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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The European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (EU CBAM) is reshaping global trade by placing a carbon price on imports of carbon-intensive products from countries without equivalent carbon pricing systems. Since January 2026, importers of products including steel, aluminium, cement, fertilisers and hydrogen have been required to comply with the mechanism. While discussions around the EU CBAM have largely focused on its impact on trade, climate policy and global supply chains, its implications for employment have received less attention. For the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), home to more than 350 million workers, the mechanism presents both risks and opportunities. Its impact on jobs will largely depend on how effectively member countries adapt to the transition...
Rare earth minerals have moved from a niche group of metals to a strategically important resource that is vital to sectors from clean energy to consumer electronics, defence and advanced manufacturing. As demand rises and supply chains are dominated by a few countries, rare earths are being labelled critical minerals by governments around the world. Rare earths demand ties aluminium downstream industries more and more The downstream aluminium industry is also increasingly impacted by the rising use of rare earth magnets, particularly as aluminium continues to replace heavier materials in transportation, renewable energy and advanced manufacturing applications. The rare earths are a set of 17 chemically similar elements. Neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr), dysprosium (Dy) and terbium (Tb)...
In partnership with the alumina and aluminium producer Alcoa Corporation, governments and industrial representatives of Australia, Japan and the US have reached the final investment decision (FID) for a project to establish a gallium production facility at Alcoa's Wagerup alumina refinery in Western Australia. The plant, to be built and operated by Alcoa, will utilise the company's expertise in alumina refining and advanced mineral processing to produce gallium, a critical mineral used extensively in semiconductors, defence systems and other advanced technologies. Explore the relevance of red mud in the sustainable aluminium industry in A Comprehensive Analysis of Bauxite Residue (Red Mud): Sustainability, Resource Recovery and Strategic Recommendations The project is expected to create a...
The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between India and the United Kingdom came into force today, giving Indian exports zero-duty access to 99 per cent of tariff lines in the UK market. The Agreement on Social Security, also known as the Double Contribution Convention (DCC), also took effect on the same day, supporting the mobility and competitiveness of Indian professionals working in the UK. Speaking to the media in New Delhi, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal described the agreement as one of India's most comprehensive trade pacts, covering a wide range of sectors and reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers. He said CETA marks a new phase in trade and investment relations between India and the UK and reflects their commitment to a deeper strategic partnership. The...
USA Rare Earth has produced commercial-grade dysprosium (Dy) oxide and neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) oxide samples from recycled rare earth magnet scrap at its Wheat Ridge, Colorado hydrometallurgical facility, marking a step forward in its rare earth processing operations. The company said the achievement makes it one of the few producers outside Asia capable of separating heavy rare earth elements at commercial grade. It also supports the development of an integrated rare earth supply chain serving industries including defence, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing. The Dy and NdPr oxide samples were produced from magnet swarf, the fine scrap generated during the machining and finishing of neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets. The recycled material was sourced from the company's...
Electricity is the backbone of aluminium production, with the Hall-Héroult process ranking among the world's most electricity-intensive industrial activities. Even brief power disruptions can damage electrolytic cells and interrupt production, resulting in long-term financial losses, as the molten metal cools and begins freezing rapidly, halting production for months. To minimise dependence on unstable grids, aluminium producers traditionally invested in captive thermal power plants. Recently, growing decarbonisation commitments have encouraged companies like Vedanta Limited, Hindalco, National Aluminium Company (NALCO), Norsk Hydro and Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) to solidify a renewable energy base alongside captive generation. Renewable energy’s contribution to meeting India’s power...
India's Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has defended the country's rising imports of Russian crude oil, stating that the increase is part of a long-term strategy to diversify supply sources and safeguard energy security amid disruptions in West Asia. Responding to an editorial published by The Hindu, the ministry said the rise in Russian oil imports followed the disruption of shipments through the Strait of Hormuz after military strikes on Iran in late February 2026. According to the ministry, the closure affected nearly one-fifth of global oil and gas flows, while around 45-50 per cent of India's crude oil imports normally pass through the strategic waterway. The ministry said India increased the share of crude sourced from outside the Strait of Hormuz from 55 per cent to 70 per...
India is preparing to widen policy support for advanced chemistry cells (ACC) and battery recycling as it seeks to strengthen domestic battery manufacturing and reduce dependence on imported critical minerals. The proposed measures indicate that the government's focus is extending beyond cell production to include recycling, battery components and niche battery technologies, reinforcing both electric mobility and renewable energy storage. Speaking at the 12th India Energy Storage Week (IESW) 2026 in New Delhi, Vijay Mittal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI), announced the ministry’s plan to expand the existing ACC incentive framework following industry requests for dedicated policies covering “niche battery technologies.” Discover: The Gulf aluminium market risks, China...
Australia and India have signed a uranium export agreement designed to enhance energy security and deepen bilateral cooperation in clean energy, critical minerals and infrastructure development. Under the agreement, Australia will supply uranium to support the fuel requirements of India's nuclear energy sector, helping the country expand its clean energy capacity. Following negotiations in Melbourne, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the agreement is strategically important for reducing India's dependence on fossil fuels and supporting its transition to cleaner sources of energy. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the partnership would create new opportunities in the areas of energy transition, green hydrogen and low-carbon aluminium production, further strengthening...
