By Albin Sybera Former Czech premier Andrej Babis has ended weeks of speculation by formally declaring his candidacy for the Czech presidency. The news came as a surprise after the controversial populist billionaire had scattered hints in recent months…
Poland picks Westinghouse Electric to build first nuclear power plant
By Wojciech Kosc in Warsaw US company Westinghouse Electric will build Poland’s first nuclear power plant, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on October 28. The decision is a major step forward for Poland’s ambitious nuclear power programme, which …
Korean nuclear tech company KHNP to sign letter of intent with ZE PAK on Poland’s nuclear power programme
By bne IntelliNews Korea’s nuclear power technology provider KHNP is expected to sign a letter of intent on building a nuclear power plant in Poland in cooperation with privately held power firm ZE PAK, Polish media reported on October 28. The KHNP-ZE …
Belarus financial sector part II – Belarus seeks further integration with Russian and Chinese payment systems
By bne IntelliNews Western sanctions against Belarus along with the regime’s increased domestic repressions and tightened grip around the economy have had negative effects throughout the country’s economy. The country’s manufacturing industry is not on…
bneGREEN: Iran renewables capacity to exceed 1,000 MW by end of Persian year in March
Iran’s renewable energy capacity is expected to reach 1,000 MW by the end of the current Persian calendar year (March 20, 2023), Paven website reported on October 27. The website affiliated with the Ministry of Energy reported that the growth in solar …
Kazakhstan: Oil-rich west to become green hydrogen hub
By Joanna Lillis for Eurasianet Best known as an oil and gas hub, western Kazakhstan hopes to become a leading global exporter of clean energy. The government has signed a $50bn deal with European renewables group Svevind to build one of the world’s fi…
bneGREEN: Climate window set to slam shut, warns Guterres
By Richard Lockhart in Edinburgh The world is heading for a 2.8°C rise in global warming by 2100 unless governments urgently improve their emissions targets, the UN warned, otherwise the window of opportunity to take the required climate action will sl…
Chunky rate hike introduced in Kazakhstan as fleeing Russians drive up consumer prices
By bne IntelIiNews The Kazakh central bank has hiked its policy rate from 14.5% to 16% per annum, with a corridor of +/- 1.0 pp, amid Kazakhstan’s ongoing struggles with double digit inflation, the national lender said in a statement. The rate is now t…
Croatia’s PM under pressure to resign after ex-ministers charged for corruption
By bne IntelIiNews Croatian opposition parties have urged Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic to resign after the anti-corruption body, USKOK, charged four of his ex-ministers for corruption. Investigations into the four ministers – Darko Horvat, Boris Mil…
bneGREEN: Flattening the emissions curve: too slow, too late, say UN climate scientists
By Richard Lockhart in Edinburgh The combined climate pledges of 193 governments would limit global warming to 2.5°C by 2100, way above the Paris Agreement goals of 1.5°C. UN Climate Change said in its 2022 NDC synthesis report that countries were mana…