Business
Thailand Places One of Southeast Asia’s Largest Coal Plants in Laos
LAOS – To feed its growing hunger for electricity, Thailand is close to completing one of Southeast Asia’s largest coal-fired power plants. The location? Just over the border in Laos.
The $3.7 billion project can supply power for two million households in Thailand. But heavy resistance to toxic emissions from burning coal, the dirtiest of all fossil fuels, has prompted power companies there to build it in Laos, where standards and opposition are weaker.
The move shows the lengths countries in the region are going in the search for new energy sources as rural populations abandon traditional fuels like firewood and agricultural waste and get on the electricity grid.
The shift makes Southeast Asia a rare growth market for coal, which has plummeted to its lowest price in over a decade as demand slows from big buyers like China.
Thailand already relies on Laos and Malaysia for around 7% of its electricity, with plans to add Myanmar and southern China to its list of providers. Building a power plant outside its borders allows Thailand to avoid delays associated with large industrial projects.
This isn’t the first time the country has used that strategy. Thailand used a similar approach with hydropower in the 1990s when it faced concerns that dams would damage ecosystems and uproot communities, said Aviva Imhof, Pacific coal-network coordinator at the Sunrise Project, an Australia-based group that campaigns against the use of fossil fuels.
While Thailand hasn’t been able to build many large-scale coal plants in recent years, the state-run Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand has lined up plans to import electricity from coal-fired plants in neighboring countries, in addition to hydropower projects; 7,000 megawatts of hydropower will come from Laos alone.
The Hongsa coal plant, which took five years to build, will generate 1,878 megawatts. It is due to start operations in June and to be fully operational by early 2016, said Bangkok-listed Banpu Public Co. Ltd., which has a 40% stake in the project. Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding Public Co. Ltd. has another 40%, and state-owned Lao Holding State Enterprise has the remaining 20%.
The project illustrates the energy dilemma that growing Southeast Asian economies are facing in picking a fuel mix that is both cheap and clean. The plant will burn the dirtiest type of coal called lignite from nearby mines. Songkrant Pongboonjun, a lawyer at EarthRights International, a group that helps communities displaced by industrial projects, says the plant hasn’t assessed the environmental fallout on Thailand as it is 30 kilometers, or about 19 miles, from the Thai border.
Banpu said the Hongsa plant and mines meet international environmental and compliance standards. It said reports have been regularly submitted to the Laos government, which has worked closely with stakeholders concerned.
Ratchaburi, Lao Holding and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand didn’t respond to requests to comment.
For an impoverished country like Laos that has little industry, selling electricity provides much-needed revenue. At full capacity, Hongsa will be the largest power plant ever built in the tiny country and its first to burn coal. Laos currently gets most of its energy from hydropower, and sells two-thirds of that to Thailand. Activists say there is little organized resistance against big power projects in Laos.
Viraphonh Viravong, the Laotian vice minister for energy, said in October that Laos was pushing ahead with plans to export electricity—mostly hydropower—to Thailand, which can provide the large capital investment needed to develop its energy resources. He said the Hongsa project will generate jobs and income for the Laotian people.
Around 88% of the power generated at the Hongsa plant will go to Thailand, and Laos will benefit from a “constant stream of income,” said Chanin Vongkusolkit, chief executive of Banpu. He said the plant will also mean better roads, schools and other services and training opportunities.
Thailand’s own coal phobia runs deep, in large part due to a controversial project in the country’s north. In the mid-1970s, a coal plant and mine was built in Mae Moh in northern Thailand’s Lampang province, displacing tens of thousands of people. Hundreds have died due to respiratory diseases, and groups like Greenpeace have blamed the project for widespread ecological damage.
A senior Thai government official said the impact of the project on public health and the environment has been overstated.
Thailand now gets more than half of its electricity from natural gas, which costs up to three times as much as coal to generate the same amount of power, but is far cleaner. Nevertheless, Thailand is now also pushing for other coal plants, including one near the scenic southern Thai town of Krabi.
