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Cuba struggles to restore electricity to millions of Cubans as the night falls
Cuba's capital Havana was plunged into darkness on Saturday for the second time as attempts to restore power continued in fits and start. Setbacks slowed progress, and several millions still remain without electricity throughout the island. Cuba's grid collapsed Friday evening, after a transmission cable at a Havana substation shorted. This caused a chain reaction, which shut down all power generation on the island. Early efforts were focused on providing electricity to vital services such as hospitals, water supplies and food production centres. By early Saturday evening, however, neither of Cuba’s two largest electricity plants, Felton in Holguin Province, nor Antonio Guiteras in Matanzas, was producing electricity. This left the majority of homes on the island in the dark. Lazaro Guerra said that the top official of the country in charge of electricity hoped to see both power plants come online over night, but cautioned that progress will be slow so as not to cause further setbacks. During the day Saturday, the grid operator had to start over in both the island's largest cities: Havana in the west and Santiago de Cuba in the east. The latest islandwide power grid collapse in Cuba comes after a series of nationwide blackouts that occurred late last year, which threw the fragile power generation system into near total disarray. Fuel shortages, natural catastrophes and economic crises all contributed to this. Since months, most Cubans living outside Havana are experiencing rolling blackouts. These have peaked to 20 hours per day in the last few weeks. A few hotels in Havana used generators on Saturday night to keep lights on for tourists. The street lights and stop signs on major boulevards, as well as residential areas and many bars and restaurants were all blacked out. According to the transportation ministry, flights into and out of airports in the country, as well bus travel, were not affected by the grid failure. Cubans are suffering from severe shortages in food, medicine and fuel, as well as daily blackouts that last for hours. It's difficult to keep food cool without electricity," Lazaro Hernandez said, a Havana cafeteria employee who was searching his neighborhood for ice in order to keep ham and cheese chilled overnight. We don't know for how long we will be without power. Cuba's economic problems are attributed to a Cold War U.S. embargo on trade, as well as a complex web of laws and regulations which complicate financial transactions. It also blames the difficulty in acquiring essentials such fuel and spare parts. Donald Trump, the U.S. president, tightened sanctions against the communist-run island government and promised to restore "tough" policies toward this longtime U.S. enemy. Cuba has, with China's help, invested heavily over the last year to develop large, state run solar farms. It says this will reduce the country's dependence on expensive and difficult-to-source fuels. Many Cubans like Victor Raul Bracho a Havana-based musician who was practicing for a Saturday recording session, continued to live their lives as usual despite the blackout. It's not as if we are getting used to the problems. We have to move on. Reporting by Dave Sherwood, with additional reporting from Nelson Acosta; Mario Fuentes, Anett Rios, Alien Fernandez; Susan Fenton, and Lincoln Feast.
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Cuba is still without electricity in large parts of the country after the nationwide grid collapse
Cuba was largely left without electricity on Saturday morning, after the grid of the island collapsed overnight. This knocked out power for ten million people. It also raised new questions about the viability and age of the antiquated generation system. At sunrise, island grid operator UNE reported that it was generating just a trickle - about 225 MW or less than 10% total demand. This is enough to cover vital services such as hospitals, water supply, and food production centres. Officials have begun the process to restart the generation plants that are decades old, but they did not give a timeline for the restoration of service. Cuba's grid collapsed Friday night around 8:15 p.m. (00:00 GMT), after an aging transmission line component at a Havana substation shorted. This triggered a chain of events that shut down all power generation on the island. The grid collapse comes after a series of nationwide blackouts that occurred late last year, which plunged Cuba's fragile power generation system into near total disarray. Fuel shortages, natural catastrophes and economic crisis were all factors contributing to the breakdown. Since months, most Cubans living outside of Havana are experiencing rolling blackouts. These have peaked to 20 hours per day in the last few weeks. Havana was still without electricity in large parts on Saturday morning. There was light traffic at intersections without stoplights, and the cellular internet in some places was either weak or nonexistent. Abel Bonne enjoyed the sea breeze with his friends early on Saturday morning, after a humid night without electricity. He said, "No one knows right now when the electricity will be restored." This is the first time it has happened this year. Last year, this happened three times. Cubans have fled the island in record numbers in recent years due to severe shortages of water, food and medicine. Cuba's economic problems are attributed to a Cold War U.S. embargo on trade, as well as a complex web of laws and regulations which complicate financial transactions. It also blames the difficulty in acquiring essentials such fuel and spare parts. On Saturday morning, a grid official said that Cuba was unable to upgrade antiquated transmission components and generation equipment due to the restrictions. Donald Trump, the U.S. president, tightened sanctions against the communist-run island government and promised to restore "tough" policies toward this longtime U.S. enemy. Yunior Reyes was a Havana bike taxi driver who returned to work Saturday morning, despite the blackout. He worried that his food supplies might spoil due to the heat of the day. He said, "We are all in the exact same situation." "It is a lot to do." (Reporting and editing by Susan Fenton; Additional reporting by Nelson Acosta, Anett Rios, and Dave Sherwood)
