Latest news with #methanegas
BBC News
a day ago
- Business
- BBC News
Hardwick Festival promoter's fears over waste plant smell
The hosts of a music festival have opposed plans for an organic waste processing plant over concerns about the company BioConstruct NewEnergy said the facility, at Bishop Middleham, near Sedgefield, would process food waste and farmyard manure, producing methane gas which will be purified for the National company initially won approval to go ahead with the development, but there were complaints about a lack of local consultation, and it will be considered again next Adamson, owner of Hardwick Hall Hotel which runs Hardwick Festival, said: "The increased traffic and the potential odour problem will have a massive impact." He said he had put on hold an £18m investment in a new spa and further development of the said: "We host many outdoor events, as well as Hardwick Festival, and this could have a real effect on them."It's damaging to our business and to the area as a whole, with a huge amount of materials being processed far too close to residential and business areas."More than 800 people or organisations have objected and they have organised a campaign group to fight the proposed site is beside the Knotty Hill Golf Centre's 10th hole, and proprietor Denis Craggs said: "We are deeply concerned about the proposed anaerobic digester plant being planned directly adjacent to our grounds."The scale of the facility, the potential for persistent odours and the sheer industrial nature of the project are wholly incompatible with a recreational and family-oriented setting like ours." 'Makes no sense' The application stated that the plant would generate methane from 76,000 tonnes of material annually, which, when processed, would supply the gas needs for 18,000 remaining digested material will be used as fertiliser on local process involves the organic material being broken down in sealed County councillor Ian Catchpole is also in opposition, saying: "Having an anaerobic digestion plant within 10 miles of a built-up area makes no sense whatsoever."BioConstruct New Energy has been approached for for the company previously said the plant would not cause "noise or odour nuisance", or "give rise to traffic issues of any significance". Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Japan Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Japan Times
From power generation to discounts, companies in Japan work to reduce food waste
Restaurants, manufacturers and retailers in Japan are taking new measures to reduce food waste, including using leftovers to generate electricity. Akindo Sushiro, which runs conveyor-belt sushi chain Sushiro, and five other major restaurant operators have launched a project to produce methane gas from leftovers and food scraps as fuel for power generation. Under the project, JFE Engineering is in charge of power generation and distribution, while the electricity can be purchased for a low price by participating companies, also including Royal Holdings, which operates Royal Host restaurants, and Duskin, the operator of the Mister Donut stores. Meiji established a directly managed store called Meiji the Sutenai ("Don't throw things away") Factory in the city of Saitama at the end of last year, selling dairy products such as yoghurt whose best-before dates are approaching. "The name of the store reflects our desire to not throw away products that can still be eaten," an official of the food maker said. In the retail and food industries, there is a business practice known as the "one-third rule." For example, if a product has a three-week period from the date of manufacture to its best-before date, it must be delivered to retailers within the first week. It has been pointed out that this is a factor behind the rise in food waste as products that have passed the deadline are subject to disposal. Meiji's directly managed store, however, sells products that have passed the delivery deadline at about 40% off the suggested retail prices. They remain on store shelves until the best-before date. The store was scheduled to close in April this year, but it stayed open due to its popularity. Lawson is focusing on frozen onigiri rice balls and bread, which can be sold for a long time. The best-before date of frozen onigiri is about one year and that of frozen bread is about 200 days, contributing to reductions in food waste. Lawson's operator has increased the number of its convenience stores handling them since July 15. Also, in July last year, Lawson extended the expiration dates of some regular onigiri products by six hours thanks to comprehensive hygiene management.
