment of $3.3bn, and are in addition to 14 other projects which are currently under construction, said CFE....

EnerSur wins Yuncan concession.(Americas)(Yuncan hydropower project )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... The Peruvian government has awarded a 30-year concession for the Yuncan hydropower project to EnerSur, a subsidiary of Belgium's Tractebel. The Yuncan project will complete EnerSur's existing thermal generation portfolio in the country,...

CERA: 'back to basics' not enough.(Americas)(Cambridge Energy Research Associates)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... The "back to basics" strategy employed by many US energy companies in the wake of the Enron scandal and valuation collapses is limiting growth potential. Company strategies must now be reset to meet new challenges and objectives, according to...

Spanish power groups look to invest in Latin America.(Americas)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Spanish energy companies Iberdrola and Endesa have announced plans to continue investing in new capacity in South America over the next four years. Endesa will invest [euro]2.4bn ($3bn) in 2004-2008, while Iberdrola will invest [euro]1.9bn over...

Suroit future uncertain.(Americas)(power plant review)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Public opposition to the proposed Suroit power plant in Quebec, Canada, is threatening the future of the project. The 840 MW, C$550m ($410m) combined cycle plant would be the first in North America to use GE Energy's high efficiency 7H gas...

Argentina.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Argentina: Finning International has won a $7m contract to build a power plant to supply electricity to Barrick Gold Corp.'s gold project in Argentina. The new power plant will supply power and heat to the Veladero mine and processing mill from...

Brazil.(News Digest)(Alstom)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Brazil: Alstom has delivered the Itapebi power plant on the Jequitinhonha River in Bahia, Brazil, three months ahead of schedule. Alstom's scope of supply included three 155 MW turbines as well as generators, control systems and other...

Canada.(turbine 700 MW offshore wind farm development )(Nai Kun Wind Development )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Canada: Nai Kun Wind Development is seeking to develop a 350-turbine 700 MW offshore wind farm off the coast of British Columbia near Queen Charlotte Island. The project is valued at $1150m and is scheduled to start operating in 2007.

Chile.(News Digest)(Innogy plc)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Chile: Innogy subsidiary Campanario Generacion is carrying out a study into the viability of a $200m, 370 MW combined cycle power plant scheduled to start operating in open cycle mode by the end of 2005. It would be fully operational by early...

Chile.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Chile: AES Gener is planning to construct a new combined cycle power plant in Laguna Verde in Chile's Region V. The plant will add 394 MW to the SIC grid and will require an investment of $210m.

Colombia.(News Digest)(guerrilla forces blew up two electricity towers)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Colombia: Some 130 000 people were left without power in February after guerrilla forces blew up two electricity towers in Antioquia province. The government said that the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels were responsible...

USA.(News Digest)(FuelCell Energy and Caterpillar Inc finalized a contract with the City of Westerville Electric Division)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... USA: FuelCell Energy and Caterpillar Inc. have finalized a contract with the City of Westerville Electric Division, Ohio, to supply a 250 kW Direct Fuel Cell power plant. The plant will be one of the first of its kind in the country to feed...

USA.(News Digest)(acquistions)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... USA: Ormat Industries has acquired the assets and electricity contracts for the Steamboat 2 and 3 geothermal power plants in Nevada for $55m. The deal is expected to be closed in March 2004.

USA.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... USA: Hannahville Indian Community in Michigan is seeking regulatory approval for a $1000m complex consisting of four 250 MWe coal fired power plants. Construction could start in 2005.

USA.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... USA: Florida Power and Light is seeking approval for a $600m project to add 1100 MW of gas fired capacity to its existing Turkey Point nuclear plant. Completion of the project is scheduled for 2007.

IP protects value.(Companies)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... The UK's International Power (IP) is to initiate a review of its US business due to a challenging trading environment in the USA. In its annual results statement, the company said that it is taking active steps to preserve shareholder value....

Catalytica buys SCR.(Companies)(Catalytica Energy Systems has acquired SCR-Tech LLC)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... US-based emissions technology company Catalytica Energy Systems has acquired SCR-Tech LLC. The acquisition of the player in SCR catalyst regeneration technologies and management services for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems,...

FirstEnergy divests.(Companies)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... US-based FirstEnergy Corp. has announced that it has completed the sale of its remaining interests in international assets that were acquired as part of its November 2001 merger with GPU Inc. As a result, the company no longer has ownership in...

Ionics acquires Ecolochem.(Companies)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Ionics Inc. has completed the acquisition of Ecolochem Inc. for $219m in cash and 4.65m shares of Ionics common stock. The transaction will enhance Ionics' ability to offer a wide range of outsourced water services to its customers. Ionics...

Vattenfall strong.(profits)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Higher revenues from electricity sales in the Nordic countries and Germany has helped to increase net sales and operating profit, Vattenfall has reported in its year-end report. Net sales by the Swedish company increased by 10.8 per cent to...

