This study provides an analysis of specific performance indicators for water utilities in four countries, Albania, Hungary, Poland and Romania. The annual operational and staff cost indicators from records of the IBNET database have been analysed. Statistical analysis indicates significant differences between the fraction of energy and labour operational costs among the countries studied. Some statistically significant correlations of performance within financial indicators are also revealed. The results can provide input for more in-depth technical and economic analysis for water utilities.
Increased focus on reducing CO2 emissions has created growing interest in CO2 capture from industrial processes for storage in underground formations. New technical solutions, costs and energy requirements for ship-based transport of CO2 are presented. All elements in the transport chain, namely liquefaction, storage, loading system, dedicated CO2 ship (s), onshore loading and unloading, and offshore unloading systems are included in the paper. Over 80 % from the primary energy consumed all over the world is obtained from fossil oil and natural gas. The last researches have shown the energy dependences of these types of fuels. The transition to the economy based on the low influence of the carbon, the carbon capture technology, is the main means to reconsider the fossil fuels for meeting the needs for reduction of negative emissions. This is necessary for keeping the world temperature at normal levels. The main target of this paper is to put highlight the negative effect of CO2 emissions and the interest in recovery of carbon dioxide from flue gases trough multiple factors: the merchant CO2 market, renewed interest in enhanced oil recovery, and the desire to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It also takes in account modalities of transport and storage of CO2. Solutions for CO2 capture and injection into caverns instead of natural deposits were found worldwide. These solutions are not applicable however all over the world and they are not a priority in the environment protection activity.Another important aspect calls for all merchant ships requirements regarding CO2 emissions through index calculation and development of Management Plan. Also, to increase the control of CO2 it would be useful to identify the caverns where it is possible to deposit the CO2, to build new special ship for CO2 transport or replace natural deposits through CO2 injection.
BRASOV WATER COMPANY, ROMANIA Context • Upper-middle-income country • Aggregation covering urban and rural areas • Medium level of WSS performance Purpose Performance, professionalization, environment benefits, economic efficiency, equity Scope WSS functions and services Scale • Administrative boundaries • Localities covered: 15 for water and 12 for wastewater • Population covered: 346,330 inhabitants for water and 302,233 for wastewater • Coverage: 95 percent for water and 83 percent for wastewater • Connections: 35,594 for water and 27,197 for wastewater • Network length: 1,263 km for water and 761 km for wastewater Process Top-down with financial incentives Governance • Delegated (49 years) • Public company • Decision making: Municipalities and county councils hold 42 percent of utility shares each; remaining 16 percent is allocated to six other municipalities relative to the proportion of their inhabitants. • Asset transfer: Assets remain the property of local and county authorities and are being transferred to the operator for the duration of the delegation contract. Royalty fee received by local authorities in return for this transfer. This royalty fee is feeding a special fund to finance investments. • Liability: Liabilities and debts from previous operators were not taken over by the aggregated utility.
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