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Philippines: ‘Red alert’ in Mindanao amid power blackouts
18 January, 2012
MINDANAO is now on “red alert” due to a power shortage, while Luzon will need more power generators in the next three years as a result of rising demand and the increasing population, Energy Secretary Jose Almendras said Tuesday.
He said Mindanao’s power reserves dropped to zero on Tuesday, when the peak demand reached 1,236 megawatts but the available supply reached only 1,215 megawatts.
The power distributors on the island were forced to hold back on their load, and that resulted in blackouts in some areas.
Tuesday’s power shortage reached as much as 150 megawatts, Almendras said.
He appealed to stakeholders to help avert a power shortage in Luzon by boosting the supply of electricity in the provinces, towns and cities.
“We are appealing to various stakeholders and to [local government units] [to create] power generator facilities as the demand for electricity is increasing,” Almendras said.
“We need at least 600 megawatts for 2013 and 2014 for Luzon alone,” he said.
The Luzon grid would need at least 300 megawatts more to meet the rising demand for electricity and another 400 megawatts by 2016.
For article GO HERE
18 January, 2012
Seoul. “It’s freezing!” complained chef Byun Sang-Won, jogging on the spot with arms folded and teeth clenched as he tried to keep warm inside the luxury Seoul hotel where he works.
“I can’t even imagine working without wearing extra underwear and hot packs because it’s too cold in the kitchen and hallways,” the 26-year-old said.
Tens of thousands of shivering South Koreans feel the same way.
Cold Januarys, with average lows of minus 6 to 7 Celsius and occasionally minus 15 C, are the norm. But this winter there is no escape from the chill.
The government, worried about shrinking power reserves after a shock September blackout, has ordered staff in 19,000 government offices to keep the indoor temperature below 18 degrees C.
Private buildings including offices must not exceed 20 C between Dec. 5 and Feb. 29. Offenders face fines of between 500,000 won ($433) and three million won.
“There have been complaints that working in such a chilly environment is uncomfortable,” acknowledged Kim Jeong-Dae, an official at the Knowledge Economy Ministry in charge of enforcing the measures.
“But we have no choice. Recent changes in energy usage patterns led to surging demand for electricity, while eco-friendly policies and awareness that Korea overuses energy made it difficult to build more power plants.”
For article GO HERE
Lebanon: Energy minister warns of further electricity cuts
18 January, 2012
BEIRUT: Energy and Water Minister Jibran Bassil said the country would witness more electricity cuts, adding that he had submitted several emergency plans to Cabinet in a bid to temporarily resolve the crisis but to no avail.
“I have warned that the situation will deteriorate and I stated that electricity cuts would increase even more and that the production process would worsen,” Bassil told Al-Joumhouria newspaper in an article published Tuesday.
Several areas in Lebanon have been suffering from increased electricity cuts due to the rainy season. This is especially true in south Lebanon, where many have complained that electricity only comes for four hours on a daily basis.
For article GO HERE
Uganda government ends power subsidies
15 January, 2012
KAMPALA, UGANDA - Starting this week, Ugandans homes will have their electricity bills increased by 36% after the government of Uganda scrapped subsidies to the electricity sector.
Energy Minister Ms.Irene Muloni confirmed the scrapping of subsidies citing the huge bill amounting to Ush1.2 trillion (US$500m)that the government has had to pay since to 2005.
Domestic consumers, who use electricity for lighting and electronics, have been paying Ush385 ($0.16) per unit which according to government was subsidised by up to 60%.
These customers will have to pay a revised fee of Ushs524.5 ($0.21) per unit after the scrapping of the subsidies.
Medium and large industrial users have not been spared either as their tariffs have been hiked by 38% and 69% respectively.
There are fears that this could lead to a spill over effect since manufacturers may transfer the burden onto the final consumer by hiking the prices of their products.
This in turn may reduce consumption and lead to loss of jobs and shut down in some volatile sectors.
For article GO HERE
One Killed, 7 Wounded In Protest Against Power Shortage In Guinea
18 January, 2012
One person was killed and seven others wounded after security forces opened fire on angry demonstrators in the north of Guinea, according to reports reaching the capital Conakry, according to China's Xinhua news agency on Wednesday.
For article GO HERE
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