CYPRUS: First private power station promises cheaper electricity bills - FINANCIAL MIRROR

15 February, 2019

Cyprus’ energy sector is on the verge of radical changes with the construction of the island’s first private power plant as entrepreneurs promise to deliver cheaper and cleaner energy to households and businesses.

One such newcomer is Power Energy Cyprus (PEC) Ltd. It has laid the foundation stone on Friday for its EUR 200 mln power plant, the first private venture for producing energy with conventional fuel, in the presence of President Nicos Anastasiades.

PEC plans to produce about a quarter of the island’s present capacity, slightly more than what renewable sources (solar parks and wind farms) already contribute to the energy mix. It will bring the cost of energy down as the combined circle power station is to run primarily on natural gas.

The company’s pledge to consumers and businesses was backed by President Anastasiades who stated that the new power plant to be built in Vassiliko (Limassol) will help to reduce the price of electricity.

Promoting gas as a catalyst to energy transformation - CYPRUS MAIL

MAY 20, 2018

One of the best-known Cypriots in the global natural gas sector is Menelaos Ydreos, executive director of public affairs of the International Gas Union (IGU).

Charles Ellinas spoke to him about the role of gas in the future energy mix and how Cyprus can benefit

What is the main function of the IGU and your role in the organisation?
The International Gas Union (IGU) was founded in 1931 and is a worldwide non-profit organisation aimed at promoting the political, technical and economic progress of the gas industry. IGU has more than 150 members worldwide on all continents, representing approximately 97 per cent of the world gas market. The Cyprus Charter member to the IGU is the Ministry of Energy, Commerce, Industry & Tourism.

As the executive director of public affairs, I oversee all of the global strategic communications and outreach efforts for the IGU ensuring that governments and policymakers recognise the significant role that gas can play in enabling the energy transition and cleaning-up the polluted and dirty air in the world’s cities.

Siemens signs deal to build two gas-fired power plants in Libya - REUTERS

DECEMBER 7, 2017 / 11:40 PM

Reporting by Georgina Prodhan; writing by Douglas Busvine; editing by Andrew Roche

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Siemens, the German industrial group, plans to build two gas-fired power stations in Libya, in a fillip for its struggling power division which is shedding staff as developed economies shift to renewable sources of energy.

Siemens Power and Gas signed the agreements on Thursday with Libyan state utility GECOL on the plants, a company spokesman said without elaborating.

The deal follows an announcement by Siemens last month that it would cut 6,900 jobs, or around 2 percent of its global workforce. Most of the jobs would be shed by 2020 at its energy unit as demand for gas turbines fades.

Greek gas-fired power at record output levels - POWER ENGINEERING INTERNATIONAL

08/30/2017
Diarmaid Williams

Heatwave conditions in Greece have led to the country relying increasingly on gas-fired power generation.

Gas power has, according to Platts, reached historically high levels as hydroelectric power continues to be impacted by the intensely hot conditions.

July production of 1.55 TWh from gas plant compared to 1.39 TWh last year and 877 GWh in July 2015, supported in the near term by a severe heatwave and longer term by falling gas prices.

73 MW extension for gas-fired power plant in Turkey - POWER ENGINEERING INTERNATIONAL

05/04/2017
Diarmaid Williams

Finnish technology group Wärtsilä will supply 73 MW capacity equipment for an extension to a power plant owned by Yesilyurt Enerji Elektrik Uretim A.S, an Independent Power Producer (IPP) in Turkey.

The equipment will be delivered during the coming months, and the extended power plant is scheduled to be operational by December 2017. Wärtsilä's scope is the equipment supply. The order is booked in the first quarter of 2017.

Egypt inaugurates major gas-fired power plants - CONSTRUCTION WEEK ONLINE

Mar 5, 2017 James Morgan

The first phases of Egypt’s New Capital and Burullus power plants have been officially inaugurated.

The projects, which are being built by a consortium comprising Siemens, Orascom, and Elsewedy Electric, will be the largest gas-fired combined cycle power plants (CCPPs) upon completion.

The consortium has already succeeded in connecting 2,400MW to Egypt’s national grid through the power plants, exceeding delivery targets by 20%.

Once complete, each power plant will generate a total of 4,800MW.

Electricity Ministry considers reducing fuel oil at power plants to cope with post-flotation financial burden - DAILY NEWS EGYPT

Sunday January 22, 2017Mohamed Farag

Liberation of exchange rate hiked burden to EGP 102bn per year

Minister of Electricity Mohamed Shaker is currently waiting for the cabinet to decide on one of the scenarios proposed to cope with the increasing financial burden on the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company (EEHC) following the flotation of the Egyptian pound.

Sources at the Ministry of Electricity said that the ministry is considering reducing the proportion of using fuel oil for production, especially as it costs more than gas. The price of fuel oil amounts to EGP 2,500 per tonne, while that of 1 Billion Thermal Units (BTUs) stands at $3bn.

Power, gas supplies set to be tested - KATHIMERINI

19.01.2017 : 22:48

Chryssa Liaggou

Energy authorities in Greece have signaled that the country’s natural gas system is expected to remain under pressure until early February.

Liquefied natural gas reserves at the LNG terminal on the islet of Revythousa are set to run out tomorrow because the LNG carrier that had been supposed to deliver a shipment from Algiers was not able to dock at the Algerian capital’s port in time due to rough seas.

