Bagnall, Roger S. Early Christian Books in Egypt Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2009.
Originating in a set of lectures delivered at the École Patrique des Hautes Études (Paris), the four chapters of this slim volume offer a vigorous discussion of some key matters about the forms and uses of books characteristic of early Egyptian Christians. Bagnall’s main concern in these studies is what he regards as an misguided tendency by some scholars to push the limits on the possible early dating of the fragments of early Christian books. This tendency toward early dating of Christian manuscripts he attributes to an understandable desire to find direct evidence about the distribution and nature of Egyptian Christianity in the second century C.E. Specifically, Bagnall questions the evidence for a spread of Christianity widely beyond Alexandria in the small towns and villages of the Egyptian chora in the second century and the use of papyri (both biblical/literary texts and documentary texts) dated (in his view dubiously) early to support the view that Christianity was widely developed in Egypt at that point. In the course of making his case, Bagnall also offers stimulating discussion of several specific topics that will be of interest to anyone concerned with early Christianity.
This book joins several others of recent vintage that all emphasize the importance of early Christian papyri for wider historical questions about early Christianity, and Bagnall engages most of these publications as well as the primary evidence.
Thanks to the discovery of his practically immaculately preserved tomb by Howard Carter in 1922, Tutankhamun has become ancient Egypt’s biggest A-lister – the superstar celebrity of the glittering age of the pharaohs, a young ruler possessing of unimaginable riches in an age when excess knew no boundary.
Interest in Tut – fuelled by the various mysteries surrounding him, including his untimely death, and the curse that supposedly afflicts all who tamper with his tomb – continues to run high, as proven by the abundance of videos dedicated to the boy king on the web. They range from lengthy investigations into his early demise, to examinations of some of the incredible treasures and ritual objects found in his tomb, plus one performance of a memorable comedy song and dance routine.
Here we count give a rundown of ten of the best King Tut videos on the web. If you want to find out more about Tutankhamun – and the ancient world at large – check out our videos page, where you’ll find loads more fantastic clips.
These days NASA is busy building a single passenger vertical takeoff and landing aircraft that runs on electric motors. It is 3.7 meters high and stands on 4 extendable legs when on the ground. It can achieve a maximum speed up to 480 km per hour, while the cursing speed is 240. This aircraft was specially designed for army as it quieter and the heat emission is also lower as compared to combustion engine. Two rotors raise it off the ground before it begins to fly horizontally with the pilot in a lean position in the cockpit. Puffin can fly up to 9,150 meters.
Fox News has put up 28 photos illustrating a number of different stories from Egypt including the mummy Pa Ib and images of excavations at Giza and Saqqara.
Honda’s North American division announced that four Honda vehicles were recently awarded by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) as among the greenest vehicles of 2010. This is the tenth year in a row for Honda on the list and the seventh for the Civic GX natural gas car as American’s greenest vehicle.
Honda’s rankings in the ACEEE study are emblematic of our commitment to lowering emissions and increasing fuel efficiency in all of our models, said John Mendel, executi… (read more)
Google may’ve delayed the Chinese launch of Android phones from Motorola and Samsung, but Sony Ericsson sees no problem with wading into the censorship row between the big G and big C. They’re launching their Android phone there in spring!
The X10 will be available worldwide around March/April time, for anyone who still hasn’t realized that most manufacturers make better handsets than Sony Ericsson does. [Reuters]
Light hearted competition to attract virtual images of Egypt, focusing on Tutankhamun. The content attracted almost 200 wonderful photos of Kig Tut Virtual.
George Osborne MP for Tatton donated to the DEC Haiti Appeal in the Oxfam Knutsford shop on Friday 15th January
Whilst the Oxfam team in Haiti is working with other aid agencies around the clock to bring clean water, food, shelter and medical help to thousands of children, women and men, here in the North West everyone is doing what they can to promote the Haiti Disasters and Emergency Committee Appeal and involve as many people as possible to make cash donations.
The response for the Haiti Appeal has been very positive so far. I have been touching base with our Oxfam shop managers in the North West, and everyone is doing what they can to support the Haiti fundraising appeal.
David, manager for the Oxfam shop in Keswick, was supposed to go to visit the Oxfam programme in Haiti in February- and now he is working with shop volunteers to raise as much money as possible. Wendy, Oxfam shop manager in Didsbury in Manchester, has been very busy in the last few days with customers popping into the shop to make cash donations for Haiti after they have seen the horrendous images of the disaster.
Last Friday George Osborne, MP for Tatton, visited the Oxfam Knutsford shop to support the Disasters and Emergency Committee Appeal for Haiti, which had just been launched on that day. Jane, manager for the Knutsford shop, and a group of loyal shop volunteers, welcomed their MP in the shop and quickly directed him to the Haiti donations box.
Mr Osborne said: “The scale of the disaster is devastating for the people of Haiti and we should all support the Oxfam appeal and others like it. I am delighted that they have already responded with help from this country by sending support teams and equipment, but more aid is urgently needed”.
