November 17 2009

China: C China city suspends gas supply to companies amid heavy snow

Central China city Wuhan cut off natural gas supply to another 20 companies on Tuesday due to increasing energy demand amid heavy snow, adding the number of affected firms to 76.

The government of Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province, suspended natural gas supply to 56 companies and 26 taxi gas stations on Monday in an effort to ensure stable supply to local residents.

Heavy snow has blanketed the city since Sunday, pushing down the temperature to the lowest minus 10 degrees Celsius and driving up energy consumption.

China: China provinces hit by severe gas shortage - report

Central and eastern Chinese provinces faced the worst natural gas shortage in years as supplies were diverted to snowstorm-hit northern China, while producers lacked incentives to expand output because of poor margins, a state broadcaster said on Tuesday.

Gas supplies for taxis in Wuhan, capital of the central province of Hubei, were halted from Monday while 11 industrial companies in Hanzhou, capital of eastern Zhejiang province, were shut as a result of gas shortages, China National Radio said.

Ecuador: Government States that the Energy Crisis is Being Overcome

Ecuadoran Minister of Electricity and Renewable Resources, Esteban Albornoz, said Mon. that the energy crisis the country’s been facing is being overcome this week and confirmed that power rationing will be reduced "by half the hours”. After Peru’s sale of 1,200 megawatts per hour per day, the beginning of operations of two thermoelectric plants, Colombia's commitment to increase the interconnection provisions, and other measures being developed by the government, Albornoz said the effects of the crisis will be reduced. Since Nov. 5, Ecuador has been rationing power due to the drought affecting the Paute River hydroelectric plant, the nation's the most important plant.

Nigeria: Youths shut oil platform, attack boats

THE post-amnesty boost in Nigeria's oil production capacity because of the fledgling peace in the Niger Delta region is now being threatened as irate youths shut down a 25,000 barrel per day (bpd) Conoil production platform, which is six kilometres off the coast of Ilaje in Ondo State.

And as if to reinforce fears that peace may remain elusive in the region, militants yesterday attacked fish boats and local traders along the creeks of Bayelsa State and Calabar Channels I, Cross River State.

Zambia: Fuel shortage becomes desparate in Luanshya

The fuel situation in Luanshya has become desperate forcing motorists to the queue for the commodity overnight.

A check by ZANIS at all the three filling stations revealed that only one filling station had petrol while the other two had run out of the commodity.

The situation has put most motorists in panic buying with some buying in 210 litre containers for storage.

Some taxi drivers found at Chisongo service station complained that their business had been affected negatively by the shortage of fuel.