blackouts

Cuba: Cuba sounds summer energy alarm, plans blackouts

Cubans are in for an especially hot summer under an energy saving plan that could shut off air conditioners at work and require Saturday-morning blackouts at home, according to an unpublished government directive obtained by The Associated Press.

The plan, signed by new Economics Minister Marino Murillo and circulating Tuesday among government offices and state companies, also calls for large-scale vacations for government workers. The measures are necessary, it says, to conserve petroleum used to generate electricity during the Caribbean nation's sweltering summer months.

Ethiopia: Shedding Light on Power Crisis

The current situation of power shedding is because of the imbalance in supply and demand. We have short, mid and long term planning. This is the supply-demand forecast and the planning that follows this forecast. From the demand side, this year we anticipated between 17pc to 20pc growth in actual demand, despite the surface demand growth being 24pc.

There is a gap between the demand and supply side growth because forecast depends on different methodologies, knowledge base and experience of the sector. Other major factors, such as economic growth, social development, environmental situations, industrial, commercial and domestic GDP growth, have their own impact on the growth of energy demand. Population growth is a very important factor for the increase in energy demand. To mitigate this demand, definitely there should be supply side planning and this supply side planning starts based on the master plan, which includes all the factors I have mentioned.

Malawi: Mera develops plan for Malawi's power supply

The Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) is developing a strategic plan to give itself direction on how it will regulate the energy sector for the next five years as the country positions itself to address its power supply problems.

Among other things, the strategic plan will support initiatives government is putting in place to end the problem of electricity blackouts to enable the country attract meaningful private investment.

Nigeria: Gas supply shortage threatens FG's 6000MW target - stakeholders

THE major factor which may hinder the actualisation of the Federal Government’s intent has been identified as the possible shortage in gas supply to fire the turbines

Specifically, stakeholders in the power sector have expressed their fears that the much talked power generation may not be achieved at the end of the year.A close source in the power ministry who pleaded anonymity stated that the move to increase the nation’s power generation capacity by the Yar’adua led government is a right step in the right direction, but inadequate supply of gas may be the hindrance to the actualization of the programme.

Bangladesh: Bangladesh power crunch shuts fertiliser plants

Bangladesh has closed all three state-run fertiliser factories to divert gas to power plants to boost electricity generation, an energy official said on Monday.

Last week protesters attacked a number of power plants and police stations demanding adequate supply of electricity and water, also in short supply.

The country faces up to 2,000 megawatts shortage of electricity, halting or reducing production in many export industries, mostly in the clothing sector.

Bangladesh: Dhaka gone crazy

Life in the capital has become utterly miserable over the last ten days due to a severe heat wave accompanied with repeated load shedding, an acute water crisis, shortage of gas supply, infestation of mosquitoes, and the resultant near epidemic of diseases like diarrhoea.

Other diseases like typhoid, jaundice, and heatstroke are also on the rise.

India: Agony of citizens more acute now

Despite relief from scheduled power cuts, citizens continue to be at the receiving end with their agonies multiplied as they no longer seem to have the privilege of “informed” blackouts.

“On Saturday, we had power cuts seven times ranging from half-an-hour to two hours. Feeder problem…emergency load relief were some of the reasons given but with no prior intimation we were caught off guard,” fumes K.Lakshmi Narasaiah, a resident of Hanumannagar near Dilsukhnagar.

India: Soaring mercury pushes up power demand, triggers cuts

As the mercury crossed the 41 degree mark, many parts of Delhi suffered prolonged outages throughout the day. The Northern Grid continued to be under pressure from various constituents as demand shot up alongwith the summer heat. Because of this and as states were not able to cope with the rising demand, the frequency kept slipping below the safe limit causing warning bells to go off in Northern Regional Load Dispatch Centre (NRLDC).

According to the state power department, there was a shortfall of close to 350 MW in the peak afternoon hours and discoms were directed to curtail overdrawal from the grid to maintain the frequency level. Said a spokesperson from Delhi Transco: "Loadshedding is being done by BSES in south, west and east Delhi areas since 10.30 am on one hour rotational basis. It was necessary to resort to loadshedding to maintain grid discipline.''

India: In power cut lies the paradox of land versus development

The power outages over the past week have forced into Bengal’s living rooms the biggest issue churning the election here — the uncomfortable question whether some should be coerced to give up their land to address the needs of the rest.

Bengal faces a 400-700MW shortfall, even after commissioning two units in Bakreswar and Sagardighi with a combined capacity of 510MW on April 24, and the demand is expected to rise by 400MW every year.

Nepal: Terai strike paralyses life, create POL shortage

The continued general strike called by a faction of Tharus on the sixth consecutive day has completely paralysed normal life in Terai districts and created shortage of petroleum products across the country.

All market places, industries and educational institutions remain shut and transports are out of streets on Monday as well. Terai districts have also begun to face shortage of daily consuming goods.

Udaypur remain tensed due to tussle between the demonstrators and police on Sunday following which local administration was compelled to impose curfew.

Nigeria: Fuel scarcity worsens in Imo

The acute fuel scarcity, which hit Imo State last week, has worsened, as virtually all petroleum marketing outlets in the state claimed they had run out of supply.

Vanguard investigations revealed that an insignificant number , especially the independent marketers, who were seen dispensing premium motor spirit (PMS) in the hinterlands, were selling at between N125 to N150 per litre of the product.

Nigeria: Deregulation: FG's indecision may trigger cyclical fuel shortage

The Federal Government‘s uneven steps on the thorny issue of deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry threatens to plunge the country into a cyclical fuel crisis, our investigation has revealed.

Even though it has declared that the fuel market has been deregulated government, it has not backed up its pronouncement with enabling guidelines that will show that it means business.

Philippines: ‘Shortsighted power policy contributed to blackout '

UNLESS the national government speeds up the development of the country’s geothermal-energy capability, the Philippines will suffer persistent power outages that will turn away potential investors and derail economic recovery, Makati Mayor and United Opposition president Jejomar Binay said on Monday.

“Power is strategic to our economic development. The issue goes beyond blackouts but economic opportunities lost because of a shortsighted power policy,” he said. Such shortsighted power policy contributed to the 10-hour blackout that hit the Visayas on Saturday, and the periodic power outages that have been hitting key cities in Visayas and Mindanao in the last few months because of increasing demand, he added.