PowerChina wins $4 billion contract for Iraqi water desalination plant, sources say
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani inaugurated the project, which will have a daily capacity of 1 million cubic meters and is expected to begin commercial operations in June 2028. The plant is part of government efforts to address severe water shortages in the southern region.
The project also includes the construction of a 300-megawatt power plant to supply electricity to the desalination facility, according to two Iraqi officials and a project document seen by Reuters.
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The Guardian
13 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Tin mining to return to Cornwall after Reeves makes £29m investment
Tin mining is poised for a comeback in Cornwall after the UK government invested almost £29m to reopen the county's last tin mine, creating more than 1,000 jobs in the region. The South Crofty tin mine, near the Cornish village of Pool, closed in 1998, and in the years since, as tin prices have soared, attempts to reopen it have been unsuccessful. On a visit to Cornwall this week, Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, estimated that reopening South Crofty could create 1,300 jobs for the region. Back in January the government approved the £28.6m investment to support the reopening of the mine, which is being led by Redruth-based Cornish Metals. Don Turvey, the chief executive of Cornish Metals, said: 'Tin is a critical mineral for the clean energy transition, essential to electronics, electric vehicles and renewable infrastructure. By reviving domestic production at South Crofty, we're not only creating over 300 direct jobs but also supporting many more across local supply chains and regional businesses.' The government estimates that a further 1,000 jobs will be created as the company uses more local suppliers such as metal fabricators and electricians, and supports supply chains in the UK. After operating for more than 400 years, South Crofty was the last tin mine to close in the UK due to lack of investment and falling metal prices in the 1990s. However, there has been a rise in prices over the past decade – from $16,000 (£11,957) a tonne in 2016 to about $34,000 – with tin used as solder in consumer electronics and other sectors, including electric cars and solar cells. 'Despite having so much potential to grow, Cornwall has been neglected by successive governments, and its families and businesses have suffered as a result,' Reeves said. 'Like in every part of the UK, I am determined to unlock growth that creates jobs and puts more money in Cornish people's pockets.' The government made the investment through the national wealth fund, supporting its industrial strategy to boost growth in priority industries. Ian Brown, the head of banking and investment at the national wealth fund, said: 'Cornish Metals have made excellent progress as they work towards reopening South Crofty. Our financing is designed to help them crowd further investment into the region, bringing skilled, year-round opportunities, and driving local growth.' Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion The Vancouver-based Strongbow Exploration acquired the rights to the tin mine in July 2016. The company, which has a dual listing in Canada, changed its name to Cornish Metals in 2020. Cornish Metals listed on London's junior AIM stock exchange in 2021, raising funds to support mining in the area, including at South Crofty. Cornish Metals' share price has soared by 28% over the past year – although it remains down almost a third on five years ago – and has a market value of C$170m (£92m). Turvey said: 'Our focus remains on delivering long-term, sustainable value safely, responsibly, and with deep roots in the community. We're proud to be playing a role in bringing responsible tin mining back to Cornwall and supporting economic renewal and industrial growth in the region.'
