Premier Oil signs SPAs to acquire BP’s North Sea assets
Premier is aiming to conclude the acquisition by the end of September after raising the funds through an equity raise Premier Oil signs SPAs to acquire BP’s North Sea assets. (Credit: Michal Jarmoluk from Pixabay.) UK-based oil and gas company Premier Oil has signed sale and purchase agreements (SPAs) with BP to acquire its interests in the Andrew Area and its Shearwater assets.The agreement follows the revised terms reached for the deal last month. Under the revised terms, Premier will pay BP $210m on completion of the deal.Premier is aiming to conclude the acquisition by the end of September after raising the funds through an equity raise that is expected to include a pre-emptive component.Premier Oil CEO Tony Durrant said: “The signing of the SPAs with BP is another important milestone in completing the value-accretive BP Acquisitions which consolidates the group’s position in the UK North Sea, one of our core areas while, at the same time, accelerates the deleveraging of our balance sheet.”Premier Oil to add low cost, producing assetsThe acquisition are expected to strengthen Premier’s business through the addition of operated, low cost, producing assets.The Andrew Area and Shearwater assets are also anticipated to accelerate the use of Premier’s $4.1bn of UK tax losses.BP will retain 100% of Shearwater abandonment costs and 50% of the existing Andrew Area abandonment costs that will leave Premier with an estimated $240m of abandonment obligations.The acquisitions include BP’s operating interests in the Andrew area and a non-operating 27.5% stake in the Shell-operated Shearwater.The Andrew assets are the Andrew platform, five fields, and associated subsea infrastructure. The five fields in the Andrew Area, which are involved in the deal are Andrew, Arundel, Cyrus, Farragon, and Kinnoull, which produce via the Andrew platform, located about 225km north-east of Aberdeen.
Are you a current employee of Virginia Commonwealth University?YesNo Sensitive PositionYes- A pre-employment fingerprint background check will berequired. Position NumberP00001 DepartmentPeriodontics Anticipated Hiring RangeCommensurate Organizational Overview Posting Details Hours/Week20 Supplemental QuestionsRequired fields are indicated with an asterisk (*). Resource CriticalNo A postdoctoral position is available in the laboratory of Dr. ZhaoLin in the Department of Periodontics, School of Dentistry atVirginia Commonwealth University.Our research focuses novel therapeutics fortreating periodontal diseases. The candidate will be working onprojects investigating the role of epigenetic regulation inperiodontitis. Does this position provide patient or clinical services to theVCU Health System?No Open Until FilledYes Recruitment PoolAll Applicants Competitive salary with benefits will be provided commensurate withexperience. Remove from posting on or before Does this position require a pre-placement medicalassessment?Yes Is any portion of this position grant-funded?Yes – Continuation of this position depends on funding of thegrant. Position TypePost Doc Additional Information Qualified candidates should be experienced in routine laboratorytechniques in biochemistry and molecular biology.We are looking for a highly motivated individual with a commitmentto research excellence. The successful candidate should have a PhDor equivalent degree (MD or DDS ). Normal work daysMonday – Friday Working TitlePost doctoral Quick Linkhttps://www.vcujobs.com/postings/100482 Required Qualifications Job CategoryResearch Job Open Date09/03/2020 Special Instructions to Applicants CampusMCV Campus Preference will be given to applicants withexperience in clinical studies and/or animal models. Preferred Qualifications Description of the Job Normal work hours8:00 – 5:00 Please send your current curriculum vitae along with the names ofthree (3) references to Dr. Lin at 
