UK braced for 'weather bomb'

 The UK is preparing to be hit by a "weather bomb" with freezing winds of up to 130 kilometers an hour and giant waves causing disruption to travel and power supplies.

The Met Office issued alerts on Wednesday as the deep, low-pressure system headed for the country.

Ferry and rail journeys were cancelled in parts of Scotland due to high winds and large waves hitting the coastline while schools in the Highlands and Western Isles were shut down.

In the Western Isles, 17,000 homes suffered a power cut as lightning struck electricity facilities early on Wednesday morning.

Storm warnings were also issued for Thursday across Britain by weather forecasters, with travelers being warned they would face major disruption.

- Freezing winds

Several flood warnings were issued across Scotland

Amber "be prepared" alerts were issued by the Met Office for western Scotland, the Highlands, Northern Ireland, Orkney and Shetland and Strathclyde regions.

Yellow "be aware" weather warnings were applied to England's South East, South West, North East, North West, Yorkshire and Humber and northern Wales.

Referred to by meteorologists as a " weather bomb", deep, low-pressureweather systems known as cyclogenisis are known for their severe effects wrought by freezing, strong winds.
www.aa.com.tr/en
10/12/14
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Related:

• Weather bomb' batters parts of Britain: live updates ...

•  Orkan über dem Atlantik: Wetterdienste warnen vor 20-Meter-Wellen ...

European Commission welcomes electricity subsea cables linking Norway to Germany and UK (EC - 13.10.14)

European Commission, Statement, Brussels, 13 October 2014:

"The EU Commission welcomed the announcement made today by the Norwegian government to licence the construction of two subsea cables linking Norway to Germany and UK. The two 1400 MW subsea cables will enable the three countries to exchange electricity and use the Norwegian hydropower potential.

Vice-President of the EU Commission, responsible for Energy, Günther H. Oettinger said: "This will help enormously to integrate renewable energy in North-West Europe. Germany and UK can sell renewable energy to Norway when weather conditions are such that they produce a lot and Norway can sell electricity from hydropower. This will benefit both sides and balance the system."

The licence granted today is a further step towards building the two subsea cables. The NORD.LINK interconnector will run between Norway and Germany and the North Sea Network (NSN) will run between Norway and UK with a goal to be operational by 2020 at the latest. 

The integration of the Norwegian, German and UK electricity markets, which at the moment are not connected directly, will ensure improved security of supply in the two countries, increase market efficiency and further integrate renewables.

In June 2012, UK Prime Minister David Cameron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg agreed a partnership between the three countries to secure sustainable long term energy security through interconnectors connecting Norway to Germany and UK."

 http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-14-313_en.htm?locale=en

13/10/14

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UK to buy gas from Russia despite Ukraine crisis

The UK is to continue to buy gas from Russia, despite Prime Minister David Cameron launching sanctions and threatening further action against Moscow over its annexation of Crimea and ongoing tensions over Ukraine.

Centrica, the parent company of British Gas, signed a three-year deal with Russian firm Gazprom Marketing & Trading to deliver 2.4 billion cubic meters of natural gas back in 2012 and the contract will begin this year in October.

When Centrica was asked by Anadolu Agency on Tuesday if the contract was being revised in light of the recent crisis in Ukraine, AA was told that there would be “no change” to the 2012 agreement.

At the time of signing the original contract, Cordi O'Hara, Centrica Energy, Origination Director said: "Centrica is at the forefront of helping to deliver UK energy security and this deal is a natural fit with one of the world’s largest gas producers and exporters.”

Gazprom Marketing & Trading Limited is a UK-registered wholly-owned subsidiary of OAO Gazprom. It has its headquarters in London and was established in 1999 to manage Gazprom's marketing and trading activities across Europe. (aa.com.tr)
25/3/14
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Related:

• EU unable to quit Russian gas import in near term. - CEO of Italian oil and gas company

• Europe focuses on shale gas amid Ukraine crisis. -Exploration of S.G. in the EU as a tool to further diversify its energy supply

• Fracking 'good for the UK', says David Cameron...

TANAP to be nationalized. -Turkey's energy minister, Taner Yildiz

The nationalization of the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) was offered to Turkey's cabinet on Monday, said Turkey's Energy Minister Taner Yildiz during the opening of an energy forum in Turkey's capital Ankara on Wednesday.

The TANAP Project aims for the transportation of natural gas, to be produced in the Shah Sea 2 field and others in Azerbaijan and possibly other neighboring countries, through Turkey to Europe. 
Yildiz said the Southern Gas Corridor project, which also includes TANAP, was very important for the region and world. 

Noting that investment decision's signature date of TANAP coincided with the 17 December anti-graft operation in Turkey, Yildiz said the operation was an attempt to undermine Turkey's efforts to realize its potential in being a global energy actor. 
Yildiz stated that blockage of the  energy chapter of Turkey by the European Union was prevented only due to political reasons but Turkey maintained its policy with determination. 
Touching upon the natural gas imported from Iran, Yildiz said that energy could not be separated from political issues and energy covers the whole relations between countries.

"Cooperating with Turkey help UK to reach energy security and diversity"

Delivering a speech at the event, UK's Minister for Europe, David Lidington, said energy cooperation with Turkey is important for the UK to obtain secure and diverse energy supplies. 
"Also, positive steps in UK -Turkey energy cooperation can helpTurkey open energy chapter and reach EU membership goal," emphasized Lidington.
Lidington said the UK supports Turkey's ambition to be an energy hub, and added, "Southern gas corridor is an example of Turkey's importance in energy transfer to Europe."........................http://www.aa.com.tr/en/news/293508--tanap-to-be-nationalized-turkeys-energy-minister
26/2/14

UK opens new Antarctic station

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The UK has officially opened its newest Antarctic research station, which replaces a former station Halley 5. 

This was due to concerns that ice under the 20-year-old former station could break in the future.


 The new research station is already operational, and is fully relocatable. 

The British government established its first Antarctic station in 1944 as part of Operation Tabarin. Currently the country has six stations on the Brunt Ice Shelf.
.cntv.cn
5/2/13

The UK has officially opened its newest Antarctic research station, which replaces a former station Halley 5.