KUNMING, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) — Representatives of 12 countries and two international organizations participated in the China-ASEAN New Energy Forum that opened Wednesday in Kunming, southwest China’s Yunnan Province.

The two-day forum focuses on issues including cooperation in new energy, policies and measures in promoting new and renewable energy and new energy technological innovation.

“New energy sources and renewable energies based on solar, wind and biomass have become the strategic choice of East Asian and ASEAN countries, as well as a regional response to tackle climate change,” said Cai Jianing, deputy head of the international cooperation department under China’s Ministry of Science and Technology.

Cai said China has stepped up the transformation of its energy structure by increasing the use of a diversity of efficient and clean new energies, adding that China is willing to enhance cooperation with ASEAN countries in new energy.

Representatives from China, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, Nepal, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Egypt, the United States and Australia as well as ASEAN-China Center and Asian Development Bank participated in the forum.

He declined to elaborate but added that a public announcement on this will be made at a later date.

The company will likely open the Singapore office in September or October and may purchase LPG to import into Japan, two sources familiar with the matter said.

Gyxis, one of four major LPG firms in Japan, was set up in 2015. It combined the LPG businesses of Cosmo Oil Co, Showa Shell Sekiyu, Sumitomo Corp and TonenGeneral Sekiyu KK, which later merged with JX Nippon Oil to create JXTG Nippon Oil & Energy Corp.

LPG, a product from crude oil refining and natural gas production, is a mixture of propane and butane that is used for cooking and as a transport fuel. It is also an important feedstock for the petrochemical industry.

Asia is the world’s biggest LPG importing region, with China, India, Japan and South Korea together taking in one-third of globally shipped LPG, according to trade data.

Gyxis transports LPG to Japan through long-term purchase agreements with exporters in the United States and natural gas producing countries in the Middle East, according to the company website.

It imports about 2.8 million tonnes of LPG every year to its seven primary import terminals in Japan, the website states.

REUTERS

Risen Energy sets up office in Vietnam

The first of its kind in the state of Sarawak and Southeast Asia, Linde also signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore the potential of H₂ and how it can be potentially applied into other aspects together with SEB.

Sarawak Energy pilots hydrogen plant and refuelling station

The move demonstrates interest in clean fuel alternatives for a more sustainable automotive industry in Malaysia.

Linde is gearing up to share its expertise in fuelling solutions to help power Malaysia’s automotive industry with zero-emission H₂ technology.

Malaysia is an attractive place for the Tier One company to invest further, tapping into its rich water resource for the production, storage and supply of H₂ and other industrial gasses. This is partly due to its abundant water resource, receiving an average of 2500 to 5080 millimetres of rainfall annually.

“The world’s challenges associated with global warming (caused by CO2 emissions) pose a fundamental threat to the future of our planet,” explained Linde South Asia and ASEAN Regional Managing Director Rob Hughes.

“Linde sees H₂ as an integral part of our renewable energy future in addressing this challenge. With over 25 years of research and development in H₂ fuelling technologies, Linde has invested significantly at the global level in the future market for H₂. There are strong indicators that the market is receptive towards alternative fuels and energy with alternative mobility becoming more prevalent, particularly in Asia.”

“Technology, innovation and an inventive spirit have been at the core of Linde from the very beginning, making us the technology leader for end-to-end sustainable H₂ solutions.”

“Linde is no stranger to the automotive industry as we deliver H₂ fuelling solutions for cars, buses and even forklift trucks. We intend to grow the commercialisation of H₂-powered fuel cell vehicles and boost our efforts with our partners to create infrastructures that enable greater adoption of H₂-electric mobility. Linde has seen success with this model across Europe and is now extending its focus here in Southeast Asia,” Hughes said.

H₂-powered cars are equipped with a H₂ fuel cell and an electric motor. Inside the fuel cell of the car, the H₂ reacts with oxygen (O₂) drawn in from the ambient air. H₂ molecules separate and create electricity to power the electric motor, and water.

The automotive industry stands to benefit from Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) because they help reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions which greatly mitigates climate change.

