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Canada lagging badly on geopower
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&a...
Time to give windmills a spin
Turbines dotting the landscape across Canada
But we still trail Europe in tapping the wind's energy
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&call_pageid...
A new cash cow for Huron farmers
Wind turbines generate $5,000 per 1.5 acres
No wonder farms are lining up to play host to one
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&call_pageid...
In the summer of 2004 in the children's health camps will rest about
3,5 thousand. the children of the colleagues OF JOINT STOCK COMPANY of "Mosenergo -
Moscow Regional Administration of Power System Management"
translated - unedited
21.07.2004 g.
Moscow region
JOINT STOCK COMPANY of "Mosenergo - Moscow Regional Administration of
Power System Management" prepares to send to the children's
health-improvement centers also of camp third change of the children
of Moscow power engineers. Entire in summer present year privilege passes into the
health-improvement establishments of energy company obtained almost
3,5 thousand. schoolboys.
Management JOINT STOCK COMPANY of "Mosenergo - Moscow Regional
Administration of Power System Management" pays considerable attention
to the organization of leisure of the children of power engineers. To the colleagues OF JOINT STOCK COMPANY of "Mosenergo - Moscow
Regional Administration of Power System Management" are yearly
allotted privilege passes, on which their children can rest during the summer and winter
vacations. Energy company allows passes into five summer children's camps, located in Moscow region. Furthermore, in this year more than 700 schoolboys will rest on the coast of Black
sea in g. Sochi (camp Of "khosta").
Each summer the workers of camps prepare for the children captivating
creative and health-improvement program. Children walk into the marches, they attend museums, present small masterpieces in the numerous circles are created. Ecological practices and subject festivals regularly are conducted. Special attention is paid to the sport. In the children's camps there are football fields and volleyball
areas, ponds and training halls. Each camp has its distinctive special features. For example, in the territory of the camp of "Mosenergo - Moscow Regional
Administration of Power System Management" in The ruzskeye region of
Moscow region is built the fairytale "city of masters", where the children are occupied in the diverse circles of creation.
"this important company, as "Mosenergo - Moscow Regional Administration of Power System
Management", it cannot but worry about the organization of leisure of the families
of its colleagues. We are glad, that the children of power engineers have the capability to strengthen
their health and it is simply gay to spend time in the camps and the
health resorts ", - notes the division head of the social programs OF JOINT STOCK
COMPANY of "Mosenergo - Moscow Regional Administration of Power System
Management" Yuri Vavilov, - "children, after being once in the health camp, compulsorily they try again here to fall ".
As a result of hurricane in Irkutsk region were damaged 1178 electric
power lines OF JOINT STOCK COMPANY "irkutskenergo" the date: 20.07.2004
Division: News of the company of the theme: The source is other than the news of region: RIA "Siberian news"
As a result of hurricane in Irkutsk region 1178 electric power lines
were damaged, belonging TO JOINT STOCK COMPANY "irkutskenergo". As Vladimir Kolmogorov reported on Monday at the session of provincial
commission for extraordinary situations the general director of
company, are today restored more than 50% damaged lines - 673. It is also restored by 47 of 341 damaged support.
Without the electricity on Friday populated area remained 271, the power supply is already restored in 132 of them to the present
day. More than twice it was possible to decrease the scarcity of electric
power in residential consumers.
As a result of the wear and tear of accident-prevention automation
during the damage LEP of 500 kV was formed the scarcity of power at
the level 1200 MW, including of 300 MW on the overflows into Buryatiyu. For compensating this scarcity, with the damage for the planned capital repair work, the heat output of power system were begun to operate, load at the thermal power plants "irkutskenergo" was increased more
than 20 times - with 45 MW to 1050 MW. For compensating the load were neglected two blocks at Gusinoozerskeye
GRES - State Regional Electric Power Plant. As a result of the taken measures, the power supply of important users was restored 13.00 hours on 17
July.
V. Kolmogorov also noted, that all electric power lines were insured and insurance companies
were ready to compensate the damage substituted by element. According to the preliminary data, it composes 180 millions. rubles.
Four killed in dust storm in Irkutsk region
Interfax. Sunday, Jul. 18, 2004, 10:34 AM Moscow Time
Moscow. July 18 (Interfax) - Four people were killed and 19 others suffered serious injuries and were hospitalized as a result of a dust storm which hit the southern districts of the Irkutsk region on Friday.
In total, 62 people suffered in the storm, the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry told Interfax on Sunday.
In the southern part of the Irkutsk region the speed of the wind reached 30 meters per second. The storm knocked down 36 electric power line poles, as a result of which electricity was cut off from 50 towns with a population of 170,450
Novosibirskenergo obtained gold medal "for the high quality in the
business practice" the administration of international fund "for the
high quality in the business practice" it awarded JOINT STOCK COMPANY
Novosibirskenergo by gold medal "for the high quality in the
business practice". Participation in the forum, signing of charter and obtaining gold medal are the acknowledgement of
the unblemished reputation of company and personally her leader, resting on the principles, presented in the charter of fund and following criteria:
• the high level of corporate achievements;
• innovation policy, the use of contemporary high technologies;
• the high quality of the production produced and exerted services;
• the educated personnel, transforming high ethical principles in the business;
• stable and constant economic increase;
• the satisfaction of the demands of clients;
• policy on the protection of environment;
• the development of human of service lives.
The candidature of company obtains recommendation to the participation
in the forum by the council of fund on the base of information, obtained from the embassies and the commercial representations of
different countries, MEDIA of business peace, the information agencies, national credit bureaus, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Solemn ceremony of presentation to gold medal and public signing of
charter, it took place during the third international forum "for the high
quality of the business" in Geneva of 24-25 June 2004. Gold medal was entrusted to the representative OF JOINT STOCK COMPANY
Novosibirskenergo, to director TETs-5 v. D. To lymarevu. The honorable right to sign charter was given to it.
