Europe

The UK’s Department of Energy and Climate Change has today given the go-ahead for two new power stations to be constructed in Yorkshire that together are expected to create over 1,000 jobs.

The two new plants will generate enough energy to power almost two million UK homes.

The first is Ferrybridge, a 108 MW multifuel power plant in Wakefield, representing an investment of £250 million by SSE Generation.

Spanish solar-PV power generator T-Solar has announced it is expanding with the construction of a further 61 MW in Peru and India.

The group, which already has over 230 MW under operation and construction in Spain, Italy, India and Peru, has just brought its first PV power plant in India online. The new 5 MW plant uses thin-film amorphous silicon panels produced in the company's Galicia factory.

The new plant is located near the city of Jodhupur, Rajasthan, from which it will be feeding 8.5 GWh a year into India’s national electricity grid.

Cheniere Energy Partners has announced that its subsidiary Sabine Pass Liquefaction has entered into its first LNG sale and purchase agreement with BG Gulf Coast LNG.

The deal is for the purchase of 3.5 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) over a 20-year period from the Sabine Pass LNG terminal located in Louisiana.

ِSaudi Railways Organisation has awarded the contract for the second phase of its Haramain High Speed Rail Project to the Spanish consortium Al-Shoula.

The €6.7 billion contract includes the construction of railway tracks, installation of signalling and telecommunication systems, electrification, an operational control centre, the procurement of 35 trains, and operation and maintenance for a period of 12 years.

By awarding the second phase contract, all phases of the project have now been awarded and work is underway as planned.

Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority has approved plans for a 10-year underground gold mine facility in Loch Lomond National Park, Scotland.

Cononish gold mine near Tyndrum is currently the only economic gold reserve in Scotland. The development covers 39 hectares and will include the underground mine, large processing/storage building and tailings management facility.

Electricity and gas networks company National Grid has announced the sale of Utility Metering Services (which trades as Onstream) to Macquarie Bank for £274.3 million.

Onstreamis a non-regulated gas and electricity metering business and represents around nine per cent of National Grid’s total UK metering activities by operating profit.

National Grid said that the cash proceeds from the sale will be used within the company to fund its continuing investment programme.

The sale, which is unconditional, is expected to complete shortly.

Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Money is said to be close to purchasing the nationalised UK lender Northern Rock.

According to a report in the Sunday Times, Virgin is said to be front runner ahead of banking venture NBNK, which is headed up by Lord Levene and former Northern Rock CEO Gary Hoffman.

Final bids are due this week for the Newcastle-based bank, which UK taxpayers propped up with £1.4 billion following its collapse in 2007.

Dutch rail operator Abellio Group has been selected by the UK’s Department for Transport to operate the Greater Anglia train franchise.

The new franchise, due to start in February 2012, will provide intercity, commuter and rural services throughout the Greater Anglia region.

In the UK, the company already operates the rail companies Merseyrail and Northern Rail, as well as the bus companies Abellio London & Surrey.

Ireland’s Providence Resources has announced its intention to commence drilling operations on its 48/24-JBarryroe well in mid-November.

The company has been awarded an exploration licence for Barryroe for a period of up to six years, split into two three-year phases.

The well location and programme have been finalised using new fast-track 3D seismic data.

Sam Howard speaks to Willie Wood, senior sustainable horticulture manager at CFL to find out how partnerships with producers and growers worldwide are impacting the products found on UK supermarket shelves.

Part of the AG Thames group of companies, Chingford Fruit Limited (CFL) was founded in 1966. Over the last forty four years AG Thames has continued to grow through the acquisition of companies within key areas of its business. The group now employs 480 people with offices in South Africa, Italy, Spain, New Zealand and Chile.