Increased smart grids adoption multiplies hack risks says Technavio
With wider adoption of information technology in power distribution networks, or smart grids as they are commonly called, the possibility of rogues taking control of a city’s power network or any power plant connected to these smart systems also rises dramatically says experts. According to Technavio, a leading market research company, a few years ago, adversaries took control of systems that controlled critical operating parts of a facility involved in enriching uranium in Iran. They were then reprogrammed, heavily damaging the facility, while readings on control system displayed that the equipment was operating under normal conditions. Smart grids offer grid operators greater control of the functions of the power network for improving its reliability allowing enhanced monitoring and efficiency through information exchange. Composed of various integrations of information technology and operation technology systems to manage different functions, smart grids offer various access points for adversaries to breach its security systems said Technavio. Though the integration of IT systems offers several benefits such as remote monitoring and automation of controls across various geographical locations, it also opens up new vulnerabilities for attacks. This in turn, will be one of the major factors that will fuel the demand for the smart grid security systems market during the forecast period. It has predicted, that the threat potential of smart grids will fuel global smart grid cyber security market growth. This security market is expected to grow steadily at a compounded annual growth rate of almost 10% by 2020. Cloud-based smart grid applications offer organizations several features to reduce operational costs and also to centralize their resources. However, cloud-based applications are hosted on the Web, which makes these applications more vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Harold Carmichael Jersey
Narendra Modi government looks at ashrams to harness solar power
The sun may be nature’s measureless bounty, but the government feels a little help from spiritual gurus can go a long way in making mortals realise its value. In a bid to promote its target of creating 40,000MW of rooftop solar power capacity, the Union new and renewable energy ministry is roping in religious and interfaith gurus to demonstrate the virtues of green energy and set an example by ensuring that their ash rams are solar-powered, a top government official said. According to new and renewable energy secretary Upendra Tripathi, the gurus will act as spiritual partners of International Solar Alliance, a global grouping of over 100 ‘sunshine countries’ between the tropics of Cancer and Ca pricorn that was launched by PM Modi at the Paris climate summit last December. “Spiritual and interfaith gurus have a large number of domestic and overseas followers who visit their ‘ashrams’ (hermitages), or meditation centres, in big numbers. So, we feel the gurus are ideally placed to showcase and demonstrate the values and virtues of solar energy to a global audience,” Tripathi said. According to the government, in May, Radha Soami Dera in Amritsar became the world’s largest single rooftop solar power facility. The dera’s Rs 140 crore solar energy system, spread over more than 80 acres of rooftops, can generate an estimated 19MW of power. Not all ashrams are as large or resourceful, but even smaller ones with a few acres of land can use some practical applications of solar energy. Besides, solar power projects require open spaces, available in ashrams, for making best use of photovoltaic panels, which convert sunlight into electricity. No wonder a data bank of at least 100 large ashrams is being drawn up for seeking their cooperation and commitment for setting up solar power projects in return for a ‘commitment certificate’ that will recognise their contribution to the solar cause. A global conference of interfaith leaders is also on the anvil to showcase the commitment. “If we can get commitment of even 1MW of solar capacity from each ashram, it will be a big leap of faith and encourage others. Solar projects will help ashrams reduce their power bills and they can also sell electricity to the grid,” Tripathi said. The launch of the ‘International Interfaith Solar Alliance’ during the World Culture Festival organised by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living in Delhi in March is a step in this direction. The alliance pledged to cooperate among interfaith organisations globally and promote solar energy in their institutions as well as create awareness about renewable energy. The government has set an ambitious target of creating 175GW of solar energy capacity by 2022, including 40,000MW rooftop solar power capacity, as part of the strategy to reduce the country’s carbon footprint. Paul Martin Jersey
Piyush Goyal says E-commerce will not affect small-scale businesses
Assuring small-scale businessmen that the era of e-commerce would not affect their trade, Union minister Piyush Goyal today said the importance of corner stores and small shops would only increase in the coming days as compared to big shopping malls. Citing examples of America and Europe, the Union Minister of State for Power, Coal and New and Renewable Energy said the relevance of corner stores was increasing and big malls were becoming “unviable”. Therefore, he said small-scale businessmen should not have any concern. “The relevance of small shops would not lessen. In America and Europe, the number of corner stores is increasing whereas the big malls are being shut down. In the era of e-commerce, the relevance and importance of small shops would only increase,” Goyal said at the 3rd Yuvak-Yuvti Parichay Sammelan of Shri Agrawal Parmarth Seva Samiti here. “Delegations come to us to express concern over the impact of supermarkets and e-commerce on small businesses but I do not see any concern because I understand that supermarkets are now becoming unviable and e-commerce will only benefit small businesses. Corner stores and shops will continue to be relevant,” he said. As compared to supermarkets, goods purchased from small shops are cheaper. The customer not only has to pay more for the goods but also has to spend on parking, food etc. at the malls, the Union minister pointed out. On another note, Goyal said politics is a “means to serve the society”. He said there were certain customs in the society which needed to be “eliminated”. “The time has come to link the community with active politics and serve the society as a whole. Members of the community have the capability to serve it with honesty and more and more people should come forward to do that through politics,” he said. The Union minister lamented the fact that even after 70 years since Independence, nearly 20-22 crore people in the country were without electricity. “Crores of students are deprived of good education. They are forced to drop out and work at farms. The reason behind this is that good people did not join politics. I want to provide electricity to every household. This too is a community service in a way,” said Goyal. He said in the coming years, the eastern states would get Rs 3.25 lakh crore from the auction of coal blocks and the money will be spent on public service and welfare of people.
