Hi International Shipping Goes Green:

Hi International Shipping Goes Green:

The world's economy continues to be buoyed by its oceans. Approximately 90 percent of all international trade is exchanged by vessels, and between tankers and intermodal container transport ships, they represent 65 of the 68 largest ships in operation.

Of course, the negative environmental effects of huge shipping vessels are well documented. International Maritime Organization predicts that carbon dioxide emissions from shipping would constitute 72 percent of human-made emissions by the year 2020. Considering cargo weight and transport distance, shipping via sea is the most efficient and economical, but annual increases in the amount of tonnage traded and distances traveled mean most efficiency gains are offset by increased usage.

A variety of engineering solutions have been implemented to keep mega-ships financially afloat.

Wind power returns:

In 2007, German shipping company Beluga Group launched MS Baluga Skysails, a 433 ft. long container ship. Notably, the ship receives auxiliary power from a paraglider attached to the front of the ship that reduces fuel consumption between 20 and 30 percent. The largest of the paragliders, up to 6,500 ft.², can exert as much towing power as a 6,800 hp engine. A pod-based logic controller system links the canopy and the towline to determine the optimal flying height (up to 1,600 ft.), wind direction, and speed.

Overall, Skysails have been slow to catch on, though the company says 40,000 container ships can be retrofitted with the system.

Dual props, slower speeds:

International shipping operator Maersk operates the current largest ships in the world, their Triple E class of container ships, of which there are 20. The handful of vessels larger than their Triple E Class have all been retired and dismantled because they weren't sustainable enough. So when Maersk launched their first Triple E in 2013, they knew that many operational changes were necessary in order to keep the ships viable.

Despite being the largest ships ever, Maersk claims there is a 20 percent improvement in operational efficiency over their second largest fleet of ships, the E class. This savings comes primarily from reduced throttle speeds. Most of Triple E transit is conducted at 19 knots, and the ship have maximum speed of 23 knots. This is considerably slower than other container ships (up to 28 knots), but it is considered the optimum operating speed which reduces power consumption. This adds 2-6 days to each journey.

Efficiency also stems from a unique twin propeller arrangement. Most container ships utilize just a single propeller, as they're more efficient because the dueling draughts of two propellers often result in parasitic drag. But the Triple E class has two 9.8 m four-bladed screw propellers, compared to the single 9.9 m six-bladed screw propellers, contributing 4 percent better efficiency and better pressure distribution. In this instance, the significantly larger disc area of the propellers compensates for conflicting vortices. The ship is also fitted with an innovative, $10 million waste heat recovery system, and Maersk is considering adding exhaust treatment systems as well.

LNG tankers run via boil-off:

While the Triple E is the largest container ship, the Q-max is the largest liquefied natural gas tanker, as it's 80 percent larger than most LNG carriers. Just as LNG trade has increased, LNG carriers have become more prominent. But it would be an oxymoron for a ship that provides for essential services for a booming green industry to also be an emissions giant. As such, the ship uses two low power diesel engines to power a dual propeller arrangement. Since the natural gas needs to be supercooled, the vessel maintains an internal membrane which waffles or compresses to minimize thermal effects on the vessel hull. Naturally, some of the gas transitions to vapor, where a system captures it and returns it to a liquefied state. Most LNG carriers recapture LNG at rates of 99 percent or more.

But the tankers can also run on the boil-off gas from its recapture system. The company that owns the 14 Q-maxs has initiated conversion on its fleet, so the diesel engines can also run via recaptured LNG. The result is a tanker that has a significant reduction in emissions, engines that require less periodic maintenance, fuel supply flexibility, and ultimately risk reduction.

Like many industries, international shipping businesses are adjusting to new environmental regulations that determine in which nations they can do business. Efficiency equals increased profitability, so it's ultimately a business decision to create a new generation of shipping vessels. Until a true bridge-over-the-ocean engineering project comes true, even more efficient ships are needed to offset the increasingly global marketplace.

!!!Hi GREEN DISCLOSURE!!!

Hi UPDATE 2-Egypt pays $1.5 bln to foreign energy companies - oil ministry.

Hi UPDATE 2-Egypt pays $1.5 bln to foreign energy companies - oil ministry.