Its push for coal projects in other parts of Southeast Asia also continues. In October, a consortium of Thai, Burmese and Japanese firms agreed to conduct a study for a massive 2,640-megawatt coal-fired power plant in the seaside town of Myeik in southern Myanmar.
—Nopparat Chaichalearmmongkol and Warangkana Chomchuen in Bangkok contributed to this article.
Business
PepsiCo Reduces Revenue Projections As North American Snacks And Key International Markets Underperform.
(VOR News) – In the third quarter of this year, Pepsi’s net income was $2.93 billion, which is equivalent to $2.13 per share. This was attributed to the company.
This is in stark contrast to net income of $3.09 billion, which is equivalent to $2.24 per share, during the same period in the previous year. The company’s earnings per share were $2.31 when expenses were excluded.
Net sales decreased by 0.6%, totaling $23.32 billion. Organic sales increased by 1.3% during the quarter when the effects of acquisitions, divestitures, and currency changes are excluded.
Pepsi’s beverage sales fell this quarter.
The most recent report indicates that the beverage and food sectors of the organization experienced a 2% decline in volume. Consumers of all income levels are demonstrating a change in their purchasing habits, as indicated by CEOs’ statements from the previous quarter.
Pepsi’s entire volume was adversely affected by the lackluster demand they encountered in North America. An increasing number of Americans are becoming more frugal, reducing the number of snacks they ingest, and reducing the number of times they purchase at convenience stores.
Furthermore, Laguarta observed that the increase in sales was partially attributed to the election that occurred in Mexico during the month of June.
The most significant decrease in volume was experienced by Quaker Foods North America, which was 13%. In December, the company announced its initial recall in response to a potential salmonella infection.
Due to the probability of an illness, the recall was extended in January. Pepsi officially closed a plant that was implicated in the recalls in June, despite the fact that manufacturing had already been halted.
Jamie Caulfield, the Chief Financial Officer of Pepsi and Laguarta, has indicated that the recalls are beginning to have a lessening effect.
Frito-Lay experienced a 1.5% decline in volume in North America. The company has been striving to improve the value it offers to consumers and the accessibility of its snack line, which includes SunChips, Cheetos, and Stacy’s pita chips, in the retail establishments where it is sold.
Despite the fact that the category as a whole has slowed down in comparison to the results of previous years, the level of activity within the division is progressively increasing.
Pepsi executives issued a statement in which they stated that “Salty and savory snacks have underperformed year-to-date after outperforming packaged food categories in previous years.”
Pepsi will spend more on Doritos and Tostitos in the fall and winter before football season.
The company is currently promoting incentive packets for Tostitos and Ruffles, which contain twenty percent more chips than the standard package.
Pepsi is expanding its product line in order to more effectively target individuals who are health-conscious. The business announced its intention to acquire Siete Foods for a total of $1.2 billion approximately one week ago. The restaurant serves Mexican-American cuisine, which is typically modified to meet the dietary needs of a diverse clientele.
The beverage segment of Pepsi in North America experienced a three percent decrease in volume. Despite the fact that the demand for energy drinks, such as Pepsi’s Rockstar, has decreased as a result of consumers visiting convenience stores, the sales of well-known brands such as Gatorade and Pepsi have seen an increase throughout the quarter.
Laguarta expressed his opinion to the analysts during the company’s conference call, asserting, “I am of the opinion that it is a component of the economic cycle that we are currently experiencing, and that it will reverse itself in the future, once consumers feel better.”
Additionally, it has been noted that the food and beverage markets of South Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa have experienced a decline in sales volume. The company cut its forecast for organic revenue for the entire year on Tuesday due to the business’s second consecutive quarter of lower-than-anticipated sales.
The company’s performance during the quarter was adversely affected by the Quaker Foods North America recalls, the decrease in demand in the United States, and the interruptions that occurred in specific international markets, as per the statements made by Chief Executive Officer Ramon Laguarta.
