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Irish Independent
a day ago
- General
- Irish Independent
Plans for Wicklow solar farm refused over visual impact
Located in the townland of Ballymoney, just off the M11, the proposed development – which had a 40-year lifespan - was the second planned by BNRG in the area after receiving consent for a solar farm on a neighbouring 19-hectare site in 2019. The latest application proposed to construct PV panels mounted on metal support structures along with a battery energy storage system (BESS), with access provided via the neighbouring, approved solar farm. The solar farm, battery energy storage system BESS and main infrastructure, including inverter stations, MV stations, new access tracks, underground cabling, a temporary construction compound and a substation, would occupy five fields of agricultural land currently being used for arable farming, with perimeter fencing surrounding it, 16 CCTV cameras and access gates. Refusing the application, a senior executive Wicklow County Council planner noted three reasons for the decision, including the overall scale of the proposed development within a designated Coastal Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, its visibility from the surrounding road network and the 'cumulative effect of a number of permitted solar farms within the immediate area'. 'It is considered that the proposed solar farm would be contrary to the objectives of the County Development Plan, would result in a significant visual impact due to the local landscape appearing industrialised and would negatively impact on this scenic coastal rural area,' the planner wrote. Noting the potential detrimental impacts on the amenities of residential property in the area, the loss of established agricultural land and the lack of supporting information, the planner commented that the local authority is 'not satisfied that the proposed development would not seriously injure the amenities of the area'. Commenting on how it was 'not possible to fully assess the potential impact on the amenities of the area', the planner highlighted the lack of sufficient information submitted, including a fieldwork-based archaeological impact assessment, decommissioning costs, plans outlining appropriate riparian buffer zones and a report on the potential impacts of a cumulative loss of agricultural land in the area'. BNRG has four weeks from the decision date (July 9) to appeal the decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála.
Daily Express
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Express
Petros gears for more profits, jobs. Now nation's No. 3 player after Petronas and Shell within just seven years
Published on: Saturday, July 19, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jul 19, 2025 By: Sherell Jeffrey Text Size: Joseph said the Kuching project would begin with LNG-to-power infrastructure followed by industrial park development and culminate in high-value manufacturing including low-carbon hydrogen for steel production and ammonia for fertilisers. KUCHING: Sarawak through Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros) is bent on creating more jobs and making sure bigger profits stay in the State by moving towards downstream processing instead of just pumping out raw oil and gas and selling them. 'For decades, Sarawak mostly just dug up raw materials and shipped them out … extract, export, repeat,' said Petros Senior Vice President of Growth Datuk Joseph Podtung. Advertisement 'There was not much processing of these materials or strong supporting businesses around them, which meant no ripple effect of economic benefits,' he said. The result, he said, has been shortened value chains, limited spin-offs and few high-income careers. 'Instead of continuing this approach, Petros is changing from simply producing large amounts of raw gas to focusing on creating products from it,' he said, citing turning natural gas into methanol, hydrogen and ammonia before advancing to more sophisticated manufacturing. 'We are not saying no to Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). In fact LNG is important because it brings hard currency. It keeps our hub full. It makes Sarawak globally relevant. 'But, if we continue to export, we miss a far greater opportunity in industries, jobs and innovations that will eventually be created through domestic development that allow value chains to be created,' he said. 'Sarawak holds 60 per cent of Malaysia's total natural gas reserves and operates the cleanest electricity grid in the region at just 0.19 kg CO2 per kWh, primarily from hydroelectric power,' he said. 'Sarawak has all the inherent ingredients to unlock the low-carbon economy in this region. It is not just resource-rich, it is development-ready,' he added. He said the Sarawak Gas Roadmap, launched in 2021, is a 10-year strategic plan by the Sarawak Government led by Petros and centres on four development hubs across the State. 'In Miri, the first onshore gas drilling project in over 30 years is underway and a new 500-megawatt power plant is expected to be commissioned by 2027. 'Samalaju will benefit from a 65km pipeline from Bintulu due for completion by year-end, while Bintulu's petrochemical hub has already begun operations with a methanol plant,' he said. Additionally, he said Petros is planning a low-carbon industrial hub through a three-wave approach. 'Currently, Kuching lacks pipeline gas infrastructure, relying instead on diesel and imported LPG. 'Can you imagine, in the capital of an energy-rich State, Kuching has no pipeline gas. 