Tag: Electricity

Libyans at boiling point amid summer power cuts

by Hamza Mekouar Agence France-Presse TRIPOLI, Libya (AFP) — Mahmud Aguil has a comfortable house in Libya’s capital Tripoli, but chronic power outages in the war-battered country and roasting summer heat now force him to sleep in his air-conditioned van. “This is my bedroom,” the 48-year-old said pointing to the cramped vehicle, its back seats removed to make space for him and his two young children. “In the morning I wake up with a terrible […]

PHL president-elect Marcos in nuclear plant revival talks with S.Korea

  MANILA, Philippines (AFP) — Philippine president-elect Ferdinand Marcos signalled his determination to adopt nuclear power Monday, May 23, holding talks with South Korea’s envoy on possibly reviving a mothballed $2.2 billion plant built during his father’s regime. The 620-megawatt Bataan Nuclear Power Plant was left dormant after the elder Marcos was toppled in 1986. In the run-up to the May 9 presidential election, Marcos Junior spoke about the need for nuclear power to address […]

10-hour power cuts in Sri Lanka as crisis worsens

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AFP) — Sri Lanka on Wednesday began imposing record nationwide 10-hour daily power cuts as it ran out of hydro-electricity on top of a severe shortage of fuel. The South Asian nation of 22 million people is in its worst economic crisis since independence in 1948, because of a severe shortage of foreign currency to pay for imports. The state electricity monopoly said it was imposing the 10-hour power cut, up from […]

Japan issues power warning after quake hits supply

TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japan’s government warned on Tuesday of possible widespread electricity outages for Tokyo and its surrounding regions as power plants hit by last week’s powerful earthquake struggled to meet surging demand caused by a cold snap. Overnight, the government issued its first-ever electricity crunch warning for the capital and other regions, with supply dented because several thermal power plants remain offline after the quake. The industry ministry called on people to conserve […]

Thailand makes green push with floating hydro-solar power project

by Pathom SANGWONGWANICH Agence France-Presse UBON RATCHATHANI, Thailand (AFP) – A vast array of solar panels floats on the shimmering waters of a reservoir in northeast Thailand, symbolising the kingdom’s drive towards clean energy as it seeks carbon neutrality by 2050. The immense installation, covering 720,000 square metres of water surface, is a hybrid system that converts sunlight to electricity by day and generates hydropower at night. Touted by the authorities as the “world’s largest […]

Sri Lanka runs out of fuel as dollar crisis worsens

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s public transport was crippled Wednesday as buses ran out of diesel, officials said as the country’s foreign exchange crisis worsened with no dollars to import fuel. The Private Bus Owners’ Association said they were able to operate only about a quarter of their fleet of 20,000 vehicles, while drivers reported queuing for seven hours to top up fuel. “I could not run the bus for two days because […]

Ethiopia starts generating power at Nile mega-dam

by Robbie Corey-Boulet gence France-Presse GUBA, Ethiopia (AFP) – Ethiopia began generating electricity from its mega-dam on the Blue Nile on Sunday, a milestone in the controversial multi-billion dollar project. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, accompanied by high-ranking officials, toured the power station and pressed a series of buttons on an electronic screen, a move that officials said initiated production. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is set to be the largest hydroelectric scheme in Africa but […]

S.Africa regulator approves controversial floating power plants

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AFP) – South Africa’s energy regulator on Tuesday approved generating licenses for three controversial floating power plants, stoking environmental concerns as Africa’s most industrialised nation grapples with electricity shortages. Turkey-based Karpowership, one of the world’s largest floating power plant operators, in March won a government tender to supplement South Africa’s fragile electricity supply with gas-to-power projects at three ports. But the environment ministry subsequently blocked Karpowership’s permit application over concerns about the environmental […]

WATCH: Interview with Sen. Gatchalian on rotational brownouts, situation of private schools: Balitalakayan – June 7, 2021

https://youtu.be/uFB2JKgvmpE Balitalakayan interviews Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, chair of the Senate Committee on Energy, and the Committee on Basic Education, regarding the country’s energy situation and the state of education amid the pandemic on Monday, June 7, 2021. Gatchalian said the Senate will also hold hearings on Thursday, June 7 regarding the recent rotational brownouts in the country where Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) chair Agnes Devanadera will be invited to shed […]

Iran temporarily bans cryptocurrency mining after blackouts

TEHRAN, Iran (AFP) — Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday announced a four-month ban on all cryptocurrency mining, a day after his energy minister apologized for unplanned power cuts in major cities. Iranian officials have regularly blamed unlicensed cryptocurrency miners for using vast amounts of electricity. “Cryptocurrency activities and mining cryptocurrencies must be stopped” until September 22, Rouhani said in televised remarks. Power cuts in the peak summer months are not uncommon in Iran, but […]

Texas restores power but still struggling with water

    by Brian KNOWLTON Agence France Presse HOUSTON, United States (AFP) — Texas authorities have restored power statewide bringing relief after days of unprecedentedly frigid temperatures, but millions were still struggling Saturday without safe, drinkable water. “Due to lack of power, frozen pipes, high use at certain times, we’ve seen the number of systems go up that are reporting (water) issues,” Toby Baker, executive director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality told reporters […]

Record breaking arctic weather in Texas leaves millions without power

  (Eagle News) — In Texas, a rare arctic cold front has left Texas buried in snow and enduring frigid temperature. The weather has left millions of people without power. Travel is not being advised. We have details on this major storm from Eagle News correspondent Jane Kathleen Gregorio in San Antonio in this Feb. 16 report on Eagle News America.