ESB pulls out of Kish wind farm project off east coast - The ESB has pulled out of a major offshore wind farm project planned for the Kish bank in the Irish Sea, the Irish Times reports. The state-owned utility yesterday declined to put a value on the 33.3% stake it has sold, but it is believed to be relatively modest. The ESB held the stake via its wind energy subsidiary, Hibernian Wind Power Limited. It is understood Hibernian wanted to have the controlling stake in the project and when this was not available, it moved to sell its shares. The British energy group PowerGen Renewables sold its one third stake in the project over a year ago. Both the ESB and PowerGen stakes were purchased by the remaining shareholder, Tralee-based company Saorgus Limited. The Kish project, which was first announced six years ago, was meant to be one of the largest offshore wind farm projects ever undertaken in the Republic. However it has been beset by delays.
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Circle gets Oman block for six years - Circle Oil, the small Irish exploration company quoted on London's AIM, has been awarded Block 49 in Oman for a six-year period by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said al Said of Oman, says the Irish Independent. Under the terms of the licence for Block 49 (also known as the Montasar block), Circle has three exploration periods running for 36 months followed by two 18-month periods. A work programme to include review of existing data and aerogravity and 2D and 3D seismic surveying has been agreed for the first period. A well may also be drilled during this time. Block 49/Montasar covers an area of over 15,400 sq km and is situated in the southwest of Oman. It lies immediately to the west of Block 6 which produces over 700,000 barrels of oil per day.
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SWS board to hold vital talks with IAWS boss - South Western Services board of directors will hold a crucial meeting with IAWS boss Philip Lynch on March 30, says the Irish Examiner. Mr Lynch, who is chief executive of IAWS Co-operative, has offered €50m to buy out the key wind and waste services of Bandon-based SWS. Management of SWS has reservations and some favour going it alone. For senior SWS executives, a lot of money is riding on the deal. SWS managing director Kieran Calnan could have a stake worth €10m on the basis of his current holding, while other key executives will also be worth millions as a result of their stake in the business. However, four west Cork Co-ops Lisavaird, Barryroe, Bandon and Drinagh more or less favour the deal. Reports that Lisavaird favoured a solo operation independent of IAWS have been denied.
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Microsoft in fresh antitrust row - Microsoft is heading for a fresh clash with the European Commission after the Brussels-based antitrust regulator on Thursday dismissed the US software group's plans for implementing last year's landmark antitrust ruling, writes the Financial Times. The Commission, the European Union's competition watchdog, wants Microsoft to reduce substantially the royalties it plans to demand from rival software makers in return for granting access to sensitive information on its flagship Windows operating system.