This further supports the nation’s aspirations to reduce carbon emissions as demonstrated by the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology, Science and Climate Change’s (Mestecc) recent announcement to introduce an Energy Efficiency Bill in 2019 to help Malaysia cut carbon emissions by 45% by 2030 in compliance with the Paris climate accord.

H₂-powered fuel cell vehicles have a short refuelling time of only three minutes and the ability to cover 500 to 600 km. The water vapour from the exhaust of a H₂-powered vehicle is clean to the point that it is drinkable, demonstrating its zero emissions feature.

To date, Linde has equipped around 150 fuelling stations globally with innovative H₂ refuelling technology.

Linde is actively involved in collaborative partnerships to jointly develop new solutions for H₂ as a fuel. It is also a member of the ‘Hydrogen Council,’ the first global initiative of its kind, launched in January 2017, with the goal of positioning H₂ among the key solutions of the energy transition to help meet climate goals.

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) — Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Tuesday encouraged Chinese entrepreneurs to invest more in Cambodia, saying that their investments were vital for the socio-economic development and poverty reduction of the country.

Hun Sen made the remarks during a meeting with a 42-member business delegation of the Tianxia Chaoshang Economic Conference led by Li Songjian, chairman of Mingyuan Group Limited, according to Sry Thamarong, a minister attached to the Cambodian prime minister.

The prime minister informed them about the four priority sectors — human resource, road, water, and power — that the government has mainly focused on, and encouraged them to invest in these sectors.

He also encouraged them to invest in setting up universities.

Hun Sen also praised China for its “no strings attached” aid and investments in the development of infrastructures such as roads and bridges, and hydropower plants in Cambodia.

“China is a friend whom we can trust,” Thamarong said. “China helps us sincerely and its assistance has never had any strings attached.”

China is currently the largest source of both foreign direct investment and tourists to Cambodia.

Thamarong said the kingdom had attracted fixed asset investment of about 19 billion U.S. dollars from China from 1994 to date.

For tourism, Cambodia received over 1.2 million Chinese tourists in 2017, and was expected to greet up to three million in the next few years, he said.

By Mario Casayuran

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano disclosed Tuesday he looks forward to a joint Philippine-China gas and oil exploration agreement n the contested areas in the South China Sea, ‘’hopefully’’ in the next two months.

Interviewed by Bulletin after appearing before the Senate finance committee to defend DFA’s proposed 2019 P27.5 billion budget, Cayetano said the Philippines and China agreed not to put deadlines on their draft exploration agreement.

“Yes, the 60-40 sharing (based on a provision of the Philippine Constitution on investments) will be followed. We are working on a framework for the Philippines and China. Not just on a provision of law but equity,’’ he stressed.

He said the 60-40 agreement is likened to the Philippine-Malampaya gas royalty agreement with Shell. The volume of gas being extracted from Malampaya is expected to begin tapering off starting in 2025.

The Duterte government is being pilloried for allegedly being soft on China although it won in its territorial dispute over parts of the South China Sea with China based on the United Nations Arbitration Court. The UN rejected China’s ‘’historical’’ claim over the South China.

China, stressing that it would not surrender even an inch of its territory, has reclaimed islets, shoals and reefs in the Spratly island chain and put up air and naval bases. The Philippines said China violated its sovereignty when it reclaimed the area.

Some lawmakers have personally expressed the view that a 60-40 investment sharing agreement would be constitutionally tenable.

The contested territory is reportedly rich in oil and gas reserves.

Sen. Loren Legarda, finance committee chairwoman, said she deemed the DFA proposed budget as submitted to her committee on the condition that Cayetano submits documents on various foreign policy issues sought by Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon and opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros.

In the House of Representatives, Cayetano had asked the Senate for closed door briefing on the military issues related to the contested territories in the South China Sea because there are classified matters that are best kept secret.

“As a former senator, I am ready for a hug or a shove in the Senate,’’ he said. He was referring to hard questions fielded by Drilon and Hontiveros during the committee hearing. Cayetano stressed that he, on one hand, and Drilon and Hontiveros, on the other, go the same path but have different approaches.

