alternative energy

Bangladesh: DST hardly improves power situation

The government's daylight saving time (DST) formula to save electricity is yet to have the desired effect in improving power situation even after seven days of its introduction, as people have not changed their lifestyle while offices and business establishments are not following the directive properly.

However, the city dwellers alleged that the power situation has not changed even after introduction of the DST. Load-shedding and power outages remain the same and in some cases they are facing tremendous sufferings due to frequent load shedding, they added.

India: Low rainfall cuts hydro power generation - govt

The power ministry on Friday urged other ministries and government departments to curb power usage as hot weather has boosted demand while hydro generation has declined due to a weak start of the monsoon.

The country's weather office has said monsoon rains for the week ended June 24 were 68 percent below normal at 13.6 mm.

On Wednesday, the Metreological Department said total rainfall from the crucial June-September monsoon would be 93 percent of the long-term average, coming in below normal for the first time in four year.

Japan: Japanese biomass power plants struggle with shortages

About 30 percent of woody biomass power station operators have suspended or reduced operations due to a shortage of thinned wood and wood chips used for generating power, according to a recent survey by The Yomiuri Shimbun.

This has occurred despite the fact that 20 million cubic meters of thinned wood and brush is being left to rot in forests around the country each year as it is costly to clear and transport it.

Nigeria: Oil above $71 as rebels attack Nigerian facility

Oil prices rose above $71 a barrel Friday as renewed attacks on oil facilities in Nigeria raised supply concerns and as the dollar slipped further against the euro, drawing investors into commodities.

By midday in Europe, benchmark crude for August delivery was up 91 cents to $71.14 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. On Thursday, it gained $1.56 to settle at $70.23.

Nigerian militants said they attacked a Royal Dutch Shell wellhead in the southern Delta state in response to a government operation against them, hours after the nation's president offered them amnesty in exchange for laying down their arms.

Bolivia: Farmers Protest Biased, Bolivia Gov

The government of Bolivia said a march by eastern farmers was politically tainted and unwarranted to protest the diesel shortage and export restrictions.

Rural Development Minister Carlos Romero says the march organized by Confederacion de Agropecuarios del Oriente (CONFEAGRO) is uncalled for since Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB) normally supplies Santa Cruz.

Bolivia: Empresarios protestan con tractores en Bolivia

Agricultural Employers took to the streets on Tuesday with their tractors and trucks in Santa Cruz, the country's economic capital, in protest of agricultural policies of President Evo Morales and the disruption of fuel.

Kenya: Major fuel shortage hits towns

A shortage of fuel has hit parts of the country just days before the start of the busy Christmas and New Year holidays.

Shortages were reported in Nairobi, central Rift Valley, Nyanza and Western provinces.

Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) said they were pumping enough petrol from Mombasa to Nairobi and other hinterland areas but dealers had not raised their orders.

Nepal: Locals Detain NEA Official in Sindhupalchowk

Locals of Barhabise on Tuesday detained head of the Nepal Electricity Authority, citing excessive load-shedding in the area. Bikram Amatya, head of the NEA Sunkoshi branch, was confined to his Barhabise based office from 11:30 am for about eight and half hours. Seven other NEA staffers were locked in the sub-branch office, along with Amatya. They were released after Amatya assured the locals that there would be no load-shedding for the next 15 days and talks would be held with the centre to completely stop power-cuts in the area, said police inspector Suresh Shah.

Pakistan: Textile sector losing Rs2b annually

All Pakistan Textile Mills Association Chairman Tariq Mehmood has said that textile industry in the country is suffering a loss of around Rs 2 billion annually due to eight-hour electricity loadshedding and gas supply disconnection to the industrial units.
Addressing a press conference here at APTMA office Mr Tariq observed that textile industry is being subjected to four to eight hours electricity loadshedding daily. He said that winter has not even set in but gas-fuelled industry has been facing closure for nearly 21 on account of gas disconnections.

Senegal: Senegal introduces energy saving measures to address electricity shortage

The Senegalese government has resolved to universalise the use of low consumption lamps "as soon as possible" to overcome the ongoing energy crisis, official sources told APA.

The announcement was made here Monday, after an inter-ministerial council chaired by Prime Minister Hadjibou Soumare, who spoke of the "immediate universal" use of low consumption lamps.

The Council also resolved to set up an industrial unit to produce such lamps.

Sri Lanka: Fuel shortage in Sri Lanka

Soon after the Supreme Court ordered to make a new formula for Sri Lankan oil prices a widespread oil shortage has taken place in the country.

Sources at the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) said that most of the gas station owners have cancelled their orders as they are expecting further price reductions in the near future.

Uganda: Uganda turns to hot springs for power production

Plagued by the notoriety of the current power shortage, Uganda is turning to geothermal energy with the hope that the unfamiliar form of power production could provide answers.

The Ministry of energy has committed $45 million (Shs89.5 billion) towards exploration of sites with geothermal power potential. Geothermal energy is mainly produced by trapping steam released by hot rocks with water reservoirs deep in the earth and using it to power turbines.

Vietnam: Sunbathing in Vietnam, kind of

With the sharp population increase, Ho Chi Minh City, now home to about 10 million, is facing an apparent energy crisis. According to HCM City Power Company, the city's power demand is now in excess of 1,000 to 2,500 megawatts every day.

To battle this, the city has turned to a source of energy that it has a lot of: the sun. Since July, it has been developing a program to support businesses that produce and sell solar-powered appliances, including water heater and lighting systems.