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Trump's $400 million 'flying palace' gift from Qatar moves forward after 'bribe' backlash
The Pentagon and the Qatari government are close to finalizing the deal that will turn a $400 million 'flying palace' into President Donald Trump 's next Air Force One. CNN reported Monday on the language used in the agreement between Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his Qatari counterpart, which could still be tweaked ahead of a formal announcement. The transfer of the lavish Boeing 747-8 is being labeled an 'unconditional donation.' 'This donation is made in good faith and in the spirit of cooperation and mutual support between the parties,' the document said. 'Nothing in this MoU is, or shall be interpreted or construed as, an offer, promise, or acceptance of any form of bribery, undue influence, or corrupt practice.' Democrats - and even some Republicans - raised objections when the White House announced in May that the Qataris would be gifting the plane to the Americans, so that Trump could get a new Air Force One before the end of his second term. Eyebrows were further raised when it was announced that the plane would follow Trump to his presidential library after his term was done. Trump took time in mid-February to tour the Qatari aircraft, which was parked at the West Palm Beach airport, several miles down the road from Mar-a-Lago. Ahead of his trip to the Middle East in mid-May, which included a stop in Doha, Qatar, the framework for the deal became public. After the trip, the Americans officially accepted the gift. The initial agreement was signed by Hegseth and Qatar's deputy prime minister and minister of state for defense affairs, Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani on July 7. It's unclear when the final agreement will be signed off on. A Pentagon spokesperson told the Daily Mail on Monday, 'We have nothing to share on this.' The plane is currently sitting in San Antonio, Texas. The aircraft comes to the Defense Department 'as is,' meaning U.S. taxpayers will be paying for the upgrades needed to turn the 'flying palace' into a flying Situation Room. Hegseth has tried to keep the pricetag of the project quiet. During a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing in June, the Pentagon chief irritated Democratic Sen. Jack Reed by testifying that the timeline and the price of the project needed to remain classified. Hegseth justified the secrecy by saying it would 'ensure the safety and the security of the president of the United States.' The Department of Justice also hasn't released the memo, penned by Attorney General Pam Bondi, that outlines the legal justification allowing the Trump administration to accept the gift from the Qatari government. On Monday, the government transparency group, the Freedom of Press Foundation filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit to get access to that document. Bondi's memo reportedly argues that the Qatari donation is legally sound as long as the plane goes to Trump's presidential library at the end of his term. Trump is expected to build a presidential library in Florida, after changing his residency from his native New York to the Sunshine State in 2019. Early in his first term, the president negotiated the price of two new Boeing planes that would be used as Air Force Ones, but the project has been hampered by delays and cost overruns. Trump also designed a color scheme to mimic the one on his 'Trump Force One' private plane. When President Joe Biden came into office, he chose to maintain the traditional Kennedy-era color scheme on the new Air Force Ones. The president told the Daily Mail in February that 'no matter what' his new Air Force One would have his preferred color scheme.
The Independent
6 hours ago
- The Independent
Portugal invests in electricity grid upgrades after Iberian blackout
Portuguese authorities on Monday announced a raft of measures to strengthen the country's electricity system following the April 28 blackout that left most of Spain and Portugal without power for several hours. They include 137 million euros ($159 million dollars) of investments in the country's electricity grid, increasing the number of 'black start' power stations and reinforcing critical infrastructure such as hospitals with solar panels and batteries. Environment and Energy Minister Maria Graça Carvalho said the plan would ensure that the Iberian nation of 10.6 million is better prepared for future emergencies. 'We will be in a better position to manage the crisis and minimize its consequences,' Carvalho said. The Iberian outage started shortly after 11:30 a.m. in Portugal and 12:30 p.m. in Spain and lasted through nightfall, disrupting businesses, transit systems, cellular networks, Internet connectivity and other critical infrastructure. In just five seconds, Spain lost 15 gigawatts of electricity — or about 60% of its supply. Portugal, whose grid is connected to Spain's, also went down. Only the countries' island territories were spared. Power was fully restored in both countries the next morning. Spanish authorities in June said an investigation found that the country's electric grid was unable to handle a surge in voltage, which triggered small grid failures in the south of Spain that cascaded into larger ones. The chain reaction eventually brought down the electric system in the two Iberian nations. Authorities didn't explain what caused the initial voltage surge. Other measures under review include a possible interconnection between Portugal and Morocco. Interconnections are high voltage transmission lines that link the electricity systems of different countries, allowing cross-border power exchanges. Spain's interconnections with Morocco and France were critical to restoring power after the April blackout. Portuguese authorities said they would increase the number of power stations with autonomous restart capability from two to four. The black start power stations helped Portugal restore its power independently from Spain after the blackout. Authorities said they would spend 25 million euros ($29 million) to reinforce back-up energy sources such as solar panels and batteries at hospitals and other critical infrastructure. An independent panel of European Union experts is investigating what caused the blackout. A preliminary report published earlier this month reached similar conclusions to the Spanish investigation — that an unusual series of voltage surges in Spain and a cascading series of electricity disconnections likely triggered the event. A final report is due in October. ___ Naishadham reported from Madrid.
