Singapore

Nobel Prize winner Dr. Rajendra K. Pachauri, Chairman of the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), has confirmed his participation in EWEC 2009's Global Leaders' Vision panel session. He will join visionary figures from the wind industry and finance sector in exploring the most pressing issues related to developing wind power at the global level.

Meiya Power Company's acquisition of a hydro power project shows its continuous focus on renewable energy, said Alan Chan, Chairman & CEO of MPC.

The Asia-Pacific region has a total installed capacity of 295,764 MW by the end of 2008 to lead the global hydro power market. This is based on the Global Markets Direct's new report "Asia-Pacific Hydro Power Market Analysis and Forecasts to 2013," which provides detailed analysis and forecasts of the Asia-Pacific hydro power industry.

A stellar cast of globally acclaimed industry experts led by Dr. Peter G. Martin, named "hero" of U.S. Manufacturing by Fortune magazine, will speak at the Invensys Process Systems (IPS) Asia Pacific Vision Forum in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai, India, beginning on 23 February 2009.

ABB China announced strong results for 2008, including record revenues of $4.1 billion ― a 21 percent increase over last year.

The Companhia de Electricidade de Macau (CEM) is enhancing its internal communication and customer service by providing timely outage information through the Outage Management System (OMS). The company commenced the installation of the OMS last November with an investment of nearly MOP 10 million and is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Japan Atomic Power Co. (Japco) announced the shutdown postponement of its Tsuruga 1 nuclear power reactor. The originally scheduled shutdown in 2010 will not push through due to construction delays of Japco’s new units, according to World Nuclear News.

AREVA and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Delhi that will open the way for a future partnership in nuclear power generation in order to build at least two EPR™ reactors at Jaitapur in Maharashtra State.

Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding PCL. recently signed a shareholder's agreement with its joint ventures to establish Hongsa Power Co., Ltd. and Phu Fai Mining Co., Ltd. for the development of coal-fired Hongsa Power Plant project in Lao PDR. Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding PCL. joint-venture partners are Banpu Power Co., Ltd. and Lao Holding State Enterprise. "The Company and its two joint-ventures currently signed the shareholders agreement to set Hongsa Power Co., Ltd. and Phu Fai Mining Co., Ltd., where the head offices are located in Vientain, Lao PDR," stated Mr. Noppol Milinthanggoon, Managing Director of Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding PCL. (RATCH). With a registered capital of US$100,000, Hongsa Power Co., Ltd. operates for electricity generation concession whereas Phu Fai Mining Co., Ltd., with a registered capital of US$50,000, aims for lignite mining concession.

The Tokyo Electric Power Co., Inc. (TEPCO) has undertaken a project in Indonesia entitled "The Study on Development of Technical Standards and Competency Standards in Electrical Power Sector," under consignment with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings Ltd. (CKI) and Hongkong Electric Holdings Ltd. (HEH) announced that they have entered into an agreement for HEH to purchase from CKI the entire issued share capital of Outram Limited (Outram), a company formed by CKI to hold 45 percent equity interests in three joint ventures owning power plants in mainland China. The consideration for the transaction is HK$5,680 million.

The Tokyo Electric Power Company, Incorporated (TEPCO), along with Toshiba Corporation and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), announced a joint investment in Uranium One Inc. (U1), a major, Canadian-listed producer and marketer of uranium.

The Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) is optimistic about the results of a program it has implemented for stable distribution of power supply with the purpose of enhancing power supply reliability.

China will now produce cobalt-60 to address the country’s need for the isotope, according to the World Nuclear News. This initiative is intended to result in the production of 6 million Curies of cobalt-60 annually.

India’s nuclear power plan remains unharmed amidst the current global crisis. Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) is backed by over $2.75 billion in cash reserves to finance the projects’ equity portion. The debt portion, on the other hand, will be addressed through domestic and external commercial borrowings.

Jesus P. Francisco, president and chief operating officer of Manila Electric Company (Meralco), is retiring after 37 years with the power distributor. Francisco, who turned 65 years old last year, intended to retire in June 2008 to cap his seven-year presidency in Meralco. “But it was not meant to be,” he said. Meralco spokesman Elpi O. Cuna said Francisco’s replacement will be elected by the management during a board meeting that is scheduled before the close of January 2009. However, the retiring official remains part of the company board until May, which is when the next stockholders’ meeting is slated. Meralco is also retaining Francisco’s services as a consultant of the company, according to Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Manuel M. Lopez. Francisco started his 37-year stay with Meralco back in 1971 as a management trainee, and he performed various roles under four leaderships. In 1998 he became executive vice-president and chief operating officer. 2001 was Francisco’s first year as president, and he had since led Meralco amidst regulatory and technical issues.