NewzIntel.com

Category: Energy

  • MIL-OSI Security: Call for Abstracts Deadline Extended: International Conference on Emergency Preparedness and Response

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    “This conference provides a unique platform to bring together stakeholders from across the EPR community to discuss best practices, future trends and new technologies to enhance emergency preparedness,” said Carlos Torres Vidal, Director of the IAEA Incident and Emergency Centre, which is organizing the event. “By fostering international cooperation and sharing insights, we aim to help countries bolster their emergency response capabilities in a rapidly changing world.” 

    “Saudi Arabia is privileged to host this significant conference, organized by the IAEA, as part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen nuclear and radiological emergency preparedness nationally, regionally, and globally. Over the years, we have worked closely with the IAEA to advance capabilities and foster international cooperation in this vital field,” said Khalid Aleissa, Chief Executive Officer of the NRRC.  

    “Through this conference, we aim to provide a platform for experts and decision-makers from all organizations involved in emergency response to collaborate, exchange insights, and shape the future of nuclear emergency preparedness and response, ensuring readiness for the challenges of an evolving world,” he added. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Why California usually pays more at the pump for gasoline

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    In-brief analysis

    May 5, 2025

    Data source: AAA

    Retail prices for regular grade gasoline in California are consistently higher than in any other state in the continental United States, often exceeding the national average by more than a dollar per gallon. Several factors contribute to this high price, including state taxes and fees, environmental requirements, special fuel requirements, and isolated petroleum markets.

    Taxes and fees
    The components of retail gasoline prices are taxes and fees, distribution and marketing, refining costs, and crude oil prices. Drivers in California pay the highest taxes at the pump, equivalent to $0.90 per gallon (gal) between local, state, and federal taxes as of March 2025.

    Federal taxes—which are the same for each state—account for $0.18 of the $0.90/gal in taxes. The other $0.72/gal is made up of state excise tax ($0.60/gal), state sales tax ($0.10/gal), and an underground storage tank fee ($0.02/gal). California’s state gasoline excise tax is the highest in the United States; the average across all states is $0.28/gal.

    Environmental requirements
    In addition to state taxes, the California Energy Commission estimates that environmental compliance costs added as much as $0.54/gal as of March 2025. The state’s Cap-and-Trade Program and Low Carbon Fuel Standard reflect costs associated with fuel supplier emissions and carbon intensity, and these costs are ultimately reflected in the price consumers pay at the pump.

    Special fuel requirements
    California also mandates a special blend of gasoline designed to reduce pollution and improve air quality. This fuel burns cleaner but is more expensive to produce because it requires more processing steps and expensive blending components.

    Refiners outside the state only make this blend to supply California’s market, meaning that California primarily relies on in-state refineries for its gasoline supply.

    Isolated petroleum markets
    Supply side issues also contribute to higher California gasoline prices relative to the rest of the country.

    Most of the gasoline consumed in California is refined within the state due to lack of petroleum infrastructure connections. California is geographically isolated from other U.S. refining centers because no pipelines supply California from across the Rocky Mountains and only a limited number of pipelines deliver to the West Coast from the Gulf Coast. Of the refineries outside of California with physical access to the state’s gasoline markets, only a few can meet California’s stringent fuel blending requirements.

    California also imports gasoline from other countries, such as India and South Korea, to meet its fuel supply needs. Other countries produce California-specification gasoline, but high shipping costs usually limit imports to periods of refinery outages or the summer driving season.

    In addition, West Coast refineries have historically maintained lower inventory levels compared with the U.S. average, and California refineries have been closing, with more closures on the horizon. All of these supply chain issues mean that California gasoline prices are more volatile and subject to large spikes, especially if any of the limited number of refineries go offline for maintenance or have an unexpected outage.

    Principal contributors: Anne Miranda, Tara Bennett-Chirico

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Press Release: Zion Oil & Gas Announces Gas to Surface Onshore in Israel During Initial Flowback

    Source: Zion Oil and Gas

    Headline: Press Release: Zion Oil & Gas Announces Gas to Surface Onshore in Israel During Initial Flowback

    Press Release: Zion Oil & Gas Announces Gas to Surface Onshore in Israel During Initial Flowback

    Targeted perforation zone and stimulation operations are successful.

     

    DALLAS, Texas, and CAESAREA, Israel, May 5, 2025

    Zion Oil & Gas, Inc. (OTC: ZNOG) announces that initial flowback operations from its Megiddo-Jezreel #1 (MJ-01) well re-entry have resulted in gas reaching the surface onshore in Israel.

    Perforation and stimulation operations were successfully completed, with gas observed at surface during early flowback.

    The well is currently in the stimulation fluid recovery and cleaning phase. Zion is sourcing additional equipment for that to continue flowback testing and conduct volumetric analysis to evaluate reservoir characteristics.

    These efforts are part of Zion’s ongoing plan to assess the well’s production potential.

    About Zion Oil & Gas, Inc.

    Zion Oil & Gas, a U.S. public company traded on OTCQB: ZNOG, is dedicated to exploring for oil and gas onshore in Israel under its Megiddo Valleys License 434 which covers approximately 75,000 acres.

    For more information, visit www.zionoil.com.
     

    “But you, O LORD, sit enthroned forever,
    your renown endures through all generations.
    You will arise and have compassion on Zion,
    for it is time to show favor to her; the appointed time has come.
    For her stones are dear to your servants;
    her very dust moves them to pity.
    The nations will fear the name of the LORD,
    all the kings of the earth will revere your glory.
    For the LORD will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory.
    He will respond to the prayer of the destitute;
    he will not despise their plea.
    Let this be written for a future generation,
    that a people not yet created may praise the LORD”

    Psalm 102:12-18

    FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: Statements in this communication that are not historical fact, including, but not limited to, statements regarding Zion’s operations or any disruptions thereto and the results therefrom, including timely testing and completion; timely availability, shipment, and receipt of necessary equipment and rig crews; Zion’s ability to discover and produce oil and/or gas in commercial quantities; Zion’s ability to continue as a going concern; operational risks in ongoing exploration efforts including timely resolution of supply and operational disruptions; regulatory approvals, including necessary and timely work visas for crews, needed for exploration within our license and the rig’s operation; the effect of the uncertainties and potential delays associated with wars and skirmishes between Israel, Hamas, and other organizations and/or countries, and liquidity for shareholders on the OTC market are forward-looking statements as defined in the “Safe Harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that are subject to significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other unpredictable factors, many of which are described in Zion’s periodic reports filed with the SEC and are beyond Zion’s control. These risks could cause Zion’s actual performance to differ materially from the results predicted by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described in Item 1A in Zion’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference, and other factors as may periodically be described in Zion’s filings with the SEC. Zion can give no assurance that the expectations reflected in these statements will prove to be correct and assumes no responsibility to update these statements.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: Aemetis to Review First Quarter 2025 Financial Results on May 8, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CUPERTINO, Calif., May 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aemetis, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMTX) announced that the company will host a conference call to review the release of its first quarter 2025 earnings report:

    Date: Thursday, May 8, 2025

    Time: 11 am Pacific Time (PT)

    Live Participant Dial In (Toll Free): +1-877-545-0523 entry code 761021 

    Live Participant Dial In (International): +1-973-528-0016 entry code 761021

    Webcast URL: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/2211/52416

    Attendees may submit questions during the Q&A (Questions & Answers) portion of the conference call.

    The webcast will be available on the Company’s website (www.aemetis.com) under Investors/Conference Calls, along with the company presentation, recent announcements, and video recordings.

    The voice recording will be available through May 15, 2025 by dialing (Toll Free) 877-481-4010 or (International) 919-882-2331 and entering conference ID number 52416. After May 15th, the webcast will be available on the Company’s website (www.aemetis.com) under Investors/Conference Calls.

    About Aemetis

    Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Aemetis is a renewable natural gas and renewable fuel company focused on the operation, acquisition, development, and commercialization of innovative technologies that replace petroleum products and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Founded in 2006, Aemetis is operating and actively expanding a California biogas digester network and pipeline system to convert dairy waste gas into Renewable Natural Gas. Aemetis owns and operates a 65 million gallon per year ethanol production facility in California’s Central Valley near Modesto that supplies about 80 dairies with animal feed. Aemetis owns and operates an 80 million gallon per year production facility on the East Coast of India producing high quality distilled biodiesel and refined glycerin. Aemetis is developing a sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel fuel biorefinery in California, renewable hydrogen, and hydroelectric power to produce low carbon intensity renewable jet and diesel fuel. For additional information about Aemetis, please visit www.aemetis.com. 

    Company Investor Relations
    Media Contact:
    Todd Waltz
    (408) 213-0940
    investors@aemetis.com

    External Investor Relations
    Contact:
    Kirin Smith
    PCG Advisory Group
    (646) 863-6519
    ksmith@pcgadvisory.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Enphase Energy to Hold 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders on May 14, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FREMONT, Calif., May 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENPH), a global energy technology company and the world’s leading supplier of microinverter-based solar and battery systems, today announced that it will be holding its 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders on May 14, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time. The meeting will be held at Enphase’s headquarters at 47281 Bayside Parkway, Fremont, CA 94538.

    Further information regarding the Annual Meeting, including how to vote and participate, is included in Enphase Energy’s 2025 Proxy Statement that has been made available to stockholders and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    After the conclusion of the formal portion of the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, there will be a brief recess. Badri Kothandaraman, president and CEO of Enphase Energy, will then give a presentation beginning at approximately 9:30 am Pacific Time that can be accessed:

    For more details about Enphase’s 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and CEO Presentation, please visit the Investor Relations website.

    About Enphase Energy, Inc.

    Enphase Energy, a global energy technology company based in Fremont, CA, is the world’s leading supplier of microinverter-based solar and battery systems that enable people to harness the sun to make, use, save, and sell their own power — and control it all with a smart mobile app. The company revolutionized the solar industry with its microinverter-based technology and builds all-in-one solar, battery, and software solutions. Enphase has shipped approximately 81.5 million microinverters, and approximately 4.8 million Enphase-based systems have been deployed in over 160 countries. For more information, visit https://enphase.com/.

    ©2025 Enphase Energy, Inc. All rights reserved. Enphase Energy, Enphase, the “e” logo, IQ, and certain other marks listed at https://enphase.com/trademark-usage-guidelines are trademarks or service marks of Enphase Energy, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. Other names are for informational purposes and may be trademarks of their respective owners.

    Contact:

    Zach Freedman
    Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Investor Relations
    ir@enphaseenergy.com

    This press release was published by a CLEAR® Verified individual.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: SHARC Energy Announces Board of Director Changes

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SHARC International Systems Inc. (CSE: SHRC) (FSE: IWIA) (OTCQB: INTWF) (“SHARC Energy” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that Fred Andriano has been named Chairman of the Board of Directors (“BOD”) and Executive Officer. Mr. Andriano replaces SHARC Energy’s founder Lynn Mueller as Executive Chairman. Mr. Mueller will remain on the Board as Vice Chairman and Executive Officer of the Company.

    Mr. Andriano has extensive experience and expertise in finance, accounting, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions. He has been in the heating and cooling energy sector for 20 years. He formally was the Vice President of Finance and Administration – NIBE North America for NIBE Industrier AB. Prior to that he was Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary for WaterFurnace International, Inc. Furthermore, he spent 6 years as Chief Financial Officer of a regional M&A firm.

    “I am very appreciative for the opportunity to help guide the Company’s Board and management team as we strategize for expansion and growth. The Company has tremendous products, applications and dedicated team members and it’s time we leveraged their strengths while we continue to build awareness of the opportunities SHARC Energy’s products present to the heat transfer sector,” stated Mr. Andriano.

    Mr. Mueller added, “The additions of Michael as CEO and Fred as Executive Chair marks a significant day in the evolution of SHARC Energy’s maturity,” says Mr. Mueller. “These moves validate SHARC Energy as an emerging player in the industry with superior Wastewater Energy Transfer products and proven executives with successful track records in the thermal energy, heat transfer and hydronic space to augment the team.”

