China Blasts Australian Blocking of Grid Sale
China voiced anger on Friday over a decision by Australia to rule out on security grounds the preferred Chinese bidders for an energy grid potentially worth more than $7 billion and restart the sale process. Australia's Treasurer Scott Morrison, who must approve major foreign investments, formally blocked the sale of Ausgrid to State Grid Corp of China and Hong Kong's Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings earlier in the day. Last month, Britain said it would review plans to build two nuclear reactors at Hinkley Point with financial backing from China General Nuclear.
QinetiQ Names CEO for OptaSense
QinetiQ has appointed Jamie Pollard as CEO of its Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) subsidiary, OptaSense. Pollard brings over 20 years’ of experience from oilfield services company Schlumberger, where he ran and grew large global businesses and joint ventures, working across the U.K., U.S., Continental Europe and Africa. Pollard graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Loughborough University of Technology. Steve Wadey, CEO of QinetiQ said, “I am delighted…
Ukraine Suspends Gas to Eastern Regions
Ukraine has suspended supplies of gas to its eastern regions because the gas network was damaged by fighting between pro-Russian separatists and government forces, Ukrainian state gas firm Naftogaz said on Thursday. "Due to the extensive damage of the gas transport networks, the supply of gas ... was suspended on Feb. 18. The resumption of gas supplies is not yet possible because of the ongoing hostilities in the region," the company said in a statement. Reporting by Pavel Polityuk
Tanzania: China-Funded Port Work Starts in 2015
Construction of a Chinese-funded port and special economic zone in Tanzania worth at least $10 billion will start in July 2015, the president's office said in a statement on Monday, for the first time setting a start date for the delayed initiative. Tanzania aims to build a huge port at Bagamoyo, 75 km (47 miles) north of commercial capital Dar es Salaam, the site of the country's main port, where shippers complain of congestion and inefficiencies. A construction agreement for the port and associated zone was signed on Sunday and follows a framework deal signed last year.
