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Here you can get to know some of our work through a selection of our projects. Do not hesitate to contact us to know about our full range of references or to inquire about future opportunities.
MRC has recently launched several projects in Mozambique:
• For the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy (MIREME) and the Energy Regulatory Authority (ARENE), the “Formulation of the Regulatory Fee Mechanism for ARENE”;
• Funded by the Belgian Development Agency (ENABEL), “Consultancy for elaboration of a Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Manual for the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy (MIREME)”, and;
• Funded by the African Development Bank within the ELSGAPI program (Enabling Large Scale Gas and Power Investments in Mozambique), the “Domestic Gas Market Development and Role of ENH (Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos) as Gas Aggregator”.
Preparation of transmission network development and renewable energy integration plan for JSC “National Electric Grid of Uzbekistan”
With financing of the World Bank within the MUTS program, MRC will conduct transmission network analyses and prepare the country’s 10-year transmission network development plan to sustain growth in electricity demand and investments in power generation, both conventional and renewable energy. The assignment is also aimed to analyze potential issues on the power system due to increasing renewable integration and then identify measures to address those issues.
Regulation of petroleum products and biofuels
For the Directorate General for Structural Reform Support (DG-REFORM) of the European Commission, MRC will help achieve the adoption of a stable and predictable regulatory framework on petroleum products and biofuels through:
1. supporting the initiatives of national authorities to design their reforms according to their priorities, taking into account initial conditions and expected socioeconomic impacts;
2. supporting the efforts of national authorities to define and implement appropriate processes and methodologies by taking into account good practices of and lessons learned by other countries in addressing similar situations, and;
3. assisting the national authorities in enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of human-resource management, inter alia, by strengthening professional knowledge and skills and setting out clear responsibilities.
Electricity Cost of Service Study and Determination of Economic Cost Reflective Tariffs
Funded by the African Development Bank, MRC, jointly with EMRC UK, is working for the Electricity Regulatory Board in the study to provide a basis for setting consumer electricity tariffs for all customer categories to promote efficiency of electricity supply, and consumption, and to ensure financial viability of the electricity sector, while taking into account social and equity considerations in the pricing of electricity to poor households.
The analysis includes determination of the long-term least cost generation, transmission, distribution and supply programs to meet the forecast electricity demand in Zambia over the medium to long-term and an estimation of the long-run marginal cost of generation, the average incremental cost of transmission, and average incremental cost of distribution and supply.
Feasibility analysis of the second transmission circuit in the SIEPAC corridor
The project objective is to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of the second circuit of the SIEPAC HV transmission line, as a key component in the regional capacity expansion up to 600 MW; the feasibility analysis considered the following issues:
-The current regulatory framework;
-The current and expected power flows in the regional electricity market;
-The progress in the strengthening of transmission infrastructure in each country, and;
-The development of the power transmission expansion plans in each country.
Study on Barriers to entry in retail energy markets
MRC, jointly with other three European companies, is working for the Directorate General of Energy of the European Commission in providing a detailed comparative analysis of economic barriers to entry on retail markets for electricity and gas in the European Union. In particular, the contract includes the following tasks:
1. A detailed comparative analysis of barriers to entry on retail markets for electricity and gas in all EU Member States, Norway and Switzerland individually;
2. Developing a robust, peer-reviewed methodology for a performance index on how easy it is to do business on energy retail markets, and applying the index to the countries within the scope of the study; and
3. Organising a stakeholder workshop to discuss the preliminary findings related to the retail performance index and rankings.
Electricity and Gas Market Development in Turkey
Funded by the EU Instrument for Pre- Accession (IPA 2013) Trust Fund and administered by the IBRD (World Bank), the Project relates to the second MIPD (IPA Multi-annual Indicative Planning Document 2011-2013) objective “further alignment with and implementation of acquis on the internal gas and electricity market”. Within this framework, MRC assisted the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of Turkey in a series of studies on the harmonization of electricity and natural gas laws following the adoption of the EU Third Energy Package.
MRC consulting services included activities to support legal, structural and administrative framework for properly functioning energy exchange operations; including alignment with Acquis by providing technical assistance on energy market development, improvement of spot and balancing power market activities, transparency, market surveillance and eligible customer operations; in terms of both structural and operative requirements on the internal electricity and gas markets. MRC services also covered demand side participation and management and market coupling with the EU markets.
Natural Gas Feasibility Study for the Hellenic Energy Exchange
The Hellenic Energy Exchange S.A. (HEnEx SA), recently founded and operating under the Greek Law 4512/2018, wishes to include in its activities the provision of services as Natural Gas (NG) Trading Platform Operator (TPO) in Greece as well as to further expand them to neighboring markets. Within this framework, the HEnEx SA engaged the consortium MRC – Ernst & Young to carry out a Feasibility Study with the following general scope:
1. Analysis and presentation of the European landscape (EU-28).
2. Analysis of the Greek Natural Gas market and infrastructure.
3. LNG exchange-based Trading and Clearing Model.
4. Regional expansion and development.
5. Costs and revenues for the development and operation of HENEX SA’s Natural Gas Market.
6. Implementation Plan.
Europe and Eurasia Project on Transmission Grid Code Harmonization
Regulators in Southeast Europe and the Black Sea region are at very different stages of gas market and Grid Code development, and yet they all face challenges with meeting the requirements of the EU Third Energy Package and implementation of the European Commission’s Network Codes.
