Latest news with #ImpactReport
Observer
3 days ago
- Business
- Observer
Oman eyes strategic share of global polysilicon market
MUSCAT: With the Sultanate of Oman just months away from commissioning its $1.6 billion polysilicon production facility in SOHAR Port and Freezone, Oman is set to rank second only to China as one of the world's largest producers of this strategic commodity — central to the global solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing industry. United Solar Polysilicon, slated for launch before the end of this year, will be the first polysilicon project in the Middle East. Once fully operational, the plant — designed with an annual production capacity of 100,000 tonnes — will position Oman as the second-largest producer globally, with an estimated 4.4 per cent share of worldwide capacity. 'The project aims to position Oman as a key player in the global photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing supply chain, reducing dependency on China-based production,' said the Oman Investment Authority (OIA), which has invested $156 million in the venture through Future Fund Oman (FFO), a platform that supports investments in strategic sectors of the Omani economy. China remains a polysilicon manufacturing powerhouse, accounting for around 93 per cent (equivalent to 2 million tonnes per year) of the world's total production capacity of 2.1 million tonnes. A distant second is Germany, with a 2.9-per cent share (65,000 tonnes), followed by the United States and Malaysia, each with 1.5 per cent (34,000 tonnes). In value terms, the global market was estimated at $34.3 billion as of end-2023. According to OIA, the decision to site the polysilicon project in Oman was based on several competitive advantages, foremost among them government support. 'A national negotiation team streamlined discussions, ensuring a smooth process for securing leases, utilities and incentives,' noted Oxford Business Group in an Impact Report on Future Fund Oman. Other factors influencing the investment decision included: Competitive electricity prices, crucial for maintaining profit margins; Proximity to SOHAR Port and Freezone, enabling efficient import of raw materials and export of finished products; Access to the US market via the Oman–US Free Trade Agreement (FTA), allowing tariff-free exports; and a favourable regulatory environment. In addition, the project grants Oman a strategic entry into the global solar renewables supply chain. Detailing the production process, the Impact Report explained: 'The solar PV manufacturing process begins with the production of high-purity polysilicon, which is then melted and shaped into cylindrical ingots. 'These ingots are sliced into thin wafers, forming the base for solar cells. The cells undergo various treatments to enhance their efficiency in converting sunlight into electricity. 'Finally, the cells are assembled into modules (solar panels) ready for installation in energy systems. This process is critical to the growth of renewable energy infrastructure worldwide.' Currently, around 4,000 contractual construction workers are engaged in building the sprawling complex, which spans 160,000 m² within the SOHAR Port and Freezone. During the operational phase, the plant will employ 1,000 to 2,000 staff, with Omanisation targeted at 70 per cent by 2030 through a combination of training and technology transfer programmes.
Business News Wales
22-07-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
British Business Bank Boosts Welsh Economy by £200m as 900 Businesses Secure Support
The British Business Bank has supported 900 Welsh businesses in the past year, supporting 10,800 existing jobs. This activity is expected to help Welsh businesses earn £500 million in additional business turnover over the lifetime of their finance, equivalent to £200 million in economic output to the Welsh economy. It is also expected to help create 900 new jobs over the lifetime of the finance. One of the key drivers of this impact is the bank's £130 million Investment Fund for Wales (IFW), which last month reached its £18 million milestone, following 71 investments into over 67 businesses located across Wales, It includes an additional £3 million of private sector co-investment which has been leveraged as a result of the IFW's support. The fund offers loans from £25,000 up to equity investment of £5 million throughout the region. The bank's second annual Impact Report, which covers 2024/25, comes as it gears up to deliver a step change in financing support to smaller businesses after its financial capacity was increased to £25.6 billion in June's Spending Review, enabling it to increase annual investments to around £2.5 billion a year and to crowd in more third party capital. A total of 84% of the businesses supported by the bank in 2024/25 were based outside of London. Susan Nightingale, UK Network Director at the British Business Bank, said: 'Delivering impact is why we exist. By improving access to finance for smaller businesses, we help drive growth and prosperity across the UK, measured in the creation of new jobs and increased economic output. 'The data in the new Impact Report reflects the growing role we play in supporting entrepreneurs and business owners, something that is underpinned by over a decade of proven delivery. It's through this work that we ensure smaller businesses right across Wales, can realise their full potential.' Nationwide the bank facilitated £6.8 billion of finance for smaller businesses, including £1.2 billion in public funding, £2.6 billion in lending guaranteed, and £3.0 billion in private capital crowding in. This enabled the bank to support 24,000 businesses that hadn't received bank-supported funding before, as well as 4,000 that were first funded by the bank before 2024/25. 84% of the businesses supported were outside of London. The expected impacts over the life of this finance are: The creation of 38,000 additional jobs £18.0 billion of additional business turnover, equivalent to an extra £8.0 billion of economic output A more than £100 million boost in economic output in each and every UK nation and region
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
First Carbon Neutral ITAD and E-Waste Recycling Company, ERI, Details its Circularity Innovations in Latest Impact Report