All these, however, converge on the country’s national interest and security of the Philippine territory.

In yesterday’s budget hearing, Hontiveros challenged Cayetano to bare the details of the so-called 50-100 diplomatic actions his department made against China.

Hontiveros demanded transparency and integrity in the government’s foreign policy framework and implementation.

It was reported that Cayetano claimed in a congressional hearing that the Philippines has filed 50 to 100 protests and/or diplomatic actions against China over the past two years. However, Cayetano failed to provide details regarding the “diplomatic actions” against China.

“Can the DFA tell us what is the nature of the 50-100 diplomatic actions? How many were in the form of notes verbale? How many were diplomatic démarches?” Hontiveros asked Cayetano.

“Can the DFA give us the exact date and time when these diplomatic actions against China were made? What channels and platforms were used? How many times did the Chinese government responded? What were the nature of China’s diplomatic responses?” Hontiveros queried.

Cayetano refused to answer Hontiveros’ questions, saying that his office is willing to divulge the details of the “diplomatic actions” only in a closed session. He said that he doesn’t want to publicly disclose the foreign affairs strategy of the government.

He stressed that the government is taking up actions to address the issue despite the lack of details disclosed to the public.

Hontiveros explained that the public is aware of only one instance when the DFA issued a note verbale to protest China’s installation of missile systems on three man-made islands in the Spratly Islands and the harassment by the Chinese Navy of Philippine Navy boats resupplying troops on Ayungin Shoal on 11 May.

“Transparency makes for good foreign policy. On the contrary, total silence raises suspicion and discourages public confidence. Considering that the Philippine Senate has been granted by the Constitution the power to ratify treaties and in line with its check and balance powers, it has material interest in ensuring that the foreign policy adopted by the Executive is in the best interest of Filipino citizens,” she said.

JAKARTA, Aug 28 (Reuters) –

* Indonesia’s state energy company PT Pertamina is targeting oil production of 407,000 barrel per day (bpd) in 2019, up slightly from 2018’s goal of 400,000 bpd, Meidawati, a Pertamina senior vice president, told reporters on Tuesday.

* In January to July this year, Pertamina’s oil output stood at 380,000 bpd, compared to 343,000 bpd in the same period last year, she said.

* Output up to July includes 103,000 bpd of production from overseas sites such as Pertamina’s Iraq field. The company has targeted 108,000 bpd of oil production from its overseas operations in 2018 and 112,00 bpd in 2019, Meidawati said.

* Pertamina’s gas output in January-July was 3,056 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd), up from 2,032 mmscfd in same period last year. (Reporting by Wilda Asmarini)

Solar Para Sa Bayan to bring solar mini-grids to 200,000 Filipinos

28 August: Solar Para Sa Bayan, an initiative by Solar Philippines founder Leandro Leviste, is bringing 24/7 power to 12 Filipino towns via unsubsidised, hybrid solar mini-grids.

The mini-grids deliver low-cost electricity to consumers at zero cost to the government in towns that have never before received adequate electric service.

An estimated 200,000 Filipinos will benefit from these projects, in provinces including Mindoro, Palawan, Masbate, Cagayan, and Aurora.

“We hope all other stakeholders will likewise support such initiatives for the DOE to achieve its vision of ending energy poverty by 2022,” said Leandro Leviste.

In March 2018, Solar Para Sa Bayan installed Southeast Asia’s largest solar-battery minigrid for Paluan, Mindoro, bringing 24/7 power for the first time in the town’s history. This was the first project in Asia to feature Powerpacks from US-based battery and EV supplier Tesla.

“It is sad to learn of towns where development has been hindered by the lack of reliable electricity. We hope our projects, in towns such as Lubang, Dumaran, Claveria, Calayan, and Dingalan will help communities reach their full potential, and we are working overtime to ensure every town in the Philippines will enjoy the best service at the lowest cost as soon as possible,” said Leviste.

The Department of Energy (DOE) estimates that over 2.3 million Filipino households still remain without electricity, while many more experience regular blackouts and among the highest rates in Asia.

