Algeria has inaugurated a 300-megawatt-peak (MWp) solar power plant in El Oued Province, marking a major step in its renewable energy expansion. The El-Foulia solar photovoltaic (PV) plant, spread across 600 hectares in northeastern Algeria, is the country’s largest solar park to date and forms part of its 3.2-gigawatt (GW) national renewable energy programme. The project will feed solar-generated electricity into the national grid, helping meet rising power demand while reducing natural gas consumption for electricity generation. To learn about the market potential of aluminium dross, explore "ALuminium Dross Processing: Generation, Recovery & Strategic Roadmap" 300 MWp facility strengthens Algeria’s solar capacity The inauguration took place on October 26, 2026, in the presence of...
Singapore is exploring solar photovoltaic (PV) roof tiles that could allow heritage buildings to generate clean electricity without compromising their traditional appearance, as the Energy Market Authority (EMA) steps up efforts to advance solar technologies through partnerships with public and private sector organisations. EMA will collaborate with Swiss technology innovation centre CSEM and the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) to pilot the use of solar PV roof tiles on heritage State buildings. Designed to resemble traditional clay roof tiles, the technology could enable more roof space to generate clean electricity while preserving the overall appearance of historic properties. Traditional clay-tile roofs are an integral part of the character of Singapore’s heritage precincts....
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On Wednesday, November 19, the US miner MP Materials experienced a sharp rise of 8.61 per cent in its stock movement to US$63.55 following a new rare earth refinery deal signed with the US Department of Defence and the Saudi Arabian Mining Company, Maaden. The signing of the deal stemmed from the initial binding agreement between MP and Maaden to form a joint venture back in May, wherein MP agreed to hold 49 per cent of the shares in the JV, leaving the remaining 51 per cent for Maaden. The deal is also in line with a strategic cooperation framework between the United States and Saudi Arabia, signed this week in Washington, D.C., aimed at securing critical mineral supply chains. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has pledged to invest USD 1 trillion in the US, signalling stronger...
Russia’s RUSAL will halt operations at the Kremniy plant in the Irkutsk on January 1, 2026, a move that underscores the growing strain across Russia’s industrial base. Image for representational purpose The plant will be idled because demand has dried up, with imported silicon now undercutting domestic prices and overseas production still climbing. Silicon plays a central role in aluminium manufacturing, where it improves castability by lowering melting temperatures and boosting fluidity. It strengthens the metal, enhances wear and corrosion resistance, and helps minimise thermal expansion — qualities that make aluminium-silicon alloys both durable and lightweight. RUSAL said it has informed regional authorities about the shutdown and expects support in dealing with the associated social...
In nearly 40 years, the US federal government's momentous investment of USD 355 million for the mining technology has been rolled out, as announced by the US Department of Energy (DOE). This funding initiative is made with the focus on expanding and upholding the production of critical minerals domestically. The funding has been divided into two programs by the administers of DOE's Office of Fossil Energy. Allocation of USD 275 million will be done by the larger program for facilitating the facilities at the pilot-scale, which is designed to extract minerals from the industrial waste and coal byproducts. The USD 80 million funding will be provided by the smaller program for establishing field sites dedicated to the mining companies. These mining companies will make use of these funds for...
As part of the plan to create a pool of 5.7 million skilled workers for mining by 2030, the Mines Ministry and the Skill Council for Mining Sector (SCMS) have jointly formed a committee to identify skill gaps and train 5.7 million workers focused on mining critical minerals. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with 50+ reports across the value chain The goal of this initiative is to create a pool of skilled workforce under the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) to amplify the domestic mining of critical minerals for clean energy development and reduce import reliance on China. The skill gap assessment study for 2025-25 will come up with a comprehensive action plan to impart skills to millions of workers, while identifying workforce requirements across various job...
According to the world's energy watchdog, renewable energies are on the road to becoming the fastest growing energy source than any other source in the upcoming decades. This shall make the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy sources "inevitable" irrespective of the green backlash occurring in parts of Europe and the US. As per the flagship annual report shared by the International Energy Agency (IEA), within the next five years, it is expected that the world will emerge into projects that will build more renewable energy, which has been in place for the last 40 years. The report further highlights that the rapid inclusion of renewable energy will benefit in meeting the global growing demand for electricity. Moreover, it is estimated in the report that the electricity demand will...
