Bureau Veritas, a global leader in Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) services, has announced the acquisition of The APP Group, a leading provider of assurance, compliance, and project management services in Australia. This strategic move will bolster Bureau Veritas’ position in the Asia-Pacific region and enhance its capabilities in the infrastructure and building sectors. The APP Group brings a wealth of experience and a strong track record in delivering high-quality services to clients across Australia. By combining the expertise of both companies, Bureau Veritas will be able to offer a comprehensive suite of services, including asset management, construction supervision, and independent verification and certification. This acquisition aligns with Bureau Veritas’ LEAP | 28 strategy, which aims to expand the company’s leadership in the Buildings and Infrastructure sector. By diversifying its portfolio and investing in attractive regional markets, Bureau Veritas is well-positioned to capitalize on future growth opportunities. Hinda Gharbi, Chief Executive Officer of Bureau Veritas, commented: “When closed, The APP Group acquisition will mark a significant milestone in our LEAP | 28 growth strategy for the Buildings & Infrastructure business in Asia Pacific. This move will not only strengthen our position in the Australian market but will also provide us…
Greensteel Australia, a leading green steel producer, and Danieli, a global leader in steelmaking technology, have announced a groundbreaking partnership to build a 600,000-tonne-per-year rolling mill powered entirely by green hydrogen. This state-of-the-art facility, to be located in New South Wales, Australia, will set a new global standard for zero-emission steel production. Danieli will provide its advanced technology and expertise to ensure the mill’s efficient and sustainable operation. “It’s inspiring to partner with Greensteel Australia on this world-first hydrogen-powered rolling mill. Greensteel Australia’s commitment to clean, sustainable steelmaking is leading the industry toward a greener future. We’re thrilled to support their vision with our technology and work together to set a new standard in zero-emission steel production”, said Danieli Group’s CEO, Mr Giacomo Mareschi. “At Greensteel Australia, we’re proud to partner with Danieli on this groundbreaking project. By using 100% green hydrogen, we’re not just building a new rolling mill, we’re setting a new example for clean steel production. This project shows our commitment to making steel in a way that’s better for the environment and for future generations”, said Green Steel Australia’s President, Mr Mena Ibrahim. The new mill will feature a reheating furnace powered by green hydrogen, eliminating…
Elevate Uranium Ltd (ASX: EL8) (“Elevate Uranium” or “the Company”) is pleased to announce that it has received binding commitments for a two-tranche placement of fully paid ordinary shares (“New Shares”) to raise $25 million (before costs) at $0.325 per New Share (“Placement”). Approximately 32.4 million New Shares will be issued immediately under Tranche 1 of the Placement utilising the Company’s existing placement capacity under ASX Listing Rules 7.1 and 7.1A. The issue of a further approximately 44.5 million New Shares under Tranche 2 of the Placement is subject to shareholder approval which will be sought at a general meeting expected to be held in early December 2024(“General Meeting”). The Company is also pleased to receive strong support from one of the strategies of leading Australian fund manager, Paradice Investment Management Pty Ltd (“Paradice”). Paradice has committed to subscribe for New Shares in the Placement resulting in a pro-forma holding of 9.9% (~$12.4M) in Elevate Uranium on completion of the Offer. The Placement also introduced a number of new, high quality institutional, sophisticated and professional investors to the share register, whilst also being well supported by existing significant shareholders of the Company. Discovery Capital Partners, Cumulus Wealth and Wallabi Group…
The CNMI Small Business Development Center Network (CNMI SBDC) at the Northern Marianas College, in partnership with the Commonwealth Women’s Association (CWA), recently awarded certificates to participants who successfully completed the 2024 Women’s Entrepreneurship Project Cohort 4. This year’s program, designed to foster a focused learning environment, limited enrollment to the first 30 registrants. All participants who attended all four sessions received certificates of completion. The four-day training series covered a range of essential topics for aspiring female entrepreneurs. Sessions included: The program fostered active participation, with sessions often extending to accommodate participant questions. Fatima Celis, Vice President of locally-owned Rice to Meat You, a catering business that prepares and delivers pre-packaged platters and food plates, shared her praises on the sessions presented by First Hawaiian Bank, Bank of Hawaii, Bank of Guam and CEDA, “For small businesses looking to expand, it was very helpful for us to find this type of training where we could come to one place to hear from banks on what small businesses need to know about the loan process and what we also need to do if we want to improve our financials to receive that approval.” Frank Celis, President and Co-owner of Rice…
Tonga Power Limited (TPL) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have joined forces to enhance grid operations on Tongatapu Island. The project aims to strengthen the Kingdom of Tonga’s renewable energy infrastructure and promote sustainability. The collaboration will address challenges within the existing energy management system (EMS) and micro-grid systems (MGS), ensuring efficient integration of renewable energy sources. This initiative will provide critical upgrades to monitoring and control systems, contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Key Activities: This partnership builds upon JICA’s previous support for Tonga’s energy sector, including the installation of solar and wind power generation systems. By addressing both technical and infrastructure needs, this project will enable Tonga to increase its reliance on renewable energy and achieve its national goals of energy independence and climate resilience. Mr. Finau Moa, CEO of Tonga Power Limited, stated: “This collaboration with JICA is a critical step forward in ensuring that Tonga’s energy infrastructure can support its ambitious renewable energy targets. We are excited to strengthen our grid operations and make substantial progress towards a sustainable future.” Ms. Rika Uemura, JICA Resident Representative, stated: “We are proud to partner with TPL in this project, which demonstrates the strength of…
