Asia-Pacific News

Latest news and developments from Asia-Pacific region

• ADB approves USD200 million additional loan for Bangladesh’s power project

  December 30, 2020
  The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the government of Bangladesh have recently signed an agreement for USD200 million in additional loans, including USD130 million of concessional loans, for augmenting access to efficient and reliable electricity supply in rural areas of Bangladesh, by strengthening the transmission and distribution networks.

• Indian KEC commissions 500 kV project in Thailand

  December 30, 2020
  Indian engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) major, KEC International, has recently commissioned the 500 kV Pluak Daeng air-insulated switchgear (AIS) substation expansion project for the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT).

• Indian Sterlite, Australian AMP to strengthen Indian power infrastructure

  December 29, 2020
  India-based power transmission asset developer Sterlite Power Transmission Limited (SPTL) and Australia-based global investment manager AMP Capital have recently entered into a 50:50 partnership to develop energy transmission projects in India with a total equity investment of USD300 million.

• Australian private developers plan for 28 MW/56 MWh battery project [free access]

  December 28, 2020
  A Sydney-headquartered private investment firm, Precinct Capital and renewable energy and storage developer Edify Energy have formed a joint venture (JV) to undertake a 28 MW/56 MWh battery energy storage project.

• South Korean KEPCO faces issues in construction of 500 kV HVDC line

  December 23, 2020
  South Korean power utility, Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), is facing a lag in commencement of construction activities for the planned 500 kV high voltage direct current (HVDC) East Coast─Singapyeong transmission line project.

• Singaporean Keppel to invest in 500 MW Australian project [free access]

  December 23, 2020
  Keppel Renewable Energy, the renewables arm of Singapore-based Keppel Corporation, has offered to buy a 45 per cent stake in Harlin Solar, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) established in August 2020 to develop a 500 MW solar farm at Harlin, about 100 kilometres northwest of Brisbane, Queensland.

• Indian KSEB all set to complete integral 220 kV facilities

  December 22, 2020
  Indian state Kerala's state-owned vertically-integrated power utility Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), plans to complete essential 220 kV facilities by January 2021.

• Pakistan’s NTDC invites bids for turnkey services under ADB-funded project

  December 22, 2020
  Pakistan’s state-owned high voltage network developer, National Transmission and Despatch Company Limited (NTDC), has invited international competitive bids to provide turnkey services for the 220 kV Jauharabad substation under the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded, Second Power Transmission Enhancement Investment Programme – Tranche 3.

• Philippine NGCP concludes Mindanao 230 kV backbone project [free access]

  December 17, 2020
  The concessionaire for the Philippine transmission network, National Grid Corporation of Philippines (NGCP), recently energised the 230 kV Toril─Bunawan transmission line, which was the last component of the Mindanao 230 kV backbone project.

• South Australia to develop vanadium flow battery storage project

  December 17, 2020
  An AUD20.3 million project to demonstrate the capabilities of utility-scale vanadium flow battery storage in combination with solar PV has been announced in South Australia.

• Indian CCEA approves INR67 billion scheme for T&D infrastructure in NER

  December 16, 2020
  The Indian Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) recently approved plans regarding an INR67 billion scheme for strengthening the transmission and distribution (T&D) infrastructure in the North-Eastern Region (NER).

• India’s REC seeks developers for evacuation project in Rajasthan

  December 16, 2020
  The Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) has recently invited request for proposals (RfPs) for the establishment of new transmission systems for evacuating power from Solar Energy Zones in Rajasthan.

• Indian POWERGRID advances work on 400 kV Silchar–Misa line

  December 16, 2020
  The Indian grid developer, Power Grid Corporation of India (POWERGRID), has charged eight gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) bays of a 400 kV substation in Misa, Assam. The substation was constructed by the Indian engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) major KEC International, under the larger North Eastern Region Strengthening Scheme-II (NERSS-II).

• Pakistan’s CDWP approves PKR4.2 billion GIS project

  December 16, 2020
  Pakistan’s Central Development Working Party (CDWP) recently gave an affirmative nod to a proposed project for the Dhabeji Special Economic Zone (DSEZ).

• AUD120 million energy storage system being developed in Australia

  December 15, 2020
  Vena Energy—the renewable energy independent power producer (IPP) in the Asia Pacific region—is developing a major battery energy storage system (BESS) in Queensland, Australia.

• Philippine NGCP energises 230 kV transmission line [free access]

  December 14, 2020
  Private concessionaire for the Philippine transmission network, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), has recently energised the 230 kV San Jose─Quezon Line 3, which will widen the power corridor into Metro Manila.

• Pakistan's K-Electric plans transmission network upgrade

  December 11, 2020
  Pakistan’s state-owned, vertically integrated power utility, K-Electric Limited (KE), has planned to upgrade its existing transmission network from Hub Chowki Grid to Bela Grid, as part of a phase-wise plan to improve its transmission and distribution network.

• Malaysian PESTECH bags contract worth MYR104.23 million in Philippines

  December 11, 2020
  PESTECH Sdn Bhd (PSB), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Malaysian PESTECH International Berhad, has bagged a contract worth MYR104.23 million for a 138 kV transmission line project from the private concessionaire for the Philippine transmission network, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).

• Australian UGL wins contracts worth AUD112 million

  December 8, 2020
  Australia-based engineering company United Group Limited (UGL), a part of CIMIC Group, has bagged contracts worth AUD112 million from transmission system operators (TSOs) TransGrid and Powerlink, and distribution utility, United Energy.

• KPTL sells 49 per cent stake in Alipurduar Transmission to Adani

  December 3, 2020
  India's private transmission company, Adani Transmission Limited (ATL), has acquired a 49 per cent stake in Alipurduar Transmission Limited from the Indian engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) major Kalpataru Power Transmission Ltd (KPTL), with an agreement to acquire the balance 51 per cent after obtaining regulatory and other approvals.