School Standards Minister Nick Gibb met with his counterparts from across the world today to launch a new resource for teachers, aimed at helping them to inform and explain the importance of the Commonwealth to their pupils.The new classroom tools are for teachers working with 11 to 14 year olds and contain information on the Commonwealth and its values, accompanied by a range of classroom activities relating to topics including citizenship, geography, general studies and history. Mark Herbert, Head of Schools Programmes at the British Council said: Download the Commonwealth education pack As the home to one third of the world’s population, 60% of them under the age of 30, young people have always been at the heart of the Commonwealth. This pack, designed specifically for primary and secondary schools in the UK, will help pupils understand the Commonwealth and why it matters to us all in an ever-more connected world. The materials in this pack can support teaching of a range of subjects and topics across the curriculum including history, geography, economics, citizenship, art, design and personal and social education. The resources link to the Commonwealth Summit’s overall theme of ‘Towards a Common Future’ and, at a local level, encourage pupils to contribute to a fairer, more prosperous, secure, inclusive and sustainable future for all. PDF, 2.77MB, 24 pages
The activities in the new teacher resource have been designed to be delivered collectively to form a complete lesson or individually to complement other classroom activities.The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting will bring leaders from up to 52 countries spanning six continents together to ensure that the Commonwealth is able to tackle current and future challenges effectively and will focus on ensuring the Commonwealth is meeting the ambitions of young people as the organisation works towards a common future. Standards are rising in our schools thanks to our reforms and the hard work of teachers. There are 1.9 million more children in good or outstanding schools than in 2010 and our recent rise up the international rankings for reading and literacy puts our achievements on a global scale. We are already sharing best practice internationally. Last year, I visited Australia to discuss with policy makers the evidence behind the success of phonics in teaching children to read. This included the introduction of the Phonics Screening Check to ensure all 6-year-olds are on track to becoming fluent readers. As a result of that check, our focus on phonics and the hard work of teachers, there are 154,000 more 6-year-olds on track to becoming fluent readers than in 2012. By working collaboratively with other countries we can create ever more opportunities for young people and help build a Britain that is fit for the future. It has been created ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in April, where leaders, business, civil society and young people from around the world will gather in London to focus on a common future and helping ensure every young person can access a world-class education.School Standards Minister Nick Gibb said:
View Comments Here’s a quick roundup of stories you may have missed today. Stanley Tucci Set for BeautyAnother stage and screen star has boarded Disney’s live-action Beauty and the Beast! Tony nominee Stanley Tucci (Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune) will play new character Cadenza, the neurotic grand piano, writes Variety. The film, which will star the previously reported Emma Watson, Ian McKellen, Ewan McGregor and many more, is scheduled to hit movie theaters on March 17, 2017.Telly Leung Tapped for Tokio ConfidentialBroadway faves Telly Leung (Allegiance),
Jill Paice (An American in Paris) and Jeff Kready (A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder) will feature on the recording of Tokio Confidential: A New Musical. Eric Schorr’s show had its off-Broadway world premiere in 2012, starring Paice, Mel Sagrado Maghuyop and Benjamin J. McHugh, and follows the story of an American Civil War widow who in 1879 sails for Japan. The album will be released both digitally and in store on Broadway Records on May 12.Jersey Boys Takes First PlaceThe 29th Annual Easter Bonnet Competition raised a new record of $4,711,386 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The news was revealed after two days of Easter Bonnet Competition performances, which honored the fundraising efforts of 52 Broadway, off-Broadway and national touring productions in song, dance, comedy and 18 ornate, handmade bonnets. The company of Jersey Boys took top design honors, with Avenue Q winning the best presentation award. The top Broadway fundraiser was The Book of Mormon, while Hamilton led the way off-Broadway.See Steven Pasquale Backstage at CarouselYou’ve probably guessed by now that we at Broadway.com are extremely keen for the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s staging of Carousel to transfer to the Great White Way. Check out below a dressing room shot of star Steven Pasquale reading all our coverage to prepare for the show below (at least that’s what we’re telling ourselves). How does @StevePasquale prepare to be great in #Carousel? Reading @broadwaycom on his phone before the show. #fiction pic.twitter.com/QHu2CdAbLW— Paul Wontorek (@PaulWontorek) April 22, 2015