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The Russian captain who was involved in the US tanker crash appeared in UK court
The captain of the container ship that collided with a U.S. oil tanker off Britain's East Coast earlier this week appeared before an English court Saturday and was charged with gross negligence. Vladimir Motin was the captain of the Portuguese flagged Solong, which hit the Stena Immaculate tanker carrying military jet fuel on Monday morning. Motin appeared in Hull Magistrates' Court Saturday, after being charged on Friday night, over the death Mark Angelo Pernia (38), a Filipino national who was a member of the Solong crew. Amelia Katz, the prosecutor, said that the Solong had been travelling at over 15 knots (27.2 kilometres per minute) when it collided with the Stena Immaculate. The Stena Immaculate was anchored in this position since Sunday evening "over 15 hours prior to the collision occurring". She stated that Motin, who had taken over the Solong about three hours prior to the incident, was the sole person responsible for the vehicle at the time of collision. Katz stated that "for a period of more than 40 minutes prior to the collision, Solong was directly on the path for impact with Stena Immaculate which was anchored, stationary." The prosecutor said: "There was no attempt to communicate from the Solong in order to warn of an impending collision, and the Solong didn't adjust its course or pace at any point." The Stena Immaculate crew of 23 and the Solong crew of 13 were all rescued. Katz stated that some crew members tried to find Mr Pernia but were unsuccessful. Motin failed to request bail and was placed in custody. The collision resulted in a large explosion, and jet fuel was spilled into the ocean. The initial fears of an environmental catastrophe subsided when assessments revealed that the jet fuel was mostly burnt off and no other leaks were detected from either ship.
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Cuba's electric grid collapses leaving millions without power
Cuba's Energy and Mines Ministry said that the national electrical grid collapsed on Friday late at night, causing widespread blackouts across the Caribbean island nation, including the capital Havana. Officials from the Energy Ministry said that an electrical substation failed in Havana around 8:15 pm (0015 GMT), knocking power out to a large area of western Cuba including the capital. A witness reported that the lights were off across Havana’s waterfront skyline. Only a few tourist hotels operated on generators powered by fuel. Social media reports from provinces east and west, as well as outlying areas of the capital city, suggested that a large part of the 10 million-person country was without electricity. Grid failures are a result of a series of blackouts that occurred across the country in late 2018. Fuel shortages, natural catastrophes and economic crises exacerbated Cuba's fragile and outdated power generation system, which was already in shambles. Since months, rolling blackouts lasting several hours have become the norm. Cubans have been forced to flee the island as a result of severe shortages in food, medicine, and water. (Reporting and editing by William Mallard, Jacqueline Wong and Dave Sherwood)
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Brazil, the host state of COP30, denies a new road connected to climate summit
The Brazilian state that is hosting a United Nations Climate Summit this year denied any link between a road that cuts through a Brazilian rainforest protected area and the COP30 conference in November, which will bring world leaders together. Para's government said that construction of the Avenida Liberdade divided-four-lane highway began in 2020 before the state capital Belem is chosen to host this summit. According to state and federal government officials, the project, which follows an existing powerline through a conservation zone south of the City, did not receive federal funds as part of Brazil's preparations for COP30. Some locals attribute the recent progress made on the highway, which has been long discussed, to the upcoming UN summit. Tens of thousands of delegates will be expected to flood the Amazonian city, home to over 1.3 million people. "That project has been discussed for more than 20 years. But there was much resistance." Ana Claudia Cardoso is a professor of Urban Studies at the Federal University of Para. She said that the need to prepare a city for such a large event was the only justification. BBC reported last week that the state secretary of infrastructure had listed the road as one of 30 projects to prepare the city for the COP30. The state government stated that the report was not accurate. The official quoted in the report could not be reached. Reporting by Lisandra paraguassu, Brasilia; Marx Vasconcelos, Belem. Editing by Brad Haynes & Diane Craft
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Sources say that Niger has ordered three Chinese oil officials to leave the country.
