Chemistry

Occidental has completed the sale of its chemical subsidiary OxyChem to Berkshire Hathaway for $9.7bn, refocusing its activities on oil and gas. The transaction excludes the company’s historical environmental liabilities.
PBF Energy delays full resumption of operations at its Martinez, California refinery to February 2026 following a 2025 fire, while releasing throughput guidance for its entire refining network.

Five nuclear projects in Idaho selected for final stage of US federal programme

The Idaho Advanced Energy Consortium secured approval for its five strategic projects, now competing for $75mn in funding under the US Tech Hub programme.
en_114044331244540
Chinese company CNOOC has started production at the Buzios6 project, raising the total capacity of the pre-salt oilfield to 1.15 million barrels per day.
Duke Energy has filed a permit application to assess the feasibility of a nuclear reactor in Stokes County on an existing power generation site, without committing to immediate construction.

Energy transition disrupts the financial balance of utilities in Asia-Pacific in 2026

With electricity demand accelerating, Asia-Pacific utilities must manage massive investment needs, volatile revenues and geopolitical tensions as the energy transition advances in a rapid but disorderly manner.
en_114030311230540
Tema refinery has resumed operations at reduced capacity following a prolonged shutdown and targeted maintenance work on critical infrastructure.
In response to rising domestic demand, Sonatrach adopts a five-year plan focused on increasing production, securing infrastructure, and maintaining export commitments.

PowerBank completes key study for 2.1 MW solar project in New York State

PowerBank has completed a major regulatory step for its landfill-based solar installation, moving ahead with permitting for a 2.1 MW community project in upstate New York.
en_114030311233540
NU E Power Corp. closed a first financing tranche of $625,003 to support interconnection projects in Alberta and international feasibility studies, marking a new phase in the deployment of its energy infrastructure network.
Indian solar module manufacturer Emmvee has commissioned a new 2.5 GW production unit in Karnataka, raising its total capacity to 10.3 GW and triggering a 6% rise in its share price on the BSE.

South Korea approves operation of Saeul 3 nuclear reactor in Ulsan

The South Korean nuclear regulator has approved the launch of the 1,400-megawatt Saeul 3 reactor, beginning with a six-month pilot phase before full commercial operation.
en_114030311234540
The Indonesian government plans to limit mining output in 2026 to stabilise commodity prices and increase fiscal revenues, according to the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources.
Caspian Pipeline Consortium suspended loading and intake operations due to a storm and full storage capacity.

Russian gas exports to Europe fall to 18 bcm, lowest level since the 1970s

Pipeline natural gas deliveries from Russia to the European Union dropped by 44% in 2025, reaching their lowest level in five decades following the end of transit via Ukraine.
en_114030311236540
Ankara is preparing a maritime exploration agreement with Damascus for 2026, marking a new phase in bilateral energy cooperation following a diplomatic rapprochement launched in 2025.
Octopus sells a minority stake in Kraken for $1 billion in a deal valuing the tech platform at $8.65 billion, initiating its spin-off and strengthening its position among international energy suppliers.

Frontera signs $120mn crude oil deal with Chevron subsidiary

Frontera Energy has signed a crude supply deal worth up to $120mn with Chevron Products Company, including an initial $80mn prepayment and an option for additional funding.
en_114029301232540
Amplify Energy has completed the sale of its Oklahoma assets for $92.5mn, as part of its strategy to streamline its portfolio and optimise its financial structure.
NextNRG strengthens its domestic battery supply by signing a memorandum of understanding with A123 Systems, targeting the deployment of energy storage systems manufactured in the United States across its national project portfolio.
Natura Resources enters a new regulatory phase for its molten salt reactor MSR-1, following the signing of a framework agreement with the US Department of Energy under the Reactor Pilot Program.
Norwegian Nuclear Decommissioning is surveying 22 localities to assess their interest in hosting storage facilities for radioactive waste from the country’s former research reactors.

Flamanville EPR reactor reaches 100% nuclear power after 12-year delay

Electricité de France's Flamanville 3 reactor has reached full power for the first time, marking a key industrial milestone in the deployment of EPRs in Europe, despite cost overruns reaching EUR23.7bn ($25.7bn).
en_114014141239540
GE Vernova Hitachi’s BWRX-300 small modular reactor has passed a key regulatory hurdle in the United Kingdom, opening the door to potential commercial deployment, despite no current plans for construction.
Molten salt reactor developer Natura Resources has acquired Shepherd Power and partnered with NOV to scale up modular reactor manufacturing by the next decade.

China confirms 2026 for Linglong One, the world’s first land-based SMR

China National Nuclear Corporation expects commercial operation in 2026 for its ACP100 reactor, following successful cold testing and completion of critical structures in 2025.
en_114011111233540
Start-up SEATOM has been selected to join NATO's DIANA programme with its micro nuclear reactor designed for extreme environments, reinforcing its position in dual-use marine and military energy technologies.
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.

EU approves €42bn Polish state aid for first nuclear reactor

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.
en_1140101230540
Six European nuclear authorities have completed the second phase of a joint review of the Nuward modular reactor, a key step toward aligning regulatory frameworks for small nuclear reactors across Europe.
Driven by off-grid industrial heat demand and decarbonisation mandates, the global small modular reactor market is set to grow 24% annually through 2030, with installed capacity expected to triple within five years.

Fusion energy industry urges Washington to invest over $1bn annually

US fusion energy leaders have called on the federal government to redirect public funding towards their projects, arguing that large-scale investment is needed to stay competitive with China.
en_114099991233540-2
Santee Cooper has approved a memorandum of understanding with Brookfield Asset Management to assess the feasibility of restarting two unfinished nuclear reactors, with a potential $2.7 billion payment and 550 MW capacity stake.
Helical Fusion has signed a landmark agreement with Aoki Super to supply electricity from fusion, marking a first in Japan’s energy sector and a commercial step forward for the helical stellarator technology.

India targets 21,880 MW of nuclear capacity by 2032 with accelerated expansion programme

India’s nuclear capacity is expected to grow by more than 13,000 MW by 2032, driven by ongoing heavy water reactor construction, new regional projects and small modular reactor development by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre.
en_114088881235540-2
NextEra Energy has lifted its earnings estimates for 2025 and 2026, supported by power demand linked to long‑term contracts previously signed with Google and Meta to supply their artificial intelligence data centres with low‑carbon electricity.
London launches a complete regulatory overhaul of its nuclear industry to shorten authorisation timelines, expand eligible sites, and lower construction and financing costs.

Posiva nuclear repository faces new licensing delay in Finland

Finland's Ministry of Economic Affairs extends the deadline to June 2026 for the regulator to complete its review of the operating licence for the Olkiluoto spent nuclear fuel repository.
en_11407771227540
Framatome will replace several digital control systems at the Columbia plant in the United States under a contract awarded by Energy Northwest.
The conditional green light from the nuclear regulator moves Cigéo into its final regulatory stage, while shifting the risks towards financing, territorial negotiations and industrial execution.