In this context, in collaboration with VIS Consultants, MRC assisted the regulatory commissions of nine countries of the Southeast Europe and Black Sea regions through this project funded by the the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), which focused on two specific areas:
1. Regional and National Methodologies to Conduct Economic Appraisals of Gas Infrastructure Expansion and Network Plans, and;
2. Targeted In-Country Assistance on Regulations and/or Grid Code Revisions at the Transmission System Level Identified by Southeast Europe and Black Sea regulators.
Consulting services in support of the project for the electrical interconnection Bolivia – Brazil
The main objective of this project, funded by the Inter-American Bank, ENDE (Bolivia) and ELETROBRÁS (Brazil), is to carry out a series of studies to analyze the feasibility of the electrical interconnection between the power systems of Bolivia and Brazil. The specific objectives are:
1. to perform all the planning studies to identify and recommend the best alternatives for the interconnection of the power systems of Bolivia and Brazil, considering the quantification of the economic benefits at global and individual scale for each country. Identification of the technical characteristics of the power transmission equipment and facilities required to carry out the proposed interconnection project, in terms of the power transmission capacity and configuration of the transmission infrastructure; and
2. to perform the preliminary technical studies related to the alternatives for the interconnection of the power systems of Bolivia and Brazil.
Advisor for the Unbundling, Corporatisation, and Privatisation of the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC)
MRC worked in the consortium that advised the Government of Cyprus and EAC on the advantages and disadvantages of all possible options/scenarios regarding the future ownership status and structure of the vertically integrated utility EAC. The context was the search of higher performance levels and the compliance with the EU Energy Acquis, notably the Third Package.
Different unbundling solutions and private sector participation schemes were analysed, together with a market sounding exercise among potential private sector investors in the company and a quantitative evaluation of the operational and financial implications.
Strengthening the Central Power Purchasing Agency
In 2016, the Asian Development Bank hired MRC to support the CPPA-G to develop the new power market model for Pakistan and enable its implementation. The general objective of the assignment is to provide management support, capacity building, and training for the CPPA-G management and employees.
Specific objectives are to i) support to the CPPA G in designing and implementing the Competitive Trading Bilateral Contract Market (CTBCM), ii) define all aspects required for transition from the single-buyer model to the competitive regime, and iii) identify all stakeholder conditions/actions needed for the next market phase.
The advisory is carried out in 3 phases:
-Phase I. High Level Market Model Design. Assessment of the “as-is” (policies, regulatory, legal andtechnical) situation and Definition of the Conceptual Market Model and a roadmap for the transition management
-Phase II. Detailed Market Model Design. Design a detailed plan for the implementation of the defined and approved Market Model for Pakistan, including, Identification of commercial instruments required, CPPA-G Human Resource Assessment, Stakeholder Capacity Building, and development of / alignment with other sector stakeholders needed for model implementation.
-Phase III. Support during the actual implementation of new market model implementation by 2020 (this phase is still in negotiation stage – current contract covers phases I & II).
Preparation of a 5-year Investment and Financing Strategy for KPLC
The most critical issue KPLC is facing is to ensure that sufficient new capacity and network expansion are made available quickly to meet continuing rapid electricity demand growth. In the 2016-2021 period this is estimated to require US$ 1.5-3.0 billion in the distribution and transmission network (as well as to meet Government electricity access targets).
This assignment was therefore aimed to provide KPLC with a system to enhance its long-term financial planning and optimise funding resources – that allows the company to reach their access targets without compromising its financial sustainability.
The main activities of the MRC team were:
Advisory on Investment & EPC opportunities for green field power generation projects
MRC assisted the client (a private sector investor) to evaluate numerous IPP opportunities, and pursue the early-stage development phases of greenfield power generation plants. Opportunities are mainly thermal power plants ranging from 250MW to 1000MW, in different locations around Nigeria (including Calabar and Awka Ibom, among others).
MRC provides on-going advisory in the following areas:
a) Integrated evaluation of project feasibility – technical, regulatory/legal, financial, market, risk & other
b) Financial modelling for project viability, scenario analysis, risk assessment, and portfolio options
c) Identification & tracking of short, medium & long term project development needs.
d) Meeting all PPA conditions precedent
e) Transaction document package evaluation
f) Coordination with sector stakeholders & authorities
Market Assessment for Solar PV Investment
MRC assisted an international Solar PV developer to assess the Argentinean, Colombian and Mexican power markets for possible investment.
MRC experts provided advisory on market entry assessment & options in:
