RIZHAO: A 28-day training program on hydropower technology and management for Pakistani water conservancy professionals concluded on August 2 at the Shandong Water Conservancy Vocational College, China. The initiative aimed to strengthen Pakistan’s capacity in dam development, with a particular focus on the Kurram Tangi Dam project. Tailored to meet Pakistan’s hydropower needs, the training covered five key areas: mechanical and electrical equipment, automation systems, hydraulic structures and design, dam safety management, and hands-on experience at hydropower stations. Participants also toured seven major hydropower sites, including the Changgou Pumping Station…
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Saudi Aramco Posts 22% Profit Decline Amid Lower Oil Prices
RIYADH – Saudi Aramco reported a 22% drop in its second-quarter profit, totaling 85 billion riyals (\$22.67 billion), as lower crude and refined product prices continued to weigh on revenues. The state-owned oil giant, a key pillar of the Saudi economy and the world’s largest oil exporter, has now recorded profit declines for 10 consecutive quarters following record earnings in late 2022. “The decrease in revenue was mainly due to lower crude oil prices and lower refined and chemical product prices,” Aramco stated in its latest quarterly report. Aramco’s shares…
Read MoreRs431bn Dispute: Power Division, SBP Clash Over Pending Payments to Chinese Power Projects
ISLAMABAD: A significant dispute has emerged between the Power Division and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) over the repatriation of Rs431 billion owed to Chinese coal-based power projects, raising concerns over investor confidence and payment transparency. The issue surfaced during a meeting of the Sub-Committee on Reforms, chaired by Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Ali Pervaiz Malik, where officials debated the delay in foreign currency payments due to Chinese Independent Power Producers (IPPs) such as Port Qasim and Sahiwal. While the Power Division claims that Rs431 billion remains…
Read MoreStructural Shake-up in WAPDA Sparks Internal Controversy
ISLAMABAD: The incoming chairman of the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) is expected to face a challenging start amid internal unrest sparked by controversial structural changes made by the acting management in recent weeks. Sources reveal that the acting chairman implemented several senior-level reorganisations—adding and removing key posts and advisers—just before the appointment of the new chairman. These decisions, allegedly taken without a proper quorum, were rushed through a hastily convened meeting and formalised the same day the Ministry of Water Resources held interviews for the new leadership. The…
Read MorePakistan, China to Strengthen Collaboration on Electric Vehicles
BEIJING: Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal has identified electric vehicles (EVs) as a pivotal area for future cooperation between Pakistan and China, emphasizing the sector’s potential to transform Pakistan’s energy and transportation landscape. Speaking at a press conference at the Pakistani Embassy in Beijing, Iqbal underscored Pakistan’s interest in leveraging China’s technological leadership, particularly in emerging innovations like sodium-ion batteries, which offer significant advantages over traditional lithium-ion alternatives. He announced that the upcoming Pakistan-China Business Conference, scheduled for September 4, will act as a vital…
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