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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Supported by strong gains in raw material prices within the settlement cycle, the prebaked anode prices have increased consecutively, breaking above the RMB 6,000 per tonne threshold for the first time in 44 months. In October 2026, a major Shandong-based aluminium smelter raised its benchmark purchase price for prebaked anodes by RMB 400 per tonne from September, settling at RMB 6,130 per tonne by cash and RMB 6,147 per tonne by acceptance. On the profitability front, using market prices in Shandong as the cost benchmark, the production cost of prebaked anodes during this settlement cycle stood at approximately RMB 6,167.5 per tonne. Compared with the benchmark purchase price in Shandong, the average industry profit was roughly RMB -37.5 per tonne. Although anode prices rose as expected,...
Oswal Pumps Limited plans to invest INR 4.65 billion (USD 47.3 million) in a 1.2 GW TOPCon solar cell manufacturing facility through its wholly owned subsidiary, Oswal Solar Energy Private Limited (OSEPL), as the company seeks to strengthen backward integration and reduce reliance on external suppliers. Commercial production is expected to begin by April 2028, subject to the necessary approvals. According to a regulatory filing dated October 10, 2026, OSEPL’s board has approved the proposed project. The facility is expected to meet approximately 75% of the subsidiary’s solar cell requirements, with the remaining demand continuing to be sourced from external suppliers. The investment marks a shift in priorities towards solar cell manufacturing, as Oswal Pumps looks to secure a more...
Civmec Limited has secured new contracts and extensions worth more than AUD 220 million (USD 153 million), including a construction contract for a gallium production plant at Alcoa’s Wagerup Alumina Refinery in Western Australia. The contracts are expected to be delivered across FY27 and FY28. The awards take Civmec’s order book to about AUD 1.5 billion (USD 1 billion). Civmec to build gallium plant at Wagerup Civmec will build the gallium production plant at Alcoa’s Wagerup Alumina Refinery. The project received a final investment decision in July 2026. Construction started in August following a groundbreaking ceremony. Civmec will carry out civil, structural, mechanical, piping, electrical and instrumentation works for the plant. The work also includes the process building, tanks,...
The European Commission sets the Q3 2026 price of CBAM certificates at EUR 82.32 (USD 92.66), up from EUR 75.28 (USD 84.74) in Q2 and EUR 75.36 (USD 84.83) in Q1, making it the highest quarterly price published so far this year. The Commission calculates CBAM certificate prices based on the weighted average of auction clearing prices for EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) allowances. The methodology is designed to align the carbon cost applied to EU producers with that applied to imports covered by the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). The Q3 price was published on October 5, 2026, following the end of the quarter. To learn about the market potential of aluminium dross, explore "ALuminium Dross Processing: Generation, Recovery & Strategic Roadmap" CBAM certificate prices rise...
Small businesses are facing delays in receiving refunds for tariffs struck down by the US Supreme Court, with companies that paid duties through shipping firms such as FedEx, DHL and UPS waiting longer to recover their money. Asher Rapkin, owner of California watch retailer Collective Horology, said he submitted paperwork in March to recover USD 164,000 in tariffs but did not receive any money until September. He initially received a USD 59,200 wire transfer without an explanation of which transactions had been refunded. FedEx said it is focusing on precision and regulatory compliance and has already released hundreds of millions of dollars. The company said it must check each claim, verify millions of entries and match them with corresponding US government data. Once customers submit...
Critical Metals Corp. (NASDAQ: CRML) gained ground on Monday after Greenland approved the Tanbreez rare-earth project’s mining and closure plans through 2050, removing a major regulatory hurdle for one of the largest heavy rare-earth deposits outside China. Signed by Greenland’s Minister and Member of the Parliament Múte B. Egede on September 29, 2026, the approvals cover operations through September 2050, providing a framework for roughly 24 years of permitted activity under the company’s current exploitation license. To learn about the market potential of aluminum dross, explore "ALuminium Dross Processing: Generation, Recovery & Strategic Roadmap" Critical Metals shares climbed up around 13% in morning trading before easing to a gain of about 4%, putting the stock on course to end a...
