Energy, Resources & Environment

Vietnam - Coal demand to go up to 200 million tons by 2020

Source: Vietnam News Brief Service, 26 January 2010

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai said Vietnam’s coal demand is forecast to rise to 200 million tons by 2020 and 300 million tons by 2025. To meet the demand, Hai requested state-owned Vietnam National Coal-Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin) to produce 100 million tons of coal in 2015.

Vietnam is forecast to have to import coal from 2012 while the country is still boosting coal exports. The country is estimated to have coal reserves of 225 billion tons. Vinacomin plans to produce and sell a combined 43 million tons of coal this year, including 18 million tons for exports, compared with the coal production of 40.5 million ton and coal sales of 43.7 million last year.

Thailand - Private sector to finance NGV gas stations

Source: Thai News Service, 26 January 2010

Mr Punnachai Footrakul, the PTT's manager supervising the natural gas market for vehicles, stated that about Bt200 million (US$6 million) in capital from the group of 10 investors would be spent on the establishment of more NGV gas stations in 2010. He viewed that this would help reduce the company's burden as well as increase the number of NGV gas stations rapidly.

He reported that the targeted number of NGV gas stations establishment for this year had risen from 59 to 450 stations. The NGV marketing margin averaging at Bt2 (US$0.06) per kilogram had attracted the private sector to invest in NGV gas stations with the company. Mr Punnachai noted that currently there were about 40 NGV gas stations owned by the private sector.

China - New energy stimulus plan may be delayed until mid-Feb

Source: Asia Pulse, 27 January 2010

Insiders said that the stimulus package for boosting China's new-energy industry may be delayed until mid-February. The previous draft for boosting the new-energy industry may be overhauled to cater to new requirements emerging from the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. Besides, the targets set in the previous new energy stimulus draft were regarded as too conservative after the fast development realized in 2009.

According to the previous draft, China's installed capacity of wind, solar, and nuclear power should respectively reach 150 million kW, 20 million kW, and 80 million kW by 2020. These new capacities would achieve five, eleven, and two fold growths beyond the targets set by the middle and long term development plan in 2007. Some market experts suggest raising the target for wind power to 200 million kW and that of solar to 30 million kW.

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