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US public power sector evaluates data center customer risks and rewards
Data centers are a major source of electricity for U.S. power utilities. Some requests exceed the energy consumption by their entire customer base, according to CEOs and investors from the non-profit sector. The data center power demands of Big Tech have created an opportunity for the long-stagnant US power industry to grow revenue and investment. But the record-breaking build-outs of energy-intensive servers warehouses come with new risks, according to market participants at the Large Public Power Council Financial Conference held in New York. Dan Sullivan, CEO of the Grand River Dam Authority in Oklahoma, said that "we're experiencing exponential growth." He said that there were about 2,000 Megawatts in demand, mainly from data centers. They wanted to connect to the roughly 2,000 Megawatt system of his utility. "They will scale as fast as they are allowed to or as quickly as their capabilities allow them." Kirk Hudson, the general manager of Chelan PUD in Washington, said that there is a demand for about 1,400 Megawatts, mostly from data centers, to be connected to their system. The utility averages around 200 Megawatts. Hudson, the Chelan PUD's spokesperson, said that there is significant hydropower surplus, but they are figuring out how to support data centres while maintaining low rates, assuring system reliability and preserving local authority. The data center market is a fast-moving one, and public power utilities that have contracts for 40 years with their municipal customers face a unique challenge in adapting. Data centers are becoming more and more prevalent. Some of them consume as much electricity as an average-sized U.S. town. This has raised concerns over power shortages or excessive construction. Public utilities can issue municipal bonds that are tax-exempt to finance infrastructure. They also explore how to structure data center agreements to avoid stranded cost - the risk associated with building capacity to serve customers who then leave. John Murphy, Director at PFM Financial Advisors, said that the demand from hyperscalers is unlike anything seen before in public power or utility markets. How these projects are funded will be the key to managing risks. OLD RULES, NEW ISSUES In general, public power groups cannot enter into long-term power contracts for data centers, which are commonly used in the power sector that is profit-driven, without compromising the tax status of the entire portfolio. This has led to public utilities issuing short-term contracts that can complicate infrastructure planning in the long term, according to industry executives. They are also seeking clarification from the U.S. Treasury on rules that govern private use contracts. Javier Fernandez is the CEO of Omaha Public Power District. He said, "These rules need to be updated." In order to protect my residential customers from price shock, I must have a contract that is long-term with these data centres. Jason Pollack is the executive director for government and institutional banks at Wells Fargo. He said that utilities also face uncertainty about costs and waiting times of equipment needed to build infrastructure. Reporting by Laila K. Kearney, New York. Editing by Ni. Williams
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Colombian state oil company transports first crude imported via pipeline
Cenit Colombia, a subsidiary of Ecopetrol, has completed the first import of light crude oil through one of their pipelines. The company is repurposing infrastructure to offer new services. Cenit CEO Alexander Cadena said on Wednesday that the first shipment of 220,000 barges through a 16 inch pipeline, which was previously used for crude oil export, is on its way to Barrancabermeja, during a trip to Covenas maritime terminal, on Colombia's north Caribbean coast. Cadena stated that the shipment would serve as a test to help determine future volumes. He added, "We're open to ways we can use the existing infrastructure more efficiently." "Reusing existing infrastructure is the fastest and most efficient way to serve new customers and provide new services." Up until now, Colombia transported imported crude oil to its refineries using tanker trucks. Ecopetrol subsidiary companies have a 9 million barrel storage capacity at Covenas. This facility serves the state producer as well as private sector clients like BP, Frontera Energy Frontera Energy, Trafigura, and Hocol. Cadena stated that Cenit also studies the possibility of utilizing part of its network of 9,000 kilometers of oil and multipurpose pipes to transport other goods. He said, "We monitor the situation constantly. This includes the energy issue for the transition." "For instance, we are evaluating if our pipelines can transport hydrogen in future." Cano Limon - Covenas, a 773-kilometer oil pipeline capable of transporting up to 210,000 barrels per day of crude oil, has been the subject of numerous attacks that the military attributes both to dissidents and guerrillas who have broken away from a 2016 peace agreement. Cadena reported that the pipeline suffered 26 explosions between January and August. According to data from Colombia's Defense Ministry, there will be 32 pipeline explosions in the country by 2024. Reporting by Nelson Bocanegra from Covenas in Colombia; writing by Sarah Morland and editing by Matthew Lewis
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Three workers killed in an accident have caused the Simandou iron-ore project to be halted.
