Page 12 - AsiaElec Week 37

AsiaElec
NEWS IN BRIEF
AsiaElec
volume from operations in Queensland in the year to July due to delayed approvals for its Acland Stage 3 project and the pending closure of its Jeebropilly mine. It said it
has begun the redundancy process for 150 employees due to the delay.
Higher production at its Bengalla joint venture in New South Wales, where it acquired an additional 40% stake during the 2019 financial year, boosted annual earnings.
“Coal markets ... are likely to remain volatile in the near term however demand for high quality thermal coal remains strong across Asia,” New Hope said in a statement.
Prices for thermal coal have slumped
37% this year, however a recent bottoming out of Asian liquefied natural gas prices and emergent recovery this month suggests coal prices may follow suit, Chief Executive Shane Stephan said.
New Hope in the past year signed a $600 million debt facility to fund its Bengalla purchase and to develop the Acland mine and Burton project, based on expectations of demand for its higher-quality thermal coal.
India needs new coal regulato5
India needs a coal regulator as sector is being opened up to foreign investment and commercial mining is being allowed, M K Singh, the technical secretary to the Coal India chairman, said this week in Kolkata.
“One thing we are missing is the National coal regulator for industry of such a size and such diversity. This is the time we should plan for a very strong coal regulator combining nitty-grities of all stakeholders,” Singh said.
The world’s largest coal producer is closely observing interests from overseas and private sector following government announcement of allowing 100% foreign direct investment in
Coal he said.
In wake of opening up of coal sector
for foreign direct investment and allowing commercial mining the coal ministry is framing a National Coal Index Singh said.
A high-powered panel in 2018 had recommended developing a Coal Index
for determining the value of blocks and
a revenue-sharing model with the states. Currently, the valuation is on the basis of the notified price of Coal India Ltd.
“CIL’s growth plan for the future is in synergy with the ambitious plan of the government for 24X7 power supply to all homes in the country for which a roadmap to achieve 880 million tonnes of coal production by 2024-25 has been finalised,” said Singh.
Giving details of Coal India projects waiting for central approval that are crucial for ramping up its production, Singh said, “Coal India has submitted 85 proposals with annual production capacity of 493 million tonnes for environmental clearances. Some 89 proposals involving 26,000 hectares of forest land diversion has also been submitted . Expeditious clearances of proposals and consent of communities are important.”
RENEWABLES
Siemens Gamesa launches
its first offshore nacelle
assembly facility in Asia
Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy has held a launch ceremony for what will be the company’s first offshore nacelle assembly facility outside Europe.
Construction is due to begin in 2020 at the site located in the port of Taichung.
Siemens Gamesa currently has offshore
nacelle assembly and manufacturing facilities in Germany and Denmark.
The parcel of land being developed in Taiwan measures over 30,000 square meters, and will be used for nacelle assembly, testing, warehousing, office buildings, and outdoor storage.
Siemens Gamesa is also working closely with Taiwan International Ports Corporation (TIPC) to establish inbound and outbound logistics in newly-established quaysides nearby.
Construction is planned to begin in 2020, and production in 2021. The facility will then support Ørsted’s 900MW Greater Changhua 1 & 2a project, for which the SG 8.0-167 DD turbine will be used. In later years, it will provide an option for the supply of nacelles to other regional projects.
“Thanks to this nacelle assembly facility, we will be creating more opportunities of working with the growing localized supplier network as well as developing a skilled offshore workforce. All these efforts will contribute to building a competitive local supply chain, in line with international standards in terms of safety, costs, quality, and making Taiwan a leading offshore market,” says Niels Steenberg, General Manager of Siemens Gamesa Offshore for Asia-Pacific.
In 2016, Siemens Gamesa erected Taiwan’s first two offshore turbines composing the 8MW Formosa 1 Phase 1 project. The company is currently installing the subsequent phase, the 120MW Formosa 1 Phase 2
project. This is Taiwan’s first commercial-scale offshore wind power project, and features 20 SWT-6.0-154 wind turbines. Siemens Gamesa has signed contracts in Asia Pacific for close to 2 GW of offshore wind power projects for the years to come, including 1.5 GW of confirmed orders.
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Week 37 17•September•2019