Ring of Fire

Ring of Fire

A First World country, Canada is all set to open a humongous mining and smelting processing belt will benefit thousands of its citizens if it opens soon. Despite its many controversies surrounding it, it is expected to bring unlimited employment opportunities and economic prosperity to a remote part of the province’s north. 

With the province being of the least developed area in terms of infrastructure, this project is expected to bring in much-needed power and basic transport facilities in the region. CBC says "Chronic housing shortages, low education outcomes and lack of access to clean drinking water jeopardize the ability of local First Nations to benefit from the significant economic, employment and business development opportunities associated with the Ring of Fire developments."

The project is expected to show revenues uptil $30 billion to $50 billion and will create up to 5,000 direct and indirect jobs.

World Trade Center Transportation Hub

An extremely old transit station has been redesigned into the "World Trade Center Transportation Hub". The world's costliest train station, it boasts the design of a dove, to resemble peace and harmony. Despite budget problems, escalating tensions and long-delayed opening conflicts, the Hub has really offered many advantages which will definitely neutralize the shortcomings mentioned in the long run.

"It said that when completed, the hub will serve 250,000 visitors or shoppers as well as more than 200,000 commuters each day, making it the third-largest transportation center in the city, behind Grand Central Terminal and Pennsylvania Station." (Rawlink) 

Site C Clean Energy Project

Site C Clean Energy Project

A major infrastructural project currently being constructed on Peace River in British Columbia, Canada, the Site C Dam (also referred to as Site C Clean Energy Project) is expected to cost around “$8.3 billion. Designs call for an estimated capacity of approximately 1,100 MW and an annual output of 5,100 GWh of electricity” (Wikipedia).  

There will be a drastic impact on the businesses and commerce underway in the region and will also increase employment there, especially in contracts, engineering, service, maintenance, machinery, equipment etc. It will serve more than 500,000 homes and expected to power nearby industries for at least 100 years. It is also expected to export power to US. Though there was stiff opposition to it as it would require take-over of fertile agricultural land and global warming, 

Las Cocas and Quilvio Cabera Wind Farms

Las Cocas and Quilvio Cabera Wind Farms

 

In a very surprising development, Dominican Republic has announced plans to set up wind turbines, the first such initiative in Caribbean islands. Built with a budget of US$100 million, it is estimated that country’s imports of oil will be reduced by 700,000 barrels a year, which in turn saves US$20 million, as well as reducing CO2 emissions by 1,700 tonnes. A 33MW plant has already been opened in 2011.

During the construction process, the main challenges faced were connecting the wind farm to the existing grid. “The southwestern part of the Dominican Republic is sparsely populated, however, and there are no transmission lines in the vicinity of Los Cocos. Some have posed greater problems than others, and some land permits are still pending. Siting installations far from existing infrastructure clearly presents issues beyond just the cost of connecting to the grid.” (blogs.worldwatch) The company has solved these by paying for building new transmission lines. Also locales have been educated about the benefits of using renewable energy.

IceLink

IceLink

 

We all know of schemes involving integration of national grids of many countries. But, have you ever heard of one connecting in the sea? IceLink Project, which is yet to be given the green signal, aims to cover more than 1,000 kilometres to provide renewable energy to UK. Almost 75% of alternative energy in Iceland comes from hydropower while the rest from geothermal. “Iceland enjoys the cheapest electricity prices in Europe thanks to abundant geothermal energy, wind and especially hydropower from glacial meltwater. The industry generates more than 12 gigawatt hours of electricity, about five times the demand from Iceland’s 325,000 population.” (Hebehappy)

England could exploit these potential, as experts estimate that Iceland could provide 5 terra-watt hours per year, at a cost 15% cheaper than UK’s offshore wind projects. The bigger implication of this project is the rising importance of under-sea cables as well as providing renewable power to rest of Europe. It is also expected to offer flexibility options to UK’s energy policy.

Buenos Aires Bus Rapid Transit Corridor

Buenos Aires Bus Rapid Transit Corridor

Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires is seen as a major economic center in the future, which will also serve as a balance to Brazil’s growing economic clout in the region. To aid in its development comes the Bus Rapid Transit Corridor, a first of its kind project in Argentina, built at an estimated cost of $ 25 million, though the budget was exceeded. According to Guillermo Dietrich, the city’s undersecretary for transport, travel time is down for buses by 50 percent, for minibuses (private buses that make fewer stops) by 45 percent, and for cars by 20 percent.

Some features of the buses involved in the system include spacious, well-lighted shelters that have seats and a Wi-Fi connection, easy boarding and information providing screens. A major accomplishment of this project was that it reduced traffic on the most important city of the street: 9 de Julio Avenue. Experts say that more than 200,000 citizens prefer the bus when their route is the avenue; it also has reduced CO₂ emissions by more than 5,000 tons per year. With continued benefits, this bus transport scheme can really help Buenos Aires to revamp its image.

Myanmar Telecommunication Network

Myanmar Telecommunication Network

One of Asia’s least developed nations, at least according to telecommunications and economy, will be open to foreign investments and given subsidies as well as liberal policies.

Asia’s least developed telecommunications market is about to take off thanks to foreign investment and liberalized policies. It is surprising to see that in such a world where almost everyone has a smart-phone, only 12.3% of Myanmar’s citizens have a basic mobile. The country can thank its military junta leaders, with their conservative mind-set for that.

But, all that is about to change. International countries such as Ooredoo, Telenor, NEC, NTT and Sumitomo etc. have been granted licenses to operate there. Though, definitely, it will take time to create a basic infrastructure, yet mobile subscribers rate is expected to grow at 30% to reach more than 32 million by end of this decade. This will ensure the mobile penetration rate is more than 50%.

An analyst said “A properly functioning telecoms network will spur innovation in other critical industries, such as education, healthcare and finance, and contribute to overall socio-economic development.”