Rewarding by gold medal "for the high quality in the business
practice" and the public signing of charter passed in the presence of
the leaders of industry and the prominent public workers of the
international community and was widely illuminated with the media of
entire peace. It was the public gesture of the acknowledgement of the tendency of
organization toward the high quality of business practice and
strengthening of reputation.
Participation in the forum places Novosibirskenergo in one row with
the leading enterprises of industry, business, science and culture of entire peace it allows the unlimited
possibilities for establishing the new business, professional and personal contacts.
the Press- service
20 July 2004.
BY 2004 AUTUMN WORLD BANK TO CALCULATE POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF RUSSIA'S JOINING KYOTO PROTOCOL
MOSCOW, JULY 23 (RIA Novosti) - By autumn 2004 the World Bank will supply its assessment of the effects of Russia's ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, World Bank director and permanent representative in the Russian Federation Kristalina Georgieva has said on Friday.
"We have a special study group for Russia. The assessment of effects of ratification of the Kyoto Protocol for Russia will be made somewhere in September", Georgieva said.
She specified that the World Bank is not studying the matter to give Russia recommendations to join the protocol.
"Of course, Russia is entitled to decide", she said.
In her opinion, its decision will depend on the calculation of boons and ill effects from joining.
As regards the World Bank's position on the protocol, Georgieva noted that the bank is sure that ozone-destroying emissions do tell on the climate. On the other hand, the World Bank believes that "the Kyoto Protocol is imperfect, though a step in the right direction".
The problem, in her view, is that that countries have failed to agree on an integrated method for assessing the pros and cons of the Kyoto Protocol.
At State Regional Electric Power Plant -5 JOINT STOCK
COMPANY of "Mosenergo - Moscow Regional Administration of Power System
Management" on the special technology is conducted the reconstruction
of the chimney stack
23.07.2004
Moscow
Translated - minor editing
JOINT STOCK COMPANY of "Mosenergo - Moscow Regional Administration of
Power System Management" completes the repair of chimney stack at State Regional Electric Power Plant -5. Reconstruction assumes the introduction of the new technological
solutions and contemporary materials, which will increase the ecological parameters and several times will prolong the period of operation.
The old technology of the surface protection of chimney stacks adapted
Until now in the power system. On this technology the internal surface of the chimney stacks of power stations will be bordered by the layer of special lining brick ("brick
lining"), which protects the ferroconcrete stem of pipe from the action of
products of combustion. The brick lining of chimney stacks is worn out in the course of time, and one time in several years is required conducting the expensive
repair work with the stoppage for a prolonged time of basic power
equipment.
In the course of repair at State Regional Electric Power Plant -5 brick, brick lining will be substituted to the metallic gas-bleeding stem, knots of which are prepared at the Chekhovian plant "hydro-steel" from highly technological types of alloy corrosion-resistant steel of the
type "korten". For the specialists of energy company one must solve complex
technological problem, since the removal of old brick lining and the installation of metallic
coating will pass at the height of 180 m.
Metallic stem possesses a number of the unquestionable advantages. First, it is completely gasproof, i.e., practically it does not pass flue gases to the ferroconcrete
stem. In the second place, metallic stem is more long-lived. Thirdly, in the space between the stems it will be built circular areas and stairs, which make it possible to conduct constant observations of the state of chimney stack. As a result of reconstruction several times will grow the period of the operation of chimney stack.
Installation of metallic stem in the chimney stacks of power stations
- comparatively new technology. For the first time in its power system they used in 1998 on TETs-21. In further JOINT STOCK COMPANY of "Mosenergo - Moscow Regional
Administration of Power System Management" it plans to enlarge the
practice of the application of metallic shielding it is trunk at other
power stations of energy company.
Maple Leaf profit soars
http://www.globeinvestor.com/servlet/ArticleNews/story/RTGAM/20040722/wmaple0722
KYOTO PROTOCOL: IN SEARCH OF MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING
July 21, 2004
MOSCOW (Sergei Vasilyev, board chairman of the National Carbon Union, for RIA Novosti)
The National Carbon Union (NCU) partnership was set up a year ago and has more than a dozen collective members. Our initial task was to inform Russian companies responsible for the emission of greenhouse gases about the essence of the Kyoto protocol, the principles of its operation and the ways it can be used to attract investment to the national industries.
The list of our members includes RAO UES, Russian Aluminium, AFK System, and several other companies. The aggregate volume of emissions by our members is about 650 mln tonnes of CO² a year (more than a third of the national total). Vneshtorgbank is co-operating with us as an observer (as the bank does not emit greenhouse gases). By persistently popularising the Kyoto protocol, the NCU has changed the stand of the influential Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, which unites nearly all major producers (about 30,000), and its leadership now tends to support rather than reject the protocol.
Many economists think that to double GDP by the deadline set by the president (within a decade), Russian companies should improve their energy efficiency by approximately 2.5% a year. They are proceeding somewhat slower now and I am sure that the Kyoto protocol could serve as a good incentive.
Regrettably, this vital international document has a framework structure and hence is too vague. All actions proceeding from its contents narrow rather than expand the possibilities of investment in Russia. If the point at issue is to ratify the protocol and assume certain commitments without getting anything in return, this would be a strange - silly, in the eyes of the business community - act.
We have spent a great deal of time trying to explain our stand to the EU. Russian business wants to know where, how and on what conditions it can receive investment. I would say that this is a reasonable stand devoid of any political considerations. If the Kyoto protocol is a humanitarian programme that will not address the issue of modernisation of individual economies but is designed to encourage each and all to reduce man's effect on climate in the interests of the planet, then it would be reasonable to invest in the projects that promise maximum feedback.
