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Actual - NewsThe longest electricity cable in the world is operationalMay the 6th, 2008 This morning (Tuesday, the 6th of May) the longest high-voltage cable in the world was successfully put into operation: the NorNed cable between the Netherlands (Eemshaven) and Norway (Feda), with a length of 580 kilometres. The cable has a capacity of 700 megawatt and is intended for the transmission of electricity between both countries. This cable contributes in creating an European electricity market for 200 million consumers. The cable provides the required synergy for both countries. Norway and the Netherlands complement each other with regard to production and consumption of energy. In the Netherlands, energy consumption is less during the night than during the day. In Norway, the energy consumption during the night is relatively high. Both countries have different forms of energy consumption: Norway has electrical heating, whereas in the Netherlands gas heating is used. With the NorNed cable the Dutch and Norwegian power plants can use their production capacity to an optimum. Moreover, the Netherlands has the possibility to import green hydro powered energy. Partially thanks to this connection, the Dutch market will have lower and more stable prices. The electricity can flow in two directions, whereby the direction will be determined by the energy prices in the Netherlands and Norway. Stable pricesThe NorNed cable is a joint project of the Transmission System Operators (TSOs) from Norway and the Netherlands, Stattnett and TenneT. The 580 kilometre long cable is the longest submarine high-voltage cable in the world. Due to this electricity motorway, market parties can import and export electricity via explicit auctions. For the Netherlands, NorNed is the sixth international connection. For the Netherlands, NorNed is the sixth connection going beyond her borders. The existing cables are two connections to Belgium and three connections to Germany. The NorNed cable fits within a series of developments which are currently taking place within the European TenneT ambitions. Currently, works on a cable to the United Kingdom as well as a fourth connection to Germany are under way. Next developments in relation to the integration of the western European electricity markets have been started. Due to the NorNed cable a market of 200 million consumers is becoming reality. Yesterday, on May 5th, transmission capacity on the NorNed cable was auctioned for the first time. The capacity was auctioned for today, May 6th. The available capacity amounted to 700 MW during all daytime hours. The demand received by NorNed Auction totalled 2430 MW per hour on average. Eventually, the average price was set at EUR 49.42, with a maximum of EUR 89.46 at noon and a minimum of EUR 20.56 at 4.00 a.m. The direction of the electrical current is determined by the energy prices in the Netherlands and Norway. Because prices in Norway are lower than those in the Netherlands, the current will flow from Norway to the Netherlands. The NorNed cable meets the demand for the transmission of cheaper, sustainably produced electricity from Norway to the Netherlands, and the transmission of electricity from the Netherlands to Norway during periods of scarcity in the latter country. Fact and figuresThe cable is a construction cable connected to two high-voltage direct current (HVDC) converter stations in Eemshaven and Feda. These stations have a surface area of approximately two football pitches. The total weight of the cable is approximately 47,000 tonnes and the cable has been installed in eight sections. In total the project involved a continuous execution time period of ten years, of which three years were used for the actual installation of the cable and corresponding converter stations.
Groningen Seaports and RWE sign contract EemshavenMarch the 11th, 2008 Groningen Seaports and RWE have signed a agreement for land purchase for a power plant of RWE. The location in Eemshaven occupies an area of almost 50 hectares. The signing took place on the future grounds of RWE and is an important step in the development of the energy cluster in Eemshaven.The eastern part of the Eemshaven has been established for the development of the energy related businesses: the so called Energy Park Eemshaven. In January the contract was signed with NUON, also for the construction of a energy plant. Earlier Essent, Vopak and Gasunie has chosen Eemshaven for the construction of a LNG terminal. RWE wants to build a power plant suitable for coals and biomass. The plant will be build including a provision to collect and store CO2. They expect to start with the construction at the end of 2008. The plant will be ready in four years. The investment is € 2.2 billion. Raw materials from Delfzijl for Olympic swimming pool BeijingMarch the 10th, 2008 CLEVELAND – Few events signify perfection better than the Olympics. To qualify to be a part of the 29th Olympiad requires a flawless performance, as well as a track record for outstanding achievement – not just for the participants who compete, but also for the products and materials chosen for the construction and operation of the numerous competition venues at the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing. That includes the piping required to run the elaborate water treatment system designed especially for the main competition pool found inside the National Aquatics Center. After rigorous product and performance testing, it was determined that The Lubrizol Corporation’s (NYSE:LZ) Corzan® CPVC pipe and fittings possessed the best combination of attributes to effectively and reliably perform in this demanding environment. Corzan pipe and fittings possess a unique balance of properties, including corrosion resistance (even in highly aggressive, chlorinated water), high-impact strength, low maintenance requirements, superior flame and smoke characteristics and the ability to maintain water quality without concerns of leaching or biofilm formation. In addition, Corzan CPVC is immune to the corrosive