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Indonesian Sumsel 1 coal-fired unit eyes December start
Indonesian Sumsel 1 coal-fired unit eyes December start
Manila, 18 September (Argus) — The first 300MW unit of the 600MW Sumsel 1 mine-mouth coal-fired power plant in Indonesia's south Sumatra province is scheduled to begin commercial operations in December following several years of delays. The plant, which is located in Muara Enim regency, is being developed by China Shenhua Energy and Lion Power Energy, which have 75pc and 25pc respective stakes in the project. Once fully operational it is expected to consume around 2-3mn t/yr of coal. Lion will be responsible for sourcing the coal. The $750mn plant is part of Indonesia's 35GW power generation roadmap developed by the Indonesian government in 2015. The project was contracted to China Shenhua Energy in 2016. The first unit at the plant was originally scheduled for completion by 2020. But land acquisition delays and the Covid-19 pandemic and resulting restrictions on the movement of people and travel bans delayed construction, Lion said. Construction work on the plant structure is now in the final stages and operational testing is expected to begin soon. But hitting the operational target date also depends on the completion of a 275kV high-voltage line that will connect the plant to the grid, state-owned utility PLN said. The 80km transmission line will pass through four districts in south Sumatra. The local government is pushing for the acceleration of the voltage line construction and has instructed the sub-district head and local government offices to provide support for the power line construction, PLN said. Sumsel 1, once fully operational, will operate on a build-own-operate basis with a 25-year power supply contract with PLN, the utility said. By Antonio delos Reyes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
UK launches global clean power alliance
UK launches global clean power alliance
London, 17 September (Argus) — The UK has announced the formation of an alliance designed to speed up the "clean transition" in developing countries, as well as a renewed focus on increased and reformed climate finance. The alliance, which will be built using a "phased and inclusive approach", aims to accelerate the roll-out of renewables across the globe, UK foreign minister David Lammy said today, highlighting the importance of clean power in decarbonising key sectors such as transport. The alliance is also looking to unlock much more global finance to "close the energy gap by allowing more countries to leap-frog fossil fuels to renewable power systems", Lammy said. Other focus areas for the group will include boosting innovative clean energy deployment and diversifying critical mineral production and supply, Lammy said. The recently elected Labour government has pledged to decarbonise the UK's own power supply by 2030. Climate finance Unlocking "much, much more" climate and nature finance is critical to Lammy's approach to the climate crisis, he said, and the UK will push for an "ambitious" new climate finance goal, known as the NCQG, at November's UN Cop 29 climate conference. The NCQG is the next stage of the $100bn/yr target that developed countries agreed to deliver to developing countries over 2020-25. The UK is examining how the country can deliver its existing climate finance commitments "given the dire financial inheritance from the last government" ahead of its upcoming spending review, Lammy said. Lammy also called for more innovation in development finance, particularly concerning multilateral development banks. The UK supports a capital increase for the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development subject to reforms, Lammy said, while a guarantee for the Asian Development Bank will be laid before the UK parliament next month, which the foreign minister said would "unlock $1.2bn" for developing countries in the region. The UK will also appoint new special representatives for climate change and nature to support its diplomatic work in the areas, Lammy announced today. By Victoria Hatherick Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Von der Leyen puts forward EU commissioner candidates
Von der Leyen puts forward EU commissioner candidates
Brussels, 17 September (Argus) — European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen today presented candidates for commissioner posts, confirming names put forward for portfolios including climate, energy, agriculture and trade. Von der Leyen — who was confirmed by European Parliament as Commission president on 18 July — has committed to doubling down on climate and energy policy. Her 2024-29 mandate stipulates greenhouse gas emissions cuts of at least 90pc by 2040 compared with 1990. Her commissioners, if appointed, will implement those policies. She is nominating Teresa Ribera to oversee competition policy but also "clean, just and competitive transition" that would include energy, climate, environment and other Green Deal files. Ribera is Spain's deputy prime minister and responsible for the country's ecological transition. Von der Leyen has proposed the current EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra for the portfolio of climate, net-zero and clean growth. Hoekstra, who replaced previous Green Deal commissioner Frans Timmermans , will also be responsible for taxation. Other nominees include former Danish climate minister Dan Jorgensen, up for energy and housing commissioner. Former Swedish minister for EU affairs Jessika Roswall is proposed for a portfolio including environment and circular economy, and Luxembourgish Christophe Hansen, a former member of EU parliament, is proposed as agriculture and food commissioner. Von der Leyen now needs to ensure that candidate-commissioners are approved by parliamentary committees and then by plenary. Hearings will also focus on candidates' abilities to implement policies. "Parliamentary scrutiny will not cut corners," European Parliament president Roberta Metsola said. By Dafydd ab Iago Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Energy firms on alert after flooding in Europe: Update
Energy firms on alert after flooding in Europe: Update
Adds details throughout Warsaw, 16 September (Argus) — Torrential rain has led to major flooding across large swathes of central and eastern Europe, causing power outages and significant damage to transport infrastructure in southwest Poland and the Czech Republic. Parts of Austria, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia and Romania are also affected. In Poland, most of the affected areas so far are in the southwest of the country close to the border with the Czech Republic including the towns of Jelenia Gora, Klodzko, Nysa and Glucholazy. Urban areas further down the Odra river are also at risk including the cities of Wroclaw and Opole, where elevated water levels are expected in the coming days. The Polish government held an emergency meeting earlier today and a state of emergency has since been declared in the affected areas. Polish utility company Tauron, which operates the electricity distribution network in the worst affected area, said some of its infrastructure was disconnected in several towns including Klodzko and Glucholazy. But Poland's power grid operator PSE said there has been no damage to transmission infrastructure. Likewise, Polish gas pipeline operator Gaz-System said it has not suffered any damage but remains in crisis mode. Polish train operator PKP Intercity suspended passenger rail traffic to and from the Czech Republic on 15 September until further notice, while local TV showed images of damaged road and waterways infrastructure, including bridges and dams as well as retail fuel stations. Poland's wholesale coal market, which is usually busy in the autumn, could stall in flood-hit areas for a few weeks as priority is given to the clean-up operation and repairing transport infrastructure, according to traders in the country. But Polish biofuel firm Bioagra, which operates a bioethanol plant near the flood-hit town of Nysa, told Argus that the facility continues to operate normally. In the Czech Republic, Orlen Unipetrol — operator of 108,000 b/d Litvinov and 66,000 b/d Kralupy refineries — said all its production sites continue to operate although the company has shut 11 of its service stations in the country. The firm said its crisis management team at each production site is monitoring the situation and it is in contact with authorities. Elsewhere in the Czech Republic, utility Veolia has had to shut plants in Ostrava and Krnov. Hungarian oil firm Mol — which operates service stations in Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, as well as refineries in Hungary and Slovakia — told Argus that preparatory flood prevention works are underway. It is in contact with authorities and there is currently no threat to security of fuel supply, it said. Hungarian authorities expect water levels on the river Danube at Budapest to continue rising until the weekend, which could affect Veolia's 428MW gas-fired power plant at Gonyu upstream from the capital and potentially power firm MVM's 2GW Paks nuclear plant downstream from Budapest. Floods on smaller rivers Lajta and Raba in northwest Hungary are also yet to peak. Austrian refiner OMV said it has put in place precautionary safety and mitigation measures at its 193,700 b/d Schwechat refinery and two other sites at Gansendorf and Lobau in the federal state of Lower Austria, which was declared a disaster region on 15 September. No damage to property or people has been reported so far but OMV has closed four retail stations temporarily in the state as a precaution, it said. By Tomasz Stepien and Bela Fincziczki Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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