If it costs more than €100 per tonne to reduce emissions in Europe and there are many projects in Russia where the cost is €5 per tonne, then you see where the money should go - and it does not matter who provides it, as it is the future of the whole planet that is at stake.
However, we have not been able to encourage the EU to accept this view, though we have promoted it more than once (the latest time in late May). Take the directive on the sale of greenhouse gases emission quotas, which will create a market government by strict directives instead of a free one. The EU regulates its quota buyers and purchases per territory, suggesting that some should be done in Europe, others in emerging countries, and still others in Ukraine and Russia. But this is not a market; it is a bureaucratic game and a policy of double standards. Naturally, this is a cause for concern.
Reform of electric industry
RUSSIA'S ELECTRIC INDUSTRY TO BE REFORMED
MOSCOW, July 20 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian electric industry reform will begin in the third quarter of 2004, says the schedule on reforming the industry for 2004-2005 signed by Mikhail Fradkov.
According to the schedule, branch ministries, federal services and agencies including the Atomic Energy Federal Agency will submit to the government the regulation on establishing the procedures of providing intersystem electric connections and developing the procedures of the electric industry's on-line dispatcher control.
In the third quarter of 2004, the respective ministries and agencies will develop the rules of executing public agreements on the wholesale and retail energy markets, including exemplary agreements on energy supply to the consumers.
Besides, the schedule will suggest steps on taking the urgent measures to prevent and eliminate accidents at the fuel and energy system's facilities.
Developed also will be the procedures and criteria of determining the areas of the electric energy sale and purchase, where the competition is limited or absent.
The same terms will cover finding the sources of reimbursing the expenses inflicted by performing the operating organization's duties in the area of the atomic energy use. The government will be provided with the conditions and procedures of establishing a long-term technological power reserve and the issue of developing the procedures of the antimonopoly control on the electric energy wholesale and retail markets.
The concept of the federal law "On heat supply" will be worked out. According to the Russian government's plans, the finalized document will be submitted to the government in the first quarter of 2005.
In the first quarter of 2005, the respective ministries and agencies will develop and submit to the government the issue of establishing the conditions and procedures for maintaining the power reserves including the mechanism of reimbursing the expenses of the reserve facilities' owners and the procedure of rendering system reliability services and other system services. Determined in the same first quarter of 2005 will be the conditions and procedures of building and funding the energy industry's installations, while in the second quarter of 2005 the conditions and procedures of mothballing the energy industry's installations for repair.
The document points out that in 2004-2005 the state's representatives in RAO UES Russia board will get the directives on handing the energy joint stock companies' bus networks over to the interregional bus network companies.
The same period will witness drafting directives on handing the regional dispatcher control's property to the joint stock company System Operator - Unified Energy System's Central Dispatcher Control. Issued simultaneously will be a directive on restructuring the energy joint stock companies.
Energy Reform Plan Approved
GOVERNMENT APPROVES ENERGY REFORM PLAN FOR 2004-2006
MOSCOW, July 20 (RIA Novosti) - Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov has signed a decree on the plan for the reform of Russia's energy system for the period from 2004 to 2006. The premier's press spokesman Alexander Zharov said this to reporters on Tuesday.
"The plan for the reform was not drastically amended compared to its originally approved version," said Mr. Zharov. "Timeframes and ministries responsible for drafting a number of documents were only changed."
The Economic Development and Trade Ministry's press service said the draft plan for the reform of Russia's energy system was submitted to the government on May 21. The government staff introduced changes to the draft.
The reform's deadline was shifted to 2006 and the composition of the ministries involved was changed due to the government reform, according to the press service.
"The Industry and Energy Ministry retained principal responsibility for the reform. The Economic Development Ministry still has to amend the provisions of the law on insolvency dealing with energy enterprises' bankruptcy," said the ministry's press service.
"Several items dealing with the directive (procedure) of representing the state at the Board of Directors of the Unified Energy Systems (UES) Co were also changed," added the press service.
According to an Industry and Energy Ministry source, the notion of "the government's directive" was absent from the original plan.
"The directive was proposed to be removed from the plan as the issue will have to be discussed all the same," said a ministry source.
"To the best of my knowledge the government staff has preserved the directive," added the source.
The ministry source said 2006 was a more realistic deadline.
"The deadlines were shifted as we are behind schedule with the first phase of the reform. The new deadline is more realistic," said the source.
Mr. Fradkov said on July 1 when meeting UES chief Anatoly Chubais that the plan for the further energy reform would be considered at a government meeting in December next year.
"Terminating one of the key structural reforms is out of the question today," said Mr. Fradkov.
It is the executive authorities that are responsible for the reform and its outcomes, while the government must look into intermediate results and assess reform efficiency, according to Mr. Fradkov.
Mr. Fradkov also said it was important to decide what legislative acts should be adopted to achieve the major objective: to create a competitive energy market in Russia, which would be efficiently regulated by the state.
The premier also deemed it necessary to look into the reform's possible impacts on energy tariffs in provinces, on inter-budget relationships, and its relevance to the problem of cross-subsidies.
Coal-to-liquid fuel offers answer to energy woes
By David Dapice
http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/commentary/story/0,4386,262187,00.html?
AMID continuing violence in the Middle East, the issue of energy security is again on the front burner. With oil prices rising to a peak of US$40 (S$68) a barrel, countries have been looking at alternative energy with a greater urgency. This heightened sense of urgency, fortunately, has come at a time when there is evidence that a new approach using existing resources and technology can provide alternative energy to many countries.
