Power Engineering International articles from September 2002

Power Engineering International archives from September 2002

New look, same story? (Up Front).
September 1, 2002... They say "when the going gets tough, the tough get going." But they never said in which direction. With the recent power cuts, exacerbated by heat waves and drought, it was certainly a tough period for India's power minister Suresh Prabhu. The...

USA shies away from Europe: US energy companies are taking drastic measures to stay afloat and are retreating back to their domestic market. What does this mean for power in Europe. (Analysis).
September 1, 2002... US energy company Aquila announced in early August that it is to exit the wholesale electricity marketing and trading business, resulting in job losses of around 500 in its Merchant Services' North American and European workforce. The company...

E.ON back in with a chance for G8 sale. (International).
September 1, 2002... E.ON has been given a second chance to submit a bid for Poland's G8 Group following the failure of a local power company to strike a deal with the government. In July, Polish distribution utility EI-Dystrybucja was granted permission to...

Russia to build nuclear reactors in Iran against US wishes. (International).
September 1, 2002... Russia has made clear its intentions to supply Iran with six nuclear reactors for the southern Bushehr plant and other sites. The move was critcized by the USA, which said it would give Iran the ability to acquire nuclear weapons. The US...

JBIC funds Morocco rural power project. (International).
September 1, 2002... The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) has inked a S62.6m contract with Morocco's power giant Office National de l'Electricite (ONE) to develop distribution line networks for 88 000 households in rural areas. The 30-year,...

Cummins to aid power in Africa. (International).
September 1, 2002... Cummins Power Generation has revealed plans to generate electricity in Africa's emerging power market using a new range of mobile power plants. Tony Satterthwaite, managing director of Cummins Power Generation, outlined the plans in a...

Namibia in cross border supply line deal with Botswana. (International).
September 1, 2002... NamPower and Botswana Power Corporation have struck a deal to build a cross-border transmission line for $7.3m. The line will support the electricity needs of eastern Namibia and Ghanzi in north-west Botswana. The planning and design has...

Distribution Electrical Grids of Armenia. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... Armenia: Six companies have submitted bids to participate in an international tender for the sale of 80.1 per cent of shares in Distribution Electrical Grids of Armenia. Participants in the tender are Unified Energy Systems of Russia, AES with...

China National Water Resources. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... Ethiopia: China National Water Resources and Hydropower is building a hydro project in northern Ethiopia at a total cost of $224m. Construction of the plant, is believed to be the largest cooperative project between China and an African...

Eleven International Investors. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... Ghana: Eleven International investors have expressed interest in the construction of the Bul Hydroelectric power project. The site is located on the Black Volta river approximately 150 km upstream of the Volta Lake.

Israel Electric Corp. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... Israel: State-owned power monopoly, Israel Electric Corp., said it signed a deal with Israeli company OPC for the private supply of electricity from a new power station. The $220 million OPC plant will be constructed by Siemens. The 360 MW...

Kazakhstan is considering investing $1.9bn in the construction of two Kyrgyz hydroelectric stations. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... Kazakhstan: Kazakhstan is considering investing $1.9bn in the construction of two Kyrgyz hydroelectric stations. The country also pledged to acquire 1.1bn kWh of electricity from Kyrgyzstan.

Lithuanian negotiators have opened formal talks in Brussels over EU commitments on financial aid for the closure of the Ignalina nuclear power plant. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... Lithuania: Lithuanian negotiators have opened formal talks in Brussels over EU commitments on financial aid for the closure of the Ignalina nuclear power plant. The country estimates the shut down costs at $2.3bn. Lithuania agreed to close down...

Namibian power utility NamPower is looking for funding from foreign governments to facilitate a wind power project near Luderitz. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... Namibia: Namibian power utility NamPower is looking for funding from foreign governments to facilitate a wind power project near Luderitz. The project would be the third wind farm in Southern Africa. Two are being constructed in the western...

Centrax Gas Turbines. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... Poland: UK-based Centrax Gas Turbines has been awarded the contract to supply a 3.8 MWe natural gas fired generator set to Poland. The CX501-KB5 gas turbine powered package is to be used In the main district heating plant in the city of Tarnow,...

The Russian Power Machines Enterprise. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... Serbia: The Russian Power Machines enterprise, controlled by Interros, has won a contract to modernize the Djerdal hydropower station in Serbia for the local utility Elektropriveda. The project is expected to be completed within seven years.

Cogen industry laments European proposals. (Europe).
September 1, 2002... A proposed European commission directive for combined heat and power (CHP) is in need of a thorough revision, according to industry organizations. Euroheat & Power and Cogen Europe issued a joint statement expressing their disappointment at the...