Rio Tinto has put its Jadar lithium project in western Serbia on hold, shifting the whole operation into care and maintenance for now, though the company says it isn’t walking away from Serbia. But it will hold the legal rights over the deposit and continue to operate in the country. Image for representational purpose The move isn’t particularly surprising. The Wall Street Journal reported—citing an internal memo—that Rio Tinto would stop further work after already spending more than USD 700 million (EUR 602 million) on the project. Long delays on key permits have made it difficult to keep pouring in money at the same rate. Back in August, Jadar project director Chad Blewitt said the company was still waiting for approval of its environmental impact assessment as well as other licences,...
Southeast Asia is entering a new phase of its energy transition. Nuclear power, once a distant idea for the region, is now a serious option for several ASEAN governments. This shift makes public awareness, cross-border safety literacy, and regional cooperation far more urgent. Singapore, despite not having made a decision on its own nuclear deployment, recognises this shift. Its government has now placed nuclear education at the centre of future energy preparedness. Why Singapore says nuclear literacy matters Speaking in Parliament on November 6, Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science & Technology, Tan See Leng, stressed a simple but crucial point. “There is a need to build up Singaporeans’ knowledge and understanding on nuclear energy, even if the government eventually decides not to...
Scientists have found a new method to make aluminium more resistant to high temperatures. The work, published in Nature Communications, takes its cue from reinforced concrete. Leveraging 3D printing and micro-casting, the team developed aluminium composites that behave like rebar-strengthened concrete but entirely in metal form. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with 50+ reports across the value chain The problem with regular aluminium alloys is that they tend to get weak once temperatures go beyond 300°C. As a result, they can’t be used in engines, aircraft, or structures that deal with high heat. However, the new aluminium design borrows reinforced concrete’s load-sharing principle: concrete handles pressure, while steel rods handle stretch. The researchers...
Lodestar Minerals Limited (ASX:LSR) has lately taken a significant step in its critical minerals strategy by appointing two experienced professionals from the world’s top rare earth companies. The move marks a shift in Lodestar’s focus towards growth in the United States. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with 50+ reports across the value chain The company has appointed Andy Martinez from MP Materials and Dayo Odunade from Lynas Rare Earths. Their arrival follows Lodestar’s recent plan to acquire the Virgin Mountain Heavy Rare Earth Project in Arizona. This development comes at a time when investment in critical minerals is vital. The Pentagon has allocated USD 400 million to MP Materials, while Apple has committed a further USD 500 million in July 2025. Heavy rare...
ABx Group’s Deep Leads rare earth project has taken another technical step forward, with new impurity-removal tests confirming an Al:TREE ratio of less than 0.005 under near-optimum pH conditions (5.9 and 6.2). The results reinforce confidence in ABx’s ability to produce a high-value, low-impurity mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC) at low cost. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with 50+ reports across the value chain In this latest testwork by ANSTO, two impurity removal (IR) trials have been conducted on rare earth-enriched leach solutions produced from a 1.2 kg sub-sample of the 100 kg bulk sample, taken from trial pit DLP002 within the Deep Leads resource area. The result confirms Deep Leads has an unusual mix of 62-66 per cent dysprosium and 25 per cent terbium....
Vedanta Aluminium, the largest aluminium producer in India, has upheld its CSR initiative to assist the educational quality in Odisha through its initiative, Project Vidya. The organisation has distributed reference books to the students of classes 9 and 10 across government schools in the Lakhanpur block. Through this flagship initiative, Vedanta Aluminium has supported more than 600 students by distributing academic resources and books. Rajiv Kumar, CEO, Vedanta Aluminium, said, “Education is the foundation for progress because it empowers individuals to think, innovate, and shape their future. Through Project Vidya, we aim to equip students with the right learning tools and opportunities to help them succeed and build a strong foundation for their future. Our commitment is to ensure...