Winning Consortium Simandou, the project's co-developer, announced on Thursday that three foreign workers had died in an accident at a construction site in Guinea. The company said it has suspended its operations and conducted a safety review. The incident occurred at a WCS construction site in Kerouane Province, according to the Chinese-controlled firm. WCS and Rio Tinto are developing Simandou under the close supervision of the government, with monthly progress reports filed by both companies, according to a source. The mine hopes to reach a deadline of November for the first exports. The source said that missed production deadlines would result in financial penalties as the authorities rush to commission the project. The military-led Government did not respond immediately to a comment request. In March, it was reported that thirteen local workers have been killed in construction of the port in rural Guinea and the 670 km railway leading to mines since November 2023. Rio Tinto announced a second worker death in August. Simandou, a Chinese-led venture, is largely controlled by Chinese firms, including Baosteel, while 25% of production is held by Rio Tinto – the world’s largest iron ore mining company. WCS has said that it will support the families of victims and only resume operations when safety conditions have been fully ensured. (Reporting and editing by Clara Denina, Jan Harvey, and Maxwell Akalaare Adombila)
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Polish pipeline operator signs deal to connect fuel links with NATO system
The Polish Ministry of Defence announced on Thursday that Polish pipeline operator PERN would sign a preliminary agreement on Friday with an entity within the Ministry to extend Poland's fuel pipes to connect them to the NATO system. NATO has fuel pipelines that can supply troops in case of war. Poland has been trying to connect with NATO Central Europe Pipeline System for years. This system, which dates back to the Cold War, transports jet-fuel, gasoline, diesel, and naphtha through Belgium, France Germany, Luxemburg, and the Netherlands. The pipeline ends a few hundred kilometres away from the Polish border. The project, according to the ministry, will also include the construction of fuel-storage facilities for NATO's armed services. The ministry stated that "implementing this project not only increases Poland's ability to respond to crises, but will also strengthen its position in the region as a strategic NATO member." (Reporting by Marek Strzelecki; Editing by Susan Fenton)
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Sources say that Colonial Pipeline is experiencing a fuel supply interruption on its main lines.
Three market sources said on Thursday that the Colonial Pipeline, which is the largest fuel conduit in America, has an outage across all its main delivery lines. The outage started around 5 a.m. One of the sources on the market said that "computer problems" were to blame for Thursday's outage. Source: The source did not know the exact nature of these issues. Sources requested anonymity in order to discuss confidential data. Colonial Pipeline didn't immediately respond to our request for comment. According to its website, the Colonial Pipeline transports over 2.5 million barrels of fuel per day across its 5,500-mile network that stretches from the U.S. Gulf Coast towards major consumption centres along the U.S. East Coast. The company claims that its pipelines transport about 45% all the fuel consumed along the East Coast. (Reporting and editing by Chizu Nomiyama in New York, Shariq Khan from New York)
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Recent deadly attacks in Britain
British police killed a man on Thursday who had driven a car at pedestrians in Manchester, northwest England and then stabbed a guard outside a synagogue on Yom Kippur. This was the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Here are some recent deadly attacks that have occurred in Britain: The date for October 2, 2025 In the incident that occurred on Thursday, at least three people were seriously injured and two others killed. The police said that the attacker was killed by a single shot. A police officer told the people at the scene to get away because he believed that the attacker was carrying a bomb. Later, the counter-terrorism police said that they classified the attack as an act of terrorism and that the police were increasing patrols throughout the country. JULY 19, 2020 Axel Rudakubana (18) attacked children in a dance class with a Taylor Swift theme in Southport in northwest England. He killed three girls, aged 6, 7 and 9, and injured ten more. Far-right groups then rioted in the aftermath and attacked a mosque, based on false allegations about the background of the suspect. The police did not label the attack as terrorist, but prosecutors described it as "mass killing as an end unto itself". FEBRUARY 2, 2019 Sudesh amman was shot by police after he stabbed 2 people in a busy south London street while wearing a fake vest. Amman, who at the time was 20 and had just been released from prison on terrorism charges, was actively under surveillance. During the police response, broken glass injured a third person. JUNE 19, 2017 One person was killed and many others were injured when a British man drove his van into a group of Muslim worshippers in front of a London Mosque. At his trial, the man convicted of murder said he tried to kill as many people as he could. JUNE 3, 2017 Three attackers drove a van at pedestrians near London Bridge and then stabbed them in bars nearby, killing 8 people and injuring 48 others before the police killed all three. Islamic State claimed responsibility. May 22, 2017 The suicide bomber in Manchester killed 22 children, adults and injured 59 others as the crowds started to leave Ariana Grande's concert. The police said that they believed Salman Abedi (a 22-year old Briton of Libyan descent) had constructed the bomb in the days leading up to the attack. 22 MARCH 2017 A policeman was stabbed by an attacker near the British Parliament in London, after a car plowed into pedestrians nearby Westminster Bridge. The police described the attack as a "marauding terror attack" in which six people were killed, including the attacker and the officer he stabbed. At least 20 others were also injured. JUNE 16, 2016. A man armed with a sawn off rifle and a knife repeatedly stabbed Jo Cox in her constituency, north of England, during a street attack that shocked Britain just a week prior to the European Union referendum. May 22, 2013 Two attackers knocked a British soldier down as he crossed the street in broad daylight, in southeast London. They then killed him with a meat-cleaver and other knives. One of the attackers, who was standing in the street holding blood-soaked hands and trying to justify his attack, was filmed. JULY 7, 2005 Four young British Muslims detonated homemade explosives hidden in backpacks during rush hour on three underground trains, a bus and in a morning train. This was the first suicide attack by islamist militants to occur in Western Europe. They were killed by themselves, 52 others and injured around 700 other people. (Reporting and editing by Andrew MacAskill and Sam Tabahriti)
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Data shows that gas demand at Venture Global Calcasieu has been reduced for the second day in a row.
