Connect with us
MARE BALTICUM Gaming & TECH Summit 2024

Artificial Intelligence

Rebounding Construction Risks Rising Toll Of Lost Time And Cash

Published

on

 

The astounding scale of cash and time lost on construction and engineering projects around the globe is revealed in a new analysis of claims and disputes from HKA, a leading global consultancy in risk mitigation and dispute resolution with over 1000 experts, consultants and advisors across 40 offices in 15 countries.

CRUX Insight 2021 distills real-world intelligence on more than 1,400 projects across 94 countries to identify the primary causes of overruns approaching half of projects’ capital value and three quarters of their scheduled programmes.

The fourth annual CRUX report combines a regional analysis of this unique knowledge bank with actionable insights from industry-leading consultants.

CRUX 2021 facts and findings

Headline statistics include:

  • 1,401 projects analysed
  • $2 trillion – combined capital expenditure
  • $73 billion – total value of claims
  • $100 million – the average disputed costs per project
  • 46.3% – the value of claims as a proportion of planned cost
  • 17 months – the average time extension claimed
  • 71.4% – the typical prolongation for programmes
  • 750 years – the cumulative overruns faced by all projects

The dominant drivers of claims and disputes are: changes in scope, conflicting interpretation of contracts, design failures, and mismanagement of subcontractors.

COVID-19 has caused additional disruption, restricting access to sites and labour, constricting cashflow, and exposing the limitations of contract provisions on force majeure and changes in law.

Beyond Covid, CRUX Insight reports that skills shortages, supply chain disruption, cost inflation, increased market volatility, and the climate crisis are increasing the potential for conflict on projects:

  • Skills: Over a third of projects (35.6%) were hindered by skills and experience gaps, and associated workmanship deficiencies
  • Supplies: Late delivery of materials and equipment impacted one in nine projects (11.3%) (even before the report’s August 2021 cut-off and ongoing global materials shortages)
  • Climate: A tenth of projects (10.3%) were affected by exceptionally adverse weather. Like other global uncertainties, the climate emergency requires recalibration of capital project delivery risks.

“Capital projects are haemorrhaging billions of dollars each year to recurrent, predictable and often avoidable claims and disputes,” said Renny Borhan, CEO of HKA. “CRUX Insight 2021 not only diagnoses these failings and quantifies the impacts, but also identifies corrective actions to stem these losses. Project stakeholders and the industry can learn lessons from CRUX to operate more effectively amid this heightened uncertainty.”

SOURCE HKA

Artificial Intelligence

Northern Data Group’s Peak Mining announces new partnership for 28MW of mining, powered by 100% renewable energy

Published

on

northern-data-group’s-peak-mining-announces-new-partnership-for-28mw-of-mining,-powered-by-100%-renewable-energy

28MW of miners delivering 1.3 EH/s, strategically located in Paraguay2,860 units of MicroBT’s M63-series liquid-cooled WhatsMiners to be installedPower rate of sub $0.04/kWh, generated by 100% renewable hydropowerFRANKFURT, Germany , May 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Northern Data Group’s Peak Mining today announces a new partnership with Penguin Infrastructure Holding (“Penguin”) for 28MW of mining capacity. This project represents a significant next step in Northern Data Group’s geographical expansion and enables Peak Mining to increase its hashrate, powered by 100% renewable energy.

