Critical Minerals Association

California-based battery manufacturer South 8 Technologies has secured $11mn to boost production of its LiGas cells, targeting military and space applications under extreme conditions.
Énergir creates a dedicated entity for geothermal systems in the residential sector, using an integrated model to expand this energy offering in the Québec market.

Shell secures Kremlin approval to exit Rosneft partnership in CPC

Shell restructures its stake in the Caspian pipeline by exiting the joint venture with Rosneft, with Kremlin approval, to comply with sanctions while maintaining access to Kazakh crude.
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Elemental Clean Fuels will develop a 10-megawatt green hydrogen production facility in Kamloops, in partnership with Sc.wén̓wen Economic Development and Kruger Kamloops Pulp L.P., to replace part of the natural gas used at the industrial site.
Driven by green hydrogen demand and state-backed industrial plans, the global electrolyser market could reach $42.4bn by 2034, according to the latest forecast by Future Market Insights.

RWE commissions its repowered Muel wind farm in Spain

German group RWE has replaced 27 old turbines with three new high-performance units at its Muel wind farm, doubling energy output and earning ZeroWaste certification.
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ACWA Power and Bapco Energies signed a joint development agreement for a solar power plant integrated with storage technology in eastern Saudi Arabia, to supply electricity to Bahrain.
The Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs has opened a tender to select a site and conduct initial environmental studies for a 600 MW nuclear power plant, marking a decisive step for the country’s energy future.

Samsung SDI signs $1.53bn contract to supply LFP batteries in the United States

Samsung SDI will supply LFP cells for energy storage systems in the United States starting in 2027, under a multi-year deal valued at $1.53bn.
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The British company begins the initial production phase of Morocco's Tendrara gas field, activating a ten-year contract with Afriquia Gaz amid phased technical investments.
Shell acquires 60% of Block 2C in the Orange Basin, commits to drilling three wells and paying a $25mn signing bonus to PetroSA, pending regulatory approval in South Africa.

Coal regains ground as profitability rises for US thermal power plants

Rising wholesale electricity prices in 2025 are strengthening margins for coal and gas-fired plants in the United States, with the profitability gap between the two narrowing significantly.
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The Energy Information Administration revises its gas price estimates upward for late 2025 and early 2026, in response to strong consumption linked to a December cold snap.
Malgré la pression exercée sur le gouvernement vénézuélien, Washington ne cherche pas à exclure Caracas de l’OPEP, misant sur une influence indirecte au sein du cartel pour défendre ses intérêts énergétiques.

Kazakhstan redirects part of Kashagan crude to China after attack

Kazakhstan redirects part of its oil production to China following the drone attack on the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal, without a full export halt.
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GE Vernova is working with the US government to increase its yttrium stockpiles, a critical metal now facing export restrictions from China, disrupting global industrial supply chains.
The European Commission has approved Poland's financial support plan for its first nuclear power plant, a €42bn project backed by public funding, state guarantees, and a contract for difference mechanism.

Brussels plans €1.2 trillion investment to modernise Europe’s power grids

The European Commission is set to launch a massive plan to modernise electricity transmission networks, including eight key projects, reinforced storage capacity, and the creation of cross-border hydrogen corridors.
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Venture Global denies Shell’s claims of fraud in an LNG cargo arbitration and accuses the oil major of breaching arbitration confidentiality.
The American oil group now plans to invest $20 billion in low-emission technologies by 2030, down from the $30 billion initially announced one year earlier.
The Marmara Ereğlisi liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal operated by BOTAŞ is increasing its regasification capacity, consolidating Türkiye’s role as a regional player in gas redistribution toward the Balkans and Southeast Europe.
Budapest contests the European agreement to ban Russian natural gas imports by 2027, claiming the measure is incompatible with its economic interests and the European Union's founding treaties.

Europe enacts the end of Russian gas and enforces a total reshaping of its gas market

The European Union has enshrined in law a complete ban on Russian gas by 2027, forcing utilities, operators, traders and states to restructure contracts, physical flows and supply strategies under strict regulatory pressure.
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The partial exploitation of associated gas from the Badila field by Perenco supplies electricity to Moundou, highlighting the logistical and financial challenges of gas development in Chad.
A new regulation requires gas companies to declare the origin, volume and duration of their contracts, as the EU prepares to end Russian imports.

Saudi Arabia activates 450 MMcf/d at Jafurah to maximise revenues

Saudi Aramco has launched production at the unconventional Jafurah gas field, initiating an investment plan exceeding $100bn to substitute domestic crude and increase exportable flows under OPEC+ constraints.
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By mobilising long-term contracts with BP and new infrastructure, PLN is driving Indonesia’s shift toward prioritising domestic LNG use, at the centre of a state-backed investment programme supported by international lenders.
TotalEnergies, TES and three Japanese companies will develop an industrial-scale e-gas facility in the United States, targeting 250 MW capacity and 75,000 tonnes of annual output by 2030.

Argentina signs 8-year LNG export deal with Germany

Argentinian consortium Southern Energy will supply up to two million tonnes of LNG per year to Germany’s Sefe, marking the first South American alliance for the European importer.
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The UK government has ended its financial support for TotalEnergies' liquefied natural gas project in Mozambique, citing increased risks and a lack of national interest in continuing its involvement.
Faced with a climate- and geopolitically-constrained winter, Beijing announces expected record demand for electricity and gas, placing coal, LNG and UHV grids at the centre of a national energy stress test.

Iraq launches joint investigation after drone attack on strategic Khor Mor gas site

The Iraqi government and Kurdish authorities have launched an investigation into the drone attack targeting the Khor Mor gas field, which halted production and caused widespread electricity outages.
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PetroChina internalises three major gas storage sites through two joint ventures with PipeChina, representing 11 Gm³ of capacity, in a CNY40.02bn ($5.43bn) deal consolidating control over its domestic gas network.
The European Union is facilitating the use of force majeure to exit Russian gas contracts by 2028, a risky strategy for companies still bound by strict legal clauses.

Funds shift from natural gas to EU carbon allowances

Amid an expected LNG surplus from 2026, investors are reallocating positions toward the EU carbon market, betting on tighter supply and a bullish price trajectory.
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Axiom Oil and Gas is suing Tidewater Midstream for $110mn over a gas handling dispute tied to a property for sale in the Brazeau region, with bids due this week.
Tokyo Gas has signed a 20-year agreement with US-based Venture Global to purchase one million tonnes per year of liquefied natural gas starting in 2030, reinforcing energy flows between Japan and the United States.

Venture Global accuses Shell of commercial sabotage amid gas supply dispute

Venture Global accuses Shell of deliberately harming its operations over three years amid a conflict over spot market liquefied natural gas sales outside long-term contracts.
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TotalEnergies ends operations of its Le Havre floating LNG terminal, installed after the 2022 energy crisis, due to its complete inactivity since August 2024.
Golar LNG has completed a $1.2bn refinancing for its floating LNG unit Gimi, securing extended financing terms and releasing net liquidity to strengthen its position in the liquefied natural gas market.