Latest news with #MEM
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Automotive
- Irish Examiner
Callum Devine and Noel O'Sullivan narrowly lead Donegal International Rally
With a pace that matched the searing heat, just thirty seconds cover the top six in the Wilton Recycling Donegal International Rally following the six stages in Carndonagh during the opening leg of the three-day event. Derry's Callum Devine (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) and his Killarney co-driver Noel O'Sullivan, seeking a third straight victory, hold a 12.4s lead over the Hyundai of New Zealander Hayden Paddon and his Mallow born co-driver David Moynihan with the Welsh/Killarney duo of Meirion Evans/Ger Conway (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) 2.8s further behind in third. Devine and Armstrong were joint quickest on the opening stage at Malin Head with Paddon 1.9s behind and 0.3s ahead of Donegal's David Kelly (VW Polo GTi R5). Armstrong was best on SS2 Mamore Gap and moved into the lead just 0.9s ahead of Devine, who topped the time sheets on SS3 Coolcross, that completed the opening loop. At the Carndonagh service halt, Devine led by 7.1s. "The pace is fast for sure." His closest rival at the end of last year's rally Meirion Evans (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) had a steady run and moved into second place 3.3s ahead of his MEM team mate William Creighton. Having moved into the lead after SS2 Armstrong dropped to ninth place and thirty seconds off the lead when his Ford Fiesta R5 broke a driveshaft on SS3. Paddon was another to lose time when he spun on SS2 - by the end of the loop he was fifth 12.7s off the lead and 1.5s behind Josh Moffett, who reverted to his Hyundai i20 R5 for this latest round of the Irish Tarmac series. Kelly, who had been temporarily shown as rally leader after SS2, but in reality was seventh, climbed a place to occupy sixth, he reckoned that the stages were dustier than expected. Armstrong set a blistering pace on SS4 and SS5 and admitted to being a bit cautious on SS6 where the level of grip varied. Serving notice of intent he trimmed 9.3s off Devine's lead to leave the gap between them at 20.7s with 14 stages remaining over today (Saturday) and tomorrow. Leader Devine put the event in perspective saying: "There's no let-up in it, the pace is as fast as it's ever been, a second here and there, that's what you get when you bring professional drivers here. "It's trying to stay out of bother but you need to be on the pipe, but we are definitely happy. It's another big day tomorrow." Paddon enjoyed his afternoon as he continued to tweak his Hyundai, adding: "We are still struggling a bit, just for the feeling in the car and the roads are very demanding. You have got to have a lot of confidence in these stages with the car and in the conditions, I'm enjoying it but to be at the maximum, you need to be a hundred percent." Third placed Evans had what he described as his best Friday in Donegal with a strong pace without taking any risks. Josh Moffett completed the top six overnight. In what is set to be an absorbing battle, there are eight stages today and six on Sunday. Wilton Recycling Donegal International Rally (Round 4, NAPA Auto Parts Irish Tarmac Rally Championship) Letterkenny 1. C. Devine/N. O'Sullivan (Skoda Fabia RS Rally) 41m. 18.2s 2. H. Paddon/D. Moynihan (Hyundai i20 Rally2)+12.4s 3. M. Evans/G. Conway (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2)+15.2s 4. W. Creighton/L. Regan (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2)+15.4s 5. J. Armstrong/S. Byrne (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+20.7s 6. J. Moffett/A. Hayes (Hyundai i20 R5)+28.9s 7. D. Kelly/A. Kierans (VW Polo R5)+41.3s 8. D. Boyle/P. Walsh (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+44.9s 9. M. Boyle/D. McCafferty (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2)+53.7s 10. K. Eves/C. Melly (Ford Fiesta Rally2)+1m. 26.8s.
Muscat Daily
31-05-2025
- Business
- Muscat Daily
Oman to launch its first renewable energy storage project
Muscat – Oman will soon announce its first renewable energy storage project as part of ongoing efforts to expand clean energy capacity and reduce dependence on conventional power sources. H E Salem bin Nasser al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals, has confirmed that five to six new wind and solar projects are scheduled to begin this year, with particular focus on wind power due to the sultanate's strong potential in this area. These projects are expected to begin generating more than 2,000MW of electricity by the end of 2027. A majority of the wind projects will be located in Al Wusta and Dhofar, where long-term wind measurements have confirmed viable generation capacity. 'Ministry of Energy and Minerals (MEM) is working with Nama Group and the Authority for Public Services Regulation to identify the most suitable solutions for energy storage, whether through conventional or emerging technologies,' H E Aufi said. 'The first storage project will be announced soon.' H E Salem bin Nasser al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals He added that the projects support Oman's energy transition strategy and create opportunities to develop industries powered by clean energy. Oman Vision 2040 targets renewable energy to make up around 30% of the country's total electricity generation by 2030. In line with this, the Manah 1 and Manah 2 solar plants have been launched, with a combined capacity of approximately 1,000MW. MEM is also working in coordination with Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology and Petroleum Development Oman to establish a hydrogen corridor. The initiative aims to set up hydrogen production and supply stations in concession areas, enabling the fuelling of trucks operating between these.
