FEATURE-AI data explosion in Mexico fuels rise of dirty energy
The country's power infrastructure is overloaded and pollution has increased due to the shortfall in green power, despite promises by government and industry to increase capacity. The data centers are huge warehouses that are the size of Olympic stadiums. They sprawl over industrial parks and house hundreds of servers, which consume a lot of energy. These servers power the most powerful technology companies, like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon. The report stated that while Microsoft waits for the connection to Mexico's struggling power grid, it uses seven natural gas generators to provide 10.5 megawatts per year.
AI data explosion in Mexico fuels growth in dirty energy
The lack of green power, despite promises by government and industry to increase capacity, has overloaded and increased local pollution. Masheika Allgood is the founder of AllAI Consulting. She provides information on data center environmental impacts. The data centers are huge warehouses that are the size of Olympic stadiums. They sprawl over industrial parks and house hundreds of servers, which consume a lot of energy. These servers power the most powerful technology companies, including Microsoft, Google, and Amazon. The report stated that while Microsoft waits for the connection to Mexico's struggling power grid…
Australia announces rescue bid for Rio Tinto Tomago Aluminium Smelter
The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, announced on Friday that a "rescue" effort would be launched to keep Australia's biggest aluminium smelter open, the struggling Tomago plant majority owned by Rio Tinto after its current energy contract expires 2028. The announcement comes after the company had warned in October of a possible closure for Tomago Aluminium. It employs more than 1,000 employees and 200 contractors. Albanese stated that aluminium was becoming a "vital product", making it vital to keep Tomago operating. He said that if Australia does not produce aluminium, the knock-on effects in other industries are significant.
Venture Global responds to Shell's fraudulent claims in LNG arbitration
Venture Global responded late Tuesday night to Shell's legal challenge over the oil major losing an arbitration case involving liquefied gas cargoes. They rejected Shell's allegations of fraud and accused Shell of violating arbitration confidentiality. The legal documents filed in New York Supreme Court are the latest in a long saga about Venture Global's alleged failure to deliver LNG in accordance with long-term contracts, while selling LNG on the spot market at a time when prices were soaring after Russia's invasion in Ukraine. Shell, BP and Edison are among the companies that have filed arbitration cases against Venture Global. These claims will begin in 2023.
Venture Global responds to Shell's fraudulent claims in LNG arbitration
Venture Global responded late Tuesday night to Shell's legal challenge over its loss in an arbitration case involving liquefied gas cargoes. The company rejected allegations of fraud, and accused Shell of breaching arbitration confidentiality. The legal documents filed in New York Supreme Court are the latest in a long-running saga about Venture Global's inability to deliver LNG in accordance with long-term contracts, while selling LNG on the spot market when prices rose after Russia's invasion in Ukraine. Shell, BP, Edison and other companies filed arbitration claims in 2023 against Venture Global. Shell lost in August while BP won in October.
Australia is preparing to review its gas market, which could affect LNG exports
Australia will soon issue a review of the gas market that could limit exports from its east coast. Three operators, led by Shell and Santos, send cargoes to Asia. They said that the review, which they expect Canberra to release this week, may 'include a plan for LNG exporters to prioritize local supply in the populous east, the main source of domestic demand. Tony Wood, energy analyst at Melbourne's Grattan Institute, said that the government is trying to solve a difficult problem. They want the domestic and international markets to be able access gas at a reasonable price.
Eskom reports that South Africa is looking for ways to assist ferrochrome companies.
Eskom, the state-owned power utility, announced on Monday that it is looking for ways to support South Africa's ferrochrome sector. Eskom stated in a press release that the memorandum with the two companies was the result of constructive discussions on Friday between the minister of electricity and the energy of the country and the trade unions. Samancor Chrome, the joint venture between Glencore & Merafe Resources and Samancor Chrome have announced that they are looking at job cuts due to pressures such as the cost of energy. Eskom reported that the energy regulator Nersa has been reviewing a temporary power tariff adjustment.
Virginia data centers to replace coal where coal once reigned
Entrepreneurs are now looking at the rural area with the ambitious vision to rebuild its economic by converting the old mines into data centers and solar power systems that could help feed the growing power demand of the artificial-intelligence boom. A non-profit group called Energy DELTA Lab (Discovery, Education, Learning & Technology Accelerator), which is aiming to develop energy resources on approximately 65,000 acres in southwest Virginia, is currently working on such a project. Will Clear and Will Payne who manage Energy DELTA Lab say that they envision building a massive Data Center Ridge of 450 acres on top of the old mining lands.
Prices remain stable as the supply is strong and peace talks in Ukraine fail.
The Dutch and British wholesale prices of gas were stable on Wednesday morning. They were close to a 19-month low as the peace talks between Russia, the U.S. and Ukraine on ending the conflict in Ukraine failed to find a solution and gas supplies remained strong. LSEG data shows that the benchmark Dutch front-month contract was lower by 0.16 euros at 27,85 euros per megawatt (MWh) at $9.50/mmBtu at 0924 GMT. The contract reached an intraday low on Tuesday of 27,53 euros/MWh, a rate not seen since the middle of April 2024. The British day-ahead contracts was down by 0.05 pence to 72.30p/therm.