Related Shows The cast is now set for the world premiere of Important Hats of the Twentieth Century. The Manhattan Theatre Company’s off-Broadway production, directed by Hand to God’s Moritz von Stuelpnagel, will star Carson Elrod and Matthew Saldivar. Performances begin on November 10 at New York City Center—Stage II. The Nick Jones comedy will open officially on November 23.Elrod takes on the role of Sam Greevy, an in-demand fashion designer in 1930s New York. Saldivar will play Paul Roms, a designer whose latest collection features anachronistic sweatshirts, tracksuits and skater pants. Their rivalry escalates as Greevy wraps his head around where—and when—these pieces come from.Elrod’s previous credits include Reckless and Noises Off on Broadway and Lives of the Saints off-Broadway. Saldivar last appeared on Broadway in Honeymoon in Vegas; his additional credits include Act One and The Toxic Avenger. Both played the role of Black Stache in Peter and the Starcatcher: Elrod understudied Christian Borle; Saldivar assumed the role later in the run.Additional cast members include Remy Auberjonois, Jon Bass, John Behlmann, Reed Campbell, Maria Elena Ramirez, Triney Sandoval and Henry Vick.The production will feature set design by Timothy R. Mackabee, costumes by Jennifer Moeller, lighting design by Jason Lyons and an original score and sound design by Palmer Hefferan. Important Hats of the Twentieth Century View Comments Show Closed This production ended its run on Dec. 13, 2015
FacebookTwitterLinkedInEmailPrint分享S&P Global Market Intelligence ($):American Electric Power Co. Inc. plans to continue investing in clean energy resources to build on its planned acquisition of wind projects in Oklahoma, despite lingering uncertainty from the coronavirus pandemic and the upcoming U.S. elections.“The way I see it is we are just on the precipice of a massive transformation to renewable resources,” AEP Chairman, President and CEO Nicholas Akins said Oct. 22 on the company’s third-quarter 2020 earnings call. “And AEP, if you look at the runway, it’s pretty substantial.”AEP in July reaffirmed its $2 billion commitment to acquiring the North Central wind projects in Oklahoma, which represent nearly 1,500 MW of capacity, despite Texas regulators’ rejection of the plan.AEP announced in July 2019 plans to acquire three wind projects under development in Oklahoma from Invenergy LLC. The deal involves the acquisition of about 1,485 MW of wind capacity from the planned 999-MW Traverse Wind Farm, the 199-MW Sundance Wind Project and the 287-MW Maverick Wind Project by AEP subsidiaries Public Service Co. of Oklahoma and Southwestern Electric Power Co.In February, AEP management said the company will likely issue equity and could sell assets to fund the North Central Wind projects.[Darren Sweeney]More ($): AEP on ‘precipice’ of green transformation despite pandemic, policy uncertainty AEP CEO says company on ‘precipice’ of renewable energy transformation
PerspectiveIf you value public lands and all they provide and protect, it’s time to carefully consider your upcoming vote. Special Sections On the Cover: A sunrise hike in Mount Rogers Nnational Recreation Area in Southwestern, Va. photo by Kyle LaFerriere Hike the Southeast Common GroundTwo hiking friends from Richmond, Virginia, form a group to get more people of color on the trails. Departments 
Features Backcountry BeveragesWe hope you’re thirsty. BRO’s craft beverage guide features beer, cider, spirits, and wine made in the Blue Ridge. Read or download the October issue for FREE HERE Quick HitsClimbers and scientists team up to protect peregrine falcons. If You Give a Town a TrailThe pandemic has made many people fully appreciate access to outdoor recreation. With that in mind, we offer a look at new trail projects in motion across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. Going GreenWith the demand for CBD continuing to grow, hemp farming is gaining a foothold in Appalachia.
