©EPA The Chinese section of the China-Russia East Route natural gas pipeline China’s natural gas consumption grew at its slowest pace in 17 years during 2015, a factor hindering the arrival of a “golden age” for the fuel, according to the head of the world’s leading energy body. Gas demand growth in the Asian nation, which is transforming into a consumer-driven economy, decelerated to about 4 per cent last year — the slowest pace since 1998 — compared with an average growth rate of 15 per cent between 2009 and 2014. More On this topic IN Commodities “China is still in the driving seat when it comes to [global] gas demand growth, but it is a lot slower than it was before,” said Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency. “This is one of the factors that stalled the golden age of gas.” Subdued economic growth in industrialised nations — from the US to Europe — is also slowing global energy demand growth and creating “headwinds” for natural gas, just as it was expected to play a greater role in the global energy mix, Mr Birol told the Financial Times ahead of the release of the IEA’s six-year gas market outlook on Wednesday. A drop in gas prices, which are linked to oil that has faced a collapse since mid-2014, has not spurred stronger demand as expected, said Mr Birol. Not only is gas facing competition cost-wise from alternative fuels, the signing of a new climate agreement in Paris has mobilised political support for renewable technologies. “It’s difficult for gas to compete,” said Mr Birol. Growth in global gas consumption will weaken to an average annual growth of 1.5 per cent between 2015 and 2021. This compares with an annual rate of 2.5 per cent over the prior six years. China’s rising incomes, urbanisation and concerns over the toxic smog that enshrouds many of its cities had pushed the country away from coal and oil towards natural gas and cleaner fuels. A decade of negotiations led to a $400bn gas supply deal with Russia in 2014 as part of a longer term strategy to raise natural gas imports via pipeline and liquefied natural gas. China, which became a net gas importer in 2007 and drove global energy demand for much of the past decade, is also expanding domestic reserves and storage capacity. China’s absolute gas demand saw double-digit growth between 2003 and 2013, during which it rose from 34bn cubic metres to 167bn. Since, growth has been slower with demand hitting 183bn in 2014 and 190bn last year. Part of that weakness is structural and linked to the ongoing restructuring of the Chinese economy, Mr Birol said. Cost is also to blame. “In the absence of environmental regulations, particularly in Asia, people are still going for coal fired power stations as they are cheaper, even if they are very inefficient,” Mr Birol said. The IEA said natural gas prices in China are still about three times higher than coal, meaning substitution still faces challenges. “We had forecast Chinese gas demand to dramatically grow to the end of the decade. But so far it is not moving fast enough with its decarbonisation programme,” said Thierry Bros, gas analyst at Société Générale. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2016. You may share using our article tools. Please don’t cut articles from FT.com and redistribute by email or post to the web. Source link

15 March 2016 | Marino Donati Service providers have announced plans to commit to apprenticeships and training in their sectors, following yesterday’s announcement that Compass Group is to establish 1,500 apprenticeship places within its business.   Swiftclean is working with partners in the Building & Engineering Services Association (BESA) to develop two new Trailblazer apprenticeships in ventilation hygiene to add to its building services engineering apprenticeships.   The apprenticeships are proposed for September next year and will allow apprentices to qualify as a building services engineering ventilation hygiene operative and a building services engineering ventilation hygiene technician. Participants will undergo up to 24 months of training, including 20 per cent off-the-job teaching.   Swiftclean service delivery director, Julia Argles, said: “That Swiftclean can offer award-winning service to its own customers is one thing, but to be able to participate in something that will establish consistently high standards across the entire industry gives us a sense of real pride.   “The apprenticeship system offers an amazing opportunity for vocational training while pursuing a career. Both companies and staff benefit, since team members with potential can be employed and develop into skilled operatives and technicians in their own right, making these new apprenticeships an advantage for everyone involved.”   Catering firm Wilson Vale has launched the Wilson Vale Apprenticeship Programme.   Running in conjunction with national training provider Total People, the programme is run under National Apprenticeship guidelines and has been created to attract trainees into the food service sector.   The programme includes workshops, one-to-one training sessions and peer mentoring over the course of a year, and has attracted two candidates so far. Wilson Vale said it hoped to take on five new apprentices each year.   Marion Speed, learning and development manager for Wilson Vale, said: “Our goal is to nurture talent by providing candidates with the necessary craft skills, confidence and self-belief to maximise their potential within this sector.”   Wilson Vale has also launched The Wilson Vale Chef Managers Academy in association with Babcock Training.   This initiative offers every chef in the business the opportunity to step up to a managerial level through NVQ Level 3 training.   “They already have the craft skills so we support their goals by providing training in everything from life and communication skills to book keeping and people management skills”, said Speed.   Cruise retailer Cruise118.com said that more talented youngsters needed to be given opportunities if the industry is to thrive.  Its managing director James Cole said that apprentices would play a crucial role in plugging a skills gap.   Cruise118.com cited figures from the Cruise Lines International Association’s Industry Outlook Report for the first quarter of 2016, predicting growth in the number of passengers embarking on cruises.   The company said that as the demand increased so too did the need for skilled cruise workers.   “We have taken on apprentices because it’s a great way to bring young and enthusiastic people into our business,” said Cole.   “Government grants help to subsidise the cost and we can give fantastic opportunities to youngsters in our local community. Cruise holidays are changing, with the average age of passengers consistently falling. It’s vital, therefore, that the industry has a fresh injection of young, passionate employees who reflect this shift.”   Source link