AfDB, Nordic Development Fund and Partners launch Off-Grid Energy Access Fund with US$58 million

27 August: The African Development Bank (AfDB), the Nordic Development Fund and other partners have committed US$58 million to support the Off-Grid Energy Access Fund (OGEF) that focuses on energy access.

The Fund is part of the US$500 million Facility for Energy Inclusion (FEI) debt platform that mobilises funding for innovative energy access strategies.

OGEF has been designed to provide flexible debt instruments to companies in the household energy access sector, including distributors, manufacturers, and end-user credit providers.

Power for All launches open platform to address ‘information use gap’ on energy access

28 August: Energy access coalition Power for All has launched a new Platform for Energy Access Knowledge named ‘PEAK’, which its claims to be a first-of-its-kind interactive and open resource for organising data on energy access to focus efforts on the world’s un-electrified populations.

The organisation says that stakeholders currently lack access to relevant information about energy access technologies, policies and markets.

In a release Power For All stated: “There is no comprehensive, easy-to-use inventory of the current, critical data needed to advance energy access. To achieve universal energy access we need to address this ‘information use gap’, and the PEAK (beta) platform offers a direct solution.”

The PEAK (beta) platform integrates a select portfolio of open-access applications to help process, sort and catalogue publicly-available reports and data, to make synthesis easier for a broad user audience.

 Tags: solar philippines, leandro leviste, power for all, solar para sa bayan, afdb, nordic development fund, ogef, philippines, sorsea, peak, doe

NINGBO, China, Aug. 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — A-share market-listed PV module producer and China industry leader Risen Energy Co., Ltd.  announced the formal setup of a branch office in Vietnam’s capital of Hanoi, on August 24, as part of its expansion abroad. International growth has been a focus of the firm over the last year and is in response to the evolving industry trends and the firm’s commitment to meeting market demands with cutting-edge manufacturing technologies and the rich experience that Risen Energy has already accumulated in terms of EPC projects outside of the home market. With the aim of rapidly establishing a footprint in the Southeast Asian market, Risen Energy plans to speed up investment in power stations as well as provision of EPC services in Vietnam to create new revenue streams following setup of the branch office.

To optimize its energy infrastructure, the Vietnamese government has undertaken an effort to shift to clean energy sources such as wind and PV power. The country plans to have in operation PV power stations with an aggregate installed capacity of 850MW by 2020 and 10GW by 2030. To meet the goal, the government has released a series of considerably favorable policies in terms of PV-based electricity prices, income tax levied on PV project developers, import tariffs and land use tax, all of which have facilitated Chinese PV developers’ expansion in the country.

Risen Energy will roll out a localization plan to rapidly and efficiently service global clients and establish a strong footprint in Vietnam. The company plans to employ upwards of ten local Vietnamese executives and leverage the superior resources that the firm has developed outside of the home market over several years in order to be in a position to provide a fast response to service calls. In addition, Risen Energy will continually improve service standards and after-sales services based on market expectations, in a move to build trust and credibility with local customers.

Risen Energy said it has reached agreements with several leading Vietnamese firms, as a first step in establishing a presence in the Southeast Asian market. According to the initial roadmap, the Vietnamese branch office intends to begin investment in EPC projects generating in the aggregate 150MW during 2018 and expects to double the figure by 2019. It will also continue to invest in Vietnam, because the firm views the country as a GW-grade market thanks to the stable business and political environment.

SOURCE Risen Energy Co., Ltd

BY MAREX 2018-08-27 19:27:19

More than 90 percent of crude oil volumes flowing through the South China Sea in 2016 transited the Strait of Malacca, the shortest sea route between suppliers in Africa and the Persian Gulf and markets in Asia, making it one of the world’s primary oil transit chokepoints, reports the EIA.

In addition, a significant amount of crude oil (about 1.4 million b/d) passes through the strait on its way to Singapore and the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, where it is refined before transiting the South China Sea in the form of petroleum products.

The South China Sea is a major trade route for crude oil, and in 2016, more than 30 percent of global maritime crude oil trade, or about 15 million barrels per day (b/d), passed through the Sea.