By Dialogo February 06, 2012 Is Brazil poised to become an emerging power in the illicit drug trade, as Mexican and Colombian crime syndicates look for new smuggling routes and potentially new markets outside the United States and Western Europe? Brazilian officials strive to reassure that won’t be the case — but they acknowledge Brazil’s booming economy, historic links with West Africa and expanding trade with Europe puts it at risk of becoming a significant link in the international drug chain. They also say they have no intention of being complacent and have vowed to boost Brazil’s anti-crime operations while assisting and coordinating with neighboring countries. “The three fundamental tools for the fight to be effective are cooperation, cooperation and cooperation,” said Roberto Gurgel, the country’s general prosecutor, during a speech in December to the Ibero-American Association of Public Prosecutors. Brazilian drug seizures have jumped 10-fold, from 25 tons seized in 2005 to more than 260 tons in 2009, according to the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime. The increase in confiscations reflects both more effective policing and a rise in trafficking. Cocaine seizures up dramatically The UNODC report also highlighted Brazil’s increasing significance as a country in the drugs chain. From 2005 to 2009, the number of seizure cases which involved Brazil as a transit country for cocaine consignments on their way to Europe rose from 25 (amounting to 339 kilograms of cocaine) to 260 (amounting to 1,500 kilos). In the run-up to Christmas, Brazil deployed thousands of troops on its southern border with Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay to mount an anti-drug trafficking operation. More than 30 aircraft supported the policing exercise. Carlos Alberto Richa, governor of the state of Paraná, said the objective was to stop the supply of drugs and weapons to criminal organizations that contribute to the climate of insecurity in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. “We have to shield our borders against illegal acts,” said Richa, who co-conceived the joint operation with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff. The operation marked the first time that federal and state law-enforcement and military agencies have mounted a joint anti-drug operation in Paraná and brought together personnel from all sections of the armed forces, as well as federal and state police and prosecutors and tax investigators. Richa promises there will be more joint anti-trafficking operations to come. Paraguay becomes key entry point for illicit drugs Brazil’s federal police say drug trafficking from Paraguay has jumped sharply in the last three years, and that 75 percent of all drugs now entering Brazil come through legal and illegal ports along the Paraná River and Itaipu Lake. Small-arms trafficking is also on the increase, federal police officials say, and is fueling drug violence in Brazil’s northeast, where murder rates have soared in recent years. By contrast, security surges have managed to slash homicide rates by nearly 50 percent in the country’s two biggest cities, Rio and São Paulo, over the last 10 years. But in the states of Bahia and Alagoas, drug trafficking and a flood of weapons has left a trail of blood. The number of murders in Bahia grew by 430 percent, to 4,709, between 1999 and 2008, according to a study by José Maria Nóbrega, a political science professor at the Federal University of Campina Grande. Rising violence in the northeast has come in the wake of increasing prosperity; greater wealth has triggered greater drug consumption and attracted traffickers and precipitated drug wars. “If the consumer market is booming, the drug trafficker will come here as well,” Jaques Wagner, the governor of Bahia, told ABC-TV. “The social progress in Brazil is visible. But at the same time we still have trouble with drug trafficking.” With federal government backing, Wagner has added 7,000 state police officers in the past four years, and has authorized 3,500 more. Brazil now has at least 1.2 million crack users, according to the Parliamentary Front to Combat Crack, a committee of government officials. Faced with increased drug trafficking and consumption, Rousseff has wasted little time since taking office one year ago to craft anti-drug strategies. The Brazilian government has boosted nationwide services offering medical treatment to addicts and, controversially, it has implemented in Rio a policy of rounding up crack users in police operations, requiring underage addicts to stay in state-run shelters to undergo drug rehabilitation treatment. Stepped-up border patrols on the rise On the supply side, officials say the key rests in curbing trafficking along Brazil’s vast 11,000 miles of land border, much of which runs through jungle. Under a new strategic border plan, troops will be sent to trouble spots. In announcing the border plan at a press conference last summer, Brazilian Justice Minister Jose Eduardo Cardozo told reporters that “a central coordinating body, the Joint Operations Center will monitor operations in real time,” allowing for greater flexibility and the opportunity to move troops rapidly. And Brazil, Latin America’s biggest economy, is looking to its neighbors to help secure borders — especially Peru, which UNODC says is now the world’s largest producer of cocaine. “Peru and Brazil are strengthening their ties on combating illegal drug trafficking, with the aim of deepening measures for prevention and rehabilitation,” said Jorge Bayona, Peru’s ambassador in Brasilia, at a recent press conference. Brazil’s regional support in the fight against drugs has been extended to its neighbors. This year, it announced it will donate four HN1 helicopters to Bolivia and is moving forward on a pledge made last year to provide Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or “drones” to Bolivia. In a media statement, Milton Lozano, Bolivia’s general director for the vice ministry of social defense and controlled substances, said the choppers and drones will help gather detailed information on coca plantations throughout the country and monitor the movements of suspicious vessels up and down rivers. Likewise, Brazil is heightening its monitoring of sea lanes and container traffic, as well as movements at airports — well aware of its position as the region’s leading transit country for South American drugs to Africa. In fact, Brazil was the only South American nation listed as a departure point for customs seizures made in Africa in 2009, according to the World Customs Organization.
