By Awadh Zabanout - MUSCAT — Experts have voiced their concern of fossil fuel running out and the prices of oil and gas are expected to rise to unprecedented levels due to large consumption which may lead to an international energy crisis in the next decades. Concerned over other factors such as the climate change and global warming, many countries are now striving to generate alternative energies and are developing plans to harness the renewable energy sources and nuclear power.

Smelter to boost economy - By A Staff Reporter - MUSCAT — Freezone Sohar yesterday welcomed yet another customer to its sprawling development adjoining the Port of Sohar. Gulf Mining Materials Co (GMM), one of the largest chrome ore mining and exporting companies in the Sultanate, signed an agreement to set up a ferrochrome smelter at the freezone.

MUSCAT — An important study is currently under way at SQU to look for an insecticidal protein capable of controlling the pomegranate butterfly. This includes testing some present versions of Bt proteins and also molecularly engineering a new version of protein with the desired characteristic. Dr Derek Roberts, in charge of the project at the College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, says the identification of this protein will be the first step towards cloning the coding gene in the pomegranate plant and producing a plant resistant to the butterfly.

TOKYO — Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed al Futaisi, Minister of Transport and Communications, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of Oman Shipping Company, met in Tokyo yesterday with Yukio Edano, Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister, within the framework of his visit and his accompanying delegation to Japan. He also met with Dr Takashi Maeda, Japanese Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister. During their meetings, topics relating to strengthening of economic and investment co-operation in areas of transport and communications were discussed.