Latest news with #publicPrivatePartnerships
Times of Oman
24-05-2025
- Business
- Times of Oman
Workshop to address challenges facing tourism sector
Muscat: The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, in cooperation with the Oman 2040 Vision Implementation Follow-up Unit and a number of government and private entities, will organise a national workshop in Muscat on Monday. Titled 'Addressing the Challenges of Governance of Heritage and Tourism Development Management with Governorates", the four-day workshop aims to enhance institutional integration with governorates, achieve decentralisation in the heritage and tourism sector and address the challenges facing the governance of these two sectors. The workshop also aims to find comprehensive and sustainable solutions for the development and financing of service and tourism facilities, contributing to achieving sustainable development goals, raising the efficiency of institutional performance, and activating public-private partnerships. The workshop will address a number of vital aspects that fall within four main pillars: governance and institutional integration, investment and tourism development governance, public tourism and service facilities, and two pillars of general enablers related to employment, localisation, legislation, capacity building, common performance indicators, statistics and data, tourism promotion, and media communication. Representatives from 11 governorates, along with 17 other relevant entities, will participate in the session, along with a number of experts and specialists in the fields of governance, planning, and tourism development. This session is part of a series of initiatives implemented by the Ministry in cooperation with strategic partners as part of a programme to address the challenges facing the heritage and tourism sectors, with the aim of achieving balanced and comprehensive development across the Sultanate of Oman's governorates and fulfilling the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.
Reuters
13-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
US nuclear builders tight for time in race to power AI
May 13 - The selection of 16 sites located on Department of Energy (DOE) lands for the rapid construction of data centers and energy generation underlines the rising importance of AI demand for the U.S. energy sector. The sites offer "in-place energy infrastructure with the ability to fast-track permitting for new energy generation such as nuclear," the DOE said in a statement. Renewable energy can be deployed rapidly and energy storage can offer more flexible dispatch capabilities than solar and wind alone, but data center owners are keen to secure power day and night and the Trump administration has thrown its support behind fossil fuels and the burgeoning advanced nuclear sector. Join hundreds of senior executives across energy, industry and finance at Reuters Events Global Energy Transition 2025. Several of the DOE sites already host nuclear facilities and could be strong contenders for co-location of data centers and new nuclear generation. However, the exact details of land lease terms, environmental review requirements, and conditions for potential public-private partnerships (PPP) will be crucial to ensure plants can be developed cost-effectively, energy experts told Reuters Events. Importantly, the DOE has set a target of operating the data centers by the end of 2027 and it is unlikely new nuclear power plants can be built by then. The DOE held a request for information (RFI) from developers until May 7 and cited small nuclear reactors (SMRs), enhanced geothermal systems, fuel cells, energy storage and carbon capture as innovative energy approaches that could be installed at the sites. These technologies align with the administration's shift in energy policy away from a focus on renewables to prioritizing more reliable and resilient power sources, said Sidney Fowler, energy attorney at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman law firm in Washington, DC. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) believes solar farms coupled with storage can be deployed cost-effectively and more quickly than other technologies, due to a well-established supply chain and a track record in providing reliable power to big techs and data centers. Meta, Amazon, Google, and Apple are the top four corporate solar users in the U.S., according to a SEIA report released in November 2024. CHART: US planned power generation installations in 2025 The DOE is yet to determine the types and sizes of power generation at the sites as well as the details about potential PPPs. "We are eager to hear ideas from industry, academia, communities and regional consortia. This will build on the long history of partnership between DOE's National Laboratories and the private sector," a DOE spokesperson told Reuters Events. Nuclear sites Expedited permitting on the DOE sites could help developers minimize timelines, especially in areas where site characterization works have already been done, Fowler said. Shorter timelines help lower development costs. As well offering existing grid connections, some of the sites are away from highly populated areas, reducing project risks. "Some of the sites have a lot of space where a data center or a power plant could easily locate without running a risk of community opposition," said Mary Anne Sullivan, senior counsel at Hogan Lovells law firm in Washington, DC. Sites selected by the DOE include the Idaho National Laboratory, where the department has performed extensive site characterization and permitting activities for new nuclear reactors. The site is located in a region supportive of atomic energy and 'offers ample opportunity for development and scaling,' it said. Also on the list is the Pacific Northwest laboratory in Richland, Washington, located in a region with a growing presence of data centers and planned nuclear deployment. In October 2024, Amazon announced a partnership with Energy Northwest to develop an SMR project near the Columbia Generating Station nuclear power plant. Elsewhere, the DOE's Oak Ridge National Laboratory site in Tennessee is located five miles from Tennessee Valley Authority's proposed Clinch River Small Modular Reactor (SMR) project and has readily available water resources, which could attract more nuclear development in the future. CHART: Small modular reactor projects by country Supportive host communities with a long-standing nuclear history, along with high security standards at some of the sites, could favor nuclear power development, according to the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI). "There is already a natural inclination for data centers to seek nuclear power. Bringing, now, DOE land and encouraging that matching is going to be a catalyst to speed up (deployment) but also lead to new projects being pursued," said Marc Nichol, executive