Centre sanctions Rs 200 cr for power infra to Maharashtra
The central government has sanctioned about Rs 200 crore for upgrade of city power infrastructure. MSEDCL had sent the proposal months ago under Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS). The upgrade is necessary for catering to the growing electrical load of the city. It will also reduce the number of breakdowns and voltage fluctuations. Five new substations will be built using these funds. The locations are Deekshabhoomi, Khamla, Dharampeth, Kalamna and Subhan Nagar. The first two are in Congress Nagar division, which comes under MSEDCL while the remaining three are in the franchisee SNDL area. Two transformers of 10 MVA capacity will be installed in MSEDCL substations while only 10 MVA transfomer will be installed in the remaining three. One 10 MVA transformer will be installed in the existing IT Park substation of MSEDCL. Other than the substations, large number of cables overhead as well as underground will be laid under the project. New distribution transformers will also be installed. Most of the overhead cables will be air bunched (AB) type. These cables, although far costlier, are installed as hooking is not possible through them. High voltage distribution system (HVDS) cables will also be laid in the city. The tender for the substations has already been floated while that of cables and transformer is under process. Luke Falk Womens Jersey
India ferries petroleum products via Bangladesh for Tripura
India for the first time on Saturday transported petroleum products through Bangladesh to Tripura, officials said. Tripura Industries and Commerce Minister Tapan Chakraborty and other state and central government officials received the tanker trucks at Kailashahar along the India-Bangladesh border at around 11 p.m. on Saturday. Bangladesh had earlier allowed India to ferry heavy machineries of the Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) and carry foodgrains to Tripura. “Indian Oil Corp Ltd (IOCL) today transported petroleum products from Assam to Tripura through Bangladesh,” an IOCL official said. “The special arrangement was taken due to the difficulties faced in carrying petrol, diesel, kerosene and cooking gas through the national highways linking Tripura,” the official added. The official said nine tank trucks carrying 108 kl of diesel and kerosene along with one LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) truck travelled from Betkutchi near Guwahati to Dawki, Meghalaya’s border point with Bangladesh, and then on to Tamabil and Chatlapur in Bangladesh, eventually reaching Kailasahar and Dharmanagar in north Tripura. The trucks reached the Dharmanagar IOCL depot on Saturday night after plying 136 km in Bangladesh. To carry these products, the IOCL under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas of India and the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) of Bangladesh had signed MoU in Dhaka on August 18. “This new route via Bangladesh would save time and costs in carrying petroleum products from Assam to Tripura as the existing over 400 km of mountainous route required more than 10 hours to carry these essential items,” the official had said. “Besides, the condition of national highways in Meghalaya and southern Assam is horrifying,” the official added. The short-term India-Bangladesh deal on shipping of the petroleum products is valid till September 30. “This move by IOCL not only paves the way for future logistic management but also exemplifies its commitment to be the energy accessibility of India in true sense,” said IOCL Executive Director Dipankar Ray. A statement of the Indian High Commission in Dhaka said that Bangladesh has granted permission for the movement of petroleum goods on humanitarian grounds through its territory. The MoU will facilitate India to carry petroleum goods (Motor Spirit, High Speed Diesel, Superior Kerosene Oil and LPG) from Assam to Tripura through Bangladesh to make a buffer stock in the northeastern state. The Food Corp of India had transported 2,350 tonnes of rice earlier this month from Kolkata to Tripura via Bangladesh. There is only a narrow land corridor to the northeastern region through Assam and West Bengal that passes through hilly terrain with steep gradients and multiple hairpin bends, making transportation, especially of loaded trucks, very difficult. The distance between Agartala and Kolkata via Bangladesh is just 620 km. Aaron Jones Womens Jersey
Surging railway fares could increase traffic at airlines
The decision by Indian Railways to allow surge pricing in Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto trains will further expedite the shift of rail passengers towards airlines — giving an impetus to the country’s growing aviation sector. Today onwards, railways has introduced the concept of surge pricing on base fares of Shatabdi, Rajdhani and Duronto trains. According to the Railway Board formula, the base fares will increase by 10 per cent with every 10 per cent of train berths sold. The maximum fare has been capped at 1.5 times of the base fare, which means half of the berths would be sold at that rate. Even as railways increased fares, state-run carrier Air India has announced that it will not increase its last minute fares, or tickets booked four hours before the take-off, that are being sold at par with AC II Rajdhani train fares. “Even as railways increased fares, our last minute fares will remain the same as earlier,” said a senior