UK launches green power certificates. (Europe).
September 1, 2002... Trading in UK Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs) became possible in July with the launch of an online register. The register tracks the production of "green" electricity which the government says must amount to at least three per cent of...

Enel agrees price for Milan grid. (Europe).
September 1, 2002... A joint statement from Enel and Milan's gas and power company Aem Milano finally set out the terms of the long, drawn-out sale of the city's electricity network by the Italian multi-utility. The price of [epsilon]423.5m ($413m) was based on the...

British Energy shares suffer. (Europe).
September 1, 2002... Shares in nuclear power producer British Energy plunged 30 per cent after the company, which generates 20 per cent of Britain's electricity, was forced to shut the second of two units at its Torness power plant due to vibration in the gas...

French energy privatization to feed advisors. (Europe).
September 1, 2002... Financial advisors are certain winners from the forthcoming asset sales within the French energy sector. Investment bankers fees from EDF, of which the government is expected to sell tip to 30 per cent, and GDF alone have been estimated at...

Boost for UK offshore wind. (Europe).
September 1, 2002... A proposal by National Wind Power for a 90 MW offshore wind farm in North Wales has been given the go-ahead by the government. The 30-turbine project will be the largest of its type in the UK and a consortium made up of Vestas, Celtic Wind...

Duke Energy International. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... France: Duke Energy international has made its first entry into the French market by acquiring power generator Compagnie Thermique du Rouvray from Sechilienne Sidec, which owns a 103 MW gas fired power plant near Rouen.

RWE. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... Germany: RWE has reported six-month net profits up 11 per cent to [epsilon]818m ($800m) helped by a recovery in German electricity prices and cost cutting.

Siemens Power Transmission and Distribution and utility Stadtwerke Leipzig have set up a 50/50 joint venture. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... Germany: Siemens Power Transmission and Distribution and utility Stadtwerke Leipzig have set up a 50/50 joint venture to offer outsourcing of management of energy systems and services to the energy industry across Germany.

TXU has asked the European Commission to revisit its decision not to intervene in the merger between German power companies E.ON and Ruhrgas. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... Germany: TXU has asked the European Commission to revisit its decision not to intervene in the merger between German power companies E.ON and Ruhrgas. The Commission says that the merger is a matter for the German competition authorities.

The Transmission and Distribution division of Austria's VA Tech has been awarded a [euro]7m contract by Public Power Corporation. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... Greece: The Transmission and Distribution division of Austria's VA Tech has been awarded a [euro]7m contract by Public Power Corporation, the leading Greek energy supplier, to supply a 170 kV gas insulated switchgear substation for Athens as...

Statkraft SF has awarded the largest turbine upgrade contract in the company's history to GE Hydro. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... Norway: Statkraft SF has awarded the largest turbine upgrade contract in the company's history to GE Hydro, a unit of GE Power Systems for the refurbishment of five of its hydropower. plants. The contract is worth $11.9m and covers 770 MW of...

Iberdrola is increasing its stake to 50 per cent in the [euro]600m Bahla de Bizkala CCGT and regasification plant project. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... Spain: Iberdrola is increasing its stake to 50 per cent in the [euro]600m Bahla de Bizkala CCGT and regasification plant project by buying the 25 per cent owned by Repsol YPF. The plant is expected to be operational next year.

US utility, Entergy Corporation is reported to want to sell its remaining UK power station. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... UK: US utility, Entergy Corporation is reported to want to sell its remaining UK power station, the 800 MW gas-fired Damhead Creek merchant plant in Kent. Sources pointed to the slump in UK wholesale power prices for the company's decision.

UK energy regulator Ofgem has published its first full review of the operation of the New Electricity Trading Arrangements. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... UK: UK energy regulator Ofgem has published its first full review of the operation of the New Electricity Trading Arrangements, which have been operating for over a year It concludes that it has met its objectives, lowered prices and been...

Five former Enron directors have formed px Limited. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... UK: Five former Enron directors have formed px Limited to operate and manage the [pounds sterling]100m ($97.8m) Teeside gas processing plant and power station. A six-year contract was secured following talks with the assets owners and...

Indian power grid fails to avoid blackouts. (Asia-Pacific).
September 1, 2002... Parts of India have suffered numerous blackouts over the past month, which have led to angry residents demonstrating in New Delhi. The cuts started at the beginning of last month when the government privatized its distribution network to two of...

