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The Malaysian government has announced plans to phase out the use of compressed natural gas (CNG) for vehicles and end the sale of natural gas vehicles (NGV) in the country.
Loke Siew Fook, minister of transport, spoke at a press conference recently, according to Free Malaysia Today (FMT), a local media organisation. In Malaysia, CNG is referred to as NGV.
Fook said CNG-powered vehicles can no longer be registered or be used in Malaysia from July 1, 2025. He also said Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas), a government-owned oil and gas company, will halt the sale of CNG at its stations in stages, starting on July 1, 2025.
The minister said with only about 44,383 NGVs currently in the country — accounting for 0.2 percent of vehicles in Malaysia, excluding motorcycles — the safety of road users and the public will be restored. “The NGV tanks of these vehicles are now reaching the end of their service life and need to be replaced and NGV tanks typically have a safe usage period of 15 years,” Fook said.
He further said there are also some car owners who have modified their vehicles using liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders, which are very dang3rous. The minister said the vehicles had caused explosions during accidents. Fook said an assistance package aimed at helping owners of CNG-powered vehicles during the coming transition period has been put in place.
“Taxi drivers using NGV vehicles are eligible for a one-off RM3,000 e-voucher through Petronas’s Setel mobile app,” he said. “They must have been registered with the Land Public Transport Agency before October 1. For dual-fuel vehicle owners, they can get their NGV kits removed for free at workshops selected by the transport ministry. Their vehicles must be registered with the road transport department (JPJ) before October 1. Lastly, for owners of purely NGV-powered vehicles, they are eligible for a one-off payment based on the current value of their vehicles, which will be determined by an independent appraiser.
For this package, the vehicles must also have been registered with JPJ before October 1. Upon taking up the offer, the vehicles will be sent to an authorised automotive treatment facility to be disposed of and deregistered by JPJ.”
Fook said it is necessary to prevent the misuse of the vehicles or for any illegal modification to be carried out on them as it would endanger the public. He said payments under the support package will be made within three to seven working days “of receiving a vehicle’s certificate of destruction and deregistration slip”. Malaysia introduced the use of compressed natural gas in the late 1990s for taxicabs and airport limousines.
In Nigeria, the federal government is pushing for the adoption of CNG as an alternative fuel for transportation. The initiative, introduced by President Bola Tinubu as a measure to curb the impact of the removal of petrol subsidy on individuals, “attracted over $200 million in investments so far as the government plans to build 1,000 conversion centres” across the country.
Instablog9ja
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A Techie has lamented after a Lagos real estate company told him he’ll still be paying N5m+ for service charge and other charges annually after purchasing a N150m property.
He was told that the extra charges cover for 24 hours electricity including diesel, cleaning and security is also involved in the service charge. The techie said he wanted to bring in his solar panel and they still said no.
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Instablog9ja
12 hrs
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An Enugu State magistrate court has remanded a woman, Mrs. Ada Ogbogu, in the Enugu Correctional Centre for allegedly br3aking her three-year-old stepson’s bone with a pestle.
Arraigning the accused person on Tuesday, the police told the court that the offence attracts life imprisonment as punishment if convicted. The charge marked CME/646C/2024, reads, “That you, Ada Ogbogu, female, on the 23rd of October 2024, at about 1430hours at Ike Ani Estate, Emene Enugu, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did with intent to m+im or disfig3ree one Kaitobechukwu Ogbogu, male, aged 3 years, po¥r hot water on his nose, mouth and h3t him with a pestle, which dislocated his left legend caused him serious inj¥ry and thereby committed an office punishable under Section 288 (a) of the Enugu Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. II. Revised Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria 2004.”
Her bail application was rejected by Chief Magistrate Alphonsus Edeh, who ordered that she should be remanded at Enugu Correctional Centre.
The court adjourned the matter to November 26, 2024, when the report from the Director of Public Prosecutions in the Ministry of Justice, is being expected.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih, told journalists that Mrs. Ogbogu’s arraignment was in line with the administration’s vow to follow the matter to a logical conclusion, insisting that no child should be d3h¥manized in the state.
“Recall that the State Government had taken swift action on this matter by arresting the accused and today she is already in court. This decisive move demonstrates Governor Peter Mbah’s commitment to protecting children. So, if you mistr3at or ab3se any child in Enugu, then you are in for trouble. Period,” she stated.
Instablog9ja
13 hrs
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US Vice President Kamala Harris called Donald Trump on Wednesday to congratulate him for winning the 2024 presidential election, one of her senior aides said, following a bitter and contentious race.
Democrat Harris discussed with Trump the importance of a peaceful transfer of power and being president for all Americans, said the aide speaking on background, confirming that Harris will deliver remarks in Washington later Wednesday.
Jen O’Malley Dillon, who chaired Harris’ campaign, said in an email to campaign staff obtained by NBC News that Harris told Trump during the call that “she would work with President Biden to ensure a peaceful transfer of power, unlike what we saw in 2020.”
