(AOF) – General Electric has obtained an order from Damco Energy SA, a company of the Greek group Copelouzos. This is an order for the supply of equipment for Damco’s 840 megawatt (MW) natural gas power plant. This plant is to be built in Alexandroupolis, Greece. The electricity produced by the new plant will contribute to the energy transition in Greece and to the development of the Alexandroupolis region. In addition, GE will provide a full range of services for the power plant for 14 years. The plant is expected to enter service in 2026.
The Alexandroupolis plant will be powered by an equipment package comprising a GE 9HA.02 gas turbine, an STF-D650 steam turbine, a W88 generator, a triple pressure heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) with reheating.
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Once again weakened results for European airlines
With fuel accounting for up to 35% of their costs, professionals believe European airlines are unlikely to return to profit until 2023 or 2024 at the earliest. These players predict that energy prices will remain high at least until 2023. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced a forecast of cumulative losses of 9.7 billion dollars in 2022 for airlines at around the world, it will still be necessary to wait until 2023 to see the return to profits on a global scale, due in particular to the surge in oil costs and the rise in labor costs. On the positive side, travel demand seems to be resisting the uncertainties caused by the international economic and political situation. However, the uncertainties concerning the Covid, the war in Ukraine, as well as the rise in prices are strengthening last-minute reservations. According to Iata, only 8% of international reservations made at the end of May went beyond September.
The social climate is deteriorating in low-cost companies
These companies are benefiting from a very strong recovery. They had already managed to monopolize 40% of air traffic in 2021, this proportion could even rise to 50% this year. However, strike movements have affected the activity of Volotea, EasyJet and Ryanair, with confrontations over pay and working conditions. In general, the sector faces a shortage of personnel. After having severely cut their workforce in 2020 and 2021, companies and airports must urgently recruit to support the relaunch of activity.
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German autonomy not so simple
China has been Germany’s leading economic partner for six years. However, across the Rhine, companies are called upon to reduce their heavy dependence on the Asian giant due to a rise in geopolitical tensions with the country. In this context, the powerful VDMA points out the importance of the Chinese market and the danger that a too sudden termination of ties with China would represent. The country is, in fact, the second export market and the first investment destination for German mechanical and industrial engineering. The federation nevertheless recognizes the need to diversify the trading partners of the German economy.
Sector analysis Communication and Media
French players well positioned in audiovisual production
Among the independent players, the Frenchman Banijay is the world leader with an expected turnover of 3 billion euros in 2022 in a market which represents 100 billion in revenue. Mediawan (backed by the KKR fund), whose turnover amounts to 1 billion euros, is the other main French player in the sector. The market is still very fragmented because according to the European Audiovisual Observatory, the top twenty production groups were responsible for only 38% of titles created in 2020. However, experts believe that the sector has entered a phase consolidation. Thus Banijay’s stock market listing aims to enable it to better participate in this movement.