News

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.

New nuclear power plant sites in China will have four automated reactors with the help of Invensys Process System (IPS), a global supplier to the nuclear industry. Through a contract worth approximately US$250 million, IPS has been tasked to develop and implement four large-scale, fully digitized nuclear control rooms for the Fuqing and Fangjiashan nuclear power projects. China’s partnership with IPS aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and the country’s reliance on coal-generated power by improving its current nuclear capacity. The two new nuclear power projects located in the provinces of Fuijan and Zhejiang will each have two 1GW plants, and the control rooms will be equipped with the latest simulation technologies, critical control and safety systems. A spokesperson for the evaluation committee said, “During the evaluation process, IPS demonstrated global expertise that China can tap into as we accelerate our technology transfer program. IPS also has technologically advanced integrated solutions capabilities, as well as proven implementation methodologies and processes. In summary, they ranked high in all the key factors we look for in a long-term strategic technology partner. As China speeds up nuclear power expansion and increases clean energy capabilities, we are confident that IPS will continue to provide the world-class automation solutions and expertise that will allow us to optimize these systems and make them safer.”

Japan has signed a memorandum with the UAE to cooperate in the field of peaceful atomic energy. Takamori Yoshikawa, Japan's senior vice-minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, and the UAE Foreign Minister's undersecretary Saif Sultan Al Aryani signed the cooperation agreement that is geared towards preparing and planning a peaceful nuclear programme. Focal points of the memorandum of cooperation include human resources training, handling nuclear hazard emergencies, social awareness, infrastructure, safety and nuclear radiation protection. Technical and services assistance, seminars, workshops and exchange visits between Japan and the UAE are also underway under the signed cooperation agreement.

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