Pakistan third top recipient of Chinese finance: study

Chinese-finance

KARACHI: Pakistan is the third biggest recipient of Chinese development finance worldwide with a portfolio of $70.3 billion, according to a report released on Monday by AidData, a US-based international development research lab. Only two per cent of China’s portfolio in Pakistan between 2000 and 2021 consisted of grants while the rest was in the form of loans, says the AidData…

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LONGi sets a new world record of 33.9% for the efficiency of crystalline silicon-perovskite tandem solar cells

LONGi-sets

Xi’an, November 3, 2023-The world-leading solar technology company, LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (hereafter as “LONGi”), announced today that it has set a new world record of 33.9% for the efficiency of crystalline silicon-perovskite tandem solar cells. It is reported that the previous world record was 33.7% and conducted by King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST) in…

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Three key water projects face funding shortfall

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ISLAMABAD: Three key water sector development projects under the Prime Minister’s National Agriculture Emergency Programme and designed to increase crop yields leading to gaining self-sufficiency in food suffer a major setback as funding for these projects has been delayed. The national food security and research ministry — which sponsored these projects costing Rs194 billion and launched in 2019-2020 and due…

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Gas tariff hikes disastrous for industry, warn business leaders

Oil-and-Gas

KARACHI: Massive gas tariff hike in addition to rising power rates would cause a steep rise in production cost resulting in the closure of small- and medium-sized units, making exports uncompetitive and rendering thousands of employees jobless. Just a day ahead of the Federal Cabinet meeting last Monday, Caretaker Minister for Energy, Power and Petroleum Muhammad Ali had assured the members of the Karachi…

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Hydel projects at LoI stage: SIFC directs PD to streamline issues, policy limits

Karot-Hydropower

ISLAMABAD: The Executive Committee (EC) of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) has directed the Power Division that all hydel projects at the LoI stage from various provinces including Kalam Asrit 238 MW, Asrit Kedam 229 MW and 470 MW Lower Spatgah, be reviewed to streamline their issues and policy parameters in the working group. Well-informed sources told Business Recorder…

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Solar panel advances will see millions go off grid, scientists predict

solar-panel

Solar energy costs have fallen 90 per cent over the last decade, while new discoveries have seen efficiency rates rise More than 30 million homes in Europe could meet all their energy needs using rooftop solar panels alone, according to a new study. Researchers from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany found that more than 50 per cent of Europe’s 41…

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IMF mission told: Hike in gas tariff to help govt collect Rs980bn

IMF-board

ISLAMABAD: Top mandarins of the Petroleum Division on Friday told the visiting IMF mission that the recent hike in gas tariff will help the government mop up revenue of Rs980 billion in eight months, and this is how the new flow in existing circular debt would end. The relevant authorities of the Petroleum Division held technical level talks with the…

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Need of NSC for change in shareholding: KES Power: Privatisation Div asked to seek advice

k-electric

ISLAMABAD: A three-member Ministerial Committee has asked Privatisation Division to seek advice from the Ministry of Law and Justice on whether any change in shareholding of KES Power requires National Security Certificate (NSC), well informed sources told Business Reorder. The ministerial committee, composed of Minister for Energy (chair), Minister for Privatisation, and Minister for Law & Justice, has been assigned to…

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Power industry calls for release of vital reports

power-sector

Say it is crucial for decision-making, including impending privatisation of DISCOs ISLAMABAD: Frustration is growing among power industry stakeholders due to significant delays in the release of crucial reports by the power regulator, which are essential for informed decision-making. In particular, the absence of timely data is hindering the effective functioning of the sector. The World Bank’s “Public Expenditure Review”…

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