Latest news with #SeanLong
Irish Independent
10 hours ago
- Health
- Irish Independent
Cork fish kill in River Blackwater not caused by discharge from EPA-licensed sites, samples suggest
The EPA received a report on August 12 of dead fish in the River Blackwater and Clyda River in the Mallow area. The agency inspected EPA-licensed industrial sites and urban wastewater discharged in the area on the same day the report was lodged. A spokesperson for the EPA told The Corkman that preliminary reports indicate normal water quality in the area. 'While the investigation is ongoing, preliminary sample results indicate no causal link between the fish kill and discharges from EPA-licensed sites. 'The preliminary results from river water samples taken by EPA and Cork County Council indicate normal water quality in the area,' the spokesperson said. The EPA will continue to liaise with Cork County Council and Inland Fisheries Ireland, which is investigating the cause of the fish kill. A spokesperson for Cork County Council stressed to The Corkman that the exact cause for the fish kill has not been confirmed. 'We understand investigations to date have determined no evidence of water pollution. 'It is thought a fungal infection may be responsible; however, it is important to stress that the exact cause is unknown at this stage. 'Water quality assessments and investigations are ongoing,' the spokesperson said. An IFI spokesperson told The Corkman on Friday that more than 2,000 fish had died in a 16km stretch of the River Blackwater, but a statement released by the state body on Monday suggests the number is now in between 8,000 to 10,000 mortalities. Sean Long, Director of IFI's South-Western River Basin District, said The Marine Institute conducted diagnostic sampling of affected fish on site on August 14 at Mallow. 'IFI expects to receive a related report within 20 days of that date. 'Disease outbreaks can occur in wild fish populations and are influenced by numerous factors including environmental change. 'No evidence of a polluting or harmful discharge has been detected to date in the river,' he said. IFI continues to consult with Uisce Éireann, the EPA, Cork County Council and the Marine Institute on the matter. The Marine Institute's Fish Health Unit has advised the removal of dead fish from the water is not necessary. Affected trout were observed in the River Blackwater approximately six kilometres downstream of Mallow, and up to 12 kilometres upstream of Mallow. They have also been seen at the Awbeg river, and the Clyda river-which joins the Blackwater west of Mallow. IFI continues to appeal to people to report instances of fish kills to its 24-hour confidential phoneline, 0818 34 74 24.
Irish Times
6 days ago
- Climate
- Irish Times
Anglers fear complete wipeout of brown trout on Blackwater after thousands of fish are found dead
Anglers in Cork have expressed fears that they may be facing a complete wipeout of brown trout on the Blackwater after thousands of fish have mysteriously died in the river over the past three days. Mallow Trout Anglers chairman John Ruby said the discovery of 'thousands upon thousands of dead fish' in a near 30km stretch of water from Banteer bridge to Killavullen bridge was particularly worrying as trout are continuing to die all along the river. 'It's having a huge impact on trout stocks whatever is the cause,' he said. Sean Long, director for South Western Inland Fisheries Ireland, told RTÉ News that the precise cause of the fish kill had yet to be established but it appeared that many of the dead fish had a fungal infection. It wasn't clear if the infection was the primary cause of their deaths. READ MORE He cited low oxygen levels from nutrients draining into the water, low water levels and rising temperatures as potential stressors for the fish. 'Unfortunately, it's a lethal cocktail for these guys,' he said. Mr Ruby said that many of Mallow Trout Anglers' 80 or so members are pulling dead fish from the river including over 400 from a short stretch upstream of Mallow, while they are also noticing trout are trying to get into tributaries of the Blackwater to escape whatever is killing them. He said that while it is primarily brown trout that seem to be affected with the fish, anglers have started to find a small number of dead salmon while they have also noticed salmon behaving very oddly swimming around in pools as if very distressed. 'The trout are nearly all showing the same signs – a ghostly white colour, even though we are finding a few dead ones that have kept their buttery brown and gold colouring. But it's their eyes, their eyes are exploding in their heads, and their tails are getting affected by it too.' Mr Ruby said anglers wanted to know if they should continue removing dead fish from the Blackwater to try to maintain the quality of the water and if they do, how are they dispose of the dead fish, many of which have lost their scales. And he expressed some scepticism about water temperature being a primary cause of the problem pointing out that two weeks ago the temperature in the Blackwater was warmer than the 17 to 19 degrees currently being recorded in the river. 'This is different to sewerage where you could see it and smell it and follow it and trace it back to a source, but we haven't seen any sign or smell of anything on the water, which is strange – there is no obvious source, but it could be something toxic that is colourless and odourless,' he added.