Zawya
19-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oman: Credible energy transition hinges on regulatory agility, MEM official
MUSCAT: The complexity of policy frameworks—not technology or ambition—is the real bottleneck in accelerating renewable energy deployment, said Dr Firas al Abduwani, Director General of Renewable Energy and Hydrogen at the Ministry of Energy and Minerals (MEM), during a high-level panel at the Oman Petroleum & Energy Show (OPES) on Tuesday. Speaking during the 'Innovation in New Energies to Enable the Transition' session hosted by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), Dr Al Abduwani emphasised that policymaking—often criticised as slow or outdated—is far more nuanced than commonly assumed. 'Everyone says, 'Why aren't we doing more renewables?' and the answer is always 'the policy'. But very few understand how deeply layered and technically complex these policies are,' he said. 'It's not just about ambition. It's about designing policies that reflect economic realities, legacy infrastructure, and affordability for consumers and industry.' HIDDEN COSTS, REAL CONSTRAINTS Dr Al Abduwani explained that legacy energy systems—particularly natural gas—are heavily subsidised and socially embedded in Oman's industrial model, which makes sudden shifts toward renewables politically and economically risky. 'Gas in Oman is not treated purely as a commodity—it's socialised,' he said. 'It underpins electricity prices, industrial feedstock, and household consumption. Reforming that structure is like changing the wheels of a moving car.' He estimated that Oman continues to spend over a billion dollars annually in subsidies, underscoring how embedded fossil fuels remain in the nation's economic architecture. A CALL FOR AGILE, ADAPTIVE POLICY To enable a credible energy transition, Dr Al Abduwani called for more agile regulatory systems—where electricity generation, storage, and distribution are interconnected with real-time pricing and dynamic access across the grid. 'A modern energy policy must give generators and consumers the flexibility to interact with the grid dynamically. If you want renewables to compete fairly, you need to unbundle and de-subsidise the system with surgical precision,' he said. He pointed to international examples—such as Germany's multi-decade subsidy transition and market restructuring—as models worth studying, though not necessarily copying outright. 'Oman must chart its own path, but we can learn from how others sequence the shift—Germany, for instance, gave industries 10 years to adapt to new rules.' TRANSITION WITHOUT DISRUPTION Acknowledging that energy transitions risk social backlash if done poorly, Dr Al-Abduwani called for a holistic approach: engaging regulators, consumers, industries, and financiers in synchronised reform. 'You can't expect households and businesses to absorb cost shocks overnight. Transition must be just, data-driven, and inclusive,' he said. 'And that's why policy is hard. It's not just about writing laws—it's about managing trade-offs between security, affordability, and sustainability.' The OPES panel, which attracted government officials, private sector executives, and global energy experts, was part of broader discussions around Oman's clean energy roadmap under Vision 2040, particularly its green hydrogen ambitions and renewable capacity targets. 2022 © All right reserved for Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising (OEPPA) Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Observer
17-05-2025
- Business
- Observer
Credible energy transition hinges on regulatory agility: MEM official
MUSCAT: The complexity of policy frameworks—not technology or ambition—is the real bottleneck in accelerating renewable energy deployment, said Dr Firas al Abduwani, Director General of Renewable Energy and Hydrogen at the Ministry of Energy and Minerals (MEM), during a high-level panel at the Oman Petroleum & Energy Show (OPES) on Tuesday. Speaking during the 'Innovation in New Energies to Enable the Transition' session hosted by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), Dr Al Abduwani emphasised that policymaking—often criticised as slow or outdated—is far more nuanced than commonly assumed. 'Everyone says, 'Why aren't we doing more renewables?' and the answer is always 'the policy'. But very few understand how deeply layered and technically complex these policies are,' he said. 'It's not just about ambition. It's about designing policies that reflect economic realities, legacy infrastructure, and affordability for consumers and industry.' HIDDEN COSTS, REAL CONSTRAINTS Dr Al Abduwani explained that legacy energy systems—particularly natural gas—are heavily subsidised and socially embedded in Oman's industrial model, which makes sudden shifts toward renewables politically and economically risky. 'Gas in Oman is not treated purely as a commodity—it's socialised,' he said. 'It underpins electricity prices, industrial feedstock, and household consumption. Reforming that structure is like changing the wheels of a moving car.' He estimated that Oman continues to spend over a billion dollars annually in subsidies, underscoring how embedded fossil fuels remain in the nation's economic architecture. A CALL FOR AGILE, ADAPTIVE POLICY To enable a credible energy transition, Dr Al Abduwani called for more agile regulatory systems—where electricity generation, storage, and distribution are interconnected with real-time pricing and dynamic access across the grid. 