Category: Highlights

Nearly five years ago while in Kolkata, I interviewed Sanjay Kar Chowdury, a manager at the Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation. When I asked him about the importance of coal to the Indian electric grid, he did not hesitate. Coal, he told me, “is a lifeline. It is a lifeline of all the thermal power stations. Without coal, you cannot survive…It’s not possible to keep the lights on without coal.” Chowdury’s words are as true for India today as they were back in December 2016. India, with a population of nearly…

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delegation from China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Company (CPP) and China Zhenhua Import and Export Company called on Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Moin ul Haque at the Embassy on Friday. Led by Qi Huang, General Manager of CPP, and comprising senior executives from China Zhenhua, the delegation discussed their plan to invest in the development of oil and gas sector of Pakistan. Huang briefed the ambassador about the profile of CPP – a subsidiary of the state-owned China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) – as well as mega projects successfully completed by…

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In a major step towards private-to-private LNG business in the country, the Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCoE) met on Friday with Federal Minister for Planning and Special Initiatives Asad Umar and accorded approval to the pipeline capacity of 500-600mmcfd for both new LNG terminal developers — Energas and Tabeer Energy. Under the decision, new LNG terminal developers Tabeer Energy has been allocated the pipeline capacity of 200mmcfd in the SSGC system and Energas 150mmcfd. This is how both the LNG developers will be having 350mmcfd gas pipeline capacity in the…

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Initially sparked by supply chain disruptions associated with the Covid-19 pandemic, a worldwide shortage of microchips has intensified in recent months, largely due to a new round of lockdowns in Southeast Asia. Given the impact on strategically important sectors like automotive, efforts are underway to prevent similar issues in the future. Microchips – also known as superconductors – are the “brains” inside electronic devices. They manage a host of systems in vehicles, for example, including electric windows and driver-safety features. Demand for microchips rose sharply during the early stages of…

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Asia-Pacific spot LNG prices hit a fresh record high Oct. 6, with the JKM benchmark surpassing $50/MMBtu for the first time ever as the gas price crisis in Europe grows more severe, increasing global competition for LNG cargoes. Surging European gas prices were exerting significant upward pressure on Asia-Pacific LNG cargo prices as trading houses and portfolio groups raised their bids to attract volumes into the region, according to market sources. This intense competition for marginal LNG cargoes meant that bids were priced at a premium over European gas hub…

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