The opening ceremony for the 3rd Symposium of Navies from the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) took place on May 8, at the Naval War College in Rio de Janeiro, with the presence of Defense Minister Celso Amorim, and the commander of the Navy, Admiral Julio Soares de Moura Neto. During his speech, the Defense Minister emphasized that one of the expected results of the event is the presentation of a feasible proposal for mutual cooperation among all participants in order to increase “maritime security” in each country’s jurisdictional waters, without infringing their national sovereignty. Admiral Moura Neto emphasized that, aside from strengthening ties and moving forward on naval partnerships, the symposium is an opportunity for the member countries to demonstrate significant integration among the Navies and Coast Guards present, highlighting their common aspects: history, culture, and language. After the official event photograph, a collective interview began with the heads of the delegations attending the symposium – Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Mozambique, Portugal, Sao Tome and Principe, and East Timor. The interviewees answered questions about the cooperation projects that would be discussed at the event. Soon after, Dr. Antônio Celso Alves Pereira gave a lecture, “Reinforcing Joint Surveillance of Jurisdictional Waters.” For the lecturer, the CPLP is one of the most important international forums for its member countries due to the possibility of cooperation in a variety of areas, from the development of projects in different fields to sectoral meetings, such as the 3rd Symposium of Navies from the CPLP. In the afternoon, the attending delegations began their presentations, starting with the Angolan Navy, which discussed the significant role played by the Navy in developing the economies of African countries and emphasized the importance of the Gulf of Guinea. Next, the Cape Verdean Coast Guard discussed the challenges faced by the country due to the extension of its maritime space and presented the resources it has available to ensure maritime security in the region. Continuing with the presentations, the Mozambique Navy discussed the impact of piracy and maritime crimes in the Indian Ocean, such as the increased cost of transporting merchandise by sea, clarifying the actions taken by the country to solve this problem. Subsequently, the Portuguese Navy also highlighted the extension of Portuguese waters, equivalent to 19 times the national territory, and the twofold use of the ocean, military and non-military, as well as emphasizing the importance of the production, dissemination, and integration of information among the member countries in order to ensure full use of the ocean. After that, the Sao Tome and Principe Coast Guard presented their force’s mission, current situation, and future needs, with a view toward its strengthening and development. By Dialogo May 11, 2012
By Julieta Pelcastre/Diálogo February 23, 2017 The U.S. government donated equipment and tools to the Aerial Surveillance Service (SVA, per its Spanish acronym) of the Costa Rican Ministry of Security, to assist the public in emergencies and to reinforce the fight against organized crime groups that use the country as a staging ground for international drug trafficking. The donation was made by the U.S. Department of Defense through the Embassy of the United States in Costa Rica, within the framework of the cooperation agreements between both countries. The announcement was made public on January 19th during a ceremony held at Juan Santamaría International Airport. The Costa Rican Ministry of Security reports that the aid provided by the U.S. government is valued at more than $1 million. This includes training, an information packet on aviation maintenance, the delivery of specialized maintenance equipment, and replacement parts for the King Air F90 that the Drug Control Police had seized with two tons of cocaine in 2013. Minutes away Starting the last week in February, a team of four SVA officials will train on how to manage their flight hours and flight schedules better and on how to maintain the airplane’s main components. The training will last eight weeks and will be taught by a local Costa Rican company. “The