The hardware will be energized in H2 2024 and marks Peak Mining’s first step into South America. 2,860 units of MicroBT’s M63-series liquid-cooled WhatsMiners will be installed at the site. The hardware will generate 1.3 EH/s, contributing to Peak Mining’s planned growth to 7.9 EH/s this year.
The site in Paraguay is 100% powered by renewable hydropower harnessed from the 14 GW Itaipu Dam, it is the world’s third-largest hydroelectric dam. The site will therefore benefit from the availability of clean energy.
This expansion into South America follows Peak Mining’s recent purchase of a 300MW mining data center site in Corpus Christi, Texas, which will power around 4.2 EH/s of MicroBT’s miners as well as the construction of a 30MW facility in Grand Forks, North Dakota, which will support approximately 1.1 EH/s of the miners.
This selection of sites underscores Northern Data Group’s commitment to meet the demands of the industry as efficiently as possible. Throughout 2024, Northern Data Group will be rapidly expanding its HPC footprint. 
Aroosh Thillainathan, Northern Data Group’s Chief Executive Officer, commented:
“This partnership is significant to Northern Data Group as we continue to execute on our investment strategy and solidify our position within the global High Performance Computing market, and I’m especially pleased to be working with Penguin, given the team’s impressive sustainability standards at this site. It is Peak Mining’s first expansion into South America and is another milestone for the company as it continues to scale its international Bitcoin mining capabilities.”
Niek Beudeker, Managing Director, Peak Mining, commented:
“I’m pleased to partner with Penguin to expand our mining capacity to Paraguay. The Penguin team has done a tremendous job in constructing the site and building a strong local team. This agreement, structured as a partnership, will allow for better alignment of both parties than with a standard hosting arrangement. The partnership demonstrates our commitment to leveraging 100% clean energy to meet growing industry demand, efficiently”.
Björn Schmidtke, CEO at Penguin Group, commented:
“This strategic alliance with Northern Data Group strengthens our position as a leader in hosting next-generation High Performance Computing and also allows us to strengthen our capabilities and expand our offerings in cutting-edge areas such as AI compute. We are committed to advancing in this constantly accelerating world, which demands more high-quality services to keep evolving.”
About Peak Mining
Peak Mining, part of the Northern Data Group, is powering the future of the Bitcoin network. We deliver industry-leading operating and energy efficiency in Bitcoin mining through the latest hardware alongside innovative technology and HPC infrastructure. With our heritage dating back to 2013, we’ve been innovating for over a decade and have been at the forefront of the industry ever since. Our high-quality infrastructure is purpose-built to secure the Bitcoin network, and we’re driven to continuously find new efficiencies driving value for our investors. We’re delivering long term value in more responsible ways.
About Penguin
Penguin Group is at the forefront of HPC and cloud services powered by fully renewable hydro power in South America. Its core value is the mission to Transform Energy into Human Potential. This mission is achieved through Penguin Academy, a revolutionary education concept where students ‘learn by doing’ and has already trained thousands of young people to become the next generation of tech talent. Penguin aims to transform Paraguay into the Technological Hub of South America and expand their concept and mission globally.
About Northern Data Group
Northern Data Group (ETR: NB2) is a leading provider of High Performance Computing (HPC) solutions, utilizing GPU- and ASIC-technology. Our flexible compute power fuels innovation in our three core business platforms: Taiga Cloud, Ardent Data Centers, and Peak Mining. Through our HPC solutions, we pioneer ambitious computing innovation that drives progress in the AI, ML and Generative AI industries. Our close collaboration with industry-leading manufacturers including Gigabyte, AMD, and NVIDIA is fundamental to the acceleration of innovation across sectors including life sciences, financial services, and energy.  

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/northern-data-groups-peak-mining-announces-new-partnership-for-28mw-of-mining-powered-by-100-renewable-energy-302141597.html

Continue Reading

Artificial Intelligence

Sanad Announces Strategic Sale Transaction with CFM Materials, Further Fostering Aviation Industry Collaborations

Published

on

sanad-announces-strategic-sale-transaction-with-cfm-materials,-further-fostering-aviation-industry-collaborations

Sanad’s sale of two CFM56-7B engines to CFM Materials highlights its ongoing commitment to strengthening industry partnershipsBy partnering with leading aftermarket specialists, Sanad reaffirms its commitment to proactive portfolio management and strategic capital allocationHONG KONG, May 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Sanad, the global aerospace engineering and leasing solutions leader, wholly owned by Abu Dhabi’s sovereign investor Mubadala Investment Company PJSC (Mubadala), unveiled a strategic transaction between Sanad and CFM Materials, the world’s largest provider of used serviceable components for CFM International engines, during the International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading (ISTAT) Asia in Hong Kong.

The sale of two CFM56-7B* engines to CFM Materials underscores Sanad’s strategic shift and proactive approach to strengthening its market position in the aviation industry. Through strategic partnerships with leading aftermarket specialists, Sanad not only reaffirms its commitment but also solidifies its vital role as a key player in shaping the aviation landscape.
This strategic agreement marks a pivotal milestone for the Sanad Leasing division’s ongoing strategy, which was initiated last year with a renewed focus on monetizing existing assets and leveraging the Sanad Leasing division to empower the Sanad MRO division. The primary goal of this strategy is to drive and bolster the growth of the MRO division of Sanad.
Kashish Kohli, Group Chief Financial Officer and SVP Leasing Division at Sanad, said: “We are pleased to announce the successful sale of two CFM56 engines to CFM Materials. This transaction reaffirms our commitment to optimizing our portfolio collaborating with industry leaders like CFM Materials. We are eager to explore further synergies between our respective organizations to explore further avenues of cooperation in the future.”
This collaboration presents new opportunities for CFM Materials to support MRO networks, airlines, lessors, manufacturers, and other service providers worldwide. Adding two CFM56-7B engines to CFM Materials portfolio enables them to meet the increasing demand from customers.
Rudy Bryce, President and CEO of CFM Materials, commented: “This agreement with Sanad strengthens our commitment to support our customers by expanding our lease pool and bolstering our position as a reliable partner to engine owners, operators and CFM56 engine shops around the world.”
With over 35 years of operational excellence and trusted partnerships with over 30 customers across six continents, including world-leading international airlines and global OEMs, Sanad remains at the forefront of aerospace engineering and leasing solutions. The Sanad Leasing division, a key pillar of Sanad’s comprehensive offerings, is committed to providing integrated solutions that address the growth requirements of its partners. Currently, the Sanad Leasing division boasts a substantial portfolio exceeding USD 700 million in assets, showcasing its robust capabilities and dedication to supporting the aviation industry’s evolving needs.
About Sanad
Sanad Group (Sanad) is a global aerospace engineering and leasing solutions leader in Abu Dhabi wholly owned by Mubadala Investment Company PJSC. With more than 35 years of operational experience, Sanad supports leaders in commercial aviation with world-class maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services and financing solutions. 
Visit us at www.sanad.ae. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn @TheSanadGroup.
About CFM Materials
Based near DFW Airport, Texas, CFM Materials, a joint venture of GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines, is the world’s largest provider of used serviceable components for CFM International engines that power the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 commercial jetliners, as well as the Boeing KC-135R aerial tanker operated by the U.S. Air Force.
In addition to its core operation, the company also sells surplus inventories for CFM International and provides inventory for its parent companies’ MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) network around the world. CFM Materials has a global presence with warehouse facilities located near DFW Airport, Texas, Amsterdam, Hamburg, and Singapore; along with sales offices in Singapore and Cardiff, Wales. www.cfmmaterials.com 
*CFM56 engines are a product of CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines.
Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2408079/Sanad_CFM.jpg
For more information, please contact: Raneem Khatib Edelman [email protected] +971 50 204 9791

