MINEX Forum

Tag: Energy

  • Ministers of Azerbaijan and Hungary Discuss Strengthening Economic Partnership

    Ministers of Azerbaijan and Hungary Discuss Strengthening Economic Partnership

    Azerbaijan’s Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov and President of SOCAR Rovshan Najaf met with Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó. According to the Ministry’s report to AZERTAC, it was emphasized that economic ties between the countries are continuously developing due to the special importance placed by the leadership of both countries on fostering relations and effectively utilizing existing potential.

    It was noted that the second strategic partnership document signed in January last year, along with more than 50 documents signed in the areas of investment promotion, economic cooperation, prevention of double taxation, and other fields, have created a solid foundation for expanding cooperation in various directions.

    The discussion included issues arising from the Cooperation Agreement between the Azerbaijan Investment Company OJSC and the Hungarian company Hell Energy, as well as the current situation. The parties exchanged views on joint projects that strengthen mutual economic ties, active cooperation in the fields of energy, transport, pharmaceuticals, activities of Hungarian companies in Azerbaijan, and the development of investment partnerships.

    During the meeting, a document was signed for the purchase of a stake in the Shah Deniz project by the Hungarian company MVM. It was noted that this document will further strengthen the economic and energy partnership between the two countries.

  • Kazatomprom Successfully Completes Uranium Concentrate Delivery to Romanian Energy Company

    Kazatomprom Successfully Completes Uranium Concentrate Delivery to Romanian Energy Company

    The National Atomic Company “Kazatomprom” (hereinafter referred to as “Kazatomprom” or the “Company”) announces the successful completion of uranium concentrate deliveries to the energy company Societatea Natională “Nuclearelectrica” S.A. (“SNN”). SNN is Romania’s state-owned company in the field of electricity and heat supply, engaged in nuclear fuel production, and operates the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant, which accounts for approximately 20% of the country’s energy production.

    In December 2022, Kazatomprom was declared the winner of an open tender by SNN for the supply of uranium dioxide for Romania’s nuclear energy needs. In accordance with the contract terms, the Company delivered natural uranium to the SNN plant. Kazatomprom exported its product through the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TCITR), which the Company has actively utilized since 2018.

    Recognized as a reliable and preferred supplier in the global nuclear fuel market, Kazatomprom will continue diversifying its supply geography and exploring new sales markets.

  • Kazakhstan Boosting Supply of Natural Uranium to American Energy Companies

    Kazakhstan Boosting Supply of Natural Uranium to American Energy Companies

    Kazakhstan is actively working to increase the supply of Kazakh natural uranium to American energy firms, stated Almasadam Satkaliyev, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Energy, during a meeting with US Senator Steve Daines in Astana.

    “As noted by A. Satkaliyev, there is active effort to enhance the share of natural uranium supply to American energy companies,” the ministry’s press service reported after the meeting, without specifying the potential increase in shipments.

    According to the head of the Ministry of Energy, there are existing contracts for uranium deliveries until 2032 with American companies, “such as Southern Company, Constellation, Duke Energy, and others.”

    Kazakhstan is the world’s largest uranium producer, accounting for 22% of global production. In 2022, the national company “Kazatomprom” sold uranium to over 24 buyers in 11 countries. The primary buyer of Kazakh uranium is China.

  • DTEK restores Ukrainian PV plant

    DTEK restores Ukrainian PV plant

    Specialists at DTEK Renewables have restored the Niko Solar power plant in the Mykolaiv region of Ukraine.

    This is DTEK Renewables’ first such external project.

    It said 90% of the generating equipment of the Niko Solar SPP, which has capacity of 5.7MW, was damaged by Russian shelling.

    DTEK Renewables has acquired unique expertise in restoring RES facilities that have been damaged or destroyed by military operations after fixing its own solar projects, the company said.

    In October 2022, after Ukraine took back part of the southern territories from Russia, DTEK restored operations at the partially damaged Trifonivskaya solar plant in a few weeks and later repaired it to 100% capacity.

    DTEK Renewables chief executive Oleksandr Selishchev said: “Green energy is the key to Ukraine’s energy security.

    “Therefore, we did not hesitate to join the restoration of our colleagues’ solar plant so that the region would once again have such important megawatts of distributed generation.

    “We are also ready to help other companies so that people are sure of a reliable source of energy supply next winter.”

