JAKARTA -- Two crew members have died and one is missing after a fire broke out on an oil tanker carrying fuel to terminals on the Indonesian islands of Bali and Lombok, the state energy company Pertamina said in a statement late on Sunday. The chartered vessel, MT Kristin, had 17 crew on board and was carrying 5,900 kilolitres of fuel when the fire started at 2:50 p.m. local time (0650 GMT) on Sunday. Pertamina tanker, MT Kristin, carrying fuel, catches fire on the coast of Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia, March 26, 2023, in this photo taken by Antara Foto. Photo: Reuters Pertamina said so far no oil spills had been detected after the fire, though a 300 metre (984.25 ft) oil boom had been set up around the ship. The vessel was being towed to the nearest safe port, Pertamina's shipping unit said on Monday. The state oil company said there were sufficient fuel stocks at the Ampenan terminal on Lombok and the Sanggaran terminal on Bali to secure … [Read more...] about Indonesia’s Pertamina says two crew killed after fire on tanker
Honour killing in pakistan
Drought killing Mekong Delta durian with salt
Tran Van Thu, a local in Chau Thanh District’s Tien Long Commune, measured the salinity level in the Ba Lai and Ham Luong rivers last week. Both are tributaries of the Tien River, a branch of the Mekong River in Vietnam, which runs through Ben Tre and feeds much of the delta province’s fruit, vegetable and rice crops. Tran Van Thu holds a tool that read the salinity level in a river in Chau Thanh District, Ben Tre Province at 0.34 ppt, March 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Hoang Nam According to Thu, each of the two rivers that surround his 6,000-square-meter durian farm carried salinity levels of 0.34 (ppt). This was devastating news as his durians need fresh water with salinity levels of less than 0.2 ppt. "Every day, the river water only stays within the safe levels for about an hour, so I have to take every chance I can get [to get fresh water to the farm]." Thu’s family used to cultivate rambutan for a living, but after losing the entire farm to drought and salt … [Read more...] about Drought killing Mekong Delta durian with salt
Innovative low-carbon projects join UK’s climate finance scheme
To improve project readiness and provide opportunities to attract investment from Vietnamese and international investors, the schemes will receive tailored one-to-one and group support. This will include advice on technical aspects, financial models, materials, and advice on enhancing gender equality and social inclusion. The CFA is part of the UK government’s efforts to help Vietnam meet the commitments made by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at COP26 in Glasgow two years ago, and offer support to implement the Vietnam Just Energy Transition Partnership (V-JETP) that was agreed upon in December last year. “The exciting and innovative projects selected to be part of CFA Vietnam underline the significant potential of the Vietnamese private sector to help tackle the climate crisis," British Ambassador to Vietnam, Iain Frew, said. "The expertise shared with these projects will help move them closer to finding investment, leading to reductions in carbon emissions for communities across … [Read more...] about Innovative low-carbon projects join UK’s climate finance scheme
Tea export value to China skyrockets
Illustrative image (Photo: vov.vn) Hanoi (VNA) - The export value of Vietnamese tea to China in the first two months of this year quadrupled from the same period last year, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs . China imported 426 tonnes of tea from Vietnam in the two months, representing rises of 121% in volume and 411.2% in value. The average tea export price in February alone surged by over 10% to more than 1,641 USD per tonne. China’s reopening of its border after the COVID-19 pandemic is the main factor behind the strong growth of tea exports to this huge market, reported the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Tea exports to Pakistan also enjoyed an upward trend, reaching 5,300 tonnes worth 9.4 million USD, up 5.8% in volume year on year. Although Taiwan (China) is Vietnam’s second largest tea consumer, tea exports to this market declined slightly over the two-month period. Statistics show Vietnam shipped 1,500 tonnes worth 2.4 million USD to … [Read more...] about Tea export value to China skyrockets