Sonatrach (Algeria) signs 12 bcm/year gas contracts with Spain and Italy

The Algerian oil and gas company Sonatrach has announced a nine-year gas supply contract with Spain for 9 bcm/year. Algeria is intensifying commercial relations with Europe, as Gas Natural Fenosa renewed its gas supply agreement with Sonatrach until 2030 in June 2018. Sonatrach currently supplies around 9.8 bcm/year to Gas Natural Fenosa.
In addition, Sonatrach has signed a contract with the Italian oil and gas company Eni for 3 bcm/year of gas; the timeframe of the contract was not disclosed. Eni currently produces 100,000 boe/d in Algeria and operates 32 mining permits in the country.

Energy Ministry pulls back on Euro-IV standard (Philippines)

The Philippines Ministry of Energy has announced that oil companies will be allowed to commercialize the more pollutant (and cheaper) Euro-II compliant automotive diesel oil, in an attempt to reduce the effect of rising international fuel prices on the national inflation rate. The motion shifts the country from a Euro-IV standard stated by the Environment department in 2016 to reduce pollution, since Euro-IV fuels have sulphur content of 50 ppm, compared to 500 ppm for Euro-II fuels.
The Ministry also ordered the National Oil Company-Exploration Corp to raise imports of low-priced oil products (especially diesel) to mitigate volatile oil prices.

Global electricity consumption expected to increase by 2030 due to digitalization


Digitalization and the development of information and communication technologies are transforming energy systems. 
Find out more about the impacts of ICTs on the energy transition by reading our latest executive brief: https://goo.gl/MGbGXV

India will open a 25 GW bid for solar energy

The Indian government plans to open a single tender for 25 GWsolar capacity with a storage component in Ladakh, the highest solar potential area in India (potential of around 35 GW).
India has set a target of 175 GW of renewables by 2022 and is 59 GW away from achieving it. Currently, 16 GW of renewable energy sources capacities are in development, and 28 GW were already awarded. The new bids have also component requirements in order to attract manufacturing company and incite the manufacturing industry.

Tanzania plans to build gas pipeline to Uganda

The Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) is looking for a contractor to carry out feasibility studies in order to assess current and future gas demand, potential gas buyers and the most economically viable route for a future gas pipeline that would connect Tanzania and Uganda.
Tanzania's natural gas reserves are estimated at 57 tcf (1,610 bcm) and are mostly located in offshore fields. The proposed gas pipeline would connect Dar es Salaam, Tanga near the Indian Ocean and Mwanza on Lake Victoria; it would then cross the border to Uganda.
The project is part of a cooperation energy agreement between the countries. In 2016, the countries agreed to build an oil pipeline to transport Uganda's land-locked crude oil to offshore markets.

Shandong province (China) plans to cut coal capacity

The Environmental Protection Bureau (SEPB) of the Shandong province of China has released a 3-year plan against pollution. Among its main objectives, the SEPB plans to reduce coal production by 10% by 2020, from 156 Mt to 140 Mt, to boost gas consumption to 15.8 bcm by 2020 by increasing LNG imports and ensure that LNG reaches an 8% share of energy consumption in the province. In addition, it plans to raise gas imports from other provinces and targets a 70% share of clean energy sources in rural areas originates by 2020.
The plan is a part of a national strategy against pollution released by China’s State Council, whose main pillars are to cut coal consumption, incite electric vehicle sales and shut outdated steel and coke facilities.

China plans to grant private companies access to oil, gas infrastructure

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of China has issued the draft rules to concede private companies access to national oil pipelines, gas pipelines, LNG terminals and gas storage infrastructures. The motion was requested by the country’s energy operators and should mark the first concrete plan to promote fair access to gas-related facilities.
China is reforming its oil and gas sector and removing state companies' monopolies and private energy companies are being encouraged to sign term contracts to utilize the national infrastructure.
The NDRC also contemplates changing standard units for measuring energy flows, from tonnes to thermal units in order to facilitate the calculation of transportation costs.