As electronics occupy a larger share of the backbone of automotive industry, Europe’s reliance on imported critical minerals is drawing greater attention. A recent bachelor’s thesis from Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg has explored the recycling potential of two strategic materials, viz., gallium and germanium, within automotive electronics, particularly in Electronic Control Units (ECUs), which control functions ranging from powertrain systems and safety technologies to battery management in electric vehicles. Although recycling rates for both metals remain negligible today, the study suggests that industrial waste streams, semiconductor scrap and future end-of-life electronics could become important secondary sources if recovery infrastructure develops in time. To learn...
X-Rite Pantone, Sun Chemical, and CMA Imaging have announced the commercial availability of the CanJET digital proofing ecosystem in North America, giving beverage brands, can makers, and packaging converters a way to match color and opacity directly on aluminum cans. The connected workflow combines CMA Imaging’s CanJET printing system, Sun Chemical’s extended color gamut inks, PantoneLIVE digital color references, and X-Rite measurement technology. The companies say the solution can reduce proofing iterations and accelerate design approvals before production. CanJET received a Bronze Innovation Award at METPACK 2026. The workflow is designed to provide a faster and more flexible alternative to conventional pilot-line proofing and prototyping. “On metal, matching a colour also means...
Caustic soda may not be the most visible ingredient in aluminium production, but without it, the journey from bauxite to alumina would look very different. The chemical, also known as sodium hydroxide, is a crucial reagent in the Bayer process, where it helps dissolve alumina-bearing material in bauxite and separate it from impurities. The dissolved material is then processed to recover alumina, which ultimately feeds aluminium production. That makes caustic soda more than just another industrial chemical. Its availability, price and efficient use can influence the economics of alumina refining and, by extension, the wider aluminium value chain. As India expands its alumina and aluminium capacity, the requirement for this chemical is also becoming increasingly important. For companies...
Hydro expects to receive approximately EUR 28 million in compensation following the sale of Swedish wind farm Cloud Snurran AB, bringing a settlement linked to a long-term power purchase agreement closer to completion. The compensation stems from an agreement signed in July 2025 for the voluntary termination of Hydro’s long-term power purchase agreement with Cloud Snurran. Under the settlement, the final payment depends on the realised value from a future sale of the wind farm and an agreed value-sharing mechanism. Hydro expects to receive the compensation after the sale is completed. The final amount remains subject to customary closing adjustments. To learn about the market potential of aluminium dross, explore "ALuminium Dross Processing: Generation, Recovery & Strategic Roadmap"...
The financing will support a Nevada plant designed to produce 500 tonnes of rare earth metals annually, as US defence sourcing restrictions are set to expand from January 2027. Solcoa Industries has secured USD 75 million to expand rare earth metal production in the United States, targeting a supply-chain bottleneck that is becoming increasingly important for defence manufacturers. The company said the funding will support construction and commissioning of its Solcoa One plant in Nevada, which is planned to begin operating in July 2027 with annual capacity of 500 tonnes. The financing includes USD 45 million in equity led by Bain Capital Ventures, with participation from Gigascale Capital, Long Journey, Felicis, Dylan Field and other investors from the defence and technology sectors. A...
China Rare Earth Group is in talks to acquire a controlling stake in Shenghe Resources, a move that could bring the Chinese rare earth producer under tighter state control while giving Beijing influence over Shenghe’s overseas holdings, including a stake in US rare earths company MP Materials. Two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that discussions between the companies have been underway since earlier this year. One source said China Rare Earth Group is seeking a controlling stake, although neither source knew when the acquisition could be announced or completed. If the deal goes through, China Rare Earth Group would take control of Shenghe’s interests in foreign companies, including its 3 per cent stake in MP Materials. The US rare earths company counts the US Department of...
