A Chinese energy giant has bought the biggest independent producer of renewable energy in Mexico, giving the industry a vote of confidence even as Mexico’s authorities have moved to slow down private investment in renewable energy in the country. State Power Investment Corp (SPIC) of China, which has more than US$170 billion in energy assets globally, including in solar, wind, and hydrogen power in South America, has acquired Mexico’s leading independent renewables firm Zuma Energia, a spokesman for the Mexican company told Bloomberg in a press release, without disclosing the…
Read MoreMonth: November 2020
The Oil Price Crash Has Made Diversification Vital For Gulf Nations
While many Gulf nations were already working to diversify their economies prior to the coronavirus pandemic, the subsequent economic downturn and collapse in oil prices has meant that governments in the region have had to reassess and – in some cases – accelerate their strategic plans. The implementation of social distancing measures and travel restrictions has impacted activity across all sectors in the region. With economies operating under capacity and global travel severely curtailed for much of the year, there has been a significant drop in demand for – and…
Read MorePfizer ends vaccine trial with 95pc success rate, paving way for a shot this year
Final results from Pfizer Inc’s Covid-19 vaccine trial showed its shot had a 95 per cent success rate and two months of safety data, paving the way for the drugmaker to apply for an emergency US authorisation within days, it said on Wednesday. The vaccine’s efficacy rate, the highest of any candidate in late-stage clinical trials so far, was welcomed by experts who had already said that interim results showing Pfizer’s shot was over 90pc effective were very encouraging. Pfizer said there were 170 cases of Covid-19 in its trial…
Read MoreKarachi-Kasur gas pipeline project: Pakistan, Russia sign amended gas pipeline accord
ISLAMABAD: In a major development, the three-day Pakistan and Russia talks on 1,122-km high pressure RLNG pipeline from Karachi (Port Qasim) to Kasur (Punjab) ended with amendment in the Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) heralding the pavement for new era of strategic relationship between the two countries. Both the sides had earlier signed an Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) in 2015 when Russia was to erect the project with 100 percent financing, but after the GIDC verdict by the Supreme Court, and availability of liquidity with Petroleum Division, the Inter-Governmental Agreement has been amended…
Read MoreKE Launches Rs10bln Sarbulandi initiative
KARACHI: K-Electric (KE) has launched a Rs10 billion investment initiative in power distribution infrastructure titled ‘Project Sarbulandi’ for those parts of the metropolis that suffer from the menace of power theft, the utility said in a statement. “With the vision of eradicating power-theft and the resultant segmented load-shed in Karachi, the Sarbulandi initiative aims to strengthen network health and theft resistance by installation of insulated Aerial Bundled Cables (ABC),” it said in its handout. “This will result in the provision of safe and reliable electricity for the most economically vulnerable…
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