Energy crisis: New measures in Belgium, Athens restricts lighting of municipality
September 17, 2022, 12:00 am

Energy crisis: New measures in Belgium, Athens restricts lighting of municipality

The Belgian government on Friday (Sep 16) announced new measures to provide financial relief to households bearing the brunt of the rising energy prices - Photo. Pixabay

In response to energy crisis crisis caused by Russia’s war against Ukraine, the Belgian government on Friday (Sep 16) announced new measures to provide financial relief to households bearing the brunt of the rising energy prices, and in Athens the lighting of municipality building was restricted.

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said In a news conference that they will provide the households with support of up to €135 ($135) for gas and €61 for electricity per month in November and December. 

The support for those who use heating fuel vouchers will be increased from €225 to €300, he added.

Eligibility will be based on income and energy contract conditions.

In Athens, the municipality building will not be lit up during evening hours.

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There will also be a light restriction at archaeological sites in Athens and existing lighting systems will be made economical with the use of LEDs.

Lights at the Greek Parliament building were limited at the beginning of the week. To save energy, lights were turned off on the front and sides of the building but the decision by parliament’s head Kostas Tasoulas said security lighting will remain on. He did not say how long the exercise would last.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”