infrastructure

Cyber security expert issues dire warning over vulnerability of key infrastructure

Data theft and cybercrime is a major source of funding for Islamic State which is likely to have secretly planted insiders "around the world" in positions where critical data could be extracted and exploited, a leading cyber security expert has warned.




infrastructure

Joining Up the Dots: Energy and Infrastructure for Countries in Crisis

16 December 2019

Glada Lahn

Senior Research Fellow, Energy, Environment and Resources Programme

Suzanna Huber

Hajar Al-Kaddo

Could a refugee crisis help the host-country improve its health and development outcomes? The ‘energy and infrastructure’ focus at this week’s first UN Global Refugee Forum suggests it could, where national policy enables it.

Practical action RV0_1139.jpg

A man serves customers at a shop in Nyahbiheke Refugee Camp, Rwanda. Energy access makes it possible for refugees to power and run businesses. Photo: Practical Action.

Mass human displacement crises like those in Syria, Democratic Republic of Congo and Myanmar do not dissipate within a year or two. The average age of a refugee camp globally is 18 and counting.

Meanwhile, the pressures on resources and services in neighbouring countries absorbing an influx of vulnerable people can be harsh. Imagine the overstressed schools and hospitals where intake has doubled in areas of Jordan and Lebanon, and the damage to ecosystems and elephant habitats where camps have sprung up in Bangladesh. 

The fallout from such crises is prompting new ways of working in the international humanitarian system. These recognize that short-term, emergency responses can jeopardize national development goals if maintained indefinitely. In most refugee camps for instance, each family cooks with wood in regions already suffering from deforestation.

Reliance on polluting trucks to bring in fuel and water is high. At the same time, developing countries – which host 80 per cent of the record 70.8 million people currently displaced by conflict – desperately need to address health, water, energy and housing needs for their own populations. Aid and welfare interventions directed only at refugees can provoke frustrations amongst the local community, damaging social cohesion and fostering political instability. 

The Global Compact on Refugees, affirmed by the United Nations General Assembly one year ago, aims at fairer responsibility-sharing amongst countries and equitable resourcing to host communities and refugees. The Global Refugee Forum (GRF) taking place 17–18 December in Geneva is the starting point for donor pledges and commitments. 

An opportunity for refugee-hosting countries

Among the GRF’s 6 focus themes is ‘Energy and Infrastructure’ – a new priority for humanitarian aid and finance. This covers energy, environment, water and sanitation, health, shelter and connectivity – services that are tightly interconnected. In October, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) also launched its first energy strategy, which ‘promotes the transition to clean, renewable energy at refugee camps and hosting sites’.

Given this impetus, alongside a growing international focus on speeding up Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) delivery, stabilizing migration and supporting climate resilience, more aid and soft credit for interlinked objectives will become available. Countries hosting refugees have an opportunity; how they approach it will determine the level of support they attract and how effectively it is deployed. 

Policy conditions are key to success

In a refugee situation, energy access is about much more than keeping warm or cooking food. It is also about connecting with loved ones across borders, safety at night, healthy births and making a living. Due to the lack of long-term funding, maintenance systems or government approvals, failed pilots to introduce for example, solar streetlighting or clean cookstoves, are the norm. 

To increase their durability and reach, projects need to harness local markets and support national development goals, especially those on access to modern energy for all (SDG 7), protecting ecosystems (SDG 15) and resilient human settlements (SDG 11). Several examples of these are emerging, each with valuable lessons to share. 

The policy environment, in particular, coordination between authorities, humanitarian agencies and private sector actors, can make or break a project. Beyond the basic conditions of adequate security and refugee acceptance, our research highlights three enabling factors:

First: government willingness to engage in long-term response and resilience coordination. Jordan is the most advanced in this with its three-year rolling Response Plan for the Syria Crisis whereby the government works with humanitarian agencies to integrate refugee welfare with national development needs.

Here, energy, water and housing needs are specified and have attracted funding. For example, in Irbid, Jordan where over 137,600 Syrian refugees live, the Norwegian Refugee Council, is expanding a programme under the Renewable Energy for Refugees (RE4R) initiative that applies energy efficiency and solar water heating to reduce bills and rents for refugee tenants while adding value for Jordanian homeowners.   

