Latest news with #WTP
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Business Standard
7 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Premium insurance demand spikes as travel disruptions rise globally
With flight cancellations, delays and other disruptions on the rise, leisure travellers are being increasingly discerning over the level and type of insurance they buy and businesses are turning to specialist advisory services to limit risk. Since 2019, travel disruptions around the world have risen due to everything from COVID-19, extreme weather, volcanic eruptions, military conflict, jet safety issues, computer glitches and fires which have closed airports, grounded planes and stranded millions of passengers. In the U.S., ongoing air traffic controller shortages and aging technology have caused significant disruption. In May, equipment outages, runway construction and staffing shortages caused flight cancellations, diversions and delays at Newark Liberty, one of the main airports serving New York City. On Friday, Israel attacked Iran, forcing carriers to cancel or divert thousands of flights to avoid conflict in the Middle East. Even with insurance, many policies specify a multitude of exemptions in the fine print. As a result, more travellers are taking out higher-end insurance policies, often at higher premiums, to better protect themselves, according to interviews with nine travel executives, insurance companies and analysts. "We're in times that are quite unstable so people are cancelling more frequently than previously," said Duncan Greenfield-Turk, CEO of Global Travel Moments, a luxury travel agency based in London. European tourists have increased their purchases of travel insurance for this summer by 3% compared with last year, according to German insurer Allianz Partners. Squaremouth, the largest travel insurance marketplace in the U.S., has seen a 34% year-over-year increase globally in purchases of "Cancel For Any Reason" protection. British and U.S. holidaymakers in particular are more willing to pay a higher premium to protect their trip, said Anna Kofoed, the CEO of Travel for Allianz Partners. About 32% more travellers globally requested an insurance quote from January to April compared to the same period in 2024, according to data from online travel insurance broker InsureMyTrip. Businesses Seek Travel advice There has also been a rise in demand for bespoke travel advice as U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a number of immigration-related restrictions including tighter visa vetting procedures and travel bans. World Travel Protection (WTP), a global firm that advises businesses on travel risk, said it has seen a rise in U.S. residents being detained at U.S. borders and told their documents were no longer valid as visa rules were changing. WTP has worked with U.S. government representatives to help those individuals return home, according to Frank Harrison, the company's regional security director for the Americas. "We're seeing a very strong uptick in organizations coming to us wanting to know how to navigate the landscape of the U.S. within the wider business," Harrison said. CIBT, which provides non-legal visa and immigration guidance, has seen a 50% rise in inquiries since November from companies seeking to better prepare their employees for travel to the U.S., according to CEO Steven Diehl. High-end insurance products emerge One of the newest areas of business is in parametric insurance, which pays compensation automatically after a "trigger" event such as a flight delay without the need to file a claim. Parametric insurance took off in some countries during the COVID-19 pandemic and in recent months more insurers around the world have begun to offer it. When testing the market last year, Spanish insurer Mapfre's Mawdy unit in Ireland said about 11% more customers opted for higher-tier travel insurance packages when instant compensation was included. Travel destinations have also spotted an opportunity in this burgeoning market. Marriott Bonvoy's villa rentals and waterparks offer parametric weather insurance at the point of booking, automatically paying out on rainy days. Sensible Weather, one of the providers of such coverage, reported its weather guarantees were added to 30% of theme park bookings and 10â€'15% of higher-value accommodation bookings when they were offered in 2024. In March, Squaremouth launched a new insurance product with cruise-specific benefits such as coverage for being confined on a cruise ship or missing the port of call. "Everyone is trying to make it easier for people to understand that each trip (...) is going to have a different set of concerns whether it's hurricanes or blizzards or what's going on with air traffic controllers," Suzanne Morrow, CEO of online insurance broker InsureMyTrip told Reuters.