(Updates to include financing details)

Oct 2 (Reuters) - Egypt has paid $1.5 billion of its debt to foreign energy companies, the oil ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

Egypt has delayed payments to oil and gas firms since a popular uprising ousted autocrat Hosni Mubarak in 2011 and brought on almost three years of instability. Some of the debts were incurred before the revolt.

The Arab world's most populous country faces its worst energy crisis in decades. It still owes foreign energy firms $4.9 billion after this latest payment, which was financed by a loan from Egyptian banks, according to the statement.

"The government aims to reduce the debt owed to partners in the oil sector to an appropriate level to motivate them to intensify research and exploration," said Oil Minister Sherif Ismail.

Egypt's last payment to foreign energy companies was $1.5 billion made at the end of last December to oil majors including BP and BG Group. At the time, BG Group was owed the most. It is unclear which companies will benefit from today's payment.

The oil ministry's figures indicate that Egypt's debt was at $6.4 billion immediately before this payment, up from the $5.9 billion reported at the end of April. That indicates Egypt has accumulated $500 million in fresh debt over the past five months.

Today's $1.5 billion payment was financed through a 10 billion Egyptian pound loan from the National Bank of Egypt.

"We moved 10 billion pounds to the account of (state oil company) EGPC, which included $550 million dollars," Mahmoud Montasser, vice-president at the commercial bank, said in a telephone interview, saying it was the biggest such loan ever made in Egypt.

The oil minister said on Tuesday that Egypt would begin seeking a similar loan from international banks after next week's Eid holiday.

Gas production is steadily declining in Egypt while consumption keeps rising but firms are reluctant to increase investment after the government fell behind on payments. (Reporting By Ehab Farouk, Adel Abdel Rahman and Shadi Bushra; Editing by Larry King/Ruth Pitchford).

UAE & Egyptian Sustainability Industry Ties & Investment Partnership

 Hi Regional Economic News Focus - Middle East & African Investors - Egypt.

Citadel Capital bullish on Egypt’s return to growth

Citadel Capital Click Here to visit company web site, a major investment company in Africa and the Middle East with $9.5 billion in investments under control, was a key participant at the Egypt GCC Investment Forum Click Here to visit organizers web site for details, a two-day event hosted by the Egyptian Ministry of Investment in partnership with the UAE and Euro money Conferences.

"President Adly Mansour"

"President Adly Mansour received Thursday in the presidential palace a delegation from the Gulf-Egyptian investment forum, currently held in Cairo under the rubric "A Strategic Partnership and Economic Integrity." The forum is held under the auspices of Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)."

Investor

The event brings together top-tier Egyptian and GCC private sector investors, financiers and leading government officials from Egypt and the GCC to discuss strategic partnerships and new investment opportunities in Egypt as the government attempts to jump-start the economy and capitalize on rising investor confidence. 

Strategic Partnerships & New investment Opportunities. 

“Egypt has always had an economy that has the capacity to absorb investments and we as a country have always been able to find the right track. Granted, there may be heartache and frustration along the way, but when all is said and done, Egypt has always done the right thing. Right now Egypt needs investments. In order to achieve a growth rate of 7 percent, we need $20-$25 billion in new investments,” said Citadel Capital Founder and Chairman Ahmed Heikal during a keynote interview at the forum.

Economic Growth

“In this context, two things are clear: We enjoy immense support from the Gulf countries not just in budget support and direct aid to the government, but from companies and countries with a genuine interest in helping Egypt build its infrastructure base. Secondly, I believe it is patently obvious that energy policy is at the root of our macro challenges today. The simple fact is that had increased the price of petroleum products by 17 piasters per annul starting in 2000, the total debt of the Egyptian government today would have been zero,” he said.

Heikal pointed out that the startling statistic underscores the necessity of adopting a much more aggressive strategy as regards energy pricing. 

New Strategic Possibilities

“People are now aware of the problem — and that’s the first part of finding a solution. But talking isn't enough: Now is the time for implementing solutions. The funding that we have received from the Gulf States has allowed us to avoid major problems, this does not however change the fact that we cannot continue to ignore the impending crisis that will occur once this funding is discontinued. Energy prices need to be liberalized gradually lest we wish to see a spike in inflation at the same time as we face rising unemployment as a result of failing enterprises. With that in mind, we need to cushion the impact of price rises through a system of direct cash subsidies to consumers,” added Heikal.