Second: strong, clear, energy and environment plans and legislation. Signals can be mixed. Jordan’s ‘wheeling’ regulation, allowed UNHCR to reduce its electricity bills through specially built solar plants at Azraq and Zaatari, yet the current freeze on renewable connections has stifled further projects.

In Rwanda,  the government banned the supply of woodfuel to refugee camps on the basis of concerns about deforestation. The announcement sharpens focus on cleaner cooking.

Yet with little guidance on enforcement and the timeframe for change, it is difficult for UNHCR and its partners to plan viable schemes. A reversion to stove and fuel handouts is likely, damaging the potential to create markets for alternative cooking practices in the camps. 

Third: local fuel prices. Where polluting fuels are subsidized or untaxed, additional subsidy is needed to make cleaner alternatives competitive. The higher prices of diesel in Uganda for example are an incentive for solar projects at Bidi Bidi, the world’s largest refugee settlement.

The Gaia Association-UNHCR clean energy programme in Ethiopia’s Western refugee camps has avoided burning some 10,000 tonnes of wood since 2006 through ethanol, but if  VAT (which is applied to neither charcoal nor kerosene) were waived, it could scale up commercially. 

Joining up the dots

Many humanitarian and government dots could be joined up in support of the SDGs. In Rwanda for example, clarity on electrification plans – which appear to cover refugee areas – could allow camp mini-grids to be designed for eventual grid integration. In Jordan, lessons learned from the home upgrading programme could be applied to meet city climate resilience ambitions. 

Donors at the GRF should support humanitarian operations that leave a positive legacy, increasing the robustness of country infrastructure and systems. Host-country governments should help define and encourage projects that benefit national and refugee populations. This will be critical to both development outcomes and limiting future human suffering. 




infrastructure

Award of funding under the Regional Jobs and Investment Packages : Department of infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development, Department of Industry, Inovation and Science / The Auditor General.

"The objective of the audit was to assess whether the award of funding under the RJIP program was informed by appropriate departmental advice and that processes complied with the grants administration framework."--Page 8.




infrastructure

Academy welcomes budget announcements on infrastructure and research




infrastructure

National Cyber Security Drill for Critical Information Infrastructures (CIIs)

Cyber risk is now one of the most commonly talked about topics as the impact of cybercrime reaches an all-time high. Heavily connected industries, such as financial services and critical national infrastructure (CNI) pose a systemic risk to the markets they serve. We are now seeing national cybersecurity incident simulation exercises being carried out by governments and/or industry associations. This helps to exercise the reaction to cybersecurity incidents, which impact various parts of the supply chain, from financial transactions to the operational technology that underpins our daily lives.
 In line with this, the Computer Emergency Response Team of Mauritius (CERT-MU), a division of the National Computer Board operating under the aegis of the Ministry of Technology, Communication & Innovation is organizing a National Cybersecurity Drill from the 25th – 28th June 2019 for the Financial Sector and the Civil Aviation Department. The main objective of the 4 days’ event is to assess the preparedness of these sectors to resist cyber threats and enable timely detection, response, and mitigation and recovery actions in the event of cyber-attacks.
The activities to be organized are as follows:
·         One-day workshop on Cyber Attack Preparedness & Response (25th June 2019)
·         Three-days Cyber Drill exercise (26th – 28th June 2019)




infrastructure

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CPMI Press release "Jurisdictions move towards full implementation of standards for financial market infrastructures", 8 April 2020.




infrastructure

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infrastructure

Infrastructure of H K Digital Online - Website Design Company India

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infrastructure

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infrastructure

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The Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) for highway projects that insulates private developers from virtually any commercial risks, is putting stress on the highly-leveraged balance sheet of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and should therefore be ‘downplayed’.




infrastructure

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infrastructure

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infrastructure

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Miriam Gozalo is an electrification project development manager at BP, one of the largest oil and gas companies in the world. Her work is squarely focused on the energy transition. Read what she has to say about her role working on ultra-fast electric vehicle charging stations in a company that most people associate with drilling rigs and gasoline.




infrastructure

Solar and wind take the lead in FERC first infrastructure report of 2019

According to an analysis by the SUN DAY Campaign of data just released by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), new solar and wind generating capacity has taken the lead over natural gas and all other energy sources for the first month of 2019.




infrastructure

UK carbon reduction plan includes massive buildout of offshore wind, EV infrastructure

