Latest news with #NDRC
The Independent
4 days ago
- Climate
- The Independent
Guatemala's Volcano of Fire erupts, spewing ash and spurring evacuations
Guatemala began evacuating some residents from the slopes the Volcano of Fire Thursday after a new eruption spewed hot gas and ash high into the sky. Juan Laureano, spokesperson for the National Disaster Reduction Coordinator, said that at least 594 people were moved to shelters from five communities in Chimaltenango, Escuintla and Sacatepequez departments. Laureano said that given the volcano's activity the number of evacuees was expected to rise. Wilver Guerra, 28-year-old resident of El Porvenir moved to a shelter in Chimaltenango. 'At first everything was normal, only fire in the morning when the volcano's activity increased a bit, but it's ok, better to evacuate in time,' he said. Authorities also closed a highway in the area and suspended classes at 39 schools. The 12,300-foot (3,763-meter) high volcano is one of the most active in Central America. It is 33 miles (53 km) from Guatemala's capital. A 2018 eruption killed 194 people and left another 234 missing.
Mint
28-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
Facing sinking coal demand, China asks power plants to just buy more, sources say
Coal-fired plants asked to boost stockpiles by 10%, cut imports Move seen as bid to support coal prices, now at four-year lows Traders sceptical that guidelines will spur additional buying BEIJING, - China is pressing its coal-fired power plants to stockpile more of the fuel and import less in an effort to shore up domestic prices, sources with knowledge of the matter said, but traders are sceptical the measures will help to stop the slide. The coal industry in China faces rising stockpiles of the fuel after a massive expansion of output following shortages and blackouts in 2021 is churning out more coal than even the world's largest thermal power fleet can consume. To support miners whose profits are under pressure, the state planner has asked power plants to prioritise domestic coal and increase thermal coal stockpiles by 10%, setting an overall target of 215 million metric tons by June 10, the sources said. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media. However, with inventories piling up along the supply chain, two of the sources, both coal traders, said the guidelines would be unlikely to spur much buying or support prices. The powerful state planner, the National Development and Reform Commission , did not immediately respond to a facsimile request for comment. Mine stockpiles are up 42% from a year ago, while northern Bohai area port inventories are up 25% annually, the state-run China Energy Daily has said. Buyers are also being asked to procure coal from northern ports to chip away at high port stockpiles, three of the sources said. The NDRC's moves follow months of calls from industry groups and companies to curb coal imports and output. Chinese coal prices have marched steadily downwards, however. Prices for medium-grade coal with a heat value of 5,500 kilocalories per kilogram stood at 620 yuan per metric ton on Tuesday, the lowest since March 2021. Prices have fallen so far that some buyers have tried to wiggle out of long-term contracts in favour of spot sales. China imported a record 542.7 million tons of coal in 2024, but the total is expected to fall this year. Coal imports slid 16% in April on the year. Chinese mine production continues to grow despite the collapse in prices, with a government haunted by the shortages and blackouts of 2021 and 2022 unlikely to consider output cuts. "I think they're very mindful to avoid a repeat of that," said LSEG lead coal analyst Toby Hassall. "They will tolerate a period where some domestic production is really struggling." China's coal production rose 6.6% on the year during the period from January to April, to stand at 1.58 billion tons. Industry profits fell 48.9% year-on-year for the same period, official data showed on Tuesday. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Reuters
28-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Facing sinking coal demand, China asks power plants to just buy more, sources say
BEIJING, May 28 (Reuters) - China is pressing its coal-fired power plants to stockpile more of the fuel and import less in an effort to shore up domestic prices, sources with knowledge of the matter said, but traders are sceptical the measures will help to stop the slide. The coal industry in China faces rising stockpiles of the fuel after a massive expansion of output following shortages and blackouts in 2021 is churning out more coal than even the world's largest thermal power fleet can consume. To support miners whose profits are under pressure, the state planner has asked power plants to prioritise domestic coal and increase thermal coal stockpiles by 10%, setting an overall target of 215 million metric tons by June 10, the sources said. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media. However, with inventories piling up along the supply chain, two of the sources, both coal traders, said the guidelines would be unlikely to spur much buying or support prices. The powerful state planner, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), did not immediately respond to a facsimile request for comment. Mine stockpiles are up 42% from a year ago, while northern Bohai area port inventories are up 25% annually, the state-run China Energy Daily has said. Buyers are also being asked to procure coal from northern ports to chip away at high port stockpiles, three of the sources said. The NDRC's moves follow months of calls from industry groups and companies to curb coal imports and output. Chinese coal prices have marched steadily downwards, however. Prices for medium-grade coal with a heat value of 5,500 kilocalories per kilogram stood at 620 yuan ($86) per metric ton on Tuesday, the lowest since March 2021. Prices have fallen so far that some buyers have tried to wiggle out of long-term contracts in favour of spot sales. China imported a record 542.7 million tons of coal in 2024, but the total is expected to fall this year. Coal imports slid 16% in April on the year. Chinese mine production continues to grow despite the collapse in prices, with a government haunted by the shortages and blackouts of 2021 and 2022 unlikely to consider output cuts. "I think they're very mindful to avoid a repeat of that," said LSEG lead coal analyst Toby Hassall. "They will tolerate a period where some domestic production is really struggling." China's coal production rose 6.6% on the year during the period from January to April, to stand at 1.58 billion tons. Industry profits fell 48.9% year-on-year for the same period, official data showed on Tuesday.