UK donations to the Disasters Appeal emergency appeal (DEC) reached a staggering £31 million in less than a week.
Individual donations like the one George Osborne MP made at the Knutsford Oxfam Shop all help to raise the kind of money that will help Haiti to recover over the coming weeks and months.
Thousands of people’s lives have been devastated by the earthquake and need all the help we can give them. We are encouraging everyone who has not donated yet to do so by going to www.dec.org.uk
We spotted big boxes of beautiful medjool dates at the store this week, and we’re wondering if we can think of enough things that we can make with them without getting bored. We have a few ideas – what are your suggestions?
APA-Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) The third All -Africa Leather Fair (AALF), kicks off on Wednesday in Addis Ababa where several participants from various parts of Africa and the rest of the world are taking part.
The fair, organized by the Ethiopian Leather Industries Association (ELIA) attracted around 196 companies from various countries that are involved in the leather industry.
ELIA Board Chairperson Yigzaw Assefa said that hosting the annual fair would help create a market network and technology transfer for countries engaged in the leather export trade in Africa.
Some 137 local and 59 foreign companies from Germany, Italy, Egypt, Sudan and India are taking part in the event, according to the organizers.
“This is a good opportunity to make business and share experience among companies involved in the leather industry. We are really happy to participate in the fair,” Tesema Tariku,a businessman in the leather fair told APA.
Over 25 companies from the USA, Europe and Asia are displaying their products at the group pavilions while six member states of the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) set up a pavilion under the support of the United Nations Industrial Organization (UNIDO).
More than 10,000 people are expected to visit the three-day fair.
They describe it as an "All African leather fair", but the only African countries mentioned are Sudan and Egypt. :ohno:
EDIT: I noticed that they mention COMESA, with six member states from East and Southern Africa.
I know that the leather industry is pretty big in Ethiopia, the quality is very good while the labour is extremely cheap. How is it on the rest of the continent?
With the election of Scott Brown and Senator Byron Dorgan’s recent comment that “it is unlikely that the Senate will turn next to a very complicated and very controversial subject of cap-and-trade, climate legislation,” the prospects for CO2 legislation are looking quite grim. But before American energy consumers can break out the champagne glasses, there are still economically threatening policies coming from the administration and Congress.
Just because carbon dioxide reductions won’t be passed by elected officials doesn’t mean unelected ones can’t do it. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is moving forward with its own set of global warming regulations. The EPA’s endangerment finding, which took effect last week, gives the EPA authority under the Clean Air Act (CAA) to regulate greenhouse gases (GHGs).
The endangerment finding itself does not put into place any new regulations but does commence a long regulatory process beginning with finalizing plans to enforce greenhouse gas (GHG) emission standards for light-duty vehicles in March. The EPA could then move forward with regulating carbon emissions from stationary entities that would affect thousands of businesses and could eventually hit schools, restaurants, apartment complexes and churches. Congress could amend the CAA so that greenhouse gases like CO2, water vapor, etc., cannot be regulated under the act. But Congress could instead turn their attention to bad energy policy (See 2007 and 2005 for past examples).
Sen. Dorgan told reporters that it’s time to turn the Senate’s attention to an energy bill rather as opposed to a climate bill. In truth, the likely proposed ideas in an energy bill will be backdoor global warming measures that only raise the cost of energy and do little, if anything to improve the environment. The probable policies included would focus on 1.) Stricter energy efficiency standards for vehicles and appliances 2.) A national renewable portfolio standard (RPS) that requires a certain percentage of our electricity be met through non-hydro renewable sources, and 3.) An “expanded financing for low-emissions energy projects.”
Translation: Mandates, mandates and subsidies.
Forcing companies to make more energy efficient products may sounds like a good idea since it will save the consumer electricity, but often times the trade off is a more expensive product that may not work as well. How much energy are you saving if you have to wash your clothes twice instead of once?
When it comes RPS or RES (renewable electricity standards), Ben Lieberman writes that the only reason why a federally mandated RPS is needed in the first place is that that these alternatives are far too expensive to compete otherwise. In effect, Washington is forcing costlier energy options on the public. This is particularly true of certain states, especially those in the Southeast and parts of the Midwest, where the conditions are not conducive to wind power. And because renewable sources produce power in remote locations and the power must be brought to suburban and urban areas, there could be an additional $80 billion in costs for new transmission lines — not to mention the private property battles that will ensue.
The subsidy-first mentality has taken over energy policy – not just with handouts and tax credits for renewable energy but also for sources like nuclear energy. Instead of implementing market-oriented policies that can create an economically viable nuclear industry, Congress is focusing on loan guarantees, worker tax credits and other handouts. The short-term ideas may build a few new reactors but will do more harm than good for nuclear energy’s sustainability.
Although the chances of President Obama signing a cap and trade bill into law appear slim, there’s plenty of bad energy policy to worry about.
Contributing Author Nick Loris writes at The Heritage Foundation and he is a Research Assistant at The Heritage Foundation’s Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies.
