plan

Europe had a plan to jump into the electric car and 2025 was its first fire test. The manufacturers have ended it

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It had been rumored for a long time and has ended up confirming. The European Commission will make the maximum pollutant emissions that manufacturers will be fostered if they do not want to be fined with sanctions that promised to be one thousand millionaires. The pact that has been reached is a small three -year moratorium that postpon the problem to 2027. These are the key points. What we had. What was on the table was a road map designed to jump into the electric car gradually. By 2035 it is planned prohibit cars that are not “carbon neutrals.” That is, it is expected that combustion engines can be still used with hydrogen either synthetic fuels that during their production they absorb CO2 and, therefore, equal their small pollutant emissions expelled with the use But the truth is that these They should be more than mere exceptions. In 2030, an emission limit is so high that it should not allow the sale of cars that, at least, are not plug -in hybrid. And in 2025 very high fines were expected for those who exceeded 93.6 gr/km of CO2 on average in the car fleet sold. The regulations said that for each gram of CO2 exceeded in the fleet of cars sold it would be punished with a fine of 95 euros per car sold. That is, if the fleet average is 98.6 gr/km of CO2, the fine would be multiplied by five. Each car sold would face a sanction of 475 euros. A manufacturer that sells a million cars in the EU would face a penalty of 475 million euros. What changes. Little and a lot. The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has presented The conclusions of the second meeting of the table known as Strategic Dialogue for the future of the European Automobile Industry. In his second point he points out that there is “a clear demand to make the CO2 emission standards more flexible.” This flexibility is a kind of moratorium for manufacturers. Yes, they will have to comply with that emission limit of 93.6 gr/km of CO2 but will do so in 2027. Then they will present their results that will result from an average of sales of 2025, 2026 and 2027. Millionaire fines There are, therefore, in suspense. Trying to content everyone. According to Von der Leyen, the current emission limits are maintained in 2027 so as not to punish those who have done the job before anyone else but believes that the industry needs “more margin of maneuver and greater clarity, without changing the agreed objectives.” The changes, of course, need to be approved. The president of the European Commission It is optimistic In this sense, pointing out that an amendment as specific as this should be approved in very short space of time. On March 5 we will know more details with the presentation of an action plan that also contemplates the production of battery for electric cars within the European Union, among other measures. The big beneficiaries. Among the big beneficiaries are, of course, those who were not going to comply with emission regulations and aimed to overcome it widely. The biggest beneficiary is, with much difference, the Volkswagen Group, according to calculations collected by The automotive tribune. The German conglomerate pointed to a penalty of 6,914 million euros with the sales and emission data of 2024. Mercedes, who had received a fine of more than 1,000 million euros with the figures last year, is the other great beneficiary although there was already talk that he could have reached an agreement with Volvo or Polestar, among others, to form a pool of emissions before the European Union that will free them from the sanction. Now both manufacturers have time to launch mass electric cars (Volkswagen awaits you to 2026/2027) or, like Mercedes, which sell large volumes within the figures they usually handle. He Mercedes Cla It is the great hope for this year and the coming. Losers? If we take a look at the figures of 2024, Stellantis and the Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi alliance could also breathe calm since the fines could exceed 2,000 million euros if the data last year is taken as a reference. However, both groups have made important efforts to reach 2025 with electric cars that aspire to sell good quantities and, thus, reduce the middle emissions of the fleet. Stellantis has made an investment of 30,000 million euros on Stla platforms of greater and smaller size and software development, with the aim of accommodating electrical and hybrid mechanics in the same space. He Peugeot E-3008for example, it is a good attempt to sell large volumes of electric. Renault, meanwhile, has also made a giant leap in the electric car market in the last two years (winner of two Car of the Year consecutive along the way). His Renault Scenic and his new Renault 5 They are cars to move large sales figures which should significantly reduce the average emission. Those who surely lose. Those who have lost with the play are, of course, the manufacturers of electric cars exclusively. And, more specifically, those who aspired to get a good sum negotiating with their emission bonds to get the companies out of the possible sanctions. It could be a good impulse for Volvo, which has a very high part of its widely electrified range and, above all, to contain that It does not go through its best moment economic. But the one who loses the most is Tesla. The company had a complicated 2024 and is about to see if it reverses the situation in 2025. The sale of your emission bonds They were highly coveted because their sales volume in Europe is relatively high, it had to grow with the arrival of the Tesla Model and updated And it has no combustion engines that criminalize it in the least. Photo | Volkswagen In Xataka | Spain will manufacture the electric car that … Read more

