Energy crises – Aug 24

August 24, 2006

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Turkish Power Outages to Follow if Drought Continues

Ismail Altunsoy, Zaman (“First Turkish Paper on the Internet”)
Istanbul – The extreme temperatures being experienced world-wide this summer are also being felt in Turkey.

Water supplies at certain rain-fed reserves in Turkey are rapidly drying up because of continuing high temperatures, increasing the demand for water.

Authorities point out this is a particularly dangerous situation because Turkey’s electricity needs are met mostly by hydroelectric stations; they warn power outages may occur if the current situation continues.

The same authorities also note the supply and demand imbalances started due to this year’s extreme temperatures.

As the nation suffers in temperatures exceeding 40 degrees, people rushed to purchase air conditioners, however, the discounts offered by retailers were eventually offset by an increase in the price of electricity.
(21 Aug 2006)


South Africa: Cape’s third energy crisis

Cape Business News
THE collapse in the supply of LPGas has plunged the Western Cape into the third energy crisis in a year and is a clear indication of a lack of long-term energy planning in the Province.

This is the view of the Cape Town Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry which is concerned about the effects of the gas shortage on key industries, particularly tourism where gas is used in most catering kitchens. LPG is also used in key industrial processes like powder coating.

The gas crisis follows the diesel crisis in the Western Cape and the electricity crises which came after one generator at Koeberg was damaged and distribution problems in the network tripped out the whole electricity grid.
(16 Aug 2006)


Nepalese Protests Sink Fuel Price Hikes

Yuvraj Acharya, CBS News
Nepalese government reverses fuel price hikes after thousands protest

The government on Sunday withdrew hikes in gasoline, diesel and cooking fuel prices after thousands of protesters clashed with police, blocked traffic and vandalized government vehicles.

Nepal’s government had raised prices Saturday to reduce losses for the state-owned monopoly distributor Nepal Oil Corp., which owes $213 million to the Indian Oil Corp.

The price hikes were reversed at a Cabinet meeting Sunday, Tourism Minister Pradip Gyawali told The Associated Press.

Police used batons to beat protesters who gathered at three locations in Katmandu Sunday, while at least half a dozen government motorcycles and cars were torched by demonstrators. Protesting drivers also blocked the main route to Katmandu, cutting off most transportation to the capital city.

The retail price of gasoline had been raised 25 percent to $4.54 per gallon, while diesel was increased by 11 percent to $3.03 per gallon. Kerosene was hiked 24 percent to $3.03 per gallon.

The higher diesel price was expected to increase prices for food and other commodities because trucks are the only practical means of transporting them in the landlocked, mountainous Himalayan nation.
(20 Aug 2006)