Global: East Europe must hike power prices to avoid trouble
East Europeans will likely face bigger rises in power bills than their richer Western neighbours, and for once the high oil price is not the main culprit.
Without price hikes they may suffer severe electricity shortages and possible blackouts, analysts say.
Argentina: La escasez de gasoil complica el trabajo de los productores
In the countryside, tractors stopped by lack of diesel complicate the task of farming: Some fodder had sown 20 days ago and the seeds are still waiting, while the garlic planted can not be fertilized, assured farmers in the province.
Chile: Chile truckers extend strike to protest fuel prices
Truckers across Chile said late on Wednesday they would continue their national protest against high diesel prices, potentially restricting the movement of goods to local and export markets.
Chile: Chile Considers Plan to Tap Solar Energy to Help Power Mines
Chile, faced with an energy shortage that may threaten to disrupt output at the world's biggest copper mines, may tap solar energy to help avoid power rationing.
Chile: Chile diesel demand spikes amid natural gas cuts
Demand for diesel in Chile is skyrocketing as the energy-poor country enters the Southern Hemisphere winter amid cuts in natural gas imports from sole supplier Argentina.
ENAP Chief Executive Enrique Davila said after a meeting with Congress in Chile's port town of Valaparaiso on Wednesday that average diesel consumption spiked 50 percent in 2007 over 2006 and was rising at the same rate this year.
China: Chinese provinces act to ease coal shortage
Faced with a growing coal and power shortage, China's provinces are devising their own policies to ensure cheap coal supply, as price controls on electricity increasingly cause distortions in China's power and coal markets.
Central planners want to fight inflation and prevent blackouts, while recovering from a terrible earthquake ahead of the Olympic Games in Beijing in August.
But by discouraging production and limiting trade within China, unilateral policies by provinces could further complicate Beijing's efforts to ensure a smooth economy this summer.
India: Govt finally bites the bullet on fuel prices
After nearly a week of deliberation, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government finally announced a sharp increase in retail prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas to bail out its cash-strapped oil marketing companies.
Petrol prices will rise by Rs 5 per litre, diesel prices by Rs 3 a litre and cooking gas by Rs 50 per 14.2-kg cylinder from midnight of June 4. The price of kerosene — the only other subsidised petroleum product that is widely used as cooking fuel by the poor — was unchanged.
India: Shortage of fuel : HPC dealers’ plea
Kollam district HPC Dealers Forum president PO Thomas and secretary Varkey Jacob said oil pumps in the district have been facing a shortage of fuel for the past two weeks.
They said HPCL pumps in the district were the most affected by the fuel shortage. They said that the closure of the HPCL depot at Chavara was the reason for the fuel shortage.
Malaysia: River, land transport in rural Sarawak comes to a standstill
River and land transportation in many parts of rural Sarawak came to a standstill Thursday as petrol and diesel supply ran out following massive panic buying hours before the Government’s new price took effect.
Mexico: Pemex output ‘to undershoot 2008 targets’
Mexico's average oil exports will remain well below target all year and beneath last year's levels due to lower crude production, the head of state oil monopoly Pemex said today.
Pemex chief executive Jesus Reyes Heroles said the state-run company's oil exports were headed for an average of 1.40 million to 1.45 million barrels per day over 2008, around 15% below a goal set in Mexico's 2008 budget of 1.683 million bpd.
New Zealand: Time to save power and avert a possible crisis
New Zealand’s looming power crisis is edging closer by the day, and it is quite possible on Monday there will be an official announcement urging us all to save power.
Low hydro lake levels are the main issue, but the problem has been made worse by a fault which has closed Auckland’s Otahuhu B gas-fired power station.
The fault is putting even more pressure on our already-stretched electricity supplies.
New Zealand: Town Hall lights get switched off
The ornamental lighting of Auckland City's Town Hall will be turned off as Auckland City Council plays its part to help to conserve electricity this winter.
"Given the current low electricity lake levels and the potential electricity shortage the country may face, I have asked officials to turn off all ornamental lighting on council owned properties starting with the Town Hall," said Mayor of Auckland city, John Banks.
Pakistan: Loadshedding increases by 1 hour
All the eight electricity distribution companies (DISCOs) of Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) have added unannounced one hour loadshedding to the existent 9 to 10 hour loadshedding despite the claims of achieving National Energy Conservation plan targets.
Pakistan: Energy conservation plan: a complete let-down
The government recently implemented the energy conservation plan to control the never-ending power crisis in the city. However, an unprecedented use of lights was recently seen opposite the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC) head office, a demolished building which gave a festive look. This indicates loopholes in the official strategy, proving that the government has not taken any measures into account while designing the same. It also reveals a growing tendency among people to waste energy that was earlier restricted to festivities.
South Africa: Load shedding always a possibility: Eskom
South Africa?s power utility, Eskom, says it cannot promise that there will be no load shedding during this winter. Speaking on SAfm this morning, Spokesperson Fani Zulu said: "We have a tightly met demand and supply for electricity, any time whether it is winter or summer months, load shedding is always a possibility."