A glimmer of good news recently appeared: China signed an agreement with Sasol, a South African energy and chemicals firm, to build two coal-to-liquid fuel plants in China. These plants, costing US$3 billion each, are reported by the Financial Times to jointly produce 60 million tonnes of liquid fuel (440 million barrels) a year. Since China imported 100 million tonnes of oil last year, these plants would give China much control over its domestic energy situation, though its demand is growing fast.
The raw material and capital costs of a barrel of fuel would fall under US$10 and other costs would not bring total costs over US$15.
Coal resources of one trillion tonnes are widely distributed around the world. Many countries, including China, India, Russia, Ukraine, Germany, Poland, South Africa, the United States and Australia have extensive coal deposits that would last 100 years or more at current rates of exploitation. But coal is a highly polluting fuel when burned directly and also emits a lot of global-warming carbon dioxide.
The Sasol technology, a third-generation Fischer-Tropsch process, was developed in Germany and used in World War II, and later in South Africa. (Steam and oxygen are passed over coke at high temperatures and pressures; hydrogen and carbon monoxide are produced and then reassembled into liquid fuels.)
It has long been too expensive to compete with standard crude oil. On the plus side, sulphur and other pollutants such as ash and mercury are removed - the sulphur can be sold as a by-product - and carbon dioxide is segregated and can be injected underground. If hydrogen is needed for fuel cells, these plants can also provide it. In the near term, the petrol and diesel produced are high grade and clean, meeting even future 'clean diesel' requirements of the United States.
The real question is if these plants can be built and reliably produce fuels for less than US$20 a barrel. Sasol already produces 150,000 barrels a day from coal. (Conversion from natural gas is cheaper and Sasol is in the process of switching its feedstock to gas in South Africa.) Each of the Chinese plants would be four times as large as the existing Sasol plant, and scaling up can involve difficulties. If Sasol can make these larger plants work at the publicised costs, this technology could be used by many other nations - rich and poor - who are willing to forego periods of very cheap oil for more security. (Indeed, even oil-producing Indonesia is looking into a coal-to-liquids plant as it now imports oil.)
This technology also works in converting coal to natural gas at a cost of US$3 to US$3.50 per million BTUs (British thermal units). Since current natural-gas prices in the US are roughly double that, it would appear that coal-to-gas is also an economically viable technology.
The coal-to-liquid technology would compete with the evolving tar-sands technology being expanded in Canada. This technology involves the production, either by mining or extracting with steam, of heavy oil trapped in sand. The heavy oil is then massaged into more valuable fuels. This source already accounts for a quarter of Canada's 3.2 million barrels per day output. It requires natural gas to heat the tar and is energy intensive, but still has production costs of under US$20 a barrel.
Tar-sand reserves are estimated at over 250 billion barrels. These and similar technologies would allow much more plentiful isolated natural-gas reserves, coal and tar sand to be converted into liquid fuels. The long-predicted decline in petroleum production could be delayed for decades or more, and the geopolitics of energy would be rewritten at something close to or below current crude-oil costs.
Is there a downside to rapidly adopting these technologies? Yes, from a global welfare perspective. Now, onshore oil-production costs are usually under US$5 a barrel. If prices are higher, somebody (the country owning the oil or the company producing it) gets the difference between the price and the cost. If we switch to US$15-$20 costs from these other technologies, then there is no surplus of price over cost, or a much smaller one. To use an economic phrase, the 'rent' on oil production is destroyed in a quest for self-sufficiency.
While true, the instability in oil prices - as well as the threat of terrorist disruptions to supply - are such that many nations might be happy to use their own resources to produce this vital input. They are no worse off if oil can be produced at US$20 a barrel, unless the price temporarily plunges below that level as it did in the late 1990s. A stable price and supply prevents very expensive disruptions.
None of this answers critics who are properly concerned with global warming. Subsidies to hybrid or other highly efficient vehicles are probably needed to reduce emissions. In the longer term, fuel cells burning hydrogen and producing only water as a waste product are promising, but still far from being economically feasible.
Overall, the coal-to-liquid technology is only one element of an integrated programme that is needed to deal with fuel security, local pollution and global-warming issues. But, even alone, it could bring an element of stability to world oil prices and thus also to the global economy. In addition, if it redirects efforts from geopolitical competition and even conflict to investment and efficiency, it is a welcome development.
The writer is an associate professor of economics at Tufts University. Rights: YaleGlobal Online, www.yaleglobal.yale.edu
India calls for German support for renewable energy
http://pepei.pennnet.com/articles/article_display.cfm?Section=ONART&Category=INDUS&PUBLICATI...
16 July 2004 - Indian industry is inviting German businesses to cooperate in setting up joint ventures for tapping the potential in the renewable energy sector.
Pointing that India would require Rs 9000bn ($194bn) investment to achieve the required additional 100 000 MW of energy by 2012, Chairman of industry body FICCI's renewable committee Rakesh Bakshi said "only a miniscule 3.5 per cent of 110 000 MW energy in the country comes from renewable sources".
He said the four thrust areas of Indo-German collaboration in renewable energy could be wind energy, biomass, solar photovoltaic and solar thermal.
The industry also invited German participation in environment market, which is growing at 10-12 per cent with an estimated market size of $13-14bn by 2005.
At an interactive session with German business leaders, Central Pollution Control Board member secretary B Sengupta sought German participation in environmental technology.
"We require German collaboration in direct reduction of iron ore in steel making, clean coal technology, fly-ash control, hazardous waste management and others," he said.
ACADEMICIAN IZRAEL: KYOTO PROTOCOL ECONOMICALLY HAZARDOUS TO RUSSIA
MOSCOW, July 17 (RIA Novosti) - The Kyoto Protocol is scientifically ungrounded and economically hazardous to Russia, well-known Russian scholar Academician Yuri Izrael opines in the Nezavisimaya Gazeta. He heads the Global Climate and Ecology Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences and conducts the academic seminar Ways to Prevent Climatic Changes and Possible Negative Effects; Problems of the Kyoto Protocol.
