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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American Rare Earths has appointed Dr Sanja Miskovic as Chief Technical Advisor, with her work focused on process optimisation and recovery as the company advances the feasibility study for its Halleck Creek Rare Earths Project in Wyoming, USA. Miskovic will work on flowsheet development, mineral beneficiation and hydrometallurgical recovery, as well as decisions around scaling up the processing technology. The work is aimed at supporting the planned production of separated rare earth oxides at the proposed Wyoming processing site. American Rare Earths CEO Mark Wall said, "Sanja brings the technical depth and operating instinct we need as we move Halleck Creek through feasibility and toward construction. ” With more than 20 years of experience in minerals and process engineering, Miskovic...
China's producer inflation accelerated in August as higher energy and non-ferrous metal prices pushed industrial costs higher, while weak domestic demand kept consumer inflation subdued. China's factory-gate inflation accelerated in August, with non-ferrous metal smelting and processing prices rising 20.8 per cent year on year as higher international crude oil and metal prices fed through the industrial economy. The country's Producer Price Index (PPI) rose 3.8 per cent year on year in August, up from 3.5 per cent in July and ahead of the 3.6 per cent increase expected in a Reuters poll, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The increase was accompanied by a more modest rise in consumer prices, highlighting the contrast between stronger industrial input costs and...
Hungary will raise the maximum fine for serious environmental violations by large manufacturers to 5 billion forints (USD 16 million) under new measures to strengthen environmental oversight across industries, including EV battery manufacturing, recycling, and decommissioning. The changes come as Hungary continues to play a major role in Europe's EV battery manufacturing industry. The new rules place greater attention on how manufacturing facilities operate, while also covering battery recycling and the decommissioning of plants. This could encourage companies to invest further in cleaner production methods, improved monitoring and technologies that help identify and manage environmental risks. Prime Minister Peter Magyar said the measures are intended to create a stronger deterrent and...
Odisha has brought forward its investment roadshow in the United Arab Emirates as competition among Indian states for overseas capital intensifies. The programme was initially planned for December, but growing investor outreach by other states prompted the government to advance the visit, according to officials from the state industries department. The three-day roadshow will take place in Abu Dhabi and Dubai from September 9 to 11, led by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. It follows Madhya Pradesh’s UAE investment programme, scheduled for September 6 to 8. Additional Chief Secretary for Industries Hemant Sharma said the state could not afford to delay its international outreach while competing regions were already approaching overseas investors. Odisha will use the visit to...
The Pentagon has announced a USD 174 million financing package for the aluminium producer Alcoa to set up a gallium production facility at its Wagerup alumina refinery in Western Australia, bringing critical mineral production into the refinery’s operations. The new facility is expected to produce approximately 100 tonnes of gallium metal annually. Construction began last month, marking a significant step towards expanding production of the critical metal and strengthening supply capabilities. The initiative is a multinational partnership with Export Finance Australia (EFA), the Government of Japan, and Sojitz Corporation. To learn about the market potential of aluminium dross, explore " ALuminium Dross Processing: Generation, Recovery & Strategic Roadmap " Gallium is not generally mined...
Epsilon Advanced Materials has secured INR 1,450 million (USD 15.24 million) in government CAPEX support under India's Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme, strengthening plans to scale domestic graphite anode production for batteries. India's push to build a self-reliant battery materials supply chain has received a fresh boost after Epsilon Advanced Materials secured government approval for its graphite anode material project under the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS). The company has been approved for INR 1,450 million (USD 15.24 million) in capital expenditure support, equivalent to 25 per cent of the project's total capital investment, from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The approval is particularly significant because Epsilon...
India’s green hydrogen push is gradually moving from targets and project announcements towards building the infrastructure needed for large-scale production. Manufacturing facilities, renewable power projects, ammonia plants and port infrastructure are becoming important parts of the next stage of development. The country aims to produce 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030 under the National Green Hydrogen Mission. So far, the government has awarded 3 GW of annual electrolyser manufacturing capacity to 15 companies and 862,000 tonnes per year of green hydrogen production capacity to 18 companies. Another 724,000 tonnes per year of green ammonia supply has been allocated for 13 fertiliser units across the country. Gujarat is emerging as a major location for these investments. Around...
What happens when an automaker starts building a business beyond cars? For Hyundai Motor Co., robotics is becoming a key part of that shift, with the company moving from using robots in its factories to developing, manufacturing and deploying them at scale. Hyundai is laying the groundwork to become a physical AI and technology company following its takeover of robotics maker Boston Dynamics. The move comes as the company looks to diversify its revenue, with its automotive business currently accounting for nearly 80 per cent of revenue. The next step is already taking shape at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Savannah, Georgia, where the company manufactures all-electric vehicles. Hyundai opened its Robot Metaplant Application Center there in June. The centre simulates real...
Romania has received its first EUR 2.5 billion (USD 2.91 billion) payment under the European Union’s (EU) Security Action for Europe (SAFE) facility, marking the first tranche of its EUR 16.7 billion (USD 19.46 billion) allocation. The EU SAFE defence funding is aimed at strengthening Romania’s defence capabilities and industrial base, with further payments linked to the completion of agreed milestones and implementation targets. The initial tranche represents 15 per cent of Romania’s total SAFE allocation, according to the European Commission. The funding is being channelled towards defence investments and forms part of the broader EUR 150 billion (USD 174.76 billion) SAFE instrument designed to support rapid investment in Europe’s defence industry and technology. “This funding will...
