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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Solarvest Holdings Bhd and Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd will co-develop a 100MWac solar photovoltaic plant in Mukah, Sarawak, with an estimated investment of RM380 million. Mukah is a coastal town located in the Malaysian state of Sarawak, on the island of Borneo, by the South China Sea. In separate Bursa Malaysia filings, the partners said their joint venture, Mukah Solar Powerplant Sdn Bhd (MSPSB), has signed a power purchase agreement with Syarikat Sesco Bhd to build and operate the facility, targeted to commence operations by November 30, 2027. “At the state level, the Mukah Solar PV Plant contributes to Sarawak state’s target of achieving 10 gigawatts of renewable generation capacity by 2030, a key goal under Sarawak’s Energy Transition Strategy (SET-P) and the Post-COVID-19...
Globus Maritime Limited, a Greece-based dry bulk shipping company, announced that shareholders approved key proposals at its annual meeting held in Glyfada. Image for representational purpose The meeting confirmed the election of Mr. Georgios “George” Feidakis as Class III director, extending his term through the 2028 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Shareholders also endorsed the appointment of Ernst & Young (Hellas) Certified Auditors Accountants S.A. as the company’s independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025. In addition, approval was granted for amendments to the company’s Articles of Incorporation, authorising the Board of Directors to implement one or more reverse stock splits of the company’s issued and outstanding common and Series B preferred shares at a...
US President Donald Trump’s administration has launched its most ambitious effort since the 1970s to expand America’s maritime influence, with a mission to weaken China’s worldwide port network and bring strategic terminals under Western control, three sources familiar with the plan said. Officials argue that the US commercial shipping fleet cannot provide sufficient logistical support for the military in wartime and that America is too dependent on foreign vessels and ports. Options under review include supporting private US or Western companies to purchase Chinese stakes in ports. The sources, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, pointed to BlackRock’s proposed deal to buy Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison’s port assets in 23 countries, including sites...
As the global clean energy transition, electric vehicle boom, and digital economy accelerate, India has realised the hard truth that its deep reliance on imported critical minerals is unsustainable. Thus, in an attempt to increase the domestic production of critical minerals, India is considering lifting a long-standing restriction that mandates the miners to extract only the mineral they have the licence for. Several reports indicate the reform will allow the leaseholders of thousands of mines, which were allocated before 2015 without formal auctions, to commercially mine newly-discovered strategic minerals like lithium, cobalt, and rare earths. Important to note, all of these minerals are vital for clean energy, automobiles, electronics, and defence. Two officials on the condition of...
Rowan Digital Infrastructure has secured over USD 1 billion to advance the development of its Maryland data centre campus. The company announced this week that it closed an additional USD 1.24 billion in construction financing to support the second phase of its flagship hyperscale facility at TPG’s Quantum Frederick site. Image Source: Rowan Digital Infrastructure The site (Frederick, Maryland) was once home to the Alcoa Eastalco Works aluminium smelter, which was sold to Quantum Loophole and TPG in 2021 for redevelopment into a modern data centre campus. “Rowan is grateful for our lenders’ continued support for phase two of our flagship campus. Repeat participation from our existing financing partners, including the lead banks from the phase one financing, underscores their confidence in...
The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) has published a new report, “Let’s Not Waste the Next Four Years,” setting out key actions to speed up the UK’s transition to a circular economy. Released in September 2025, the report comes at a time when the government is advancing overlapping reviews linked to net zero, skills, and industrial strategy. Waste sector’s economic weight Every year, the UK’s resources and waste industry handles more than 70 million tonnes of material and provides jobs for 145,000 people. CIWM argues the sector is more than just waste collection — it underpins economic growth, strengthens supply chains, and plays a vital role in hitting climate targets. Its long-standing mission, built on education, training, and policy influence, has made it a...