British people need to fly less, drive electric cars, eat little meat and turn their home thermostats down to 19 degrees Celsius (66 Fahrenheit) in order to rein in greenhouse gases damaging the planet.




infrastructure

Electric Vehicle Fast-Charging Infrastructure Provider Picks Up the Pace

This week, EVgo, a provider of public electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging stations in the U.S., said it was accelerating the pace at which it is constructing fast chargers and will add hundreds of EVgo fast chargers in California before the end of 2018.




infrastructure

EV Charging Infrastructure Company Attracts Largest Funding to Date at $240M

This week, Electric Vehicle (EV) charging network provider, ChargePoint, announced that it has raised $240 Million in Series H funding, which is more capital than any other EV infrastructure company in the world, surmising in its press release that the move to electrify transportation is accelerating.




infrastructure

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Venezuela's government is taking measures to inspect the infrastructure of the country’s main hydroelectric-related civil structure as rising temperatures, reduced precipitation and increased energy demand affect water levels at the 4,000-square-mile Guri Reservoir.  




infrastructure

Connor, Clark & Lunn Infrastructure, Desjardins acquire Regional Power hydroelectric plants

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infrastructure

Duke Energy seeks approval for a $76M EV charging infrastructure pilot program

On Monday, Duke Energy announced a proposal to make what it says is the largest investment in electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure ever in the Southeast – a $76 million initiative to spur EV adoption across the state.




infrastructure

UK carbon reduction plan includes massive buildout of offshore wind, EV infrastructure

British people need to fly less, drive electric cars, eat little meat and turn their home thermostats down to 19 degrees Celsius (66 Fahrenheit) in order to rein in greenhouse gases damaging the planet.




infrastructure

Q&A with an oil and gas executive turned EV charging infrastructure champion

Miriam Gozalo is an electrification project development manager at BP, one of the largest oil and gas companies in the world. Her work is squarely focused on the energy transition. Read what she has to say about her role working on ultra-fast electric vehicle charging stations in a company that most people associate with drilling rigs and gasoline.




infrastructure

Climate Change, Asia and Renewable Energy Infrastructure Investment

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns the world must triple its use of renewable energy AND develop nuclear power to avoid the worst ravages of climate change. OK. But what’s the optimal percentage of each to develop?




infrastructure

Energy Infrastructure Development in East Africa: Big Potential Meets Big Roadblocks

Power infrastructure in the East African countries of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda is inherently connected to their economic growth. As urbanisation and industrialisation fuel the need for electricity in cities, the demand for electricity in East Africa is expected to grow at approximately 5.3 percent per year until 2020. To meet these requirements, generation capacity would have to increase by 37.7 percent in Uganda, 96.4 percent in Kenya, 75.3 percent in Tanzania and 115 percent in Rwanda. The government, in conjunction with development partners, must build a more favourable business environment to facilitate growth.




infrastructure

Solar and wind take the lead in FERC first infrastructure report of 2019

According to an analysis by the SUN DAY Campaign of data just released by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), new solar and wind generating capacity has taken the lead over natural gas and all other energy sources for the first month of 2019.




infrastructure

UK carbon reduction plan includes massive buildout of offshore wind, EV infrastructure

British people need to fly less, drive electric cars, eat little meat and turn their home thermostats down to 19 degrees Celsius (66 Fahrenheit) in order to rein in greenhouse gases damaging the planet.




infrastructure

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The outcome of the vote in favour of leaving the EU will undoubtedly have far reaching implications, but what does this mean for the UK planning system? We have not rushed to comment upon the planning and environmental implications of the vote to le...




infrastructure

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The spending review The Coalition Government has released the eagerly anticipated Comprehensive Spending Review which sets out its spending plans for reducing the £155 billion annual deficit. As the government had already announced its inten...




