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Britain’s disastrous energy crisis
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The rising price of oil, gas and electricity has fuelled the cost-of-living crisis triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine across Europe.

Britain’s economy is facing an unprecedented crisis in response to rising fuel costs. But Boris Johnson’s Conservative government has been criticised for its lack of support for households who cannot pay their energy bills. Nadhim Zawahi, the chancellor of the exchequer, suggested last Friday that Brits must reduce their consumption of energy. But he ignored the shocking warning that many poor, elderly or disabled people might die because they couldn’t afford to heat their homes.
The same day Zahawi made his recommendation, Ofgem, Britain’s energy industry regulator, confirmed an 80% rise in the consumer price cap, which is the maximum amount that suppliers can charge households per unit of energy, from October. That will take a typical household’s gas and electricity bill to £3,549 a year. And there were many stark warnings about its potentially devastating effects.
The rising price of oil, gas and electricity has fuelled the cost-of-living crisis triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine across Europe. It is not market-driven. But the UK government has performed badly compared to other western and European governments. Energy-price inflation in Britain stands at 57% compared with 42% in the euro area, according to the OECD.
Spain, Italy, France and Germany have done far more than the UK. The Bank of England warned recently that overall inflation may reach 13% before the end of the year. It is also predicting that a recession is likely and households will suffer from their biggest drop in living standards for decades.
Yet there is another factor: Johnson was finally forced to resign in early July because of the Partygate scandals that blackened his already dubious reputation. Currently Boris is the “caretaker” prime minister, and Liz Truss, the foreign secretary, and Rishi Sunak, the former chancellor, are competing to replace him.
Both candidates have pledged more direct support for households struggling with surging gas and electricity bills. But neither have given much detail on what they plan to do ahead of a new party leader - and prime minister - being announced on 5 September.
Truss or Sunak will then move into 10 Downing Street. The energy problem is fuelling the overall cost-of-living crisis in Britain. Truss is the favourite to replace Boris, though Sunak has more economic credibility than his rival. The opposition Labour Party has accused Truss and Sunak of having "almost nothing to say" about the huge spike in energy cost.
Even the right-wing pro-Tory Spectator magazine criticised both candidates in last week’s editorial: “The leadership contest has been more of a holiday from reality than a preparation for office,” it wrote. “Perhaps both Truss and Sunak do have radical, credible and far-reaching ideas on how to rejuvenate Britain. If so, it is frustrating that they have not shared them during the long campaign.”
The UK must find an answer to soaring energy bills soon or risk a humanitarian crisis. But freezing gas and electricity prices over the next two winters could cost the government over £100 billion ($118 billion), more than it spent paying millions of people's salaries during the Covid pandemic.
Earlier this year, the government tried to protect households against 90% of the expected increases in energy bills through tax cuts, energy bill rebates and direct payments. But natural gas and power prices have shot up since then, as have forecasts of future increases.
Ofgem’s energy price cap is bad news. But some predictions have that number at £550 per month by next April - closer to the average cost of a mortgage - as wholesale gas prices have surged yet higher in recent days. For an average household on £31,000 income per year, energy costs are set to exceed income tax bills.
Or alternatively, the energy rise since last year is the equivalent of adding 15p to 20p to the basic rate of tax. It will drain the disposable income of several million households. And Zahawi caused shock and horror when over the weekend he predicted that people with an income of £45,000 would require government support.
Keir Starmer, the Labour party leader, has called for a windfall tax on energy companies, which have benefitted from enormous profits. Starmer has said families would "not pay a penny more" on their energy bills this winter under Labour's plans to tackle rising living costs. He claimed his proposals would save the average household £1,000.
The package would be paid for, in part, by a big increase in tax on oil and gas company profits. But opponents of a windfall tax argue that it would decrease investment in cleaner energy, which is vital to protect Britain and the world from global warming.
And both contenders to replace Johnson have indicated they are not keen on extending the windfall tax on oil and gas companies - or freezing the price cap - meaning its unlikely to happen unless they have a change of heart.
Whoever becomes prime minister will be faced with difficult and ominous decisions from day one in Downing Street. It seems certain that this summer of discontent is going to be followed by a more challenging autumn and winter.
BY: IAN BLACK
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BENEFIT AGM approves 10%...
- March 27, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).
Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.
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