May, 2020

• 26 May

  Nuclear fusion startup gets $84m to enter next phase

  

  Bloomberg US clean-energy startup, Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), raised an additional $84 million from major investors in Europe and Asia, underscoring that the appetite remains to back new technologies which could mitigate climate change. As the world looks to ramp up the use of intermittent renewable energy, it needs to add forms of flexible clean power that can be turned …

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• 26 May

  Philippine oil refiners shut on weak demand

  

  Bloomberg The Philippines has been left temporarily without any operating oil refineries as one of the world’s longest lockdowns eviscerates demand. Petron Corp, the nation’s largest oil company, said on Tuesday its 180,000 barrel-a-day refinery has been shut since May 5 for maintenance while fuel demand is low. Royal Dutch Shell Plc said the nation’s only other refinery remains temporarily …

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• 26 May

  PG&E fire victims vote to approve its bankruptcy

  

  Bloomberg Victims of wildfires blamed on PG&E Corp voted to approve a reorganisation plan crafted by the California power giant, clearing one of the last hurdles in the company’s effort to exit the largest utility bankruptcy in US history. More than 85% of fire victims who cast ballots voted in favour of PG&E’s plan that includes a $13.5 billion settlement …

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• 26 May

  China to boost renewable installations by 52%

  Bloomberg China this year will be able to absorb 52% more new wind and solar power capacity than in it added 2019. The world’s biggest energy consumer has space on its grids to add 36.65 gigawatts of wind and 48.45 gigawatts of solar, according to a transmission analysis report by the National New Energy Absorption Monitoring and Warning Center. Grid …

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• 26 May

  Mexico power utility seeks price hike

  Bloomberg Unfazed by criticism it is unfairly blocking renewable energy projects, Mexico’s state-owned utility is doubling down on demands for regulators to protect its market share. The Comision Federal de Electricidad, which says it produces 54% of the nation’s power, wants regulators to raise transmission costs for private companies immediately, company head Manuel Bartlett said in an interview. A raft …

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• 26 May

  Latam files for bankruptcy, stymied by virus lockdowns

  

  Bloomberg Latam Airlines Group SA, Latin America’s largest air carrier, sought bankruptcy court protection in New York after the Covid-19 pandemic grounded flights across the region. The Chapter 11 petition allows Latam to keep operating while the Chilean carrier works out a plan to pay creditors and turn around the business. Latam, whose shareholders include Chile’s Cueto family and Delta …

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• 26 May

  Chinese retail tycoon’s Wumei mulls HK IPO

  

  Bloomberg Wumei Holdings Inc, the Chinese retail group that owns one of the country’s biggest supermarket chains, is considering an initial public offering in Hong Kong, people with knowledge about the matter said. The Beijing-based company has held preliminary talks with potential advisers about a listing, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the information is …

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• 26 May

  Air Canada’s bid for Transat faces extended probe from EU

  

  Bloomberg Air Canada’s bid for tour operator Transat AT Inc faces an extended probe from European Union regulators who said the deal may hamper competition by combining the two biggest airlines linking Europe and Canada. The European Commission set a September 30 deadline to rule on the deal, citing concerns that the “transaction could significantly reduce competition on 33” routes, …

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• 26 May

  EU sets its price for backing $9.8bn Lufthansa rescue

  

  Bloomberg The German government’s 9 billion-euro ($9.8 billion) bailout of Deutsche Lufthansa AG may cost the stricken carrier some valuable assets: Key flight slots at airports in Frankfurt and Munich. The European Commission wants Lufthansa to surrender the slots out of concern the aid will give the carrier unfair advantage over competitors, people familiar with the matter said. After weeks …

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• 26 May

  EasyJet CFO says he’ll leave next year

  Bloomberg EasyJet Plc Chief Financial Officer Andrew Findlay has informed the carrier that he plans to leave next year, days after facing down a demand for his removal from the board in a dramatic shareholder vote. Findlay will stay on until May 2021 when his contract expires, EasyJet said in a statement on Tuesday. The low-cost carrier said it would …

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