Hurricane Irene to make landfall at U.S. East

NEW YORK: Energy companies on Friday activated emergency plans as the densely populated U.S. East Coast braced for blackouts from Hurricane Irene that could affect millions.

Meantime, three major New York-area airports will close to domestic and international arrivals beginning at noon EDT on Saturday due to Hurricane Irene, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said.

John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport in New York as well as Newark Liberty International Airport, however, will remain open to departures, the Port Authority said in an alert on its website.

Major U.S. airlines are in the process of cancelling most of their flights through the weekend at the major New York-area airports.

Oil refineries in the U.S. Northeast scaled back operations and pipeline operators warned of potential delays for fuel distribution. The Coast Guard said it had no plans yet to shut the New York Harbor, but energy traders said delays could affect the delivery hub for millions of barrels a day in crude and oil products, by pipeline, barge and ship.

Storm-caused blackouts could be a huge menace, energy experts, meteorologists and U.S. officials warned.

“The range of possibilities from this storm is enormous,” said energy analyst Tim Evans at Citi Futures in New York.

“We could see anything from blackouts putting the entire Northeast in the dark, to only very localized problems.”

At 2 p.m. (1800 GMT), Irene’s center was 300 miles south-southwest of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, churning northward. It weakened early Friday to a Category 2 hurricane from a 3 on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale, but was expected to retain hurricane force and scour the length of the mid-Atlantic coast on Sunday.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said power outages could last days, with flash flooding in coastal areas and strong winds expected to reach far inland.

Irene may leave 5 million to 7 million people without electricity, a Deutsche Bank meteorologist wrote in a report, adding high tides due to a new moon on August 28 could exacerbate storm surges.

Although the East Coast does not have major offshore oil and gas production like the hurricane-prone Gulf Coast, its huge power and pipeline networks, nuclear plants and refineries mean the energy stakes are high as Irene bears in on North Carolina.

The storm threatens to tear up to the Northeast starting Saturday.

Hurricane Katrina in 2005 knocked out Gulf Coast refining for weeks, months for some plants, while the last major hurricane to batter the East Coast, Gloria in 1985, left millions without power but caused little lasting damage to energy infrastructure.

As a category 2 storm, Irene already packs winds between 96 and 110 miles per hour and storm surges of 6 to 8 feet.

East Coast utilities were lining up thousands of workers from as far away as Texas to descend on storm-ravaged areas through the power industry’s mutual aid program. Crews would clear fallen trees and debris and restore power as quickly as possible after Irene passes.

“If the storm tracks anywhere close to the worst-case scenario, it will be a very major mobilization,” said Jim Owen of trade group Edison Electric Institute.

East Coast oil refineries, which process up to 1.6 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude, planned to brave Irene without total shutdowns. But some were scaling back, the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association (NPRA) said.

Sunoco’s Marcus Hook refinery in coastal Pennsylvania has cut rates by 25 percent to 140,000 bpd, a source familiar said.

Irene’s severity had nuclear power plant operators near the coast securing equipment and battening down the hatches.

Dominion Resources Inc, which shut its Virginia-based North Anna nuclear plant on Tuesday following an earthquake, said the plant would remain closed through the storm.

Hurricane winds may cause Dominion to idle other reactors along the seaboard over the weekend, the company said, even though they are built to withstand winds of up to 360 miles per hour.

Any closure of the New York Harbor could create backlogs of ships waiting to deliver crude or fuels, but would not be likely to cause a prolonged supply crunch.

Oil terminals in the East Coast region had around nine days of crude supply on hand last week.

The consumption region, known as PADD 1 in the refining industry, depends largely on imports of fuel, and its depots currently hold enough gasoline to cover 23 days of regional demand, 46 days for heating oil, according to the NPRA.

The largest U.S. refined products pipeline, 2.37 million bpd Colonial line, continued to operate normally on Friday but said it expected deliveries to be partially affected by Irene.

Colonial ships fuels including gasoline and diesel to terminals in Irene’s projected path, including Virginia, Maryland, and New York Harbor, where the line ends.

“This is not Katrina,” said Jim Beck of the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

“PADD 1 has plenty (of crude) to ride out any kind of supply disruptions. We are well-covered with (oil) products for this time of year.”

Several oil terminals were due to close temporarily. Pipeline and terminal operator Magellan Midstream partners was shutting oil terminals in North Carolina and Virginia on Friday. Enterprise and Kinder Morgan planned to close some coastal terminals.

Prices of front-month gasoline futures in New York Harbor retreated 1.1 percent on Friday. They had gained more than 3 percent Thursday on concerns over supply disruptions.

In the Bahamas, which was pounded by Irene on Thursday, Buckeye Partners said its massive 21.6 million barrel Borco oil shipping terminal was restarting on Friday. AGENCIES

Oil prices hit record low

Oil fell in New York due to the slow US economic expansions and the International Energy Agency’s announcement of releasing more stockpiles to stabilise prices.

The crude oil prices shrank by $1.11 a barrel and future contracts were at $90.05 during the electronic trade in New York Market.

The future deals for crude oil in the in London were made at $102.74 a barrel with a drop of $2.40.

The bankruptcy of Greece and fear of economic meltdown in Europe is a cause of shrinking oil prices in international markets.

Khanani and Kalia: FIA chief questions suspects’ acquittal

ISLAMABAD: The Director-General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Waseem Ahmed on Saturday said exonerating suspects in the Khanani and Kalia case was questionable.

Ahmed was speaking before the Senate’s Standing Committee on Interior chaired by Senator Talha Mehmood. The FIA chief also alleged that a large sum of money was used for the release of the accused, saying that there was enough proof of their involvement in money laundering. “You will be surprised to know how many days they spent in jail and how many days in the hospital,” the FIA chief said.