Consumer Subsidies

Asked about the concerns of GCC investors — such as the legal environment and whether or not the current regulatory framework can ensure the safety of their investments — Heikal pointed out that “despite the uncertainty and the very real problems that are delaying the completion of projects in the interim, the risk-reward relationship is still very favorable in Egypt.” 

Egypt 

Heikal added: “I think that the lack of resolution on the political front and the bureaucratic delays have without a doubt hampered Egypt’s capacity to attract new investment, but GCC investors are still finding it worthwhile to invest in Egypt. There are still excellent opportunities out there for large deals in key sectors such as energy and infrastructure that have attracted and will continue to attract large amounts of capital coming from the Gulf.” 

Egypt's Capital

A case in point is Citadel Capital’s Egyptian Refining Company (ERC), a $3.7 billion second stage oil refinery that will reduce Egypt’s present day diesel imports by more than half, generate more than $300 million in annual benefits to the state treasury, and reduce by nearly one-third the country’s present sulfur dioxide emissions. The financing package for ERC, one of the largest-ever project finance deals in Africa, was completed post revolution with an international pool of investors that included Gulf-based sovereign wealth funds. 

Oil Refinery

Asked what advice he would give to the government, Heikal noted that a shield law for government officials who are taking legitimate decisions that are discretionary in nature is a must to avoid bureaucratic inertia. 

He also added that additional institutional capacity was required. “We need to be able to attract higher calibers in the government and we also need to raise the productivity of the Egyptian economy as a whole, which means enacting policies regarding the types of investments we want to encourage bearing in mind energy, water and electricity consumption,” said Heikal. 

Outlook 

Citadel Capital also participated in two targeted sector workshops on renewable energy and hydrocarbons that featured government ministers and industry experts. Leading the discussion on hydrocarbons was Citadel Capital Managing Director for Energy Investments Mohamed Shoeib who highlighted the importance of future cooperation between the government and private sector investors in the hydrocarbons sector.

Energy

“To keep pace with projected economic growth and provide much needed energy capacity in the region Citadel Capital has invested heavily in energy as one of its five core industries. Our integrated energy investments cover the full value chain and include refining, energy distribution, power generation and alternative fuels,” said Shoeib, an industry veteran with over 30 years experience in the upstream and downstream oil and gas sector in Egypt. 

Opportunity

Khaled Abu Bakr, executive chairman of Citadel Capital’s energy distribution platform, TAQA Arabia, participated in a workshop that discussed the role of renewable energy in sustainable development and explored the policy and regulatory framework that is required in order to facilitate and encourage more investments of this nature, which will be crucial for Egypt’s energy security going forward. 

Framework

TAQA Arabia is the largest private sector energy distribution company in Egypt with over 16 years of experience, investing and operating energy infrastructure including gas transmission and distribution through its largest operational arm, TAQA Gas. As part of it’s ongoing effort to grow the energy sector in Egypt and meet increasing domestic demand, TAQA Arabia recently entered into an agreement with the Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources to connect 66,000 homes with natural gas. 

Development

The growth of Citadel Capital’s energy investment comes as the firm continues its transformation of its business model from a private equity firm to Africa’s leading investment company. Energy is one of Citadel Capital’s five core industries alongside transportation, agriculture agrifoods, mining, and cement.

Triumph

Egypt's GCC Investment Forum Further Information Links;

The Egypt/GCC Investment Forum Agenda - English  Click Here to download.

The Egypt/GCC Investment Forum Agenda - Arabic   Click Here to download.

Click Here or Image Above To Download Citadel Capital’s Annual Report 2012

Growing Investments

*The original publication referenced from was briefly edited & remains to be the main source of this publication article. The source of this article is published by Arab news & you may click here  to visit the site & view the original article source. 

Hi Blog Topic of Our Times "Air pollution And Climate"

Hi Combat  Air pollution  And Climate Change Simultaneously

Current economic growth will intensify air quality problems in Asia unless current pollution control laws are significantly upgraded:

1. Population growth and  development will further boost the level of economic activities in Asia:

In asia, population growth combined with the envisaged increase in economic wealth will multiply current levels of energy use, traffic, industrial production and agricultural output in the coming decades. for instance, the Indian government foresees total energy consumption to increase by a factor of 4.5 between 2005 and 2030.

