News

Allianz Global Investors (AllianzGI) has agreed to acquire an indirect stake in German grid operator Amprion from insurer Talanx, with the deal expected to close in Q2 2026. As part of the partnership, both firms plan to invest significantly in Germany’s power grid. Amprion, which operates over 11,000 km of extra-high-voltage lines, aims to spend €36.4 billion by 2029 to build or upgrade 9,300 km of network to support rising energy demands.

The US Treasury (OFAC) has issued new licenses lifting major sanctions on Venezuela’s gold and mining industries, including state-owned miner Minerven. Following the 2026 political shift in Caracas, this move allows companies to resume investments, provide technical services, and sign contracts. The policy aims to secure global access to Venezuela's vast reserves of gold, bauxite, and rare minerals essential for high-tech supply chains.

英国政府周四宣布提供6400万英镑（约8500万美元）资助，用于将塔尔伯特港（Port Talbot）建设成为凯尔特海漂浮式海上风电枢纽。港口运营商Associated British Ports (ABP) 已与政府达成融资条款，旨在为凯尔特海租赁轮次中首批4.5GW漂浮式风电项目提供大规模制造、组装及集散能力。该项拨款连同此前支持塔塔钢铁（Tata Steel）电弧炉建设的5亿英镑，共同构成英国政府保障该港口工业未来并推动可再生能源供应链发展的核心战略。

【SMM Port Inventory of Imported Bauxite】According to SMM's statistics on March 27, the total bauxite inventory at ten domestic ports increased by 0.24 million mt from the previous week.

The Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs has granted "strategic" status to two major energy projects under the European Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA). The status was awarded to Power2X’s eFuels Rotterdam project for sustainable aviation fuel (e-SAF) production and to Sif Holding NV for expanding offshore wind foundation capacity at Maasvlakte. Sif’s expansion is expected to support 3.6–4.2 GW of offshore wind power annually. This designation aims to accelerate permitting and strengthen long-term investment stability for critical green infrastructure in the Port of Rotterdam.

Alumina Transaction: On March 25, 2026, 30,000 mt of alumina was transacted at a transaction price of $355/mt FOB Jamaica, for June shipment.

Alumina Transaction: On March 25, 2026, 30,000 mt of alumina was transacted at a transaction price of $351/mt FOB Jamaica, for May shipment.

Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Minister Bahlil Lahadalia announced plans to increase the nickel benchmark price (HPM) following a strategic meeting with President Prabowo Subianto. The adjustment aims to bolster state revenue and ensure a fairer return from national mineral assets. Bahlil emphasized that the move aligns with presidential instructions to prioritize national interests and maintain sustainable production levels. Additionally, the ministry is targeting accelerated downstreaming and energy self-sufficiency through optimized domestic potentials like ethanol and CPO-based biodiesel.

印尼能源与矿产资源部部长Bahlil Lahadalia宣布，在与总统普拉博沃会晤后，计划调高镍矿内贸基准价（HPM）。此举旨在增加矿产部门的国家收入，确保国家资源获得更公平的收益。Bahlil强调，调整价格是落实总统优先考虑国家利益并维持可持续产量的指示。此外，能源部还将重点推动下游化进程，并通过优化乙醇和棕榈油生物柴油等国内能源潜力，加速实现国家能源自给自足。

A joint venture between German firms YAMKO Energy and ILOS is moving toward technical optimization and financial structuring for its 100-MW solar-powered green hydrogen plant in Mantasia, Greece. Having secured its Production Certificate and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval, the project has cleared major regulatory hurdles. The facility aims to supply carbon-free hydrogen to industrial and heavy transport sectors, marking a significant milestone for large-scale green energy in the region.

Munich-based startup Tozero has opened an industrial demonstration plant in Bavaria, Germany, capable of processing 1,500 tonnes of battery waste annually. Using an acid-free process, the facility recovers high-purity lithium carbonate, graphite, and a nickel-cobalt mix, equivalent to recycling 6,000 EV batteries. The company aims to scale up to a full commercial plant by 2030 to process tens of thousands of tonnes of waste.

3月29日讯，天山铝业公告称，预计2026年第一季度归属于上市公司股东的净利润为22亿元，同比增长107.92%。公司业绩增长的主要原因为：140万吨电解铝绿色低碳能效提升项目部分产能投产，电解铝产销量同比增长约10%；同时，电解铝产品销售价格同比上涨约17%，生产成本有效控制同比有所下降，量价协同发力。

On March 27, the main transformer expansion project of the first UHV project in Henan's power grid during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, the 1000 kV South Henan UHV substation expansion project (hereinafter referred to as the "South Henan expansion project"), was started. The commissioning of the project will increase the power supply capacity by 50%, further improve the safe operation and power supply guarantee level of the power grid, and promote the green and low-carbon transformation of energy.

On March 29, the first 500 kV substation in Guiyang Gu'an New Area, the Ma'an Transmission and Transformation Project, was officially put into use, effectively improving the power supply guarantee ability for the surrounding data centers. As one of the national hub nodes of the national integrated computing network, Guizhou, with Guanshan New Area as the core bearing area, accelerates the construction of data center clusters. With the successive commissioning of multiple data centers, the overall electricity demand in the region has grown rapidly. Guizhou is accelerating the construction of power grid infrastructure and promoting the synergy between electricity and computing power.