【SMM Flash News】 AfDB’s SEFA Launches USD 20 Million Call for Proposals to Support African Green Hydrogen Projects

The Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (DRMS) has announced the completion of the Corley Mine Surface Burn Mitigation Project near Florence, ending a nearly year-long effort to extinguish a 9.5-acre smoldering debris pile. The project was fast-tracked in May 2025 after internal temperatures in the century-old coal waste surged to 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit, posing significant environmental and fire risks. Crews excavated approximately 82,000 cubic yards of coal waste and carbonaceous shale, cooling the material with water and gravel before burying the stabilized remnants under 164,800 cubic yards of dirt and rock. This successful mitigation addresses a spontaneous combustion issue that had persisted for two decades, securing the site against future ignition.

Indonesia’s state-owned utility Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) expects its LNG requirement to surge to 103 cargoes in 2026, up from 90 in 2025, as the country grapples with a 5.3% annual growth in power demand and declining pipeline gas supplies. While PLN has secured 62 cargoes through long-term contracts with BP, a 41-cargo gap persists, with 32 cargoes anticipated from the Bontang and Tangguh plants and 9 still awaiting government allocation. Despite warnings from upstream regulator SKK Migas regarding potential shortages, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia maintains that domestic production will suffice through 2026 without imports.

Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has officially commenced crude oil imports from the United States to enhance national energy security and reduce dependence on Middle Eastern supply routes, specifically the Strait of Hormuz. Minister Bahlil Lahadalia confirmed on April 10 that shipments are already underway, citing a strategic shift to mitigate geopolitical risks and fulfill commitments under the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART). As global market conditions tighten and sellers prioritize competitive pricing, the Indonesian government is maintaining a flexible procurement strategy, remaining open to various sources, including Russia, to ensure stable domestic fuel availability.