As the new school year approaches, many families face the challenge of preparing their children with the right tools to succeed. Understanding this need, UC Rusal Alumina Jamaica Ltd/Windalco has stepped forward with meaningful support, continuing a tradition of investing in the future of young Jamaicans. Windalco has allocated over JMD 27M ($169,000) to its annual back-to-school initiative. Of this, more than JMD 9 million (USD 56,500) funded back-to-school fairs in St. Catherine and St. Ann, where hundreds of students benefited from free medical checks and received over JMD 1 million (USD 6,270 worth of book vouchers and school supplies. In addition, the company awarded scholarships and grants to 73 tertiary-level students, along with nine students who excelled in the recent PEP exams....
The Indian rupee hit a new all-time low against the US dollar on Thursday, highlighting the growing strain from US tariffs on Asia's third-largest economy. The currency ended the day at 88.4425 per dollar, which is a drop of 0.39 per cent from the previous close of 88.1000, slipping past its earlier record low of 88.36 set last Friday. The US tariffs on Indian goods, which took effect last month, are shaking investor confidence and making the rupee one of the most at-risk currencies in Asia. So far this year, foreign investors have withdrawn a staggering net total of USD 11.7 billion from India's equity and debt markets. Washington's high tariffs are putting a damper on India's growth and trade outlook, creating additional pressure on the rupee. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has rolled out...
India’s automobile sector is on alert as supplies of rare earth magnets from China remain suspended, two weeks after Beijing promised to ease export restrictions. Despite high-level talks between the two countries, automakers and component suppliers say little has changed on the ground, and concerns are mounting that production could be disrupted during the upcoming festive season, when demand typically spikes. Why Beijing tightened the screws? The trouble dates back to April 2025, when China’s Ministry of Commerce issued Announcement No. 18. The directive imposed new licensing rules and export controls on seven key rare earth elements, including dysprosium, terbium, and samarium. These materials are indispensable for electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, defence hardware, aerospace...
Five Elements Environmental Services, an Oman-based consultancy firm, has announced a strategic collaboration with the Netherlands’ Pondera Consult to support investors in renewable energy and green hydrogen projects in Oman. Image for referential purposes only Also read: China to reopen 'Panda Bond' market to Russian companies This collaboration will offer advanced technical, engineering, environmental, social, and climate risk assessments. These are crucial at the feasibility study, bidding, and post-bid stages, as they will ensure projects are suitable within the context of Oman’s clean energy aspirations and its Net Zero 2050 aim. Diplomatic ties powering clean energy goals The move follows the state visit of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, Sultan and Prime Minister of Oman, to...
China's domestic thermal coal prices declined last week (September 1-5), extending the downward trend for the second consecutive week, as cooler weather dented power demand and coal consumption, industry sources said. At northern transfer ports, coal trading remained at a standstill as utilities held back from spot purchases. Sources said most buyers focused on meeting long-term contract obligations, supplemented by occasional imports of seaborne thermal coal. With coal consumption falling on cooler weather, utilities saw little need to seek additional cargoes from the domestic market. As of Friday, Mysteel assessed 5,500 kcal per kg NAR thermal coal at RMB 686 per tonne (USD 96.2 per tonne), FOB northern ports with VAT, down by RMB 9 per tonne from a week earlier, adding the total...
Chinese banking regulators are making plans to permit Russian energy firms to restart selling yuan-denominated bonds in mainland China, a step that would give a vital non-Western source of funding to Moscow and represent a strong deepening of economic relationships between the two countries. The possible relaunch of this so-called "Panda Bond" market would restore a trail first blazed by Russian aluminium behemoth Rusal. A new system of finance in the making Senior Chinese financial policymakers signalled their approval of the proposal in recent talks with Russian energy executives. If it goes ahead, it will be the first time a Russian firm would raise capital on mainland China since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The only historical precedent for such a step is from the aluminium sector....
