Adnoc Distribution CFO: Fuel Growth Driving Bottom Line
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News24
5 hours ago
- News24
Africa's nuclear capacity could expand tenfold by 2050 — report
For now, South Africa remains the only African country generating nuclear power. But Africa's nuclear sector is poised for significant growth, with a new International Atomic Energy Agency report projecting generating capacity could increase tenfold by 2050. Despite having just one operational nuclear plant today, a new report projects that Africa's generating capacity could increase tenfold by 2050. The report, Outlook for Nuclear Energy in Africa by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), was launched at the G20 Energy Transitions meeting in South Africa held between July 30 to August 1, 2025, at the Sun City resort in the North West. The report examines how nuclear power could help address the continent's electricity shortages, diversify its energy mix away from fossil fuels, and drive industrial growth. According to MaryAnne Osike from the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA), 'Nuclear is not here to replace wind, solar, or hydro, it's here to strengthen them.' 'Its ability to provide constant, reliable baseload power means renewables can operate more effectively without being limited by weather or seasonal variations,' she shared in a call. 'When integrated into a diversified energy mix, nuclear offers long-term price stability, strengthens grid resilience, and reduces dependence on imported fuels. It's part of the same clean energy toolbox that Africa needs to achieve both climate goals and industrial growth,' she added. The IAEA outlook report also highlights the role of emerging technologies such as small modular reactors, outlines national programmes already underway, and stresses the need for supportive policies, regional cooperation, and innovative financing. According to Rafael Mariano Grossi, IAEA director-general, 'Access to reliable and low-carbon energy sources such as nuclear can enable Africa to further explore and add value to its vast natural resources.' The shift comes as African governments face the dual challenge of powering economies where more than 500 million people still lack electricity and replacing fossil fuels, which currently provide more than 70% of the continent's power. In the IAEA's high-growth scenario, nuclear capacity in Africa could more than triple by 2030 and expand tenfold by 2050, requiring more than US$100 billion in investment. Even in the low-growth case, output would double by 2030 and increase fivefold by mid-century. For now, South Africa remains the only African country generating nuclear power. Its two-unit Koeberg nuclear power station supplies nearly two gigawatts to the grid, and in 2024, Unit 1 received a 20-year life extension. But several other countries are moving from planning to implementation. Egypt is building the 4.8-gigawatt El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant, with its first unit expected online by 2028. Ghana, Rwanda, Kenya, Namibia and Nigeria have made firm decisions to adopt nuclear technology and are working with the IAEA to prepare infrastructure, establish regulatory bodies, and develop human capital. Kenya set up its Nuclear Energy Programme Implementing Organisation in 2012, has since established an independent regulator, and is targeting 2038 for its first reactor, with SMRs under review to match demand patterns. Ghana's Nuclear Power Ghana is in vendor talks for both a large nuclear plant and SMRs, while Nigeria has opened bids for a 4,000-megawatt facility and signed agreements with multiple suppliers. A large part of this momentum is driven by growing interest in small modular reactors (SMRs), which offer flexible power generation in smaller increments than traditional gigawatt-scale plants. 'Global interest in SMRs is increasing due to their ability to meet the need for flexible power generation for a wider range of users and applications,' according to Zizamele Mbambo, South Africa's deputy director-general for nuclear energy. SMRs are well suited to Africa's small or fragmented grids, require less upfront capital, and can be deployed more quickly. They also offer off-grid potential for industrial projects such as mining and desalination. The IAEA outlook notes that SMRs could even be integrated into existing coal power sites, reusing infrastructure while cutting emissions, a theme it plans to explore in a forthcoming coal-to-nuclear transition report for the G20. Africa already holds a significant advantage, being home to 14% of the world's uranium production. Namibia ranks as the world's third-largest producer, while Niger and South Africa are also in the top ten. In Namibia, the previously idled Langer Heinrich mine has been reopened, with production expected to resume in 2026, and new projects are due by 2028. Tanzania has confirmed large reserves, such as the US$1.2-billion Mkuju River plant in jointly with Russia, is on course for pilot production. This resource base could bolster both export earnings and domestic energy security if countries invest in fuel cycle capabilities to convert raw uranium into reactor-ready fuel. However, according to experts like Osike, the pace at which Africa's nuclear ambitions materialise will hinge on financing, given the sector's high upfront costs and decades-long project lifecycles. 'Nuclear projects demand substantial upfront investment and a commitment that spans decades… Without innovative financing models and strong partnerships, many African countries will struggle to move from ambition to reality.' In June 2025, the IAEA and the World Bank signed an agreement, the Bank's first formal engagement with nuclear energy in decades. This opens the door for World Bank support in extending reactor lifespans, upgrading grids, and accelerating SMR deployment, while signalling to other multilateral lenders, including the African Development Bank, that nuclear is part of the clean energy transition toolkit. Vendor financing is also in play. Egypt's El Dabaa project, for example, is backed by large concessional loans from Russia with low interest rates and extended repayment terms. However, many African nations face low credit ratings and high debt-to-GDP ratios, so new financing models, from regional SMR purchase agreements to blended public-private investment, will be key. 'Developing a nuclear programme requires a century-long commitment, from construction through decommissioning and waste management,' Osike shared. 'Stable national policy, public support, and regulatory readiness are therefore essential,' she added. The IAEA's Milestones Approach identifies 19 infrastructure issues that must be addressed before construction begins. Continental and regional integration could further accelerate nuclear rollout. The Africa Single Electricity Market, launched by the African Union, aims to link national grids into the world's largest single electricity market. This could allow countries to share nuclear output, stabilise grids, and make large-scale investments viable. Shared infrastructure, training, and regulatory capacity could mirror the cooperative models already used in hydropower projects. *