Pepsi has revised its forecast for organic sales in 2024, shifting from a 4% growth rate to a low single-digit growth rate. The company reiterated its expectation that the core constant currency profitability per share will increase by a minimum of 8% in comparison to the previous year.
The company’s shares declined by less than one percent during premarket trading. The following discrepancies between the company’s report and the projections of Wall Street were identified by LSEG in a survey of analysts:
SOURCE: CNBC
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Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.
Business
Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.
(VOR News) – Old National Bank, a commercial bank with its headquarters in the Midwest, and Infosys, a firm that specializes in information technology, have recently entered into a strategic expansion of their link, which has been in place for the past four years.
This expansion is more likely to take place sooner rather than later, with the likelihood being higher.
For the purpose of making it possible for Old National Bank to make use of the services, solutions, and platforms that are offered by Infosys, the objective of this expansion is to make it possible for the bank to transform its operations and processes through the application of automation and GenAI, as well as to change significant business areas.
This lets the bank leverage Infosys’ services, solutions, and platforms.
Old National Bank Chairman and CEO Jim Ryan said, “At Old National, we are committed to creating exceptional experiences for both our customers and our fellow employees.”
This statement is applicable to Old National Bank. Infosys is carefully managing the business process innovations that it is putting us through, putting a strong emphasis on efficiency and value growth throughout the process to ensure that it is carried out efficiently.
This is a routine occurrence throughout the entire operation. Because of Infosys’ dedication to our development and success, we are incredibly appreciative of the assistance they have provided.
Old National has been receiving assistance from Infosys in the process of updating its digital environment since the year 2020, according to the aforementioned company.
Ever since that time, the company has been providing assistance. The provision of this assistance has been accomplished through the utilization of a model that is not only powerful but also capable of functioning on its own power.
Infosys currently ranks Old National thirty-first out of the top thirty US banks.
This ranking is based on the fact that Old National is the nation’s largest banking corporation.
It is estimated that the total value of the company’s assets is approximately fifty-three billion dollars, while the assets that are currently being managed by the organization are valued at thirty billion dollars.
Dennis Gada, the Executive Vice President and Global Head of Banking and Financial Services, stated that “Old National Bank and Infosys possess a robust cultural and strategic alignment in the development, management, and enhancement of enterprise-scale solutions to transform the bank’s operations and facilitate growth.”
This remark referenced the exceptional cultural and strategic synergy between the two organizations. Dennis Gada is the one who asserted this claim. This was articulated explicitly concerning the exceptional cultural congruence and strategy alignment of the two organizations.
We are pleased to announce that the implementation of Infosys Topaz will substantially expedite the transformation of Old National Bank’s business processes and customer service protocols. We are exceedingly enthusiastic about this matter. We are quite thrilled about this specific component of the scenario.
Medium-sized banks operating regionally will continue to benefit from our substantial expertise in the sector, technology, and operations. This specific market segment of Infosys will persist in benefiting from our extensive experience. This phenomenon will enable this market sector to sustain substantial growth and efficiency benefits.
SOURCE: THBL
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American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack
States Sue TikTok, Claiming Its Platform Is Addictive And Harms The Mental Health Of Children
Qantas Airways Apologizes After R-Rated Film Reportedly Airs On Every Screen During Flight
Business
American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack
The largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States stated Monday that it had been the target of a cyberattack, forcing the company to halt invoicing to consumers.
American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack
American Water, based in New Jersey and serving over 14 million people in 14 states and 18 military facilities, said it learned of the unauthorized activity on Thursday and quickly took precautions, including shutting down certain systems. The business does not believe the attack had an impact on its facilities or operations and said employees were working “around the clock” to determine the origin and scale of the attack.
According to their website, American Water operates over 500 water and wastewater systems in around 1,700 communities across California, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
SOURCE | AP
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