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Amazon withdraws its drone unit from the trade group and raises safety concerns
Prime Air, Amazon.com's drone division, has withdrawn from the Commercial Drone Alliance. The group was opposed to a proposed regulatory change that would have allowed drones to avoid collisions with crewed aircraft by using 'detect and avoid' systems. The Amazon unit stated that the alliance's "positions on the most consequential safety issues facing the commercial drone sector are incompatible with Prime Air’s core safety principles." Prime Air stated in a letter sent late Wednesday that its detect-and avoid system had performed "successful?maneuvers for collision avoidance on two potential midair collisions that could have resulted in catastrophic safety consequences including the loss or life." Last year, the Federal Aviation Administration proposed that drones be equipped with systems to detect and avoid aircraft who are not broadcasting their positions. This could be due to equipment failure. The Commercial Drone Alliance was against the requirement. The requirement was included in proposed federal rules that aimed to accelerate the deployment of drones outside of their operators' line of vision. The Washington-based group said that the FAA should instead require aircraft below 500 feet (152 meters), to be able?to broadcast their?position using satellite-based technologies, which allow them to automatically broadcast their exact location, speed, and other data or other electronic devices. The proposed rules are not finalized. Commercial Drone Alliance members include Skydio's Wing Aviation and Alphabet’s Wing Aviation. The group expressed regret on Thursday at Prime Air's departure, but noted that its members had conducted millions of safe drone missions, "demonstrating that performance-based frameworks, rather than prescriptive technology requirements, (enable) safe operations, while fostering innovation and competition." Prime Air stated in its letter that it is the highest priority for Prime Air to ensure the safe integration and use of drones within the national airspace. In its letter, it stated that "this requires rigorous capability-based standards - including requirements mandating drone technologies capable to detect non-cooperative crewed airplanes." Non-cooperative crewed aircraft refers to aircraft or helicopters which do not communicate or transmit position or identification signals. Prime Air said one of the two ?potential mid-air collisions it cited involved a helicopter that was not broadcasting a safety system known ?as the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast as required, and without Amazon's detect-and-avoid system "would have led to a catastrophic outcome." The company stated that the risk of a drone colliding with an aircraft crewed by humans is not hypothetical. The?crash that killed 67 people near Washington, DC last year highlighted the problem of congested airspace in some parts of the United States. However, the incident was not caused by a drone. In January 2025, a mid-air collision between a U.S. Army chopper and an American Airlines passenger plane killed 67 people. The incident prompted recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board for reforms.
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Analysts say that the US waiver on shipping and the release of stockpiles won't ease the pain at pumps.
Analysts said that a potential waiver of U.S. shipping regulations and the release of record oil stocks by world governments could slow down the pain consumers have been experiencing at the gas pumps in the U.S. since the start of the Middle East conflict, but not eliminate it. The U.S. is considering removing the Jones Act, which limits shipments to U.S. ships only. This comes after the White House announced on Thursday that the U.S. had agreed to provide 172 million barrels towards the International Energy Agency proposal to release 400 million barrels from member reserves. The measures were 'designed to curb the rise in oil and fuel costs caused by Iran's nearly complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz. This poses a major threat to both the global economy as well as the Republican Party of U.S. president Donald Trump in the midterm elections of November. Analysts said that the measures are insignificant compared to the "supply disruptions" affecting the oil markets. Joe Brusuelas is the chief economist of RSM, a U.S. consultancy. He said that "the reserves release" will not stop oil price increases, but rather slow them down. It also offers a temporary relief from the burning pain caused by rising?gasoline costs. Over 20 million barrels of oil per day flow through the Strait of Hormuz. This is about 20% of global consumption. The IEA has yet to announce the exact timeframe for its proposed release. However, it would be 6.6 million barrels a day if done over 60 days. The average U.S. retail gasoline price hit $3.60 per gallon for the first since May 2024 on Thursday, and diesel prices reached $4.89, the highest level since December 2022. The JONES Act Waiver Will Have A Limited Impact On U.S. Fuel Alex Hodes is the director of StoneX's market strategy and believes that the potential waiver under U.S. law Jones Act could alleviate fuel shortages in certain regions. Jones Act is considered to be a factor in the rise in fuel prices for parts of the United States that do not have pipelines connecting them to the refining hub on the Gulf Coast. This is because there are very few vessels in service that meet the Jones Act's requirements. California and other markets, such as Puerto Rico, are left reliant upon imports. Hodes stated that "More supplies in the U.S. Gulf Coast can now fill any shortages we may see in New York Harbor, which is important during times of high demand or low supply." GasBuddy analyst, Patrick?De haan, said that the waiver's effectiveness is limited to reducing fuel prices in some U.S. markets, not reversing the increases. Fuel prices will follow the?oil price upward. He said: "The oil markets are trying to figure out where they can find the 20,000,000 barrels per day of Middle East oil that's being disrupted. The Jones Act waiver and the releases don't add up much to that." (Reporting and editing by Matthew Lewis in New York, with Shariq Khan reporting from New York)