Kaspersky’s premium plan has everything to be our best ally when we are going on vacation

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When one goes on a trip, he always focuses on not forgetting the most important things: documentation or mobile, for example. When we are there we will want to connect to the Internet, either at the hotel or with a public wifi. This type of networks offers very little securitywhat can be a great danger. To avoid problems, better with a VPN installed on the mobile, and if it is better quality. The one that Kaspersky has in his premium plan is a great option, more now that we have it reduced: One year of the service only leaves for 34.99 euros. Kaspersky Premium – Annual * Some price may have changed from the last review Investing in a VPN is to win in security for our data When we use a public network or a network that we do not know, we risk any hacker that can monitor everything we do. This is something for nothing crazy and that can happen at any time, especially when we go on a trip, where we are always going to connect to unknown networks. There using a VPN is vitaland although there are free options, we can bet on a payment to win an additional extra security layer. We almost always recognize Kaspersky as an antivirus, although his premium plan offers this and much more. With him, we will have with us a VPN that will allow us sail safely every time we go on a tripeven if we want to consult our bank information. It can also come well if we want to access any service that is not available in the country in which we are, as can happen with WhatsApp video calls. This plan also has other very interesting tools to travel safely. One of them is the protection of our personal data, storing our passwords in a private repository with good security. And not only for us: This plan includes a free year of safekidsperfect for our children to navigate safely. Kaspersky Premium – Annual * Some price may have changed from the last review This plan is priced at 79.99 euros a year, but right now we have it with A 56% discount. Thanks to it, we can enjoy a year of the service for only 34.99 eurosa great figure. In addition, we can cancel the subscription at any time, so we will not be tied to the service with any permanence. Some of the links of this article are affiliated and can report a benefit to Xataka. In case of non -availability, offers may vary. Images | Annie Spratt in Unspash (with edition), Kaspersky In Xataka | Wi -Fi, configuration fund guide: everything you have to know to improve your connection In Xataka | These are the two things I recommend doing if you want to improve the safety of your accounts and you are not sure how to start

Telefónica’s plan to convert their networks into platforms against large technology