  • Bosnia suspends 700MW lignite-fired plant project

    Bosnia suspends 700MW lignite-fired plant project

    The spatial planning ministry of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Republika Srpska entity has terminated the environmental permitting procedure for the proposed 700MW Ugljevik 3 lignite-fired power plant.

    The decision means the project is “practically suspended until further notice,” Redzib Skomorac, legal advisor to the Bosnian environmental organisation Centre for the Environment, told Argus. The halting of the permitting procedure comes shortly after a Bosnian district court annulled the planning ministry’s decision to approve the plant’s environmental permit following a lawsuit initiated by the Centre for the Environment, which highlighted “numerous procedural deficiencies” in the document.

    The recent termination of the environmental procedure came at the request of developer Comsar Energy Republika Srpska. The project’s suspension will last until the entity’s supreme court delivers a decision on the ministry’s request for a review of a previous court judgement to annul the plant’s environmental impact study in December 2022. This process will be complete “three years after the case is initiated,” Skomorac told Argus, giving a date of December 2025. The Centre for the Environment would expect “much greater scrutiny if the continuation of the permitting [procedure] occurs in the near future,” Skomorac said.

    “It is necessary to stop with the persistent approval of the project whose legality is as questionable as its economic justification,” Skomorac said in a post on the Centre for the Environment’s website. “The ministry’s decision to stop the proceedings, at least temporarily, was a necessary decision,” he added.

    If completed, Ugljevik 3 would consist of two 350MW units, which would generate a combined 4.9 TWh/yr of power. But a timeframe for building works at the plant is far from clear, with Bosnia’s recent draft National Energy and Climate Plan stating that the country has “no plan to increase the capacity of plants burning fossil fuels”.

    The spatial planning ministry of the Republika Srpska did not respond to an Argus request for comment on the suspension of Ugljevik 3 or the fate of other proposed lignite-fired plants, such as the 450MW unit 7 at Tuzla and the 300MW unit 8 at Kakanj.

    Power generation in the Republika Srpska is dominated by state-owned utility ERS, which also owns the existing 300MW Ugljevik lignite-fired power plant through its subsidiary RiTE Ugljevik. ERS relies on lignite-fired plants for 56pc of its generation, while the final 44pc comes from hydropower plants. The region has very limited non-hydropower renewable capacity installed, though ambitious projects such as the 500MW Nevesinje solar farm have progressed recently.

  • The Future of Coal in Bulgaria’s Energy Market

    The Future of Coal in Bulgaria’s Energy Market

    The future of coal in Bulgaria’s energy market is a topic of significant debate and concern, as the country grapples with the challenges of climate change, air pollution, and the need to transition to cleaner and more sustainable sources of energy. As a member of the European Union, Bulgaria is subject to the bloc’s ambitious climate and energy targets, which include a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels, and to increase the share of renewable energy in the energy mix to at least 32% by 2030. These targets have important implications for the role of coal in Bulgaria’s energy market, as the country currently relies heavily on coal-fired power plants for electricity generation, particularly lignite coal, which is a highly polluting and carbon-intensive fuel.

    In recent years, there have been growing calls for Bulgaria to phase out coal and transition to cleaner sources of energy, such as renewable energy and natural gas. This has been driven not only by the need to comply with EU climate and energy targets but also by concerns about the negative impacts of coal on public health and the environment. Air pollution from coal-fired power plants is a major problem in Bulgaria, with the country consistently ranking among the worst in Europe for air quality. According to a recent report by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), air pollution from coal-fired power plants in Bulgaria is responsible for an estimated 1,660 premature deaths, 1,600 cases of chronic bronchitis, and 2,200 hospital admissions each year.

    Despite these challenges, the future of coal in Bulgaria’s energy market remains uncertain, as the country faces significant economic, social, and political barriers to phasing out coal. One of the main challenges is the lack of alternative employment opportunities for workers in the coal industry, which is a major source of jobs and income in some regions of the country. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), around 12,000 people are directly employed in the coal sector in Bulgaria, with many more jobs indirectly linked to the industry. The closure of coal mines and power plants could therefore have significant social and economic consequences, particularly in regions where coal is the main employer.

    Another challenge is the need to ensure energy security and affordability for consumers, as Bulgaria currently relies on coal for around 40% of its electricity generation. While renewable energy and natural gas have the potential to replace coal in the energy mix, there are concerns about the costs and reliability of these alternatives, particularly in the short to medium term. The Bulgarian government has also been criticized for its lack of ambition and clarity in its plans for the energy transition, with critics arguing that the country’s current energy strategy does not go far enough in addressing the challenges of climate change and air pollution.

