Canada Just Opened North America's First Battery-Grade Lithium Refinery
Mangrove Lithium opened North America’s first commercial electrochemical lithium refinery in Delta, British Columbia, with a 1,000‑tonne annual capacity of battery‑grade lithium—enough for roughly 25,000 electric vehicles. The plant is a direct response to China’s control of about half the global lithium market, offering a domestic source for a critical battery material. Backed by the Canadian government’s critical‑minerals agenda, Mangrove plans a larger eastern‑Canada facility that could supply material for up to 500,000 EVs per year.
New HOEC Chief Hints at ‘Strategic Partnerships’
Baroruchi Mishra, appointed Managing Director and CEO of Hindustan Oil Exploration Company (HOEC) on April 1, said the firm will pursue strategic partnerships to expand exploration and production, especially in deep‑water assets. He also signaled an evaluation of green fuels such...
The Green Hydrogen Dream Is Slipping Further Out of Reach
Green hydrogen projects are lagging far behind the IEA’s 190 GW target for 2030, with global capacity projected at just 4 GW by 2025. Only 7% of announced projects have stayed on schedule, reflecting high costs, regulatory gaps, and infrastructure shortfalls. A...
China Is Poised to Reap Rewards as Energy Shock Heats up the Race for Renewables
China’s renewable‑energy footprint is expanding as the global oil crisis accelerates demand for clean power. In Cuba, Chinese‑made solar panels lifted solar’s share of generation from 6% to over 20% within a year, and the country expects 2 GW of Chinese‑financed...
Fuel Shortage Triggers Panic Buying in Andhra, CM Reviews Situation
Andhra Pradesh’s chief minister reviewed a sudden fuel crunch after 421 of the state’s 4,510 outlets were temporarily shut amid panic buying. Daily sales of petrol and diesel surged over 50% above normal, reaching 10,345 kilolitres and 14,156 kilolitres respectively on Saturday....
American Superconductor (AMSC) Soars 24.6% on Power Demand
American Superconductor Corp. (AMSC) shares jumped 24.6% week‑on‑week as investors chase rising power demand tied to AI‑driven data centers and semiconductor fabs. The company forecasts FY2025 Q4 net income above $3 million, more than double last year’s $1.2 million, and revenue of...
Pipelines and Automation: 2 Energy Plays Built for Any Oil Price
Kinder Morgan (KMI) and Halliburton (HAL) are positioned as energy plays that can thrive regardless of oil‑price swings. KMI’s fee‑based pipeline network delivers steady cash flow and a 3.7% dividend, while HAL’s efficiency‑focused oilfield services stay in demand when producers...
Global Fuel Shortage Forces Airlines to Cut International Routes
A global jet‑fuel shortage, driven by geopolitical tensions and supply‑chain disruptions, is forcing airlines to slash international routes. Nigerian carrier Air Peace reduced its Abuja‑London service to three weekly flights, while Norse Atlantic cancelled the London‑Los Angeles route and halted...
Are 'Pass-Through' Charges Meralco-Imposed? Concessionaire Says No
Manila Electric Company (Meralco) clarified that the additional line‑item charges appearing on customers’ electricity bills are not company‑imposed fees but government‑mandated “pass‑through” expenses. These charges cover cross‑subsidies such as senior‑citizen discounts, the Lifeline Rate for 4Ps beneficiaries, feed‑in tariff allowances...
Africa Targets Regional Energy Hubs to Unlock Oil and Gas Investment
The African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO) is rolling out a regional energy‑hub strategy to knit together pipelines, processing plants, LNG terminals and refineries across the continent. By creating integrated markets, APPO hopes to unlock Africa’s more than 600 trillion cubic feet...
Iran-Linked Supertanker Halts in Hormuz as U.S. Blockade Tightens
A U.S.-sanctioned supertanker, the Yuri, carrying roughly 2 million barrels of Iranian crude, stopped near Larak Island while attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz. The pause follows a tightening U.S. blockade that has redirected 33 vessels since its launch on...
Milei Incentives Accelerate $12-Billion Vaca Muerta Shale Oil Project
Argentina’s President Javier Milei has expanded his RIGI investment incentive, prompting Pluspetrol SA to fast‑track a $12 billion development at the Vaca Muerta shale complex. The company will develop the Bajo del Choique‑La Invernada acreage, aiming for 100,000 barrels per day of crude and...
