Latest news with #GSO
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Malaysia boosts coal power output, imports to meet rising demand
SINGAPORE/KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is boosting coal-fired power output and importing the fuel at record levels, a Reuters analysis of data showed, taking advantage of low prices even as it pledges to increase use of gas-fuelled electricity generation in the longer term. The Southeast Asian nation is the fifth-largest exporter of liquefied natural gas but has said it could start importing the superchilled fuel due to rising demand and dwindling gas reserves. It has progressively ramped up coal-fired power output to address surging demand driven by data centres. Coal-fired power output in Peninsular Malaysia, which accounts for about 80% of power demand, rose nearly 9% in May and June. That was three times faster than power demand growth of 3%, data from Malaysia's Grid System Operator (GSO) showed. Output from coal-fired power plants rose 16.8% in the first half of July, the data showed, while power demand increased 5.2%. Rising demand has pushed Malaysia to import a record 20.9 million metric tons of coal in the first half of this year, data from analytics firm Kpler showed. "Low coal prices, coupled with regulated and capped power prices in Malaysia, have discouraged gas-fired generation this year," said Kesher Sumeet, LNG analyst at Energy Aspects. Coal's share of power generation rose to nearly 60% in the first half of 2025, the GSO data showed, putting it on track for the highest annual levels since the COVID-19 pandemic, while natural gas-fired power's share could slip to the lowest level since the pandemic's economic shutdown curbed demand. Gas-fired power output has fallen for ten straight months through June at an average of 11.3% every month, and fell 15.3% in the first half of July. Raksit Pattanapitoon, analyst at Rystad Energy, said Malaysia will continue to depend on coal in the short and medium-term as fuel costs are nearly 40% lower. "The tipping point will be when solar penetration into Malaysia's grid is sufficient to force inflexible, baseload coal to shut down during daytime, but Rystad Energy does not expect this to happen on a regular basis until the 2030s," he said. Malaysia plans to boost gas-fired capacity by 50% and more than double renewable capacity by 2030 to cut coal use and meet growing power demand from data centres - which are expected to rise to 52% of peninsular demand, from 2% now. Power demand fell during the first quarter due to tepid residential demand, but is expected to increase as much as 4.5% this year, according to state-run utility Tenaga Nasional Bhd . - Reuters
Time Business News
2 days ago
- Business
- Time Business News
Why Your Business in Dubai is Losing Money Without a Chiller Van
Dubai's scorching heat isn't just uncomfortable—it's a business killer. If your company deals with food, pharmaceuticals, flowers, frozen items, dairy products, beverages, catering services, or medical supplies, then listen closely: Without a reliable chiller van, you are risking thousands of dirhams in damaged goods, customer complaints, and lost contracts. A chiller van is a temperature-controlled refrigerated vehicle used to transport sensitive products that require a specific temperature range (usually 0°C to 5°C). In Dubai's extreme climate, this isn't a luxury—it's a lifeline for your business. Entities Covered: Refrigerated Transport Services in UAE HACCP Certified Vans Thermo King / Carrier Cooling Units Dubai Municipality Approved Fleet GSO Standard Compliance for Perishable Transport Zero Upfront Cost: No need to invest in expensive vehicles or maintenance. 100% Compliance: Our vans meet all Dubai Municipality and HACCP requirements. On-Demand Flexibility: Whether you need it for daily, weekly, or monthly use—we're ready. 24/7 Breakdown Support: Your goods are never left hanging. gives you access to a premium, GPS-tracked fleet with temperature integrity from pick-up to delivery. Let's get brutally honest—if you're in any of the following sectors and not using a chiller van, you're already behind your competitors: Restaurants & Catering Companies Supermarkets & Grocery Chains Meat & Poultry Suppliers Pharmaceutical Distributors Flower & Bouquet Services Ice Cream & Frozen Food Brands They're already using chiller vans. Are you? Ruined inventory due to heat exposure Lost customer trust due to poor delivery condition Legal action for health code violations Permanent loss of B2B contracts Let's cut the fluff: Every delivery made without a chiller van is a gamble. And in Dubai, the odds are against you. We're not just another rental service—we're your cold chain partner. Our fleet is built for Dubai's climate, equipped with advanced cooling systems, driven by trained, uniformed professionals, and backed by real-time support. What You Get: Fast same-day delivery service Adjustable temperature control (-18°C to +5°C) Certified hygienic interiors GPS tracking and route monitoring Emergency backup units available In Dubai's cutthroat business environment, using a chiller van isn't optional—it's non-negotiable. You can't afford to cut corners when it comes to transporting perishable goods. Stop bleeding delivering like a pro. Rent your chiller van today from TIME BUSINESS NEWS