He added that the prime minister’s son had paid Rs8 million as custom duty for importing a vehicle and the notification for the import of the bulletproof car was issued by the interior ministry.

Waseem said that the FIA is currently conducting inquires in 35 different key cases. By the end of April, all inquiries will be completed, he said. He claimed that in the last four years the agency had only handled immigration duties and corruption cases were dealt by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), but now many corruption cases have been handed over to the FIA. “The FIA should be fully authorised to procure documents to expedite inquiries,” he said.

Presently around 1,032 positions are lying vacant in the FIA, which is one of the reasons for delays, he said. Ahmed further claimed that the salaries and incentives given to FIA officials are much less than that given to provincial police personnel. No efficient officer from any other departments is ready to work in the agency, he said, adding that “possibly political pressure is one of the reasons for not advertising vacancies.”

The committee unanimously recommended to immediately fill vacant positions, and said the interior ministry will be asked to bring salaries at par with provincial police officials.

Meanwhile, the senate committee said there were irregularities in the Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) and directed the department to plug loopholes in revenue collection.

Earlier, FBR officials told the committee that an inquiry was under way against an official from the FBR’s intelligence wing in Karachi, who had illegally using an imported vehicle owned by another citizen.

The committee was also informed that the health ministry has registered 16, 500 drugs during the last two and half years, which is higher than the total number of drugs registered in the past 60 years. The committee has asked for a report on the sudden increase.

Supreme Court Takes Notice Of DG FIA Non-Removal

Supreme Court Takes Notice: On Saturday, the Supreme Court of Pakistan, taking notice of government’s procrastination in removing the Director General of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). The Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered to set hearing of the case next week instead of March 15, 2011.

Earlier, it had been decided that the Supreme Court of Pakistan would hold the hearing of the case after March 15, according to the media sources.

Now the apex court will review next week the report presented by Secretary Establishment Division before the SC in connection with the DG FIA.

Raymond Davis Row Creates Rift Between ISI & CIA

Raymond Davis Case: The Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) is ready to split with its US’ Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) because of frustration over what it calls heavy-handed pressure and its anger over what it believes is a covert US operation involving hundreds of contract spies, according to an internal document obtained by a US news agency, an influential Washington based paper reported. According to a statement drafted by the ISI for the media but never released, an already-fragile relationship between the two agencies collapsed following the shooting death of two Pakistanis by Raymond Davis, a US contracted spy.

“Post-incident conduct of the CIA has virtually put the partnership into question,” said the media statement drafted after the issue of American shooter become public. A copy of which was obtained this week by the said news agency.

“It is hard to predict if the relationship will ever reach the level at which it was prior to the Davis episode,” the statement said. “The onus of not stalling this relationship between the two agencies now squarely lies on the CIA.”

Mohmand Agency: 150 Terrorists Attack on 5 Check Posts Thwarted

Security forces have foiled terrorist attack on 5 check post in Mohmand Agency, trendpk.Com reported on Friday.

According to official sources more than 150 terrorists attacked 5 check posts of Mohmand Agency early in the morning in which 3 officials martyred and 12 others sustained injuries. At least 24 terrorist were killed and 10 injured in retaliation.

Security forces have cordoned off the area and started the search operation.

Emergency Response Unit to be set up: Rehman Malik

ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Rehman A Malik said the number of women officers would be boosted 25 percent in Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Geo News reported Sunday.
He made this announcement during a meeting held here at FIA Headquarters.
He said the salaries of the Agency crew would be brought at par with the personnel of Motorway and Islamabad Police in the next fiscal year.
Malik said Emergency Response Unit would be set up in collaboration with France.
Various high-ups including Additional Home Secretary, DG FIA and Additional DG Anti-Corruption attended the meeting.

Malik vows to eradicate corruption

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik has announced to launch a nation-wide campaign against corruption.

The Interior Minister made this announcement during a visit to FIA’s Headquarter in Islamabad on Sunday.

FIA director general Wasim Ahmed and other top officials briefed the Interior Minister about the initiatives taken by the agency to check corruption.

Malik directed the FIA officials to take strict action against criminal elements.

He added that the strength of women officers in FIA would be increased to 25 percent by the next year. The salaries of FIA employees would be raised as par with Motorway and Islamabad Police, he announced.

In addition, he also opened an Emergency Response Unit established with the support of France. Trend Pk

Malik vows to eradicate corruption

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik has announced to launch a nation-wide campaign against corruption.

The Interior Minister made this announcement during a visit to FIA’s Headquarter in Islamabad on Sunday.

FIA director general Wasim Ahmed and other top officials briefed the Interior Minister about the initiatives taken by the agency to check corruption.

Malik directed the FIA officials to take strict action against criminal elements.

He added that the strength of women officers in FIA would be increased to 25 percent by the next year. The salaries of FIA employees would be raised as par with Motorway and Islamabad Police, he announced.

In addition, he also opened an Emergency Response Unit established with the support of France. Trend Pk

Human trafficking on rise in Pakistan; another 16 youths missing

Around 16 youths belonging to Mandi Bahauddin, who are said to have gone to Oman in search of better fortune, have been missing for the last 15 months, Dunya News reported on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) sped up its efforts to nab the 78 most-wanted human traffickers.
Director FIA (Immigration) Captain Zafar Iqbal, while talking to Dunya News, said that every year the Agency made a new red book comprising the human smugglers and send them to concerned departments and law enforcement agencies.
He further said that Baloch agents are said to be involved in the nasty smuggling.

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