    The appointment will strategically accelerate the Company’s growth and improve its ability to expand its markets, products and geographical reach. The Company anticipates future strategic moves enabling SHARC Energy to grow revenue and improve profitability.

    The Company also has the bittersweet task of announcing the BOD has accepted the retirement and resignation of Eleanor Chiu. Mrs. Chiu has been a director for just shy of six years, consistently adding valued insight, business acumen and astute counsel to both management and the Board. She leaves SHARC Energy as a strong believer and long-term shareholder, holding 5% of the Company.

    “I am pleased to be leaving the BOD in good hands with addition of Fred as Chairman. In the short time that I have known Fred, he brings a strong understanding of the corporate governance policies and procedures needed for a public company to grow and mature. With the additions of Michael and Fred to augment Lynn and Hanspaul, I remain confident in the opportunity SHARC Energy and Wastewater Energy Transfer present,” says Mrs. Chiu.

    “Eleanor has been an important member of the Board and she will be dearly missed. I have leaned on her for nearly six years. She will always be remembered as one of the instrumental members that built the foundation the Company will grow on for years to come. Thank you Eleanor,” stated Mr. Mueller.

    Mr.Andriano will take over Mrs. Chiu role as Chairman of the Audit Committee going forward.

    About SHARC Energy  
    SHARC International Systems Inc. is a world leader in energy recovery from the wastewater we send down the drain every day. SHARC Energy’s systems recycle thermal energy from wastewater, generating one of the most energy-efficient and economical systems for heating, cooling & hot water production for commercial, residential, and industrial buildings along with thermal energy networks, commonly referred to as “District Energy”.

    SHARC Energy is publicly traded in Canada (CSE: SHRC), the United States (OTCQB: INTWF) and Germany (Frankfurt: IWIA) and you can find out more on our SEDAR profile.

    Learn more about SHARC Energy: Website | Investor Page | LinkedIn | YouTube | PIRANHA | SHARC

    ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

    Fred Andriano
    Chairman of the Board

    The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    Forward-Looking Statements 

    Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified using words such as “anticipate”, “plan”, “estimate”, “expect”, “may”, “will”, “intend”, “should”, and similar expressions. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. SHARC Energy’s actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information because of regulatory decisions, competitive factors in the industries in which the Company operates, prevailing economic conditions, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. SHARC Energy believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Any forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the Company’s expectations as of the date hereof and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation. 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. Announces First Quarter 2025 Earnings Conference Call

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Midland, Texas, May 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —  Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:NGS), a leading provider of natural gas compression equipment, technology and services to the energy industry, will host a conference call to review its first quarter financial results on May 13, 2025 at 8:30 a.m. (EST), 7:30 a.m. (CST). The Company’s Q1 2025 financial and operating results for the first quarter will be disseminated via press release and made available on the Company’s website (www.ngsgi.com) after market close on May 12, 2025.

    To join the conference call, kindly access the Investor Relations section of our website at www.ngsgi.com or dial in at (800) 550-9745 and enter conference ID: 167298 at least five minutes prior to the scheduled start time. Please note that using the provided dial-in number is necessary for participation in the Q&A section of the call. A recording of the conference will be made available on our Company’s website following its conclusion. Thank you for your interest in our company’s updates.

    About Natural Gas Services Group, Inc.

    Natural Gas Services Group is a leading provider of natural gas compression equipment, technology and services to the energy industry. The Company designs, rents, sells and maintains natural gas compressors for oil and natural gas production and plant facilities, primarily using equipment from third-party fabricators and OEM suppliers along with limited in-house assembly. The Company is headquartered in Midland, Texas, with a fabrication facility located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a rebuild shop located in Midland, Texas, and service facilities located in major oil and natural gas producing basins in the U.S. Additional information can be found at www.ngsgi.com.

    For Additional Information:

    Anna Delgado-Investor Relations
    (432) 262-2700
    ir@ngsgi.com
    www.ngsgi.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Congo’s Gas Ambitions to Take Spotlight at Invest in African Energy (IAE) 2025 with High-Level Monetization Panel

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    PARIS, France, May 5, 2025/APO Group/ —

    The Republic of Congo and its gas agenda will be at the forefront of the upcoming Invest in African Energy (IAE) 2025 Forum in Paris, which will feature a dedicated session on Monetizing Congo’s Gas Opportunities. The strategic discussion comes as Congo works to scale up gas production, build critical infrastructure and accelerate monetization efforts to meet domestic demand and strengthen its position as a regional energy exporter.

    The session will be moderated by Géraud Moussarie, Managing Partner at Sustainable Partnerships, and will bring together leading voices in the sector. Featured panelists include senior representatives from Congo’s national oil company, Société nationale des pétroles du Congo (SNPC); Rus Jiri, Sales and Development Director Africa at Neuman & Esser; and Oumar Semega, CEO of Imperatus Energy.

    IAE 2025 (apo-opa.co/43ffoPN) is an exclusive forum designed to facilitate investment between African energy markets and global investors. Taking place May 13-14, 2025 in Paris, the event offers delegates two days of intensive engagement with industry experts, project developers, investors and policymakers. For more information, please visit www.Invest-Africa-Energy.com. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

    Congo’s gas sector has made significant strides in recent years, with new frameworks and ambitious infrastructure projects underway. The Congo LNG project, led by Eni, aims to position the Republic of Congo as a key LNG exporter, with a total liquefaction capacity of up to 3 million tons per year through two floating LNG units – the first of which delivered its maiden cargo in February 2024.

    Equally critical is the monetization and domestic utilization of refined gas products. The Banga Kayo onshore project, led by Wing Wah, is set to play a central role by transforming previously flared gas into dry gas, LNG, LPG and polypropylene for use in the local market. Meanwhile, a new Gas Code, expected in 2025, along with the recently adopted Gas Master Plan, are laying the groundwork for sustainable sector growth by establishing clear incentives for investors, streamlining regulatory processes and promoting the development of gas infrastructure and local value chains.

    Across Africa, monetizing natural gas is increasingly seen as both an economic necessity and a catalyst for development – supporting energy access, powering industrial growth and enabling a shift toward cleaner energy sources. To date, key challenges include limited processing and transport infrastructure, constrained financing and fragmented regional markets, which continue to slow progress. Overcoming these hurdles requires coordinated policies, targeted infrastructure investment and cross-border partnerships. IAE 2025 provides a vital platform for public and private sector leaders to address these issues, promote investment and unlock the full potential of Africa’s gas value chain.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Petrotec Expands Fuel Station Network, Joins Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2025 as Silver Sponsor

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    LUANDA, Angola, May 5, 2025/APO Group/ —

    European manufacturer Petrotec has joined the upcoming Angola Oil & gas (AOG) conference as a Silver Sponsor, reflecting its commitment to supporting the expansion of the country’s oil and gas value chain. The company leverages innovation and technology to strengthen mobility and seeks to support Angola’s downstream expansion through new mobility solutions.

    As one of Africa’s largest oil producers, Angola is striving to position itself as both a major exporter and regional petroleum distributor. A recent government drive to expand the downstream oil sector has seen new opportunities emerge for infrastructure players, and companies such as Petrotec stand to play an instrumental role in accelerating the development of fuel stations and associated projects.

    AOG is the largest oil and gas event in Angola. Taking place with the full support of the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas; the National Oil, Gas and Biofuels Agency; the Petroleum Derivatives Regulatory Institute; national oil company Sonangol; and the African Energy Chamber; the event is a platform to sign deals and advance Angola’s oil and gas industry. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

    Petrotec has committed to supporting Angola’s fuel mobility expansion. In 2024, the company hosted a delegation by Angola’s national oil company Sonangol at various Petrotec facilities, enabling Petrotec to showcase its cutting-edge solutions and technologies. The visit included a tour of the company’s research and development unit, exploring Petrotec’s vision for the future of mobility; a tour of the innovation and industry center, showcasing the company’s latest forecourt equipment and technologies; and its new industrial unit in Póvoa de Lanhoso, set to produce Hellonext’s sophisticated EV chargers. Sonangol additionally conducted a tour of various fuel station sites in the region, thereby strengthening knowledge-exchange between the companies.

    With over 40 years of experience, Petrotec offers substantial expertise in the manufacturing of equipment for fuel stations. The company’s solutions cover the entire mobility value chain, including electric mobility, hydrogen, infrastructure, fuel pumps, storage solutions, engineering and payment and automation. For Angola, this expertise stands to support efforts by the country to strengthen its downstream industry. Petrotec’s sponsorship of AOG 2025 underscores its commitment to this cause and is expected to further boost collaboration across the industry.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Ambitious Fleet Decarbonisation Strategy approved by Councillors

    Source: Scotland – City of Perth

    The Climate Change and Sustainability Committee considered the local authority’s Fleet Decarbonisation Strategy.

    The Council has already slashed carbon emissions by switching 18 of its refuse vehicles to Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil rather than diesel – delivering an estimated annual reduction in CO2 emissions of 500 tonnes.

    Now the Council is looking to build on this success by using new technologies to further reduce the emissions from its vehicles.

    The Fleet Decarbonisation Strategy states a mixed model of decarbonisation will be required, with HVO and diesel used until advances in technology increase the range of electric vehicles,or enable hydrogen to be used as a viable and affordable fuel source.

    Refuse Collection Vehicles (RCVs) based at outlying depots in Blairgowrie, Crieff, Kinross, and Pitlochry will transition to using HVO fuel by June 2025, potentially saving 725 tonnes of CO2 per annum.

    The report also sets out the need to invest in additional charging points to support the transformation of the council’s fleet of small vehicles – cars and vans under 3.5 tonnes – to electric vehicles.

    Councillor Richard Watters, convener of Perth and Kinross Council’s Climate Change and Sustainability Committee, said: “The Scottish Government has set a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions within the next five years and reaching net zero by 2045.

    “Cars, vans and lorries all produce greenhouse gases, so it is vital we take steps to reduce these emissions.

    “There is already fantastic work underway in Perth and Kinross with many of our bin lorries now running on HVO instead of diesel. Although this is a more expensive fuel, it is already significant reducing our CO2 emissions.

    “Expanding this scheme, and remaining alert to other new technologies will help us meet our net zero targets and reduce pollution in Perth and Kinross. This is not something that will happen overnight, but it is crucial we set out a roadmap on how we reach that destination.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Is it dangerous to kiss someone who’s eaten gluten if you have coeliac disease?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vincent Ho, Associate Professor and Clinical Academic Gastroenterologist, Western Sydney University

    Lordn/Shutterstock

    Coeliac disease is not a food allergy or intolerance. It’s an autoimmune disease that makes the body attack the small intestine if gluten (a protein found in wheat, rye and barley) reaches the gut. Even a small amount – a tiny bread crumb – can cause damage and inflammation.

    The only treatment is a gluten-free diet. This means completely eliminating foods containing the protein, such as pasta, bread, noodles and many processed products, and preparing food carefully to avoid cross-contamination.

    But what about other forms of cross-contamination? One study surveyed 538 adults with coeliac disease about their dating habits and found 39% were hesitant to kiss their partners because of the disease.

    But can gluten really be transferred this way, with a kiss? Research is only just beginning to look at this question – here’s what we know.

    How harmful is gluten for people with coeliac disease?

    Coeliac disease is common: surveys representative of the population estimate it affects one in 70 Australians. However, it tends to be under-diagnosed. Research suggests only 20% of those with coeliac disease have a medical diagnosis.

    This means most sufferers are unaware they have coeliac disease, despite experiencing unpleasant symptoms.

    When untreated, coeliac disease can stop the small intestine absorbing nutrients and lead to gut symptoms such as diarrhoea, abdominal pain, bloating and flatulence. It can also result in non-gut symptoms such as fatigue, skin rashes and brain fog.

    However, touching gluten won’t have any effect. Gluten only causes damage to people with coeliac disease if it enters the gut. This is why it can be effectively treated with a strict gluten-free diet.

    How much gluten is harmful?