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In a huge stand of the MWC 2025 Get chaired by the slogan ‘Leading Change, Inspiral Progress’, Telefónica has deployed its arsenal of corporate alliances around Open Gateway. Chema Alonso, visible face of the digital transformation of the Teleco, has presented a series of agreements that allow to glimpse the real strategy of the operator: convert their networks, so far mere highways, on platforms that generate income. An old yearning. He has not done it alone: ​​the presentation has been a parade of managers of several companies and institutions supporting the projected. Open Gatewayin fact, it is not new. The GSMA initiative has been promising to transform telecommunications networks into open platforms through standardized APIs. And according to GSMA data, it is present in 28 markets. What is most striking is the accelerated rhythm with which Telefónica is closing agreements: more than 50 large companies and 20 commercial partners, according to the numbers that Alonso has shared. Chema Alonso during the presentation of Open Gateway at the MWC 2025. Image: Xataka. Among the most important ads is The expansion of your collaboration with Tiktok for Europe. The Chinese platform will use the numbers verification API to simplify the user registration, eliminating the SMS passage. But the really interesting thing is the joint creation of a new API called “AGE VERIFICATION“, which will arrive first to Brazil and then expand to other markets. Reading between the lines is clear: Telefónica has found a way to monetize its privileged position as identity validityan increasingly valuable asset in the digital ecosystem. The agreement with Cabify follows the same logic: provide identity verification to expedite records. In the demo there has been a saving of ten seconds: a message no longer comes, everything happens “inside”, automatically and invisible to the user. What was previously a simple SMS is now reconvigned in a premium service that companies will be willing to pay. Cabify is an example. Carlos Herrera, Cto de Cabify, along with Chema Alonso in the demo of the API. Image: Xataka. Telefónica is transforming what was previously an operational cost into a source of income. A good play … in the absence of seeing the real business volume it generates. Then there is the protocol with the Community of Madrid. What the administration wants with Open Gateway is to “optimize internal processes.” In Health, Transportation, Justice and Tourism. Movistar is positioned as well as Technological intermediary between citizens and public services. This is a space traditionally played by great technological ones, so Telefónica has found here a space to achieve one of its great desires: to be seen as another technological and not only as a telecommunications provider. The agreements with two heavyweights, AWS and Google Cloud close the circle: With Amazon, Telefónica will create an innovation center to develop SAAS products aimed at operators. With Google you will integrate Open Gateway in Firebase to offer authentication to more than 3 million developers. Christiaan Brand, from Firebase, along with Chema Alonso during the presentation. Image: Xataka. It is striking that other operators such as AT&T, Deutsche Telekom, T-Mobile and Telenor are also adding to this last initiative, indicating a coordinated effort of the sector to recover relevance against technological platforms. They have good reasons to form a common front. The question that floats in the Barcelona air is If these APIs will be enough to rebalance the balance of power. For years, telecos have seen how technology built multimillionaire empires on their networks while they were relegated to connectivity suppliers Comoditized. Open Gateway is its commitment to capture part of the value that passes through its networks. The challenge is to execute this vision in a usually slow sector when innovating. And above all, when displaying. APIS standardization through Camara Project (developed by GSMA and Linux Foundation) is a step in the right direction, but operators will have to demonstrate that they can move at the speed required by the industry. No one knows if this strategy will translate into the long -awaited year for relevance in the digital ecosystem, but we do know that Telefónica is clearer than ever its position: It does not want to be the highway, but also who controls a part of the traffic. Outstanding image | Xataka In Xataka | Consolidation or irrelevance: Marc Murtra launches an ultimatum to the EU in his debut as president of Telefónica

There was a time in which the big oil companies raised “transition” to renewables. BP just kill the plan

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The British giant BP has announced a radical turn in its corporate strategy: from the green commitment to fossil fuels again. Short. A year after be appointed CEO of BPMurray Auchincloss has dismantled the plan to reduce the production of hydrocarbons that had promoted his predecessor, Bernard Looney. Auchincloss described his new strategy as a “fundamental restart” In the company’s plans: to cut the investment in renewable energy to increase the production of oil and natural gas. A turn in the middle of the investment pressure. The latest BP results did not excite their investors. During the fourth quarterthe net profit of the group fell to 1.2 billion dollars, less than half as in the same period of the previous year. With a collection of dividends of just eight cents per share, Elliott Investment Management, which accumulates a participation Of almost 5,000 million dollars in BP, it has intensified the pressure on the group to improve the return of its shareholders. Given this scenario, BP has decided not to get away from fossil fuels, but to enhance its production. When your neighbor’s beards see cut … Shell, Exxonmobil and Totalenergies, three of the main competitors of BP, They have been improving results Thanks to its commitment to the production of hydrocarbons, whose demand continues to increase slightly despite the energy transition. As the divergence in the performance of both strategies became more noticeable, BP shareholders, especially Elliott, have been demanding drastic improvements in the structure and strategy of the company. How this affects renewables. It is not encouraging news. BP plans to increase its investment in hydrocarbons to about 10,000 million dollars annually until 2027, with the aim of produce between 2.3 and 2.5 million barrels Petroleum and natural gas newspapers by 2030. To be able to do this while returning capital to shareholders, BP will substantially reduce spending on less profitable projects, such as renewable energies. The group will adjust its investments in these areas with a very selective approach, prioritizing transition projects that require a lower disbursement. Its Offshore wind division will become independent from the group. Even so… BP says to continue committed to its goal of achieve carbon neutrality by 2050a legal objective established by the United Kingdom government, which was one of the first to formalize and support with legislation the commitment to reduce net greenhouse gases to zero emissions. BP’s change of strategy can help her be more profitable in the near future, but only a transition. It will clearly be inevitable If climatic policies are maintained or become more aggressive. With the improvements in efficiency and safety of nuclear energy, advances in electrification and increasingly cheaper renewables, excuses are over to continue betting on fossil fuels. Image | BP In Xataka | European oil companies readjust their strategy: they leave aside the green transition before market pressures