'Without action now, Kuching may not be able to shape the low-carbon economy in Sarawak and beyond,' he said. He said the Kuching project would begin with LNG-to-power infrastructure followed by industrial park development and culminate in high-value manufacturing including low-carbon hydrogen for steel production and ammonia for fertilisers. He pointed out that Petros has secured two anchor partners – China Jiangsu International and Sumitomo Corporation – selected from over 300 candidates. 'These two anchor partners have vast experience in developing industrial parks, not only domestically but internationally. Together, we are not building a facility, we are building an ecosystem.' He said the economic impact is substantial, pointing out that at full scale, the Sarawak Gas Roadmap is expected to deliver RM300 billion in investment, generate RM120 billion in annual output, comparable to the projected Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone and create 180,000 jobs. 'This is about leverage, turning our resources into hydrogen, methanol and ammonia, into high-value manufacturing that produces advanced materials and low-carbon products. 'In doing so, we keep the economic value of energy circulating within our own economy, not just extracting, but multiplying,' he said. He pointed out that Petros, which was established in 2017, is now Malaysia's third-largest oil producer after Petronas and Shell and has already invested RM15 billion in the roadmap across various projects. 'Sarawak is not speculating. We are executing. We have the ingredients, the roadmap and momentum. Our strategy is about moving from volume to value and from resource to resilience,' 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
The National
15-07-2025
- Health
- The National
Dog bites four times more likely in deprives areas finds study
Conducted by the Social Science and Natural Science departments of the University of Stirling, researchers say the findings should be a wake-up call for policymakers at a time of rising incidents of dog bites and strikes (DBS). They suggest that prevention strategies should focus more on addressing social inequities rather than criminalisation. Lead author Dr Jade Hooper of the University of Stirling's Social Science faculty said 'The significant social inequalities we uncovered are worrying. The implications are particularly strong for Scotland, which has among the most pronounced health inequalities in the UK and Western Europe. 'This study should be a wake-up call for policymakers and we urge a fundamental shift in public health strategy surrounding dog bites and strikes. 'It's important that we recognise the wider pressures families may be facing, including financial stress, limited access to behavioural advice and support, and the challenge of safely managing dogs and children in busy households, particularly where adults may be juggling multiple responsibilities. 'Multiple agencies need to come together, across local government, police, health services and animal welfare organisations, and prevention measures should be compassion-focused and family-centred, involving professionals such as social workers, health visitors and schools.' The research findings show that the number of emergency hospital admissions due to dog bites in Scotland almost quadrupled between 1997/98 and 2023/24, with 300 and 1,105 admissions respectively, according to Public Health Scotland. The study comprises data from 59,111 NHS Scotland health records including NHS 24, hospital admission and Accident and Emergency (A&E) Data between 2007 and 2019. It study also includes data from the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation, which measures area-based deprivation in Scotland using data on income, employment, health, education, access to services, crime and housing. DBS can mean either dog bites or strikes. Strikes are classed as non-dog bite related injuries such as being pulled, knocked over or scratched by a dog. Among the highest rates of incidents were local authorities with a higher proportion of deprived areas, such as West Dunbartonshire, North Ayrshire and Glasgow City. However, the researchers note that even local authorities not generally seen as deprived can contain smaller pockets of deprivation where additional support may be needed. The rate of DBS was highest among children aged one to nine, and the most common place for dog bite incidents to take place was in the home, according to the study. Rates for children remained relatively stable over the 13 years, while rates for adults increased. The study found a rise in A&E attendances and hospital admissions, while the rates of NHS 24 calls remained relatively stable. There was a clear social gradient across all three health datasets, with income, employment, health and education found to be the driving socio-economic factors for DBS incidents in Scotland. The rate of hospital admissions was 3.9 times higher for individuals living in the most deprived areas, compared to the least deprived; the rate of NHS 24 calls was 2.5 times higher; and A&E attendances were 2.4 times higher. There was variation in rates of incidents depending on the type of health records. Midlothian came top for NHS 24 calls, West Lothian showed the highest rates for hospital admission records related to DBS, while West Dunbartonshire showed the most A&E attendances. Researchers pointed out, however, that surges in data could be partly due to improvements in data collection over the 13 years, particularly in certain health boards.