    Researchers have investigated how much gluten can result in harm to people with coeliac disease. One study found some people with coeliac disease experienced damage to their small intestine with as little as 10 milligrams of gluten per day.

    For context, one slice of bread contains 2.5 grams of gluten. A very small amount can cause damage if eaten, such a tiny crumb accidentally transferred from a chopping board or plate.

    Australian researchers have determined that a dose of gluten below 3mg does not cause an immune response on very sensitive blood tests.

    Even a bread crumb can be harmful to people with coeliac disease, if it’s eaten.
    Master1305/Shutterstock

    Food regulatory authorities look at how much gluten is concentrated in particular foods to decide what is “gluten free”. In most countries a diet containing gluten at less than 20 parts per million (or 20mg per kilogram) is considered to be safe for people with coeliac disease.

    But Australia and New Zealand have much stricter requirements for labelling a food as “gluten free”. Testing methods in Australia allow for detection as low as three parts per million – this is known as the “limit of detection”. Foods below this limit contain no detectable gluten and can be labelled gluten free.

    So, what about kissing?

    What does this mean for kissing? Can enough gluten be transmitted from one person to another via saliva to cause problems? To date, there is very limited data.

    New US research presented today looked at ten couples, each with one partner who had coeliac disease.

    In the study, the non-coeliac partner ate ten crackers containing gluten before the couple kissed for ten seconds.

    The researchers found gluten transfer was minimal in the saliva. When the non-coeliac partner had a glass of water after eating the crackers, the gluten in their saliva was less than 20 parts per million (the international limit for gluten-free products).

    While this data has not yet been peer-reviewed, their preliminary finding seems to support similar research from 2022 which looked at peanut allergy and saliva to estimate gluten levels in saliva.

    It estimated that saliva after eating gluten could contain around 250 micrograms of gluten – one-twelfth of the minimum amount (3mg) believed to cause an immune response.

    This means, for people with coeliac disease, kissing should not be an issue to worry about.

    Cross-contamination from foods containing gluten is the biggest risk for people with coeliac disease.
    Jacob Lund/Shutterstock

    Other risks

    The bigger risk for people with coeliac disease continues to be exposure to gluten from food – even food labelled “gluten free”.

    One study found seven out of 256 manufactured food products sold as gluten free had detectable levels of gluten, in some cases as much as 3mg in a single serving.

    In 2018 another study found almost 10% of food sold as gluten free at cafes and restaurants across Melbourne actually contained gluten. One food sample contained a gluten concentration of more than 80 parts per million.

    Still, given Australia has strictest regulations in the world, the risk of getting sick from eating gluten-free foods is quite low.

    The risk from kissing? Even lower.

    If you want to look out for your loved one with coeliac disease, how you prepare food is more important. This includes preventing cross-contamination by storing and preparing gluten-free foods well away from foods containing gluten, and thoroughly cleaning equipment and utensils after they’ve been in contact with food containing gluten.

    And next time you’re on a date at your favourite eatery – whether they advertise as gluten free, or just have gluten-free items on the menu – it’s a good idea to politely ask about their food handling practices.

    Vincent Ho does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Is it dangerous to kiss someone who’s eaten gluten if you have coeliac disease? – https://theconversation.com/is-it-dangerous-to-kiss-someone-whos-eaten-gluten-if-you-have-coeliac-disease-255721

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI: Aktsiaselts Infortar interim report for Q1 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Aktsiaselts Infortar interim report for Q1 2025

    Infortar will arrange a webinar for investors today 5 May 2025.Please join the webinar via the following links:

    Estonia’s largest investment holding company, Infortar, increased its turnover by 20% in the first quarter of the year compared to the same period last year, reaching €447 million. The group’s total assets nearly doubled to €2.6 billion, while investments tripled to €22 million. In recent years, Infortar has nearly doubled the size of its real estate portfolio and is actively expanding across multiple sectors.

    Since August 1st of last year, the results of Tallink, a group company, have been consolidated into Infortar’s financial statements. Due to the highly seasonal nature of the maritime transport business, Tallink’s first-quarter loss of €33 million was reflected in Infortar’s own results. An additional impact came from a €1.7 million income tax expense, resulting in a total net loss of €14.6 million for Infortar in the first quarter, of which €4.5 million was attributable to Infortar’s shareholders. The energy business was affected by an exceptionally warm winter and lower consumption, but remained profitable overall. The real estate segment, meanwhile, showed significant year-on-year growth in volumes. 

    “The economy stands on three pillars – agriculture, industry, and services. In recent years, Infortar has expanded its presence across all three to achieve its goals and diversify risk. Moreover, we have grown into a market leader in each,” said Ain Hanschmidt, Chairman of the Management Board of Infortar.

    “The performance of Tallink had the biggest impact on Infortar’s first-quarter profitability. In addition to typical seasonality, passenger numbers in the first quarter reflected the state of the core markets’ economies and low consumer confidence. Still, it is important to note that the most challenging period of the year is now behind Tallink, and the outlook is more optimistic,” Hanschmidt added.

    “The energy business was affected by an exceptionally mild winter, lower consumption, and a gas surplus. Nevertheless, the segment remained profitable, primarily due to well-placed investments in gas distribution networks in Latvia and Poland. In real estate, we continued rapid growth – over the past year, we have expanded our portfolio by nearly 50%, becoming one of the largest property owners in the Baltics,” said Hanschmidt.

    “Despite a turbulent environment, Infortar continues to grow as one of the largest investment companies on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea, actively seeking new investment opportunities. Our balance sheet strength is the key indicator of resilience – Infortar’s financial position and liquidity remain solid, free liquidity is €153 million enabling us to generate cash and invest. We can also confirm our continued commitment to the stated dividend policy. Diversification across sectors and countries has created a strong platform that provides confidence even in volatile times,” Hanschmidt concluded.

    Major Event

    Maritime transport

    Tallink´s first quarter of 2025 was impacted by low consumer and business confidence levels, the economic challenges in the Group’s core markets and global geopolitical tensions. As at the end of the quarter, the Group operated 14 vessels including 2 shuttle vessels, 6 passenger vessels, 2 vessels that were chartered out and 4 vessels that were in lay-up.

    During the quarter Tallink´s total investments amounted to EUR 13.3 million majority of which were made to upgrading the cruise ferries Baltic Princess and Silja Serenade. The planned maintenance works totalling 68 days in the first quarter of 2025 affected the passenger and cargo levels in Finland-Sweden routes.

    Energy

    In the first quarter, natural gas consumption in the Finnish-Baltic region totalled 15,0 TWh, decreasing by 19% compared with the previous year (16,5 TWh). Energy sales were negatively impacted by higher-than-average temperatures, which reduced the demand for natural gas.

    In the first quarter of 2025, Elenger Grupp sold a total of 4.6 TWh of energy (compared to 6,1 TWh in Q1 2024). Sales in Estonia accounted for 17% of the energy sales in Q1 2025. The company´s market share decreased in Q1 2025 to 20,0% in the Finland-Baltic gas market.

    Real estate

    At the end of last year, the Rimi logistics center in Saue municipality received its usage permit; this summer, the new bridge in Pärnu will be completed, and next year, DEPO will open its second store in Estonia, located in Lasnamäe.

    Key financial figures

    Key figures Q1 2025 Q1 2024 12 months 2024
    Sales revenue. m€ 447.357 372.584 1 371.775
    Gross profit. m€ 26.068 50.004 128.628
    EBITDA. m€ 27.661 74.004 145.275
    EBITDA margin (%) 6.2% 19.9% 10.6%
    Net profit. EBIT. m€ -0.655 67.624 77.024
    Total profit(-loss). m€ -14.561 62.062 193.670
    Net profit (-loss) holders of the Parent m€ -4.479 62.167 191.253
    EPS (euros)* -0.2 3.1 9.6
    Total equity m€ 1 181.002 820.210 1 166.222
    Total liabilities m€ 1 105.305 852.690 1 223.287
    Net debt m€ 952.397 195.799 1 055.708
    Investment loans to EBITDA (ratio)** 3.3x 1.5x 3.0x

    Notes:*For the earnings per share (EPS) calculation, the number of shares as of 31.03.35 has been used for comparability. Formula: profit/loss attributable to Infortar shareholders divided by the number of shares, excluding own shares issued under the stock option program. Example calculation based on the end of Q1 2024: (191 x 1,000,000) / (20,443,629 – 722,610).**Investment loans / EBITDA, annualized. For comparability,actualEBITDA of Tallink Grupp for the relevant period has been used, based on Tallink Grupp quarterly report.

    Revenue

    In the first quarter of the 2025 financial year, the Group’s consolidated revenue increased by EUR 74.7 million to EUR 447.4 million (Q1 2024 consolidated revenue: EUR 372.6 million). A significant impact came from the consolidation of Tallink Grupp’s results into Infortar’s consolidated financial statements as of 1 August 2024.

    EBITDA and Segment Reporting
    In the first quarter of the 2025 financial year, the EBITDA of the maritime transport segment amounted to EUR -3.8 million (Q1 2024: EUR 34.5 million).
    The energy segment’s EBITDA was EUR 31.8 million (Q1 2024: EUR 73.9 million).
    In the real estate segment, profitability is assessed based on the EBITDA of individual real estate entities.

    Based on separate real-estate companies results, the real estate segment’s EBITDA was EUR 3.4 million in Q1 2025 (Q1 2024: EUR 3.8 million).

    Net Profit (Loss)
    The consolidated net loss for the first quarter of the 2025 financial year was EUR -14.6 million, including a loss attributable to Infortar’s owners of EUR -4.5million (Q1 2024 net profit: EUR 62.1 million, including EUR 62.2 million attributable to Infortar’s owners).

    Investments
    In the spring of 2024, Infortar entered the agricultural sector by acquiring one of Estonia’s largest dairy farms in Halinga and began construction of a biomethane plant next to the farm to produce local green gas. Today, on 5 May, Infortar announced an additional investment plan in Estonia Farmid OÜ.
    In the first quarter of 2025, the total amount of investments made by the Infortar Group was approximately EUR 22 million.

    Financing
    As of the first quarter of the 2025 financial year, the Group’s total loan and lease liabilities amounted to EUR 1 105.3million (compared to EUR 1 223.3 million at the end of the 2024 financial year). Infortar’s net debt stood at EUR 952.397 million. The net debt to EBITDA ratio was 3.4.

    Dividends

    According to the dividend policy, the objective is to pay dividends of at least 1 euro per share per financial year. Dividend payments are made semi-annually. Infortar Group’s management proposes to pay a dividend of 3 euros per share for the 2024 financial year results. According to the proposal, the first payout is planned to be made no later than July, and the second payout in December 2025. 

    Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss

    (in thousands of EUR) Q1 2025 Q1 2024 12 months 2024
    Revenue 447 357 372 584 1 371 775
    Cost of goods (goods and services) sold -421 173 -322 573 -1 243 034
    Write-down of receivables -116 -7 -113
    Gross profit 26 068 50 004 128 628
    Marketing expenses -10 976 -415 -21 086
    General administrative expenses -20 965 -7 238 -50 438
    Profit (loss) from derivatives 0   26 672
    Profit (loss) from biological assets -33 0 -139
    Profit (loss) from the change in the fair value of the investment property 0 156 -949
    Profit (loss) from the change in the fair value of the investment property 3 939 24 659 -8 691
    Other operating revenue 1 956 600 4 682
    Other operating expenses -644 -142 -1 655
    Operating profit -655 67 624 77 024
           
    (in thousands of EUR) Q1 2025 Q1 2024 12 months 2024
    Profit (loss) from investments accounted for by equity method 955 2 000 22 974
    Financial income and expenses:      
    Other financial investments -333 0 13 342
    Interest expense -12 896 -6 745 -38 274
    Interest income 842 1 244 4 979
    Profit (loss) from changes in exchange rates -315 -2 100
    Other financial income and expenses -451 4 93 659
    Total financial income and expenses -13 153 -5 499 73 806
    Profit before tax -12 853 64 125 173 804
    Corporate income tax -1 708 -2 063 19 866
    Profit for the financial year -14 561 62 062 193 670
    including:      
    Profit attributable to the owners of the parent company -4 479 62 167 191 253
    Profit attributable to non-controlling interest -10 082 -105 2 417
           
    Other comprehensive income Q1 2025 Q1 2024 12 months 2024
    tems that will not be reclassified to profit or loss      
    Revaluation of post-employment benefit obligations     -141
    Items that may be subsequently reclassified to the income statement:  
    Revaluation of risk hedging instruments     -45 792
    Exchange rate differences attributable to foreign subsidiaries     53
    Total of other comprehensive income     -45 880
    Total income, including:     147 790
    including:      
    Comprehensive profit attributable to the owners of the parent company     145 514
    Comprehensive profit attributable to non-controlling interest     2 417
    Ordinary earnings per share (in euros per share) -0,22 14,62 9
    Diluted earnings per share (in euros per share) -0,21 14,15 14,15

    Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

    (in thousands of EUR) 31.03.25 31.12.24
    Current assets    
    Cash and cash equivalents 152 908 167 579
    Short term financial investments 0 0
    Derivative financial assets 16 968 8 333
    Settled derivative receivables 2 448 676
    Other prepayments and receivables 153 040 155 351
    Prepayments for taxes 3 650 3 831
    Trade and other receivables 51 379 38 517
    Prepayments for inventories 1 953 2 498
    Inventories 124 636 215 914
    Biological assets 941 941
    Total current assets 507 923 593 640
         
    Non-current assets 31.03.25 31.12.24
    Investments to associates 17 559 16 603
    Long-term derivative instruments 340 3 214
    Other long term obligations 34 685 35 163
    Property, plant and equipment at fair value 1 309 599 1 315 167
    Investment property 68 175 67 931
    Property, plant and equipment 598 280 594 291
    Intangible assets 38 008 38 874
    Right-of-use assets 46 043 47 598
    Biological assets 2 720 2 753
    Total non-current assets 2 115 409 2 121 594
    TOTAL ASSETS 2 623 332 2 715 234
         
    (in thousands of EUR) 31.03.25 31.12.24
    Current liabilities    
    Loan liabilities 396 801 497 162
    Rental liabilities 8 755 9 020
    Payables to suppliers 104 664 87 941
    Tax obligations 48 861 49 354
    Buyers’ advances 40 946 31 126
    Settled derivatives 9 706 8 728
    Other current liabilities 68 409 63 431
    Short term derivatives 8 285 27 704
    Total current liabilities 686 427 774 466
         
    Non-current liabilities 31.03.25 31.12.24
    Long-term provisions 8 455 9 946
    Deferred taxes 3 039 2 816
    Other long-term liabilities 43 412 43 209
    Long-term derivatives 1 248 1 471
    Loan-liabilities 661 602 676 670
    Rental liabilities 38 147 40 435
    Total non-current liabilities 755 903 774 547
    TOTAL LIABILITIES 1 442 330 1 549 013
         
    (in thousands of EUR) 31.03.25 31.12.24
    Equity    
    Share capital 2 117 2 117
    Own shares -72 -72
    Share premium 32 484 32 484
    Reserve capital 212 212
    Option reserve 7 431 6 223
    Hedging reserve* 3 510 -21 674
    Unrealised currency translation differences 2 854 45
    Employment benefit reserve -44 -185
    Retained earnings 885 688 890 167
    Net profit of the financial year    
    Total equity attributable to equity holders of the Parent 934 180 909 317
    Minority interests 246 822 256 904
    Total equity 1 181 002 1 166 221
         
    TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY 2 623 332 2 715 234

    Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

    Cash flows from operating activities    
    (in thousands of EUR) 3 months
    2024    		 12 months
    2024
    Profit for the financial year -14 561 193 670
    Adjustments:    
    Depreciation, amortisation, and impairment of non-current assets 28 316 68 251
    Change in the fair value of the investment property 0 0
    Equity profits/losses -956 -22 974
    Change in the value of derivatives -79 -1 483
    Other financial income/expenses 2 300 -112 030
    Calculated interest expenses 12 896 38 274
    Profit/loss from non-current assets sold -116 -955
    Income from grants recognised as revenue -385 -643
    Corporate income tax expense 1 708 -19 866
    Income tax paid -1 485 -10 551
    Change in receivables and prepayments related to operating activities -12 184 52 023
    Change in inventories 91 823 -12 831
    Change in payables and prepayments relating to operating activities 29 780 -81 275
    Change in biological assets 33 -322
    Total cash flows from operating activities 137 090 89 288
         
    Cash flows from investing activities 3 months
    2024    		 12 months
    2024
    Purchases of subsidiaries -333 -111 684
    Proceeds from the sale of other financial investments 0 0
    Received dividends 0 20 862
    Given loans 607 1 918
    Interest gain 755 4 953
    Purchases Investment property -244 -10 352
    Purchases of property, plant and equipment -23 305 -27 835
    Proceeds from sale of property 139 1 561
    Total cash flows used in investing activities -22 381 -120 577
         
    Cash flows used in financing activities 3 months
    2024    		 12 months
    2024
    Gain from goverment grants 394 225
    Changes in overdraft -43 343 12 863
    Proceeds from borrowings 94 276 358 731
    Repayments of borrowings -166 362 -151 790
    Repayment of finance lease liabilities -3 591 -11 300
    Interest paid -10 754 -39 153
    Dividends paid 0 -60 997
    Gain from share emission 0 3 174
    Total cash flows used in financing activities -129 380 111 753
      0 0
    TOTAL NET CASH FLOW -14 671 80 464
    Cash at the beginning of the year 167 579 87 115
    Cash at the end of the period 152 908 167 579
    Net (decrease)/increase in cash -14 671 80 464

    Infortar operates in seven countries, the company’s main fields of activity are maritime transport, energy and real estate. Infortar owns a 68.47% stake in Tallink Grupp, a 100% stake in Elenger Grupp and a versatile and modern real estate portfolio of approx. 141,000 m2. In addition to the three main areas of activity, Infortar also operates in construction and mineral resources, agriculture, printing, and other areas. A total of 110 companies belong to the Infortar group: 101 subsidiaries, 4 affiliated companies and 5 subsidiaries of affiliated companies. Excluding affiliates, Infortar employs 6,296 people.

    Additional information:

    Kadri Laanvee
    Investor Relations Manager
    Phone: +372 5156662
    e-mail: kadri.laanvee@infortar.ee
    www.infortar.ee/en/investor

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: BW Energy: First quarter results 2025 

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

     BW Energy First quarter results 2025 

    HIGHLIGHTS 

    • Record Q1 EBITDA of USD 182.1 million, net profit of USD 83 million 
    • Operational cash-flow of USD 154.7 million in the quarter 
    • Q1 gross production of 4.2 mmbbls with 3.2 mmbbls net to BW Energy  
    • Highest quarterly production since inception from the Dussafu licence  
    • Maintained a strong balance sheet with cash position of USD 286.9 million 
    • Substantial oil discovery in the Bourdon prospect 
    • Maromba development FID unlocking path to more than doubling production and potential for future dividends 

    BW Energy, operator of the Dussafu Marin licence in Gabon and the Golfinho cluster offshore Brazil, reported a record quarterly EBITDA of USD 182.1 million for the first quarter of 2025. This was up 31% from USD 141.6 million in the previous quarter on increased oil sales following all-time-high production in Gabon and higher output in Brazil. The net production was ~36,000 bbls/day, including the Tortue, Hibiscus, and Hibiscus South fields in the Dussafu licence (73.5% working interest or “WI”) and the Golfinho field (100% WI).  

    “BW Energy delivers a strong first quarter with record production and EBITDA on the back of sustained stable operations across our asset portfolio in Gabon and Brazil,” said Carl K. Arnet, the CEO of BW Energy. “The accretive start to 2025 is further underpinned by the Bourdon discovery growing our Dussafu reserves, FID on the Golfinho Boost adding to production and reducing OPEX, and finally the Maromba FID. This transformative project is set to unlock industry-leading production growth and position BW Energy for future shareholder distributions.”  


    DUSSAFU

    BW Energy completed three liftings in the first quarter at an average realised price of USD 74.8/bbl. Net production was approximately 2.6 mmbbls of oil and the net sold volume, the basis for revenue recognition, was approximately 3.2 mmbbls including 65,000 bbls of DMO deliveries and 320,889 bbls of state profit oil with an over-lift position of 350,893 bbls at period-end.  

    Net production from the Dussafu licence averaged ~28,700 bbls/day, an increase of 5% from the previous quarter. Operating cost (excluding royalties) decreased to USD 9.9/bbl from USD 11.7/bbl in the fourth quarter due to operational efficiencies and increased production. Further cost savings are expected as BW Energy is preparing to take over the operations of the BW Adolo FPSO during the current quarter.  

    On 2 January 2025, Phase 1 of the Hibiscus / Ruche development was completed with eight producing wells, two more than planned at project sanction.   


    GOLFINHO

    Net production from the Golfinho field averaged ~7,300 bbls/day equivalent to a total production of 657,000 bbls in the quarter, up 12% from the previous quarter as gaslift resumed after completion of Petrobras maintenance. One lifting was carried out of ~500,000 bbls at a realised price of USD 75/bbl. Remaining inventory was approximately 597,750 bbls at the end of the period. Operating cost (excluding royalties) averaged USD 42.2/bbl barrel, down from 56.4/bbl in the fourth quarter, primarily due to higher production. In early April, the Brazilian oil and gas regulator ANP extended the production phase under the Golfinho concession contract, which has been extended to 2042 from previously 2031. 

    OTHER ITEMS

    On 28 March, BW Energy entered into an up to USD 500 million Reserve Based Lending (RBL) facility, replacing the 2022 facility which was increased to USD 300 million in 2023. The facility has an initial commitment of USD 400 million, which can be expanded with an additional USD 100 million subject to mutual agreement and satisfaction of customary conditions precedent. The senior secured long-term debt facility matures on 1 October 2030. 

    At 31 March 2024, BW Energy had a cash balance of USD 286.9 million, compared to USD 221.8 million at end-December. The increase reflects cash flow from operations less debt repayment and investments in the period. The Company had a total drawn debt balance of USD 599 million including the MaBoMo lease, the Dussafu RBL, the Golfinho prepayment facility and bond debt. 

    Production guidance for 2025 is unchanged at between 11 and 12 mmbbls net to BW Energy. Expected full-year operating cost is maintained at USD 18 to 22/bbl (the basis for calculating unit operating cost has been revised from 2025 onwards to exclude royalties, tariffs, workovers, domestic market obligation purchases, production sharing costs, and incorporates the impact of IFRS 16 adjustments, primarily impacting Gabon operations). Net capital expenditures for 2025 are expected at USD 650-700 million, up from USD 260 to 285 million previously. The increased follows the FIDs for the Maromba development and the Golfinho Boost project.  

    DEVELOPMENT PLANS 

    BW Energy confirmed a substantial oil discovery with good reservoir and fluid quality in the Bourdon prospect offshore Gabon. Management estimates indicate 56 million barrels oil in place, of which approximately 25 million barrels are considered recoverable, potentially through a future development cluster following the MaBoMo blueprint. The discovery will enable the Company to book additional reserves not included in its 2024 Statement of Reserves.  

    Work on optimising Golfinho production continued to focus on stabilising FPSO performance and selected future well workovers. In mid-April, BW Energy made FID on the Golfinho Boost project with planned investments of USD 107 million. The project is set to add 3 kbbls/day of incremental production and 12 mmboe of further reserves, while also increasing production uptime and reducing OPEX with first oil planned in the second half of 2027.   

    BW Energy has also made FID for the Maromba development offshore Brazil based on a capex-efficient, phased development with a wellhead platform (WHP) and FPSO. The development targets 500 million barrels of oil in place in the highly delineated Maastrichtian sands. First oil is planned in the second half of 2027 with expected plateau production of 60,000 barrels of oil per day, enabling short pay-back time and more than doubling BW Energy’s total net production by 2028.    