Spain has a plan to become the European green hydrogen leader. And it will cost us 1,214 million euros

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With the corridor of H2Med almost run by A recent conflicthe First Iberian Price Index From established renewable hydrogen and a recent millionaire injection of European funds, Spain has everything to emerge as a leader in this sector. The ambition has come to stay. Injection of funds. The Government of Spain has announced which will allocate 1,214 million euros of the Newgeneu funds to seven projects located in Aragon, Andalusia, Castilla y León, Cataluña and Galicia to develop hydrogen valleys. These European aid will be distributed among green hydrogen production and distribution projects to decarbonize several energy and industrial sectors, under the H2 Valles program. The companies that are behind the projects are Moeve, Enagás, Reolum, Repsol, Ric Energy, Capital Energy, Fertiberia or Ercros, among others. The goal. In a press release, the vice president and minister for ecological transition, Sara Aagesen, He has highlighted that “it is a call for strategic relevance that advances on the decarbonization agenda.” Requirements such as the purchase commitment of at least 60% of production by industrial consumers have been established. The Institute for Diversification and Saving of Energy (IDAE), attached to the miteco, manages this line of incentives to integrate hydrogen into the energy mix and reduce CO2 emissions. Spain is consuming 500,000 tons per year of Gray hydrogen (of fossil origin), so this new form of hydrogen will help change to be dynamic. Hydrogen valleys. The seven selected projects will add 2,278 MW of electrolysis power for the production of renewable hydrogen in 11 facilities, since the bases of the call allow more than one cluster site if the distance between them is less than 100 km. These plants will use renewable energy (solar and wind) to generate green hydrogen, and many will be integrated with ammonia or ammonia facilities fertilizers to reduce industrial emissions. In addition, 90% of electrolyzers will be manufactured in Europe and most promoters They have opted by alkaline electrolysis technology, considered efficient and scalable. Aid distribution. The distribution of European funds is carried out prioritizing projects with greater impact. Starting with the community with the largest renewable cluster: Aragon, which will receive 384 million euros for two hydrogen valleys, one of them shared with Catalonia. They are followed by Andalusia with 304 million, Castilla y León with 259 million, Galicia with 170 million and Catalonia with 98 million. In addition, three of them will be located in municipalities with demographic challenges, such as Andorra in Teruel and Cubillos del Sil and Robla both in the province of León. All this to promote local economic development and job creation in these places where there is less industrial activity. It should be added that the initial budget of 1,200 million, framed on the Repower EU agenda of the recovery, transformation and resilience (PRTR) plan (PRTR) was extended to an additional 10%, reaching the current amount of 1,214 million euros. Horizon 2030. The development of these projects seeks to consolidate an advanced green hydrogen infrastructure so that within five years be integrated into sectors such as industry, aviation and maritime transport. Spain has invested more than 3,100 million euros in the last two years to consolidate its position in the green hydrogen sector in Europe. Image | Freepik Xataka | Nikola had everything to revolutionize the world of hydrogen trucks. Now is on the verge of bankruptcy

There is already an official plan for the next Starship flights. It’s incredibly ambitious, even for Spacex