Many take the Kyoto Protocol for granted, he writes. However, many climatologists and economists doubt its scientific reasons. After the international climatic conference, which was held on President Vladimir Putin's initiative in Moscow last autumn and gathered over 2,000 specialists, this issue has assumed a greater edge, the Russian academician notes.
Taking the floor, Russian President Vladimir Putin said we would tackle the problem of possible joining the Kyoto Protocol and its ratification but only with reliance on Russia's national interest. The president has instructed a number of ministries and the national Academy of Sciences to inquire into the matter. Since last January, a special council has been at work - the Academy's seminar made up of 26 prominent scientists and specialists from the Academy. Over six months, the council held 12 sessions and heard over 20 scientific reports. On May 14, the seminar drew the following conclusion:
First, the Kyoto Protocol is scientifically ungrounded and does not indicate the road towards the end set. The economically inefficient protocol leads to only an insignificant cutting of the hothouse emissions. Currently, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the air is 370 millionths. In the next ten years, it will increase by 20 millionths. Observance of the Kyoto Protocol will contain the increase by only one or two millionth in ten years. Swedish Professor, Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Bert Bolin has already expressed similar opinion in Kyoto. Therefore, it is our opinion that the Kyoto Protocol is inefficient.
Second, the economic aspect of the Kyoto Protocol holds no water. We are told: the 1990s economic decline forced Russia to axe hothouse emissions and now it has a reserve. Sell it, earn money until you reach the 1990 level. They promise us to gain $30-40 billion. But, this "reserve" is rapidly dwindling because the Russian industrial growth is underway. Certain calculations show that the 1990 level will be reached in five to six years. Even if Russia sells quotas, it can earn from them about 200 million euros, as estimated by specialists from the European Institute at the Russian Academy of Sciences. Reaching the 1990 level, Russia will have to pay from $160-600 for preventing the emission of one metric ton of carbon dioxide. Today Russia will sell the quotas on carbon dioxide for only $4-5.
The recent seminar, held by the Russian Academy of Sciences with the involvement of foreign specialists, was very useful. It's worth noting that foreign scientists share Russia's doubts, concerning the efficiency of the Kyoto Protocol.
Its realisation contains another vague element. If a country of the European Union produces several extra metric tons of carbon dioxide exceeding the 1990 level, it is to downsize it either by a new technology or buying a quota from somebody. Quotas can be bought from countries, which do not produce the quantity fixed by the protocol. It is nonsense from the point of view of the idea of the protocol: emissions are not cut and, hence, there is no climatic gain.
Incidentally, two crucial questions remain unsolved. Firstly, how grave the harm would be from possible climatic changes. Very much depends on it for taking collective steps. Prevention of climatic changes can be too costly - trillions, dozens of trillions of dollars. Still, it has not yet been determined what harm we expect. It may be less what the Kyoto Protocol intends. Secondly, a limit for global warming which would not affect the climatic system has not yet been set. Without answering these two questions it is hard to talk of the value of the Kyoto Protocol for mankind.
Finally, in his recent article (Nezavisimaya Gazeta of July 8, 2004) David King, chief scientific counsellor for the British government, wrote that Academician Yuri Izrael notes the negative role for the Kyoto Protocol ratification of the G-7 plus China group of countries. "I have not said that," Academician Izrael stresses, "but believe that it would be easier to combat the negative effects of climatic modification by all the possible efforts of various countries."
Abitibi-Consolidated Announces Ratification of 5-year Collective Agreement with CEP
A (TSX)
ABY (NYSE)
MONTREAL, July 17 - Abitibi-Consolidated Inc. (TSX: A NYSE:
ABY) today announced the ratification of a 5-year collective agreement with
the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada (CEP),
representing approximately 4,500 of its members employed at 12 Company
Divisions located in Québec, Ontario and Newfoundland.
The ratification follows the agreement in principle reached in Montréal
on July 6, 2004 between both parties.
"These negotiations presented several challenges, but we were committed
to working together," said Viateur Camiré, Vice-President, Human Resources and
lead negotiator for the Company. "We are pleased to have reached a sound and
fair agreement based on a positive relationship with the Union and our
employees."
Highlights of the agreement include:
- Term: 5 years, from May 1, 2004 to April 30, 2009.
- Wage increases: an average of 11% over 5-year term -
- Year 1: $0.70/hour;
- Year 2: 2.5% increase per employee;
- Year 3: $0.60/hour;
- Year 4: 2% increase per employee;
- Year 5: $0.60/hour.
- Pension: 10-year agreement on pension improvements increasing
Company labour costs by 3.2% over the first 5 years, plus an
additional 2.15% effective in 2009. Employee contributions will
increase gradually from the current average of 4.9% of annual salary
up to 7.5% by 2009.
- Benefits: the agreement provides for reasonable improvements and
increase in employees contributions in the area of group insurance.
- Job security: renewed and updated provisions to existing clauses.
The total impact on the Company's labour costs over the 5-year term of
the agreement will be 14.3%.
Prior to the previous contract's expiry, the Union and the Company
undertook a new approach to the overall process. First, negotiations on
contract language clauses as well as all local issues were undertaken before
main agenda talks began. These local negotiations were successfully concluded
prior to the expiry of the 1998-2004 collective agreement. Then, final round
discussions centred on monetary issues. This new approach helps support the
Company's ongoing employee relations' efforts.
"Abitibi-Consolidated remains committed to being the lowest-cost producer
in North America," stated John Weaver, President and CEO. "The challenge for
our employees is to increase productivity and maximize our margins per tonne."