Korea to install four nuclear power plants. (Asia-Pacific).
September 1, 2002... BNFL subsidiary Westinghouse Electric company, won a $350m contract to provide components, instrumentation control equipment, technical and engineering support services to four new nuclear power plants to be built in Korea. The plants will...

Indonesia plans geothermal bill. (Asia-Pacific).
September 1, 2002... The Indonesian state plans to implement a law on geothermal power that will ensure legal certainty for investors in the field. The move will help guide the government in formulating its geothermal policy. The plans came from the House...

Four firms battle for China contract. (Asia-Pacific).
September 1, 2002... General Electric, Alstom, Siemens and Mitsubishi have gone through to the final selection round to supply equipment and services for the Chinese government's plans to install 23 gas turbines in ten power plants, generating 8000 MW. The...

AEP sells CitiPower asset. (Asia-Pacific).
September 1, 2002... American Electric Power (AEP) sold CitiPower, AEP's retail electricity and gas supply and electricity distribution subsidiary in Australia, to Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings and Hong Kong Electric for $A1.55bn ($885m). The sale...

Napocor approves Kepco pay deal. (Asia-Pacific).
September 1, 2002... National Power Corp. (Napocor) approved an agreement with Korean Power Corp. (Kepco) on the latter's payment of penalties for delays in the commercial operation of the natural gas-fired Ilijan power plant. The payment will be in the form of...

Clarification.
September 1, 2002... PEI would like to clarity a news story published our July 2002 issue ('Delayed llijan project powers up Luzon grid Vol 10, Issue 7, p11), in which it was stated that problems uncovered in the rotor of the gas turbines result-ed in a five-month...

Pinnacle VRB, a subsidiary of Vanteck (VRB) Technology Corp., has won the contract for the energy storage component of Hydro Tasmania's King Island wind energy expansion project in Australia. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... Australia: Pinnacle VRB, a subsidiary of Vanteck (VRB) Technology Corp., has won the contract for the energy storage component of Hydro Tasmania's King Island wind energy expansion project in Australia. Pinnacle VRB won the tender to construct...

Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) said it had decided to exit its Indian power plants. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... India: Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) said it had decided to exit its Indian power plants, as state-run utilities had failed to honour their commercial contracts. PSEG, which holds equity in two Indian power plants, joins a series of...

Sumitomo Corp. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... Indonesia: Sumitomo Corp. will resume construction of a large thermal power plant in Indonesia. The 1200 MW thermal power plant Tanjung Jati B, is located on the central part of the Island of Java. The project was brought to a halt in 1998 due...

Korea Electric Power Corp. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... Korea: Korea Electric Power Corp. chose Korea South-East Power Co. as the first of its five power generation units it plans to sell as part of the government's plan to privatize the electricity utility industry.

Three agreements related to the proposed coal-fired power plant in Mukim Serkat, Pontian, Johor. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... Malaysia: Three agreements related to the proposed coal-fired power plant in Mukim Serkat, Pontian, Johor, were signed on July 25 by Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) and SKS Power Sdn. They are the power purchase agreements for the sale and purchase...

Officials at New Zealand energy networks company, UnitedNetworks said it had short-listed bidders for the purchase of either the whole firm or some of its assets. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... New Zealand: Officials at New Zealand energy networks company, UnitedNetworks said it had short-listed bidders for the purchase of either the whole firm or some of its assets. The company is seeking buyers for all its shares or assets because...

Senate majority leader Loren Loggerhead asked the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources to close five coal-fired power plants of the state-run National Power Corp. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... Philippines: Senate majority leader Loren Loggerhead asked the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources to close five coal-fired power plants of the state-run National Power Corp., which reportedly emit hazardous substances like mercury to...

Mirant is shelving plans to enter the South Korean electricity market and will sell its rights to build a 520 MW power plant. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... Singapore: Mirant is shelving plans to enter the South Korean electricity market and will sell its rights to build a 520 MW power plant. The Atlanta-based company announced last December it would buy Hyundai Energy from Hyundai Group, along...

CFC 2000 Compact Flame Controller.
September 1, 2002... This system is designed for gas and oil-fired burners of any size, for the continuous and selective burner monitoring. Different sensors permit the detection of different radiation frequency bands within the radiation spectrum, thus permitting...

FERC sets blueprint to improve grid reliability. (Americas).
September 1, 2002... The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission released a series of proposals designed to lower power prices and improve the power system in a bid to avoid potential repetitions of the California crisis. The proposed rules face a 75-day public...

