21 July
Cerro Dominador will begin operations at its $1.4bn concentrated solar power plant in Chile this year. The project has already achieved 97% completion. BNamericas quoted Cerro Dominador CSP as saying it will become fully operational in December 2020. The company admitted the project has faced delays due to the lockdown and the pandemic.
Ratings agency ICRA has said electricity demand in India may shrink by up to 6% in the 2021 fiscal year due to the re-imposition of lockdown restrictions across many regions. In its April estimate, the rating agency said the fall would be a nominal 1%. The estimate also said electricity demand across India dropped by 16.2% during the first quarter of 2020 compared to one year ago.
Thailand-based Khonburi Sugar has decided to defer the commercial operation of its new 18MW power plant because of Covid-19. The Bangkok post quoted KBS executive director Issara Twiltermsup as saying: “The new renewable power plant faces a delay. KBS has no expectation as to when the plant will be completed.” Located in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Sikhiu district, the power plant will be fuelled mainly by biomass.
The Czech government has approved an interest-free loan to assist building of a new nuclear power plant. Utility company CEZ is mostly owned by the state, and will use the loan for a planned power station estimated to cost approximately $6.9bn. Citing a government document, Reuters reported the loan will cover up to 70% of the cost. While it would initially be interest-free, an interest of 2% will be charged once the unit is operational.