The US Department of War has committed USD 750 million to back rare earth supplies from Brazil’s Serra Verde, as Washington moves to build a more secure, China-independent supply chain for critical minerals used in defence, energy, aerospace and advanced manufacturing. The investment will support an offtake agreement for mixed rare-earth carbonates (MREC) from Serra Verde’s Pela Ema Project in central Brazil. The funding forms part of a broader USD 1.55 billion initiative mobilised by the Department of War’s Economic Defense Unit. China’s rare earth supply chain is at present a point of dominance over the world seeking rare To learn about the market potential of aluminium dross, explore “ ALuminium Dross Processing: Generation, Recovery & Strategic Roadmap ” Shaping the USD 1.55 billion...
Before India can mine more nickel, copper or rare earths, it first has to find them. Vedanta has deployed what it describes as India’s first high-speed hydrostatic portable drilling rig in Chhattisgarh, designed to investigate mineral targets as deep as 1,000 metres below ground. The rig is being used at two projects targeting gold and critical minerals, including nickel, chromium and platinum-group elements. Vedanta says conventional drilling equipment typically reaches 300 to 400 metres, leaving deeper geological targets harder to investigate. The search starts before the mine The new machine is not a mine, nor evidence that an economic deposit has been found. It is an exploration tool intended to collect geological information from deeper underground before a project can progress to...
Alcoa and the governments of Australia, Japan and the United States have begun construction of a gallium production plant at Alcoa’s Wagerup alumina refinery in Western Australia, targeting output equivalent to about 10 per cent of global gallium demand. The facility is expected to produce 100 tonnes of gallium annually and will be constructed and operated by Alcoa. It represents a joint effort to establish a new allied source of the critical mineral for semiconductors, advanced electronics and defence applications. From alumina refinery to gallium source The plant will be co-located with Alcoa’s Wagerup refinery, about 120 kilometres southeast of Perth. Rather than requiring a new mine, the operation will recover gallium from bauxite already processed to produce alumina, the feedstock...
Europe is planning a major expansion of domestic solar manufacturing as it seeks to reduce dependence on imported components and build a more integrated regional supply chain. Europe's solar industry is entering a new phase of expansion, with manufacturers and investors planning to increase domestic production capacity across the solar value chain. According to the latest Europe Solar Supply Chain Map, Edition 1, 2026, released by Sinovoltaics, Europe's current solar module manufacturing capacity stands at 24.2 GW. Announced expansion plans could increase this to 88.2 GW between 2027 and 2030, reflecting the region's growing focus on strengthening its own clean-energy manufacturing base. The push comes as Europe looks beyond final module assembly and seeks greater control over the...
NALCO is advancing pilot projects in Odisha to turn industrial residues into valuable resources, including rare earth elements, alumina, iron and titanium, strengthening India's push for critical mineral recovery and a circular economy. National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) is expanding its research into ways of converting industrial waste into useful resources, with a new pilot project focused on bauxite residue, or red mud, and another facility already operating for coal fly ash. The initiatives are being developed through collaborations with national research institutions and aim to test indigenous technologies that could eventually offer commercially viable ways of recovering valuable materials from industrial residues. Red mud pilot targets rare earths and metals The latest...
The US Department of Energy and Alcoa are teaming up on a pilot project in Saline County, Arkansas, to recover critical minerals from mining waste left behind by earlier bauxite operations. The project is part of USD 162 million in DOE selections for nine private-sector projects aimed at recovering critical minerals and other valuable materials from industrial and mining byproducts. Alcoa has not mined bauxite in the area for decades. However, the company says residue from earlier mining operations may contain rare earth elements and other critical minerals that have been difficult to recover. Alcoa plans to test a microwave-based technology developed to extract these materials from the existing residue. DOE Assistant Secretary Audrey Robertson said, “We think their technology can unlock...
IREL (India) Ltd has invited entrepreneurs, startups and industries to commercialise seven technologies developed in India for the rare-earth and titanium sectors, as the country looks to solidify its critical-minerals value chain by improving its domestic capacity. The technologies were developed and demonstrated at IREL's Rare Earth & Titanium Theme Park (RETTP) in Bhopal, which was inaugurated on May 10. This is the first time IREL has offered technologies for commercialisation on such a scale. The package consists of technologies for producing lanthanum and cerium, which are used in batteries, catalysts and glass polishing. It also includes technology for producing neodymium, an important material for permanent magnets, as well as recovering neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) from...
Adani Group is planning a major industrial expansion in Odisha, with aluminium, mineral processing and energy infrastructure forming the core of its proposed investment roadmap. The group has outlined plans for two 3,000 MW nuclear power plants and an INR 800 billion (USD 8.38 billion) coal gasification facility, while also evaluating bauxite mining, an alumina refinery and an aluminium smelter. Together, the proposals point towards a broader industrial ecosystem built around Odisha’s natural resources and energy potential. To learn about the market potential of aluminium dross, explore "ALuminium Dross Processing: Generation, Recovery & Strategic Roadmap" Aluminium emerges as a key growth area The proposed aluminium expansion is among the primary elements of Adani Group’s Odisha...
The European Commission has approved a EUR 84 million Danish state aid scheme to expand clean-tech manufacturing and support the production of new and recovered critical raw materials. The European Union is stepping up efforts to strengthen its domestic clean-tech manufacturing base, with the European Commission approving a EUR 84 million (USD 96.87 million) aid scheme for Denmark. The scheme will provide direct grants to companies investing in additional manufacturing capacity for net-zero technologies and their main components. It will also support investments in the production of new or recovered critical raw materials needed for clean technologies. The funding is approved under the Commission's Clean Industrial Deal State Aid Framework (CISAF), which was adopted in June 2025....