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EIA: Data centers' surge in power consumption could boost fossil fuel production
The?U.S. Energy Information Administration?said in an?analysis?on Thursday that the U.S. fossil-fuel production could increase over the next two years, as the surge of electricity consumption from data centers tightens the power supply. Energy Information Administration (EIA)?released an?analysis? on Thursday. The EIA reported that the U.S. demand for electricity has grown at an annual pace of 1.7%, after more than a decade with a flat growth. This is mainly due to the expansion of large-scale computer facilities. The agency's February Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) predicts that the nation's electricity load will grow by 1.9% - in 2026, and 2.5% - in 2027. The fastest growth is projected for the Texas -ERCOT grid system, and PJM - a grid operator serving parts of the mid-Atlantic - and Midwest. The EIA’s high-demand scenario assumes an expansion of data centres at a faster pace, but the generation capacity remains unchanged from STEO’s February baseline. The model anticipates a greater reliance on gas to meet additional demand. It projects a 7.3% increase in the natural gas-fired production between 2025-2027, compared to a 1.7% increase under the baseline forecast. The coal generation would still decline, but at a slower rate, under the case of high demand. The EIA predicts that wholesale power prices will also rise. ERCOT 2027 'prices' could be $37/MWh more than their February projections. This is a 79% increase, as the Texas grid has limited capacity to draw power from other regions during peak demand. The report stated that other regions may face modest increases between $1 and $3/MWh. Reporting by Anmol Chaubey, Bengaluru. Editing by Will Dunham
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US Department of Energy invests $1.9 billion in power grid upgrades
The U.S. Department?of Energy will invest $1.9 billion in order to 'accelerate upgrades' of the?power grids?in?the?country, said it on Thursday. The U.S. is expected to see a sharp increase in power consumption this year and next. This will be due to the rapid growth of AI and cryptocurrency data centers, as well as increased electrification for heating and transportation. This demand, however, has led to higher electricity prices for a large part of the country. The DOE said that the funds would be used for preparing for an increase in demand as well as to lower the electricity costs of American homes and businesses. The projects selected for funding must'showcase how replacing or reconductoring existing?power?lines with higher capacity conductors combined with transmission technology can strengthen the?nation?s electric grid. Utilities are adding power lines and other components?to the grid as data centers 'lift U.S. energy consumption out of two decades flat demand. (Reporting and editing by Pranav mathur in Bengaluru.
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General USAF says Boeing must fix its tanker problems before US orders any more
U.S. Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. John Lamontagne said during a hearing on March 4, that Boeing must fix its KC-46 tanker before the United States orders any more. The 'general' did not specify what 'problems? could delay a follow-on contract to the 183 tanker contract. Lamontagne said to a Senate Armed Services Committee subcommittee that "we are working out a couple of issues" with the contractor. We won't get a contract for 75 more KC-46s unless we fix some of these deficiencies. He said that a decision on the contract is unlikely to be made for two years. He added that he was "confident" that a plan would be in place next year to solve the problems. Boeing and the Air Force spent many years working to resolve problems with the KC-46 refueling boom, and the visual system used by the boom operator to monitor and move the boom during refueling. The KC-46 tanker deliveries were temporarily stopped last year after cracks in a few?new tanks were discovered. The Air Force purchased a 'tanker,' based on Boeing’s 767 commercial aircraft, to replace its fleet of aging KC-135 tanks, built in the 1950s or early 1960s. More than 100 tankers have already been delivered by the company. The Air Force announced in November that it would be delivering the next 15 tankers under the current contract. Flight records indicate that several KC-46s?supported US air strikes against Iran. Boeing's spokesperson declined to comment on Thursday and pointed to CEO Kelly Ortberg’s comments on the "program" during a call on Jan. 27, discussing fourth quarter earnings. Ortberg stated that it takes a lot more resources to deliver the goods. "We plan to deliver 19 tankers in 2020. We delivered 14 in 2025. We made the conscious decision to maintain resources at a high level to ensure that these deliveries are on time. The planemaker had to take a $565m charge on its fourth quarter earnings. The company has lost over $7 billion on the fixed-costs program. He said, "This existing contract has clearly been a bad contract for the past decade." Boeing will adjust its prices when it bids for the next contract to make sure "we can earn money" from the program, said he. Reporting by Dan Catchpole, Seattle; editing by Chizu Nomiyama.
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Gassco chief says that Norway's gas system will see less maintenance in this year.