The South China Sea is a major trade route for the Middle East, which accounted for more than 70 percent of total South China Sea crude oil shipments in 2016. Saudi Arabia is the largest source of crude oil, making up almost one-fourth of crude oil volumes traversing the South China Sea. More than half of Saudi Arabia’s global crude oil shipments traveled through the South China Sea in 2016.

Before the lifting of United Nations sanctions on Iran’s crude oil exports in January 2016, Iran relied heavily on Asian markets for most of its exports. After the sanctions were lifted, Iran could once again export crude oil to Europe. However, the South China Sea route still accounted for 52 percent of Iran’s crude oil exports that year.

Some regional countries bordering the South China Sea also contribute to the overall shipments of crude oil through the region. Indonesia and Malaysia together accounted for five percent of crude oil loadings that passed through the South China Sea in 2016 and two percent of crude oil receipts. Most of the crude oil from these countries that passes through the South China Sea is exported to other countries. However, some intra-country trade also crosses the southern portion of the South China Sea as cargoes move between eastern and western ports within each country.

Singapore accounted for two percent of crude oil loadings that passed through the South China Sea in 2016 and one percent of crude oil receipts. Although Singapore does not produce crude oil, it is a major hub for refining crude oil and for storing and transshipping crude oil and petroleum products. In 2016, 95 percent of Singapore’s crude oil exports passed through the South China Sea. Most of these volumes originally came from the Middle East and about half went to China.

The three crude oil importers with the largest volumes passing through the South China Sea, China, Japan, and South Korea, collectively accounted for 80 percent of total crude oil volumes transiting the South China Sea in 2016. About 90 percent of China’s 2016 maritime crude oil shipments were transported through the South China Sea.

China’s crude oil imports have increased substantially over the past few years as a result of the country’s robust energy demand growth and stagnant crude oil production, and the country recently surpassed the U.S. as the world’s largest crude oil importer. A significant portion of these incremental volumes that are sent to northern China from eastern Russia by pipeline.

About 90 percent of the crude oil imported by Japan and South Korea was shipped through the South China Sea in 2016. Most of Japan’s and South Korea’s imports are from Middle Eastern suppliers and are transported through the Strait of Malacca and then the South China Sea.

UNCTAD estimates that 80 percent of global trade by volume and 70 percent by value is transported by sea. Of that volume, 60 percent passes through Asia, with the South China Sea carrying an estimated one-third of global shipping. ChinaPower estimates that $3.4 trillion in trade passed through the South China Sea in 2016, and that over 64 percent of China’s maritime trade transited the waterway in 2016. The U.S. is less reliant on South China Sea, with just over 14 percent of its maritime trade passing through the region.

Energy Ministry: Electricity Tariffs in Indonesia Most Stable in Southeast Asia (esdm)

VIENTIANE, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) — The Lao government and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, are conducting a basin-wide Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA) of renewable energy development in southern Laos’ Xekong River Basin.

According to local online newspaper Vientiane Times on Sunday, it is the first ever CIA being conducted according to the draft CIA Guidelines for Hydropower Projects in Laos and will result in recommendations for a variety of sustainable scenarios for the development of this important national resource.

“There are many demands on the Xekong River Basin. Not just from hydropower projects, but also from logging, mining and forestry activities,” the Lao Ministry of Energy and Mines’ Office Head, Daovong Phonekeo, said to the media last week.

“We need to understand the possible impact that all these activities together will have, in order to plan for the sustainable development of this critical national resource,” Daovong said.

This cumulative impact assessment of the renewable energy sector in the Xekong River Basin, over 500 km southeast of Lao capital Vientiane, comes at a time when the implementation of good environmental and social standards is key, said the report.

It is one of the few remaining major Mekong tributaries with high biodiversity value and few hydropower projects in operation, and provides a unique opportunity to better understand and manage the risks of development to the environment and local communities, according to the report.

IFC Country Manager for Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia Kyle Kelhofer said, “IFC has been working with the Lao government to provide assistance on sustainability and advance environmental and social standards in the hydropower sector since 2012.”