Fuel cell alliance.(Companies)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Maxwell Technologies Inc. and Hydrogenics Corporation have agreed a strategic alliance to collaborate on integrating Maxwell's Boostcap ultracapacitors into Hydrogenics' fuel cell power systems. The alliance consists of a joint development...

ABB strong.(News Digest)(ABB's core divisions, Power Technologies and Automation Technologies profits)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... ABB strong: ABB's core divisions, Power Technologies and Automation Technologies have posted strong results for 2003, delivering significantly higher earnings before interest and taxes and cash flow compared with 2002. The improvement was...

Iberdrola record.(profits)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Iberdrola record: Spanish utility Iberdrola has reported record profits of [euro]1.06bn ($1.29bn) for 2003, an increase of just over ten per cent on 2002. The improvement is the result of lower electricity production costs and a lower tax...

Kepco posts.(News Digest)(Korea Electric Power Corporation profits)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Kepco posts: The Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco) has recorded a net profit of KRW2.32tr ($2bn) on sales of KRW22.4tr in 2003. Net profit was down by 24.3 per cent on 2002 due to increased purchases from power generating companies and...

Konarka breakthrough.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Konarka breakthrough: Konarka Technologies has announced that it has developed prototypes of its photovoltaic cells that have achieved more than seven per cent efficiency. The company is focused on the development of chemistry-based...

Pelamis launch.(News Digest)(Pelamis Wave Energy Converter)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Pelamis launch: Ocean Power Delivery Ltd. has completed the build of the first full-scale Pelamis Wave Energy Converter after six years of design and development. Similar in size to a modern wind turbine, the Pelamis is designed to harness the...

RWE reports.(News Digest)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... RWE reports: German utility company RWE met all of its fiscal targets during 2003, and exceeded some in certain areas. The group's operating result climbed 23 per cent to [euro]5551m ($6775m). In 2004 the company will focus on organic growth in...

Score created.(News Digest)(Score Energy Ltd., Score Group)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Score created: A new company. Score Energy Ltd., has been formed to consolidate Score Group's gas turbine services. The company will be based at a new facility in Peterhead, Scotland, and will focus on improving the reliability, efficiency and...

Keeping the lights on: in the wake of a series of major power blackouts affecting national power grids across Europe, the European Commission has proposed a legislative package to strengthen infrastructure and address security of supply by encouraging an increase in power production.(European Policy)
March 1, 2004... The focus of attention amongst European Union legislators in recent years has been on the introduction of a fully competitive market in electricity. With the ink barely dry on directives aimed at ensuring choice for all electricity consumers by...

Load management: bridging the gap: US utility PacifiCorp has implemented an innovative load management programme to manage air conditioning load during peak periods. The Cool Keeper programme enables it to address peak demand and grid congestion issues.(Energy Management)(Integrated Resource Plan)
March 1, 2004... Utility companies, regardless of location, have one goal of paramount importance, "Keep the lights on!" To keep customers happy and businesses running smoothly, utility companies allocate innumerable man-hours and expend significant resources...

Start-up challenge: start-up during 2002 of the Gebze, Adapazari and Izmir combined cycle power plants in Turkey revealed over-pressure at the boiler feedwater pump discharge. The over-pressure was caused by grid over-frequency and cold water used at start-up and required an innovative solution to ensure that the plants could continue to operate reliably.(Combined Cycle Systems)
March 1, 2004... During 2002, three gas turbine combined cycle plants together rated for a total of 3850 MW were commissioned in Turkey at the Gebze, Adapazari and Izmir sites by the Intergen-ENKA partnership. The plants are based on 770 MW power blocks each...

The French connection: the nuclear instrumentation systems of France's 900 MWe nuclear power plants have been refurbished with digital I&C, using a Spinline 3 platform. The IRSN has assessed the instrumentation system upgrade from analogue to digital technology at Fessenheim and Bugey, the first French 900 MWe nuclear units.(Nuclear Power)
March 1, 2004... Electricite de France (EDF) undertook a refurbishment of the nuclear instrumentation system installed in its CP0 series (900 MWe) units with two objectives in mind: * To enhance system availability and reliability by significantly reducing...

Manjung goes full steam ahead: the 2100 MW Manjung coal fired plant in Malaysia is one of the largest coal fired projects in southeast Asia. A noteworthy feature of the plant, which reached full commercial operation in September last year, is Alstom's seawater scrubbing process for flue gas desulphurization.(Coal Fired Power Plants)
March 1, 2004... In the mid-1990s, Malaysia was experiencing high load demand which required the addition of large amounts of baseload electricity generating capacity. At the same time, the government was also concerned about its dependence on natural gas which...

Diary dates.(Calendar)(Calendar)
March 1, 2004... March Russia Power, 10th-11th March 2004, World Trade Centre, Moscow, Russia Details from: Seonaid Thomas, PennWell Corporation, PennWell House, Horseshoe Hill, Upshire, Essex, EN9 3SR, UK Tel: +44 (0)1992 656 629 Fax: +44...