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While finalizing the eighth flight of Starship, Spacex has also closing the details of the ninth launch, which could happen shortly after with some of the most ambitious objectives so far. Eighth flight before expected. Elon Musk has confirmed that Starship Flight 8 is scheduled for this FridayFebruary 28. He has not made any mention, as usual, that the final date of the launch is subject to the regulatory approval of the government. If Spacex is confident that Starship will take off on Friday is because he hopes to receive the flight license reviewed by then. It is earlier than expected, taking into account that the Federal Aviation Administration of the United States has a Open research on flight 7in which the Starship ship exploded over the Atlantic Ocean, disintegrating near the Turkish and Caicos Islands and causing a small aerial chaos For the rain of metals that followed. First load deployment. In any case, flight 8 will repeat the objectives of the previous launch, using the Super Heavy Booster 15 and the ship 34 ship for the test, the second that incorporates the Block 2 improvement block. Two meters higher, the Starship Block 2 It has a greater capacity to store propelants and better performance perspectives in the atmospheric reentry, both for the design changes of its front spoilers and for the numerous improvements of its thermal shield. In addition to re -expending an engine in the exorbitant space, flight 8 will display load for the first time using the “fish dispenser” mechanism of Starship’s upper bay. These are 10 wooden models that simulate being next -generation Starlink satellites, larger than the Starlink V2 Mini than today the Falcon 9 rocket is able to launch in lots of 23. A ninth flight even more difficult. Although great news is not expected for flight 8 because Spacex still has to demonstrate the objectives that could not be met on flight 7 for the explosion of the ship, the next, the ninth, will mark a significant leap in the program. A Special permit application Sent by Spacex to the Federal Communications Commission, the agency that manages the United States radio spectrum, revealed two important things about the company’s plans: Starship flight 9 will occur between March 14 and June 30, 2025, as soon as two weeks after flight 8 Spacex not only hopes to capture the Super Heavy propeller with the arms of the launch tower, as he did on flight 5 and flight 7, he also wants to do the same with the Starship ship for the first time Double capture or double dip. Although there are not many details about the ninth flight, beyond the communications application for the double landing, Spacex has confirmed that he will use the same procedure he uses with the propeller: If everything goes well, he will try to land in the arms of the tower; But if something does not fit, it will cancel the landing and let the rocket fall into the ocean. Therefore, during flight 9 we could see, at best, the first double capture (Super Heavy and Starship ship returning, each in their time, to the launch tower) or, in the worst of the Cases, a double ameter with dip and self -control. It will undoubtedly be the riskiest flight to date: the first one in which the starship will reach orbital speed to return to the launch platform to the southeast of Texas, and the first in which the ship, which suffers much higher temperatures than The propeller on his return could test the capture maneuver with the tower arm as a landing method. The most surprising thing about everything? Which could happen in mid -March. Image | The Super Heavy Booster 14 and the Starship 33 In Xataka | “Souls on board, 283”: an Iberia plane had to declare emergency to land after the starship explosion