director of New Nuclear at NEI. Timing tight While the DOE is clearly keen to support new nuclear, the initial target timelines it has set out for the sites may favour gas-fired plants or combinations of renewable energy technologies. DOE wants the construction of AI and associated infrastructure to start later this year so the facilities become operational by the end of 2027. For exclusive insights on the energy transition, sign up to our newsletter. Solar and storage are the 'fastest and cheapest forms of energy to develop and deploy' and are the best way to meet the demand for colocated generation, Ben Norris, vice president of Regulatory Affairs for the SEIA, told Reuters Events. Developing a utility-scale solar project typically takes 1.4 years, and batteries take 1.7 years, SEIA said in a letter sent to the DOE in response to the RFI. In comparison, large conventional nuclear power plants take years to develop and build and many SMRs under development are based on new designs and are not expected to be approved and ready for commercial use until the end of the decade. In a bid to accelerate deployment, the DOE recently reissued a tender for $900 million of federal funding to help de-risk the construction of the first SMR reactors based on existing light water reactor (LWR) technologies and announced it would supply high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) to five companies that are developing SMRs based on a range of technologies. Even if SMRs are licensed earlier than 2030, a lack of domestic fuel enrichment capabilities will limit deployment. Nuclear is more likely to play a larger role in serving rising AI demand from the 2030s onwards, experts say. "The only bottleneck that is going to hold the U.S. back in terms of global AI leadership and dominance is speed to firm, reliable power," Hilary Lane, senior director for Strategic Partnerships at the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), said. "So given that this is the most important factor here, time and schedule, I can see them looking at gas as an option that could be coming online fairly quickly." "To roll out many reactor systems that could deliver power at that timeframe is a bit unfeasible," said James Walker, chief executive officer at Nano Nuclear Energy, a company developing microreactors. "In the future, nuclear will certainly be the bulk supplier of power for tech centers, but that will be post-2030."
Zawya
08-05-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Global Healthcare at a Crossroads: How One Initiative is Transforming Nigeria's Primary Care
In today's interconnected world, access to quality healthcare is a global imperative. As nations grapple with escalating healthcare challenges—from ageing populations in developed countries to systemic underfunding in emerging economies—primary healthcare remains universally recognised as the foundation upon which resilient health systems are built. Yet in many parts of the world, including Nigeria, decades of neglect have left millions without even the most basic medical services. Across continents, innovative approaches have emerged to address these disparities. In high-income countries, technological advancements and integrated care models have revolutionised patient outcomes. Meanwhile, in low- and middle-income settings, community-based interventions and public-private partnerships are becoming the beacon of hope. Nigeria, often described as the 'Giant of Africa,' stands at a critical juncture in its quest to provide accessible, quality healthcare for all its citizens. At the heart of Nigeria's struggle lies a paradox: despite the existence of over 30,000 primary healthcare centres (PHCs), only a fraction are equipped to offer even the most essential services. Long waiting times, inefficient record keeping, and dilapidated facilities are daily realities that compromise the health and well-being of countless Nigerians—especially those in rural and lowincome communities. Enter the Adopt-A-Healthcare-Facility Programme (ADHFP), a groundbreaking initiative that is reshaping Nigeria's health landscape. Conceived by Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Founder of the AigImoukhuede Foundation, and driven by the Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PSHAN), ADHFP is turning the tide on a struggling system. By committing to adopt and standardise at least one global standard Primary Health Care (PHC) facility in every local government area, the programme is setting in motion a model of sustainable, community-driven healthcare reform. What makes ADHFP so remarkable is its dual strategy. In some regions, the programme is constructing new facilities from the ground up—a bold 'greenfield' approach—while in others, it is rehabilitating and modernising existing centres through a 'brownfield' model. Both methods are tailored to meet the unique needs of local communities and are supported by robust multi stakeholder partnerships that pool resources, expertise, and accountability. The ADHFP initiative demonstrates that even a system burdened by decades of underinvestment can be revitalised through visionary leadership and coordinated effort. In Edo State, the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation is at the forefront of this revitalisation, having adopted a total of 23 PHCs—four of which have been fully revitalised—with additional projects well underway to improve the quality and accessibility of healthcare for citizens. Emphasising sustainability, the Foundation has also launched a comprehensive five-year plan to ensure that every adopted PHC continues to operate efficiently and meets evolving community needs. Nationwide, ADHFP has successfully led to the adoption of 215 PHCs, marking a significant step forward in enhancing healthcare services across the country. This proactive approach not only sets a new benchmark for healthcare delivery in Nigeria but also demonstrates the power of targeted, sustainable intervention in reshaping public services for the better. More broadly, ADHFP is a compelling example of how private sector engagement can catalyse public good. In a global context where the challenges of healthcare access are as diverse as they are complex, the innovative model offers valuable lessons. It demonstrates that with a clear strategy, targeted investments, and a steadfast commitment to excellence, systemic change is not only possible—it is within reach. As the world continues to seek solutions to its most pressing health challenges, Nigeria's primary healthcare transformation journey stands as an inspiring reminder that leadership matters. The pioneering work of PSHAN through ADHFP is a testament to the power of collective action and strategic innovation, offering a beacon of hope for Nigeria and for every nation striving to ensure that quality healthcare is a universal right. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation.