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/sanad-announces-strategic-sale-transaction-with-cfm-materials-further-fostering-aviation-industry-collaborations-302142116.html

Continue Reading

Artificial Intelligence

CoreWeave Invests £1 Billion in UK; Opens New European Headquarters and Data Centres in London to Bring Cloud Infrastructure to Power the AI Revolution

Published

on

coreweave-invests-1-billion-in-uk;-opens-new-european-headquarters-and-data-centres-in-london-to-bring-cloud-infrastructure-to-power-the-ai-revolution

LONDON, May 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — CoreWeave, the leading specialized cloud provider for AI, today announced that it has opened an office in London as its European headquarters as part of a broader expansion into the continent. The new UK expansion represents a £1 billion investment to bolster the country’s AI potential, and will create job opportunities across engineering, operations, finance and go-to-market. CoreWeave plans to open two UK data centres in 2024 with further expansion planned in 2025.

“We are seeing unprecedented demand for AI infrastructure and London is an important AI hub that we are investing in. Expanding our physical footprint in the UK is an important milestone in the next phase of CoreWeave’s growth,” said Mike Intrator, Cofounder and Chief Executive Officer, CoreWeave. “CoreWeave’s infrastructure will fill a void in the cloud market by providing AI enterprises with localized high-performance compute solutions that will help build and deploy the next generation of AI applications.”  
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “Companies like CoreWeave are powering the future of AI innovation, and I am proud that they’ve backed the UK with a £1 billion investment into UK data centres and have established their European headquarters here – further cementing the UK’s position as an AI and tech superpower.
“We’re leaving no stone unturned to make the UK the best place for pioneering companies like CoreWeave to grow their roots. With the third highest number of AI companies and private investment in AI in the world, it’s clear our plan is working.”
Secretary of State of Science, Innovation, and Technology, Michelle Donelan said: “CoreWeave’s decision to base their European HQ here in London is not just a sign of our tech investment prowess, it is a resounding vote of confidence in our approach to AI and innovation. Today’s £1 billion investment will bring two new data centres to our shores, a vital tool in helping to develop the AI breakthroughs of tomorrow.
“It will also lead to new, highly paid jobs and countless opportunities for our brightest AI minds and start-ups as the UK continues to cement its global AI powerhouse credentials. Our message is clear – when it comes to investment, scaling-up, and innovation, the UK is the perfect home from home.”
CoreWeave’s new European headquarters in London is strategically located given the tremendous AI talent in the UK. The investment in the UK builds on the UK government’s established leadership fostering global awareness and engagement on responsible AI and the country’s commitment to drive investment with plans to upskill millions across the UK in AI. CoreWeave’s presence in the region will support the continued expansion of AI labs and enterprise customers across the UK, bringing much needed computing power to the UK.
CoreWeave’s existing data centres support some of the largest deployments of high-performance GPU clusters in the world, and the infrastructure through which those clusters are consumed is designed with engineers and innovators in mind. Trusted by leading AI labs and enterprises, CoreWeave Cloud manages complexity through automation to deliver the most performant and efficient cloud infrastructure for AI workloads.
About CoreWeave
CoreWeave is a specialized GPU cloud provider, designed to power the most complex workloads with customized solutions at scale. The company’s portfolio of cutting-edge technology delivers a broad range of capabilities for machine learning and AI, graphics and rendering, life sciences, real-time streaming, and more. Its world-class teams, talent, and engineering prowess bring unmatched speed-to-market for advanced compute. CoreWeave operates a growing footprint of data centers covering every region of the US. It was founded in 2017 and is based in New Jersey. Learn more at www.coreweave.com.
Contact
Jackson [email protected] 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/coreweave-invests-1-billion-in-uk-opens-new-european-headquarters-and-data-centres-in-london-to-bring-cloud-infrastructure-to-power-the-ai-revolution-302141883.html

Continue Reading

Trending