    In Namibia, BW Energy continued to prepare for an appraisal well targeting the Kharas Prospect northwest in the Kudu licence with planned start-up drilling operations in the second half of 2025. Long-lead items have been procured and the Company is reviewing offers for rig capacity.  

    REPORTS AND PRESENTATION 

    Please find the first-quarter earnings presentation attached. The reports are also available at: 

    www.bwenergy.no/investors/reports-and-presentations 

    BW Energy will today hold a live presentation at Hotel Continental, Oslo, Norway, and conference call followed by a Q&A hosted by CEO Carl K. Arnet, CFO Brice Morlot, CSO Thomas Young, CTO Jerome Bertheau and CCO Thomas Kolanski at 09:30 CEST. 

    You can follow the presentation via webcast with supporting slides, available on: 

    VIEWER REGISTRATION • Q1 2025   

    Please note, that if you follow the webcast via the above URL, you will experience a 30 second delay compared to the main conference call. The Web page works best in an updated browser – Chrome is recommended. 


    For further information, please contact: 

    Brice Morlot, CFO BW Energy

    +33.7.81.11.41.16, ir@bwenergy.no
     

    About BW Energy: 

    BW Energy is a growth E&P company with a differentiated strategy targeting proven offshore oil and gas reservoirs through low risk phased developments. The Company has access to existing production facilities to reduce time to first oil and cashflow with lower investments than traditional offshore developments. The Company’s assets are 73.5% of the producing Dussafu Marine licence offshore Gabon, 100% interest in the Golfinho and Camarupim fields, a 76.5% interest in the BM-ES-23 block, a 95% interest in the Maromba field in Brazil, a 95% interest in the Kudu field in Namibia, all operated by BW Energy. In addition, BW Energy holds approximately 6.6% of the common shares in Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. and a 20% non-operating interest in the onshore Petroleum Exploration License 73 (“PEL 73”) in Namibia. Total net 2P+2C reserves and resources were 599 million barrels of oil equivalent at the start of 2025. 

    This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: BW Energy: Makes FID on Maromba field development in Brazil  

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BW Energy makes FID on Maromba field development in Brazil  

    BW Energy is pleased to announce the final investment decision (FID) for the Maromba development offshore Brazil based on a capex-efficient development with an integrated drilling and wellhead platform (WHP) and a refurbished FPSO. The development targets 500 million barrels of oil in place in the highly delineated and tested Maastrichtian sands. First oil is planned by end-2027 with expected plateau production of 60,000 barrels of oil per day. The development will more than double BW Energy’s total net production by 2028 and has short pay-back time.    

    Project highlights: 

    • Initial six production wells from the WHP 
    • The WHP will be a converted drilling jack-up with up to 16 well slots and production- and test-flowlines connected to the redeployed FPSO BW Maromba (ex. Polvo) 
    • A second six-well drilling campaign will fully leverage the established field infrastructure and allow for appraisal and testing of other reservoir horizons  
    • BW Maromba refurbishment and life extension work is already underway at the COSCO yard in China 
    • Total investments of USD ~1.5 billion, split USD ~1.2 billion for the initial development and a further USD ~0.3 billion for the secondary drilling campaign 

    “We have spent time on optimising the Maromba development plan and concluded on a highly competitive concept with a repurposed jack-up platform and FPSO, repeating the approach we very successfully applied in Gabon. Maromba will enable BW Energy to deliver industry-leading organic production growth and position the Company for further low-cost developments of known potential developments. We expect to unlock significant shareholder value in all realistic oil price scenarios,” said Carl K. Arnet, the CEO of BW Energy. 

    Capex-efficient development concept  

    The development comprises six initial Maastrichtian horizontal production wells with dry-trees and artificial lift by downhole Electric Submersible Pumps (ESPs). Production will be transferred from the WHP to the spread moored FPSO Maromba for treatment, storage and offloading to shuttle tankers. The WHP will be installed in ~150 meters of water depth with full drilling facilities. Once installed, the infrastructure will also enable the planned secondary six-well drilling campaign and provide potential for future development phases with low-cost infill wells, potential water injectors as well as allowing appraisal and production of multiple proven reservoirs outside the main Maastrichtian resources.    

    The FPSO Maromba is currently at the COSCO yard in China, undergoing initial refurbishment and life extension work following completion of condition assessment and FEED.  The FPSO is designed with 1 million barrels of storage capacity. The total liquid capacity will be 100,000 barrels per day with oil production capacity of 65,000 barrels per day and water treatment capacity of 85,000 barrels per day.  

    BW Energy has agreed to acquire a jack-up with complete leg extensions for USD 107.5 million. The rig will undergo a limited conversion to serve as an integrated drilling and wellhead platform prior to installation on the field.

    “The repurposing of existing energy infrastructure enables reduced investments and shorter time to first oil with significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions in the development phase, as compared to installing new production assets,” said Carl K. Arnet, the CEO of BW Energy. 

    Attractive field economics  

    BW Energy expects to invest approximately USD 1 billion before first oil and a further USD 200 million to complete the initial drilling campaign before end 2028. This will be followed by USD 300 million for the additional six wells in the second campaign with completion before end 2030.  

    BW Energy anticipates Maromba to achieve a competitive production cost, averaging less than USD 10 per barrel over the first five years, underpinning robust project economics. 

    Estimated project IRR exceeds 30% at oil at USD 60 per barrel Brent and break-even at 10% IRR is around USD 40 per barrel Brent. The heavy oil from the Maromba is expected to trade at a discount to Brent of approximately USD 7.5 per barrel.  

    The development will be financed through existing cash and undrawn facilities, cashflow from operations, and separate infrastructure financing solutions related to the FPSO and WHP. The Company is also evaluating a range of financing alternatives, including a corporate facility, reserve-based lending, trader financing and the potential issuance of bonds.  

    BW Energy has also received a commitment by the main shareholder BW Group for a USD 250 million shareholder loan facility.   

    The Maromba field 

    Maromba is located 100 km off the Brazilian coast in the Campos Basin. Nine wells were drilled in the license between 1980 and 2006, with oil found in eight of these across various reservoirs. The development project targets 123 million barrels of 2P reserves (management estimates), with potential additional resources from other reservoirs to be appraised along the development. BW Energy acquired 100% ownership in Maromba in 2019 for a total of USD 115 million, of which USD 85 million remains to be paid to the sellers at predefined milestones. Magma Oil holds a 5% back-in right in the Maromba licence which is expected to be executed upon first oil.  

    BW Energy is following all the steps of the approval process with the Brazilian O&G Regulator (ANP) and with the Environmental Agency (IBAMA). The Company will now proceed with contracting of long-lead items and services, as well as finalising the financing agreements.   

    More information on the Maromba development will be shared in connection with the first quarter 2025 earnings presentation held at Teatersalen, Hotel Continental in Oslo, Norway, 09:30 CEST on 5 May.  

    The presentation can also be followed via webcast on: 

    VIEWER REGISTRATION • Q1 2025  
    https://events.webcast.no/viewer-registration/9LwLZF1X/register   

    For further information, please contact: 

    Brice Morlot, CFO BW Energy

    +33.7.81.11.41.16
    ir@bwenergy.com  

    About BW Energy  

    BW Energy is a growth E&P company with a differentiated strategy targeting proven offshore oil and gas reservoirs through low risk phased developments. The Company has access to existing production facilities to reduce time to first oil and cashflow with lower investments than traditional offshore developments. The Company’s assets are 73.5% of the producing Dussafu Marine licence offshore Gabon, 100% interest in the Golfinho and Camarupim fields, a 76.5% interest in the BM-ES-23 block, a 95% interest in the Maromba field in Brazil, a 95% interest in the Kudu field in Namibia, all operated by BW Energy. In addition, BW Energy holds approximately 6.6% of the common shares in Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. and a 20% non-operating interest in the onshore Petroleum Exploration License 73 (“PEL 73”) in Namibia. Total net 2P+2C reserves and resources were 599 million barrels of oil equivalent at the start of 2025. 

    This information is considered inside information pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. This stock exchange release was published by Regine Andersen, 05 May 2025.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Pie in the sky? After the Coalition’s stinging loss, nuclear should be dead. Here’s why it might live on

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam Simpson, Senior Lecturer, International Studies, University of South Australia

    barmalini/Shutterstock

    When the Coalition launched its nuclear plan last year, Labor was on the nose and early polls showed some support for the policy. But then the wheels fell off.

    Nuclear didn’t stack up on cost or timeframe. Early support fell away. By the time of the election, support for maintaining Australia’s ban on nuclear power had increased from 51% to 59%.

    When Opposition leader Peter Dutton gave his budget reply speech in late March, he barely mentioned the nuclear policy – instead promoting gas and attacking renewables.

    After Saturday’s Coalition rout, the prospect of nuclear power in Australia should be dead and buried. But that’s not guaranteed. The National Party strongly backs nuclear power.

    With metropolitan Liberals sceptical of nuclear reduced to a rump, the Nationals and regional Liberals will gain influence within the Coalition. If conservative Nationals prevail, we may well see the nuclear policy survive the election post-mortem and be resurrected for the next election.

    Why did the Coalition back nuclear?

    In the 1990s, the Coalition introduced laws banning nuclear power in Australia. But interest in the technology has never gone away. Australia has abundant uranium, and nuclear power appeals to some demographics.

    Politically, Dutton’s choice to back nuclear power was pragmatic. There were real tensions inside the Coalition on climate action. Nuclear power seemed to offer a way past these tensions, as a zero emissions energy source providing baseload power. It would also have meant slowing the renewable rollout and building more gas power plants to cover the gap left by retiring coal.

    It appears the nuclear policy wasn’t a Dutton priority. Nationals leader David Littleproud says he and the Nationals pushed the Coalition to adopt nuclear in exchange for continued support for the 2050 net zero target. After Saturday’s wipeout in Liberal-held metropolitan seats, the Nationals will have a stronger hand.

    On Sky News yesterday, Littleproud claimed nuclear was not the reason for the Coalition’s loss. National MPs are still backing nuclear.

    If the Nationals stick to their guns, we may see the Coalition bring nuclear to the next election.

    Three-year federal terms make it difficult for new governments to embark on long term plans. Nuclear energy would take at least 15 years to come online. The Coalition’s last realistic opportunity to go nuclear would have been back in 2007, when there was renewed interest in the technology.

    At that time, renewables were quite expensive. But solar, wind and batteries now cost much less, while nuclear was already expensive and has remained so.

    Government tenders for renewable and storage projects tend to be massively oversubscribed, with far more interest than opportunities. By contrast, nuclear doesn’t have business backing. The Australian Industry Group has argued the Coalition’s nuclear policy was 20 years too late. This business reticence explains the Coalition’s proposal to build the nuclear reactors with public money.

    This year, clean energy levels in Australia’s main grid will reach 44–46%, according to the Clean Energy Regulator. With a strong pipeline of new projects, that could reach 60% by the next election. It’s hard to see what role nuclear could have in any future grid.

    Nuclear isn’t quite dead

    In contrast to intermittent renewables, nuclear offers reliable zero emissions baseload power. If you talk to nuclear backers, you’ll likely hear a variant of this sentence.

    But there’s “no going back” to the old baseload model where large, inflexible coal plants churned out power, as the head of the Australian Energy Market Operator Daniel Westerman pointed out last week. That’s because renewables are the cheapest energy source. Powering Australia on 100% renewables is possible with enough battery storage or pumped hydro to compensate for the solar duck curve, in which solar power drops off in the evening.

    So why does nuclear have a hold on the Coalition’s imagination, even as it faces its largest crisis since Menzies founded the Liberal Party?

    One likely reason is cultural opposition to renewables. This is especially evident among prominent Nationals such as Littleproud, Matt Canavan and Barnaby Joyce. As the thinking presumably goes, if “latte-sipping greens” in inner city areas back renewables, genuine country Australians should naturally oppose them.

