Tag Archives: GAS

Business

The Norwegian reserve Fund decided to invest in a wind farm

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The State Pension Fund of Norway, which is the world’s largest sovereign reserve fund and the largest “oil pot” of the planet, has decided to invest in an offshore wind farm. This is reported by CNBC.

For these purposes, they intend to spend 1.375 billion euros (1.63 billion dollars). The fund, which has about $1.3 trillion under management, is preparing to buy back 50 percent of the shares of the energy company Orsted. The deal is expected to be completed in the second or third quarter of 2021, and other details have not yet been disclosed.

Borssele 1&2 power station is located in the North Sea, 93 kilometers from the coast. The company itself calls it the second largest operating offshore wind farm in the world, which “ supplies renewable energy equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of one million Dutch households.”

Earlier it became known that it is going to build another large wind farm in the North Sea and adapt it to save the planet. The energy generated there will be directed to the production of hydrogen, which is considered an environmentally friendly substitute for oil and gas.

In general, the Norwegian reserve fund is gradually abandoning investments in traditional sources of energy and fuel. The organization began to refuse to invest in oil and gas three years ago. At the end of January, it became known that the fund will completely withdraw from investments in companies that are engaged in the exploration and production of hydrocarbons. The reasons were financial losses due to the coronavirus — at the end of 2020, oil and gas companies included in the portfolio of the Norwegian reserve fund brought it a loss of $10 billion.

Europe

In Estonia, the number of people who want to be vaccinated against COVID-19 has increased dramatically

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The willingness of Estonian residents to be vaccinated against COVID-19 has increased dramatically over the past few weeks.

This is reported by ERR.

According to a survey by Turu-uuringute AS, commissioned by the State Chancellery, as of the end of March, 75% of respondents were ready to be vaccinated against coronavirus. The respondents also include people who have already been given the vaccine.

This indicator has been steadily increasing since the beginning of January. Two weeks ago, 71% of respondents were ready to be vaccinated, a month ago — 69%.

This is due to an increase in the number of vaccinated people, a decrease in the number of skeptics, and those who have a negative attitude to vaccination against COVID-19.

At the beginning of January, 16% of respondents expressed the opinion that they most likely do not plan to be vaccinated. At the end of March, their number decreased to 10%.

15% of respondents were against vaccination in early January, and 12% in mid — and late March.

At the same time, the sense of danger due to the spread of the coronavirus, which has been growing steadily since the beginning of February and reached a record high two weeks ago, has begun to decline. According to the latest data, 69% of respondents consider the situation critical, while 81% thought so in mid-March.

Recall that the Estonian government recently continued the existing restrictions to combat the coronavirus epidemic until April 25.

Strict quarantine in Estonia was introduced on March 11. From this day on, all stores are closed, except for grocery stores, pharmacies, pet stores, gas stations, and others that sell basic necessities. Restaurants can only sell take-out or take-out meals.

Europe

Poland has imposed sanctions against vessels involved in the construction of the Nord Stream 2

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The Polish authorities have begun to impose sanctions against the vessels Krebs Geo and Krebs Jet, which take part in the construction of the Russian gas pipeline Nord Stream 2.

This was stated by the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure of Poland Grzegorz Witkowski, reports WiznesAlert.

It is noted that the authorities have deprived the German shipowner’s vessels Krebs Geo and Krebs Jet of the Polish flag. Now they can be detained if they appear in Polish waters.

“We decided to start the procedure of removing the registration from the Polish flag. So that Poland has nothing to do with these two courts, “ Witkowski said.

According to him, all the documents submitted by the special services have already been studied, so there should be no problems with the cancellation of registration.

Earlier, representatives of the Green Party in Germany promised to stop Nord Stream 2.

In addition, the United States named the main condition for new sanctions against Nord Stream 2.

Europe

In Amsterdam, the police used water cannons against the protesters

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Amsterdam police used water cannons to disperse an unauthorized demonstration against restrictive measures on the coronavirus, the Dutch Broadcasting Corporation (NOS) reported.

Hundreds of people gathered in the city’s Museum Square under the slogan “drink coffee for freedom”, referring to the demand for freedom of assembly.

“The Amsterdam police again stopped the illegal demonstration in the Museum Square. The Museum Square and the surrounding area were identified as risk zones after there was evidence that people would go to the square with weapons. As a result, 58 people were detained, “ reports the Amsterdam City Hall.

The protest action took place in the same place the day before. On Saturday, police also used water cannons to disperse the crowd.

On January 23, the Dutch authorities imposed a curfew in the country to combat the spread of the coronavirus. It is valid from 21: 00 to 04: 30, violators face a fine of 95 euros.

The decision sparked mass protests in a number of cities in late January. In Haarlem and Rotterdam, police fired tear gas. In Amersfoort, the action ended in riots, after pyrotechnics flew at the police, and a local supermarket was looted in Hertogenbosch. Mass detentions were carried out across the country.

The authorities later extended the curfew until March 31.

Europe

In Iceland, there was an eruption of a volcano that “slept” for almost 800 years

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In Iceland, southwest of the capital Reykjavik, the Fagradalsfjall volcano erupted, last waking up almost 800 years ago.

This is reported by the BBC.

The Icelandic Meteorological Agency reports that the eruption of Fagradalsfjall, which is located about 30 km from Reykjavik, began on Friday at 20: 45 GMT, and was subsequently confirmed by webcams and satellite images.

Only a few hours earlier, a magnitude 3 earthquake was recorded 1.2 km from the volcano.

According to preliminary data, the length of the volcanic crack is 500-700 meters.

At this stage, the eruption is considered small, the lava flows are insignificant. The lava flows slowly to the southwest and west.

Air pollution from volcanic gas is also expected. People are asked to close their windows, stay at home, and under no circumstances approach the eruption site. The number of emissions is currently estimated. The weather forecast provides for strong winds and precipitation, which will reduce the impact of possible pollution.

Iceland often faces aftershocks because it is located on two tectonic plates that drift in opposite directions.

As reported, over the past three weeks, more than 50,000 earthquakes have been registered in the country.