The rush towards biofuels is theatening world food production and the lives of billions of people, the Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser said yesterday.
Professor John Beddington put himself at odds with ministers who have committed Britain to large increases in the use of biofuels over the coming decades. In his first important public speech since he was appointed, he described the potential impacts of food shortages as the “elephant in the room” and a problem which rivalled that of climate change. - The Times
Gas and electricity consumers could face further rises in bills to pay for the renovation and renewal of the infrastructure, energy regulator Ofgem said. - The Daily Telegraph
The UN agency in charge of alleviating world hunger warned the European Union on Thursday that the fast-growing use of biofuels is driving up food prices for the world's poor.
"The shift to biofuels production has diverted lands out of the food chain," World Food Programme executive director Josette Sheeran told lawmakers at the European Parliament in Brussels. - France24
Oil prices surged past 105 dollars for the first time on Thursday as traders reacted to a surprisingly sharp fall in US crude reserves and the plunging US dollar, analysts said. - France24
OPEC's decision not to pump more oil when prices are at record peaks almost daily could leave the oil market vulnerable to further price spikes. - Reuters
Ofgem, the energy watchdog, began a sweeping investigation yesterday into the way that the gas and electricity networks are regulated in the UK.
The two-year review is designed to spur greater investment in the new pipes and wires needed to support a huge planned expansion of offshore wind, nuclear power and gas storage. - The Times
The most wide-ranging sell-off of British nuclear assets was under way last night, with the private sector being offered everything from stockpiled uranium to atomic fuel manufacturing plants and land at 18 sites.
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), which is nursing a £300m budget overrun for 2006-07 alone, is attempting to raise cash to help pay for a £72bn clean-up bill. It looks set to win bids from E.ON of Germany and other power companies that are keen to build nuclear generating plants next to some of the NDA's key locations, such as Sellafield in Cumbria and Wylfa on Anglesey. - The Guardian
Pakistan's national electricity provider shut off power to Karachi, the country's largest city, yesterday because of an unpaid bill, leaving more than 15 million people without electricity for much of the day, officials said.
The Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) pulled the plug at around 8am because of the money owed it by the local municipal power authority, and by mid-afternoon about 70% of the city was still waiting to be reconnected. - The Guardian
Professor John Beddington put himself at odds with ministers who have committed Britain to large increases in the use of biofuels over the coming decades. In his first important public speech since he was appointed, he described the potential impacts of food shortages as the “elephant in the room” and a problem which rivalled that of climate change. - The Times
Gas and electricity consumers could face further rises in bills to pay for the renovation and renewal of the infrastructure, energy regulator Ofgem said. - The Daily Telegraph
The UN agency in charge of alleviating world hunger warned the European Union on Thursday that the fast-growing use of biofuels is driving up food prices for the world's poor.
"The shift to biofuels production has diverted lands out of the food chain," World Food Programme executive director Josette Sheeran told lawmakers at the European Parliament in Brussels. - France24
Oil prices surged past 105 dollars for the first time on Thursday as traders reacted to a surprisingly sharp fall in US crude reserves and the plunging US dollar, analysts said. - France24
OPEC's decision not to pump more oil when prices are at record peaks almost daily could leave the oil market vulnerable to further price spikes. - Reuters
Ofgem, the energy watchdog, began a sweeping investigation yesterday into the way that the gas and electricity networks are regulated in the UK.
The two-year review is designed to spur greater investment in the new pipes and wires needed to support a huge planned expansion of offshore wind, nuclear power and gas storage. - The Times
The most wide-ranging sell-off of British nuclear assets was under way last night, with the private sector being offered everything from stockpiled uranium to atomic fuel manufacturing plants and land at 18 sites.
The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), which is nursing a £300m budget overrun for 2006-07 alone, is attempting to raise cash to help pay for a £72bn clean-up bill. It looks set to win bids from E.ON of Germany and other power companies that are keen to build nuclear generating plants next to some of the NDA's key locations, such as Sellafield in Cumbria and Wylfa on Anglesey. - The Guardian
Pakistan's national electricity provider shut off power to Karachi, the country's largest city, yesterday because of an unpaid bill, leaving more than 15 million people without electricity for much of the day, officials said.
The Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) pulled the plug at around 8am because of the money owed it by the local municipal power authority, and by mid-afternoon about 70% of the city was still waiting to be reconnected. - The Guardian
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