Air India official, who did not want to be identified. Hence, if you were to buy an Air India ticket from Delhi to Bangalore four hours before departure, it would cost you Rs 1,530 less than the second AC railway ticket. Above all, you get a confirmed plane ticket, instead of a waitlisted Rajdhani ticket. You can get an Air India ticket for Rs 4,095, whereas the second AC would cost you Rs 5,626. Other airlines are also providing tickets at almost same prices as Air India. (See chart) A comparison between Shatabdi train fares and air fares cannot be made because Shatabdi connects sectors that are short haul. Duranto fares are more or less similar to Rajdhani fares. Analysts say that the shift has already started with the difference between AC fares and air fares reducing to up to Rs 800 and this increase in difference will only expedite it. “This is good news for aviation industry in India that is seeing an over 20 per cent growth in passenger numbers that is highest in the world. Looking at the capacity expansion the airlines have and the level at which oil (price) is, air fares are going to get lower further in the future,” said Sharat Dhall, president at Yatra.com, an online travel portal. Other travel industry analysts feel that the railways plan to introduce surge pricing is a step in the right direction. “Globally, surge pricing in train fares is an acceptable thing and Indian Railways doing it is a step in the right direction. As far as the shift is concerned, it’s already happening and may happen more,” said Aloke Bajpai, cofounder and CEO of iXiGO, an online travel portal. Bajpai added the shift towards surge pricing may not impact Indian Railways in terms of passenger carriage. “Surge pricing is only in premier class, which is a small percentage of railways’ total capacity and passengers carried. So, the impact will not be much,” he said. Bajpai’s views were echoed by a Railway Board member. “Not more than 10 per cent of traffic would go to airlines. We already have waiting list of 300-400 for Rajdhani trains. I don’t think railways would lose passengers. Today, airlines are offering low prices because the fuel prices are low and demand is lean. They will also increase prices once demand goes up and then people will find railways cheaper. We are follo-wing the same model. We couldn’t have reduced base fares because we have no lean season and base fares are already so low,” he said. He said that railways has already tried surge pricing of up to 3.9 times the base fare of Rajdhani trains for its special Suvidha trains, run during the festive season. “For a second class Rajdhani type segment, people are already paying Rs 5,000 during Diwali and Holi. We have introduced surge pricing keeping all factors in mind. It’s an experiment for us,” he added. Brandon Marshall Jersey
Chhattisgarh inks MoU with Aviation Ministry to boost air link
Chhattisgarh Government today inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Civil Aviation to boost regional air connectivity within the state. The MoU was signed at a function this evening at the secretariat in the presence of Union Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh, a public relations officer said. As per the agreement made under the Centre’s Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS), small airports and airstrips will be developed in phased manner in different cities to facilitate intra-state flight services, he said. This scheme will cover those cities where flight services have been either discontinued for a long time or could not be started, he said. In the first phase, Jagdalpur, Ambikapur, Raigarh and Bilaspur (all district headquarters) will get connected to state capital Raipur through air services, the officer added. Besides, the Centre will provide an opportunity to various aviation companies to start flights on subsidised rates within the state, he said. Earlier, Raju visited Jagdalpur, headquarters of the insurgency-hit Bastar district, and inspected an airstrip. At the function, the state government also discussed the prospects of starting flights from Raipur to Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam via Bastar, and Raipur to Varanasi through Ambikapur with the Aviation Ministry officials, he said. Brandon Mebane Womens Jersey
Global airport traffic up 6.4% in 2015, fastest rate since 2010
Global airport traffic grew at its fastest rate last year since 2010, rising 6.4 percent to 7.2 billion passengers, according to data published on Friday by an international trade association representing airports. But passenger growth this year could be tempered by the threat of militant attacks, geopolitical unrest and potential bottlenecks for passengers lining up to clear security checks, said the report by Montreal-headquartered Airports Council International, or ACI. “It is important to maintain cautious optimism as we navigate through 2016,” ACI World Director General Angela Gittens said in a news release. “There are several impediments that could curtail the continued rise in demand, which could potentially encumber growth prospects over the short and medium terms.” While the highest number of passengers, 2.46 billion, went through the Asia-Pacific region in 2015, up 8.6 percent from a year earlier, Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson remained the world’s busiest airport, the report said. Passenger traffic in emerging markets and developing economies soared 8.1 percent in 2015, compared with a 5.2 