    In conclusion, the future of coal in Bulgaria’s energy market is a complex and contested issue, with significant challenges and uncertainties ahead. While there is a clear need for the country to phase out coal and transition to cleaner sources of energy, this will require a careful balancing act between the competing demands of climate and energy policy, economic development, and social justice. It will also require strong political leadership and a clear vision for the future of the energy sector, as well as support from the European Union and other international partners in addressing the financial, technical, and capacity-building challenges of the energy transition. Ultimately, the future of coal in Bulgaria’s energy market will depend on the ability of the country to navigate these challenges and seize the opportunities of a cleaner, more sustainable, and more resilient energy system.

  • Embracing the Green Economy: How Kazakhstan’s Mining Industry Can Benefit from Renewable Energy

    Embracing the Green Economy: How Kazakhstan’s Mining Industry Can Benefit from Renewable Energy

    [vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][distance desktop_type=”30″][lvs][distance desktop_type=”30″][vc_btn title=”Source – el.kz” color=”sky” i_type=”material” i_icon_material=”vc-material vc-material-perm_device_information” add_icon=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fel.kz%2Fru%2Fkak-kazahstan-zarabotaet-na-zelenoy-ekonomike_72031%2F|target:_blank”][distance desktop_type=”30″][vc_column_text]Kazakhstan ranks 108th out of 139 countries in terms of energy intensity of GDP, with its most energy-intensive sector being the mining industry. As the demand for solid minerals grows worldwide, experts predict a further increase in the energy intensity of metal production. This presents an opportunity for the country to capitalize on renewable energy sources (RES), as the mining industry turns to greener energy solutions.

    During the 13th MINEX Kazakhstan Mining and Exploration Forum, environmentalist Elena Borovikova highlighted the potential for alternative energy development in the mining industry. The use of wind, solar, and biomass energy is on the rise, along with emerging green hydrogen projects. The mining industry, being one of the most energy-intensive sectors, can greatly benefit from adopting renewable energy sources.

    Gold production is the most energy-intensive industry, with the highest greenhouse gas emissions per million tons produced. In 2017, over 3.5 tons of gold were produced globally, requiring approximately 250 terawatts of energy and resulting in about 75 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. Switching to renewable energy sources can significantly reduce direct and energy emissions from production.

    There are already successful examples of alternative energy development in the global mining industry. Centamin’s Egyptian Sukari mine reduced its direct emissions by commissioning a 26-megawatt solar power plant with a battery system in 2022, saving 70,000 litres of diesel fuel per day. Similarly, Polyus Gold International managed to reduce its energy emissions by almost 100% by switching to hydroelectric power supplied by Russian companies.

    Renewable energy use in mining projects has grown significantly since 2015, with most of the projects launched in 2018-2019 being hybrid, combining solar and wind energy with batteries. Kazakhstan has substantial potential for renewable energy development, with 130 alternative energy facilities already operating in the country by the end of 2022, boasting an installed capacity of 2,400 megawatts.

    The renewable energy sector’s growth will lead to increased demand for metals such as copper, lithium, nickel, and neodymium, which are essential for creating solar and storage batteries and wind turbines. This provides additional opportunities for Kazakhstan, a country rich in mineral resources.

    In 2022, Kazakhstan generated 112.8 billion kWh of electricity, with 4.5 billion kWh coming from renewable energy facilities. The country’s government aims to increase the share of renewable energy in total electricity generation to 5% in 2023. As part of its commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2060, Kazakhstan is also considering building a nuclear power plant.

    Kazakhstan has all the prerequisites for developing nuclear power plants, such as significant uranium reserves, processing products, and a strong scientific base. The country is also focusing on cooperation with Total, Masdar, and ACWA Power for implementing joint investment projects in renewable energy.

    By embracing the green economy and focusing on renewable energy, Kazakhstan’s mining industry can greatly benefit from reduced emissions, cost savings, and sustainable growth. This shift will also contribute to the country’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2060, ensuring a cleaner and more prosperous future for all.[/vc_column_text][distance desktop_type=”30″][vc_btn title=”Subscribe to news digest” color=”danger” i_type=”openiconic” i_icon_openiconic=”vc-oi vc-oi-heart-empty” add_icon=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fminexforum.com%2Fuser-subscriber-registration%2F|target:_blank”][distance desktop_type=”30″][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section]