Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Rat's Nest - Chronicles of Collapse -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Wharf Rat who wrote (5233)	12/4/2006 10:33:21 AM
From: Wharf Rat	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 24225

(Malaysian) Govt launches solar energy panel programme for homes SUBANG JAYA: The public can start bidding to install a solar energy panel technology, which can generate electricity from the sunlight on the roofs of their new or existing homes and offices from Dec 1 until March 30 next year. Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik said the Government had introduced the National Suria 1000 programme to equip the solar photovoltaic (PV) roofs in 1,000 houses in a move to educate the public on the potential of solar energy. The programme provides financial discounts for homeowners who want to integrate the PV system in their homes. The bidders for the first call can bid to receive discounts as high as 75% of the price of the PV system and the Government through the Energy Commission will cover the discounts. “If you complain electricity price is going up, I promise you it will go up and up and up. So turn to solar energy! "If you generate more electricity, we can buy electricity from you and pay you more. Not the Government of course, the utility company “ said Dr Lim when the opening of the International Energy Conference for Sustainable Asia and introduction of the National Suria programme here on Monday. He said the Government needed to find new ways to reduce the public’s dependence on natural gas, which currently formed about 70% of the country’s fuel mix. Later at a press conference, Dr Lim said the solar panel technology could be hooked to the main national grid and allow the excess energy to be sold to Tenaga Nasional Bhd. “We are promoting solar energy power to let Malaysians know that you can invest in it not only for a single building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) roof which can generate enough electricity for the use of a terrace house which has one or two air-conditioner but also extra ones. "You can save a lot of money by using the solar panels.” However, he said he expected that the response to the technology would be low initially because of its was expensive. “As more people use it, the price will come down,” he said adding that if it was required, manufacture could possibly reduce the price. Pusat Tenaga Malaysia chief executive officer Dr Anuar Abdul Rahman said the cost of 1kWp of PV system was at least RM28,000 of which 30% of the cost was for installation. He said a household normally used between 3kWp and 5kWp. “We will train installers to be qualified to do the job to reduce the cost,” he said adding that Suria 1000 was targeting to install a minimum of 1,000kWp by 2010. thestar.com.my

To: Wharf Rat who wrote (5233)	2/27/2007 7:53:28 PM
From: Ron	Respond to of 24225

Venezuela Sets Date for Nationalization of Oil Fields By NATALIE OBIKO PEARSON CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - President Hugo Chavez ordered by decree on Monday the takeover of oil projects run by foreign oil companies in Venezuela's Orinoco River region. Chavez had previously announced the government's intention to take a majority stake by May 1 in four heavy oil-upgrading projects run by British Petroleum PLC, Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM), Chevron Corp. (CVX), ConocoPhillips (COP) Co., Total SA (TOT) and Statoil ASA. (STO) He said Monday that has decreed a law to proceed with the nationalizations that will see state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA, or PDVSA, taking at least a 60 percent stake in the projects. "The privatization of oil in Venezuela has come to an end," he said on his weekday radio show, "Hello, President.""This marks the true nationalization of oil in Venezuela." By May 1, "we will occupy these fields" and have the national flag flying on them, he said. The law is expected to be published shortly in the government's official gazette, and the companies will have four months from then to negotiate terms and conditions with PDVSA to decide whether they will take part in new joint ventures as minority partners, Chavez said. Chavez did not detail how the government will pay for its increased share in the projects in which the companies are estimated to have invested some $17 billion. The government has compensated companies reasonably in recent weeks for nationalizations it has carried out in other sectors, but those agreements were for assets valued far less than the oil projects. The Orinoco projects are the only oil-producing operations in the country remaining under private control, which Chavez called "disgraceful." But he added that Venezuela doesn't "want the companies to go ... We just want them to be (minority) partners." Private companies pumping oil elsewhere in Venezuela submitted to state-controlled joint ventures last year, and few resisted because they were reluctant to abandon Venezuela, which has the largest oil deposits outside of the Middle East. Chavez has been given special powers by congress for 18 months to issue laws by decree in energy and other areas, which he has used to nationalize the country's biggest telecommunications company and electricity company in recent days. Chavez has justified the nationalizations as necessary to give the government control of sectors "strategic" to Venezuela's interests. apnews.myway.com