Centrica, the parent company of British Gas, has confirmed that it is planning to create 1,100 new jobs nationwide as part of its new insulation business – approximately 190 of those positions will be created in the Midlands, as the electricity and gas supplier aims to capitalise on the anticipated surge in demand for energy efficiency measures.

British Gas already offers loft and cavity wall insulation but only through external contractors therefore, it wants to bring the work in-house ensuring that it benefits from the market too.

The utility giant is currently in the process of setting up depots for this exciting new division across the UK with Derby – a vibrant and cosmopolitan city with a fantastic heritage – a possible contender due to its central location. However, British Gas has yet to confirm its final decision.

Announcing profits this week of £595 million, (read more c/o Utility Exchange Business Energy News; http://www.utility-exchange.co.uk/2010/02/british-gas-announce-58-increase-in-profits/ ) British Gas has estimated the insulation market is going to be worth approximately £1.4 billion by 2015.
Centrica’s chief executive, Sam Laidlaw, commented:

“This is the latest step in transforming British Gas into an energy services business that helps customers manage the energy use in their home”

Source: Derby Telegraph (February 26, 2010)

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Leading multinational energy company Total SA is resuming operations at five French refineries following a union strike which started on 17 February, slowing production rates and forcing the refineries to shut down two days later.

The strikes happened at Total’s Donges, Feyzin, Gonfreville, Grandpuit and Provence refineries when a 48-hour union strike commenced in support of employees at Total’s Flandres refinery – Total is threatening to close the refinery which has been shut down since September 12, 2009, as a result of market conditions.

On February 19, the refineries started shutting down units which caused a direct impact in the distribution of fuels, then on February 23, the French government demanded that Total continued operating all five refineries at normal rates.

Consequently, Total proposed union representatives met for negotiations in which the company committed not to sell or close these five refineries.

Then, on February 24, workers voted at each refinery in local assemblies and concluded to return to normal production and distribution levels accordingly.

Source: industrialinfo.com

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As reported by Electric, a brand new Robin Hood Tax on all transactions between financial intuitions has been proposed by various charities, aid agencies and unions including The Salvation Army and ActionAid, in an attempt to help make homes more energy efficient.

Basically, it is believed that such a tax could raise up to £250 billion a year which could be used to help tackle issues surrounding climate change, to help fight poverty as well as protect public services.

The UK’s poverty fighting charities, in support of the Robin Hood Tax, have highlighted to the campaigner’s website that tackling child poverty, reforming the welfare system, and investing in affordable housing that is energy efficient, are just a few ways the money could be used.

Getting its name by way of taking from the wealthy, in this case the banks and giving to the poor, the Robin Hood Tax aims to make homes energy efficient, help people save money on their gas and electricity bills as well as encourage the government reach its own lower carbon emissions goals – and reducing energy bills is not only a concern of home owners as many businesses are equally concerned.

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A new online campaign has been launched in the UK starring actor Bill Nighy to drum up more support for the Robin Hood Tax.

Source: electric.co.uk

Snow has left thousands of people in Scotland without electricity overnight, reports BBC News Online. Heavy snow brought down electricity lines and parts of the A9 were closed.

According to Scottish & Southern Energy about 5,000 homes in Perthshire and part of the Highlands were still without electricity this morning. They said that around 45,000 homes had been affected by the loss of electricity on Thursday but the majority had their services restored. However, there could be further disruptions because severe weather is expected to continue today.

A spokesman for Scottish & Southern said the 5,000 left without electricity should have their power back by the end of the day. He said engineers had been battling against the weather in order to restore supplies.

In Aberdeenshire a power cable fell onto the B974 Banchory to Fettercairn Road close to Strachan.

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Source: BBC News Online

People across Derbyshire are being warned to be careful after electrical engineers discovered cables had been tampered with, reports The Derby Telegraph.

Engineers from Central Networks were investigating a power cut on lines near Ambaston in South Derbyshire. They found a shovel and lamp next to an electricity pole and discovered stretches of underground cable had been uncovered and tampered with. It’s thought the thieves were attempting to steel the copper.

A customer services manager at Central Networks said the cable concerned went to a disused industrial site and said the thieves probably thought the cable wasn’t live. He added that those concerned were lucky to be alive.

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Source: The Derby Telegraph

As the world’s biggest builder of nuclear reactors, Areva SA is showing an interest for the participation in plans to build Egypt’s first nuclear-power plant, according to the country’s Electricity and Energy Ministry.

As advised in a statement on the ministry’s website, Electricity and Energy Minister Hassan Younes confirms that Egypt is planning to select the company that will build the nuclear power station by the end of this year and goes on to cite Areva’s chief executive officer, Anne Lauvergeon, as being interested in competing.

Forming part of a team that included Electricite de France SA (EDF), GDF Suez SA and Total SA., the French energy giant actually lost out on a $20 billion contract to build four nuclear plants in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in December 2009 – the bid went to a group led by Korea Electric Power Corp.

Visit Utility Exchange ‘s Business Energy News pages for more articles regarding Areva – a world-leading company in nuclear energy.

Some nuclear energy is produced naturally for example via the Sun and other stars making heat and light by nuclear reactions. Alternatively Nuclear Energy can be man-made under human control -nuclear reactors (which form part of nuclear power plants) provide electricity for many cities. In addition, man-made nuclear reactions can also occur in the explosion of atomic and hydrogen bombs.

Sources: businessweek.com / thinkquest.org

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