The plan of a British company to revolutionize the sector

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The future of nuclear energy is aimed at not depending on huge fixed facilities, but on floating plants, capable of moving and adapting to the needs of the moment. In fact, the company that It started is revolutionCore Power, wants to take a step further. Short. The main challenge of nuclear reactors are high costs and long construction times in fixed infrastructure. Therefore, Core Power has announced The development of floating nuclear plants with a modular and mobile design. In addition, they have gone a step further using an advanced fourth generation reactor based on molten salts, with the intention of building these mass units and offering nuclear energy more flexible and efficiently. Market from 2030. although the reactor of molten salts It began to develop in 1950, now thanks to its compact and mechanically simple design characteristics, it is consolidating for floating nuclear energy. In addition, this type of reactor offers several advantages in front of traditional models: its modular design allows mass manufacturing, which could significantly reduce costs and construction time. It should be added that molten salts reactors operate at higher but atmospheric temperatures, which makes them more secure and easy to maintain. Safer. This type of reactors has a passive cooling system, which does not depend on external pumps. In case of emergency, it cools naturally without the need for human intervention. They also do not require pressurization, which still increases plus operational security. Nuclear fuels can also be recycled or filtered from the molten and automatically replaced liquid, which makes the reactor need for refueling during its useful life. Floating nuclear. Being installed in ships does not have the bureaucratic complications associated with obtaining construction permits and fixed areas. By this way, floating plants can be placed near areas of maximum energy demand, ensuring a constant electricity supply. And if the energy needs of a region change or if the political climate becomes unstable, these floating centrals can be disconnected and moved to another area. This design is not only flexible in terms of location, but also in terms of functions. In addition to generating electricity, floating plants can be used to desalination water and produce green hydrogen. The challenges. Despite the great advantages, this type of technology faces several challenges. One of the main is the high initial cost of development and construction, because the required investment is significantly higher. However, mass production will reduce long -term costs. In addition, there are still doubts about the viability of long -term maintenance and the possible technical problems derived from the use of these plants in the maritime environment. Another aspect to consider is public acceptance and international regulations. Although floating plants do not need traditional permits for fixed nuclear plants, they could still face regulatory barriers in different countries. Regulations on safety, maritime safety and nuclear waste management could complicate the global implementation of this technology. Forecasts Despite the ambition of the project, the truth is that the real impact of this technology is yet to be seen. In addition to generating electricity, these plants could play an important role in commercial propulsion and help in other areas as you mention the desalination and production of green hydrogen. Time will tell if these innovative solutions can really transform the global energy panorama while minimizing the environmental impacts that traditionally They are associated with nuclear energy. Image | Core Power Xataka | The future of energy is floating in the Arctic: the ace under Russia’s sleeve is a nuclear plant

The crazy plan of Scotland to save forests

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If science is not wrong, and We have decades of examples To believe that does notthe climatic emergency is increasingly important to try to go some step ahead of that elephant in the room that is made to us with the climate of our planet. In recent years we have seen proposals of all kinds, since Fill the diamond dust stratosphereuntil cause desert rains with solar farms. The United Kingdom has just added one that nobody saw coming. Reintroduce the wolves in the highlands. Now, A study by the University of Leeds suggests that The reintroduction of wolves in the highlands of Scotland could promote the expansion of native forests and contribute significantly to carbon capture. According to researchers, this process It would allow to store up to 1 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) per yearwhich would represent approximately 5% of the carbon elimination objective of the United Kingdom in its forests. Context: The impact of running out of no wolves. Over the centuries, the wolves have been persecuted throughout Europe due to its impact on livestock and the direct orders of monarchs. Namely: in England, King Eduardo I (1272-1307) ordered his total eradicationprocess that culminated under the reign of Enrique VII (1485-1509). In Scotland, due to its mountainous geography and low population density, The wolves managed to survive until the seventeenth centuryalthough with constant persecution. Already in 1283, rewards were paid for lobos hunters in Stirling, and In 1427, King Jacobo I of Scotland promulgated laws for extermination. However, His final disappearance occurred approximately 250 years ago. For all these reasons, the eradication of the wolves generated ecological consequences, one of the most serious being the overpopulation of red deer, a creature out of control right now. In fact, Today it is estimated that there are 400,000 red deer in Scotlanda figure that has grown without control in the absence of natural predators. This increase has led to A serious overpair problemsince deer feed on young tree shoots, preventing the natural regeneration of forests. How can the return of these creatures help. The study used A Markov predator-prison model to analyze the effects of the reintroduction of wolves on the ecological dynamics of Scotland. The findings suggest that A population of approximately 167 wolves would reduce the density of deer to less than four deer per square kilometerallowing trees to grow again naturally. They count on their study that among the ecological and climatic benefits of this measure they include The expansion of native forestswhich currently cover only 4% of the Scottish territory, making it one of the less forested regions in Europe. Also carbon capture, with a potential of one million tons of co₂ per year Thanks to the increase in forest mass. And finally, the economic value of reintroduction, since Each wolf would contribute to the absorption of 6,080 tons of annuals, which is equivalent to 154,000 pounds per wolf in terms of carbon capture value. The main author speaks. In this regard, Professor Dominick Spracklen, principal author of the study, stressed the need to address the climatic crisis and biodiversity crisis jointly. He stressed that natural processes, such as species reintroduction, can play a key role in the recovery of degraded ecosystems and generate benefits for both biodiversity and climate. Challenges of the proposal. Of course, such an idea is not new. In fact, now We have seen other cases in the past where it was sent to predatory enclaves to tartar to limit or exterminate other animals, Sometimes with disastrous results. In addition, although the proposal has great ecological potential, the reintroduction of the wolf in Scotland remains a controversial issue and would require careful management, especially in areas close to human settlements and livestock areas. The authors point out how problems to take into account Conflicts with farmers and farmerswho fear attacks on cattle, The resistance of deer hunterswhose activity could be affected by the reduction of the population of dams, and Public perception and social acceptancesince the presence of wolves generates concern in some rural communities. In this regard, the study co -author, Lee Schofield, emphasized that before considering any reintroduction, It would be essential to carry out a public consultation and involvement process of the parties interested. He also stressed that conflicts between humans and predators are common, so any strategy must include policies that mitigate the impact on the population and economic activity. The future of the wolf in Scotland. At European level, the wolves have managed to recover part of their historical territory, with an estimated population of 12,000 individuals in Western Europecurrently occupying 67% of its original area. In countries such as France and Germany, the reintroduction of the wolf has generated intense debates, and in some cases, Compensation programs for affected farmers have been implemented. That said and how we indicate, if Scotland decides to move forward with the measure, it would join a growing global movement that seeks to reintroduce predators stop as a tool to restore ecosystems and face climate change. The success of this project would depend on the implementation of adequate management strategies that balance ecological conservation with the needs of local communities. Image | Pexels, ISK In Xataka | Japan sent the wrong creature to eradicate the snakes of an island. The disaster was so great that it has taken half a century to solve it In Xataka | In 1940 Japan eliminated this island from the maps to keep their activities secret. Now his creatures are dying

