News
Latest news and developments from across the world
North America News Latin America News Asia-Pacific News
Europe News Middle East & Africa News
North America News
ITC seeks approval for second phase of KETA project [free access]
March 3, 2010ITC Great Plains, a subsidiary of ITC Holdings, has filed an application with the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) seeking approval for the second phase of the KETA project.
Butte and Power County vote against MSTI power line
March 3, 2010Commissioners in Butte and Power County, Idaho, have decided to oppose construction of the Mountain States Transmission Intertie (MSTI) project.
Ten transmission utilities launch Coalition for Fair Transmission Policy
March 1, 2010Ten electric utilities have collaborated to launch the Coalition for Fair Transmission Policy (CFTP) to support legislative and regulatory policies within comprehensive energy legislation aimed at the most efficient development of the country’s electric transmission systems and clean generation resources.
ETT completes private placement of senior notes
March 1, 2010Electric Transmission Texas (ETT), a joint-venture (JV) between American Electric Power (AEP) and the MidAmerican Energy Holdings, which owns and operates transmission facilities within the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), completed the private placement of senior unsecured notes aggregating USD225 million.
Latin America News
Yguazú prequalification deadline delayed
March 4, 2010Paraguay's state power company Administración Nacional de Electricidad (Ande) has extended the deadline to submit documents to prequalify for the electromechanical and transmission components of the Yguazú hydroelectric project to April 7, 2010 from March 8, 2010.
Colombia-Panama interconnection expected by 2013
March 4, 2010Colombia's state-controlled electricity-grid operator Interconexion Electrica (ISA) has indicated that construction works on the Colombia-Panama power integration project could start next year and be completed by the second half of 2013.
Guatemala to negotiate rural electrification loan with IDB
March 4, 2010The national congress of Guatemala has approved Decree 10-2010 that authorises the government to negotiate a USD55 million loan with Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for rural electrification.
Colombia’s ISA reports 33.1 per cent increase in net profit in 2009
March 2, 2010Interconexion Electrica (ISA), the state-run power grid operator of Colombia, has reported a 33.1 per cent increase in its net profit to COP314.87 billion in 2009.
Asia-Pacific News
Bangladesh floats tenders for India-Bangladesh interconnector
March 2, 2010The Power Grid Company Bangladesh (PGCB) has announced two international tenders for development of the Bangladesh-India Power Exchange Programme.
Vietnamese city plans USD2 million investment for power grids upgrade
March 2, 2010Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City plans to spend USD2 million by 2020 on upgrading its electricity grids.
Vietnam’s NPT puts into operation Vinh-Ban Ve line
March 2, 2010Vietnam’s National Power Transmission Corporation (NPT), the transmission company responsible for management of Vietnam’s power grids under the Electricity of Vietnam group (EVN) has operationalised the 220 kV Vinh-Ban Ve power transmission line.
PGCIL board approves investment for three transmission projects [free access]
February 26, 2010Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL), the central electricity transmission operator in India, has received approval from its board for investment of INR28.5 billion in three transmission projects.
Europe News
Terna to upgrade electricity grid in Trento
March 3, 2010Terna, Italy’s national electricity transmission operator, has signed an agreement with the province of Trento for sustainable development of Trento’s electricity grid.
Austria’s TSO net profits fall in 2009
March 2, 2010Austrian power generator and grid operator Verbund AG posted a net profit of EUR644.4 million for 2009, a decline of 6.2 per cent vis-à-vis last year’s, as higher return on investments failed to fully compensate for lower sales.
REN posts net profit of EUR134 million
March 2, 2010Redes Energeticas Nacionais (REN), the Portuguese electricity grid operator, posted a net profit of EUR134 million for 2009, up 5.2 per cent over last year.
ENTSO-E releases first draft Ten-Year Network Development Plan [free access]
March 1, 2010According to the first draft Ten-Year Network Development Plan (TYDP) released by the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E), Europe needs to build 35,000 km of new transmission lines and upgrade 7,000 km of existing lines to meet its key energy goals, including integrating renewable energies into the grid.
Middle East & Africa News
SEC signs SAR618.5 million in deals to boost electric supply
March 3, 2010Saudi Electricity Company (SEC), the state-owned electricity company in Saudi Arabia, has signed contracts worth SAR618.5 million to build five substations in the capital Riyadh, aimed at meeting growing electricity demand in the region.
Sweco wins EUR1.2 million study contract in Africa
February 27, 2010Sweco AB, a Swedish consultancy firm, has won a EUR1.2 million contract to study the potential and present interconnection proposals relating to power grids between Uganda and Tanzania.
ZESCO commissions USD4.4 million transformer in Zambia
February 25, 2010ZESCO Limited, the vertically integrated electricity company of Zambia, has commissioned the new USD4.4 million transformer at Leopards Hill substation.
Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia to tender transmission project in July 2010
February 24, 2010The electricity ministers of Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia have decided to launch a tender in mid-July this year for a USD5 million project to connect the power grids of the three countries.