    It is, of course, not that simple. Renewables are often just as popular in the bush as in the cities. A Lowy Institute poll found almost two-thirds of regional respondents supported the government’s 82% renewable target for 2030. Farmers hosting solar panels or wind turbines energy generation on their properties see them as guaranteed income even if livestock or grains are having a bad year.

    The problem for the Nationals and for the Coalition more broadly is that nuclear just isn’t that popular. Early support for the policy was soft. It melted away as authoritative sources such as the CSIRO pointed to the exorbitant cost and long timeframe to build reactors from scratch.

    Labor, with a resounding majority, is likely to accelerate the shift to clean energy. While the urban-rural political divide will still play out in Coalition opposition to clean energy, Labor’s large electoral mandate and dominance in the populous cities will encourage it to press ahead.

    As the surviving members of the Coalition lick their wounds and begin to figure out how they did so badly, we can expect to see nuclear up for discussion. But given the new power of the Nationals and regional Liberals in the party room, we may not have seen the last of nuclear fantasies in Australia.

    Adam Simpson does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Pie in the sky? After the Coalition’s stinging loss, nuclear should be dead. Here’s why it might live on – https://theconversation.com/pie-in-the-sky-after-the-coalitions-stinging-loss-nuclear-should-be-dead-heres-why-it-might-live-on-255866

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: 5 huge climate opportunities await the next parliament – and it has the numbers to deliver

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anna Skarbek, Climateworks CEO, Monash University

    Australians have returned an expanded Labor Party to government alongside a suite of climate-progressive independents. Meanwhile, the Coalition – which promoted nuclear energy and a slower renewables transition – suffered a historic defeat.

    Labor also looks set to have increased numbers in the Senate, where the Greens are likely to hold the balance of power.

    These numbers mean support for progressive climate and energy policy in Australia’s 48th parliament is shaping as stronger than the last. So what does this mean as Australia seeks to position itself as a leader in the global net zero economy?

    In its first term in government, Labor laid the groundwork for stronger climate action, including legislating an emissions-reduction target and putting crucial policies and organisations in place. The next parliament will be well-placed to build on these foundations. Here, we explain where key opportunities lie.

    1. National emissions target for 2035

    By September this year, all signatories to the global Paris Agreement must set emissions reduction targets out to 2035.

    Labor is waiting on advice from the Climate Change Authority before setting its target. The authority’s initial advice last year suggested a target between 65% and 75%, based on 2005 levels.

    Some countries have already set their targets. The United Kingdom, for example, will aim for a reduction of at least 81% by 2035, based on 1990 levels.

    2. A firm plan for net-zero

    Australia has committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. Getting there will require innovation and investment across the economy. In the last term of government, Labor began
    developing net-zero plans for each economic sector. They comprise energy, transport, industry, resources, the built environment, and agriculture and land.

    The plans are due to be finalised this year. They will act as a tangible map for Australia to meet both net zero and the 2035 emissions-reduction target, and are keenly awaited by state governments, industry and investors.

    This policy area presents the broadest opportunity for the crossbench to exert influence for greater ambition, scale and pace. Neither the 2035 target nor the sector plans need to go through parliament – however they could feature in broader parliamentary negotiations.

    Separately, the Safeguard Mechanism will be reviewed in 2027, during this parliament. The policy aims to reduce emissions reductions from Australia’s biggest greenhouse-gas polluters. It is key to reaching net zero in Australia’s industrial sector, and an important moment to ensure the policy reduces emissions at the rate needed.

    3. Bidding to host COP31

    Australia is bidding to host next year’s United Nations global climate talks, or COP, in partnership with Pacific Island nations. The bid was opposed by the Coalition.

    A decision on the COP host is expected in June. If Australia succeeds, the federal government will seek to use the high-profile global gathering to showcase its climate credentials – and there will be high expectations from Pacific co-hosts. So all policy between now and then really matters.

    4. An energy system to make Australia thrive

    Energy produces about 70% of Australia’s emissions. Tackling this means reducing emissions from electricity through renewable generation. Elsewhere in the economy, it means switching from gas, petrol and diesel to clean electricity.

    The government’s plan to reach 82% renewable energy by 2030 remains crucial. Australia’s electricity system is expected to reach around 50% renewable energy this year. But there is more work to do.

    A review of the National Electricity Market is due this year. It is expected to recommend ways to promote greater investment in renewable generation and storage. This includes what policy might follow the Capacity Investment Scheme, a measure to boost renewables investment which will be rolled out by 2027.

    Faster action on the renewable shift can also be achieved through the Australian Energy Market Operator’s next Integrated System Plan – the nation’s roadmap for guiding energy infrastructure and investment.

    Labor also has scope to improve energy efficiency, and better match energy demand and supply – especially at times of peak energy use. The government’s commitments to subsidise home batteries, and expand the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, will help achieve this. The crossbench, including the Greens, is likely to seek greater investments to reduce household energy use and costs.

    Beyond this, Australia’s electricity grid needs to be double the size of what’s currently planned, to power the entire economy with clean energy.

    5. Leverage clean energy export advantages

    Australia generates about a quarter of its GDP from exports – many of them emissions-intensive such as fossil fuels, minerals and agricultural products.

    In his election victory speech, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urged Australia to seize the moment at a time of global economic disruption. Key to this will be building on the Future Made in Australia agenda and ensuring Australia makes the most of its competitive advantages as the world transitions to net-zero.

    This will include:

    • leveraging a strong reputation as a reliable trade partner
    • capitalising on our world-leading solar and wind energy resources to produce low-emissions goods for export
    • developing the industry around critical minerals and rare earths needed in low-emissions technologies
    • helping metals and minerals sectors achieve net-zero emissions pathways.

    This will be central to trade negotiations in the years to come. Realising Australia’s green exports aspiration requires action abroad as well as at home.

    A game-changing decade

    This decade is crucial to Australia’s future economy, and to the success of Australia’s long-term transition to net zero emissions. Our work has shown Australia can slash emissions while the economy grows.

    The question now is how quickly the re-elected government – indeed, the next parliament – can realise Australia’s ambition as a renewable energy superpower.

    The next three years will provide vital opportunities and they must be seized – for the sake of our energy bills, our economic prosperity and Australia’s reputation on the world stage.

    Anna Skarbek is on the board of the Net Zero Economy Authority, SEC Victoria, the Centre for New Energy Technologies, the Green Building Council of Australia, and the Asia-Pacific Advisory Board of the Glasgow Financial Alliance on Net Zero. She is CEO of Climateworks Centre which receives funding from philanthropy and project-specific financial support from a range of private and public entities including federal, state and local government and private sector organisations and international and local non-profit organisations. Climateworks Centre works within Monash University’s Sustainable Development Institute.

    Climateworks Centre is a part of Monash University. It receives funding from a range of external sources including philanthropy, governments and businesses. Businesses such as mining companies and industry associations have previously co-funded Climateworks’ research on industrial decarbonisation, and may benefit from policies mentioned in this article.

    – ref. 5 huge climate opportunities await the next parliament – and it has the numbers to deliver – https://theconversation.com/5-huge-climate-opportunities-await-the-next-parliament-and-it-has-the-numbers-to-deliver-255772

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Increased 47.6% by End of March 2025

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    BEIJING, May 3 (Xinhua) — The number of charging infrastructure facilities in China increased 47.6 percent year-on-year by the end of March 2025, as the country continued to expand its new energy vehicle (NEV) charging network, according to the National Energy Administration (NEA).

    At a recent press conference, Zhang Xing, a spokesman for the aforementioned department, said that the total number of charging infrastructure facilities across the country had reached nearly 13.75 million units by the end of March.

    He noted that this figure includes 3.9 million public NEV chargers and 9.85 million private chargers.

    At present, 38,000 charging devices have been installed in 98 percent of expressway service areas nationwide. All townships in the country’s 13 provincial-level regions have been covered by charging devices, raising the coverage rate of townships and townships to 76.91 percent.

    To strengthen the integration of NEVs with power grids, the SUE has jointly launched vehicle-to-grid (V2G) pilot programs in nine cities including Shanghai in eastern China and selected 30 bidirectional charging projects to test the pilot programs, Zhang Xing added. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Going for Gold on the Takitimu North Link

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    Autumn is a time to celebrate the harvest at the Takitimu North Link Stage 1 project, following a golden construction season.

    With piling on the project now 96 percent complete, the highway is really on solid ground,” says Manager of Infrastructure Delivery, Darryl Coalter.

    “Interest in the project is extremely high with 370 people turning up to meet the team and see the progress at our Open Day recently, followed by a visit by the Minister of Transport, Chris Bishop, who declared the project ‘amazing’ and said he couldn’t wait to see it open.

    “With 11 culverts now complete (out of 19), 72 percent of the utility work finished and over 163,000 hours of machinery work under our belt, we’re heading into the winter months in a strong position to continue to build our structures,” says Mr Coalter.

    There are 6 bridges currently in construction, so while earthworks wind down for the cooler months, the site will still be a hive of activity, keeping the 275 people working on the project very busy.

    “We’ve commenced trials for the first section of pavements at Te Mete, and we’ve already got 2km of drainage in, so it’s all happening both above the ground and below.

    “And as the seasons turn, the 2025 planting season will see 164,000 plants go in the ground, adding to the 70,000 already in, so there’s heaps to look forward to.”

    But don’t just take Mr Coalter or Mr Bishop’s word for how epic things are looking – check out the progress on this fly through video:

    Watch video on Youtube(external link)

    Piling on 15th Avenue.

    Minden interchange towards WETI.

    Fast facts

    • 275 people currently working on the project
    • More than 2478 people inducted and worked on various aspects of the project to date
    • Over 22.5 million hours worked since project started
    • 90 subcontractor staff engaged, with half of those local businesses
    • 4 bridges built 6 under construction
    • 2.3 million cubic metres of dirt moved (of total 3 million cubes)
    • 8.84km of piles on the project, 96 percent complete
    • 800,000 linear metres of wick drains installed, to reduce settlement time
    • 70,000 plants in the ground, of more than 900,000 required in total
    • 11 out of 19 culverts completed
    • 2km of network drainage installed out of 13km
    • 72 percent complete of utility work (includes Power, Gas, Fibre, Telecommunications, Water, Sewer)
    • Total machine hours 163,149 (up until end of March 2025)
    • 35 dump trucks, 10 bulldozers and 20 excavators on site
    • Commenced first section of pavement trials at Te Mete.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: A rubbish election: voting in Australia produces mountains of waste – but there’s a better way

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa M. Given, Professor of Information Sciences & Director, Social Change Enabling Impact Platform, RMIT University

    More than 18 million Australians voted on Saturday, after walking past countless corflutes, reading campaign flyers and reviewing how-to-vote cards.

    The 2025 federal election was Australia’s biggest yet, with 710,000 more people on the electoral roll than in 2022. The Australian Election Commission amassed 250,000 pencils, 240,000 vests, 80,000 ballot boxes and 5,000 rolls of tamper-proof tape to stock some 7,000 polling places.

    So, what happens to these materials after polling day? Some are warehoused, ready for reuse next time around. Others are repurposed. But every election also generates a mountain of waste for landfill.

    It doesn’t have to be this way. Australia needs to mandate a cradle-to-grave approach to creating, using, recycling and disposing of election materials. Meanwhile, electronic machines and online voting can reduce the need for paper ballots, just as social media campaigns can reduce paper mail drops.

    Magill School in the Sturt electorate, like most polling centres, was wrapped in lightweight plastic posters.
    Clare Peddie

    Where do election materials go after the polls close?

    In response to inquiries from The Conversation, the Australian Election Commission said most AEC materials, such as tamper-proof tape, vests and pencils, are stored between elections at counting centres. Other materials, such as cardboard voting booths, are recycled or donated to schools or charities.

    Most councils require corflutes to be collected within seven days of an election. But no rules govern reuse or disposal. Corflutes are made from polypropylene, a lightweight plastic that is technically recyclable. But it’s not a straightforward process, so most recycling facilities reportedly cannot accept this waste.

    Some candidates donate corflutes to schools, childcare centres and charities, because the white reverse side can be used to mount artworks.