Zero Carbon Hub to close Published:  31 March, 2016 Following the decision by the government to scrap the zero carbon target, Zero Carbon Hub has announced it will cease operations from today (31 March 2016). Industry funding was withdrawn after the the loss of the zero carbon standard last July, despite outcry from the industry and calls to reinstate the low carbon policies, which were due to come into effect in 2016. The Hub was established as a public/private body in 2008 to help translate the then government’s target for all new homes to be zero carbon from 2016 into practicable regulation, and to remove the barriers to its implementation. Over the past eight years the Hub has supported the industry in the delivery of the zero carbon homes programme and has overseen the successful introduction of higher energy efficiency standards.  Paul King, chair of the Zero Carbon Hub board, said, “Zero Carbon Hub has been remarkably successful in bringing together a wide spectrum of stakeholders with an interest in the world-leading zero carbon target across public, private and third sectors. It has been a model of collaboration between industry and government, helping translate policy aspiration into reality. I would like to thank the many individuals and organisations who have supported us on this remarkable journey and their commitment to improving the quality of new homes.” Richard Twinn, policy advisor with the UK Green Building Council, said: “It’s incredibly disappointing to see the closure of the Zero Carbon Hub, although sadly not a shock given the direction of travel in terms of policy. The writing was perhaps on the wall last summer with the cancellation of the zero carbon homes policy, but the Hub was still playing an important role understanding issues such as overheating and performance. It could have helped to guide the industry in delivering better quality buildings during its current housebuilding push. “One of the great strengths of the Hub was it demonstrated the power of collaboration in tackling barriers to delivery, and as a result it has been central to the huge strides taken in improving building standards over the last eight years. We will continue to work with the industry to realise their investment in zero carbon innovation, and help ensure that the houses being built now are fit for the future. But continuing to deliver better quality homes is far easier when there is long term certainty and sensible regulation from government.” Source link

26 May 2016  Today’s (26 May) BIFM Members’ Council meeting saw the election of Non-Executive Directors to the BIFM board. The two board members have been confirmed as:   Members’ Council Representative; Ashleigh Brown, Consultant/Owner, Ash Brown Consulting Regional Group Representative; Stephen Roots, CBRE Global Workplace Solutions, Account Director   As both candidates stood for re-election and were elected unopposed, they remain in the positions they previously held, beginning their new two-year Board tenure immediately after the BIFM Annual General Meeting (AGM) which takes place in London on 13 July.   BIFM would like to thank Ashleigh and Stephen for their commitment in a volunteer capacity and for their tireless work for the Board to date and wish them well for their coming tenure.   The BIFM board therefore continues as:   Julie Kortens – Chairman Lucy Black – Chair of Members’ Council Paul Ash – Finance Non-Executive Director Ashleigh Brown – Deputy Chair & [Members’ Council Representative] John Coke – Finance Director and Company Secretary Victoria O’Farrell – Special Interest Group Representative James Sutton – BIFM CEO [Ray Perry as successor] Stephen Roots – Deputy Chair & [Regional Representative] Keith Waterman – Chair Governance & Audit Committee Stephen Welch – Members’ Council Representative       Source link

It has been revealed that the majority of European Investors have said that they would review and most likely delay plans to sell property assets because of the French Presidential election victory for Marine Le Pen’s party. 56% of real estate investors that were asked have said that they would delay their plans because of the new round of election results. According to new research that has been carried out over February and March 2017 by Citigate Dewe Rogerson shows that real estate investors could be affected by the French presidential election. Along with this, 48% of the investors said that depending on the outcome of the German Federal Election they would have to rethink their disposal strategies. The German Federal Election is due to take place on the 24th of September. Intertrust has carried out research that has the possible impact of the political uncertainty on investor behavior. 91% of investors have cited the French Presidential election as a key factor for their investment decisions over the rest of the year. 73% suggested that their decisions would be affected by the German election, 68% on the effect of Donald Trump, and 58% of investors will look to Brexit negotiations when making decisions. It has also been highlighted by the survey that 42% of real estate investors consider the potential for a terrorist attack in the UK or mainland Europe when reviewing or delaying planned property sales. It seems obvious that the French Presidential elections will impact European real estate investments. Despite the possible impact the elections could have, the appetite for investment across Europe has stayed steady because of the market’s reputation for being a low volatility asset with a good yield. Although, even with the stability of the market, investors are still thought to be keeping an eye on the upcoming elections which means there could be some reluctance to invest in higher risk countries.

The Global Asset Management Company, BMO, has launched their US Real Estate Equity Long/Short Fund, or REELS Fund. This fund will act as a UCIT fund that is market neutral and concentrated on the US real estate securities. The BMO US REELS Fund will focus on generating positive returns for their investors. These returns occur as capital growth. The REELS Fund aims to deliver a positive return for their clients in all market conditions over the course of three years. The Fund achieves these results by targeting mid-single digit annualized returns. The new US Fund will be managed by the Global Asset Management at BMO and their Property Equities team. Portfolios are constructed and implemented via a collegiate approach and the strategic decisions and allocations of risk are made by Alban Lhonneur and Daniel Winterbottom. This process is overseen by the Head of Property Equities, Marcus Phayre-Mudge. This Property Equities team has a good trach record for strategies of this nature, shown by the European focused F&C Real Estate Equity Long/Short Fund. The F&C REELS Fund was launched in 2012 and since then the Fund has returned 15.3%. The BMO US REELS Fund will make use of insights that have been gained by company analysis and will then be applied in a market neutral format and then deployed. The company has had success with their other funds therefore it is expected that the US REELS Fund will perform just as well. BMO aim to use the differentials between individual companies. As part of the US Fund, this will be done with pair trades inside property sub-sectors while still maintaining a sub-sector neutral stance. The new BMO Fund will be available for institutional and advised retail investors. The US REELS Fund has been registered for sale in the UK, Belgium, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain and Sweden.