Data from financial firm LSEG revealed that the gas flowing into Venture Global's Calcasieu Pass Plant, located in Louisiana, was just under 750 million cubic foot (mcf) Thursday. This is the second consecutive day when the demand for the facility fell well below its usual 1.4 bcf (billion cubic feet). The plant's demand on Wednesday was 700 mcf. Data showed that the decline in demand for U.S. feedgas on Thursday was down from 16.2 bcf Tuesday and 15.9 bcf Wednesday. Venture Global didn't immediately respond to a comment request. After Russia's invasion in Ukraine, the U.S. became the largest LNG exporter in the world and was a major supplier of super-chilled fuels to Europe. Calcasieu Pass cargoes are sold to the largest LNG companies in the world, including Shell, Repsol and Edison. The demand for feedgas at Cheniere’s Sabine Pass facility in Texas also decreased slightly. Cheniere's Corpus Christi plant and Venture Global Plaquemines in Louisiana both saw small increases. Reporting by Curtis Williams, Houston; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle
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India and China will resume direct flights following a five-year ban
India and China are resuming direct flights this month between certain cities, ending a more than five-year suspension. The move signals a gradual easing of tensions bilaterally, the Indian foreign ministry announced on Thursday. Since 2020, there haven't been any direct flights between China & India. This is despite China being India's largest bilateral trading partner. The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited China for the first time since 2007 to attend the a Meeting The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Regional Security Block Modi and Chinese president Xi Jinping discussed ways to improve trade ties in the face of global tariff uncertainty. Modi stressed India's commitment towards improving relations and expressed concern about the growing trade deficit between India and China, which is nearly $99.2 Billion. He stressed the importance of maintaining stability and peace along their disputed boundary, where a clash that occurred in 2020 led to a five-year standoff. (Reporting from Mrinmay dey and Yazhini M.V. in Bengaluru, Editing by Susan Fenton & Kevin Liffey).
UK Jews already facing rising antisemitism
The attack on the synagogue on Thursday in northern England sent a shiver down the spine of a Jewish community that is already experiencing a rise in antisemitic incidents. It prompted warnings to avoid gatherings in communal areas and keep doors closed. This was the latest attack on British Jews in response to Israel's military offensive against Gaza.
Vicky, a woman who refused to give her name, said near the scene of the attack at the Manchester synagogue: "I am Jewish and I'm absolutely terrified." "I don't feel secure."
ANTISEMITIC INCIDENTS ON THE RISE IN BRITAIN
The number of antisemitic incidents reported in Britain last year was second highest ever. The Jewish charity that advises communities about security stated that the Hamas attacks and wars had contributed to thousands of incidents including violent attacks and threats.
The attack took place in Manchester, in an area with a large Jewish population. A journalist on the scene said that two cars with Palestinian flags were seen driving past and that some men in balaclavas appeared hours after the attack. They could be heard saying "Jews" as they drove by.
Simon Cassel, who was a Jewish student living near the synagogue and heard about the attack, said: "I don't understand how you can come to try and antagonize people, victims of it."
The Community Security Trust, the charity that coordinates safety measures for Jewish institutions, has urged Jews to stay away from communal buildings or synagogues and keep their doors shut on Thursday. In the 2021 census, nearly 290 000 people were identified as Jewish.
The British police announced that they will be increasing patrols in and around synagogues.
"I'm clear: UK police is mobilizing." Laurence Taylor is the head of British counter-terrorism police.
"Police forces are increasing patrols throughout the country at synagogues, Jewish sites and other places to provide reassurance for all affected communities."
Increased funding to protect the Jewish Community
The incident took place less than one week before the anniversary of Hamas' attack on Israel, which will take place two years from now, on Oct. 7, 2023. The Israeli Embassy in London described the incident as "abhorrent" and "deeply distressing".
According to CST data, in Britain, antisemitic incidents were more than twice as many in 2024 compared to the same time period two years earlier.
201 incidents (or about 6%) of the 3,528 incidents reported involved assaults or other physical attacks. CST stated that about half of these incidents involved inciting speech regarding the Israel-Hamas Conflict, along with explicit expressions of antisemitic language, motivation or targetting. In February of last year, the government pledged 70 million pounds (94 million dollars) for a fund to provide security measures like security guards and CCTV systems.
Last month, feces were reported to have been smeared on synagogues in Golders Green (a district of north London that has a large Jewish community).
Dina, 46 years old, was at a Golders Green synagogue when the attack occurred. She said that after the incident, she would tell both her sons not to wear their Jewish caps, or kippots, in public areas like the London Underground and buses.
She said, "I will tell them to remove any signs that are indicating."
(source: Reuters)