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Introduction In this edition of Eversheds’ developers and construction newsletter we look at the second report of Infrastructure UK (IUK), a division of HM Treasury, and its report into the cost of the construction and maintenance of major inf...




infrastructure

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The introduction of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) charging schedules by many local authorities is now gathering pace, as is demonstrated by the Mayor of London’s CIL charging schedule which is likely to be approved by 1 April 2012. If th...




infrastructure

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. 2020 Q1 - Results - Earnings Call Presentation




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Infrastructure and Energy Alternatives, Inc.'s (IEA) CEO JP Roehm on Q1 2020 Results - Earnings Call Transcript




infrastructure

Community Infrastructure Levy

The Department of Communities and Local Government has published new guidance explaining how the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) will work in practice. The guidance covers: how CIL will be set and spent how, when and by whom CIL will be...




infrastructure

Community Infrastructure Levy: Removal of Regulation 123

The Community Infrastructure Levy (Amendment) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2019 are due to come into force on 1 September 2019. The 2019 Regulations were introduced by the Government earlier this year, alongside their response to the technical cons...




infrastructure

Planning Provisions in the Infrastructure Bill

From a planning perspective the Bill does not envisage major regime change, but rather concentrates on refinements to the nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIP) system and includes a measure aimed at accelerating decisions at a local ...




infrastructure

ORR publishes an update letter on the variable usage charge and infrastructure cost charges

Background Periodic reviews are one of the principal mechanisms by which the Office of Rail and Road (“ORR”) holds Network Rail to account, and secures value for money for users and funders of the railway. The ORR’s periodic review...




infrastructure

UAE- Bentley Institute announces Digital Infrastructure Student Idea Challenge 2020

(MENAFN - Dubai PR Network) 7 May 2020 - Bentley Institute, a leading organization advancing infrastructure professions by empowering practitioners, s... ......




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UK: Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Delivery Plan for London

Last week, the EV Infrastructure Taskforce (EVIT), which brings together experts from Transport for London and Greater London Authority, announced a new plan to deliver electric vehicle infrastructure for London. This follows engagement with various...




infrastructure

System 'doesn't have infrastructure to predict grades fairly' - student

A Dublin Leaving Cert student has said she doesn't believe the Irish education system has the ability to predict grades fairly after it was announced yesterday that the State exams have been cancelled due to public health concerns.




infrastructure

Building credit: How state-owned enterprises can get foreign financing for infrastructure -- by Donald Lambert

State-owned enterprises face unique challenges when it comes to attracting foreign financing for infrastructure projects. But there are solutions.




infrastructure

Making infrastructure work for women and girls in Asia and the Pacific -- by Takehiko Nakao

Infrastructure has a critical role in narrowing gender gaps and accelerating the advancement of women and girls. If women are given a say in infrastructure design and investment, projects can become more effective enablers of their growth.




infrastructure

Why infrastructure governance matters -- by Bruno Carrasco, Edwin Lau

The delivery of services – such as clean water, reliable public transport, schools and hospitals – through economic and social infrastructure is among the most important functions of government. Resources must be well spent to ensure quality.




infrastructure

Bangladesh: Public–Private Infrastructure Development Facility

The Public-Private Infrastructure Development Facility (the facility) directly supported the government of Banglahdesh infrastructure development agenda providing the much-needed long-term funds for infrastructure financing.These funds, at commercial terms with more than 20 years of maturity for infrastructure subprojects, filled a gap in the market at that time. The facility complemented the ongoing financial sector reforms and public-private partnerships (PPPs), all of which were intended to create an enabling environment for long-term infrastructure financing.




infrastructure

Gender in Infrastructure: Lessons from Central and West Asia

This publication features projects promoting gender mainstreaming in the energy, transport, water supply and sanitation, and irrigation subsectors in Azerbaijan, Georgia, the Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.




infrastructure

Building the Future of Quality Infrastructure

This video introduces the book "Building the Future of Quality Infrastructure".




infrastructure

Realty hopes for infrastructure status, lower rates

The real estate and property development industry, hurting from the slowdown in the country’s economic growth, is hoping for lower interest rates and grant of infrastructure industry status to enable developers to access cheaper finance. The industry is hoping that a stable government acting decisively would help not only to revive economic growth, but also look into specific problems faced by the industry. “The Indian economy and the real estate sector have gone through multiple years of stress,” Anuj Puri, chairman & country head of JLL India, said. “A change in sentiment is imminent now that a pro-business government with a clear mandate has been elected to power, so this […]



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infrastructure

Belts, Roads, and Regions: The Dynamics of Chinese and Japanese Infrastructure Connectivity Initiatives and Europe’s Responses

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infrastructure

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Belts, Roads, and Regions: The Dynamics of Chinese and Japanese Infrastructure Connectivity Initiatives and Europe’s Responses

East Asia is setting the pace for the recent trend in regional and interregional integration, which is associated with multilateral infrastructure connectivity initiatives.