The Citroen C-Zero electric city car has been presented, equipped with a magnetic synchronous motor with 64 hp (or 47 kW) and 180 Nm of torque between 0 and 200 rpm. The synchronous motor works like an induction motor, but off a magnetic field that requires no slip to run, and the C-Zero uses one single-speed reduction grear to send power to the rear axle. The unit is powered by a 330volt lithium ion battery pack for its light weight and durability.
The C-Zero is a joint effort between Citroen and Mitsubishi, and is the French firm’s version of the Mitsubishi iMIEV. Peugeot also has its version, called the iOn. The C-Zero will go into production in 2010 and will join the DS3 and C3 low-emissions versions as part of an effort to reduce CO2 emissions across the range. It will expand to include the first Citroen hybrid, the DS5, in 2011.
The Citroen C-Zero has a range of nearly 130 km, and a top speed of about 130 km/hr as well. It does 0-100 in 15 secs, and has a recharge time of about six hours in a normal 220-volt socket. Using a 400-volt outlet you can get an 80 percent fast charge in just 30 minutes. See the new C-Zero in the pics below, with the video after the jump (it’s a silly video – check out the first C-Zero video here for some better enviro messages).
Former T. Boone Pickens protégés David H. Batchelder and Ralph V. Whitworth co-founded San Diego-based Relational Investors in 1996, and their privately owned asset management firm now serves some of the largest pension funds in the world. Whitworth, a lawyer who was president of the Washington D.C.-based United Shareholders Association before joining Batchelder in San Diego, is also viewed as a prominent authority on corporate governance. He has combined that expertise with Relational’s clout as a major investor to improve the operations of poorly performing and undervalued companies—and to encourage boardroom reforms.
As an example, Whitworth was sharply critical of Robert Nardelli’s compensation package as CEO of Home Depot, and in 2006 Relational launched a campaign questioning Nardelli’s leadership. After Nardelli orchestrated an imperious shareholder meeting, Relational called for Nardelli’s ouster—and the CEO was dismissed in January 2007 (with an estimated $210 million severance package).
Whitworth and Relational instigated similar changes at Sprint Nextel, Mattel, and J.C. Penney. In late 2008, he and his firm (which currently manages a total of $6.5 billion) set their collective sights on turning around Genzyme, eventually acquiring a 4 percent stake in the ailing Cambridge, MA-based biotech. Earlier this month, Relational demonstrated its willingness to work with Genzyme’s management by calling a cease-fire in the form of a “mutual cooperation agreement.”
Whitworth agreed to answer some Genzyme-related questions when I caught up with him this week.
Xconomy: Why Genzyme? Can you describe the criteria or the general process that Relational uses when it decides to take a stake in a company?
Ralph Whitworth: We look for companies that are trading at discounts to their intrinsic value—despite the fact that they have low financial leverage, strong defensible core businesses, and growing cash flows. Invariably this discount exists because investors do not expect management to effectively reinvest the projected profits. This negative expectation is typically caused by a poor history of investment outside of the core franchise and/or from chasing growth within the core franchise in the face of maturing industry conditions.
X: Does Relational prepare a playbook for change before it begins to acquire shares? As Relational accumulates shares, is there a threshold for contacting the company to recommend operational or management changes?
RW: Yes, we map out an engagement program prior to making our initial investment. We try to gauge the likelihood of change and potential upside. Typically before we meet with management, we’ll buy some sort of toe-hold in the company. Before presenting recommendations for change we typically invest from 15 to 25 percent of our targeted long-term investment level. For example, if we had planned to invest $400 million over a number of years, we’d initially invest $60 million to $100 million before continuing forward. That’s just an example. We step into an investment over time as a risk-management tool.
X: Are there any other technology or life sciences technology companies that you believe are trading at a discount to their intrinsic value?
MàJ le 21/01 à 11.00 Nouveau: pour vous permettre de suivre l’évolution de Volvo et de ses modèles, voici le Fil News continu. A chaque news, le fil est remis à jour et remonté en une. Plus besoin de chercher les infos…
–>Les négociations entre Ford et Volvo semblent compliquées… Selon certaines sources, Ford ferait preuve d’un certaine arrogance, et Gelly d’une grand nervosité. Que voilà un climat propice à un accord !…
-Selon Joran Hagglund, secrétaire d’état suédois, les annonces d’accord quasi-conclu auraient été « exagérées ». Il sembleraient que la précipitation soit due à la promesse de Ford d’avoir vendu Volvo avant la fin de l’année (2009) et à la nécessité pour Geely de faire avancer le dossier.
-Ford et Geely, outre les questions financières non encore réglées on le sait, seraient en profond désaccord sur la cession des droits de propriété intellectuelle concernant Volvo… ce qui est confirmé par Joran Hagglund.
