Creating "African Lion" countries with geothermal energy

It has much of the idea of the 'lion' countries, imitating Asias made famous 'tiger' has been. There is no reason Africa should not behave like Asia - hordes of international businessmen should travel in air-conditioned offices and lavishly stocked bars in cities like Nairobi and Dar es Salaam well in my life. There are many thorns, this Lions paws must be removed. But I suggest that renewable energy sources, in particular geothermal potential, the energy and the electrification of the cultural offering his massive load, the Sahara needs to bring international partnerships and healthy and competitive economy, can help.

Foreign investment can provide the necessary advantage, but must eventually transition to a self-sustaining industry.

GeoPower Africa conference tackles this issue in July in Dar es Salaam. Mail flow on investments in the region a high ebb seemed to reach: a new geothermal energy project in Lake Assal, Djibouti was announced not one week after the Conference found to have closed its financiers, and the keynote event company, AfDB, joined in the $32 million project by the sustainable energy fund for Africa (SALIBA), the African Development Fund, the global environment facility, the OPEC Fund for international development (OFID) and the global geothermal energy development plan (GGDP).

Rwanda of NewTimes published soon after the event at the opening of the three holes for geothermal resources on July 19 to explore a piece. An interesting point to note is that KenGen said his move to the advice at the event, was contracted to do the surveying. Two points to note here: First, the highly desirable and praised African approach, Africans, the development of Africa in contrast to just with bits of land to foreign investors; Secondly, a positive example for African companies to develop its expertise so that it presents itself as a diversified energy supply companies can present a range of services. With a little luck will find KenGen even open offices within and outside the continent in the coming years. Ad hoc injections of cash and capacity can match the potential of real partnerships and domestic powerhouses.

Identify the individual characteristics of each country.

"Africa is too big, and its lands are too diverse to follow a script," said Rhonda Zygocki Chevron in a blog Huffington Post. Key in identifying lion core, are turning away from the idea of Africa as Africa the the entire sub-Saharan region for growth, stability and will pull. Americans and British deal with Tanzania, Ethiopia, Kenya and other countries as separate entities.

Investors in geothermal, like any other industry need to perceive a business case for the establishment of a shop in the African countries of the Lions. Lynn Tabernacki said of the United States overseas private investment Corporation (OPIC):

A number of countries are ready for accession in Kenya success in the area of geothermal energy. Of course, viable geothermal resources have a slew of countries in larger Rift Valley. These resources, contrasted against the high tariffs in countries instructed, at the diesel generating by attracting these markets from a business perspective. The leading countries are the ones who could draw public and private support to adequately to investors to avoid the perceived risks together however. For example, a country needs a regulatory framework of the sector energy supports investment and development. There must be proof also investors with an expectation of political stability and a corporate culture, the sanctity of the contract.We heard apart from Kenya of geothermal development in Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia. I hope projects in all of these countries can be developed in a reasonable schedule that know, that experience has won Kenya each of the.

The right projects for the right countries.

It is time to demonstrate the high potential of sub-Saharan economies taking arrival on the major population in the region, they need through a well-managed energy projects. And many of these countries are plans to tinker.

The GeoPower-Africa Summit saw some constructive and honest input from KenGens Chairman Titus Kitili Mbathi and other expert members of the Board such as a geothermal energy project to get really. "Drill!" was the message. You must search survey, resources, then go back and drill. Surveying and consulting and auditing indefinitely - but if the project must move needs to be moved. The energy is there, as presentation of WWF later stressed. It has always been, it must be unlocked only.

These are the countries where companies to send their management development will, as soon as she've cut their teeth in Hong Kong and Singapore Raffles place? These countries are the the whole region towards the coveted investment rating upgrade will drive? And energy is the key?

Kenya is located in the area of geothermal energy, and the next hot markets are probably Djibouti, Ethiopia and Tanzania in particular.

"Booming economy of Tanzania is set to attract new FDI in almost all key sectors including infrastructure and energy. However, it is the energy sector, in particular renewable energy projects, which should accelerate direct investment in Tanzania,"said Albert Rweyemamu ATI about his homeland. "A greater role in the provision of the necessary financial resources and risk aversion support ambitious programs like the US initiative to play"power for Africa"and Pan African expect institutions such as ATI in clean power generation not only to Tanzania, but also for the entire continent."