The Fijian government has unveiled a comprehensive plan to address the growing urbanization of the Nadi-Lautoka urban area and ensure adequate water and sanitation services. The plan, outlined under the Water Sector Strategy 2050, includes investments totaling approximately $1.617 billion over the next 25-30 years. Minister for Public Works Hon Ro Filipe Tuisawau emphasized the need for significant infrastructure upgrades to meet the increasing demand for water and sanitation services, particularly in light of the region’s growing tourism industry. The plan includes investments of $397 million for water infrastructure and $1.22 billion for sanitation. Several key projects are already underway, including the rehabilitation of the Warange to Saru Water Treatment Plant Pipeline, the Warange Dam, and the Saru Water Treatment Plant. These aging infrastructures have been affected by disasters and require upgrades to improve their reliability and capacity. The Fiji Water Board’s raw water trunk mains, which have remained largely unchanged for 64 years, will also be rehabilitated using modern materials to increase their conveyance capacity and reliability. The total investment in these existing improvement works amounts to $9.7 million, with completion expected by December. Despite these ongoing projects, a water supply gap of approximately 5.4 million liters per day…
Sabre Corporation and Virgin Australia have announced a strategic partnership to modernize Virgin Australia’s retailing capabilities through the implementation of SabreMosaic, a revolutionary AI-driven platform designed to transform airline retailing. This partnership marks a significant milestone for both companies as Virgin Australia becomes the flagship customer for SabreMosaic. The collaboration underscores the companies’ commitment to innovation and industry leadership, as well as Virgin Australia’s aim to be an early mover in the industry transition to offer-and-order based modern retailing. SabreMosaic offers a comprehensive suite of solutions that cover the entire travel lifecycle, including Offer, Order, Settlement, and Delivery. Powered by Google’s AI capabilities, SabreMosaic’s Data Intelligence toolkit helps airlines make better data-driven decisions. Virgin Australia will benefit from SabreMosaic’s ability to create personalized offers, optimize pricing, manage complex transactions, and ensure smooth interactions throughout the traveler’s journey. The implementation of SabreMosaic will enable Virgin Australia to enhance its guest experience and gain a competitive advantage in the market. This partnership builds upon the long-standing relationship between Sabre and Virgin Australia, who have been working together for many years. The expanded agreement includes continued use of SabreSonic PSS and related solutions, as well as the distribution of Virgin Australia’s traditional EDIFACT…
A new report by the Association for Project Management (APM) highlights the need for improved Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) practices in the project profession. The research explores the early-career experiences of racially diverse project professionals in the UK and Australia. The report, titled “Improving the Early-Career Experiences of Racially Diverse Project Professionals,” was conducted by Dr. Christina Scott-Young, Dr. Jessica Borg, and Dr. Naomi Borg. The researchers found concerning levels of discrimination experienced by racially diverse project professionals in both the construction and business sectors. The authors said: “Reflecting on these high figures, we would do well to be mindful of the negative impacts that racial discrimination can have on an individual. We found it concerning that discrimination was so prevalent towards early career diverse project management professionals. We hope that our research helps highlight this issue and, in turn, helps encourage action towards creating a more inclusive project management community.” While many organizations have DEI policies in place, the report found that they are not always effectively enforced. The researchers emphasize the importance of creating a supportive environment where individuals feel comfortable reporting discrimination and taking appropriate action. The report identifies several recommendations for employers, universities, and professional…
AiDash, a provider of satellite-powered AI solutions for climate resilience and sustainability in critical infrastructure industries, announced a significant expansion into Australia and New Zealand. This move comes in response to growing demand for innovative solutions to address climate-related challenges in the region. The company has appointed Daniel Dickman as its on-the-ground Director for Australia and New Zealand. Dickman will lead a dedicated local support team to deliver AiDash’s Intelligent Vegetation Management System™ (IVMS™) and Climate Risk Intelligence System™ (CRIS™) to utility companies across the region. AiDash’s solutions address the urgent need for climate resilience in Australia and New Zealand, which have been impacted by severe weather events like bushfires and cyclones. These events have highlighted the limitations of traditional infrastructure management practices. “Utilities in the region have recognized that existing practices are no longer sustainable due to the unprecedented challenges posed by climate change. They are turning to AiDash for satellite and AI technology to enhance reliability, boost operational efficiency, minimize damage to critical infrastructure, and save people’s lives,” said Abhishek Vinod Singh, CEO and Co-founder of AiDash. “The enthusiasm and commitment to leverage our satellite-first products from organizations across Australia and New Zealand has been tremendous. This is…
InCapture Pty Ltd today announced the award of Greenhouse Gas Assessment Permit G-15-AP, strategically located on Australia’s North West Shelf. This significant milestone marks a crucial step towards developing a carbon capture and storage (CCS) project in the region. The G-15-AP permit area spans over 6,500 square kilometers and is situated just 120 kilometers from the major industrial ports of Dampier and Port Hedland. This prime location offers potential for long-term, secure storage of greenhouse gas emissions from nearby industrial facilities. InCapture is aiming to launch a fully operational CCS project by the early 2030s, providing a critical solution for hard-to-abate industries and supporting Australia’s net-zero emissions targets. The project will also offer storage solutions to neighboring countries in South-East Asia, Korea, and Japan. InCapture is partnering with SK earthon Australia Pty Ltd and Carbon CQ Pty Ltd on the G-15-AP project. The consortium brings together expertise in CCS project development, engineering, and regulatory compliance. Julia Davies, General Manager of InCapture, emphasized the critical role of CCS in achieving sustainability goals: “CCS is essential for Australia and its neighbouring countries to meet their net-zero commitments. The recent award of greenhouse gas assessment permits by the Australian Commonwealth Government is a…