Two sources familiar with this decision said on Friday that the Niger junta had ordered three Chinese oil officials to leave the country. This is the latest step taken by regional military governments in an effort to gain greater control over their resources. Sources said that the request for the departure from Niger of the directors of China National Petroleum Corporation, West African Oil Pipeline Company and joint venture SORAZ oil refinery was made Wednesday. One source close to government confirmed that the Chinese officials had left the country on Friday. Another source close to the companies involved said that the directors had been asked to leave due to disputes over the pay of local staff and pace of project work. Separately last week, Niger’s tourism ministry revoked the license of a Chinese-operated Niamey hotel, citing discriminatory practice. Requests for comment were not answered by the spokespeople of the military junta that took power through a coup on 2023 and the oil ministry in the West African nation. WAPCo and CNPC have not responded to requests for comments. SORAZ was not available for comment. Last year, the Niger signed a $400 million memorandum with CNPC in relation to the sale crude oil from Agadem. The Niger junta ripped up agreements on defence with former colonial powers France and the United States. The authorities also took control over the French nuclear fuels firm Orano's Somair mine. In Mali and Burkina Faso, military governments have used similar legal disputes to gain greater control of resources such as gold. Reporting by Moussa Acsar and Boureima Balima; Writing by Ayen deng Bior; Editing and Robbie Corey Boulet and Diane Craft
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Williams welcomes Trump's support of the Constitution Gas Pipeline
Williams Cos stated on Friday that it appreciates the support of U.S. president Donald Trump for the Constitution Natural Gas Pipeline Project through New York. It is interested in reviving the project, if the conditions are right. Trump and New York Governor Kathy Hochul met on Friday morning to discuss the possibility of reviving a project that Williams had canceled in 2020 due to opposition from New York politicians and environmentalists. Trump is in favor of a massive expansion of the energy industry and infrastructure, which he believes will lead to what he calls "energy dominance". Williams, in an email sent to the. We are interested in building Constitution Pipeline, as long as there is enough customer demand, support from Northeast Governors including Governor Hochul to reduce the risk of expensive permitting delays, legal battles and injunctions. Williams also expressed optimism about a possible reform of the permitting process in Congress, which would make it easier for projects to be advanced. Hochul's Office said that the conversation with Trump included energy policy and tariffs. While no formal decisions or agreements were made, the conversation was productive and we look forward in continuing the dialogue over the next few weeks," said Jerrel Harvey, a spokesman for the Department of State. The White House has not yet commented. The Constitution project could move up to 650 millions cubic feet of gas per day, from the Marcellus Shale formation in Pennsylvania, to New York consumers. Trump's dispute over tariffs with Canada could lead to higher electricity prices for New Yorkers. Ontario, a province in Canada, threatened to charge a 25% extra on electricity that it sent into New York earlier this week. Trevor Hunnicutt, Richard Valdmanis and Nia Williams edited the article.
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CERAWEEK and Chevron advance plans to develop US data centres with power generation
Chevron has plans to meet the demand for data centers. The oil giant recently entered the engineering and permitting phases of multiple U.S. locations to build the centers, and to provide the electricity they need, said a company executive this week. The energy consumption of U.S. Data Centers, which are basically giant server warehouses in the United States, is expected triple over the next three year as the race for artificial intelligence intensifies. Big Tech has signed unprecedented deals with utilities and nuclear power plants to access large quantities of electricity quickly. This growth, coupled with the need for large amounts of electricity quickly, is upending the power industry in the country, which has seen a record high demand following a dismal growth rate over the past two decades. It is also driving the consumption of natural gas. Big Oil has tapped into this growth. Last year, Exxon Mobil and Chevron announced that they would begin power generation for data centers, using a large portion of the natural gas produced by their companies. The oil majors have traditionally used the majority of their power generation for their own operations. Daniel Droog - Vice President of Power Solutions at Chevron - said that "the customer interest is high" in an interview given at the CERAWeek Conference in Houston, this week. It's trying to meet the need where it's needed because they are building or expanding new facilities at a pace that is ahead of power supply. Data centers that were once around 20 gigawatts are now 50 times larger and require as much electricity around the clock as a mid-sized town. Droog stated that Chevron plans to develop data centers and power plants with a capacity of around 1 GW and is targeting their completion in 2027-2028. The executive stated that "we're really focused" on speed, scale and reliability. He didn't disclose Chevron customers or the exact location of data centers in development, but he said that the company was targeting the Midwest, the West, the South and the interior west for its data centers. Chevron data centers will not be connected to a grid, and they'll be powered primarily by natural gas. Some sites may be able to accommodate carbon capture and other sites could include the installation of renewable energy. Data centers are increasingly using natural gas as a fuel. This is despite the fact that Big Tech had avoided it in their various climate pledges of recent years, which called for them to switch to renewable energy sources to power their operations. Gas-fired power stations are more efficient than other sources of energy like nuclear because the fuel is abundant and relatively cheap in the U.S. Chevron is scheduled to receive seven GE Vernova Gas turbines in 2026, which will be used for the generation of electricity. Turbines are on a growing backorder. Some companies report that orders for large turbines take five years to deliver. (Reporting and editing by Liz Hampton, Marguerita Choy and Laila Kearney)
Companies sell their services in Russia
Lots of Western business have actually sold their Russian assets or handed them over to local supervisors to adhere to sanctions over the war in Ukraine and respond to threats from the Kremlin that it may seize foreignowned possessions.