NY-NJ to construct 1200 MW power link. (Americas).
September 1, 2002... TXU Corp, a unit of TXU Energy, will stump up $15m in development funds to Atlantic Energy Partners LLC, to help build a 1200 MW power transmission link between New Jersey and New York. The project, dubbed the Neptune Regional Transmission...

Panama to establish $13m interconnection project. (Americas).
September 1, 2002... Panama's national power company, Empresa de Transmission Electrica (ETESA) has contracted ABB to supply three high-voltage substations that will reinforce the grid connection with the Esti hydroelectric plant, to be built in the west of the...

Entergy acquires Vermont Yankee. (Americas).
September 1, 2002... Entergy Corp. purchased Vermont Yankee nuclear plant for $180m from Vermont Yankee Power Corp. after settling commercial terms of the deal. The public service board of Vermont tried to change the terms of the deal, but Entergy said it was...

Dynegy sells to stay afloat. (Americas).
September 1, 2002... MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company has reached an agreement with Dynegy to acquire the Northern Natural Gas Company for $928m and the debt assumption of $950m. Dynegy need to sell to pay off a $300m debt mountain that has to be settled by...

Mexico details energy plans with long term revamp. (Americas).
September 1, 2002... Mexico's President, Vicente Fox, outlined major plans to reform the country's constitution to make way for more private participation in the power sector. The laws that Fox plans to reform are articles 27 and 28. The move may prove...

Eletrosul, the Electric Energy Transmission Company for the South of Brazil. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... Brazil: Eletrosul, the Electric Energy Transmission Company for the South of Brazil, has chosen Kema Consulting Brazil to raview the technical specifications of the new supervisory control system of the transmission operation center (COT). The...

An Ontario coal-fired generating station is Canada's worst single source of air pollution. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... Canada: An Ontario coal-fired generating station is Canada's worst single source of air pollution, spewing more chemicals into the air than four provinces combined. The Nanticoke plant alone is responsible for six per cent of all air pollution...

Peabody Energy announced it had signed a letter of intent with an electricity generator for 16 years of coal supplies to fuel new generating units to be built in Arizona. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... USA: Peabody Energy announced it had signed a letter of intent with an electricity generator for 16 years of coal supplies to fuel new generating units to be built in Arizona. The agreement calls for Peabody to supply up to 89m t of coal...

Black & Veatch announced it has been selected by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... USA: Black & Veatch announced it has been selected by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to formulate a series of four case studies based on photovoltalc modules and the feasibility of their application in the midwestern part of the US.

Shell Renewables acquired the project development company Whitewater Hill Wind partners. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... USA: Shell Renewables acquired the project development company Whitewater Hill Wind partners. The company's US wind energy operations, Shell WindEnergy has signed an agreement with CPC Development Corporation, an affiliate of Cannon Power...

Developers and government agencies are proposing 11 wind power projects across New England. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... USA: Developers and government agencies are proposing 11 wind power projects across New England, from the mountains of Maine to the Boston Harbor Island, including some that would be among the biggest wind farms in the world.

The organization that operates the wholesale power market in the Mid-Atlantic US. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... USA: The organization that operates the wholesale power market in the Mid-Atlantic US said it will release the results of an investigation it launched to determine whether discrepancies between scheduled power shipmonts and actual electricity...

Tenaska, an energy company in Omaha, said that its affiliate, Kiowa Power Partners. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... USA: Tenaska, an energy company in Omaha, said that its affiliate, Kiowa Power Partners, has executed the necessary contracta for construction to begin on an 85 mile 345 kV electric transmission line from Pittsburg County, Oklahoma, to Fannin...

OEMs react to drop in orders. (Companies).
September 1, 2002... GE Power Systems is to restructure its business and reduce its workforce by nearly seven per cent over the next nine months as the anticipated downturn in gas turbine orders starts to bite, In addition to the loss of 2500 jobs, GE Power Systems...

Aquila shuts power trading business. (Companies).
September 1, 2002... Kansas-based utility Aquila is to close its power trading business in which it was one of the most active players. The company is seeking to improve its liquidity position through both cost cutting and asset sales and has disposed of gas...

Toshiba and Mitsubishi merge. (Companies).
September 1, 2002... Japan's Toshiba Corporation and Mitsubishi have responded to more competitive trading conditions by announcing their intentions to merge their electric power transmission and distribution system businesses from the beginning of October. A...

Powerspan and Wheelabrator in ECO technology collaboration. (Companies).
September 1, 2002... Powerspan Corporation has formed an alliance with Wheelabrator Air Pollution Control (WAPC) to commercialize Powerspan's ElectroCatalytic Oxidation (ECO) technology. ECO technology is a proprietary multi-pollutant control system for coal...

