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Hydro eyes 'drastic' cuts

30.09.11

Manitoba Hydro is planning "fierce" cost-cutting moves that could delay a number of noteworthy capital projects, a leaked memo sent earlier this week states.

The describe from Ken Adams, the public utility's senior vice-president of power gear up, says "it is clear that we need to take drastic actions to lessen expenditures in the next 2 years."

The memo, sent to division managers Tuesday, is based on a critique of Hydro's capital spending forecast. It states the utility should "down all expenditures as much as possible" on two of its largest capital projects, the Conawapa and Keeyask hydroelectric dams.

The Conawapa dam is slated to launch operation in 2025, while the Keeyask dam is scheduled to open in 2019.

Memo Calls For Projects To Be Delayed

The memo also recommends postponing the Pointe du Bois spillway replacement occupation until 2016 and possibly delaying the Keewatinoow and Riel converter stations by a year.

The memo also says Manitoba Hydro should "hold off awarding all further contracts for 3 to 4 years" on the Great Falls and Pine Falls projects and the Pointe du Bois powerhouse rehabilitation prepare.

Source: Carman Valley Leader

Running dry, Abbotsford eyes Stave Lake water

04.10.11

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A growing population and a thirsty industrial servile are slowly drying up the water supply in Abbotsford, B.C., and to head for off a shortage, the city has a multi-million-dollar lay out — but it needs taxpayers’ permission.

The New Zealand urban area’s plan would mean tapping into BC Hydro’s Stave Lake reservoir, structure a filtration and pumping facility and a pipeline.

The cost is pegged at $291 million and the fling would involve the participation of for-profit corporations.

Voters will be asked to approve the beetle out in a referendum on the municipal election ballot in November and on Monday, the burg launched a $200,000 information campaign to promote a yes certify.

“Two years years ago, we came perilously close to corresponding out our water supply,” Mayor George Peary told CBC Hearsay. “This project will add a hundred million litres per day to our capacity. So, this is Brobdingnagian. It will almost double our existing capacity.”

The water would be destined for straight away expanding residential neighbourhoods and for Abbotsford’s $1.8 billion agriculture trade.

Source: CBC.ca

Energy: Russia eyes Asia-Pacific, India markets

07.10.11

Under Russia’s liveliness strategy covering the period up to 2030, the share of European furnish in the total volume of energy export will steadily descend due to export diversification to the Asia-Pacific region. The appropriate of eastern energy market in Russian energy export of solution hydro-carbons would grow from 6 to 25% while the share of natural gas export would stem to 20%.  The European Union makes no secretive of the fact that its increasing import dependence on Russia has to be kept within limits. This prompts Russian vitality planners to diversify their energy exports, accessing new oil and gas markets in the Asia-Pacific part. The Russian government proposes to diversify energy supplies to the North, South and East and foster energy production in East Siberia, Far East and the Arctic. Over the next two decades, Russia does not have any delineate to increase its energy exports to the EU in physical terms. On the contrarily, the energy strategy stipulates that energy exports to Asia-Pacific could reach 105 million tonnes.

Source: Russia & India Report