The Star
13-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Star
It all boils down to dad-ication
Modern fathers are breaking stereotypes and leading the charge at home PETALING JAYA: From triathlete trainers to content creators, some modern fathers are challenging norms and showing that being a great dad isn't just about the paycheck – it's about showing up. For Sean Long, the best reward is being able to see his children do well in life. The 61-year-old from Kuala Lumpur took the road less taken by being the primary caregiver to his now 19-year-old non-identical triplets Matthew, Nicholas and Kelly, who are also triathletes. 'I have worked as a realtor and also for major corporations in the tech industry while my wife is an auditor at a big international firm. It has been more than 12 years since I have held a traditional job. 'Frankly, I think the term 'stay-at-home dad' is inaccurate because in the last decade or so, more men have been taking on jobs in the gig industry or jobs with flexible work hours to support their children. 'As the primary caregiver, I cover the weekdays while my wife does the weekends. Since my children are triathletes, a lot of their needs revolve around running classes and such. 'I am glad I undertook this role because being present during all those moments matters. This is part of the rewards of parenthood which many parents may not be able to experience,' he said. Fathers Day will be celebrated tomorrow. Not all heroes wear capes: Mohamed Salahuddin takes care of son Tashrif while working as a music video director. In terms of the challenges of being a primary caregiver, Long said some of the toughest aspects include the disconnection from the conventional career path and witnessing peers climb the corporate ladder. However, he noted that as long as the parent is happy to be a primary caregiver, such thoughts should not matter. Mohamed Salahuddin, 42, from Klang, starts his day at 5am with six children in tow. It has been 13 years since he decided to be the stay-at-home parent while his wife works as a human resources executive. 'I still work as a content creator, like TikTok and video production, but I am the one who wakes the kids and sends them to school. I also send my wife to work, then I continue to care for our youngest child, who is seven months old. 'I manage my work by setting up appointments at night, and handling the kids and housework during the day. 'There is a stereotype tied to being 'Mr Mama' as we are often considered to be unsuccessful, unemployed or lazy, but the truth is that handling the household is a never-ending job. 'We don't have a support system and don't really get to share our experience with others, which can lead to suppressed emotions or even depression,' he said in an interview. Picture perfect: Sah with wife Sher, son Charlie and daughter Arabella. For freelancer Sah Henn-Wei, 41, from Subang Jaya, choosing to become a primary caregiver was a way to help his financial planner wife, who was having trouble caring for their daughter due to post-partum depression in 2016. 'Then, my son came along and the load just doubled. I decided to leave my full-time job as an art director at an agency as the working hours were not flexible. 'It wasn't a hard decision to make as my own father was a teacher and my main caregiver as a child,' he said, adding that his gifted daughter also requires more attention so having flexible hours is a bonus. Sah wakes up at 5.30am, gets the kids ready for school and does the house chores while they are away. He then gets some of his work done, prepares lunch and dinner, and then puts the kids to bed. Asked about challenges, he points to not having many friends to talk to and making sure the household runs smoothly. 'Having to put my career aside to do this has made me doubt my choices many times, especially when I see my friends become heads of companies and jet setting around the world. Yes, the adage that 'comparison is the thief of joy' rings true. 'But being able to be home and be there for your kids while they are growing up has been the best feeling ever. I wouldn't trade it for the world,' he added.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Partners Group to acquire utility-scale power developer PowerTransitions
Swiss private equity company Partners Group has agreed to acquire PowerTransitions, a utility-scale power developer in the US, from EnCap Investments. It plans to inject more than $450m to accelerate the future growth of PowerTransitions, which focuses on acquiring and redeveloping legacy or retiring thermal power assets with existing grid connections. These assets can be improved or adjusted to incorporate new generation via co-location with solar and/or battery energy storage systems. Concurrently with Partners Group's investment, PowerTransitions will obtain a 226MW seed portfolio of natural gas plants and has identified a pipeline of 3GW of thermal power assets across US markets that align well with this strategy. PowerTransitions is positioned favourably due to several thematic tailwinds and increased power demand in the US. It is anticipated that more than 130GW of new power generation capacity will be required by 2030. This can be met through the multi-technology approach. Furthermore, delayed permissions and interconnections are complicating facility development on greenfield sites. Partners Group will collaborate with PowerTransitions to implement a transformational value creation plan. This plan will include the addition of co-located renewables and energy storage systems in the seed portfolio while also obtaining extra thermal assets and commercialising these either as bundled offerings or standalone ventures. PowerTransitions chief executive officer Sean Long stated: 'Our strategy allows for the avoidance of network upgrade costs and long queues, thus shortening development timelines and costs, easing independent system operators' and regional transmission organisations' desire to enable new power generation to provide grid reliability. 'This strategy addresses major roadblocks hindering the matching of rising power demand in the US with clean, reliable, and economic power supply. We believe aged or retired thermal and industrial sites represent a large, underutilised pool of assets with significant value creation potential and we have identified a robust pipeline of actionable near-term M&A [mergers and acquisitions] opportunities. We will leverage Partners Group's significant experience in the power sector to capitalise on this opportunity.' The acquisition marks Partners Group's second investment in the US power sector in 2025, following March's agreement to acquire a 1.9GW portfolio comprising natural gas-fired plants located in California as well as Middle River Power, which operates these assets. Middle River is involved in developing battery energy storage systems at these plants for energy storage and for discharge when necessary. In 2022, Partners Group bought a majority stake in Sunsure Energy, a renewable energy and decarbonisation platform in India, for $400m. "Partners Group to acquire utility-scale power developer PowerTransitions" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Partners Group to acquire PowerTransitions, a utility-scale power developer in the US