FRESNO, Calif., June 25, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ERI, the nation's first carbon neutral (and only truly circular) electronics recycler and ITAD services provider, recently shared details of its tech innovations, circularity best practices and radical transparency in its fifth annual Impact Report for Fiscal Year 2024, which can be accessed on the company's website at ERI's report summarizes the impact of its achievements from the previous year and demonstrates the company's dedication to exceed its sustainability and circularity goals and benchmarks based on ongoing materiality reviews year-over-year. Among the notable accomplishments detailed in the report, ERI remains the world's only ITAD/electronic recycling company to have achieved carbon neutral status at all of its facilities. The report also highlights ERI's unique focus on innovation. The fully illustrated document provides descriptions of a number of ESG-related highlights from last year, including: Details of the company's new state-of-the-art proprietary alkaline battery recycling process; The company's ISO 27001 certification; ERI's critical role in CEP's groundbreaking global consumer electronics design guide; ERI's game-changing collaboration with Staples to establish heightened consumer opportunities to recycle electronics and batteries; Multiple honors and awards, including ERI receiving the SustainableIT Impact Award and ERI's Chairman/CEO John Shegerian being named to City & State New York's "Responsible 100" list; Continued improvements in ERI's technology to become more transparent, provide better services for customers while continuing to push sustainability and data security forward through innovation; New R&D focused on genuine circularity; and much more. "ERI is proud to be the world's first ITAD and electronics recycling company to achieve carbon neutral status for all our operations, which includes all eight of our industry-leading certified facilities," said John Shegerian, ERI's Chairman and CEO. "As our latest Impact report clearly demonstrates, we are continuing to build on this success and look forward to further growing our shareholders' value – all while making the world a better and more sustainable place." ERI is the largest fully integrated IT and electronics asset disposition provider and responsible hardware destruction company in the United States. ERI is certified at the highest level by all leading environmental and data security oversight organizations to de-manufacture, recycle, and refurbish every type of electronic device in an environmentally responsible manner. It is the first and only company in its industry to achieve carbon neutrality at all its facilities nationwide, and the first to achieve ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type II certifications for security and data protection. ERI has the capacity to process more than a billion pounds of electronic waste annually at its eight certified locations, serving every zip code in the United States. ERI's mission is to protect people, the planet and privacy. For more information about ITAD services and e-waste recycling at ERI, call 1-800-ERI-DIRECT or visit View source version on Contacts Media contact: Paul Williams, 310/569-0023, Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
25-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
First Carbon Neutral ITAD and E-Waste Recycling Company, ERI, Details its Circularity Innovations in Latest Impact Report
FRESNO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ERI, the nation's first carbon neutral (and only truly circular) electronics recycler and ITAD services provider, recently shared details of its tech innovations, circularity best practices and radical transparency in its fifth annual Impact Report for Fiscal Year 2024, which can be accessed on the company's website at ERI's report summarizes the impact of its achievements from the previous year and demonstrates the company's dedication to exceed its sustainability and circularity goals and benchmarks based on ongoing materiality reviews year-over-year. Among the notable accomplishments detailed in the report, ERI remains the world's only ITAD/electronic recycling company to have achieved carbon neutral status at all of its facilities. The report also highlights ERI's unique focus on innovation. The fully illustrated document provides descriptions of a number of ESG-related highlights from last year, including: Details of the company's new state-of-the-art proprietary alkaline battery recycling process; The company's ISO 27001 certification; ERI's critical role in CEP's groundbreaking global consumer electronics design guide; ERI's game-changing collaboration with Staples to establish heightened consumer opportunities to recycle electronics and batteries; Multiple honors and awards, including ERI receiving the SustainableIT Impact Award and ERI's Chairman/CEO John Shegerian being named to City & State New York's 'Responsible 100' list; Continued improvements in ERI's technology to become more transparent, provide better services for customers while continuing to push sustainability and data security forward through innovation; New R&D focused on genuine circularity; and much more. 'ERI is proud to be the world's first ITAD and electronics recycling company to achieve carbon neutral status for all our operations, which includes all eight of our industry-leading certified facilities,' said John Shegerian, ERI's Chairman and CEO. 'As our latest Impact report clearly demonstrates, we are continuing to build on this success and look forward to further growing our shareholders' value – all while making the world a better and more sustainable place.' ERI is the largest fully integrated IT and electronics asset disposition provider and responsible hardware destruction company in the United States. ERI is certified at the highest level by all leading environmental and data security oversight organizations to de-manufacture, recycle, and refurbish every type of electronic device in an environmentally responsible manner. It is the first and only company in its industry to achieve carbon neutrality at all its facilities nationwide, and the first to achieve ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type II certifications for security and data protection. ERI has the capacity to process more than a billion pounds of electronic waste annually at its eight certified locations, serving every zip code in the United States. ERI's mission is to protect people, the planet and privacy. For more information about ITAD services and e-waste recycling at ERI, call 1-800-ERI-DIRECT or visit
Scotsman
17-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Scotsman
Lifecare add to community life
LifeCare's dedicated staff team with volunteers, room-bookers and hub-goers Congrat-ulations to the team at Lifecare Edinburgh on the launch of their 2024–2025 Impact Report and the unveiling of their stunning new community mosaic. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Milestones like these remind us just how important organisations like Lifecare are to the wellbeing of our communities. For over 80 years, Lifecare has supported older people across Edinburgh to live well and independently. Based in Stockbridge, the charity offers day clubs, outreach care and a welcoming community café. Their work tackles isolation, supports carers, and improves health outcomes – all while fostering connection and community. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The latest Impact Report highlights the depth of their contribution. In the past year alone, Lifecare delivered over 31,000 hours of care at home, hosted more than 15,000 visits to their café and provided over 7000 hot meals. These figures speak to the scale of need in our city – and the dedication of staff and volunteers working tirelessly to meet it. The new mosaic, created by volunteers, clients and staff, is a fantastic reflection of Lifecare's inclusive and collaborative spirit. It is a symbol of what can be achieved when people come together with shared purpose. As an MSP, I've been working to ensure we consider issues like these more closely – especially through the Edinburgh Central Housing and Neighbourhood Survey, which explores many of the challenges and community solutions organisations like Lifecare are addressing every day. Their work is essential, and I encourage everyone to learn more about the report to understand more about this important issue affecting many in Edinburgh and beyond.