Below are some business that have offered their organizations in Russia, divided by sector: AUTOS
Continental sold its Russian tyre plant to holding company S8 Capital in May 2023.
Renault offered its bulk stake in Avtovaz to the Russian state in 2022, reportedly for just one rouble however with a six-year choice to buy it back.
Volkswagen finished the sale of its Kaluga production plant and regional subsidiaries in May 2023. BANKS & & INSURERS ING stated on Jan. 28 it had actually accepted sell its Russian organization to Global Development JSC without disclosing monetary details. It expects a hit of about 0.7 billion euros ($ 730.7 million) on its post tax results from the offer.
HSBC moved ownership of its Russian unit to Expobank for an undisclosed cost, it stated in May.
Societe Generale offered its Rosbank organization to Interros Capital in May 2022, taking a 3.1 billion euro hit.
Uniqa Insurance coverage stated on Oct. 4 it had concluded the sale of Raiffeisen Life and therefore completed its exit from Russia.
ENERGY
Shell sold its Russian retail and lubes company to Lukoil in 2022.
FOOD & & BEVERAGES, DURABLE GOODS
Carlsberg said on Dec. 3 it had accepted sell its shares in Russia's Baltika Breweries to longstanding Baltika staff members in a management buyout.
Heineken offered its operations in Russia to Arnest Group for a symbolic one euro, it stated in August 2023.
Belgian brewer AB InBev accepted offer its stake in joint venture AB InBev Efes in April 2022, taking a $1.1 billion disability.
Danone completed the sale of its Vital Dairy and Plant-based company in Russia to Vamin R LLC in May, taking a hit of 1.2 billion euros.
Unilever stated on Oct. 10 it had completed the sale of its Russian unit to Arnest Group, a Russia-based producer of fragrance, cosmetics and family products, without disclosing the terms. FORESTRY & & PACKAGING International
Paper sold its 50% stake in a JV to Russian shareholders in September 2023. Britain's Mondi sold three packaging converting operations to Gotek Group for 1.6 billion roubles ($ 16.41 million) and consented to offer its biggest plant in Russia to Sezar Invest for 80 billion roubles.
Finnish packaging maker Huhtamaki in 2015 sold its Russian operations for 151 million euros, while forestry firm Stora Enso offered its three corrugated packaging plants to local management. RESTAURANTS & & RETAIL
AmRest in May 2023 closed the sale of its KFC organization in Russia to Smart Service for 100 million euros.
Gazprombank Group purchased 14 MEGA shopping center in Russia from a system of IKEA operator Ingka Group in September 2023 for a concealed cost. On Nov. 8, 2024, Ingka stated it had actually offered its last possession in Russia, finishing its exit from the nation.
Hugo Employer sold its Russian service to wholesale partner Stockmann for an undisclosed cost, it stated on Aug. 5.
Moscow approved the sale of Zara owner Inditex's. Russian service to a UAE-based buyer in April 2023.
LPP sold its Russian service in June 2022 to a. Chinese consortium and a former CEO of Russian business Re. Trading. The rate for the stores was $135.5 million, plus 1.2. billion zlotys ($ 297.6 million) for stock. LPP taped a. 600 million zloty loss on the sale, it said in March 2024.
McDonald's sold its service in Russia in 2022,. taking a charge of $1.28 billion. TOBACCO
British American Tobacco said in September 2023 it. would sell its Russian and Belarusian organizations for an. concealed sum to a consortium led by its Russian management. team.
Imperial Brands transferred its Russian organization to. investors based in Russia in April 2022. OTHER
EMBRACER
The Swedish video gaming business ceased operations in Russia by. divesting chosen properties from its Saber Interactive subsidiary. for $247 million, it said in March.
FRAPORT
The German airport operator said on Dec. 5 it was close to. finishing the sale of its 25% stake in St. Petersburg airport. Pulkovo to Middle East-based investor Orbit Air travel LLC.
POLYMETAL INTERNATIONAL
The rare-earth elements manufacturer said in March it had completed. the sale of its Russian company to a Siberian gold miner in a. $ 3.69 billion deal, including the business's $2.21 billion net. debt.
VEON
The telecoms operator finished its exit from Russia in. October 2023 with the sale of Vimpelcom to senior members of the. local management team.
XEROX HOLDINGS
Printer maker Xerox Holdings said on in October 2023 it had. offered its operations in Russia to regional management for an. concealed sum.
YANDEX NV
Yandex, a Dutch-registered firm that runs an internet. search engine, finished its split in July, with a Russian. consortium of financiers buying the bulk of its companies in a. deal worth around $5.4 billion. ($ 1 = 0.9148 euros). ($ 1 = 97.5000 roubles). ($ 1 = 4.0323 zlotys)
(source: Reuters)