–> Dans une conférence de presse surréaliste en Suède, Frank Zhao, directeur de la R&D chez Geely, a déclaré que son entreprise détestait la copie: « Je hais la copie. Comment pourrions nous être nous-mêmes en copiant? » . Il vaut mieux entendre ça que d’être sourd !…
-Donc ceci, présenté en avril 2009 à Shanghai ne copie pas Rolls Royce:
-Pas plus d’ailleurs que ceci ne copie qui que ce soit:
-Alors certes Geely évolue et ne devrait à l’avenir plus avoir besoin de ce genre de pillage industriel, mais par contre, pour prendres les gens pour des cons idiots en conférence de presse, pas d’évolution…
-Pour finir, je vous conseille cette excellente video du canard suédois Dagens Industri, le début est en suédois, mais ne vous inquiétez pas, vous comprendrez ensuite l’essentiel… Cliquez ici.
–> Recevez un tweet immédiat à la mise à jour en vous abonnant sur notre page Tweeter. Si vous ne connaissez pas Tweeter, sachez que vous pouvez vous y inscrire gratuitement en quelques minutes et que vous pourrez ensuite recevoir tous les tweets qui vous intéressent non seulement sur votre PC, mais également sur votre téléphone portable. Facile, rapide et pratique; pensez-y!
12/01:
–> Confirmation ce jour que le deal avec Geely est loin d’être bouclé: Ford déclare « rester ouvert à toute négociation avec un repreneur potentiel ». A bon entendeur, salut, Geely inclus… Quant-à Stephen Odell, patron de Volvo, même son de cloche: « Ceux qui pensent que la porte est fermée peuvent aller chez Ford pour en discuter quand ils veulent ».
-C’est Li Shufu, le jeune et quelque peu mégalomane patron de Geely qui va apprécier…
-Quant-nous, au lieu de faire comme tous les journalistes trop pressés en manque de sensationnalisme, on tâchera de mettre un « peut-être » la prochaine fois qu’on écrira un article du genre « Ca y est, Volvo est chinois ». On ne sait jamais, les occasions d’avoir l’air con bête sont déjà assez nombreuses comme ça…
-Notez que S.Odell a préciser s’attendre à une année difficile pour Volvo, se fixant comme objectif 350 000 véhicules. Voilà qui cadre bien avec les 2 000 000 voulus par Geely 3 ou 4 ans plus tard! (voir ci-dessous).
11/01:
–> On en sait un peu plus sur les plans de Geely concernant Volvo. Le réseau de 2000 concessionnaires ne devrait subir aucune contraction. Geely, qui a de grandes ambitions pour Volvo compte même accroître ce nombre, ce qui sera nécessaire pour passer de 400 000 voitures produites par an à 2 000 000 dans les 4 à 5 prochaines années. Irréaliste dites-vous? Clairement oui, mais cette volonté de conquête est plutôt une bonne nouvelle malgré tout.
-Par contre, la vente est quand même loin d’être signée, même si le dossier avance. Les questions financières en particulier ne sont pas « aussi » réglées qu’on avait pu le croire le mois dernier. A suivre donc. Mais si vous connaissez un concessionnaire Volvo, vous pouvez d’ores et déjà le rassurer, parole d’industriel chinois (…)
–> Retrouvez les chiffres de Volvo aux Etats-Unis dans le bilan US 2009.
05/01:
–> Geely aurait pour projet de se servir du réseau US de Volvo comme tête de pont pour son implantation dans le pays. Pour l’instant, aucune déclaration n’a été faite dans ce sens, mais l’affaire secoue le petit monde des concessionnaires de la marque aux Etats-Unis. Et contrairement à ce qu’on aurait pu croire, les réactions sont plutôt positives.
-Même s’ils émettent des réserves quant-à la réalité du projet, les concessionnaires se déclarent réceptifs à cette idée. Il leur semble globalement que la vente de véhicules à petit prix dans leurs succursales serait un plus. Bien entendu, ils ont des réserves au niveau de la qualité des produits (actuellement encore très basse chez Geely), mais se montrent confiants dans la capacité des chinois à produire des véhicules de qualité suffisante d’ici leur implantation.
-Et en europe, des Geely en succursales Volvo? On en parlera sûrement…
31/12:
–> Une première vidéo promo de la nouvelle S60 a été publiée. C’est plus un teaser qu’autre chose, mais à la voir, on se dit que Geely a quand mis la main sur un trésor…
-Geely a déclaré avoir reçu « un fort appui du gouvernement chinois » pour conlcure l’opération de rachat du suédois. Quand on sait ce que signifie « fort appui » de la part de ce gouvernement, on peut tout imaginer!…
-Gui Shengyue, administrateur du constructeur chinois a déclaré ce jour en conférence de presse à Hong-Kong que, sans cet appui, l’affaire ne se serait pas faite.
-De toute évidence, Geely vient de marquer un point décisif dans sa lutte contre ses concurrents chinois, au premier rang desquels Chery, en faisant un grand bond technologique en avant.
Voici la Riich G5, le tout nouveau modèle de la marque premium de Geely sur le marché chinois… On comprend l'intérêt de mettre la main sur Volvo!
