Coal, the dirtiest and usually the cheapest option for energy, is now the world’s most expensive fossil fuel. Oil’s epic collapse over the past month means the global crude benchmark is now priced below the most widely traded coal contract on an energy-equivalent basis, according to Bloomberg calculations. Australia’s Newcastle coal on ICE Futures Europe settled at $66.85 a metric ton on…
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The federal government can exercise the clause of force majeure against Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to pull the power sector out of pressure due to outbreak of COVID-19 in the country, said power sector experts. They said the need for any such measure in an emergency situation like the present one when the power division has stopped the distribution companies…
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ISLAMABAD: The Engineering Development Board (EDB) Thursday circulated the draft Electric Vehicle (EV) policy 2020-25 amongst stakeholders after facing harsh criticism in the Cabinet on March 25, 2020, well-informed sources told Business Recorder. According to the draft policy, since hybrid technology does not require additional infrastructure development, which is one of the major prerequisites for EVs, hence the thrust of…
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The government has lately been trying to tackle the growing circular debt in the power sector. The policy thrust has largely been administrative. It has involved power cuts in the low-recovery areas and raises in the electricity prices to recover the costs. This hasn’t produced any tangible results. On one hand, the government plans to float a Rs200bn Sukuk to…
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Federal Government is under pressure to declare force majeure in its liquefied natural gas (LNG) deal with Qatar following a sharp decline in gas demand in the wake of lockdown due to coronavirus spread, sources said. Petroleum Division is working with Pakistan State Oil (PSO) and two public sector gas utilities – Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) and Sui Northern…
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ISLAMABAD: In a bid to ward off negative impact of coronavirus on consumers, the Power Division has proposed to the government to freeze electricity tariff for next six months with effect from April to September 30, 2020, The News has learnt. Top official sources confirmed to The News on Friday that the Power Division estimated that there would be built…
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The ozone layer is continuing to heal and has the potential to fully recover, according to a new study. A scientific paper, published in Nature, heralds a rare success in the reversal of environmental damage and shows that orchestrated global action can make a difference. The ozone layer is a protective shield in the Earth’s stratosphere which absorbs most of the ultraviolet radiation…
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The COVID-19 outbreak has upended the global economy, causing stocks to plummet. Investors are selling off everything due to the uncertainty of when conditions will stabilize and we’ll return to some sense of normal. While market conditions could get worse before they eventually improve, investors with a long-term outlook could have a rare opportunity to buy high-quality companies at attractive…
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LAHORE: Despite expressing resolve to take advantage of record low crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices, Pakistan is not maintaining energy supply chain mainly due to lack of a coherent and systematic approach, according to an expert opinion. Unlike regional countries, the capacity of LNG import infrastructure is not being fully utilised. Oil imports are also not up…
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IMF has announced it would consider Islamabad’s request for financial assistance DESPARDES — Prime Minister Imran Khan has announced a stimulus package of several hundred billion rupees for laborers, lower fuel prices, reduced or abolished taxes on food items, amid ongoing lockdowns in major cities designed to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Khan has also called for debt…
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