hydroelectric

Costa Rica: ICE Continues Threat of Blackouts If It Doesn't Get Increase

The director of energy demand for the Instituto Costarrince de Electricidad (ICE), Francisco Garro, explained that the threat of blackouts continue for 2009 following an increase of only 9.4% in electrical energy rates. ICE has requested a 36% increase.

The 9.4% increase went into effect on all consumer bills beginning November 14.

Garro said that if ICE does not have the financial resources it needs to maintain the continuous flow of electrical energy, it will be forced to set in a motion a program of planned blackouts during the summer months (dry season).

India: ‘ Electricity firms should be held accountable for power cuts’

A city-based consumer research organisation Tuesday urged the central government to hold the electricity companies accountable for frequent power cuts and load sheddings in several states.

The country is facing six to seven percent power deficit during normal hours and 12 to 13 percent during peak hours. The western region is the worst-hit, said the Consumer Education and Research Society (CERS) in a representation to the ministry of power.

Kyrgyzstan: Energy crisis threatens country's stability

It is the main topic of conversation at every dinner table in the country. After nine months of erratic blackouts and broken government promises, the Kyrgyz are growing restless. Many are even saying the situation is worse than before the Tulip Revolution in 2005.

Last spring, following the harshest winter in living memory, the government announced electricity rationing. Citing an unusually dry season, officials explained that water in the Toktogul Reservoir needed to be conserved for the upcoming winter. The reservoir regulates the Naryn River system, host to five of six of the country’s hydroelectric plants. Officials instituted a series of rolling blackouts, in many places for the first time, aiming to reduce nationwide consumption by 30 percent.

Nigeria: Chevron says 90000 bpd shut in at Nigerian

U.S. energy giant Chevron declared a force majeure in Nigeria on Tuesday after a main supply pipeline to its Escravos export terminal was sabotaged last week, forcing it to shut in around 90,000 barrels per day.

"Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) ... confirms that it has declared a force majeure effective November 18 through December 31, 2008," the company said in a statement.

Pakistan: Construction of dams a must to meet energy crises - Wapda chief

Chairman Wapda Shakil Durrani said construction of big and small dams was the utmost requirement of the country so that the country?s energy and water requirements could be fulfilled.

He said this while presiding a high-level meeting at the Wapda House here on Monday. The meeting was held to review the pace of work on all the ongoing hydel and power projects in the NWFP.

The chairman Wapda said the country is facing worst energy crisis of its history and Wapda is taking all possible measures in order to increase the power generation capability so that the country?s energy requirement could be fulfilled.

Tajikistan: Dushanbe's Mayor Demands Explanation After Power Shortages

The Dushanbe mayor is demanding that the local electricity provider explain the "unexpected electricity shortages" in the capital that led to complaints of heating problems.

Uganda: Fuel stations run dry

THE fuel shortage has worsened, forcing dealers to raise pump prices and ration the products.
Panic buying has set in, with motorists queuing to fill their tanks over reports that stations are running dry.

Yesterday, many filling stations in the city centre had no fuel, Total and Shell being most hit.
Shell Ntinda, Lugogo, Nakawa, Kampala and Jinja Road and Kaazi on Entebbe Road did not have petrol.

Zambia: ZESCO announces increased load shedding

Zesco has announced that it will reduce power generation from its Kariba North Bank power station in order to carry out repair works.

Zesco Senior Manager for Marketing and Public Relations Monica Chisela said the company will switch off one of the two power lines as it carries out repair works on the 330 Kilo volts Kariba north bank power station line to Loaders hill.

Global: From credit crunch to energy crisis ?

Global oil companies are sowing the seeds of a new supply crisis and a return to record-high prices by cutting back on current investments in response to the global slowdown, the International Energy Agency warns.

Four months ago, economists warned of “demand destruction” as record prices and a slumping economy slowed the growth of global crude consumption. But now, the IEA is worried about “supply destruction” as producers delay expensive projects, including some in Canada's oil sands, that would bring much-needed supplies to market.

Bolivia: Critican a Evo Morales por falta de combustibles en Santa Cruz

The political opposition criticized today the Bolivian government of President Evo Morales because of problems with the fuel supply in the eastern region of Santa Cruz, scarce diesel and domestic gas.

"It is inconceivable that there is disruption. We are living the worst crisis for lack of fuel," said the adviser on oil from the government department of Santa Cruz, Jose Luis Padilla.

India: No solution, keep candles lit for weeks

The present darkness in Karnataka is not a temporary phenomenon, but could be a stark reality for some time to come.

Even good rain, brimming reservoirs and uninterrupted working of the thermal and hydel power stations in the state won’t meet today’s energy needs. There would still be a shortfall of 15-20 million units (MU) daily.

Uganda: October shortage exposes empty talk

When long-distance truck drivers went on strike in protest against the poor state of the Malaba Border Post parking yard on October 20, the government left the Uganda Revenue Authority to resolve it. It did not work.

On October 28, President Yoweri Museveni passed Malaba on his way to Nairobi, Kenya and demanded an explanation from URA boss Allen Kagina, and the area Resident District Commissioner.

Two days later, motorists across the country scampered to filling stations as fuel stocks ran out causing queues and a spike in pump prices from Shs 2,500 to Shs 2,800 per litre. Once again Uganda had proved vulnerable to a fuel crisis resulting from a minor glitch in the supply chain.