View the original article here

In MENA countries solar energy plant

As the worldwide solar industry plods through a two-year slowdown, everyone is looking for the next growth market. Traditionally strong regions are struggling in Europe (notably Germany) and the U.S.; Japan and China have promise but are relatively closed off to the rest of the world. At the head of the list of new-frontier growth prospects are Latin America and the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) regions. A new report from Greentech Media, produced in conjunction with the nonprofit Emirates Solar Industry Association (ESIA), which seeks to expand solar power in the UAE and through the entire MENA region, takes a closer look at the promise of several MENA countries for renewable energy growth.

Key to unlocking the potential of these regions is understanding their motivations, explains Scott Burger, solar market analyst for GTM Research. "What is driving these select few nations is different than in a lot of other regions," he says. "The drivers are less surface-level than seen in a lot of other countries." For European nations it's greening their economies; in China it's to save the overbuilt local industry. But in MENA regions it comes down to rising energy usage, preserving natural resources, and nurturing local expertise. Not to mention that oil-producing countries would much rather export and sell for $100/barrel instead of $4-$5/barrel to consume domestically.

Bottom line: they want to remain energy exporters, in the sense of global leaders in technology and intellectual property (IP). "The more they develop their [renewable energy] industry, the can stay as a leader in the energy industry," Burger says.

GTM's full report is chock full of deep information on a number of MENA countries and their renewable energy motivations, but here's a broad summary of the most promising aspects:

Saudi Arabia: 16 gigawatts (GW) of solar PV and 25 GW of concentrated solar power (CSP), both by 2032. In 2011, the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) controlled roughly 51 GW of generating capacity, more than doubling since 2000, and projected to grow another 50 percent to 77 GW by 2020. Saudi Arabia is the world's largest oil producer, and 80 percent of its export and revenue come from the production and sale of hydrocarbon resources. It is also MENA's largest oil consumer, one of the few major industrialized economies that produces a significant portion of its electricity through oil-burning plants. If Saudi Arabia doesn't curb its energy demand, institute energy efficiency requirements, and diversify its electricity generation profile, it could become an oil importer by 2030, Burger points out. (Domestic natural gas isn't a savior here, since much of it is earmarked as a feedstock for several domestic industrial sectors.)

The King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KA Care) program, established in April 2010, has laid out an "aggressive" plan to build out the country's renewable (and nuclear) energy resources. Despite pushing back planned a first tender for 4Q12 out to late 2013, "the Saudi Arabian government is serious" about its renewable energy goals, which it sees as a way to diversify its economy and support a younger, growing population to compete in a global marketplace, according to Burger. It's moving cautiously, carefully navigating domestic energy needs vs. diversifying its economy, all in the light of the Arab Spring movement -- but "we think they will move [forward] and in a big way."

Turkey: 30 percent renewable energy generation by 2030. Turkey already has most of that renewable energy goal through hydro (~24 percent), as well as "a pretty viable wind market," Burger noted, which means it needs to add around 3 GW of solar by 2023. Perhaps most importantly, Turkey is the sole MENA market that resembles a more traditional European market, with an established feed-in tariff model -- and thus will be the only market not driven by large-scale government tenders, Burger noted. Turkey also has a strong net metering program, and has sunlight comparable to Spain. Expect large-scape projects to emerge in 2013.

Abu Dhabi: 7 percent renewable energy by 2020. There isn't a publicly published breakout of how much of this target is solar power, but it should account for most of that total, according to Burger. He pointed to 100 MW of solar (CSP) already in place with a 10 MW PV plant and another 1 MW plant being built. Besides solar, Abu Dhabi also is pursuing a 100-MW "waste-to-energy" plant and a 30-MW wind plant.