The countries of the Persian Gulf have a plan B to continue influencing beyond oil: critical minerals

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In case the sector of Solar energy was smallthe Persian Gulf wants to continue expanding his empire and now points to the extraction and trade of metals. Expanding sectors. The companies between Oman, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia They have created Specialized units in metal marketing. On the one hand, International Resources Holding (IRH) in Abu Dhabi and Minerals Development Oman (MDO) have focused on energy and metal control. On the other hand, the Saudi country, through Ma’aden and the Public Investment Fund (PIF), has driven Its mining sector with new commercial strategies towards critical minerals. The look in the metals. The global raw material trade has changed in recent years, displacing traditional centers such as London and Geneva towards the Middle East, especially Dubai. Great oil traders, such as Vitol, Mercuria and Gunvor They have expanded Its metal business, and the Gulf states seek to position themselves in this market. With greater control over marketing, these countries can ensure better prices for their resources and strengthen their presence in the global supply chain. The expansion strategy. To consolidate their presence in the sector, companies such as International Resources Holding (IRH) and Minerals Development Oman (MDO) have created specialized commercial teams. Irh, based in Abu Dhabi, He has hired to 60 people to handle energy and metal trade, while MDO is in the process of establishing a unit of 25 people. At the same time, the Saudi Mining Fund Manara plans to form its own commercial team to ensure the supply of critical minerals. In addition to reinforcing their commercial capacities, these countries have made key investments in mining. IRH has acquired a 51% share in the Mopani copper mine in Zambia, and Abu Dhabi, through ADQ, has signed a joint company of 1.2 billion dollars with Orion Resources. Oman, on the other hand, has reactivated copper extraction in his lasail mine and seeks to better organize the plaster and chromite market to maximize income. Towards other booming markets. The Persian Gulf is exploring other areas such as renewable energies, artificial intelligence and nuclear energy. Countries like United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia They are promoting solar projects massive and the development of green hydrogen, with the expectation that more than 30% of its energy capacity comes from renewable sources in the next five years. Saudi Arabia has also seen an opportunity in The resurgence of nuclear energy And seek to lead the uranium sector, ensuring its role in the global supply. At the same time, the country has sealed Strategic agreements in AIwith projects like Neom that seek to position it as a key actor in the technological revolution. Global ambition. The gulf bet for metal trade is just one more piece in its strategy to become a key actor in the global economy. With the rise of the energy transition and the reconfiguration of international trade, the region seeks not only to diversify its income, but also consolidate its influence in strategic sectors. Oil gave them power; This new diversification is your insurance to continue like this for decades. Image | Unspash and Corey Poppe Xataka | The Persian Gulf has dominated the long era of oil. Now he is preparing to lead the era of solar energy