U.S. government’s support is resounding. Now more than ever equipping our security forces is fundamental in the fight that we are waging against organized crime and those groups that introduce drugs into our country,” Costa Rican Security Minister Gustavo Mata Vega told Diálogo. For the first time in the last 30 years, the King Air F90 aerial vehicle has enabled government security personnel to conduct patrols as far as Isla del Coco, “a zone that is exploited not only by drug traffickers, but also by various organizations dedicated to illegal fishing, which is an increasingly big problem for Costa Rica,” Minister Mata stressed. This airplane enables SVA personnel to get to the island in 90 minutes, instead of the 36 hours that the trip takes by boat. The airplane is also a key tool that benefits the Costa Rican people, given that it is actively used for medevac flights around the country. The King Air F90’s pressurized cabin is ideal for transporting patients to specialized medical centers. “This latest assistance [from the U.S.] bolsters our operational capabilities for doing higher speed and longer range air patrols over the open ocean in response to drug trafficking and organized crime in the Pacific zone, as well as for use in humanitarian missions,” SVA’s director, Captain Juan Luis Vargas Castillo, told Diálogo. The United States cooperation is a centerpiece of Costa Rica’s strategy for fighting drug trafficking and transnational criminal organizations. Due to the increase in illegal flights over Costa Rica, in September of 2016, U.S. authorities provided a TPS 70 alert radar to detect aircraft making unlawful flights in the northern part of this Central American country. “This system is enormously helpful to the SVA in monitoring our airspace. Its installation was made possible thanks to the effort of the Ministry of Security to stamp out activities linked to drug trafficking,” Capt. Vargas indicated. “We need to efficiently monitor our airspace and shield it with more radar so that Costa Rica loses its allure as an airbridge for traffickers moving drugs from South America to the United States and Europe.” Future cooperation Capt. Vargas stressed that the U.S. Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs is also working with SVA to set up a Canine Anti-Narcotics Unit to bolster security at Costa Rica’s four international airports, as well as to increase the capabilities of those canine anti-narcotics units already in service. Cooperation between the two countries is on the rise. The U.S. Department of Defense will donate two C-145 Skytruck planes to strengthen SVA’s capabilities. The twin-engine planes, with room for 16 people, were designed and built for the U.S. Air Force. They will be delivered to Costa Rica in 2018. “All of this cooperation is most welcome. However, it needs to be kept up as a strategy in the fight against drug trafficking rings, due to the fact that organized crime enjoys economic power that easily allows it to purchase better equipment and technology for its operations,” Minister Mata said. These bonds of cooperation have yielded tremendous gains in recent years. In 2016, the Ministry of Security seized over 30 tons of cocaine, a sizable increase over 2015, when authorities seized 15 tons of the drug, and 2014, a year in which they seized 26 tons, according to data from the Costa Rican government. These seizures are the result of reinforced mechanisms for cooperation between Costa Rica and the United States in the area of security, as well as intelligence reports being shared among friendly nations. “Many of these operations are the result of the cooperation and reinforcement that we get from the United States. It’s incredible, they deliver us a huge percentage of our captures and seizures against transnational crime syndicates,” Capt. Vargas emphasized. To fortify Costa Rica’s strategy in its fight against drugs, President Luis Guillermo Solís Rivera called on the Ministry of Security and its staff “not to let down their guard,” and urged parliamentarians in Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly to bring the Domain Extension Statute into effect as soon as possible. The statute is a legal instrument that enables the state to inflict heavier blows on organized crime and drug trafficking.