“This pilot of the draft CIA Guidelines is an important next step in finding the best balance between meeting the energy needs of the country as well as the region and protecting the environment and communities,” Kelhofer said.

IFC, with the support of the Australian government, is working in partnership with Laos’ Ministry of Energy and Mines to build capacity on how to carry out the best practice of CIAs and effectively implement the guidelines.

Over the next nine months, the Xekong River Basin CIA will undertake broad consultations with stakeholders and technical experts, and produce a final evidence-based report with recommendations on a variety of renewable energy development scenarios.

The Lao government has prioritized the expansion of power generating capacity over the coming years to reach an estimated potential of about 26,000 megawatts (MW) — one of the region’s highest.

As of 2018, over 50 hydropower projects and a number of other renewable energy projects were under development across the country.

KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 26): Sapura Energy Bhd’s plan to raise RM4 billion, via a major rights issue, will create value for shareholders and return the company to profitability as oil and gas market prospects improve, said Credit Suisse in a report dated last Friday.

“ We would look to proceed with the rights issue exercise as we expect Sapura Energy to create value rather than destroy it, moving forward, as prospects in the sector continue to improve,” it added while maintaining its outperform recommendation on Sapura Energy shares.

Sapura Energy share price fell last Friday in a knee jerk reaction to the rights issue announcement.

“While this highly dilutive exercise might seem negative on the surface, we believe it is necessary and will place Sapura Energy in a much better position to secure new higher-quality contracts (demand for services is clearly on an uptrend) in the sector’s upcycle. “ it added.

“We believe longer term shareholders will be rewarded as Sapura Energy monetises its exploration and production (E&P) assets and secures more new profitable contracts,” it said.

Sapura Energy announced last Friday that it planned to raise RM4 billion through a rights issue.

Credit Suisse said under the exercise the number of company shares would increase from 5.99 billion to 15.98 billion shares, with room to expand further to 19.37 billion shares when both the redeemable convertible preference shares in SEB (RCPS-i) and free warrants are fully converted.

The company plans to use the funds raised to boost its financial position and reduce its estimated RM16 billion debt to banks.

It is also evaluating other options which may involve the listing of its oil and gas business and a possible strategic partnership in its drilling business.

Existing major shareholder, Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB), which collectively holds about 12% of Sapura Energy, would subscribe in full its entitlement and has also given an undertaking to mop up excess shares that are not taken up to an amount to be agreed on later.

Credit Suisse said: “More importantly, if Sapura Energy successfully raises RM4 billion, it would save RM184 million per annum in interest. Therefore, the company will likely return to the black in FY20E (estimate, even if it does not win any new contracts.

“This move will keep its bankers happy and would help boost Sapura Energy’s bankability in the future “it said.

Credit Suisse also said it believed PNB’s participation in the rights issue exercise could be a prelude to more cooperation between PNB’s drilling arm (Velesto Energy) and Sapura Energy in the future.

Velesto could leverage on Sapura Energy’s global footprint to revive its ailing business outlook.

“While the quantum of funds to be raised is sufficient to keep leverage ratios at a comfortable level for any organic expansion, Sapura Energy intends to further strengthen its balance sheet to address larger volume of work,” it added.

Makban geothermal power plant, Philippines (source: ThinkGeoEnergy, creative commons)

Is Renewable Energy As Clean As We Think?

กำลังดำเนินการ…

รัฐมนตรีพลังงาน ยืนยันปรับแผน PDP2015 มีความชัดเจนภายในสิ้นปี 2560 ซึ่งจะให้ความสำคัญกับพลังงานทดแทนมากขึ้น  โดยคำนึงปัจจัยความมั่นคงพลังงาน  ราคาที่เป็นธรรมไม่เป็นภาระประชาชน และสิ่งแวดล้อมที่ยั่งยืน