Malaysia is emerging as a rare earth hub by developing a domestic “mine-to-magnet” ecosystem spanning exploration, mining, separation, metals, alloys and permanent magnets. But, how is the venture faring? A study by Hiu Dilangit Sasongkojati at the University at Albany, SUNY, puts Malaysia’s ambition under a microscope. Malaysia’s supply chain remains fragmented, with limited domestic upstream activity, heavy reliance on foreign technology and downstream manufacturers still dependent on imported processed metals. To learn about the market potential of aluminium dross, explore “ ALuminium Dross Processing: Generation, Recovery & Strategic Roadmap ” Malaysia has the resources, but not yet an integrated chain Malaysia estimates around 16.2 million tonnes of inferred total rare-earth elements...
Saudi Arabia has identified approximately 114 million tonnes of ore containing high concentrations of rare earth elements and promising uranium concentrations in the Madinah Region, adding another significant resource to the Kingdom’s expanding minerals portfolio. Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Arabia’s minister of energy and minister of industry and mineral resources, announced the discovery during the 70th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna. The resources were identified through exploration and geological studies at the Jabal Sayid project, with particularly high concentrations of heavy rare earth elements reported. Prince Abdulaziz said the findings place the project among the significant rare earth resource sites currently...
Alcoa has approved USD 1.5 million in funding for Equus Energy’s gas project in Western Australia, allowing the company to move into the second phase of development and begin work to secure key project partners. The funding will support partnering activities as Equus seeks operating, LNG offtake, infrastructure and financing partners needed to advance the project toward front-end engineering design (FEED) and a final investment decision (FID). The Stage Two approval follows Alcoa’s acceptance of the project’s Stage One pre-FEED deliverables. It also comes after Equus signed a binding 10-year gas sales agreement with Alcoa in August. Equus said it has already started discussions with several strategic operating partners, which are reviewing the findings from the pre-FEED work. To learn...
Norway will provide a guarantee of up to NOK 150 million (USD 16.08 million) to support revenue security for the planned 255 MW Thakadu solar project in South Africa, helping reduce the risk faced by investors in the renewable energy development. The guarantee will be provided to Lyra Energy, an electricity sales platform jointly owned by Scatec, Standard Bank and Stanlib. It will cover the risk of companies buying electricity from the solar plant failing to make their payments. The agreement, announced on September 14, 2026, is the first involving a private company under Norway's renewable energy guarantee mechanism. The NOK 5 billion (USD 536 million) programme is designed to encourage greater private investment in renewable energy projects in developing countries by taking on part of...
In the first half of 2025, humanity generated more electricity from renewables than from coal for the first time ever. What led to it? It was possible only because of two decades of falling solar panel prices, taller wind turbines, and governments finally treating clean power like an economic opportunity instead of a favour to the planet. But the renewable energy scenario cannot be portrayed as a single global story. To get the full picture, one has to connect dozens of regional stories moving at wildly different speeds. Some countries are already powered almost entirely by sun, wind and water. Others are still warming up. Here is a tour of how renewable energy supply looks across the world’s regions right now, and who is actually leading the charge. The global scorecard: Renewable energy...
Abu Dhabi-based International Holding Company (IHC) and India’s Adani Group have expanded their investment plans in Odisha, outlining INR 2.105 trillion (USD 25 billion) of potential investment across 14 projects spanning metals, critical minerals, energy, chemicals and infrastructure. The agreement, signed during Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s visit to the UAE, builds on the companies’ earlier USD 11.5 billion aluminium project announced in July. The broader portfolio includes metal downstream industries, slurry pipelines, critical minerals and rare earths, chemicals and petrochemical derivatives, renewable energy equipment, healthcare, tourism, skills development and industrial and sports infrastructure. The Odisha government estimates the 14 projects could create about...