L'intérieur de la G5. Volvo est l'un des meilleurs constructeurs au monde sur le plan de la présentation et de la qualité intérieure. Là aussi, son savoir faire sera bien utile à Geely!
Pour être alerté d’une mise à jour du Fil News Volvo, 2 solutions:
–> Recevez un tweet immédiat à la mise à jour en vous abonnant sur notre page Tweeter. Si vous ne connaissez pas Tweeter, sachez que vous pouvez vous y inscrire gratuitement en quelques minutes et que vous pourrez ensuite recevoir tous les tweets qui vous intéressent non seulement sur votre PC, mais également sur votre téléphone portable. Facile, rapide et pratique; pensez-y!
27/12:
–> Le XC60 vient de recevoir le prix de « Voiture féminine mondiale de l’année », décerné par 8 femmes journalistes auto venant de 7 grands pays occidentaux. Symbolique, mais toujours ça de pris puisque l’info sera sûrement reprise dans de nombreux magazines féminins à travers le monde.
Idéal pour emmener sa famille dans le confort et la sécurité, plein de "sex-appeal" (dixit le jury), le XC60 a su charmer ces dames, mais pas que…
26/12:
–> Li Shufu, patron de Geely, a fait quelques déclarations rassurantes ce jour quant-à l’avenir de Volvo, en précisant ses intentions. Selon lui, Volvo conservera sa structure actuelle et restera gérée indépendamment de Geely. Il explique que la seule différence pour Volvo sera le patron: lui-même. Tout le reste devant demeurer inchangé.
-Selon Sören Carlsson, président du syndicat Unionen de Volvo, l’inquiétude reste de mise: « Même si nos ventes sont en augmentation, nous enregistrons toujours des pertes. Et nous ne savons pas comment Geely compte y remédier ». C’est justement le fond du problème, volvo ne fait pratiquement jamais de bénéfices, et ce n’est pas remplacer un patron par un autre qui explique comment remédier à ça…
-Quoi qu’il en soit, ces déclarations doivent être prises avec la plus grande prudence, les chinois n’ayant pas prouvé en affaires la fiabilité de leur parole ces dernières années, c’est un doux euphémisme, et ne pouvant pour l’heure rien dire d’autre. Si leurs intentions étaient contraires, il faudrait attendre la passation de pouvoir effective pour le savoir…
Pour être alerté d’une mise à jour du Fil News Volvo, 2 solutions:
–> Recevez un tweet immédiat à la mise à jour en vous abonnant sur notre page Tweeter. Si vous ne connaissez pas Tweeter, sachez que vous pouvez vous y inscrire gratuitement en quelques minutes et que vous pourrez ensuite recevoir tous les tweets qui vous intéressent non seulement sur votre PC, mais également sur votre téléphone portable. Facile, rapide et pratique; pensez-y!
Retrouvez les vidéos de Volvo et bien d’autres sur notre Chaîne Youtube.
The power generating capacity in Algeria has reached 9,273 MW. It should exceed 11,000 MW by 2010 and 20,000 MW by 2015.
Most of the increase in generating capacity will involve IPPs, with Sonatrach having branched into the power business in partnership with Sonelgaz. Around 95% of the current capacity is provided by gas-fired plants.
According to Sonelgaz, demand for electricity in Algeria is growing at a rate of about 6% per annum. Domestic power demand should rise to 9,300 MW by 2010, compared to about 5,447 MW in 1996. Sonelgaz also exports some power to Morocco during low demand periods.
Sonelgaz has been trying to become self-sufficient financially. It is to raise the power tariffs to cover costs. It began raising the tariff gradually in 1994. It is also to become more tough towards clients failing to pay their bill on time, like the state water utilities and other public services. Already Sonelgaz cuts clients off if they do not pay within two weeks. To become profitable, eventually, Sonelgaz will have to raise power and gas tariffs to international market levels in line with IMF policy.
On May 23, 2001, Sonatrach (51%) and Sonelgaz (49%) established a JV called Algerian Energy Co. (AEC) to invest locally and abroad in power generation, transmission and distribution, and the transport and distribution of gas. With an initial capital of AD 250m ($2.5m), it plans to sell power to the local market, the neighbouring countries and southern Europe. AEC intends to bring in Western partners.
The first major AEC venture is Sharikat Kahraba Skikda (SKS – Skikda Power Co.) formed in mid-May 2003, which has an 825 MW IPP built by SNC-Lavalin of Canada under an EPC contract signed in July 2003. SNC-Lavalin has taken an 11% equity in SKS, with the other owners being Sonelgaz (39%), Sonatrach (30%) and AEC (20%). The multi-shaft plant consists of two gas turbines and two steam turbines. The first block of turbines was commissioned in late 2005 and the second became operational in 2006. SNC-Lavalin also has the operations and maintenance (O&M) contract for the SKS plant.
