Asia Power Update 8/8

Companies begin 30-year search for coalbed methane Vietnam ensures nuclear plant safety Vietnam will utilize the latest technological to meet the highest possible safety standards for its first nuclear power plant. Alstom continues hydro power projects in China French power generation company Alstom will invest up to US$123 million in hydro power projects in China. Japan's 15% nuclear option gets public support The Japanese government's option of reducing atomic energy to 15 percent by 2030 is winning public favor. India’s “Black Tuesday” victimizes 670 million persons The biggest blackout in Indian history has turned into the biggest blackout in world history. Exact reason for India's massive power outage not known yet Government mum as truth could spur huge political impact, says source. India's worst grid failure blamed on insufficient rainfall Grid frequency dropped below 50hz leading grids to collapse, a source said. China wasting its wind power China, the world’s largest wind power market, has lost US$1.03 billion from misusing this form of renewable energy. Up to $2.7B investments expected in Pakistan wind projects An investment between $1.2 billion and $2.7 billion in wind energy projects in Pakistan are expected by its government. Tunnel-boring machines installed at Neelum-Jhelum hydro plant Two tunnel-boring machines were installed at the site of the 969-megawatt Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Meralco PowerGen eyes 650MW thermal power plant Meralco PowerGen Corp plans to acquire the 650MW Malaya thermal power plant in Rizal province, the Philippines. China, Japan enter 47 energy, environment pacts Japan and China concluded 47 cooperation agreements on environmental and energy conservation. Renewable energy use leaps in China Renewable energy sources supplied 377 terawatt hours to China’s power grid network in the first half of the year. China to connect Xilodu hydro station with UHV transmission line The State Grid Corporation of China has started the construction on a west-to-east ultra-high voltage direct current power transmission project. Reactor of Japan's Hamaoka plant may be decommissioned Chubu Electric Power may decommission a reactor of Hamaoka nuclear plant due to seawater infiltration of a reactor core. Kudankulam to begin generating electricity India’s controversial Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant will become operational next month after a delay of nearly five years and US$484 million over budget. Bangladesh to set up 50 power sub-stations The government of Bangladesh is planning to set up 50 new power sub-stations in Rajshahi, Rangpur, Khulna and Barishal division. PV to become Australia’s cheapest electricity source A study revealed that solar and onshore wind will be the cheapest sources of electricity in Australia by 2030. China doubles solar installation target to rescue PV makers China has more than doubled its PV installation target to 50GW by 2020. China buys more natural gas from Turkmenistan Beijing will import 44 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Turkmenistan during the second-half of 2012. Panasonic to educate Malaysians on green technology Panasonic Malaysia invested RM4 million to set up an energy management innovation centre. Vietnam's Vung Tau province implements energy efficiency projects Vung Tau Province hopes to save 5-7% of total energy consumption by 2015 through several energy efficiency projects. New South Korean nuke reactor begins commercial operations South Korea began commercial operations of its 23rd nuclear reactor. Five year programme pushes renewable energy in India India is the beneficiary of a US$20 million U.S. India, Bangladesh to cooperate on power exchange India and Bangladesh has created a Joint Technical Team to explore the possibility of power exchange.

EVENTS CALENDAR 7th Annual China Nuclear Power Congress Date: 22 Nov 2012 Venue: Shanghai, China SAP for Utilities Asia Pacific Conference 2012 Date: 07 Nov 2012 Venue: The Sheraton Towers, Singapore 3rd World Clean Coal Week China Focus Date: 05 Nov 2012 Venue: Beijing, China Asia Smart Grid Date: 22 Oct 2012 Venue: Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore Asian Future Energy Forum & Exhibition Date: 22 Oct 2012 Venue: Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore SIEW 2012 Date: 22 Oct 2012 Venue: Singapore CEPSI 2012 Date: 15 Oct 2012 Venue: Bali, Indonesia Asian Power Awards 2012 Date: 04 Oct 2012 Venue: Bangkok, Thailand POWER-Gen Asia 2012 Date: 03 Oct 2012 Venue: Bangkok, Thailand Indonesia Energy & Power Summit 2012 Date: 20 Sep 2012 Venue: Jakarta, Indonesia 7th Annual Transmission & Distribution Smart Grids Asia 2012 Date: 18 Sep 2012 Venue: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia China Clean Energy Grid Integration Summit 2012 Date: 13 Sep 2012 Venue: Lanzhou, China 2nd World Smart Grid conference India Week Date: 12 Sep 2012 Venue: New Delhi, India Offshore Wind Development Forum 2012 Date: 03 Sep 2012 Venue: Taipei, Taiwan Power Industry India Conference and Exhibition Date: 30 Aug 2012 Venue: Le Méridien New Delhi, India 2nd India Nuclear Energy Summit 2012 Date: 30 Aug 2012 Venue: Mumbai, India Power Plant Maintenance and Outage Management Asia Date: 29 Aug 2012 Venue: Singapore The 4th Guangzhou International Solar Photovoltaic Exhibition 2012 Date: 21 Aug 2012 Venue: China Import and Export Fair Pazhou Complex