BEIJING: CHN Energy has successfully connected the 3 GW Mengxi Lanhai Solar Plant to the grid, making it the largest single-site solar facility in China and the second-largest worldwide. Located in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, the $1.6 billion project was completed in just 14 months and is a cornerstone of China’s “West-to-East Power Transmission” strategy. Spanning 70 square kilometers, the plant…
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KCCI Demands Winter Package Exclude K-Electric, Citing Consumer Dues
ISLAMABAD: The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has urged the federal government to directly distribute the upcoming Winter Support Package to Karachi consumers, bypassing K-Electric (KE). The power utility currently owes approximately Rs 100 billion to its customers, according to KCCI President Jawed Bilwani. In a letter addressed to Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Khan Leghari, Bilwani…
Read MoreGovernment Accelerates Privatisation of DISCOs and HBFC
ISLAMABAD: The federal government has ramped up efforts to privatize power distribution companies (DISCOs) and the House Building Finance Corporation (HBFC) as part of its economic reforms. The Privatisation Commission, led by Federal Minister for Privatisation and Investment Aleem Khan, recently reviewed progress on entities listed for privatisation. During the meeting, it was decided to expedite the selection of financial…
Read MoreCostly Palm Trees Fail to Thrive in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Sparking Environmental Concerns
PESHAWAR: The Peshawar Development Authority’s (PDA) recent decision to plant costly palm trees across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) has drawn criticism from environmentalists, citing incompatibility with the region’s biodiversity and ecological needs. Imported from Lahore and Dubai at costs ranging from Rs8,000 to Rs15,000 each, the palm trees have shown signs of devariegation due to water scarcity. Experts argue the drought-tolerant species…
Read MoreRussia Halts Gas Supplies to Austria Amid Arbitration Dispute
MOSCOW: Russian energy giant Gazprom has ceased gas supplies to Austria’s OMV, hours after Vienna confirmed receiving notice of the suspension. This marks another significant disruption in Europe’s energy ties with Russia since the onset of the Ukraine war. While Gazprom continues to transport gas to Europe through Ukraine’s Urengoy-Pomary-Uzhgorod pipeline, one of the last major Russian supply routes to…
Read MoreUN climate chief asks G20 leaders for boost as COP29 finance talks lag
BAKU, Nov 16 (Reuters) – The U.N.’s climate chief called on leaders of the world’s biggest economies on Saturday to send a signal of support for global climate finance efforts when they meet in Rio de Janeiro next week, to help trigger a deal at COP29 talks. The plea, made in a letter to G20 leaders from top U.N. climate official Simon…
Read MoreNegotiating fair climate finance at COP29
Pakistan must push for an ambitious and equitable New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG), an expanded Adaptation Fund, a fully operationalised Loss and Damage Fund, and a fair and transparent carbon market system under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. As negotiations unfold at COP29 in Baku, Pakistan stands at a critical juncture in its climate journey – one that is…
Read MoreMurad unveiled Sindh Delta Blue Carbon Project at COP-29
BAKU (Azerbaijan) Nov 17: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, speaking at COP-29 on Nature’s Carbon Solution, emphasised the transformative Delta Blue Carbon (DBC) project in the Indus Delta, Sindh. “We have [Sindh] a 230-kilometre coastline and its 667,000 hectares of wetland ecosystems in mitigating and adapting to climate change.” He said this while speaking at COP-29, titled “Nature’s…
Read MoreAyla Majid makes history as ACCA’s first Pakistani president
Ayla Majid has made history as the first South Asian, Pakistani, and Muslim to be elected Global President of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) in its 120-year history. This remarkable achievement highlights Ayla’s exceptional leadership, dedication, and commitment to advancing the accounting profession. As a successful business leader and advocate for sustainability, Ayla has been a powerful voice…
Read MoreOil prices on track for weekly loss as Chinese demand wanes
HOUSTON: Oil prices slipped on Friday and were bound for a weekly loss as investors digested waning Chinese demand and a possible slowing of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s interest rate cut path. Brent crude futures dropped 71 cents, or 0.98%, to $71.85 a barrel by 10:32 a.m. EDT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down 72 cents, or 1.05%,…
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