    Second-hand corflutes have also been used as shelters for homeless people, heat shields for bee hives, or to repair damaged skylights. But no doubt many end up in landfill.

    Are there alternatives?

    Many countries are “greening” their elections. In 2019, India’s election commission directed parties to eliminate single-use plastic including corflutes. In 2024, the United Kingdom’s Westminster Foundation for Democracy outlined strategies for reducing election “pollution”, addressing supply chains and packaging.

    Australia relies heavily on disposable election materials. While many of these can be recycled, it’s better to avoid single-use materials.

    Parties could also display how-to-vote instructions on posters at election sites, rather than handing out individual flyers that are recycled or thrown away.

    In 2022, the AEC introduced plain brown cardboard screens and ballot boxes, saying they are easier to recycle and reuse than previous versions “wrapped” in purple-and-white branded paper. However, Australian Electoral Commissioner Tom Rogers says elections will probably always be “highly manual and resource-intensive exercises”. We disagree.

    Could Australia use electronic or online voting to reduce waste?

    Other countries are introducing online voting to reduce waste. One study in Estonia found the carbon footprint of paper-based voting was 180 times greater than internet-based voting. More than 50% of the population voted online in 2023.

    India introduced electronic voting machines in 1982 and mandated them, nationwide, in 2004. In 1999 alone this saved 7,700 tonnes of waste.

    The United States introduced mechanical voting machines in the 1890s, punch cards and scanned ballots in the 1960s, and “direct-recording” electronic voting machines in the 1970s. Today, touch screens are used in many voting booths, with paper records for auditing. Now just 7% of districts rely on paper ballots and hand-counted ballots are rarely used.

    Yet electronic voting machines are not without controversy. Security concerns after the 2016 US election resulted in 94% of districts shifting to optical scanning, and use of “direct-recording” electronic voting machines almost halved.

    Ireland invested €50 million (A$88 million) into electronic voting machines in 2002, but they were never used due to concerns about potential tampering.

    Australia should explore secure options for electronic voting machines and online voting. In its response to The Conversation, the AEC said this would be a matter for parliament to consider, because the law currently demands that elections are in-person events.

    Can social media campaigning help?

    Social media enables candidates and voters to engage in new ways. For instance, Labor senators Katy Gallagher and Penny Wong took part in a Facebook “pop quiz” on April 29, which had 55,000 views. But social media can amplify misinformation, so consumers need to fact-check what they see and hear online.

    Combined, the parties and affiliated groups spent more than A$39 million on advertisements on YouTube, Facebook and Google during the 2025 campaign. The AEC had to update its authorisation guidelines to cover podcasters and other content creators.

    This mirrors global shifts towards social media campaigning. During Canada’s 2025 campaign, Liberal leader Mark Carney (who went on to be elected prime minister) created a video with celebrity Mike Myers, reaching 10 million views.

    While such creative approaches may engage voters, they still carry a carbon footprint. Carney and Myers’ video likely produced about six tonnes of CO₂ emissions due to the energy and electricity used in production, streaming and viewing.

    Mike Myers and Mark Carney used social media creatively in Canada’s 2025 election campaign.

    Text messages also connect candidates with voters. Clive Palmer’s Trumpet of Patriots party sent 17 million texts the election campaign. This equates to 240kg of CO₂ emissions from energy-hungry data centres and personal devices.

    This is less than the emissions the average Australian produces in a week. However, the unsolicited texts riled many voters, many concerned about privacy and who wanted to opt out.

    What’s the solution?

    Australia should mandate a reduction in the disposal of election materials.

    Some print materials may always be needed, because not all voters can access digital content or vote online. But the current situation is unsustainable.

    Global experiences show innovation is possible. Australia can reduce its reliance on new, physical materials, while maintaining public trust.

    Australia’s newly elected officials have an opportunity to green future elections, adopting a more sophisticated approach to voting in a digital age. There’s no excuse for producing mountains of plastic and paper waste every three or four years. Our nation deserves better.

    Lisa M. Given receives funding from the Australian Research Council. She is a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia and the Association for Information Science and Technology.

    Gary Rosengarten receives funding from the Australian Research Council, Australian Renewable Energy Agency and the Renewable Affordable Clean Energy for 2030 CRC, and is a non-executive board member of the Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity.

    Matt Duckham does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. A rubbish election: voting in Australia produces mountains of waste – but there’s a better way – https://theconversation.com/a-rubbish-election-voting-in-australia-produces-mountains-of-waste-but-theres-a-better-way-255780

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Torres on GOP “Skinny Budget”: A Full-On Assault on Working Families, Trump’s Plan to Make America Unsafe Again

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)

    May 02, 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Norma Torres (CA-35) issued a statement on the administration’s plan for Fiscal Year 2026, calling it a dangerous, extremist blueprint ripped straight from Donald Trump’s playbook — a plan to Make America Unsafe Again.

    “Let’s be clear: this isn’t a budget — it’s a declaration of war on working families. Republicans want to gut the programs that keep our kids in school, our families healthy, and our communities safe — just to bankroll tax cuts for billionaires and Trump’s MAGA cronies. Even by their own math, the Trump-Musk budget slashes $163 billion from domestic investments — a brutal 23% cut,” said Torres. “These aren’t just numbers on a page — they’re programs that families in the Inland Empire rely on to make ends meet. Meanwhile, Republicans want to gut $880 billion from Medicaid, raid Social Security, and permanently freeze over $400 billion owed to the American people. All to protect yacht-buying tax breaks? Not on my watch.”

    The Trump-Musk budget would: 

    Raise the Cost of Living and Harm the Economy

    • Evict hundreds of thousands of seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities by slashing affordable housing programs — and force homeless shelters to halt operations, even as more than 771,000 people are experiencing homelessness.

    • Zero out the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, turning off the heat and air conditioning for 6 million households.

    • Eliminate the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, forcing more than 1,000 mayors and governors to abandon street, water, and sewer improvements and vital services for youth and seniors.

    Decimate Public Education

    • Make it harder for students to afford college by need-based financial aid for 1.7 million students by cutting Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG) and ending the Federal Work Study Program for more than 500,000 students.

    • Eliminate English Language Acquisition programs, cutting services for over 5 million English learners.

    Make Americans Less Safe

    • Slash funding for public safety by cutting resources at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

    • Eliminate thousands of FBI positions, including intelligence analysts who help prevent domestic and international threats.

    • Defund grants to prevent hate crimes and protect civil rights.

    • Cut weather satellite funding, crippling storm forecasting and emergency response capabilities during natural disasters.

    Make Communities Less Healthy

    • Eviscerate the CDC by eliminating dozens of programs — from HIV/AIDS, tobacco, and asthma prevention to maternal health and emergency preparedness.

    • Slash substance use prevention and treatment programs at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, undermining the fight against opioids.

    • Cut food assistance programs, including the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which provides food assistance for seniors.

    • Slash NIH funding by 40%, halting progress toward cures for cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and more.

    • Eliminate air pollution control programs, increasing Americans’ exposure to harmful pollutants.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AMENDMENTS 006-006 – REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2017/1938 as regards the role of gas storage for securing gas supplies ahead of the winter season – A10-0079/2025(006-006)

    Source: European Parliament

    AMENDMENTS 006-006
    REPORT
    on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2017/1938 as regards the role of gas storage for securing gas supplies ahead of the winter season
    (COM(2025)0099 – C10-0041/2025 – 2025/0051(COD))
    Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
    Rapporteur: Borys Budka

    Source : © European Union, 2025 – EP

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Cleaver, Matsui Fitzpatrick Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Help Homeowners Plant More Trees and Reduce Energy Costs

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)

    (Washington, D.C.) – Today on Arbor Day, U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Doris Matsui (D-CA), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) reintroduced the TREES Act, a bill that will help homeowners lower energy costs, increase tree canopy in underserved communities, and help mitigate the effects of climate change through residential tree planting.

    The TREES Act would create a cost-share grant program at the Department of Energy to provide $50 million in funding to plant a minimum of 300,000 trees annually in residential neighborhoods through 2028. The program seeks to prioritize low wealth communities as well as areas with low tree canopy and heat islands.

    “Kansas Citians know all too well that extreme heat waves are becoming increasingly frequent, costly, and dangerous to communities in the urban core due to the heat island effect exacerbating the historic rise in temperatures we’re seeing around the globe,” said Congressman Cleaver. “By providing states and municipalities the resources necessary to expand tree canopy in cities, we can not only boost the beautification and restoration of places like Kansas City, but we can also lower energy costs and temperatures to the benefit of local residents. That’s precisely what the TREES Act will do, and why I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation with Congresswoman Matsui.”

    “Urban forests are critical to addressing climate change and air pollution,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “Sacramento is the City of Trees—and through the proactive efforts of local organizations and partners we are working hard to build out a more equitable urban tree canopy across our city. The benefits at the local level are clear: we can lower energy costs, reduce temperatures on our streets, improve air quality, reduce stormwater runoff, and beautify our neighborhoods—all leading to healthier and more climate resilient communities. The TREES Act incentivizes successful programs like ours and scales them to the national level. By creating a competitive federal tree-planting grant program, we can empower communities to improve access to green space and clean air, reduce consumer costs, and help fight climate change.”

    “The TREES Act brings together environmental stewardship and economic relief—lowering energy costs while making our communities cleaner, healthier, and more vibrant,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick. “This is about investing in where we live—expanding green spaces, improving air quality, and creating lasting value for families in Bucks County, Montgomery County, and beyond. It’s a smart, bipartisan solution that delivers where it matters most: at the roots of our neighborhoods.”

    “This bill isn’t just about planting trees—it’s about improving lives,” said Joel Pannell, American Forests Vice President of Urban Forests Policy. “The bipartisan TREES Act delivers local benefits that communities will feel for generations—from cleaner air to lower utility bills—proving that smart, shared solutions can still bring people together. We thank Rep. Matsui, Rep. Fitzpatrick and Rep. Cleaver for introducing this critical and timely legislation.”

    Full text of the TREES Act is available here.

     

    Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: The real impact of owning an electric vehicle

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    Canberrans who own ZEVs are helping to reduce the city’s use of fossil fuels.

    In Brief:

    • Canberrans are leading the way with zero emissions vehicle (ZEV) ownership, with more than 10,000 ZEVs on our roads.
    • ZEVs can help you save money and are better for the environment.
    • This story details the financial and environmental benefits of owning a ZEV.

    You might have heard that zero emissions vehicles (ZEVs) can save you money and are better for the environment.

    But have you ever wondered just how much of an impact they actually have?

    We’ve done the maths to reveal just how much of a difference they can make for Canberrans.

    How much money can you save?

    Households with electric vehicles could save up to $2,000 per year over the next 10 years.

    That’s according to the Australian Energy Market Commission’s recent report on Residential electricity price trends  2024.

    Electric vehicles are cheaper to run than petrol, diesel and hybrid alternatives. This is because electricity costs less than petrol or diesel and maintenance is cheaper.

    You can increase your savings even further if you:

    • drive a lot (over 15,000 kilometres per year)
    • charge your vehicle at home
    • have home solar.

    The ACT has some of the most generous financial incentives available for ZEV purchase in Australia. These include:

    • zero interest loans
    • stamp duty exemptions
    • lower registration fees.

    Prices for new ZEVs are continuing to drop, with many options now available below $40,000. New manufactures are continuing to enter the market, which increases competition, reducing vehicle prices further.

    With more than 10,000 ZEVs on the road, Canberrans are saving almost $24 million per year on running costs.

    What about the environmental benefits?

    Doing your bit to reduce emissions helps our city take action on climate change.

    More than 40 percent of the ACT’s greenhouse gas emissions come from private vehicle use.

    With 10,000 ZEVs on the road, emissions are reduced by 32,600 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year. That has real benefits to our environment, health and the quality of our air.

    Canberrans who own ZEVs are helping to reduce the city’s use of non-renewable energy sources. They are helping us save around 13 million litres of petrol or diesel per year. That’s roughly five Olympic swimming pools.