The Plan of Spain for leading green hydrogen has been faced with an unexpected problem: Zamora

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The countdown for the passage of the H2Med corridor It is underway. The one that will be the first clean hydrogen corridor of the European Union will be underway by 2030, but, as in any project, it is not exempt from controversy, since the section that goes from Zamora (Spain) to Celorico da Beira ( Portugal) has aroused a conflict. The controversy. The Duero Hydrographic Confederation (CHD) He has authorized A INARI SOLAR SL The extraction of 117,000 cubic meters per year of groundwater of the Natural Reserve of Las Lagunas de Villafáfila. The initiative will supply a 40MW green hydrogen production plant. Located in Moreruela Granja (Zamora), the Unión del Pueblo Leonese party (UPL) has warned about environmental impact of this project in a protected wetland. For this reason, divisions between neighbors, environmentalists and politicians have not been expected, between those who support it and who fear its consequences. In addition, the controversy has reached the Unesco Through the Ramsar agreement, an international treaty for the protection of wetlands. The decarbonization process. Spain It has different green hydrogen pointsbeing Zamora one of the most strategic points for the installation of infrastructure for the production of this renewable. However, producing green hydrogen requires large amounts of water, an increasingly scarce resource in Spain. In fact, 82.5% of the water It is used for agricultureand the country Face an accelerated desertification process. For this reason, the choice of the Villafáfila aquifer as a source of supply has generated outrage. The process. The CHD granted The concession in January after a period of public information of a month that, according to the agency, was closed without allegations or reports against. The Confederation argues that the extracted water will be minimal compared to the total of the aquifer, representing only 0.1% of the available resources. In addition, the concession will be 25 years, allowing a maximum flow of 3.8 l/Sy will capture by means of a 70 -meter depth survey. However, environmentalists in action, among other organizations, He has questioned These data because they point out the devastating impact on the wetland. In addition, he has denounced the lack of transparency in the process and has pointed out that authorization has been done on a place where restrictions for agricultural irrigation. From the town. Social discomfort has grown rapidly and already circulates In Change.orgunder the motto: “#Salvemosvillafáfila! A natural treasure in danger of disappearance.” The initiative accumulates more than 7,000 signatures, denouncing that water extraction will endanger an ecosystem necessary for bird migration and the local economy. From the political sphere, and as we have pointed out above, UPL has resorted to authorization before the Junta de Castilla y León and has taken the case to Ramsar agreementwith the aim of opening the door to a possible international review. In favor. From the Popular Party, the president of the Diputación de Zamora, Javier Faúndez, He has shown Your support for green hydrogen, but Reject the choice of aquifer as a water source. In addition, he argues that there are more viable alternatives, such as the Esla River or a nearby reservoir. While from the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, on which the CHD depends, has defended the concession ensuring that the regulated procedure has been followed and that the impact will be insignificant. However, the authorization must still pass the filter of the Junta de Castilla y León, which has promised a rigorous evaluation of environmental effects. Forecasts The conflict continues to climb and everything indicates that there will be citizen mobilizations in the coming weeks. The Junta de Castilla y León has the last word, so if the authorization continues, the debate could reach European instances. All this would test the compatibility between the EU climatic ambitions and the conservation of the environment. Image | Akiv and designed by Freepik Xataka A Japanese study is being able to transform methane into a clean energy source: turquorogen turquorogen

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