HPCL Says Leak Likely Caused Refinery Fire; CDU Restart Seen by Mid-May
Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) said a hydrocarbon leak in a heat‑exchanger likely triggered the April 20 fire at its new Rajasthan refinery, a project valued at roughly $9.6 billion. Restoration work is underway and is expected to finish within three to...
Reliance Navigates Volatile Oil Markets with Agile Sourcing, Operational Tweaks
Reliance Industries used diversified crude sourcing and operational agility to offset disruptions from the Iran‑War and volatile oil markets in the fourth quarter of FY 26. The refiner replaced Persian Gulf loading contracts with non‑Gulf suppliers, prioritized domestic product allocation, and...
UK Departments at Odds over Energy Demands of AI Datacentres
The UK’s Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) forecasts that AI‑focused datacentres will require at least 6 GW of electricity by 2030, while the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) estimates the entire commercial services sector will grow...
3 Overlooked Nuclear Fuel Supply Chain Winners
The IAEA now expects global nuclear‑power capacity to more than double by 2050, reviving investor interest in the sector’s supply chain. Centrus Energy secured a $900 million DOE HALEU contract, giving it a near‑monopoly on high‑assay low‑enriched uranium. Uranium Energy’s low‑cost...
CIL Plans 10-Year Roadmap to Slash 243 MT Coal Imports
State‑owned Coal India Ltd (CIL) unveiled a ten‑year roadmap (2026‑2036) aimed at eliminating the 243 million tonnes of coal imports it currently relies on. The plan hinges on boosting domestic output to 1 billion tonnes by FY 2028‑29, upgrading coal quality through beneficiation,...
NPCIL Achieves Key Milestone at Kudankulam Unit-3 with Reactor System Flushing
Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) announced that Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project Unit‑3 has entered the “Spillage to Open Reactor” phase, flushing safety systems and main coolant pipelines with light water. This step initiates individual functional testing of primary...
Hormuz Disruption, $100 Oil Pose Risks to India's Inflation, Rupee: Union Bank
Union Bank’s latest report warns that ongoing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have pushed Brent crude above $100 per barrel, creating a persistent "energy tax" on India’s economy. With the country importing roughly 85% of its crude, higher oil...
India Approves Small Hydropower Development Scheme to Expand Decentralised Clean Energy
India's Union Cabinet approved the Small Hydropower Development Scheme, targeting 1,500 MW of new capacity between FY 2026‑27 and 2030‑31. The programme carries a budget of ₹2,584.60 crore (≈$311 million) and aims to catalyse about ₹15,000 crore (≈$1.8 billion) of private investment, focusing on mountainous...
New Bill in California Senate Could Turn Your Home Battery Into a Moneymaker
California Senate Bill 913 would let utilities count residential backup batteries as real power plants, enabling them to be bundled into virtual power plants. The bill follows a surge of roughly 8,000 new home batteries each month, adding about 100 MW...
Wind, Solar and Battery Projects at Record High, but Many Stuck in Funding, Supply Chain and Other Bottlenecks
Australia’s grid‑connection pipeline surged to 67.3 GW, a 33% rise year‑on‑year, with utility‑scale batteries now representing roughly half of the total. Early‑stage projects grew 51%, driven largely by a two‑thirds jump in standalone battery capacity to 33.2 GW. Despite the expansion, many...
President Hichilema Launches Mabumba Solar Plant to Strengthen Energy Supply in Luapula Province
President Hakainde Hichilema commissioned Zambia’s 50‑MW Mabumba Solar Plant in Luapula Province, slated to supply electricity to over 20,000 homes. The project supplements the region’s aging 10‑MW Musonda Falls hydropower station, addressing a 30‑MW demand gap. ZESCO delivered the plant...
Noble Corporation PLC (NE) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
Noble Corporation posted Q1 adjusted EBITDA of $338 million, a 39% margin, and generated $173 million of free cash flow. The company’s backlog surged to $7.5 billion, up 30% quarter‑over‑quarter, driven by multi‑year contracts with Shell and TotalEnergies that together represent...