percent rise in slower-growing mature markets, said ACI, which collects data for over 2,300 airports in 160 countries. Passenger traffic generated by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa grew 8.2 percent on an annual basis. Globally, there were 37 large airports with over 40 million passengers, more than double the number in 2005. “This level of growth is unprecedented, particularly since a majority of the airports in this category are from the typical mature markets of North America and Europe,” the release said. It said North America experienced a resurgence in air transport demand, especially at many of its large hubs, following years of consolidation and capacity discipline by U.S. airlines. Large airports are benefiting from capacity shifts where flights are being directed through major connecting hubs. But the trend toward hubs comes at the expense of smaller regional airports, which are losing out on traffic, Gittens noted. Air cargo grew more weakly than passenger traffic, rising 2.6 percent in total volume during 2015, partly because of subdued growth in emerging markets and developing economies. Colton Sceviour Authentic Jersey
Government looking at 6-year plan to upgrade airport infrastructure: Jayant Sinha
Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha has told ET that the government is looking at a six-year plan to upgrade airport infrastructure, given that India’s metro airports are bursting at their seams, and are struggling to cope with the crush of passengers and choked runways. The upgrade is almost imperative as Indian airports are expected to cater to a billion footfalls over a decade from now, and airlines have announced mega aircraft induction plans that stretch up to a decade, the minister said. “Looking at the passenger growth, we expect the size of the Indian aviation market to grow to about 600 million air passengers annually over 10 to 12 years from now.This would mean a billion footfalls at our airports. We are working with a strategy spread over a period of up to six years to ensure that capacity does not become an impediment to the growth in aviation in India,” Sinha told ET on Friday. Sinha further explained that the government is going to work on increasing airport efficiency during the first two years. “This would include looking at Juhu as an alternative and shift out general aviation traffic from the current airport in Mumbai. Between the second and fourth year, we will be carrying out upgrades at airports like Delhi, airports in the northeast and others. Even as we do this, we will keep awarding new airport projects, which will be available post the fourth year onwards. We have already awarded Goa, and Navi Mumbai airport is likely to awarded soon,” said Sinha. The ministry’s plan has come as a respite for airlines in India, which have plans to induct over 500 aircraft in their fleet through a 10-year period, and have started complaining about saturating airport capacity across the country. While Mumbai airport is unable to add any new domestic flight due to lack of free slots, Delhi has not been able to add new flights during peak hours. Airports Authority of India (AAI), the state-run airport operator, is also constrained forcing it to hire consultants to improve efficiency at their airports. Airlines, however, expressed fears that saturating airport capacity may impact their plans. “It seems we are again back to 2009, when airports capacities were saturating and there were no slots or space for new flights. New private airports came up and state-owned AAI also improved its infrastructure and things improved and airlines grew. Expansion plans might get impacted if airport infrastructure does not catch up with growth,” said a senior airline executive, who did not want to be identified. Michael Strahan Jersey
Vedanta shareholders approve Cairn merger
Vedanta has announced its shareholders, secured and unsecured creditors had approved Cairn India’s merger with it under a revised scheme. Of the members present and voting at an extraordinary general meeting of Vedanta shareholders in Panaji on Thursday, 97.84 per cent in number and representing 99.99 per cent in value voted in favour approving the scheme. Further, secured and unsecured creditors, at their respective meetings, also approved the scheme with the requisite majority, the company said. Cairn India will hold its extraordinary general meeting on Monday. Earlier this week, shareholders of Vedanta Resources had approved the merger. The scheme has now been approved by a majority of Vedanta’s minority shareholders. Vedanta sought approval of shareholders by way of a special resolution at the extraordinary general meeting for reduction of the company’s capital. This resolution was also approved by the shareholders who cast 99.97 per cent of votes (in value) in its favour. The scheme is now subject to approval of the jurisdictional high courts and other regulatory approvals. On July 22, 2016, Vedanta and Cairn India announced a revised deal in which Vedanta offered minority shareholders of Cairn India one equity share and four redeemable preference shares with a face value of Rs 10 each. The preference shares will carry a coupon of 7.5 per cent and tenure of 18 months. The minority shareholders of Cairn India will hold a 20.2 per cent stake in the merged entity, while Vedanta Plc’s ownership will be 50.1 per cent and the remaining 29.7 per cent will be owned by Vedanta’s minority shareholders. Dan Fouts Jersey