The maintenance program for Norway's gas infrastructure is smaller than it was in 2025. Gassco CEO Frode Leversund said that the planned maintenance for this year is smaller than it was last year. "So you can think to yourself, there's a possibility of producing a little bit more," he added. He added that the biggest volume change year-to-year is based upon the amount of work planned along the entire value chain, from the production on fields to downstream processing plants. Norway will be Europe's biggest gas supplier after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, 2022. It will meet over 30% of demand, but volumes may fluctuate depending on demand, maintenance, and other outages. Gassco's pipeline network of 8,800 km (5,468 miles) will deliver 114.9 billion cubic meters (bcm), down from 117.6 bcm exported in 2024. "Production depends on our ability to maintain the necessary uptime, i.e. that the fields perform as expected. It also depends on whether the market wants the gas, Leversund added. He added that Norwegian gas exports for January and February had already exceeded the previous year's levels. Europe will rely on Norwegian deliveries in the coming months to replenish its gas stockpiles, which are at a 5-year low in a market that is tightened due to the Middle East conflict. Due to the closure of the 'Strait of Hormuz, around 20% of the global liquefied 'natural gas supply is?trapped. The benchmark European gas prices have risen by around 60% since the beginning of the conflict, on 28 February. (Reporting and editing by Terje Solsvik, Nora Buli)
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Panama will award new port and pipeline projects before June 2027
Rafael Pirro said that the 'Panama Canal Authority' expects to award contracts by June 2027 for two new gas pipelines and ports. The two port terminals - one in the Atlantic and the other in the Pacific - are expected to be operational around 2030. They represent an investment of $2.6 billion. Gas pipeline with an investment between $4 and $8 billion is expected to be in operation around 2031. It will have a capacity to transfer up to 397,500 cubic metres of gas per day. Pirro stated that the Canal Authority intends to start a 'dialogue with interested party? in June and begin accepting proposals?in March 2027. The Panama Canal is the second-busiest interoceanic route in the world. (Reporting and editing by Daina Beth Solon)
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US Senate fails in its attempt to resolve the standoff on funding Homeland Security and airport screening
Senate Democrats' bid to fund the Transportation Security Administration failed?on Friday as Republicans demanded that lawmakers approve funding for?the entire?Homeland Security Department. Later on Thursday, the Senate will vote on a Republican plan to fund Homeland Security. This proposal is expected to fail just like previous attempts after Republican Senator Bernie Moreno reacted against a Democratic proposal that would fund TSA separately. The absence of TSA officers at airports has already caused travel disruptions in some major?airports during the past week. This alarms airlines due to the busy travel season for spring break. Both sides blame each other for the standoff. Democrats said Republicans were holding hostages while Republicans claimed Democrats were making a show and not funding DHS. The funding for the Department of Homeland Security expired on February 13, after Congress failed in its efforts to reach an agreement on immigration enforcement reforms, as demanded by Democrats. TSA reported that more than 300 of the 50,000 officers working in U.S. airports have quit since the shutdown started. TSA workers will miss their first full pay on Friday. The spring travel season is expected to be a record one for carriers, with 171 millions passengers flying, an increase of 4% compared to the same two-month period in 2013. Philadelphia Airport announced on Thursday that it would be closing a terminal checkpoint due to TSA staffing issues. Some airports, like Houston Hobby Airport and New Orleans, reported that security lines were longer than two hours earlier this week as TSA absences increased. Reporting by David Shepardson, Editing by Chris Reese and Kirovan
Executive director: Los Angeles' busiest seaport is largely protected from disruptions caused by the Iran War, according to its executive director.
Gene Seroka, the executive director of the Los Angeles container port, said that it was largely insulated from disruptions in supply chains caused by U.S. and Israeli attacks against Iran. These attacks have escalated into a conflict within the region.
The Iran War has caused container shipping to be snarled in the Middle East. It has increased costs, left ships and their cargoes stranded, and posed fuel shortages.
Seroka stated that "we, right now, do not see any congestion occurring" on the lucrative Transpacific Ocean Trade that is the lifeblood of Port Los Angeles.
China and Asia are important trading partners for Port Los Angeles. Seroka stated that the majority of container ships services at the Port?of Los Angeles are direct routes, and not connected to the Middle East trade.
He said that manufacturing flows to the United States, Europe, and Latin America continue to move.
Data released on Thursday revealed a 5% increase in imports in February, compared to the same month last year, as retailers and manufacturers imported cargo in advance of the Lunar New Year, when many Asian factories close down for the holiday.
Seroka stated that the total volume in February was the second highest ever recorded by a port. The Southern California trade portal?also handled nearly 7% more exports compared to the previous year.
According to port data, the Port of Los Angeles handled 824,323 TEUs in total during February. This included?433,812 imports, 116,633 exports, and 273,878 empty TEUs. A TEU is the standard volume measurement for ocean cargo. The standard shipping container measures 40 feet.
The port, which is a key economic engine for the region, is entering its traditional slow season. Seroka anticipates that the first-quarter volume of the port will be down by mid-single digit percentages from the same period last year when importers rushed in goods in order to beat the new tariffs coming into effect.
He said that the U.S. importers have not cancelled orders for seasonal clothing because of uncertainty over the Iran War or other economic reasons.
Seroka stated, "That is a very positive sign."
(source: Reuters)