effects of many chemicals, including sodium hypochlorite, which is used in the National Aquatics Center’s water filtration system. Its resistance to such aggressive chemicals – which can corrode metal equipment and result in leaks, and at times, cause premature failures – made CPVC an attractive alternative to metallic systems. Since Beijing has long-term plans for the Olympic pool that involve its use long after the games are finished, it needed a reliable piping system that could perform consistently even under the harshest conditions. CPVC, with its nearly 50-year track record, has proven compatibility in a wide array of corrosive industrial environments, including a number of water treatment facilities around the globe. Installation time was a primary consideration, because delaying the start of the games was not an option. A fast and easy solvent cement joining system saved countless hours compared to the soldering required on metallic systems. In addition, CPVC is lightweight, which makes it easier to maneuver on the job site. Depending on the diameter of the pipe, CPVC is between one-sixth and one-eighth the weight of metal. As a result of these labor-saving attributes, more than 4,300 feet of CPVC in various diameters was installed in less than six months. Not surprising given the size and scope of the Olympics undertaking, total installed cost also was a consideration. The total cost for the Corzan CPVC pipe and fittings used in the pool’s water treatment systems was approximately $500,000 – a sizable investment, but only a fraction of the cost of copper or high-alloy metal piping. Both in the construction and operation of the Olympic facilities, China is making major efforts to demonstrate that it is a good steward of its natural resources. The selection of Corzan CPVC piping supports this initiative. The material’s manufacturing process requires substantially less total energy to produce (from raw material feedstocks to pipe production) than competitive materials. Corzan CPVC piping is also energy efficient with natural insulating properties that help maintain desired water temperature. Its superior hydraulics, due to the combination of a smooth interior pipe surface and a large internal diameter, result in lower energy use and efficient water conveyance. Finally, from a water quality standpoint, the system also maintains water purity, eliminating concerns of leaching as found in some metallic alternatives. For more information on high-performance Corzan CPVC Piping Systems, visit www.corzancpvc.com. Two new ocean barges for Wagenborg TowageFebruary the 27th, 2008 Wagenborg Towage has bought two new building flattop ocean going barges. The dimensions of these barges are 100 x 25.6 x 6.1 mt. DWT 11,000 tons / deck load 15 tons/m2. The first one is available in July 2008 and the second at the end of 2008. More information can be found on www.wagenborg.com. Impression of the new ocean going barges from Wagenborg Towage Nuon chooses Mitsubishi to build Nuon MagnumFebruary the 1st, 2008 Amsterdam - Dutch energy company Nuon and the Japanese Mitsubishi group signed today the contract for the construction of the gas-fired part of the Nuon Magnum power plant in Eemshaven. The Management Board thereby takes its definitive decision to go ahead with the first phase of construction of the multi-fuel power plant. The construction contract is worth over EUR 1 billion. The power plant will start supplying electricity in 2011. The choice of Mitsubishi follows a European tender procedure from Nuon. Ultimately, the combination of commercial and technical aspects and the associated guarantees led to the selection of Mitsubishi. Because of the nature of Mitsubishi’s steam and gas turbine, the production capacity has increased to around 1300 MW. This capacity will be provided by three turbines. The power plant is to be built in the Eemshaven, a location in the province of Groningen that offers excellent potential for importing fuels by sea, has a good connection to the electricity and gas network and has a plentiful availability of cooling water. Nuon signed the agreement to purchase the site from Groningen Seaports on 14 January 2008. The construction of the power plant will start in the first half of 2008. In November 2007 the shareholders of Nuon approved the investment in the gas-fired unit. This gas-fired unit will on completion include all the preparatory facilities for the construction of the gasification plant. This installation will enable the gasification not only of coal but also of biomass on a large scale and will also have provisions for efficient CO2 capture. Nuon expects to take a decision on the construction of the gasification plant within two years. About Nuon
From left to right: Shutaro Oda, General Manager Power Systems Export Unit Mitsubishi Corporation; Ichiro Fukue, executive vice president Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd; Ludo van Halderen, chief executive officer Nuon; Øystein Løseth, member management board Nuon. Record net result and mega-investments aheadJanuary the 25th, 2008 Groningen Seaports has had an excellent year 2007. The net result mounts up to € 5.1 million and has never been this high since 1998. The main reason for this is the number of sold business sites, 17.6 hectares (2006: 14.1 hectares). Moreover because of the new record of cargo throughput of 7,805,000 tonnes (2006: 7,721,000 tonnes). The turnover increased as well and amounts € 18.4 million (2006: € 14.3 million).
“It was a good year full of growth,“ says Harm Post, managing director of Groningen Seaports. “Not only new businesses, but also existing companies have contributed to this growth, which marks the excellent entrepreneurial climate of our ports.”
Mega-investments
From 2008 until 2012 Groningen Seaports has tremendous investments ahead. Investment expectations run up to over € 76 million (2007: € 19.5 million). This has especially to do with huge infrastructural works in Eemshaven: construction of quays and ways, preparing business sites, extending Wilhelmina- and Beatrixharbour, deepening the fairway, etc.