Economic Times
13-07-2025
- Science
- Economic Times
The biggest piece of Mars ever found on Earth is about to hit the auction block
Synopsis A massive Martian meteorite is set to be auctioned at Sotheby's in New York. The meteorite, named NWA 16788, weighs 54 pounds. It is considered the largest fragment of Mars found on Earth. The auction also features a Ceratosaurus skeleton. The Geek Week 2025 auction includes meteorites, fossils, and minerals. The Martian rock is estimated to fetch millions. Reuters The meteorite NWA 16788, the largest known piece of Mars on Earth, is displayed during the press preview of Sotheby's Natural History auction in New York City, U.S., July 8, 2025. The biggest Martian meteorite ever discovered on Earth is going under the hammer this Wednesday at Sotheby's in New York, with an estimated price tag between $2 million and $4 million, according to the Associated 54-pound (25-kilogram) meteorite, officially named NWA 16788, is the highlight of Sotheby's natural history-themed sale, part of its annual Geek Week 2025 series. According to the auction house, it's not just the size that makes it exceptional, it's also believed to be the largest known fragment of Mars ever found on our planet, measuring nearly 15 inches by 11 inches by 6 inches. 'This Martian meteorite is the largest piece of Mars we have ever found by a long shot,' said Cassandra Hatton, vice chairman for science and natural history at Sotheby's. 'So it's more than double the size of what we previously thought was the largest piece of Mars.'Hatton explained that the rock likely originated from a massive asteroid impact that blasted it off Mars' surface. It then travelled 140 million miles through space before crashing into the Sahara desert. A meteorite hunter found it in Niger in November its red, brown, and grey hues, the meteorite is 70% larger than the next biggest Martian sample found on Earth and accounts for nearly 7% of all verified Martian material known to exist here, Sotheby's said. Out of more than 77,000 officially recognised meteorites discovered globally, only 400 are known to have come from Mars. To confirm its origin, a fragment was removed and analysed in a specialist lab. Scientists matched its chemical makeup to known Martian meteorites, originally identified using data from NASA's Viking lander mission in 1976. The sample was classified as an olivine-microgabbroic shergottite, a rock formed by the slow cooling of Martian magma. It features a coarse texture and contains pyroxene and olivine rock's glassy outer surface hints at the intense heat it endured while plummeting through Earth's atmosphere. 'So that was their first clue that this wasn't just some big rock on the ground,' Hatton displayed at the Italian Space Agency in Rome, the meteorite's current owner has not been revealed. Sotheby's noted that while the exact timing of its fall to Earth is unknown, recent testing suggests the impact was relatively Martian rock will be auctioned alongside another attention-grabbing specimen: a juvenile Ceratosaurus nasicornis skeleton, standing over 6 feet tall and nearly 11 feet long. Discovered in 1996 near Laramie, Wyoming, the skeleton was reconstructed from nearly 140 original bones and additional sculpted parts. Dating back around 150 million years to the late Jurassic period, its auction estimate ranges from $4 million to $6 was a bipedal predator with short arms, somewhat resembling a smaller version of the Tyrannosaurus rex. While a typical Ceratosaurus could grow up to 25 feet, the T. rex could reach up to 40 feet in skeleton was acquired last year by Fossilogic, a fossil preparation and mounting company based in Geek Week 2025 auction includes a total of 122 lots, featuring other meteorites, fossils, and rare minerals. With inputs from AP
Business Standard
10-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Deepak Fertilizers and its subsidiary enters into long term agreement with Petronet LNG
For regasification of Liquefied Natural Gas Deepak Fertilizers & Petrochemicals Corp and Performance Chemiserve (PCL), a step-down subsidiary of the Company has entered into a long-term agreement with Petronet LNG (PLL) for regasification of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). Building upon the Long term LNG contract entered with Norwegian giant, Equinor ASA, the Company now ties up the last mile connectivity with a Regassification Contract with Petronet. The aforesaid agreement will help the Company and PCL in ensuring logistical and commercial arrangement required to receive imported LNG to its manufacturing facilities via the existing national gas grid in Taloja, Mumbai helping deliver its integrated Gas-to-Ammonia-to-Chemicals value chain strategy. Under the terms of the agreement, Petronet LNG will regasify approximately 25 TBTUs of LNG annually, post an initial ramp-up period, primarily at its Dahej terminal. The regasified gas will be primarily supplied to the Company and PCL's manufacturing facilities units at Taloja for internal consumption.