IOL News
5 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Urgent reforms needed in Tshwane's waste management: Fleet mismanagement and theft exposed
The recently approved Tshwane council report points out that the metro's waste management department struggles with poor fleet oversight and operational inefficiencies. Image: Helenus Kruger / City of Tshwane The City of Tshwane's waste management department is struggling with poor fleet management, with inadequate supervisory oversight leading to neglected basic fleet control functions. According to a recently approved council report, vehicle inspections are not being conducted, vehicle abuse is rampant, and fuel theft is a regular occurrence at the waste fuel depot. The report, compiled by Abel Malaka, head of the metro's Environment and Agriculture Management Department, highlights years of underinvestment and inadequate maintenance as the root cause of the problem. This has compromised the reliability of solid waste management services, necessitating significant reforms to reverse the decline. The National Treasury has stepped in, introducing reforms for metropolitan municipalities, including performance-based incentives for good decision-making and performance. Malaka noted that the reforms aim to tackle operational inefficiencies and structural issues, with specific milestones to be met by July 31, 2025. However, the municipal office of the governance support officer (GSO) has raised concerns that the strategy may not effectively address the challenges related to waste fleet mismanagement if it fails to accurately identify the problems. The GSO office pointed out that the correlation between poorly maintained landfill sites and vehicle condition is not reflected in the strategy. This is not the first time the city's waste management department has faced criticism. Two months ago, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Agriculture and Environment Management, Obakeng Ramabodu, reported finding over 80 workers at a Region 3 waste management depot with nothing to do due to a lack of resources and vehicles. In a bid to stem the tide of theft, Deputy Mayor Eugene Modise last week warned workers against stealing equipment parts, equipment, or diesel at a handover ceremony for R11 million worth of horticultural equipment, saying such actions will lead to trouble with city management. Malaka noted that waste management services in metropolitan municipalities are experiencing deteriorating infrastructure due to inadequate maintenance and investment backlogs caused by budget constraints. This situation, he said, has significantly contributed to the decline in service performance. Despite the challenges, Ramabodu welcomed the strategy, expressing hope that it will enhance waste management, particularly in waste collection and billing. He said the city is open to innovations that can improve our billing system, leveraging the latest methods to ensure efficiency. The strategy, he noted, is not just an internal initiative, but a directive from National Treasury, aiming for an independent and effective waste management strategy with a well-understood billing system. [email protected]
Qatar Tribune
05-07-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Vietnam posts 7.5 percent growth in first half of 2025
Agencies Vietnam announced on Saturday its economy grew 7.52 percent in the first half of 2025, the highest in more than a decade as exports soared. The strong growth figure comes just days after southeast Asian manufacturing hub averted the most punishing of US President Donald Trump's threatened 'reciprocal' tariffs on its exports. 'GDP in the first six months of 2025 increased by 7.52 percent over the same period last year, the highest level of the first six months in the period 2011-2025,' the General Statistics Office said in a statement. The country achieved growth of 7.96 percent in the second quarter over the same period last year, the highest Q2 reading since 2022 when it hit 8.56 percent. 