Daily Express
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Seek explanation, student group told
Published on: Tuesday, June 10, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jun 10, 2025 By: Crystal E Hermenegildus Text Size: Mustapha, also Sepanggar MP, said the Telibong II Water Treatment Plant (WTP) has been completed. - Bernama pic Kota Kinabalu: Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Datuk Mustapha Sakmud, advised a student group which urged Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) to sue the State Water Department (JANS) to seek an explanation from the department. He said while it is the right of any party to file a lawsuit, such action must follow proper legal procedures. Advertisement 'The water supply issues at UMS were not deliberate. There are various technical factors that need to be considered,' he said during the 2024 Madani SPM Excellent Student Awards Ceremony for the Sepanggar parliamentary area, here, Monday. He was responding to the call from student group Suara Mahasiswa for legal action over the water supply disruptions at the UMS campus. Mustapha, also Sepanggar MP, said the Telibong II Water Treatment Plant (WTP) has been completed. 'However, pipe installation is still underway, causing delays. The real issue now lies with the unfinished Pan Borneo Highway. Because of that, the pipe installation couldn't be completed as scheduled. 'Efforts are being made to resolve the matter, but technical issues have caused setbacks. If students are still unsatisfied after receiving an explanation, they have the option to pursue legal action,' he said. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
New Straits Times
29-05-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Pelubang water plant upgrading ahead of schedule
ALOR STAR: Upgrading work at the Pelubang Water Treatment Plant (WTP) may be completed ahead of schedule, said contractor Bina Darul Aman Bhd (BDB). Its group executive director, Raja Shahreen Raja Othman, said the RM431 million project was 62.5 per cent complete, slightly ahead of the targeted 62.3 per cent, and might be completed ahead of the extension period that was granted. "Once operational, the facility is expected to improve access to treated water for residents in Kubang Pasu and Kota Setar. "If we factor this into days, it should be an estimated 43 days (ahead of schedule)," he said during a press conference in conjunction with the company's 30th annual grand meeting today. Raja Shahreen stated that timely delivery remained a priority but noted that the project faced several non-construction challenges. "In terms of timing, like it or not, this is something we have to meet, but for us to continue progressing smoothly, we need cooperation from other stakeholders as well. "This isn't just about digging the ground. There are issues involving land acquisition, permits and existing infrastructure such as roads and private properties," he said. Raja Shahreen said BDB was confident of delivering the project on time. "We are committed. We have the financial strength and technical capabilities, but we must also take these external factors into account," he added. The Pelubang WTP upgrading project aims to almost double the plant's capacity, from the current 247 million litres daily to 457 million litres once completed. Last year, the media reported that state Public Works, Natural Resources, Water Supply, Water Resources and Environment Committee chairman Mohamad Yusuf @ Munir Zakaria said the Pelubang WTP had been granted an Extension of Time (EOT) until Dec 21, 2025, due to earlier technical issues. On whether BDB was open to rescuing other delayed water treatment plant projects in Kedah, Raja Shahreen said the company was ready to step in if needed. "We are prepared to assist with stalled projects. Financially, we are stable, and we possess the technical expertise to bring such projects back on track," he said. Meanwhile, Raja Shahreen said BDB recorded a pre-tax profit of RM4.51 million on revenue of RM294.7 million for 2024, compared to a RM14.47 million pre-tax profit from RM313.1 million revenue recorded in the previous year. "Despite the softer financial performance, the group remains optimistic about long-term growth prospects," he said.
