LATEST REPORT
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Content
- Coal in Northeast Asia
- Resolving the Asian Premium
- LNG Market
- PRC-Iran LNG Deal
- PRC and Japan on Russian Gas
- PRC ‘Mega’ Tidal Project
- ROK Hydrogen Fuel Technology
- IEA Publication – Energy Policy Review
- LEAP Related Report: US and Global Warming
- Renewable Energy Finance Asia Conference
1. Coal in Northeast Asia
The Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ), (Atsushi Fukushima, “ENERGY OUTLOOK AND THE ROLE OF COAL IN NORTHEAST ASIA,” October 2004) released this report on the role of coal in Northeast Asia. The report includes analysis of historical trends, future expectations, a discussion of individual countries, such as the PRC, and environmental and energy security concerns with growing demand. Fukushima concludes, “The balancing of coal supply and demand will be realized only through energy conservation and the systematic demand structure change, which will be secured by integrated energy policies including thoughtful incentives for the introduction of modernized technologies and facilities.”
View the full report here.
2. Resolving the Asian Premium
Korean Energy Economics Institute and International Energy Agency (Dr. Masayoshi Soga, ‘RESOLVING THE ‘ASIAN PREMIUM’,” March 16 – 17, 2004) released this presentation for the Joint Conference on Northeast Asia Energy Security and Cooperation in Seoul on March 16 – 17, 2004. The presentation looks at the history and cause of the Asian Premium and policy options for reducing the phenomenon. Soga suggests reform of the market structure, promotion of oil trade within Asia and purchase of non Middle Eastern heavy crude oil as possible routes to eliminate the premium.
3. LNG Market
Institute of Energy Economic, Japan (Youichi Odawara, “ACCELEREATING CHANGES IN THE LNG CHAIN,” November, 2004) released this report that discusses changes in the LNG industry in a competitive market. The trends in natural gas supply and demand and LNG trade are overviewed in the three major natural gas consuming markets, Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, and North America. Subsequently, the recent changes in the LNG chain are outlined, focusing on new movements of traditional players in LNG projects, and factors for various internal changes are analyzed. Finally, implications are offered as to how Japan should be involved in the upstream and midstream sectors in the changing LNG chain.
View the report here.
4. PRC-Iran LNG Deal
Japan Focus.org (Kavahh L. Afrasiabi, “CHINA ROCKS THE GEOPOLITICAL BOAT WITH IRAN OIL DEALS IN JAPAN,” November 6, 2004) reported that PRC signed a gas deal with Tehran that will allow import of approximately 10 million tons of LNG for a 25 year period as well as the participation, by PRC’s state oil company, in projects such ass exploration and drilling, petrochemical and gas industries, pipeline and services. The deal, being billed as the “deal of the century” by various commentators, is likely to increase by another $50 to $100 billion, bringing the total close to $200 billion, when a similar oil agreement, currently being negotiated, is inked not too far from now.
View the full article here.
5. PRC and Japan on Russian Gas
Japan Focus (James Brooke, ‘CHINA AND JAPAN JOCKEY FOR SHARE OF RUSSIAN GAS,” November 2, 2004) reported that, in the latest jousting between PRC and Japan over Russia’s energy riches, PRC is talking with the Exxon Mobil Corporation about buying gas from the Sakhalin Island field, which many Japanese assumed would power their nation for decades to come. The gas talks come as PRC rues its loss of a Siberian oil pipeline that was once promised to run to Manchuria, but will run to a port on the Sea of Japan, instead. On a third energy front, a stalemate emerged last week in Beijing after two days of talks between PRC and Japan over a PRC gas exploration project in the East China Sea. With PRC drilling near an area claimed by Japan, Japan fears that the PRC gas wells will suck up Japanese gas from a reservoir that straddles the border.
The report can be viewed here.
6. PRC ‘Mega’ Tidal Project
Clean Edge News (“CHINESE GOVERNMENT ENDORSES 300 MW TIDAL PROJECT,” November 18, 2004) reported that The PRC government has expressed preliminary support for a 300 MW offshore tidal lagoon in the waters near the mouth of the Yalu River by signing an agreement pledging to cooperate with the development. At 300 MW, the project would be the largest tidal power project in the world, topping the capacity of the 240 MW French tidal power plant in LaRance. Tidal Electric is the proposed developer of the project.
7. ROK Hydrogen Fuel Technology
Joong Ang Daily (Lee Ho-Jeong, Shim Jae-woo, “HYDROGEN-FUEL CAR CRAFTED IN KOREA,” December 9, 2004) reported that a hydrogen fuel-propelled car entirely built with Korean technology has been developed for the first time, according to the Korea Institute of Energy Research. The research team, led by institute professor Kim Chang-soo, said the hydrogen-powered automobile could operate up to 210 kilometers (130 miles) without refueling. When driving at low speeds, the vehicle runs on hydrogen fuel, but at higher speeds, the engine receives fuel from the battery and electric fuel cell.
Read the full article here for more information.
8. IEA Publication – Energy Policy Review
The International Energy Agency (IEA, ”ENERGY POLICIES OF IEA COUNTRIES – 2004 REVIEW,” November 2, 2004) released this volume containing a broad analysis of recent developments in energy policies and markets in the 26 member countries of the International Energy Agency. The Overview Part focuses on energy markets and energy policies. It examines trends, including an analysis of energy demand, supply prices and energy-related CO2 emissions. It highlights key policy trends across member countries looking at energy security, energy market reform, climate change mitigation, energy efficiency, renewable energies and energy R&D. Notable developments in major non-member countries, including PRC, India, South-East Asia, Latin America, Russia, Caspian and Central Asia, Central and South-Eastern Europe and Libya, are also reviewed and evaluated.
9. LEAP Related Report: US and Global Warming
The Governors of Washington, Oregon, and California have recently approved a series of recommendations for action to combat global warming. This effort is widely considered one of leading state initiatives on climate change in the United States. In this latest development, the Governors approved 36 recommendations in five areas that were jointly developed by the three states. The recommendations are based on a range of analyses including a major scenario study developed by Tellus Institute for the Energy Foundation.
See the main report here.
10. Renewable Energy Finance Asia Conference
Green Power will host a Renewable Energy Finance Asia Conference on June 15-16, 2005 in Hong Kong. Renewable Energy Finance Asia has been designed to create a unique executive learning and networking platform for members of the financial and the renewable energy communities. Through a series of in-depth case studies, the event will address the opportunities that exist in today’s renewable energy finance market and look at ways to overcome barriers and associated risks. Participants will meet and learn from leading players in the sustainable energy finance market, who will provide in depth case studies of financing mechanisms, tailored for the Asian market.
Find out more here.
Produced by the Nautilus Institute.