DUBAI: Gulf Arab states are working to align by next year the methods they use to calculate consumer price inflation in preparation for monetary union, a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) executive said. Most Gulf states will begin using 2007 as the base year of the consumer price indices (CPI) by 2009, said Naser Al-Kaud, GCC deputy secretary-general.
Dolphin gas supply delayed
MUSCAT: Abu Dhabi-based Dolphin Energy will begin supplying 200 million cubic feet per day of natural gas from October, months after the planned start, due to technical snags, the head of Oman Gas Co. said yesterday. “Oman and our UAE counterparts are in final preparations to start gas supply in October this year. The delay was for technical reasons,” Oman Gas Chief Executive Yusuf Al-Ojaili told Reuters. In April, Ojaili said that the Dolphin gas supply to Oman would begin in June to meet Oman’s growing demand for fuel. Officials then said in May that operations would be delayed until August or September.
Iran oil, gas income top $81bn
TEHRAN: Iran’s income from oil and gas exports topped $81 billion in the year to March, a 31 percent jump on the previous year thanks to soaring prices, a central bank report released yesterday said. The report posted on the bank’s website said 2007-8 revenues totaled $81.7 billion compared with $62 billion in the previous year.
Emirates halts A380 flights
DUBAI: Dubai-based airline Emirates announced yesterday that it is suspending flights using its lone Airbus A380 superjumbo until later this week while repairs are carried out. “Our next scheduled commercial A380 flight to New York is Friday Sept. 12,” an Emirates spokesman said. “Our A380 was scheduled for training use in between commercial flights. There is also planned engineering work which is taking longer to complete than expected.” Emirates launched a non-stop service with the A380 between Dubai and New York on Aug. 1.