2. Current air pollution control strategies will not be sufficient to balance out the negative effects:

unless current emission control laws are tightened, this economic growth will lead to substantially higher emissions of harmful air pollutants. Increased coal consumption would multiply current emissions of sulfur dioxide in India by a factor of 5 by 2030. depending on the effectiveness of the implementation of current emission control regulations for vehicles, emissions of nitrogen oxides would grow by a factor of2.5 to 3 by 2030. and greenhouse gas emissions are expected to increase by a factor of 4 by 2030. 

3. Deteriorating air quality will cause serious impacts on human health and vegetation, including economically important crops:

This growth in emissions will deteriorate asian air quality further, and cause serious impacts on human health and vegetation. the gaIns model estimates that outdoor exposure to fine particulate matter will, by 2030, shorten statistical life expectancy in India by 57 (29-80) months, compared to 17 (8-23) months in 2005. higher ground-level ozone means crop losses of wheat, corn and rice will triple or more by 2030. In essence, GAINS is a scenario-generating device that helps users to understand the impacts of future actions – or inaction – and to design strategies to achieve long-term environmental goals at the lowest possible cost.The GAINS model analyses the multiple sources and multiple effects of five air pollutants and six greenhouse gases to identify their most cost-effective control. 

4. Advanced emission control technologies are available to maintain acceptable levels of air quality despite the pressure from growing economic activities.

There are two broad methods to cut air pollution; either reducing the levels of activities that emit the pollutants; or not changing production and consumption levels but controlling the waste they

produce. the latter method is known as end-of-pipe emission control technology and by fully applying existing technical measures asia can avoid serious deteriorations in air quality. however, such an undifferentiated across-the board approach would impose significant burdens on the economy.

5. A cost-effective strategy can reduce costs for air pollution control by up to 80% compared to conventional approaches:


an optimized emission control strategy, which selectively allocates specific reduction measures across economic sectors, pollutants and regions, could achieve equal air quality improvements at only 20% of the costs of a conventional across-the-board approach. the gaIns optimization tool allows a systematic search for those measures that ensure total emission control costs are minimized. for asia, an integral element of such an air pollution control strategy will be measures to eliminate indoor pollution from the

combustion of solid fuels.

6. Enhancing air quality in Asia improves the environment, human health, and agricultural productivity:


The gaIns model allows policymakers in china and India to analyse and design their own air pollution control strategy. the benefits of such a strategy are illustrated in the following example. air pollution lowers statistical life expectancy in china, these health impacts could be reduced by 43% by 2030 by using available technology to improve ambient air quality. this can be achieved at an additional expense of 0.63% of gdp with a conventional across-the-board approach to reducing air pollutants or at only an additional cost of 0.13% of gdp using the targeted approach of gaIns. The investment will also reduce crop losses by around 50% and have far ranging positive impacts on the environment.

Well-designed air pollution control strategies can also reduce emissions of greenhouse gases:

1. Measures exist that simultaneously reduce emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases:

In many cases emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases are emitted from the same sources. thus, controls directed at air pollutants frequently affect greenhouse gas emissions, and vice versa. the gaIns model provides an integrated perspective that can maximize synergies between air pollution 

control and greenhouse gas mitigation strategies. 

2. Strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions can dramatically lower air pollution control costs:

for achieving given targets on ambient air quality, the cost of air pollution controls can be further reduced by adopting certain low carbon strategies. gaIns demonstrates that the additional controls of climate-friendly measures, e.g., energy efficiency improvements, co-generation of heat and power, fuel substitution, integrated coal gasification combined cycle (Igcc) plants, etc., are more than compensated for by savings in air pollution control equipment.

3. A smart mix of measures to simultaneously cut air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions will help combat climate change and air pollution more cheaply than tackling either issue separately.

GaIns demonstrates that low carbon strategies result in lower emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and fine particulate matter at no additional costs. for china, India, and europe, gaIns estimates that each percent of co2 reduction will typically reduce health impacts from fine particulate (pm) air pollution by 1%. this is important information for judging the net benefits of greenhouse gas mitigation 

strategies. gaIns also shows by selecting a smart mix of measures to simultaneously cut air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, china can almost halve air pollution control costs as well as lower 

greenhouse gas emissions by 9 %.

A scientific tool to combat air pollution and climate change simultaneously