Partners Group will invest over USD 450 million to accelerate future growth PowerTransitions transforms legacy or retiring thermal power assets that have existing grid connections through the addition of renewable energy projects The Company is benefiting from thematic tailwinds in the US, including rising demand for power due to the expansion of data center capacity DENVER, June 04, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Partners Group, one of the largest firms in the global private markets industry, acting on behalf of its clients, has agreed to acquire PowerTransitions (or "the Company"), a utility-scale power developer in the US, from EnCap Investments. Partners Group plans to invest over USD 450 million of capital to accelerate the Company's future growth. PowerTransitions acquires and redevelops legacy or retiring thermal power assets with existing grid connections that can be enhanced or modified to add new generation through the co-location of solar and/or battery energy storage systems. The Company will acquire a 226 MW seed portfolio of natural gas plants at the same time as Partners Group's investment and has also identified a 3 GW pipeline of thermal power assets in constrained markets across the US that are attractive for this strategy. PowerTransitions has strong infrastructure characteristics due to the stable cash flow generation of the seed portfolio and the planned evolution of its plants towards longer-term offtake contracts through the co-location of renewables and energy storage systems. PowerTransitions is benefiting from several thematic tailwinds as aging energy infrastructure in the US is faced with rising power demand from the expansion of data center capacity, the re-shoring of manufacturing, and the electrification of the economy. The unprecedented growth in demand is expected to require over 130 GW of new power generation capacity in the next five years, which can only be met with a 'multi technology' approach. Additionally, permitting and interconnection delays are making it more difficult to develop capacity on greenfield sites, an issue that can be partially addressed through the redevelopment and optimization of legacy and retiring sites to meet growing demand. Partners Group will work with the PowerTransitions management team, which has over 100 years of combined experience in brownfield redevelopment and utility-scale renewable generation and energy storage development, on a transformational value creation plan. Key initiatives will include adding co-located renewables and energy storage systems across the seed portfolio, acquiring additional thermal power assets, and commercializing co-located renewables and thermal assets as a bundle or as standalone projects. Sean Long, Chief Executive Officer, PowerTransitions, says: "Our strategy allows for the avoidance of network upgrade costs and long queues thus shortening development timelines and costs, easing Independent System Operators' and Regional Transmission Organizations' desire to enable new power generation to provide grid reliability. This strategy addresses major roadblocks hindering the matching of rising power demand in the US with clean, reliable, and economic power supply. We believe aged or retired thermal and industrial sites represent a large, underutilized pool of assets with significant value creation potential and we have identified a robust pipeline of actionable near-term M&A opportunities. We will leverage Partners Group's significant experience in the power sector to capitalize on this opportunity." Ed Diffendal, Partner, Co-Head Infrastructure Americas, Partners Group, adds: "PowerTransitions will play a critical role in meeting power demand in the US by increasing grid capacity and improving reliability by optimizing underutilized points of interconnection. We have strong thematic conviction in the Company's strategy of co-locating renewables with legacy power assets and plan to accelerate its growth through expanding its operating asset base while continuing to re-develop non-operating sites. We look forward to working with the experienced management team on our value creation plan." PowerTransitions is the second power investment Partners Group has signed in the US this year to-date. In March, Partners Group agreed to acquire a 1.9 GW portfolio of natural gas-fired power plants in California as well as Middle River Power, the company that operates the assets. Middle River Power is developing on-site battery energy storage systems at these power plants to store energy that can be discharged when needed, reducing the overall carbon footprint of the plants while enhancing reliability. Partners Group's Infrastructure business has USD 27 billion in assets under management globally. The firm was advised by Davis Polk & Wardwell on the transaction. About Partners Group Partners Group is one of the largest firms in the global private markets industry, with around 1,800 professionals and over USD 150 billion in overall assets under management globally. The firm has investment programs and custom mandates spanning private equity, private credit, infrastructure, real estate, and royalties. With its heritage in Switzerland and primary presence in the Americas in Colorado, Partners Group is built differently from the rest of the industry. The firm leverages its differentiated culture and its operationally oriented approach to identify attractive investment themes and to transform businesses and assets into market leaders. For more information, please visit or follow us on LinkedIn. View source version on Contacts Partners Group media relations contact Henry WestonPhone: +44 207 575 2593Email: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