    To find out how much you could save by making the switch to electric, try our free Total Cost of Ownership tool.

    Visit the Climate Choices website for more information on owning a ZEV in the ACT.

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    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Harris Applauds Trump Administration for Halting Foreign Owned Offshore Wind Project

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01)

    Washington, D.C. – Congressman Harris, M.D., Chairman of House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration, released the following statement after the Trump Administration halted the construction of a massive offshore wind project off the coast of New York and ordered a review of all existing permits. 

    Background: On Wednesday, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum directed the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to order foreign energy developer Equinor to cease all construction activities on its Empire Wind project. In a memorandum released by the Washington Free Beacon, Secretary Burgum confirmed the Biden administration green-lit permits for the project and ultimately approved it without conducting proper analysis.

    Statement From Congressman Harris:

    “I applaud the Trump Administration for exposing the Biden administration’s faulty permitting process and ordering a halt to the offshore wind construction activities of Empire Wind. Offshore wind poses a significant risk to our environment, national security operations, and marine life and its development should be halted. In the last few months in office, the Biden Administration rushed the approval process for permits in Maryland and I look forward to the swift end of all offshore wind construction projects in my district.” 

    For media inquiries, please contact Anna Adamian at Anna.A@mail.house.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: HOUSE PASSES MATSUI’S FUTURE NETWORKS ACT

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07), Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, released the following statement after the House passed the Future Uses of Technology Upholding Reliable and Enhanced (FUTURE) Networks Act, her legislation that directs the FCC to bring together experts across industry, public interest, and government to establish a 6G Task Force.

    “6G will transform the way we communicate – with each other and the world around us,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “It will form the new foundation to revolutionize connectivity and enable us to leverage and integrate AI, sensing, and computing tools into our communications networks. 6G can support smart cities and supercharge augmented reality applications for education, health care, and manufacturing. That’s why the economic and national security stakes couldn’t be higher. America must lead the race to 6G and ensure it reflects our values of democracy, open markets, and transparency. The FUTURE Networks Act ensures our brightest minds in industry, government, and academia are collaborating on this vital mission to accelerate U.S. leadership in next-generation communications.I applaud my House colleagues for passing this important piece of legislation and urge the Senate to do the same.”

    Specifically, the FUTURE Networks Act:

    • Requires the FCC to establish a 6G Task Force comprised of industry, government, and public interest representatives to issue a report on:
      • The role of standards setting bodies in 6G
      • Possible use cases for 6G technology
      • Potential threats such as supply chain or cybersecurity, and;
      • Interagency coordination and promoting deployment

    Full text of the bill is available HERE. 

                                                   

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: MATSUI CONDEMNS TRUMP’S ILLEGAL ATTACK ON PUBLIC BROADCASTING

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07), Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, released the following statement in response to President Trump’s executive order and its illegal attempt to stop the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) from funding National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). This executive order comes on the heels of the President’s earlier attempt to illegally fire CPB board members.

    “Let’s be clear: no president is above the law, and no president can weaponize public broadcasting as a personal propaganda machine. Yet once again President Trump is trying to destroy free speech, silence our media, and keep people from the truth,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “Public broadcasting provides people with free community-supported access to news, educational content, and lifesaving emergency alerts. Congress established the Corporation for Public Broadcasting as an independent, nonprofit entity — precisely to protect public media from political interference and ensure Americans have access to fair, factual, and nonpartisan journalism.”

    “President Trump is not attacking public media because he cares about the truth,” Matsui continued. “He’s targeting it because it tells the truth — even when it doesn’t serve his interests. Time and again, he has used the power of his office to go after independent outlets that refuse to echo his talking points. I will keep fighting to protect public media and the First Amendment from the Trump Administration’s baseless attacks.” 

    The Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 established the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) as a private, non-profit corporation to provide non-commercial educational programming to the public. The CPB is not a federal executive agency subject to presidential authority. CPB provides grants to 1,216 public radio stations and 365 public television stations across the country, to provide nearly 99 percent of the U.S. population with free programming and services.

    Congresswoman Matsui is a longtime champion of public broadcasting and freedom of the press. She introduced the Broadcast Freedom and Independence Act, legislation that would prohibit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from revoking broadcast licenses or taking action against broadcasters based on the viewpoints they broadcast. The legislation would reaffirm the importance of the independence of the FCC, including that the President should not mandate the FCC’s agenda. Congresswoman Matsui also led a bipartisan letter emphasizing the importance of federal funding for public radio and television.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: MATSUI CONDEMNS REPUBLICAN EFFORT TO REPEAL CALIFORNIA’S CLEAN AIR ACT WAIVERS

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

    WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07), Co-Chair of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition, released the following statement rebuking House Republicans’ effort to eliminate the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Air Act waivers for California’s Advanced Clean Trucks, Advanced Clean Cars II, and Heavy-Duty Low NOx Omnibus rules. 

    “The evidence is overwhelming: clean air saves lives. That’s why I have spent my career in Congress fighting for stronger emissions standards and cracking down on toxic air pollution,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “For over 50 years, California has used its Clean Air Act authority to lead the way on strong, forward-thinking air pollution standards. Our policies serve as a national blueprint – showing how to cut emissions, drive innovation, create good jobs, lower costs at the pump, and protect families from harmful pollutants. This is a blatant, unlawful attempt to undermine decades of progress and double down on dirty fossil fuels. We must stop wasting everyone’s time and start working for the American people.”

    Last month, the Government Accountability Office reiterated a 2023 decision that California’s Clean Air Act waivers were not subject to the Congressional Review Act (CRA). The Senate Parliamentarian has affirmed this determination, ruling that the CRA cannot be used to overturn California’s waivers. 

    Congresswoman Matsui has spearheaded efforts in Congress calling for stronger emissions standards for cars and trucks. Under the first Trump Administration, the Congresswoman led opposition to President Trump’s attempts to revoke California’s pollution standards, and the Congresswoman successfully fought for the reinstatement of California’s authority under the Biden Administration.

    In March of 2021, she led a letter with 70 of her colleagues urging the Biden Administration to take action to reinstate California’s Clean Air Act waiver and restore the Obama-Biden tailpipe emission and fuel economy standards. In July of 2021, she led a follow up letter with then Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone and 139 of her colleagues to reiterate the importance of reinstating the California Clean Air Act waiver.

                                                   

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Moolenaar, Dingell Bill to Prevent TB Outbreaks Advanced by Committee

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Moolenaar (4th District of Michigan)

    Headline: Moolenaar, Dingell Bill to Prevent TB Outbreaks Advanced by Committee

    Today, Congressman John Moolenaar and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell’s (D-MI) bill, H.R. 1082, the Shandra Eisenga Human Cell and Tissue Product Safety Act, was passed unanimously by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. The bipartisan legislation, which first passed the House of Representatives last December, would require the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct research and education campaigns to prevent deadly outbreaks of tuberculosis (TB) from infected tissue transplants. The legislation would also impose penalties on providers of tissue material responsible for any future TB infections. 

    “The tuberculosis outbreak in 2023 that tragically took the life of Shandra Eisenga should never have happened. Our bill honors Shandra’s legacy by ensuring no one has to endure what she and her family went through. I am grateful for the bipartisan support of our bill, and I will continue my work to make it law to prevent future deadly TB outbreaks,” said Moolenaar.

    “Shandra Eisenga’s death was a preventable tragedy, and we’ve seen far too many people lose their lives due to tuberculosis infection from bone graft material,” said Dingell, a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. “I am thankful this bill passed Committee on a bipartisan basis, and am thankful to the Washtenaw County Health Department and doctors at the University of Michigan who recognized this issue requires federal government action. We must do more to increase awareness of the risks of human cell and tissue product transplants and implement additional safeguards to protect patients from the dangers of these infections.”

    The bipartisan legislation was introduced in response to the death of Shandra Eisenga on August 10, 2023, due to a tuberculosis infection from an infected bone graft. Shandra was one of 36 patients in seven states to contract TB after receiving a bone graft from an infected donor in 2023.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Media release: Australian oil and gas sector congratulates re-elected Albanese Government – Australian Energy Producers

    Source: Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association

    Headline: Media release: Australian oil and gas sector congratulates re-elected Albanese Government – Australian Energy Producers

    Australia’s oil and gas industry congratulates Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Federal Labor’s re-election and looks forward to continuing to work with the Government on necessary reforms for Australia’s long-term energy security and economic growth.

    Australian Energy Producers Chief Executive Samantha McCulloch said the decisive election result provided an opportunity for energy policy certainty and stability in the next term of Parliament.

    “Australia and our region’s economic growth and energy security needs reliable and affordable gas supply, which requires continued investment in new gas exploration and development,” Ms McCulloch said.

    “We look forward to working with the Albanese Government on advancing the shared goal of boosting Australian gas supply to ensure reliable and affordable energy for Australian homes and businesses, as outlined in the Future Gas Strategy and Australian Energy Producers’ election policy platform.”

    Ms McCulloch said the Government needed to prioritise implementing actions from the Future Gas Strategy and address the regulatory delays and uncertainty in the environmental approvals system.

    “Australia has abundant gas resources, yet we face gas shortfalls this decade due to regulatory uncertainty, approval delays and policy interventions that have delayed new gas supply and damaged Australia’s investment competitiveness. Addressing these risks must be a priority for the new Parliament.”

    Ms McCulloch also thanked Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and the Coalition for their support for the sector and urged the Government and Opposition to work constructively on enduring energy policy reforms that recognise the critical long-term role of gas in Australia’s energy mix.

    Australian Energy Producers’ election policy platform outlined key actions to unlock the economic, energy security and emissions reduction potential of Australia’s gas sector:

    • Boost Australian gas supply to ease cost of living pressures
    • Restore Australia’s global competitiveness for investment
    • Deliver real emissions reductions with gas and carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS)
    • Remain a reliable energy partner in our region

    Ms McCulloch said the election also showed Australians do not support the Greens’ reckless policies, including a ban on new gas projects, which would put Australia’s energy security at risk and drive-up energy costs.

    “With cost-of-living top of mind for voters, the Greens cannot be allowed to continue to hold legislation to ransom in the Senate,” Ms McCulloch said.

    Media contact: 0434 631 511

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: OOKC Hosts Exclusive Web3 Yacht Gathering During TOKEN2049 Dubai, Bringing Together Global Pioneers

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Dubai, May 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — During the globally anticipated TOKEN2049 Dubai event, OOKC LABS, in collaboration with CESS.Network, TrendX.tech, MenaTempo, and Onesecond, successfully hosted a high-level “OOKC Web3 Private Yacht Party” in the waters of Dubai. The event brought together some of the most influential Web3 founders, venture capitalists, Degen leaders, and ecosystem pioneers for deep discussions and high-impact networking at sea.

    Under the theme “Good Vibes, Real Connections, Web3 Energy at its Peak,” the gathering extended the vibrant energy of TOKEN2049 into a more intimate and insightful setting. Over 100 Web3 builders from the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and beyond came on board to engage in meaningful conversations around topics such as DePIN, AI + RWA, Meme culture, next-gen infrastructure, and community building.

    About the Co-Hosts:
        •    CESS.Network: A leading decentralized data cloud infrastructure provider, redefining Web3 storage paradigms and serving as a security guardian in the AI era. CESS is a certified member of gbaglobal.org and the U.S. Blockchain Association, and has presented Web3 policy proposals at the White House.
        •    TrendX.tech: A platform focused on alpha intelligence and on-chain data analytics, empowering investment decisions and strategic execution.
        •    MenaTempo: The Middle East’s leading Web3 think tank and media platform, specializing in crypto narratives and industry storytelling.
        •    Onesecond: A Web3 innovation platform centered on next-gen user experience and brand culture, with a strong focus on RWA ecosystem development.

    This yacht event was not only a flagship offline experience for OOKC during TOKEN2049, but also a major milestone in its mission to build a high-quality global Web3 builder network, especially in the Middle East. OOKC will continue to curate premium, focused, and actionable ecosystem engagements worldwide to drive collaborative growth and trust within the Web3 industry.

    The MIL Network –