The second AEC venture is Sharikat Kahraba Berroughia formed in 2004 which has a 490 MW plant at Berroughia, 100 km south of Algiers. This is one of the fast-track projects and was completed in 2006. Siemens had the $193m EPC contract for this as well as a seven-year O&M contract worth $23m.
SNC-Lavalin is building a gas-fuelled thermal power station with a capacity of 1,227 MW at Tipasa, west of Algiers. Following an international tender, the Canadian company was awarded two contracts for this power station, one for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC), and one O&M. The two contracts are worth US$1.15 bn between them. The power plant is scheduled for completion in 2008.
The contracts were in mid-2006 signed with Sharikat Kahraba Hadjret en-Nouss SpA, which is 51% owned by Algerian Utilities International Ltd and 49% by three state-owned companies, Sonatrach, Sonelgaz and AEC. The shareholders in Algerian Utilities International are SNC-Lavalin (51%) and Mubadala Development Company (49%). Mubadala Development is wholly owned by the state of Abu Dhabi.
SNC-Lavalin in mid-2006 explained that the project was to be financed by a mix of the US$265m of equity subscribed by the shareholders in Shariket Kahraba Hadjret en-Nouss and commercial bank loans from Algerian banks. Once completed, the power plant will be operated by the Canadian company, and its electricity output will be sold to Sonelgaz under a 20-year contract.
Alstom has built a 300 MW plant at F’Kirina, 520 km east of Algiers commissioned in October 2004 under a 123m ($137m) fast-track contract signed on Aug. 14, 2003. The plant consists of two GT13E2 gas turbines and the generators. Alstom has also provided high voltage substation and the electro-mechanical auxiliaries, plus civil work, erection, commissioning and testing services.
FKirina (Algeria) – SC13E2 – 290 MW
Customer: SONELGAZ
In commercial operation since 2004
Built in a record time
Large operation flexibility
High efficiency
Wide environmental protection thanks to EV burners technology
Increased reliability and availability
Minimum operational cost
Alstom in October 2004 completed a 300 MW plant at Ain Beida in Oum el-Bouaghi province in the north-east of Algeria under a 50m ($58m) fast-track EPC contract awarded on June 23, 2003 by Sonelgaz.
Red Electrica of Spain, which operates a marine cable system under the Strait of Gibraltar connecting the power grids of Morocco and Spain, in November 2001 signed a protocol with Sonelgaz for the two companies to have a similar cable between Algeria and the Spanish market. This will run along a marine gas pipeline being built from Algeria to the Almeria region in Spain. In December 2001, Sonelgaz signed an agreement with an Italian network company called Gestore della Rete di Trasmissione Nazionale (GRTN) to jointly operate a marine cable that will run along a gas pipeline being built to Italy through Sardinia.
The Kahrama venture between AEC (20%) and Kansas-based Black & Veatch (80%) has the country’s first independent water desalination and power project (IWPP) in Arzew close to the GL2Z gas liquefaction complex. This has a $400m power plant of 314 MW and 88,000 CM/d plant built by a Japanese partnership of Itochu and Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries under a $260m EPC contract signed at the end of 2002. These plants became operational in April 2005. GE Power Systems has provided the gas turbines.
AEC supplies the plant with gas and buys the power output under 25-year take-or-pay (ToP) contracts. Under another 25-year contract, with a 100% ToP clause, Sonatrach buys the water output for use in the Oran region. This area has been acutely short of water. AEC is having several water desalination plants built based on reverse osmosis (RO).
In March 2001 AEC signed a contract with Enelpower, a unit of Italian power utility Enel, on co-operation in power generation, transmission and distribution as well as in gas marketing in Algeria and abroad. Under a 12-month Sonelgaz contract signed in late 2001, Enelpower has erected 410 km of high-tension power lines in two sections, one between Touggourt and Biskra and the second from the Hassi Ameur power plant to the Moroccan border.
A 400 MW gas-fired two-turbine combined cycle plant at Hamma, a coastal suburb of Algiers, was built for Sonelgaz by Ansaldo Energia, which also built a 220-kV substation, under a contract signed in March 1999. The first turbine was commissioned in January 2002 and the second started up in June of that year. The plant meets additional demand in the region and has replaced an earlier proposal to build two 300 MW units at Ras Djinet (see Vol. 60, No. 5).
Sonelgaz in December 2006 was evaluating technical bids from two companies – Ansaldo Energia and a US/Spanish partnership of GE Energy and Cobra – for two 26-month EPC contracts to build combined cycle power plants together worth about $1,000m consisting of a 1,200 MW station at Terga in the west of Algeria and an 800 MW unit at Koudiet Draouch in the east. The successful bidder for each contract will take a 25% stake in the plant. Commercial bids are expected in February or early March. These contracts will not include the ToP clause.
Technical bids were expected by end-January 2007 for the EPC contract to build a 500 MW open-cycle plant at Msila, south-east of Algiers. Companies have until March 19 to submit technical bids for two 260 MW plants, one to be at Relizane and the other at Batna, with each to have two 130 MW gas turbines.