Vianode, a Norwegian producer of advanced battery materials, announced that their first large-scale low-emission synthetic graphite plant, which they had featured at G7 Critical Minerals Action Plan (CMAP) in June 2025, would come up in Ontario, Canada. This plant will serve the demand for an essential component used in lithium-ion batteries and in defence and industrial applications. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with 50+ reports across the value chain The Norwegian battery-materials producer plans a phased investment beginning with over CAD 2 billion (USD 1.45 billion), scaling capacity to 150,000 tonnes a year. This project matters much as it will turn Canada home to North America’s first industrial-scale synthetic graphite hub, enabling the country to be...
Hitachi Energy India Limited, a leading player in cutting-edge power grid technologies, has announced impressive financial results for the second quarter. This performance highlights strong growth across its main business areas and key financial metrics. Revenue & profitability The Indian energy firm has reported an impressive quarterly performance, with revenue soaring to INR 1,915.20 crore (USD 230.75 million), marking a 23.30 per cent jump from INR 1,553.80 crore (USD 187.21 million) during the same period last year. The company credits this growth to its effective order execution and improved operational performance. Net profit saw a remarkable year-on-year increase of 405.60 per cent, rising to INR 264.40 crore (USD 31.84 million) from INR 52.30 crore (USD 6.30 million) in the same...
South Korean prosecutors have formally charged a group with stealing and leaking key electric vehicle (EV) battery technology belonging to Samsung SDI, one of the country’s leading battery manufacturers. The Defence Industry and Industrial Technology Crime Investigation Division of the Suwon District Prosecutors’ Office announced that a 37-year-old man, identified only as B - the actual operator of A Co., a KOSDAQ-listed company- and three associates have been indicted without bail. They face charges under the Industrial Technology Protection Act and Unfair Competition Prevention Act for allegedly leaking national core technology and trade secrets. Additionally, 11 individuals connected to the case have also been referred for trial. Core technology leaked overseas Between October 2022 and...
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have agreed to trim tariffs and maintain the flow of rare earth exports from China, marking a temporary easing of trade tensions between the two economic powers. The understanding was reached during their meeting in Busan, South Korean — their first face-to-face talks since 2019 — at the conclusion of Trump’s Asia tour. According to Beijing’s commerce ministry, China will pause newly announced export controls on rare earth elements for one year. These minerals are critical for manufacturing electric vehicles, aircraft, electronics, and defense systems. Trump said tariffs on Chinese imports would be reduced to 47 per cent from 57 per cent, partly by halving duties linked to trade in fentanyl precursor chemicals. He described the...
Guinea-Conakry, which is renowned among the world’s top bauxite exporters , is all set to script its new journey as a key player of West Africa’s emerging oil and gas landscape. Geologically, the nation sits within the MSGBC Basin (Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Guinea-Conakry), which is significantly emerging as a leading frontier for its untapped hydrocarbon reserves. As a result, Guinea is attracting interest from global investors. Regional momentum in energy development Neighbouring countries, Senegal and Mauritania, have already made strong progress in crude production in June 2024 from Woodside’s Sangomar field. Both nations commenced gas output later that year through bp and Kosmos Energy’s Greater Tortue Ahmeyim project. As these developments reshape the regional...
Chalco, a major global producer of alumina and aluminium, has recently announced that it has entered into a capital contribution agreement with Yunnan Copper, Chihong Zinc & Germanium, and Chalco Capital. According to the contract, all the participants have agreed to contribute capital for the joint venture for developing downstream rare metal industries. Chalco is one of China’s largest aluminium producers and as a key subsidiary of Chinalco Group. This joint venture would serve as an extended platform for the Chalco Group’s rare metals industrial chain. Through this agreement, Chalco is expanding beyond primary aluminium into rare metals to produce high-end rare metal products. It would help to focus on the downstream industries of rare metals, along with the promotion and development...
The Malawian government has reportedly banned the export of unprocessed minerals, as the East African nation plans to develop its domestic market for minerals. The restriction, which took effect on 21 October 2025, comes under an executive order signed by Malawi’s President Peter Mutharika. According to the government spokesperson, this is a business imperative because the reliance on the country’s own mineral resources will strengthen the country’s economy by capturing at least USD 500 million through domestic beneficiation while facilitating industrialisation in the country. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with 50+ reports across the value chain Government measures to keep more economic value within Malawi Officials say the ban is part of efforts to encourage...