Successful start
The year 2008 has already been started successfully for Groningen Seaports by selling 1 hectare of industrial sites in Delfzijl to the company Zeolyst (producer of zeolites). Gasunie and Vopak new partners of Essent in LNG project EemshavenDecember the 19th, 2007
N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie (Gasunie) and Koninklijke Vopak N.V. (Vopak) have agreed with Essent N.V. to further develop the Eemshaven LNG project. Companies have signed a Heads of Agreement. As part of the deal, Gasunie and Vopak each acquire a 25% stake in the project, while Essent keeps a 50% stake.
Gasunie and Vopak are partners who took the initiative to develop Gate terminal, the first Dutch LNG import terminal, which will be built at the Maasvlakte in the Port of Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The Gate terminal has an initial throughput capacity of 9 billion cubic meter (bcm) per year and can be expanded to a maximum of 16 bcm per year. The throughput capacity of the planned terminal in the Eemshaven port will be maximum 12 bcm per year.
Gasunie and Vopak have taken the final investment decision on the Gate terminal project, in which Essent will participate, both as a customer (for 3 bcm gas throughput) and as a shareholder (5%). Corus announces signing of Letter of Intent with American Industrial Acquisition Corporation (AIAC) for disposal of aluminium smeltersDecember the 6th, 2007 Corus and AIAC (Aluminium Acquisition Company Limited) have announced that they have signed a non-binding Letter of Intent for the proposed acquisition of Corus’ aluminium smelters by an affiliate of AIAC for an undisclosed sum. Internal consultation and advice processes related to the transaction have commenced. It is intended that a Sale and Purchase Agreement would only be entered into once these processes are completed. The proposed transaction may be subject to certain external regulatory clearances. Following the sale of Corus’ downstream aluminium extrusions and rolling business to Aleris in August 2006, Corus has been looking at opportunities to secure a future for its aluminium smelters outside the Group. The two smelters are based in Delfzijl in the Netherlands and Voerde in Germany and produce over 200,000 tonnes of primary metal per annum. The smelters employ 481 people in Germany and 475 people in the Netherlands. Corus is Europe's second largest steel producer with annual revenues of over £10 billion and a crude steel production of about 20 million tonnes. With main steelmaking operations primarily in the UK and the Netherlands, Corus provides innovative solutions to the construction, automotive, packaging, mechanical engineering and other markets worldwide. Corus is a subsidiary of Tata Steel, the world's sixth largest and second most global steel producer. With a combined presence in nearly 50 countries, Tata Steel including Corus has 84,000 employees across five continents. Nuon shareholders approve new power plantNovember the 23rd, 2007 Amsterdam, the Netherlands, 22 November 2007 -Nuon shareholders have approved the Management Board’s decision to invest up t0 EUR 1.5 billion in the construction of the gas-fired section of Nuon Magnum, a large power plant to be built in the Eemshaven in Groningen. The mandate was granted today at an Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders in Amsterdam.
Nuon CEO Ludo van Halderen said after the meeting: ‘We are pleased that shareholders have entrusted us with this large and important investment. Investments in large-scale production capacity are required at this moment, so that we can also secure the supply of sufficient and affordable power 30 years from now. Additionally, Nuon has elected a technology that clearly goes a step further in making electricity production more sustainable. Our shareholders support that.’
The approval of the shareholders enables Nuon to turn negotiations with contract parties into final contracts for the construction of the plant. Whether and when these contracts will be signed depends on progress with the negotiations and the final consent of the Management Board.
Nuon Magnum is a multi-fuel plant with a capacity of 1,200 MW, which will be able to supply more than two million households with power. In due course, the plant will be able to generate electricity from coal, gas and biomass. In the first phase, a gas-fired plant will be built, that will be prepared for the incorporation of the multi-fuel section. The gas-fired plant should start delivering power in early 2011.
About Nuon
Nuon is an ambitious energy company with over 10,000 employees serving 2.6 million consumers and organisations in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. Nuon produces, transports and delivers electricity, gas, heating and cooling, and engages in energy trading in the major international markets. Nuon also supplies additional services and technical innovations to businesses and consumers. In doing so, Nuon aims to provide a reliable, sustainable and affordable energy supply. With a turnover of EUR 5.6 billion in 2006, Nuon occupies a prominent position in the Dutch energy market. The shares are held by local and regional authorities. Impressive vessels in DelfzijlOctober the 24th, 2007 At the moment two large impressive vessels are moored at the commercial quay in Delfzijl: the Keoyang Majesty and the Star Isoldana. The Keoyang Majesty has a length of 221 metres (Gross Tonnage: 43,181), a breadth of 32.20 metres, and a draught of 10.71 metres. The vessel unloaded about 15,000 tons of palm-pit pellets and is expected to depart to Argentina on Wednesday 24th October. The agent of the Keoyang Majesty is the Royal Wagenborg Group.
The Star Isoldana has a length of 198.50 metres (Gross Tonnage: 33,448), a breadth of 31 metres, and a draught of 12.05 metres. This vessel unloaded about 7000 tons of anodes on behalf of the aluminium producer Aluminium Delfzijl. The vessel stays until the end of this week in Delfzijl and after that it will leave to Brazil. The agent of the Star Isoldana is Veem & Factor.
.jpg) The Keoyang Majesty (l) and the Star Isoldana (r) at the commercial quay in Delfzijl
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