                      พลเอกอนันตพร กาญจนรัตน์ รัฐมนตรีว่าการกระทรวงพลังงาน กล่าวในงานสัมมนาอนาคตธุรกิจพลังงานไทย ซึ่งจัดโดยหนังสือพิมพ์ฐานเศรษฐกิจ เมื่อวันที่ 24 ส.ค.2560 ว่า กระทรวงพลังงานยืนยันให้ความสำคัญกับพลังงานทดแทนมากขึ้น โดยขณะนี้อยู่ระหว่างปรับแผนพัฒนากำลังผลิตไฟฟ้าระยะยาว พ.ศ. 2558-2579 หรือ PDP 2015 ซึ่งคาดว่าจะชัดเจนภายในสิ้นปี 2560 นี้ โดยเบื้องต้นกำลังศึกษาความเหมาะสมว่าจะขยายสัดส่วนการผลิตไฟฟ้าพลังงานทดแทนทั้งหมด(พลังงานรวมกับความร้อน) จาก 30% เป็น 40% ของปริมาณพลังงานทดแทนทั้งหมดตามที่ พล.อ.ประยุทธ์ จันทร์โอชา นายกรัฐมนตรี ระบุได้หรือไม่ ซึ่งต้องพิจารณา 3 ด้านประกอบกัน ได้แก่ ด้านความมั่นคงพลังงาน  ด้านราคาที่เป็นธรรมไม่เป็นภาระประชาชน และสิ่งแวดล้อมที่ยั่งยืน นอกจากนี้จะปรับเปลี่ยนการพิจารณาปริมาณสำรองไฟฟ้าประเทศใหม่ จากปัจจุบันที่เน้นดูปริมาณสำรองไฟฟ้าโดยรวมทั้งประเทศ ซึ่งขณะนี้มีสูงถึง 30% ของปริมาณไฟฟ้าทั้งหมด แต่การปรับแผน PDP ใหม่ครั้งนี้จะพิจารณาปริมาณสำรองเป็นรายภูมิภาคแทน รวมถึงศึกษาการใช้เชื้อเพลิงผลิตไฟฟ้าตามภูมิภาคด้วย เพื่อทำให้สำรองไฟฟ้าเกิดความเหมาะสม หากพื้นที่ใดสำรองไฟฟ้ามากก็สามารถแบ่งปันให้ภาคอื่นได้ เป็นต้น พลเอกอนันตพร กล่าวด้วยว่า กระทรวงพลังงานกำลังเดินหน้าเรื่องการเปิดรับซื้อไฟฟ้าพลังงานทดแทนแบบผสมผสานสำหรับผู้ผลิตไฟฟ้ารายเล็ก (SPP Hybrid ) ซึ่ง 2-3 เดือนนี้จะเป็นตัวชี้วัดว่าการผลิตไฟฟ้าพลังงานทดแทนแบบไฮบริดจะเข้ามาทดแทนพลังงานหลักได้ดีเพียงใด และจะทำให้ราคาต้นทุนค่าไฟฟ้าลดลงได้หรือไม่ โดยหากประสบผลสำเร็จกระทรวงพลังงานจะผลักดันพลังงานทดแทนให้ได้มากขึ้นต่อไป สำหรับความคืบหน้าการเปิดสำรวจและผลิตปิโตรเลียมแหล่งสัมปทานที่จะหมดอายุ (แหล่งบงกชและแหล่งเอราวัณ) นั้น หากร่างกฎหมายลูกเกี่ยวกับระบบแบ่งปันผลผลิต(PSC) และเงื่อนไขการประมูล(TOR) ผ่านกฤษฎีกาและเข้าสู่การพิจารณาของคณะรัฐมนตรี(ครม.) ได้ทันในสิ้นเดือน ส.ค. 2560 นี้ กระทรวงพลังงานก็จะสามารถประกาศ TOR ได้ภายในเดือน ก.ย.- ต.ค. 2560 และจะรู้ผลการประมูลต้นปี 2561 ได้ โดยหากดำเนินการตามกระบวนการดังกล่าวได้เร็วก็จะช่วยให้ผู้ประกอบการตัดสินใจลงทุนได้ชัดเจนขึ้นและจะช่วยให้กำลังผลิตก๊าซธรรมชาติของไทยเดินหน้าได้ต่อเนื่อง

ที่มา : Energy News Center