Barnama
24-05-2025
- Business
- Barnama
RM250 Million Water Treatment Plant To Be Built At Mengkuang Dam For Consumers In SPT
BUKIT MERTAJAM, May 24 (Bernama) — Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang (PBAPP) is building a RM250 million Water Treatment Plant (WTP) at the Mengkuang Dam here, said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow. He said the proposed project, which will be about 550 metres from the Expanded Mengkuang Dam (EMD), when completed in November next year, is capable of supplying a maximum of 114 million litres per day (MLD) of treated water to consumers, particularly in the Seberang Perai Tengah (SPT) district. The Taman Mengkuang WTP project, expected to take 18 months to complete, will draw daily water supply from the EMD, which is the largest dam in the state, he said. "So far, the EMD has served as a strategic water storage dam, releasing water only during emergencies when the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant (WTP) is unable to abstract sufficient water from Sungai Muda. 'However, starting November 2026, EMD will transition into a dual-purpose dam. Once fully operational, it will release raw water daily to support the Taman Mengkuang WTP, while continuing to serve as an emergency backup source for the Sungai Dua WTP under abnormal conditions,' he added. Chow, who is PBAPP chairman, told reporters this after opening the groundbreaking ceremony for the Taman Mengkuang WTP Project here today. He said the construction of the new WTP was among the proactive measures taken by the state government to address the growing water demand, as Penang's water consumption has risen from 813 million litres per day (JLH) in 2014 to 870 JLH in 2024, with projections indicating it will further increase to 1,103 JLH by 2030. Meanwhile, PBAPP chief executive officer Datuk K. Pathmanathan said the project includes the construction of a 114-JLH water treatment module, a backwash pump house, a chemical dosing building and a treated water tank. In addition, he said, it also involves the construction of a sludge treatment building, a cleaning pump and a chemical waste storage pond, a storage pond and an administration building equipped with a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system.
The Sun
24-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
RM250 million water treatment plant to be built at Mengkuang dam for consumers in SPT
BUKIT MERTAJAM: Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang (PBAPP) is building a RM250 million Water Treatment Plant (WTP) at the Mengkuang Dam here, said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow. He said the proposed project, which will be about 550 metres from the Expanded Mengkuang Dam (EMD), when completed in November next year, is capable of supplying a maximum of 114 million litres per day (MLD) of treated water to consumers, particularly in the Seberang Perai Tengah (SPT) district. The Taman Mengkuang WTP project, expected to take 18 months to complete, will draw daily water supply from the EMD, which is the largest dam in the state, he said. 'So far, the EMD has served as a strategic water storage dam, releasing water only during emergencies when the Sungai Dua Water Treatment Plant (WTP) is unable to abstract sufficient water from Sungai Muda. 'However, starting November 2026, EMD will transition into a dual-purpose dam. Once fully operational, it will release raw water daily to support the Taman Mengkuang WTP, while continuing to serve as an emergency backup source for the Sungai Dua WTP under abnormal conditions,' he added. Chow, who is PBAPP chairman, told reporters this after opening the groundbreaking ceremony for the Taman Mengkuang WTP Project here today. He said the construction of the new WTP was among the proactive measures taken by the state government to address the growing water demand, as Penang's water consumption has risen from 813 million litres per day (JLH) in 2014 to 870 JLH in 2024, with projections indicating it will further increase to 1,103 JLH by 2030. Meanwhile, PBAPP chief executive officer Datuk K. Pathmanathan said the project includes the construction of a 114-JLH water treatment module, a backwash pump house, a chemical dosing building and a treated water tank. In addition, he said, it also involves the construction of a sludge treatment building, a cleaning pump and a chemical waste storage pond, a storage pond and an administration building equipped with a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system. 'This contract also includes the installation of a 1,200-millimetre (mm) diameter raw water discharge pipe from the dam and a 900mm-diametre treated water production pipe for connection to the existing treated water supply line. 'It also involves all civil, structural, mechanical and electrical works,' he said. According to Pathmanathan, currently, most of the treated water supply at SPT is drawn from the Sungai Dua WWTP in Seberang Perai Utara (SPU), but this dependence is expected to decrease when the Taman Mengkuang WWTP begins operating. He said the new LRA would not only strengthen the water supply in SPT but also provide indirect benefits to consumers in SPU and South Seberang Perai (SPS). He said the Taman Mengkuang LRA is the third project under the Water Contingency Plan 2030 (WCP 2030), and there are five more projects under the plan that need to be completed before 2030.