Capstone microturbines pass endurance test. (Companies).
September 1, 2002... Capstone Turbine Corporation says its microturbine systems have clocked up over two million hours of documented operation worldwide -- equivalent to 250 years. Capstone has accumulated operating data on about half of the nearly 2400...

Siemens sells metering business. (Companies).
September 1, 2002... Siemens AG has sold a majority interest in its worldwide metering products business to US equity investor Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. for an undisclosed sum. Siemens described the deal as "part of a larger transaction to optimize its...

Correction.
September 1, 2002... Following the news story 'Babcock Borsig AG negotiations break down' in the August 2002 issue (Vol. 10, issue 8), PEI would like to point out that NEM, a daughter company of Babcock Borsig Power GmbH, is financially unaffected by Babcock Borsig...

Deutz advances. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... German diesel and gas engine manufacturer Deutz has turned in a first half profit of [euro]3.1m ($3.01) compared with a [euro]7.4m loss for the first half of 2001, despite lower sales and new orders. Deutz said it was beginning to see the...

Wartsila powers ahead. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... Wartsila's power division reported a three-fold increase in operating profit for the second quarter compared to last year, contributing [euro]30.7m ($30m) to group profits of [euro]148.3m but warned that business activity would need to pick-up...

PSEG links up. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... PSEG Nuclear and nuclear service company, Framatome have agreed to form a strategic partnership with incentives linked to improvements at PSEG Nuclear's Salem and Hope Creek Nuclear units.

ABB orders up. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... Second quarter figures at ABB included orders up ten per cent over the same time last year. The company reported first half EBIT of $368m after $185m in restructuring costs, asset write-downs and charges.

Mott MacDonald link. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... Engineering and management consultant Mott MacDonald and capital project consultant Franklin & Andrews -- each with core businesses in the energy sector -- have joined forces to expand the project delivery capabilities of both companies.

Clients drive Exelergy record. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... Software firm Exelergy has secured several new major clients in the energy and utility industry and has announced record Q2 sales and revenues. SembCorp Utilities of Singapore is among the new customers for the Massachusetts firm.

GE buys Panametrics. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... GE Power Systems has acquired Panametrics Inc. a provider of high-tech ultrasonic testing equipment and process control equipment including sensors designed for harsh environments. The company and its 1000 employees will become part of GE's...

Vericor seals deal. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... Vericor Power Systems has signed a five-year agreement with energy services company American Energy Solutions to jointly market the company's products and services. The firms anticipate combining Vericor's Onsite energy solutions with American...

Mirant probe. (News Digest).
September 1, 2002... Mirant has become the subject of a US Securities and Exchange Commission enquiry following the admission by the energy company that it overstated the value of assets and liabilities in its 2001 financial statements. Mirant is also undertaking...

Cautious steps. (Asia Power-Gen).
September 1, 2002... On 1 October 1995, Singapore took its first step towards restructuring its electricity and gas industries with the corporatization of the electricity and gas departments of the state-owned Public Utilities Board (PUB) and the transfer of these...

The next step forward: with China looking set to make vital changes to the country's power industry, PEi examines the implications of reform for foreign investors. (Reform in China).
September 1, 2002... The Chinese market will always interest those in the power industry. Being one of the world's largest power consumers, second only to the USA, China is aiming for an annual target of 20 GW of new generation capacity, requiring a cash injection...

A market under threat: as Indonesia attempts to attract foreign investors, the country's biggest state-owned utility is sending out the wrong signals by persuing legal action against IPPs. (Indonesia).
September 1, 2002... Indonesia and its power industry have seen challenging times over the last eight years. The Asian financial crisis has hit the country hard and its power market has suffered the consequences. The country has an installed electrical...

Reaching new heights. (Solar Power).
September 1, 2002... A 200 MW solar tower project is taking shape in Australia. The project involves the construction of a 1 km-tall tower that will be the world's tallest man-made structure, and will be one of the world's largest non-hydro renewable energy...

Bridging the power gap. (Rural Electrification).
September 1, 2002... Mountainous terrain and a rainy season that can make 60 per cent of the sites inaccessible for several moths of the year are typical of the challenges posed by rural electrification projects. However, ABB's current power transmission and...

Ling Ao powers up. (Nuclear Power).
September 1, 2002... The first unit at the Ling Ao nuclear plant in China has entered commercial operation 48 days ahead of schedule. This is a milestone project for China, and its success is down to close cooperation and extensive technology transfer, says...