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence begins new academic year with largest-ever cohort of 400+ students
ABU DHABI,UAE, Aug. 16, 2025 /CNW/ -- Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) has welcomed its largest cohort for its Fall 2025 intake, enrolling 403 new students. This includes its inaugural undergraduate class, new graduate cohorts in existing programmes in Computer Science, Computer Vision, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, and Robotics, and the first intakes into the Master of Science in Statistics & Data Science and Master in Applied Artificial Intelligence. This semester received more than 8,000 applications across the university's Bachelor and graduate programmes, yielding an acceptance rate of 5 per cent, and reinforcing the university's prestigious position and ability to attract the best talent in the UAE and from around the world. Timothy Baldwin, MBZUAI Provost and Professor of Natural Language Processing, said: "This year, MBZUAI welcomes our largest cohort of graduate students alongside our inaugural undergraduate class. Artificial intelligence is transforming the world at a pace that vastly outstrips traditional education models. To realise its full global potential, MBZUAI invests heavily in reviewing and updating our programmes to reflect modern AI research methodology and workflows, based on our bleeding-edge AI research credentials and grounded in societal and industrial needs. As a young institution, MBZUAI has already earned a place among the world's top 10 AI universities based on our research credentials. With the introduction of our undergraduate and Master's in Applied AI programmes, we continue to build world-leading programmes aligned with the UAE's National Strategy for AI 2031 and supporting Abu Dhabi's rapidly growing AI ecosystem." The newly launched Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence programme offers two streams, AI for Business and AI for Engineering, combining technical rigor with leadership, hands-on entrepreneurship, and in-situ industry experience. The first class consists of 115 undergraduate students from more than 25 countries, over 25 per cent of which are UAE Nationals. Professor Baldwin said: "The jobs of tomorrow are being shaped by AI today and we must ensure that future generations are equipped with the tools and skills to navigate that shift. Our extraordinarily talented students don't just learn about AI, but learn with it, through it, and for it. This is an extraordinary value proposition across all our programmes, but especially for our undergraduate students, who will be studying towards a bachelor's degree in AI that I believe sets a new global benchmark in terms of technical depth, real-world relevance, and the high-end AI job-readiness of the students." The key highlights for the Fall 2025 intake includes MBZUAI's total student body totaling more than 700, representing over 47 nationalities. Nationalities represented in the undergraduate programmes are Bulgaria, China, Egypt, Georgia, Greece, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, the UAE and the UK. Postgraduate programmes bring together students from Canada, China, Egypt, France, India, Italy, Kazakhstan, Serbia, UAE, UK, USA and Vietnam. MBZUAI continues to attract exceptional students, with 151 of the incoming graduate students (27.5 per cent) holding degrees from the world's top 100 computer science universities (CSRankings), including Cornell University, Tsinghua University, the University of Edinburgh, and the University of California, San Diego. In welcoming the new students, MBZUAI has begun its immersive Orientation Week, introducing new students to the university's culture of academic excellence, AI-driven innovation, and community engagement. The programme combines academic sessions, mentorship activities, and cultural programming celebrating UAE heritage and life in Abu Dhabi. Highlights include the Orientation Mini Fair, where internal and external partners showcase resources for academic success, career development, and student life. Orientation Week is designed to foster a strong sense of belonging and connection, laying the foundation for academic success and life-changing university experiences. For more information, visit Media Contact:Noorul Tharola View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) View original content to download multimedia:
Gizmodo
5 hours ago
- Gizmodo
Microsoft Probing Whether Israel Used Its Cloud to Build Palestinian Surveillance System
For the past two years, Microsoft has been dogged by accusations—both within and outside the company—that its technology is aiding the Israeli war effort. Microsoft's own employees have protested the firm's contracts with Israel, and protesters have disrupted the company's various talks and conferences. Even the company's 50th anniversary was ruined by shouts from one of its own employees, who reportedly yelled 'Shame on you' while calling the company's head of AI a 'war profiteer' who was 'using AI for genocide.' Now, the company claims it's launched an 'urgent' probe into whether its cloud business is being used by Israel to conduct a massive surveillance operation in Gaza. The company's announcement comes on the heels of a report published by The Guardian, which claims that Unit 8200, Israel's shadowy intelligence agency, had been using Microsoft's Azure cloud servers. The report claimed that, as part of a deal with Microsoft's CEO, Satya Nadella, the spy unit had been granted access to a 'customised and segregated area within Microsoft's Azure cloud platform.' The siloed cloud setup was ultimately used to build a 'sweeping and intrusive system' designed to collect and store 'recordings of millions of mobile phone calls made each day by Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank,' the report claimed. On Friday, Microsoft told The Guardian: 'Microsoft appreciates that the Guardian's recent report raises additional and precise allegations that merit a full and urgent review.' The review of Microsoft's dealings with Israel will be overseen by attorneys at the law firm Covington & Burling, the outlet wrote. Gizmodo reached out to Microsoft for more information. In a statement previously shared with The Guardian, the company said that, if Israel is 'using Azure for the storage of data files of phone calls obtained through broad or mass surveillance of civilians in Gaza and the West Bank,' it would represent a violation of its terms of service. This is the second legal probe Microsoft has opened into its relationship with the Israeli government. The prior probe took place earlier this year, after its employees' protests. In May, Microsoft released a report in which it claimed to have found 'no evidence to date that Microsoft's Azure and AI technologies have been used to target or harm people in the conflict in Gaza.' Other big tech firms—most notably Amazon and Google—have also been accused of complicity in Israel's military efforts. In July, a U.N. group released a report that claimed that Microsoft, Alphabet, and Amazon grant Israel virtually government-wide access to their cloud and artificial intelligence technologies, enhancing data processing, decision-making, and surveillance and analysis capacities.'