DRC Pushes for Energy Transformation as It Showcases Massive Hydropower Potential at African Energy Forum
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) announced a hydropower potential of roughly 167,000 MW spread over 3,350 sites, according to an Artelia‑World Bank study. At the Invest in African Energy Forum, Minister Aimé Sakombi Molendo stressed that the priority has shifted from...
The Strait of Hormuz May Reopen, But the System Has Already Broken
The Strait of Hormuz may be physically open, but maritime traffic remains at a fraction of normal levels, with daily vessel counts as low as three versus the usual 120‑140. Insurers have withdrawn war‑risk coverage, prompting operators to avoid the...
Countries Gather in Colombia for the First International Conference on How to Phase Out Fossil Fuels
More than 50 countries are gathering in Santa Marta, Colombia for the inaugural international conference dedicated to phasing out oil, gas and coal. Co‑hosted by Colombia—an oil producer that halted new exploration permits—and the Netherlands, the summit brings together both fossil‑fuel...
Dangote at Full Throttle as Nigeria Becomes a Net Fuel Exporter
Nigeria became a net gasoline exporter in March as the 650,000‑bpd Dangote refinery operated near full capacity, producing enough fuel to meet domestic demand and generate significant exports. The refinery shipped roughly 55,000 b/d of gasoline and 100,000 b/d of jet fuel,...
America’s Geothermal Breakthrough Could Unlock a 150-Gigawatt Energy Revolution
The United States is on the cusp of a geothermal surge as enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) promise up to 150 GW of clean‑energy capacity, dwarfing the current 2.7 GW of conventional output. Houston‑based Fervo Energy, backed by a 1.75 GW turbine supply from...
The Climate Tech IPO Window Could Finally Be Cracking Open
Public markets are finally warming to climate‑tech firms, highlighted by nuclear startup X‑energy's $1 billion IPO that jumped 25% on debut and geothermal player Fervo filing for a listing at a $3 billion valuation. Investors see nuclear fission and enhanced geothermal as...
France Reaffirms Efforts To Reopen Strait Of Hormuz
French President Emmanuel Macron announced a push to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within days and weeks, emphasizing freedom of navigation under international law. He warned that panic over geopolitical uncertainty could itself trigger shortages. TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanne...
U.S. States Retreat From Climate Goals as Costs Surge and Federal Support Fades
Several U.S. states are scaling back or postponing their climate targets as renewable project costs rise and federal incentives wane. Governors in New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island have announced revisions to emissions goals, utility‑bill programs, and renewable‑energy deadlines. The...
Solar Panels and Batteries Are Changing Life in Brazil’s Amazon
Brazil’s Amazon is transitioning from diesel‑dependent micro‑generators to solar‑panel and battery microgrids, driven by falling technology costs and federal incentives. The Ministry of Mines and Energy approved 29 projects that will reach 650,000 people and avoid 800,000 metric tons of...
Trump’s Disdain for Wind Projects Creates a Political Storm for Republicans in Coastal Virginia
President Donald Trump issued an executive order that temporarily halted five major offshore wind projects, wiping out roughly $35 billion in planned investments. Nine House Republicans, led by Virginia Rep. Jen Kiggans, sent a letter demanding an explanation, highlighting the political...
EU Starts Roll Out of Russian LNG Import Ban at Tricky Time
The EU began prohibiting spot‑market purchases of Russian LNG on April 25, 2026, while allowing existing long‑term contracts to run through year‑end. The ban removes roughly 2.8‑3.5 million tonnes of Russian LNG annually, about 3 % of Europe’s total LNG imports, and aims to...
The Oil Futures Market Is Lying to Us
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has forced the removal of roughly 500 million barrels from global oil inventories, a pace that could top a billion barrels by June. While Brent futures have rebounded above $100, long‑dated contracts are rising...
Transcorp Power Posts N39.59bn Q1 Profit
Transcorp Power Plc reported unaudited Q1 2026 results showing revenue of N94.59 billion (≈$118 million) and profit after tax of N29.70 billion (≈$37 million), both down year‑on‑year. The company’s cash balance jumped to N10.40 billion (≈$13 million), while total assets rose to N613.42 billion (≈$767 million). Operational disruptions,...