Abitibi-Consolidated is a global leader in newsprint and uncoated
groundwood (value-added groundwood) papers as well as a major producer of wood
products, generating sales of $5.4 billion in 2003. With over 15,000
employees, excluding PanAsia, the Company does business in approximately 70
countries. Responsible for the forest management of 17.5 million hectares,
Abitibi-Consolidated is committed to the sustainability of the natural
resources in its care. The Company is also the world's largest recycler of
newspapers and magazines, serving 17 metropolitan areas with more than 11,200
Paper Retriever(R) collection points and 14 recycling centres in Canada, the
United States and the United Kingdom. Abitibi-Consolidated owns or is a
partner in 27 paper mills, 22 sawmills, 4 remanufacturing facilities and 1
engineered wood facility in Canada, the U.S., the UK, South Korea, China and
Thailand.
Biggest-ever smog study involves 500 scientists, 11 aircraft
http://www.canada.com/health/story.html?id=6F65888B-AAEA-4D5D-89CB-D37CB3422A6A
Global Solar Energy Wins R&D 100 Award
http://www.stockhouse.com/news/news.asp?tick=UNS&newsid=2369247
On the gray OF JOINT STOCK COMPANY of "Mosenergo - Moscow Regional
Administration of Power System Management" after conducting of repair
work is released the power unit
translated - unedited
13.07.2004 g.
g. Kashira (Moscow region)
In the beginning of July 2004 on gray by them. G. M. Krzyzanowski after conducting of innovation repair was released power
unit No 4 with a power of 300 MW. In the course of conducting the reconstruction of power unit new
highly technological equipment was established, corresponding to all contemporary requirements of energy production.
The repair work of power engineering gray they approached during April
of the present year. Innovation repair included the reconstruction of fundamental component
of the power unit: boiler, turbine, generator, steam lines and the automatic system for control. In particular, in the course of the reconstruction of the morally and physically
obsolete system of control of power unit was inculcated the modernized
automatic control system of turbine with the use of equipment of firm
"SSS" (USA), which will additionally raise the effectiveness of the control of
current frequency in the power system.
The repaired power unit gray was connected to network before the
appointed time, after the completion of two-day complex tests. In the course of testing the serious disturbances in the work of the
rekonstruirovannogo equipment it was not discovered. Now power unit No 4 will begin work in the regime of the so-called
"controlled operation". In the course of the month the specialists of power station together
with the representatives of the branch of energy company - JOINT STOCK
COMPANY "mosenergonaladka" will control the work of power unit.
Kashira gray is one of the first carbon power stations, elevated according to the plan of the state electrification of Russia
"GOELRO - STATE COMMISSION FOR THE ELECTRIFICATION OF RUSSIA". Today power station produces of about 10% of general electric power in
the system JOINT STOCK COMPANY of "Mosenergo - Moscow Regional
Administration of Power System Management". The installed capacity of six power units gray is 1 580 MW. Kashira power station produces almost 6 billion kVt·ch of electric
power and 430 thousand. Gcal of thermal energy.
Illarionov Attacks Britain, Vows to Bury Kyoto
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2004/07/12/041.html
Here is a link - good luck with your thread
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/can-am/menu-en.asp?act=v&mid=1&cat=1&did=2612
Crofter speaks out against Skye wind farm
http://news.scotsman.com/scitech.cfm?id=781682004
Air pollution kills 1,700 a year in Toronto: Study
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&call_pageid...
Transmission line accident causes outage in Georgia
Interfax. Friday, Jul. 9, 2004, 8:12 PM Moscow Time
TBILISI. July 9 (Interfax) - Tbilisi and other parts of Georgia were left without electricity after an accident on Friday on an arterial transmission line, the Georgian State Electric System told Interfax.
It was unclear at the moment of the company's report what had put the Imereti line out of operation.
The line links eastern Georgia to the Inguri hydro power plant in the west of the country, which had been generating nearly two-thirds of the nation's electricity before the accident.
Imereti is owned by Gruzrosenergo
Government to Privatize 2,000 Enterprises in 2005
http://www.mosnews.com/money/2004/07/06/privatization.shtml
Government to Privatize 2,000 Enterprises in 2005
http://www.mosnews.com/money/2004/07/06/privatization.shtml
Cargo spaceship to undock from ISS, temporarily remain in orbit
Interfax. Thursday, Jul. 8, 2004, 3:42 PM Moscow Time
MOSCOW. July 8 (Interfax) - A Progress M-49 cargo spaceship carrying refuse will be separated from the International Space Station (ISS) on July 30, but remain in orbit for a certain period of time. "The Progress will be undocked to give way to the next cargo spaceship carrying food and fuel for the station. The spaceship will be launched from the Baikonur spaceport on August 11," head of the mission control center's press service Valery Lyndin told Interfax. "The Progress M-49 cargo spaceship will be safely moved away from the ISS but it will not descend immediately. The ship will remain in orbit for a while," he said. The crew is also scheduled for a space walk on August 3, so the cargo spaceship has to be separated from the station, he said. The crew will install equipment, including laser deflectors on the ISS for docking the first European ATV cargo spaceship. This will be the second space walk of the ISS 9th expedition, which comprises Gennady Padalka (Russia) and NASA astronaut Michael Fincke
Abitibi-Consolidated Union Gets Key Labor Pact
http://www.globeinvestor.com/servlet/WireFeedRedirect?cf=GlobeInvestor/config&vg=BigAdVariableGe...
Abitibi labour contract to set pattern, union says
http://www.globeinvestor.com/servlet/WireFeedRedirect?cf=GlobeInvestor/config&vg=BigAdVariableGe...
