Wednesday, May 18th, 2011
The Department of Transport has for the past three years been preparing a public-private partnership (PPP) to build a Dh10 billion (US$2.72bn) road to Saudi Arabia from the capital. Last month, the department declared it had selected a preferred PPP bidder for the Mafraq-to-Al Ghweifat Highway project and that formal approval could be weeks away. But this
Wednesday, May 18th, 2011
Plans to store natural gas underground in the Bergermeer region north of Amsterdam were given the go-ahead on Tuesday by the ministries of economic affairs and the environment. The plan is part of efforts to turn the Netherlands into an international gas storage and distribution centre. Large users such as energy companies will use the supply
Wednesday, May 18th, 2011
Russian Railways (RZhD) and the Russian Federal Atomic Energy Agency (Rosatom) intend to create a nuclear-powered train, reports Interfax. According to RZhD vice-president Valentin Gapanovich, the train, consisting of 11 carriages, will house scientific exhibits. The estimated cost of construction is as yet unknown, as well as the safety measures for such transport. In the
Tuesday, May 17th, 2011
he Alaska Gas Pipeline announced today that its open season efforts have not resulted in the customer commitments necessary to continue work on its Alaska North Slope gas pipeline project, which has an overall estimated capital cost of $35 billion (2009 dollars). Denali will withdraw its Federal Energy Regulatory Commission pre-file application and, over the
Tuesday, May 17th, 2011
Risk preparedness for natural hazards in the face of climate change is a future task for Bavaria. A new website shows how natural hazards occur, and prevention is possible. The said Dr. Markus Soeder, Environment Minister , today at the official commissioning of the barrier Jenbach in Bad Aibling, Rosenheim. “Natural hazards will increase even further due to climate change –
Tuesday, May 17th, 2011
Bombardier Transportation has signed a contract with Saudi Binladin Group, to design, build, operate and maintain an automated people mover system for the King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) Development Project in Jeddah, Arabia. The total value of the contract is $96 million (68 million euros). Saudi Binladin Group is the contractor responsible for the design and construction
Tuesday, May 17th, 2011
The calm Gulf of Finland bathes in the spring sun in Sandöfjärden off Raseborg in the southwest of Finland. The water looks clear at the surface, but the bottom area is almost dead: the only living creatures there are bacteria. Ari Honkonen and Asko Mustonen of Vesi-Eko as well as farmerAarre Arrajoki are attaching cables to an oxygenator, which is to pump
Tuesday, May 17th, 2011
There is a “compelling case for using the cloud for research”, JISC’s Innovation Director for digital infrastructure argued last week. Speaking at an ‘inside government’ forum on cloud in the public sector, Rachel Bruce said: “It’s clear that universities need the right infrastructure for the right job, and hybrid infrastructure with local and public provision is
Tuesday, May 17th, 2011
Russia’s Mir submersibles will be transported to Lake Geneva and start exploring it in early June, a Russian marine scientist said. “On Tuesday specialists will fix the mini-subs in cargo trucks, and, as soon as customs procedures are completed, the Mir submersibles will head to their research destination. We expect them to arrive by May 25,”
Monday, May 16th, 2011
Google, the Internet giant, acquired the building, around the corner from the Saint-Lazare train station, for an estimated 150 million euros, or $210 million, and Google employees are expected to move from their current nondescript Paris office by the end of the year. The investment is part of a campaign by Google to win hearts and