India's Adani Green Reins in Renewable Additions Due to Transmission Limits
India’s Adani Green Energy Ltd is voluntarily limiting its renewable‑capacity additions to about 4.5‑5 GW per year, well below the 7‑8 GW it could otherwise install, because of persistent power‑transmission bottlenecks. The constraints forced the company to write off roughly ₹5 billion (≈ $53 million)...
Peak Power at Record High of 252 GW on Friday Amid Soaring Mercury Levels
India’s power grid hit a record 252.07 GW of peak demand on April 24, driven by an intense heat wave that spurred widespread use of air‑conditioners and coolers. The previous high of 250 GW was set in May 2024. Kerala alone logged a historic...
Urals Crude Prices at Russian Ports Slip Below $100 per Barrel
Urals crude prices at Russia's western ports slipped below $100 per barrel, settling around $90 after a brief stint above the $100 mark in April. The year‑to‑date average rose to $65 per barrel, well above the $45 level before the...
How to Think About the Extractive Problem of Lithium Mining
Electric vehicle sales are surging, with more than one‑in‑five new cars projected to be electric by 2025, driving a massive demand for lithium. Thea Riofrancos’s field research in Chile’s Atacama Desert—home to roughly 20% of the world’s lithium—reveals severe ecological...
Why I Prefer Comstock Over CNX Resources
The author argues that CNX Resources remains a strong sell because its management prioritizes share repurchases over deleveraging, leaving the company with a 2.0 debt‑to‑equity ratio—higher than the industry‑preferred 1.6. Temporary tailwinds from higher gas prices and cold weather are...
Adani Energy Solutions to Raise FY27 Capex by 47% to ₹22,000 Crore, Led by Transmission Push
Adani Energy Solutions Limited (AESL) announced a 47% jump in FY27 capital expenditure to ₹22,000 crore (about $2.65 billion), driven primarily by a ₹15,500 crore ($1.87 billion) transmission push. The plan allocates ₹2,350 crore to distribution and ₹3,900 crore to smart‑metering, with a target of installing...
Gulf Oil Output Can Rebound in Months After Hormuz Reopens: Goldman Sachs
Goldman Sachs research says Gulf crude output could rebound within months after the Strait of Hormuz reopens, though full pre‑war levels may take longer. The conflict cut Gulf production by 14.5 mbd, a 57 % drop. Recovery will depend on tanker availability,...
Science History: Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Melts Down, Bringing the World to the Brink of Disaster — April 26, 1986
On April 26, 1986, operators at Chernobyl’s Reactor 4 performed a safety‑test that deviated from protocol, keeping the reactor at half power and causing xenon buildup. A rapid power drop led the crew to withdraw most control rods, triggering a 100‑fold power surge...
Next Diesel Price Rollback Seen at P8 to P10
Diesel prices in the Philippines are set to drop another P8‑P10 per liter (about $0.15‑$0.18) on April 28, potentially bringing the average to roughly P100/L ($1.79). The decline follows recent rollbacks of P24.94 and P20.90 earlier in the month, driven...
US Imposes Sanctions on Chinese ‘Teapot’ Refinery for Buying Iranian Oil
The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refinery, a Chinese "teapot" plant, for buying billions of dollars worth of Iranian oil. The move also targeted roughly 40 vessels and shipping firms linked to Iran’s shadow fleet. China, which accounts for...
America’s Bid for Energy Supremacy Is Being Forged in War
The United States is leveraging the geopolitical turmoil of the Russia‑Ukraine war and Middle‑East conflicts to fast‑track its quest for energy supremacy. By expanding domestic fossil‑fuel output, securing strategic mineral supply chains, and investing in next‑generation clean‑energy technologies, Washington aims...
Solar & Storage Industry Statement on U.S. Court Order Blocking Interior Memo Slowing Permitting of Solar & Storage Projects
A federal judge has blocked the Department of the Interior’s memo that slowed permitting for solar and storage projects, a move hailed by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). SEIA interim CEO Darren Van’t Hof called the ruling a win...
US-Iran War to Fuel Petrol, Diesel Prices. How Can Stock Market Investors Make Money From It?
The US‑Iran conflict has lifted global crude oil above $80 per barrel, prompting analysts to expect a delayed rise in India’s retail petrol and diesel prices after key state elections. While state‑run marketers have kept retail rates steady at roughly...