Relizane (Algeria) – SC13E2 – 465 MW
Customer: SONELGAZ
Under construction
A highly environmentally-conscious power solution with:
High operational flexibility, availability & reliability
Minimum operational costs
Sharing of operational experience with FKirina plant
In late 2006 talks were underway with GE for two EPC contracts to build 100 MW plants at the Port of Algiers and Annaba. The US company was the sole bidder for both contracts.
Hadjret Ennouss Thermal Power Plant
Several IPP projects announced in 1998 have been transferred to AEC. One of the delayed projects is a 1,200 MW CC plant at Jijel, to be known as Jijel-2, scheduled for completion in 2009/10. It will consist of two 600 MW units.
A 300 MW gas-fired plant at Hassi Messaoud came on stream in 1999 and was built by Nuovo Pignone under a contract awarded in 1995. A 200 MW gas-fired plant at Ain M’Lila built for Sonelgaz came on stream in 2002.
A 330 MW gas-fired plant in the oil-rich Hassi Berkine region built for Sonatrach was the country’s first privately financed project partly completed. The first 110 MW unit went on stream in 2001 and the other two were operational in 2002. The $107m EPC contract for this was given to Nuovo Pignone.
Other power projects in Algeria include: a 300 MW gas-fired plant at Hassi Messaoud to be on stream in 2007/08 and to consist of three 100 MW units; and a 200+100 MW gas-fired plant at Tilghemt to be on stream in 2007/08.
On Dec. 7, 2000, Sonatrach and Conoco of the US signed a partnership agreement for a proposed integrated gas-to-power (GTP) project in which investment was to be about $3 bn. This was to include a 1,200 MW plant, development of gas reserves in the Berkine Basin and a pipeline from the field to the power plant. The venture was to sell power locally and in neighbouring countries. Conoco (now ConocoPhillips) was considering a large-scale water desalination plant adjacent to the power plant.
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Winning proposal for the design competition to provide a concept for a 10,000 spectator multipurpose sport arena with Olympic swimming pool, hotel & underground parking in Constanta, Romania.
… http://c3darchitects.com/show_portfo…d=57&language=
As your self assigned local energy analyst, I tried to forecast the expectations in the New Year in our local energy markets. As you know, economy and business are governed by expectations. Market expectations are important in the economic forecasts as well as investments.
At this time, there are many economic forecasts made by the newspaper columnists however as we all see there are almost none in energy markets.
So with my humble capacity, I tried to draft a forecast albeit maybe somewhat irrational/ unfair for the New Year. Here are my predictions and expectations,
There will be some surprise developments in our Public Enterprises of Energy sector including one occurrence dramatically in very near future. Sudden and rapid privatization could be realized.
Experienced senior GMs of public enterprises will be promoted to upper consultancy posts, and then transferred to upper posts of private enterprise boards. New arrivals to those vacated posts will consume the remaining time rest of the year to get education necessary for the new posts they got; hence they will not take any initiative.
World Bank and IMF delegations will have more visits to our Energy Ministry, Energy Regulatory Board, State Planning Organization, and Business Associations. Smiling faces will appear in the local media.
Ministry of Energy will be looking for new projects to follow without considering that any initiative in energy sector gets its response in 10 year time in future. We all know that there is no fast solution.
Newspaper columnists will continue to write ridiculous articles on energy business and continue to make confusions in “volt” and “watt”.
Electrical Energy Market Law Nr. 4628 will be changed again. Some Clauses will be deleted. Some new Clauses will be inserted.
Nuclear power plant tender in Sinop province will be released in June. Locals will always appeal, no one will listen to them as usual, and finally tender will be canceled again in two years time.
Akkuyu Nuclear Power plant contract which would be a sort of “I did it my way” scheme will be signed with the Russians between government to government agreements. However parliament approval sessions will continue until the general election which is 17 months ahead from today.
Location search for new nuclear power plants will be moved from hot waters of Mediterranean to Black Sea coast. However Nuclear power plant construction plans in Sinop will be suspended due to stiff local NGO reactions. New options will emerge in İğneada and Hopa since their local reactions would be expected less.
Nuclear technology education in Istanbul Technical University will lead the national curriculum with their new MSc and PhD programs. METU will stay behind and continue to say “This subject is not on our agenda”.
Local investors will initiate to build new thermal power plants in Amasra firing “indigenous coal” where we all know that there is no sufficient amount of local coal to run the power plants in the long term. They will soon try to switch to imported coal option. People and NGOs of Amasra will react to thermal power plants. However Chinese companies will occupy the region. They will soon open restaurants, markets, laundries.
Natural Gas bill will be completed. Pipeline public company will extend a portion of the contract. Termination of the public natural gas monopoly and market dominance is long-term wishful thinking.
Black Sea offshore drilling will be initiated. At least once every month, we shall read “Large quantities of Gas / Petrol found, sufficient for local consumption” in the news media.