The Citizen
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
ANC urged to fast-track dispute resolution in Limpopo
Leadership battles delay the Peter Mokaba regional conference as ANC branches call for urgent dispute resolution. The ANC regional task team (RTT) in the Peter Mokaba region is pleading with the office of the party's secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, to enforce the national dispute resolution committee (NDRC) mechanism to fast track resolving disputes. This after disputes were lodged by branches during branch general meetings (BGMs), ahead of the regional elective conferences. The conferences are a build-up to the provincial elective conference, which will then culminate into the national elective conference in 2027. ANC in turmoil over unresolved disputes The conference cannot sit if the disputes are not completely resolved. That is why the conference at the Peter Mokaba region was postponed for the fourth time last weekend. The region is one of the most influential between ANC elective conferences. It has a total of 113 branches and more than a quarter of them lodged complaints with the party's provincial and national dispute resolution committees. ALSO READ: 'Third Term' slate shines at Limpopo ANC elective conference This led to Mbalula's office ordering the NDRC to work with speed for the conference to take place. In a letter to the ANC provincial secretary, Vhamusanda Madadzhe, Mbalula confirmed they were working with the NDRC to speed up the process and ensure the conferences go ahead. The Citizen understands out of 31 disputes, the NDRC is left with 10, which are yet to be finalised. 10 of 31 disputes finalised Last week, ANC Limpopo chair Stan Mathabatha told the Norman Mashabane regional conference that conferences should be about branches and not factional slates. Mathabatha urged a faction led by former regional secretary Goodman Mtileni to rally behind the winning faction, called the 'Third Term', led by Pule Shayi. Shayi won the conference on a clean sweep, winning all the top five positions with big margins. ALSO READ: Limpopo ANC conference rocked by membership manipulation claims ANC Limpopo spokesperson Jimmy Machaka said the party's constitution provides that branch members can lodge a dispute to the provincial dispute resolution committee within 48 hours after the BGM. He said it was an ANC tradition that those who have grievances during BGMs must lodge a dispute through party structures. 'It is constitutional to lodge complains through relevant structures of the ANC as provided by the constitution,' he said. Party's constitution 'But in the same breath, it is unconstitutional to take the grievances to a court of law because our structures are more capable of disposing any dispute than the courts.' While many in the ANC are waiting for Peter Mokaba region to conclude its business, the question on everyone's lips is: who will win? Will it be ANC bigwig John Mpe, who is vying for a third term, or it will be Limpopo premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba's crony, Mamedupi Teffo?' ALSO READ: ANC elective conference in Limpopo stalled by disputes Ramathuba is fighting for her group to win all the province's four regional conferences in order for her to be elected the party's provincial chair at the upcoming ANC Limpopo elective conference. She has already won Sekhukhune and Vembe regions, but has lost in the Norman Mashabane region. A win in Peter Mokaba region would ensure her route to the top provincial job. A win for Ramathuba in region would ensure route to top job But if Mpe wins the conference, a different political story would be told and a new chapter for the ANC would be opened. Mpe, who doubles up as Polokwane municipality mayor and the South African Local Government Association provincial chair, is believed by many to be the best contender against Ramathuba.
South China Morning Post
15-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
China moves to protect small traders from US trade war
China is ramping up its efforts to support businesses and workers affected by the trade war, with officials from two key government departments holding separate meetings with private sector representatives within hours of each other on Wednesday. Advertisement The back-to-back talks signal that China still has work to do to stabilise its economy and labour market, as uncertainties linger despite Beijing and Washington agreeing to dramatically roll back tariffs on each other's goods on Monday. Bai Qingyuan, deputy chief of the State Administration of Market Regulation (SAMR), met with representatives from major Chinese internet platforms and banks to discuss measures to support the self-employed on Wednesday, according to an official statement. Hours later, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) announced that its chief, Zheng Shanjie, had also held a meeting with a group of private sector representatives on the same day. China has a huge population of self-employed small traders that make a living by selling goods overseas via online platforms, with the SAMR acknowledging that helping the self-employed navigate the trade war was a key part of its mission to 'stabilise employment, companies, markets and expectations'. Advertisement During a meeting with executives from major platforms including mobile payment provider Alipay, social platforms Douyin and Xiaohongshu, and e-commerce player Pinduoduo, SAMR officials urged the country's tech giants to 'develop more practical methods' to support self-employed people.