State-owned National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) has signed a joint venture agreement with NLC India Limited (NLCIL) to establish a 1,080 MW thermal captive power plant in Odisha, strengthening the energy backbone for its planned aluminium smelter expansion. In a regulatory filing, NALCO elaborated that the two public sector enterprises have signed a Joint Venture-cum-Shareholders' Agreement (JVA) to create a 50:50 joint venture company to develop a 4x270 MW (1,080 MW) thermal captive power plant at Anugul, Odisha. The facility is intended to supply captive power to NALCO's USD 3.5 billion aluminium smelter expansion project with a 500,000-tonne capacity , supporting the company's long-term production growth. Discover: The Gulf aluminium market risks, China impact, alumina supply,...
Canada and Japan are deepening their critical minerals alliance, seeking to reduce their dependence on Chinese supplies. At Canada's largest-ever trade mission to Tokyo and the Asia-Pacific region, companies from both countries signed commercial agreements worth over CAD 1 billion (USD 706.11 million), exploring joint initiatives to secure future supplies of key minerals. The delegation comprised around 300 participants representing about 180 companies and organisations. Collaboration in areas including mining investments and long-term offtake agreements was discussed, including the potential shared stockpiling of critical minerals like gallium and graphite. Canada's International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu confirmed that both countries are evaluating the feasibility of joint...
The US Department of Energy (DOE) has funded USD 75 million to five pilot-scale projects aimed at extracting rare earth elements and other critical minerals, including aluminium, from coal waste and coal-based feedstocks. The initiative indicates the nation’s efforts to strengthen the domestic critical minerals supply chain. The funding marks a phase of a USD 275 million programme announced in November 2025 to support pilot-scale recovery of critical minerals and materials from industrial and coal byproducts across the US. Discover: The Gulf aluminium market risks, China impact, alumina supply, carbon costs, and logistics disruptions shaping pricing and trade in Gulf Disruption Roadmap Five pilot projects selected The selected projects fall under the category of Mines & Metals...
Vedanta Aluminium, India's largest aluminium producer, has carried out a comprehensive onsite emergency mock drill at the hydrogen plant within its Jharsuguda power plant operations as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen workplace safety and emergency preparedness. The exercise simulated a hydrogen gas leak during routine maintenance activities, allowing the company to assess its emergency response procedures, interdepartmental coordination and operational readiness under controlled conditions. The mock drill also included a simulated technician injury, with emergency response teams deploying protective safety equipment and firefighting resources to contain the incident, secure the affected area and declare an "All Clear" after completing the response. The exercise was observed by...
India’s crude oil sourcing map underwent another significant shift in June, with Russian barrels accounting for nearly half of the country’s total imports. Purchases from Russia climbed 17 per cent month-on-month to a record 2.6 million barrels per day (bpd), lifting Moscow’s share of India’s crude import basket to 46 per cent. The scale of the change is particularly striking when viewed against the pre-2022 trade pattern. Before February 2022, Russian crude typically represented less than 1 per cent of India’s oil imports. The subsequent availability of discounted barrels has rapidly repositioned Russia as the country’s dominant crude supplier, displacing traditional Middle Eastern sources. For India, the world’s third-largest oil importer and consumer, the economics of discounted crude...
India is strengthening its position as a global supplier of green fuels following the signing of long-term offtake agreements between ACME Cleantech Solutions (ACME Group) and Japan's IHI Corporation for green ammonia and Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc. for green methanol. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Renewable Energy Secretary Santosh Kumar Sarangi said India's green hydrogen sector is becoming commercially mature, with the country's clean fuels increasingly positioned as reliable exports that support the development of international green hydrogen and green ammonia value chains. Under the agreement with IHI Corporation, ACME will supply 405,000 tonnes of green ammonia annually. The arrangement is backed by Japan's Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme for low-carbon ammonia,...
Iluka has entered into a long-term agreement with VHM Limited to purchase all planned rare earth concentrate production from the Goschen project in western Victoria, supporting feedstock requirements for its Eneabba rare earths refinery in Western Australia. Under the agreement, VHM will supply 146,000 tonnes of rare earth concentrate containing 86,000 tonnes of rare earth oxides over an 18-year period. On average, this equates to around 8,320 tonnes of rare earth concentrate annually, containing approximately 4,900 tonnes of total rare earth oxides. Iluka said the concentrate will complement feedstock for the Eneabba refinery, with production levels depending on the optimal blend of internal and external feedstocks as well as refinery processing capacity. The agreement also grants Iluka...
Momentum Technologies has achieved record purity levels in recovering rare earth elements (REEs) using its proprietary Membrane Solvent Extraction (MSX) technology. The Texas-based critical materials company recovered 99.9 per cent pure neodymium-praseodymium oxide from e-waste and magnet production waste, 99.5 per cent pure dysprosium from magnet production waste, and 99.5 per cent pure yttrium from mined feedstock at its demonstration plant in Carrollton, Texas. The MSX technology was developed in collaboration with the US Department of Energy and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. It is designed to recover and separate high-purity rare earth elements and battery materials from both primary and secondary feedstocks. High-purity rare earths are required for permanent magnets used in defence...
Renewable energy strengthened its economic case in 2025, according to the latest report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Newly commissioned projects in 2025 helped the world save an estimated USD 480 billion in fossil fuel costs. IRENA’s report, Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2025 , shows that utility-scale renewable technologies maintained a decisive cost advantage over conventional power generation. Over 90 per cent of new renewable capacity installed in 2025 produced electricity at a lower cost than the cheapest newly built fossil fuel-based alternative. Among the major renewable technologies, solar photovoltaic (PV) generation remained stable at USD 44 per megawatt-hour (MWh) during 2025. Onshore wind generation costs declined 4 per cent year-on-year to USD...