“She also made clear that she hopes he will be a President for all Americans,” she said. Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement that, in their call, the president-elect “acknowledged Vice President Harris on her strength, professionalism, and tenacity throughout the campaign, and both leaders agreed on the importance of unifying the country.”
Two other Harris aides said Harris spent the morning and afternoon working on her concession speech that she will deliver this afternoon at 4 p.m. at Howard University, her alma mater. President Joe Biden spoke by phone Wednesday with Harris and congratulated her on her campaign, the White House said. Biden also spoke to Trump and congratulated him on his victory.
“President Biden expressed his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition and emphasized the importance of working to bring the country together,” the White House said. “He also invited President-elect Trump to meet with him in the White House. The staff will coordinate a specific date in the near future. Biden will address the nation on Thursday to discuss the election results and the transition, the White House said. A White House official said that Biden was also planning to offer to attend his inauguration, the White House official said.
Instablog9ja
15 hrs
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Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) in Nigeria have announced revised prices for various electricity meter models, marking the second price hike in four months, Nairametrics reports.
According to the DisCos, the cost of a single-phase meter has risen from approximately N117,000 to as much as N149,800, depending on the distribution company and meter vendor. The new prices, scheduled to take effect on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, reflect the deregulation of Meter Asset Providers (MAP) as directed by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
This upward revision follows an earlier increase in August 2024, further amplifying concerns among electricity consumers about affordability and accessibility.
A check by Nairametrics revealed that meter prices vary across DisCos, influenced by vendors and meter models (single-phase and three-phase). Below are the new average meter prices, inclusive of VAT: Eko DisCo: Single Phase Meter: N135,987.5 – N161,0 03; Three Phase Meter: N226,600 – N266,600; Ibadan DisCo: Single Phase Meter: N130,998 – N142,5 54; Three Phase Meter: N226,556.25 – N232,008.04; Abuja DisCo: Single Phase Meter: N123,130.53 – N147,812.; Three Phase Meter: N206,345.65 – N236,500; Kano Electricity: Single Phase Meter: N127,925 – N129,999.75; Three Phase Meter: N223,793 – N235,425; Kaduna DisCo: Single Phase Meter: N131,150 — N142,548.94; Three Phase Meter: 220,375 — N232,008.04
In April, Nairametrics reported that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) introduced a significant policy shift by announcing the deregulation of meter prices under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme for end-user customers. This move aims to address lingering issues surrounding meter supply and pricing transparency within the electricity sector.
According to NERC’s latest order, meter prices under the MAP scheme will now be determined through competitive bidding rather than being centrally regulated. This shift is expected to foster greater competition among meter providers, ultimately improving cost efficiency and service delivery for end-users.
Additionally, the deregulation removes earlier operational restrictions, allowing MAP permit holders to provide metering services across all Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) in Nigeria. However, MAPs must meet specific regulatory requirements to ensure compliance and maintain quality standards in service delivery.
Previously, NERC regulated meter prices, which were often subsidized across all DisCos to reduce costs for customers. While this model aimed to make metering affordable, it inadvertently stifled competition and limited transparency in the supply chain. As a result, DisCos and customers were unable to negotiate or explore better deals from meter vendors, contributing to inefficiencies in the system.
With deregulation now in place, NERC anticipates a more dynamic metering ecosystem where customers and DisCos can benefit from competitive pricing, improved service quality, and greater accountability among meter providers.
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Novo Nordisk Stock Slips As Sales Grow Less Than Expected
After Rising In Premarket Trading, ...
Investopedia
16 hrs
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After rising in premarket trading, Novo Nordisk's (NVO) U.S.-listed shares fell after the market opened Wednesday as its third-quarter sales fell short of estimates despite continued growth form weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy.
The Danish drugmaker reported 71.31 billion Danish krone ($10.24 billion) in sales—a 21% jump from the same time last year—but still just below the DKK 72.17 billion ($10.36 billion) analysts had expected, according to estimates compiled by Visible Alpha. Despite the sales miss, Novo Nordisk's net income of DKK 27.3 billion came in higher than the DKK 26.66 billion analysts were expecting.
Sales of the company's obesity and diabetes drugs jumped 25% from the same time last year, while sales in North America surged 31% in the quarter. The company has faced questions from U.S. lawmakers about why its products are so much more expensive in the U.S. thanEuropean countries.
"The sales growth is driven by increasing demand for our GLP-1-based diabetes and obesity treatments, and we are serving more patients than ever before," Novo Nordisk CEO Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen said.
The company also narrowed its full-year guidance, projecting sales growth between 23% to 27%, with both the high and low end slightly narrower than the 22% to 28% projected growth previously. The same adjustment was made to operating profit projections, as Novo Nordisk now expects the metric to grow 21% to 27% year-over-year, compared to the previous range of20% to 28%.
Novo Nordisk's U.S.-traded shares were down 3% in morning trading Wednesday.
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