KYOTO PROTOCOL. RUSSIA TO ADVANCE PROVISOS, DEMANDS EXPERT
MOSCOW, July 9 (RIA Novosti) - Russia is not to join the Kyoto protocol unless it makes additional provisos. Anna Kashirina, who leads the Russia & Kyoto Protocol thinktank, is firm on that point.
"We cannot join in on present-day terms-the protocol has a more pronounced economic and political content than environmental," she said to Novosti.
As she sees it, Russia should be entitled to specified hothouse gas exhaust quotas to sell them at an annual 100 to 130 million tonnes for a threshold 40 US dollars a tonne, which promises an approximate forty billion revenue within ten years. If market prices get going in that field, Russia will not gain anything with eight dollars a tonne, at the highest, warns the expert.
Yuri Israel, Full Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, staff researcher of the Moscow-based Institute of Global Climate and Ecology, earlier came up with calculations. He does not think Russia will make more than a lump $200 million on the Kyoto protocol. It will pay $150 to an exorbitant 600 a tonne as soon as it sells off all stocked-up quotas-as against present-day token four to five dollars a tonne.
Russia has every right to receive forest maintenance compensations, what with its vast woodlands. Money compensations would be preferable to extra quotas, says Miss Kashirina. Meanwhile, the ideas of her research team have not found reflection in the protocol, she sighs.
RUSSIAN ENERGY MINISTER UPDATES MEDIA ON ELECTRICITY INDUSTRY REFORM
MOSCOW, July 9 (RIA Novosti) - Reform in the electricity industry is proceeding according to plan, although ways to form wholesale generating companies are to be identified, Energy and Industries Minister Viktor Khristenko said.
Speaking to the media Friday, the minister said that under effective laws, the ministry shall put together reports on electricity industry reform every six months and that the next such report was due in December this year
The fact that no final decision has yet been made as to how wholesale generating companies should be built will not disrupt the reform, Mr Khristenko assured. According to him, Russia's first generating company will have been set up before the end of this year. In all, ten companies are to be established. The Cabinet has instructed the ministry to examine the possibility of uniting all hydro-electric power stations into one wholesale generating company.
As he passed on to the issue of Russian oil exports, Mr Khristenko said that oil export schedules are drawn up for the quarter, the month, and the day ahead. There are no grounds to worry that the export may be disrupted, with crude and refined products now being supplied according to schedule, he assured.
Earlier, the embattled oil giant Yukos said it may suspend the export of oil owing to the Arbitration Court's ruling that it pay the nearly $7 billion back tax bill for the years 2000 and 2001.
The minister also said that this next fall the Cabinet would consider ways to raise the efficiency of the natural gas market.
High on the agenda of the Cabinet's sessions this autumn will be the gas market's performance and the possibility of enhancing its efficiency, Mr Khristenko said. According to him, the current state, potentialities and prospects of the gas sector will be under discussion.
On Saturday, July 10, the State Duma, or parliament's lower house, will be considering bills on affordable housing in their second reading, Mr Khristenko announced. He said that the MPs had revised the drafts in accordance with recommendations from the Cabinet. Tomorrow, they will vote on eighteen of the 27 bills on the package, primarily ones that "will have budget implications."
The minister said he was satisfied with the way the Cabinet and the Duma were working together. He expressed hope that the housing bills would have no problem getting through the house tomorrow, noting that the revision had made the drafts more precise and clear.
Visitors from among the general public come to Mr Khristenko's office to discuss issues ranging from utilities services to science, he said. Some of the visitors bring in designs of innovative building materials, proposals on how to save companies from bankruptcy, and developments on alternative sources of energy. Not only do the public make proposals on the use of unconventional and renewable energy sources (including the new efficient mechanism for using wind power), but they also present new perspectives on the nature of energy per se, the minister said. He assured that all the proposals submitted would be considered by experts from the ministry and, possibly, from the Academy of Sciences, as well.
RAO UES BOD to elect the chairman on July 30.
08 July 2004 13:09
RAO UES BOD will hold its first meeting on July 30, sources with the company's press service said.
At the meeting, the BOD will elect its chairman and the deputy chairman, consider Severo-Zapadnaya TETs financing, acquisition of a share in Nurenergo and territorial generation companies' establishment.
H1 2004 Savings from Competitive Procurement in Energy Repair Business of RAO UES Total RUB1.968 billion
Moscow. 7 July 2004. The savings as a result of competitive procurement of supplies, works and services for the energy repairs business of RAO UES enterprises in H1 2004 made RUB 1.968 billion. During the period, the regional energos and AO-power plants held over 4,600 reverse procurement auctions. The initial value of lots was RUB 10.430 billion, but the auctions made it possible to cut the prices at which goods were procured and reduce repair expenses.
Competitive procurement procedures are most effectively used by OAO "Kostromskaya TPP", OAO "Novocherkasskaya TPP", OAO "Nevinnomysskaya TPP", OAO "Orenburgenergo", OAO "Permenergo", OAO "Chelyabenergo", and OAO "Krasnoyarskenergo".
The program to procure supplies, works, and services for the energy repair businesses on a competitive basis has been implemented by RAO UES Holding entities over the past four years. Today, the use of competitive procurement is one of the key mechanisms ensuring cost control, accounting for 17% of the overall cost reduction in the Holding Company.
Under the annual competitive procurement program for the energy repair businesses of RAO "UES of Russia" for the year 2004, 8,697 tenders are to be held, with the initial value of the lots totalling RUB27.6 billion. It is anticipated that almost 60% of the funds allocated for the repairs will be used for procurement through the competitive tendering system. In 2003, under the annual program of RAO UES enterprises, RUB23 billion in funds was allocated for competitive procurement, which makes 53% of the total repair expenses, whereas the savings totalled RUB3 billion. In this connection, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Russian Federation said that the procurement system of RAO "UES of Russia" was the best among those of the country's state-controlled companies.