Algeria: 22 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030. Algeria has "significant potential" to develop its solar resources: excellent sunlight hours, rapidly rising electricity demand, a population that's bigger than Saudi Arabia, and not a lot of carbon resources. "It has all the right factors to be a long-term strong market," Burger said. It's not clear, however, how much of that will be developed in the short term (2015-2016). Of that 22 GW number, 10 GW of that is in the Desertec Initiative, which aims to ship 10 GW worth of energy to Europe; the rest (12 GW) will be for domestic electricity demand. Algeria's initial plans were to develop 650 MW by 2015 (tendered in 2012) and have 100 MW installed by 2013, but the country "has not laid out a good policy framework" to achieve those targets, Burger said.

Jordan: 10 percent renewable energy through 2020. Solar should be about 600 MW of that total, Burger noted. Jordan has a real need for power, with expensive residential rates exceeding $0.30-$0.35 per kilowatt-hour, he said. Still, investments in renewable energy will be challenged due to relative geo/political instability, a common theme among MENA countries.

Morocco: 40 percent renewable power generating capacity by 2020. Morocco launched its Solar Plan in 2009, declaring to generate 2 GW of solar power by 2020. Toward that end it has selected five sites for solar projects (four of them 400-500 MW in size), commissioned one per year from 2015-2019, but so far only one has moved forward: the Ain Beni Mathar ISCC plant, with 20 MW of total 470 MW capacity provided by solar thermal. Morocco's timelines haven't been very clear, Burger points out, but the country has deployed large amounts of capital and has a relatively strong regulatory framework.

Egypt: 20 percent of renewable energy generation by 2020. One of the MENA region's early adopters of renewable energy development, Egypt now has roughly 3.5 GW of renewable energy installed, mostly hydropower, but solar will account for the bulk going forward. Of that 20 percent goal by 2020, it wants 12 percent from wind, and 8 percent from hydro and solar. (Of Egypt's ~27.7 GW current installed capacity, 10 percent is hydro, 2 percent from wind, and half a percent from solar.) Egypt's New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA) has a 100 MW solar thermal plant and two 20-MW PV plants on its drawing board, but geopolitical/social unrest could delay such plans, Burger notes.

Qatar: 20 percent of renewable electricity by 2030. The host of the 2022 World Cup, Qatar is aiming to literally clean up its image -- it has the highest per-capita carbon footprint in the world, 2.5? that of the U.S. in 2008, Burger points out. Almost all of Qatar's electricity generation is gas-fired plants, with subsidized electricity rates that effectively prevent residential solar additions. Most of that 20 percent-by-2030 goal will be met by heavily state-funded solar -- announced plans include 1.8 GW of solar projects by 2014, though without many details available except promises to tender a 200 MW project in early 2013. Qatar also is pursuing a local partnership with SolarWorld for polysilicon manufacturing. Qatar, like other MENA regions, still has to diversify its economy, while navigating the political unrest around the Arab Spring.

Bottom line: Look for significant solar energy developments in the MENA region over the next five years, varying by country, and not exactly linear annual growth because of the tender-based projects being developed. Look for a peak of roughly 3.5 GW in 2015 as many planned projects start to come to fruition.

View the original article here

Forward a Bahrain financial thinking countries in the GCC - KPMG

Replication or redistribution in whole or in part expressly banned info FZ LLC without prior written consent of AME / Emap limited.

The information in this section is contained neither, nor is it than out, a call take a person any form of investment decision. The content of the AMEinfo.com not constitutes advice or a recommendation by AME Info FZ LLC / Emap limited and not in making (or renunciation of the production) should be understood each decision relating to investments or any other matter. You should consult your own independent financial adviser and obtain professional advice before exercising any investment decisions or decisions based on information on this website AMEinfo.com.

AME Info FZ LLC / Emap limited can be not made liable or responsible in any way for the advice, suggestions, recommendations or comments by one of the contributors to the various columns on the AMEinfo.com Web site still opinions of contributors necessarily reflect of AME Info FZ LLC / Emap limited.

In any case, AME Info is FZ LLC / Emap limited be liable for damages of any kind, including, without limitation, direct, special, indirect, consequential or incidental damages or damages due to loss of profits, loss of revenue or loss of use, of or relating to the AMEinfo.com Web site or which is, whether such damages under contract, negligence information contained, tort, statute, in equity, by law or otherwise.