'A modern energy policy must give generators and consumers the flexibility to interact with the grid dynamically. If you want renewables to compete fairly, you need to unbundle and de-subsidise the system with surgical precision,' he said. He pointed to international examples—such as Germany's multi-decade subsidy transition and market restructuring—as models worth studying, though not necessarily copying outright. 'Oman must chart its own path, but we can learn from how others sequence the shift—Germany, for instance, gave industries 10 years to adapt to new rules.' TRANSITION WITHOUT DISRUPTION Acknowledging that energy transitions risk social backlash if done poorly, Dr Al-Abduwani called for a holistic approach: engaging regulators, consumers, industries, and financiers in synchronised reform. 'You can't expect households and businesses to absorb cost shocks overnight. Transition must be just, data-driven, and inclusive,' he said. 'And that's why policy is hard. It's not just about writing laws—it's about managing trade-offs between security, affordability, and sustainability.' The OPES panel, which attracted government officials, private sector executives, and global energy experts, was part of broader discussions around Oman's clean energy roadmap under Vision 2040, particularly its green hydrogen ambitions and renewable capacity targets.
The Star
09-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Laos, Switzerland deepen partnership on dam safety
VIENTIANE: The governments of Laos and Switzerland have reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing dam safety in Laos through the Dam Safety Technical and Institutional Assistance project, when a steering committee endorsed the 2025 work plan. This commitment was underlined at the project's second steering committee meeting, which took place in Vientiane on Thursday (May 8). The department's Director General, Bouathep Malaykham, delivered his remarks at the meeting. The meeting was co-chaired by the Director General of the Department of Energy Industry Safety Management (DESM) under the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM), Bouathep Malaykham, and Head of the Climate Change & Natural Resource Management Programme at the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in the Mekong region, Bjorn Schranz. Implemented by Helvetas with support from the Swiss Government and in close partnership with DESM/MEM, the National University of Laos, the Lao Association on Dams, and EDL-Gen, the Dam Safety Technical and Institutional Assistance project aims to strengthen institutional and technical capacities for dam safety across Laos. Swiss experts contribute through technical assistance, knowledge exchange, and support for regulatory development. The steering committee reviewed the key achievements of 2024 and officially endorsed the Dam Safety Technical and Institutional Assistance 2025 work plan. This marks a continued commitment to bolstering dam safety standards, institutional effectiveness, and technical resilience in line with national and international best practices. Bouathep acknowledged the crucial role that dam safety technical and institutional assistance plays in building both technical and institutional capabilities within the Ministry of Energy and Mines and partner institutions. He expressed sincere appreciation for Switzerland's ongoing support and acknowledged the tangible progress achieved through this strategic cooperation. Schranz reaffirmed Switzerland's long-standing partnership with Laos, saying that the Dam Safety Technical and Institutional Assistance project reflects a shared dedication to sustainable infrastructure, improved risk governance, and community safety. He praised the value of Swiss expertise while emphasising the importance of Lao ownership to ensure long-term sustainability. A key highlight of the meeting was the recognition of the launch of Laos' first dam engineering course on Feb 13 this year. Developed in partnership with the National University of Laos and Switzerland's École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), this milestone reflects the growing local capacity and shared investment in home-grown knowledge and resilience. The steering committee adopted several recommendations to enhance project implementation, including strengthening cross-sectoral coordination, expanding capacity-building efforts to provincial and sectoral agencies, and promoting data transparency and information-sharing mechanisms. The meeting also noted the upcoming Mid-Term Review by an independent third party, which will provide valuable insights to refine the project's strategic direction and ensure alignment with Laos' development priorities. At the close of the meeting, Bouathep underscored the importance of continued collaboration, legislative reform, and institutional strengthening to safeguard the communities and ecosystems that depend on hydropower. At the same time, Schranz reiterated Switzerland's commitment to joint action, stressing that shared responsibility and co-creation are essential to maximising the project's impact. The meeting concluded with a strong sense of shared purpose and dedication to building a safer, more resilient dam safety framework in Laos, anchored in mutual respect, technical excellence, and a long-term development vision. The Dam Safety Technical and Institutional Assistance project aims to improve dam safety across public institutions and academic sectors in Laos. Financed by the SDC and implemented by Helvetas, the project contributes to the safety and well-being of approximately 1.5 million people by mitigating risks linked to dam failure or poor operational management. - Vientiane Times/ANN