Those who know and those who do not know, those who are capable and not capable, will all apply to get investment license to construct new imported coal firing thermal power plants on the shores of Iskenderun Bay. Public will react to such excessive crowd.
People and NGOs of Iskenderun, Payas, Dörtyol counties will stand up for serious environmental concerns on new excessive number of imported coal firing thermal power plants. Other than environmental concerns, local people will feel that they have all the legal rights to block through local courts since there will be neither participation of local employment nor any local engineering in the new investments.
In early 2010, Iran will cut-off the Natural Gas flow again due to excessive needs of her own domestic market for at least 1-month. Russians will increase capacity in the Blue Stream for a premium as usual.
HEPP investments and dam construction activies will be increased on the small beautiful creeks of Eastern Black Sea coast. Our high tempered Black Sea coast citizens will not be so pleased with the outcome. Our NGO “Do not touch my Creek” will have rise in public appearance.
TV programs will be increased over the Ilisu Dam. All these programs will have Tigris pasture image in the background accompanied with the sheep and pathetic background music. Everyone will memorize these photographs of sheep and the ruins.
Afsin Elbistan A power plant rehabilitation will be tendered. There will be not sufficient participation and in the end it will be cancelled again.
Tender for new Afsin Elbistan C-D units will be released. Due to excessive financial risks, participation will be limited and the tender will be canceled again because of high prices.
Soma thermal power plant will be sold / privatized.
Ladies of Straw Mountain will react to wind power plants in their Samandağ region. No one will listen to them. EIA report will not be needed. There will be no land, slope, hill left without wind towers.
Wind power plant investments in Çesme Peninsula will continue till the end of this year. Energy Transmission problems will be of high concern.
Local production of Wind power plants will continue. JV news will increase, for the smallest power generation not less than 3 MW, Prototypes will be displayed with public inaugurations.
Yenikoy and Kangal rehabilitations will be completed. Foreign OEM companies, who got contracts without competitive tendering, will have good earnings compared to the work that they spent. “Black Coal / Black Energy” court investigations/ prosecutions may start.
Antalya 1150 MWe CCPP will run at full capacity later this year. Feasibilities for additional 1500 MWe will be initiated. Since the plant cooling system will consume huge amount of drinking water, there will be extreme water shortage in the region in summer time. Investment expansion is foreseen to double the capacity. People of the province will understand the seriousness of the situation soon.
900 MW CCPP will be completed in August in Bandirma. Preliminary works for the new 1000 MWe additional capacity second plant will start. Meanwhile Bandirma will have domestic / foreign investor invasion, agricultural areas will be narrowed.
The local companies that sell their capital equity shares to foreigners will face excessive / unnecessary expenditures in foreign engineering/ foreign equipment. Foreign partners will purchase only from their own home countries with expensive OEM costs. Ultimately, because of excessive unnecessary costs, locals will feel the need reconsideration of the contracts with their JV foreign partners.
The set up for new thermal power plants in unexploited local coal regions in auctions will result in a kind of absence. The search for new solutions on this issue will be in the agenda again in the second half of the year.
CCPP investments will continue in Samsun province based on Natural gas firing due to Blue Stream. Energy transmission will have difficulties.
Solar thermal power plants will appear in Konya plato where agriculture is not so profitable. Local production means will be investigated. In the end, solar panels from China will dominate the local market since they are cheaper than those that manufactured in local industrial zones.
De-grading due to excessive wear and tear in Chinese made local thermal power plants will emerge. Early rehabilitation requirements will start. Cheap Chinese companies will get rehab and long-term operation contracts in the local market.
Distribution Privatizations will continue. All public distribution systems will be privatized. Main opposition party will need more office space to accommodate the law firms they will hire in order to apply to the Constitutional Court.
Ministry of Environment will approve incoming EIA applications with little worry over local NGO reactions or any scrutiny to the environmental hazards of the new investments due to ever increasing concern over upcoming energy shortage.
Local energy markets regulatory agency will continue to release licenses to those who know or don’t know the technology, those who have financial capability or those who do not have, but to all those who complete the necessary forms.
Public Agency will start to complain that the new building is too small for ever increasing staff. They will start to investigate new land purchase in Gölbaşı County to move.
Medium age of Board members will be much more reduced in Public Agencies. New university graduates will be assigned as Board members, provided that they have taken top grades in Thermodynamics.
Investors will have investment licenses all expired soon. Renewable energy entrepreneurs will not be able to sell their licenses. The negotiation traffic will get increased in the halls of the Agency.
Since Ministry of Environment accepts all incoming EIA applications without serious scrutiny, local NGO reactions and court applications will be alarmingly increased.
We were able to predict this much. We shall be too pleased to receive your comments/ contributions in the New Year. Happy and Prosperous New Year to you all !
Honda’s North American division announced that four Honda vehicles were recently awarded by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) as among the greenest vehicles of 2010. This is the tenth year in a row for Honda on the list and the seventh for the Civic GX natural gas car as American’s greenest vehicle.
Google may’ve 
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