Kazakhstan

Rosatom successfully completed a series of tests on its high-temperature gas-cooled reactor fuel, validating its performance at up to 1,700 °C under prolonged irradiation conditions.
Interceptions of ships linked to Venezuelan oil are increasing, pushing shipowners to suspend operations as PDVSA struggles to recover from a cyberattack that disrupted its logistical systems.

Global wind industry suffers historic downturn in 2025 despite Chinese resilience

Policy reversals, reduced performance and corporate disengagement marked an unprecedented slowdown in wind power in 2025, although China continued its expansion at a steady pace.
en_114024231240540
China's electricity market overhaul improves the profitability of energy storage, supporting a rapid increase in battery exports as global demand rises with data centres and power grids.
Chinese oil group CNOOC continues its expansion strategy with a new production start-up in the Pearl River Basin, marking its ninth offshore launch in 2025.

Washington seizes second Venezuela-linked oil tanker in the Caribbean

US authorities intercepted a second oil tanker carrying Venezuelan crude, escalating pressure on Caracas amid accusations of trafficking and tensions over sanctioned oil exports.
en_114021201237540
Facing a rapid increase in demand across industrial corridors, the Kenyan government is restructuring its power grid to accelerate connections, reduce technical losses and integrate new digital tools.
Shanghai Electric begins a combined-cycle expansion project across four Iraqi provinces, aiming to boost energy efficiency by 50% without additional fuel consumption.

TOPCon 4.0 vs HJT: the financial trade-off in the solar sector in 2026

As the photovoltaic industry enters a phase of deep restructuring, the duel between TOPCon 4.0 and heterojunction technologies is redefining manufacturers’ margins. In 2026, reducing production costs becomes the primary strategic lever for global market leaders.
en_114018191241540
JA Solar and Trinasolar top Wood Mackenzie’s latest semiannual ranking despite a sector-wide net loss of $2.2 billion. Industrial leaders are strengthening their grip on global photovoltaic module supply through rigorous financial discipline.
The world's largest battery energy storage system enters service in Saudi Arabia, with an annual capacity of 2.2 billion kWh spread across three strategic sites in the southwest of the country.

Egypt launches $220mn solar complex in the Suez Canal zone

The ATUM Solar industrial complex, located in Ain Sokhna, will include three factories—two of 2 GW capacity—backed by a $220mn investment from an international consortium.
en_114018181257540
Abu Dhabi’s national oil company has secured a landmark structured financing to accelerate the development of the Hail and Ghasha gas project, while maintaining strategic control over its infrastructure.
Masdar begins commercial operations at a Stockport battery storage unit and announces two more UK projects, part of a £1bn ($1.25bn) plan for 3GWh of BESS capacity.

Venezuelan oil: Caracas maintains exports despite US naval blockade

The Venezuelan national oil company has confirmed the continuity of its crude exports, as the United States enforces a maritime blockade targeting sanctioned vessels operating around the country.
en_114017181227540
Le fonds souverain omanais a validé 141 projets en 2025 pour un engagement total de $1.2bn, visant à renforcer l’indépendance énergétique et l’industrialisation nationale à travers un programme d’investissement de $5.2bn.
US-based Holtec has signed a memorandum of understanding with Hungary’s energy group MVM to assess the deployment of its SMR-300 technology, strengthening bilateral nuclear cooperation and opening prospects for a new market in Central Europe.

China channels public investment into hydrogen to consolidate industrial dominance

The inclusion of hydrogen in China’s 15th Five-Year Plan confirms a public investment strategy focused on cost reduction, domestic demand stimulation and geo-economic influence across global markets.
en_1140111131540
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.
In New York, Chevron outlines its long-term vision following the Hess integration, focusing on financial stability, spending reduction, and record production to consolidate investor confidence.
Botaş lines up a series of liquefied natural gas (LNG, liquefied natural gas) contracts that narrow the space for Russian and Iranian flows, as domestic production and import capacity strengthen its bargaining position. —
A record expansion of liquefied natural gas (LNG, gaz naturel liquéfié — GNL) capacity is reshaping global supply, with expected effects on prices, contractual flexibility and demand trajectories in importing regions.

TotalEnergies and Aljomaih secure 400 MW solar project in Saudi Arabia

The Franco-Saudi consortium has won a 25-year contract to develop a 400 MW photovoltaic plant in the Hail region, as part of Saudi Arabia’s national renewable energy programme.
en_1140281059540
Researchers have designed a system that combines two ammonia production technologies to reduce costs, optimise industrial efficiency and significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Talks are underway between Astana and Helsinki to consider the delivery of Kazakh uranium for Finnish nuclear power plants, amid efforts to diversify energy export markets.

MIT launches Macro, a modelling tool to anticipate energy infrastructure needs

A new software developed by MIT enables energy system planners to assess future infrastructure requirements amid uncertainties linked to the energy transition and rising electricity demand.
en_1140281025540
Lukoil has started divesting its foreign assets following new US oil sanctions, a move that could reshape its overseas presence and impact supply in key European markets.
Kazakhstan is reviewing Lukoil's stakes in major oil projects after the Russian group announced plans to divest its international assets following new US sanctions.

AI.net seals partnership with CATL for 1GWh of grid-scale batteries

Japanese company AI.net has signed a supply deal with China’s CATL for 1GWh of lithium-ion batteries, marking its entry into large-scale energy storage with a target of 500MW by March 2028.
en_1140281055540
Le Premier ministre hongrois se rendra à Washington pour discuter avec Donald Trump des sanctions américaines contre le pétrole russe, dans un contexte de guerre en Ukraine et de dépendance persistante de la Hongrie aux hydrocarbures russes.
Algeria has removed Rachid Hachichi from the leadership of Sonatrach, two years after his appointment, replacing him with Noureddine Daoudi, former head of the National Agency for the Valorisation of Hydrocarbon Resources.

Why lithium-ion battery technology maintains such dominance

Despite the emergence of new storage technologies, lithium-ion batteries retain a dominant position thanks to industrial leadership, improved performance and a high geographic concentration of production capacity.
en_1140271037540
COOEC has signed a $4bn EPC contract with QatarEnergy to develop the offshore Bul Hanine oil field, marking the largest order ever secured by a Chinese company in the Gulf.
Clenergy has appointed Haydn Fletcher and Samir Jacob to strategic positions to strengthen its operations in Australia and internationally, amid targeted commercial expansion.

Rio Tinto deploys electric trucks with swappable batteries in Mongolia

Rio Tinto commissions eight electric haul trucks with swappable batteries at the Oyu Tolgoi copper mine in partnership with Chinese company SPIC Qiyuan.
en_1140271053540
Envision Energy launches the Gen 8 platform, a modular storage range from 6 to 12 MWh, aiming to optimise energy density, logistical flexibility, and profitability for large-scale projects.
Abunayyan Holding and US-based Nextracker launch an industrial joint venture in Riyadh to locally produce large-scale solar equipment for Saudi Arabia and the MENA region.

Baker Hughes reports $8.2bn in orders in Q3 despite net income decline

Baker Hughes recorded a 23% increase in orders in Q3 2025, driven by its gas segment, while net income fell 20% year-on-year to $609mn.
en_1140261062540
Baker Hughes will expand its coiled tubing drilling fleet from four to ten units in Saudi Arabia’s gas fields under a multi-year agreement with Aramco, including operational management and underbalanced drilling services.
The reactor vessel for Unit 1 at Egypt’s El Dabaa nuclear plant has been delivered following a 20-day maritime transport from Saint Petersburg, marking a critical milestone in the country’s energy project.