'Our country's socio-economic performance in the second quarter and the first six months of 2025 achieved very positive results, approaching the set target in the context of many uncertainties in the world and regional economy,' the GSO statement said. Vietnam—a global manufacturing hub—recorded economic growth of 7.1 percent last year and is aiming for eight percent this year as it vies for 'middle-income country' status by 2030. The nation has the third-biggest trade surplus with the United States of any country after China and Mexico, and was targeted with one of the highest rates in Trump's tariff blitz. Hanoi's trade deal with Washington announced this week has negotiated levies down from an eye-watering 46 percent to a minimum 20 percent in return for opening its market to US products. However the rate is around five times more than before Trump's second term, according to Bloomberg Economics, and the pact contains a clause seeding more uncertainty about vital supply chains with China. Trump says a 40 percent tariff will hit goods passing through Vietnam to circumvent steeper trade barriers targeting their nation of origin—a practice called 'transshipping'. Washington has accused Hanoi of using the practice to gate Beijing's products to American markets, but Chinese raw materials are also the lifeblood of Vietnam's manufacturing industries. In its outlook for Vietnam published Friday, Fitch Solutions said there were upside risks to its 2025 Vietnam GDP growth forecast of 6.4 percent as exports and investments remained strong. The United States is Vietnam's largest export market, worth $70.91 billion in the first half of the year. In the first six months of 2025, Vietnam's total goods exports reached $219.83 billion, up 14.4 percent over the same period last year, the GSO said, with processed industrial goods accounting for almost 90 percent of that. The statistics office said the reorganization of the country's government apparatus last month which saw most of its provinces and cities merged had been part of its efforts towards socio-economic development.
Kuwait Times
05-07-2025
- Business
- Kuwait Times
Vietnam posts 7.5% growth in first half of 2025
HANOI: Vietnam announced on Saturday its economy grew 7.52 percent in the first half of 2025, the highest in more than a decade as exports soared. The strong growth figure comes just days after southeast Asian manufacturing hub averted the most punishing of US President Donald Trump's threatened 'reciprocal' tariffs on its exports. 'GDP in the first six months of 2025 increased by 7.52 percent over the same period last year, the highest level of the first six months in the period 2011-2025,' the General Statistics Office said in a statement. The country achieved growth of 7.96 percent in the second quarter over the same period last year, the highest Q2 reading since 2022 when it hit 8.56 percent. 'Our country's socio-economic performance in the second quarter and the first six months of 2025 achieved very positive results, approaching the set target in the context of many uncertainties in the world and regional economy,' the GSO statement said. Vietnam—a global manufacturing hub—recorded economic growth of 7.1 percent last year and is aiming for eight percent this year as it vies for 'middle-income country' status by 2030. The nation has the third-biggest trade surplus with the United States of any country after China and Mexico, and was targeted with one of the highest rates in Trump's tariff blitz. Hanoi's trade deal with Washington announced this week has negotiated levies down from an eye-watering 46 percent to a minimum 20 percent in return for opening its market to US products. However the rate is around five times more than before Trump's second term, according to Bloomberg Economics, and the pact contains a clause seeding more uncertainty about vital supply chains with China. Trump says a 40 percent tariff will hit goods passing through Vietnam to circumvent steeper trade barriers targeting their nation of origin—a practice called 'transshipping'. Washington has accused Hanoi of using the practice to gate Beijing's products to American markets, but Chinese raw materials are also the lifeblood of Vietnam's manufacturing industries. In its outlook for Vietnam published Friday, Fitch Solutions said there were upside risks to its 2025 Vietnam GDP growth forecast of 6.4 percent as exports and investments remained strong. The United States is Vietnam's largest export market, worth $70.91 billion in the first half of the year. In the first six months of 2025, Vietnam's total goods exports reached $219.83 billion, up 14.4 percent over the same period last year, the GSO said, with processed industrial goods accounting for almost 90 percent of that. The statistics office said the reorganization of the country's government apparatus last month which saw most of its provinces and cities merged had been part of its efforts towards socio-economic development. — AFP
