Latest news with #MahmoodFardan
Daily Tribune
30-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Call to halt Jid Hafs market evictions pending talks
An urgent parliamentary proposal has called for a halt to eviction orders against vendors at Jid Hafs market, demanding that removals be paused until traders are consulted and a nearby alternative is secured. The motion, passed yesterday, asks the government to direct the relevant authorities to hold off on clearing stalls until talks are held with the vendors and a new location is arranged that meets their needs. MPs Mahmood Fardan, Hamad Al Doy, Mamdouh Al Saleh, Mohammed Al Rifai and Hisham Al Awadhi put the case forward. In their view, the market remains a lifeline for many Bahraini families, some of whom depend entirely on its trade. Hardship They warned that forced removals without a practical substitute would leave many in hardship. They also stressed that any new site should be within close reach of the existing one to avoid disrupting business or cutting off regular customers. The market, they said, is part of the fabric of local life and deserves to be supported, not swept aside. Trade routes The MPs argued that maintaining the market helps preserve Bahrain's traditional trade routes and provides structure for families working hard to stay afloat. They see it as part of the country's social and economic rhythm, worth keeping in place. Their proposal followed a spate of posts on social media, which claimed that vendors had already begun to be removed. The Capital Secretariat responded by saying this was not the case.
Daily Tribune
12-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Private power saves Bahrain BD99 million
TDT | Manama Th e privatisation of Bahrain's power sector has begun to yield major benefits. Latest figures show that the government's move away from direct power generation has saved the Kingdom BD99 million in just two years. This comes despite BD161 million being spent on subsidies in 2023 alone. The average price per unit now stands at 21.7 fils per kilowatt-hour. The data was released by the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) in response to a parliamentary question by MP Mahmood Fardan. The shift was not sudden — it began nearly 20 years ago. Newer machinery, improved supply chains, and strategic placement of power plants have all played a crucial role in cutting costs, according to EWA. Decommissioning older power stations in Sitra and Riffa also contributed by improving gas usage efficiency. Smart meters that track consumption without manual readings, along with digital platforms for billing and account management, have further boosted operational efficiency. The actual cost While electricity is purchased at 21.7 fils per kilowatt-hour, an additional 7.5 fils is spent on distribution to end-users. Thousands of substations connected via transmission lines are instrumental in keeping Bahrain powered around the clock. More savings on the way EWA says it expects to save a further BD68 million this year, thanks to the commissioning of new fuel-efficient units at Al Dur 2. subsidies When asked for a breakdown of subsidies by month and customer category, EWA said it could not provide that level of detail. However, it confirmed that total subsidies in 2023 stood at BD161 million, as per audited financial records. Ongoing efforts Switching from thermal desalination to reverse osmosis, which requires significantly less electricity, is another step towards cost efficiency. Additionally, the Authority is rolling out value-added services that generate revenue.
