Chemistry

The number of active drilling rigs in the continental United States continues to decline while oil and natural gas production reaches historic levels, driven by operational efficiency gains.
ACEnergy’s Central BESS project has been approved with a $3.6mn benefit-sharing plan for local and Indigenous communities.

Sinopec to invest $437 million in hydrotreatment unit in Algeria

Sonatrach awarded Chinese company Sinopec a contract to build a new hydrotreatment unit in Arzew, aimed at significantly increasing the country's gasoline production.
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Gathered in Belém, states from Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe support the adoption of a timeline for the gradual withdrawal from fossil fuels, despite expected resistance from several producer countries.
The launch of the Zhaoyuan nuclear project anchors the Hualong One model inland, illustrating Beijing’s strategy of regulatory normalisation in response to Western technological restrictions.

TRISO-X begins vertical construction on advanced nuclear fuel facility in Tennessee

TRISO-X has started above-ground works on the first U.S. facility dedicated to manufacturing fuel for small modular reactors, marking a key industrial milestone in the deployment of the Xe-100.
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The first Russian test rig for the experimental ITER reactor has been delivered to the site in France, marking a major milestone in the international collaboration on nuclear fusion.
A strategic report reveals the industrial and energy potential of Allseas’ offshore small modular reactor, which could create up to 40,000 jobs and reduce investment in the power grid.

Chevron in advanced talks to acquire Lukoil’s international assets

The American major could take over part of Lukoil’s non-Russian portfolio, under strict oversight from the U.S. administration, following the collapse of a deal with Swiss trader Gunvor.
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The E3 and the United States submit a resolution to the IAEA to formalise Iran's non-cooperation following the June strikes, consolidating the legal basis for tougher energy and financial sanctions.
Finnish fuel distributor Teboil, owned by Russian group Lukoil, will gradually cease operations as fuel stocks run out, following economic sanctions imposed by the United States.

Shell sells 50% of Tobermory to Ithaca to share UK fiscal risk

Shell sells a 50% stake in Tobermory West of Shetland to Ithaca Energy, while retaining operatorship, reinforcing a partnership already tested on Tornado, amid high fiscal pressure and regulatory uncertainty in the North Sea.
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Russian company Novatek applied major discounts on its liquefied natural gas cargoes to attract Chinese buyers, reviving sales from the Arctic LNG 2 project under Western sanctions.
Niigata’s governor is expected to approve the restart of one reactor at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant, inactive since the Fukushima accident, reviving a strategic asset for Japan’s energy sector.

Lhyfe signs contract to supply 200 tonnes of certified renewable hydrogen

French hydrogen producer Lhyfe will deliver over 200 tonnes of RFNBO-certified hydrogen to a heavy mobility operator under a multi-year contract effective since 1 November 2025.
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French renewable energy producer Neoen has signed an agreement with Plenitude to sell 52 assets totalling 760 MW of capacity on the French market.
Plug Power was selected by Carlton Power to equip three UK-based projects totalling 55 MW, under an agreement subject to a final investment decision expected by early 2026.

Q ENERGY invests in two wind projects in Cuxac-Cabardès to double capacity

Q ENERGY is simultaneously conducting the repowering and extension of its wind farm in Aude, with commissioning scheduled for late 2026 and a production goal equivalent to the consumption of 45,000 people.
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A national tool led by ADEME lists agrivoltaic installations across France to support their regulatory oversight, as the sector sees rapid growth following the 2023 law.
Veolia connects its Lapouyade site to RTE's secondary reserve using instant modulation technology, paving the way for rollout across 25 sites.
The European Commission allocates EUR76.3mn ($80.63mn) to three projects aiming to strengthen energy interconnections between Member States, focusing on onshore and offshore wind power and decarbonised district heating.
The SuedLink underground cable project, estimated at €10bn ($10.66bn), enters an active phase with the launch of two additional sections in Hesse and Lower Saxony.

Vinci secures €885mn contract for Rail Baltica railway electrification

French group Vinci, through its subsidiary Cobra IS, will electrify 870 kilometres of rail tracks across the Baltic States as part of the Rail Baltica project, in a deal worth €885mn ($944mn).
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The United States is funding a new high-voltage line to integrate Moldova into the European electricity market, following the cutoff of supplies from the separatist Transnistria region.
French group Nexans has begun installing a high-voltage submarine cable between Sardinia and Sicily, reaching an unprecedented depth of 2,150 metres as part of a project led by Italian grid operator Terna.

NKT selected as preferred bidder for power cable project between Scotland and England

Danish manufacturer NKT has been chosen to supply a 525 kV high-voltage cable system for the Eastern Green Link 3 project connecting Scotland and England’s power grids.
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British International Investment partners with Odyssey Energy Solutions to finance the expansion of interconnected mini-grids in Nigeria, under the World Bank-backed DARES programme.
Roraima, the last state not connected to Brazil’s national grid, has been linked through a publicly funded project launched over 14 years ago.

European Union targets eight bottlenecks to secure its power grid

The European Commission launches a regulatory plan addressing eight major power grid blockages to reduce price disparities and strengthen energy security across the Union.
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Amman confirms its grid readiness to supply Syria during off-peak hours, pending completion of Syrian infrastructure.
Spanish electricity companies call for urgent reinforcement of investments after finding more than 80% of the transmission grid is saturated.

EDF secures €500mn to upgrade Enedis’ power interconnections

EDF finalised a second €500mn ($535mn) tranche with the European Investment Bank to support interconnections and strengthen Enedis' electricity distribution network in 2025.
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NatPower Marine and Wah Kwong create a joint venture to deploy a maritime electric charging network in over 30 Asian ports by 2030, without requiring initial public investment.
Hitachi Energy commits $457mn to build a transformer factory in Virginia, part of a $1bn plan to support electrical interconnection in the US amid rising demand from artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Bernard Gustin takes chairmanship of expanded 50Hertz supervisory board

Elia Group Chief Executive Officer Bernard Gustin has been appointed chairman of the new twelve-member supervisory board of 50Hertz, restructured under German co-determination law.
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US grid interconnection volumes rose 33% in 2024, driven by federal reform that streamlined procedures and enabled a record 75 GW of validated capacity.
Avangrid has launched a $122 million project to modernise the Meyer substation in Dansville, a key node for regional electrical interconnection in the State of New York.

Morocco faces Russian and European dilemma over cybersecurity of its interconnections

Between the Russian cooperation proposal and European cybersecurity requirements, Morocco must secure its energy infrastructure while consolidating its electricity exports to Spain.
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Ottawa funds five projects aimed at strengthening Ontario’s grid interconnection and reliability, integrating smart technologies and expanding local producers’ access to electricity markets.
Jersey Central Power & Light is investing in a programme to strengthen power lines and electrical equipment to improve service reliability for more than 3,600 customers in eight New Jersey communities.