India’s coal import landscape is undergoing a notable shift, marked by contrasting trends between power and steel sector demand. Latest data from mjunction services shows a sharp drop in overall coal imports in July 2025, underscoring the impact of seasonal demand slowdown, high domestic stock levels, and rising domestic coal production. India’s coal imports dropped sharply by 16.4 per cent in July 2025, falling to 21.08 million tonnes (Mt) from 25.23 Mt in the same month last year. The decline, driven by subdued demand during the monsoon season and sufficient domestic stockpiles, was reported by mjunction services, a joint venture of Tata Steel and SAIL. The fall aligns with a broader downward trend, as coal imports for the April–July period of the fiscal year also recorded a decline,...
As of September 8, 2025, Adani Power Limited, an Indian multinational power and energy company, also a subsidiary of Adani Group, saw its share price skyrocket by 4.34 per cent, with the intraday high reaching INR 649.60 (USD 7.78). The increase in the share price was witnessed after the firm made an announcement of its latest expansion plan within the international territory by striking a strategic partnership with Bhutan's Druk Green Power Corp. Ltd (DGPC), the sole hydropower operator in Bhutan. With an impressive installed capacity of 18,110 MW spread across several states, with an additional dedicated 40 MW solar facility in Gujarat, this company is steadily reinforcing India's energy sector . The firm's ongoing investments are not just powering homes, it is playing a pivotal role in...
Three solar companies, Vikram Solar, ACME Solar and SPML Infra, announced major contract wins on Monday. This instantly sparked a strong interest in their shares. The deals span renewable energy and water infrastructure – sectors that are drawing heavy investment as India pushes its sustainability agenda. Image for representational purposes only Also read: The updated version of our report — World Recycled ALuminium Market Analysis Industry forecast to 2032 Vikram Solar has received a significant contract from L&T Construction for 336 MW of EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) high-efficiency solar modules to be installed in Khavda, Gujarat. The company will deliver its latest Hypersol G12R modules, designed with N-type technology and bifaciality of up to 80 per cent. The...
India’s ambitious shift towards clean energy could face unexpected challenges from the weather. A new study led by UK meteorologists reveals that combined solar and wind generation can plunge during certain weather events, creating so-called “renewable energy droughts” lasting up to nine days. These droughts, the research shows, are most likely during the winter months between November and February. The study examined historical weather data between 1979 and 2022 to assess how India’s solar and wind grids might behave under different meteorological conditions. Periods when combined solar and wind output fell below a set threshold were classified as renewable energy droughts. Hannah Bloomfield, Academic Track Fellow at Newcastle University and one of the study’s authors, says such work is...
In a surprise twist for those watching global trade, a divided US appeals court has determined that Donald Trump's tariffs are illegal, further weakening one of the Republican President's scripts for using levies as a linchpin of international economic policy. This ruling may have wide-ranging impacts across sectors that depend on tariff-enabled protections and disrupt import-export planning. With a legal lens becoming clearer, the fight over the independence of the Federal Reserve appears on course for the Supreme Court, keeping alive the prospect of a historic showdown this year that could challenge the full breadth of Trump's economic agenda. As of now, the court has permitted the tariffs to stay in effect until October 14, providing the Trump administration a window to escalate the...
Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. (CSIM), a registered investment advisory firm, lifted its position in Ferroglobe PLC, a London-based silicone supplier, by 820.5 per cent. This happened during the first quarter, according to its most recent SEC filing. The fund now owns 341,479 shares of the Ferroglobe PLC firm after acquiring 304,381 additional shares. It represents 0.18 per cent of the company and is worth USD 1.27 million. The investment comes at a time of mixed fortunes for Ferroglobe. The firm reported a quarterly EPS of (0.08), missing the consensus estimate of (0.02), with revenues of USD 386.86 million. A dividend of USD 0.014 per share has been declared. It is payable on September 29, 2025, and offers a yield of 1.3 per cent. A cyclical downturn Although Ferroglobe has...
