January 22, 2021

A major blackout has disrupted electricity supply across the Dominican Republic, impacting transport, tourism and infrastructure nationwide. Authorities state that recovery is underway despite the widespread impact.
Vietnam is consolidating its regulatory and financial framework to decarbonise its economy, structure a national carbon market, and attract foreign investment in its long-term energy strategy.

EBRD injects $40mn into Infinity Power to accelerate African expansion

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development strengthens its commitment to renewables in Africa by supporting Infinity Power’s solar and wind expansion beyond Egypt.
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Governor Gavin Newsom attended the COP30 summit in Belém to present California as a strategic partner, distancing himself from federal policy and leveraging the state's economic weight.
Chinese authorities authorise increased private sector participation in strategic energy projects, including nuclear, hydropower and transmission networks, in an effort to revitalise slowing domestic investment.

Germany grants $24.3 million to Nigeria to accelerate its energy transition

Berlin strengthens its cooperation with Abuja through funding aimed at supporting Nigeria’s energy diversification and consolidating its renewable infrastructure.
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A new regulatory framework comes into effect to structure the planning, procurement and management of electricity transmission infrastructure, aiming to increase grid reliability and attract private investment.
À l’approche de la COP30, l’Union africaine demande une refonte des mécanismes de financement climatique pour garantir des ressources stables et équitables en faveur de l’adaptation des pays les plus vulnérables.

COP30 opens in tension as negotiations fail on initial agenda

COP30 begins in Belém under uncertainty, as countries fail to agree on key discussion topics, highlighting deep divisions over climate finance and the global energy transition.
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The United States secures a tungsten joint venture in Kazakhstan and mining protocols in Uzbekistan, with financing envisaged from the Export-Import Bank of the United States and shipment routed via the Trans-Caspian corridor.
Global energy efficiency progress remains below the commitments made in Dubai, hindered by industrial demand and public policies that lag behind technological innovation.

Global renewable capacity to reach 793 GW in 2025 despite limited political ambitions

Global solar and wind additions will hit a new record in 2025, but the lack of ambitious national targets creates uncertainty around achieving a tripling by 2030.
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South Korean refiners warn of excessive emissions targets as government considers cuts of up to 60% from 2018 levels.
Ahead of COP30 in Belém, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva adopts a controversial stance by proposing to finance the energy transition with proceeds from offshore oil exploration near the Amazon.

Trump grants Orban oil exemption in exchange for US gas deal

The United States grants Hungary a one-year waiver on sanctions targeting Russian oil, in return for a commitment to purchase US liquefied natural gas worth $600mn.
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An international group of researchers now forecasts a Chinese emissions peak by 2028, despite recent signs of decline, increasing uncertainty over the country’s energy transition pace.
The end of subsidies and a dramatic rise in electricity prices in Syria are worsening poverty and fuelling public discontent, as the country begins reconstruction after more than a decade of war.

Global warming heads toward 2.5°C despite commitments

Current emission trajectories put the planet on course for a 2.3°C to 2.5°C rise, according to the latest UN calculations, just days before the COP30 in Belem.
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The Australian government plans to introduce a free solar electricity offer in several regions starting in July 2026, to optimize the management of the electricity grid during peak production periods.
India is implementing new reforms to effectively integrate renewable energy into the national grid, with a focus on storage projects and improved contracting.
Amman plans to launch tenders for 400 megawatts of solar, wind and storage projects, as part of a strengthened bilateral energy cooperation with Germany.
As oil production declines, Gabon is relying on regulatory reforms and large-scale investments to build a new growth framework focused on local transformation and industrialisation.

Cameroon to exempt biofuel equipment from customs duties starting 2026 to boost the sector

Cameroon will adopt a customs exemption on industrial equipment related to biofuels starting in 2026, as part of its new energy strategy aimed at regulating a still underdeveloped sector.
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Facing a persistent fuel shortage and depleted foreign reserves, the Bolivian parliament has passed an exceptional law allowing private actors to import gasoline, diesel and LPG tax-free for three months.
Ghana aims to secure $16 billion in oil revenues over ten years, but the continued drop in production raises doubts about the sector’s long-term stability.

Kinshasa and Vingroup sign agreement for major urban and energy project

The government of Kinshasa has signed a memorandum of understanding with Vietnam's Vingroup to develop a 6,300-hectare urban project and modernise mobility through an electric transport network.
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ERCOT’s grid adapts to record electricity consumption by relying on the growth of solar, wind and battery storage to maintain system stability.
The French government will raise the energy savings certificate budget by 27% in 2026, leveraging more private funds to support thermal renovation and electric mobility.

France: Minister Barbut defends an energy mix combining nuclear and renewables

Facing opposition criticism, Monique Barbut asserts that France’s energy sovereignty relies on a strategy combining civil nuclear power and renewable energy.
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The European Commission is reviving efforts to abolish daylight saving time, supported by several member states, as the energy savings from the practice are now considered negligible.
Rising responses to UNEP’s satellite alerts trigger measurement, reporting and verification clauses; the European Union sets import milestones, Japan strengthens liquefied natural gas traceability; operators and steelmakers adjust budgets and contracts.

France: MPs approve stricter electricity price controls in budget committee

The Finance Committee has adopted an amendment to overhaul electricity pricing by removing the planned redistribution mechanism and capping producers' profit margins.
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The European Commission unveils a seven-point action plan aimed at lowering energy costs, targeting energy-intensive industries and households facing persistently high utility bills.
The European Commission plans to keep energy at the heart of its 2026 agenda, with several structural reforms targeting market security, governance and simplification.

Takaichi secures the LDP–Ishin axis, pro-nuclear, and eases fuel taxation

The new Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)–Japan Innovation Party (Nippon Ishin no Kai) axis combines a nuclear restart, targeted fuel tax cuts and energy subsidies, with immediate effects on prices and risk reallocations for operators. —
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German authorities have ruled out market abuse by major power producers during sharp price increases caused by low renewable output in late 2024.
A new International Energy Agency report urges Maputo to accelerate energy investment to ensure universal electricity access and support its emerging industry.

Spain burns more gas after its blackout

Increased reliance on combined-cycle plants after the April 28 blackout pushed gas use for electricity up by about 37%, bringing total demand to 267.6 TWh and strengthening flows to France.
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The United States announces a tariff increase beyond the 10% base rate targeting several Colombian products. Bogotá has recalled its ambassador. The detailed list of tariff lines has not yet been published, while Colombia’s ban on coal exports to Israel remains in effect.
The president-elect outlines a pro-market agenda: gradual reform of fuel subsidies, review of Yacimientos de Litio Bolivianos (YLB) lithium contracts, and monetization of gas transit between Argentina and Brazil, prioritizing supply stabilization.