This development has generated major concern in Athens and on Wednesday the Regulatory Authority for Energy convoked the Crisis Management Committee, which assessed the situation regarding the uninterrupted supply of electricity and natural gas around the country.

Turkey to halve its supply to private plants due to cold weather -sources - REUTERS

Thu Jan 5, 2017 | 4:28am EST
Reporting by Orhan Coskun; Writing by Ece Toksabay; Editing by Nick Tattersall

Jan 5 Turkey's state pipeline operator Botas will cut supply to gas-fired power plants by 50 percent as of Friday due to increased household demand in cold weather, energy industry sources said on Thursday, in a bid to free up more gas for households.

Three industrial sources said private gas-fired power plants were informed of Botas' measures, before a cold wave, expected to cause heavy snow, hits Turkey over the weekend.

Turkey's gas supplies struggling to meet soaring winter demand - sources - REUTERS

Thursday, 22 December 2016 08:16 GMT

Reporting by Orhan Coskun; Writing by Humeyra Pamuk; Editing by David Dolan

ANKARA, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Turkey's daily natural gas consumption has risen to more than 200 million cubic meters due to increased household demand in cold weather and is outpacing supply, energy industry sources said on Thursday.

To help ease demand, Turkey's state pipeline operator Botas has cut supply to gas-fired power plants by 90 percent and advised several industrial companies to reduce non-critical production, energy sources said.

There are currently no issues in gas flows from foreign supplies such as those from Russia, Iran and Azerbaijan, energy sources said, adding that deliveries of liquefied natural gas (LNG) due in a few days could help meet demand.

Turkey extends gas cuts to power plants - ARGUS

20 Dec 2016, 2.25 pm GMT

London, 20 December (Argus) — Turkish gas grid operator Botas has instructed state-run and independent gas-fired power plants to limit their contractual gas use further to just 25pc as of tomorrow at 08:00 local time (05:00 GMT).

Botas had instructed private power plants to halve their gas use as of 14 December, while the state-run Euas and Tetas plants have halved their gas consumption since 24 November, following a drop in Iranian gas flows into Turkey on 22 November.

Gas burn for power fell to 19.8mn m³/d on 14-18 December — or just 10.2pc of total gas use — from 36.2mn m³/d – or 18.8pc of the total — earlier in the month, energy ministry data show.

EBRD supports Mideast gas, but developer backs coal - NATURAL GAS WORLD

December 14th, 201612:00pm

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing a $95mn loan for the construction of a 485 MW modern gas-fired power plant in Jordan costing $460mn.

The loan - billed as reducing emissions by the bank -- will be provided to a Jordanian firm that is 60%-owned by the Saudi developer ACWA Power -- which a few days ago committed to building a giant coal-fired plant in Dubai.

The new Zarqa combined-cycle gas turbine plant in Jordan, 40km northeast of the capital Amman, will replace an obsolete oil-fired plant at the same site and be twice as efficient and cut emissions. It is needed to stabilise the Jordanian grid as older plants are decommissioned and as demand increases.

Cyprus revives LNG import plans - INTERFAX

Cyprus’s Vasilikos gas-fired power station(J&P Group)

28 October 2016
Verity Ratcliffe

Cyprus is preparing to launch an independent study into importing LNG as Nicosia looks to revive plans for an LNG purchase tender.

State-owned Natural Gas Public Co. (DEFA) has invited consultants to submit bids to carry out the research. Up to 10 bids are expected from companies including Gaffney, Cline & Associates, KPMG, Wood Mackenzie, DEP Levant Oil & Gas, DNVGL, Arntzen de Besche and Genesis Oil and Gas.

"The objective of the study is, based on the analysis of the various options of LNG supplies, to identify and propose an option/project, an appropriate process and a timetable for the supply of gas to Cyprus [as soon as possible] and before 2020," the tender documents say.

Israeli powergen to burn more gas

August 29th, 2016, 3:45amYa'acov Zalel

Israel's energy minister, Yuval Steinitz has ordered the closure of four coal-fired power generation units and their replacement with two new natural gas-fired combined-cycle power generation units. He announced his decision following a public campaign to shut down the 40-yr old units that are part of Orot Rabin, the biggest power generation plant in Israel, near Hadera, north of Tel Aviv.

As part of his decision, Steinitz cancelled an NIS 8bn ($2bn) scheme to install smoke scrubbers in coal-fired units. The plants will however be maintained as back-up generators for the grid.

Turkey's Generators Face Problems of Price - NATURAL GAS EUROPE

February 22nd, 2016

Electricity prices do not make happy reading for gas-fired power producers in Turkey nowadays.

A surge in renewable generation, slowing demand and the impact of falling commodity prices have all contributed to pare the spot price for the last 14 months.

The story is not dissimilar to what has been happening in European power markets in recent years where renewable generation is gradually displacing thermal production, depressing power prices. The difference is that in Turkey there is a pressing need for more gas generation because of the pending expiry of contracts for public-private gas-fired plants.

But just as 5 GW of thermal plants built under the so-called build-own-operate and build-own-transfer (BOO/BOT) partnerships some 20 years ago are to be phased out in 2018/2019, there are also growing fears that Russia may act on its threats to discontinue the transit of gas through Ukraine to dependent countries by 2019.