View the original article here

Intervene plan to pursue Chevron in other countries

The latest salvo come just one day after an Ecuadorian judge ordered Chevron, one of the largest environmental awards at all to pay suggests that the dispute between villagers and oil executives, 1993 began, yet long not past.

The case stems from oil pollution in the Ecuadorian rainforest, but Chevron does not work and has no significant assets of the country. It was Texaco the Chevron take a merger in 2001, was accused of widespread environmental damage taken, before the off of Ecuador in the early 1990s.

Chevron has much larger operations elsewhere in Latin America and the applicant pursues the company throughout the region could open strategy a controversial new phase in the event - an Ecuadorian political relations with its neighbours to test and would include some Washington's most prominent lobbyists and lawyers.

Consultant for the plaintiff said obvious candidates, but you was recognized that it would be easy Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela to follow Chevron assets. Venezuela is for example, a close ally of the Ecuadorian and its President Hugo Chavez is a frequent critic of the United States. But Chevron enjoys extensive operations in Venezuela and warmer ties with Mr. Chavez government as just about every other American companies.

The applicants also fight an uphill damage in the United States collect at least immediately, since the judge in New York this month temporary enforcement of Ecuador Awards prevents. However, legal adviser, said they were willing to try to damage in the United States as well as to collect.

A confidential memo, prepared by the Washington law firm Patton Boggs under court order recently put the plaintiff strategy which use a European industrial espionage company to Chevron assets around the world to examine.

"The fact that Chevron play ball in Venezuela has agreed to during the company's peers are unfavourable contractual clauses that universally rejected imposed by the Chavez Government may difficulties, interpret", said the memo, codenamed "Invictus." "However, Chavez populist Government remains a natural ally" the plaintiff.

Memo lawyers identified the Philippines, Singapore, Australia, Angola, Canada and some other countries in which Chevron has significant assets as potential targets. In the Philippines it hit consultant for Patton Boggs, who recently waded in the crisis in Egypt as a delegate for the Obama administration even by using the services of the Frank G. Wisner, former diplomat and Foreign Minister.

Citing the Invictus memo, Judge Lewis Kaplan of the Southern District of New York argues that the plaintiff wanted a "worldwide, full - court press", a settlement against a company to extract significant meaning in the provision of energy of the United States economy.

Chevron said it wanted to pay a cent. "We want to resist enforcement search everywhere, where the plaintiff to take, what we perceive to be a fraudulent judgment", Kent Robertson, a Chevron spokesman said.

Temporary protection, issued by judge Kaplan Mr. Robertson was a decision by a panel of international referee in the Hague that the company was granted a preliminary injunction that may block the execution of the judgment.

But Ecuadorian attorneys said she themselves under the jurisdiction of the American Court or the arbitrator did not.

With reference to the arbitration, a lawyer, Pablo Fajardo, said: "This is part of the Chevron legal strategy to delay and obstruct."

Duncan Hollis, Associate Dean which Temple University law school, said, it was logical that the plaintiff to take their fight to other countries in the region because "there are some similarities in Latin American legal system." But, Mr. Hollis added, "There is no international law as one court to enforce the judgments from other nation's Court."

Because now the case in the Ecuadorian courts move forward. Be three judges both appeals. The Amazon Coalition intends that amount of damages, appeal, appeal to the entire decision while Chevron.

"I don't know if we will be broadcasting" our legal argument, HR. Robertson said. But he added: "It is the illegitimate nature of the ruling." "The scientific evidence shows that a meritless result."

The final appeal will go to a national court of appeal, a process that could take months. Then the battle for several countries can move at a time. Consultant for the villagers and forest tribes, said they hoped to extract Chevron until you reach the final judgment money from many countries.

The judgement of the impact is already felt in Ecuador and also as a cautionary tale of environmental and legal aftermath of oil production. Alberto Acosta, a former oil Minister in Ecuador, called the ruling "a historical precedent."

It is "Memory", that we ourselves from the irresponsible activities of extraction companies to defend both oil and mining, said Mr. Acosta.

Simon Romero reported from Caracas and Clifford Krauss from Houston. Johannes Schwartz contributed reporting from New York and Irene Caselli from Quito, Ecuador.

View the original article here