Arab News
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan expresses solidarity as 12 Turkish soldiers die in Iraq cave gas incident
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday said it was saddened over the deaths of 12 Turkish soldiers who were killed after being exposed to methane gas during a military search operation in northern Iraq, offering condolences and reaffirming solidarity with Turkiye. According to the Turkish defense ministry, the incident occurred on Sunday during a mission to locate the remains of a soldier killed earlier in operations against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which is designated a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the United States, and the European Union. The soldiers were operating in the Claw-Lock Operation zone, part of a broader Turkish cross-border military campaign launched in April 2022 to root out PKK fighters from northern Iraq's mountainous terrain. The ministry said several other soldiers exposed to methane gas in the same cave were hospitalized for treatment. 'We are deeply saddened to learn that 12 Turkish soldiers were martyred, after being exposed to methane gas during a search mission in the Claw-Lock Operation zone,' the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. 'We wish Allah's mercy upon the martyrs and express deepest condolences to the bereaved families. Pakistan stands in firm solidarity with brotherly Turkiye in this moment of grief.' While fatal gas exposure incidents in combat zones are relatively rare, the risk of methane buildup in enclosed or underground spaces such as caves or tunnels is well documented in both military and mining contexts. Methane is a colorless, odorless, and highly flammable gas that can displace oxygen, leading to suffocation in confined environments. In past years, Turkish forces have reported discovering elaborate tunnel networks used by PKK fighters in northern Iraq, often rigged with explosives or hazardous substances. In 2021, three Turkish soldiers were killed in a suspected chemical exposure during clashes in a cave complex in the same region, though Turkish authorities did not publicly confirm the substance involved. The latest incident underscores the continuing dangers faced by Turkish troops deployed in high-risk terrain as part of ongoing security operations. Turkiye has maintained a network of military bases in Iraq's Kurdistan region for years, a policy that has drawn criticism from Baghdad but is defended by Ankara as necessary for national defense. Pakistan and Turkiye share close defense and diplomatic ties, with regular high-level exchanges and joint military cooperation. Islamabad has consistently voiced support for Ankara's security concerns, including its fight against the PKK.
LBCI
07-07-2025
- LBCI
Twelve Turkish soldiers killed by gas exposure during cave search in Iraq
Twelve Turkish soldiers died after being exposed to methane gas during a search operation in a cave in northern Iraq, the defense ministry said on Monday. In a statement, the ministry said the incident took place on Sunday during a mission to locate the remains of a Turkish soldier killed during a military operation against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Other soldiers also exposed to the gas in the cave have been taken to the hospital for treatment, the ministry said. Reuters
Asharq Al-Awsat
07-07-2025
- Health
- Asharq Al-Awsat
7 more Turkish Soldiers Die from Methane Gas in Iraqi Cave, Raising Deaths to 12
Seven more Turkish soldiers have died from methane gas poisoning following a cave search operation in northern Iraq, Türkiye's Defense Ministry said Monday, bringing the death toll to 12. The soldiers had been searching for the remains of a fellow soldier previously killed by Kurdish militants. The troops were searching a mountain cave when 19 of them were exposed to the gas, according to the ministry. Five of the soldiers died Sunday from the colorless, odorless, flammable gas that can cause asphyxiation in sufficient concentration, and seven more succumbed on Monday, Reuters reported. 'We pray for God's mercy upon our heroic martyrs who lost their lives in this tragic event,' the ministry said Monday, also expressing hope for a rapid recovery for other troops that were affected. It said Defense Minister Yasar Guler and armed forces' commanders were traveling to the region to carry out 'inspections and evaluations' and attend a ceremony as the soldiers were flown to their hometowns for burial. Speaking at the ceremony, Guler commended the troops' 'great courage and sacrifice,' adding: 'Our grief is immense and our feelings are beyond words.' The ministry said the incident took place in the 'Claw-Lock Operation region' — a reference to an operation launched against the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, in northern Iraq in April 2022. There was no immediate information on the condition of the seven other soldiers who were affected by the gas. Türkiye and the PKK have waged a 40-year conflict that has often spilled over into Iraq and Syria. Türkiye has set up a series of bases in northern Iraq, where the PKK has been established for decades. The PKK, which is considered a terrorist organization by Türkiye and most of the West, announced in May that it would disband and renounce armed conflict as part of a new peace initiative with Türkiye. Its fighters are expected to begin handing over their weapons over the next few days in the first concrete move toward disarmament. According to the ministry, the Turkish unit overcome by methane gas had been searching for the remains of an infantry officer killed by 'terrorist gunfire' during a search-and-clear mission in May 2022. Recovery teams have been scouring the area for the past three years. The cave where the incident occurred sits at an altitude of 852 meters (2,795 feet) and had previously been used by the PKK as a field hospital.