Illarionov calls Kyoto Protocol undeclared war on Russia
Interfax. Thursday, Jul. 8, 2004, 8:32 PM Moscow Time
MOSCOW. July 8 (Interfax) - Russian presidential economic advisor Andrei Illarionov called the Kyoto Protocol an "undeclared war against Russia" at a Moscow press conference.
"The Kyoto Protocol is an undeclared war against Russia from all sides - the left, the right, from liberals, conservatives and businesses. It uses absolutely all means and its main prize is the ratification by Russian authorities of the Kyoto Protocol, which would mean a complete capitulation to a dangerous ideology imposed via international diplomacy," Illarionov said.
"The nature and content of the Kyoto Protocol is one of the largest, if not the largest, escapade of all times and nations," Illarionov said.
"Not one of the claims contained in the Kyoto Protocol and the "scientific" theory on which they are based have been confirmed by real facts," Illarionov said.
"Extreme natural occurrences are not becoming more frequent, and there has been no increase in infectious diseases either," he said.
Supporters of Russia's ratification of the Kyoto Protocol demonstrate an "approach to Russia similar to that of a 'banana republic,' a country, which, if it hasn't already become a colony, will soon do so, if the document is ratified," Illarionov said.
"If this decision is approved, it won't be on the basis of a substantial analysis, and not for substantial reasons, but for other reasons. We can't completely rule this out," Illarionov said on the possibility of Russia approving this decision
Development of net economy (08.07.2004)
translated - unedited
In the next two years the company "Novosibirskenergo" plans to spend 3 billion rub. to development and purchase of networks. Increase in the capacities, which was realized in 2003-2004.g., and the building of new networks, capable of reporting thermal and electrical energy to the users, which will be priority task in 2005-2006.g., it will allow company to facilitate to builders obtaining technical specifications for the new objects, and to also strengthen its positions on the market.
8 July 2004.
In JOINT STOCK COMPANY of "Mosenergo - Moscow Regional Administration of Power System Management" took place the conference on the preparation for the passage of autumn-winter load peak
translation - unedited
08.07.2004
Moscow
On 30 June, 2004, took place conference on the preparation of power system for the passage of autumn-winter load peak, in which participated Director-General Arkady Yevstaf'ev, chief engineer Igor Goryunov, its deputies in the directions and the director of the branches OF
JOINT STOCK COMPANY "Mosenergo - Moscow Regional Administration of Power System Management".
At the conference it was noted, that all repair work at the power stations and in the electrical networks are conducted in accordance with the affirmed graphs. The preparation of capital power system for the autumn-winter season includes in itself also required checking of thermal routes. Hydraulic tests are today carry ouied and the maintenance it is more than 1 468 km of conduit, which composes 66% of thermal networks of energy company. In the course of preparation for the heating season instead of the
worn networks will be substituted more than 70 km of pipes. In this case it is planned to lay 12 km of conduit in the polyurethane-foam (PPU) isolation. The maintenance of the networks OF JOINT STOCK COMPANY "Mosenergo -
Moscow Regional Administration of Power System Management" will be completed toward the end of August.
Furthermore, the deputy chief engineer OF JOINT STOCK COMPANY of "Mosenergo - Moscow Regional Administration of Power System Management" on the thermo-technical part Dmitriy Barshak noted, that "without the deviations goes not only the repair program, but also the program of the reconstruction of equipment ". In particular, in the course of the current repair campaign it is planned to conduct the reconstruction of turbine ¹ 5 on TETs-20, power unit ¹ 4 on gray, boiler ¹ 10 on TETs-22, chimney stack at GRES $$RTGR3S - State Regional Electric Power Plant -5 and a number of other objects.
Conducting the modernization of power facilities will allow energy company not only to support the reliability of power supply at the proper level, but also to increase the quality of field service.
Enel Buys Five U.S. Hydro Plants
http://www.solaraccess.com/news/story?storyid=7073
Check out the webpage Solar Access for solar and Alternative energy links
KYOTO PROTOCOL RATIFICATION TO POSITIVELY TELL ON RUSSIA'S GDP GROWTH
MOSCOW, July 7 (RIA Novosti) - The ratification of the Kyoto Protocol will, in a short term, have a negative effect on Russia's economic growth but, later on, will positive tell on the growth rate of its gross domestic product.
Anna Kashirova, in charge of the research group Russia and the Kyoto Protocol, said this to RIA Novosti. She is a participant in the conference Integration of Russian Business in the Global Economy: an Outlook for the Main Participants.
"I wouldn't directly link the dynamics of industrial growth to the fulfillment of requirements in the Kyoto Protocol," Kashirova said.
"Of course, at the first stage (after the ratification) the rate of growth will stand still, or even go down," she believes. "But we believe that, if some of the Russian terms are observed, the document can be ratified," Kashirova said.
In her opinion, Russia could have advanced this condition to participants in the protocol: they annually and securely buy out quotas for 100 to 130 million tons of carbon dioxide emission at a fixed rate of $40 per ton.
Presently, the quota tariff does not exceed $8 per ton, she said.
The additional agreement should take into consideration that Russia is a major oxygen donor for our planet, the expert noted.
"The sum received should be managed by the government and channeled into environmental protection, as well as the development and introduction of environmentally-safe industrial technologies," Anna Kashirova said.
"Then, in a long term, Russia may with confidence hope for a high rate of economic growth because new technologies will make it more competitive," Kashirova believes.
She hopes this will prompt Russia's integration in the world economy.
Construction of wind farm begins
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3867735.stm