East Timor President says that improved trust will drive long-stalled project
East Timor’s president is confident in what he called a new era goodwill between Canberra, Woodside Energy and his country. This will finally allow the development of an important gas project to proceed after years of delays. Woodside and East Timor have agreed to study a project of 5 million metric tons at the Greater Sunrise Fields, an area that contains an estimated 5.1 trillion cubic feet of gas. Australia has been talking about this since the 1980s, originally with Indonesia. Jose Ramos Horta, a spokesperson for the Australian government and Woodside Energy, said that trust had improved between the two nations following previous tensions.
Merafe starts layoffs after proposal for electricity tariff fails to save South African Smelters
Merafe Resources announced on Tuesday that its chrome joint venture, with Glencore, has started formally laying workers off after a proposal for an electricity tariff failed to ensure the viability of two South African ferrochromesmelters. According to Glencore's estimates, South Africa has approximately 80% the known world chrome ore reserves. This makes the country a major player in the global ferrochrome industry. In May, however, power outages, increasing electricity prices, and other pressures forced companies to stop production at Boshoek Wonderkop and Lion Ferrochrome smelters.
Documents show that Alberta oil regulators stopped enforcing gas flare limits after government pressure.
Documents seen by have revealed that the regulator responsible for environmental enforcement in Canada’s largest oil-producing province, bowed to pressure from both the provincial government and major oil companies in order to remove a limitation on natural gas flare ups as Canadian oil production increased. Alberta's decision to remove its 20-year old flaring limit, after companies exceeded the limit twice in a row with no objections by the federal government is a good example of Canada's challenges in reconciling environmental commitments and a renewed focus of economic growth.
China finds bigger role as US sidesteps Brazil climate summit
China has stepped into the spotlight as a leader of the global warming fight, with the United States missing the U.N.'s annual climate summit in New York for the first three decades. The country's pavilion dominates the entrance of the sprawling COP30 grounds in Brazil’s Amazonian city of Belem. Executives from its largest clean energy companies present their visions of a greener future in English to large audiences, while its diplomats work behind the scenes to facilitate constructive discussions. Washington used to play these roles. Now, they are played by Beijing. Francesco La Camera is the director general of the International Renewable Energy Agency.
French and Benelux stocks: Factors to watch
Here are some company news and stories that could impact the markets in France and Benelux or even individual stocks. ALSTOM: French rail maker Alstom has raised its organic sales forecast for 2025 to over 5%, up from 3%-5% in the past. This is due to strong demand for Alstom's trains and signalling system. COFINIMMO: Belgian property investment company Cofinimmo has acquired three development assets in Finland. These include a nursing and care facility under construction, and two disabled care assets. The total budget for these projects was approximately 10 million Euros, and the average gross rental yield was approximately 7%.
White House hosts oil and biofuel discussions as Trump administration closes to a decision on refinery exemptions
Four sources familiar with these discussions say that the White House held separate meetings this week with oil refiners as well as biofuel producers to try to resolve an ongoing dispute about billions of gallons in biofuel blending requirements waived by the U.S. for small refineries. Discussions indicate that the Trump administration will soon make a final decision about whether or not larger refiners are required to compensate for the waived gallons. This decision was originally expected at the end of October, but the shutdown of the federal government delayed it.
Singapore allocates more land to green energy and data centre park
Singapore has allocated more land to its manufacturing hub Jurong Island for renewable energy and data centres, according to a statement released by the Singapore Economic Development Board (SEDB) and JTC Corporation on Monday. The agencies have announced that about 300 hectares (741.32 acre) of land, or roughly 10% of Jurong Island, will be reserved for renewable energy projects and low carbon fuel production. Two of Singapore's three refineries, operated by Exxon Mobil Chevron, and PetroChina, are located on the 3,000-hectare Jurong Island. Tan See Leng said that Jurong Island would be a test-bed globally for new energy and low-carbon technology.
Andy Home: Zinc ROI-LME turns wild when bears sleep-walk and squeeze into the squeeze:
London Metal Exchange's zinc contract is on a wild ride this week, with time-spreads reaching record levels in the face of depleted stock. Since several months the zinc market has been sleeping-walking to this storm, believing that falling LME inventories were not a true representation of a growing market surplus. Metal has been leaking out of LME's warehouses. There are only 35,300 tons left, which is barely enough for a day's global consumption. The arrivals have been very low despite the increasing premium for cash deliveries. It's a painful squeeze for the bears who misjudged zinc's changing dynamics. Last year, there were 300.000 tons of zinc in LME storage warehouses.
LAUDES-U.S. cities drive energy transition despite Trump resistance
The U.S. By Carey L. Mayors report that many cities still have a long way to go in improving building efficiency, electrifying cars and neighborhoods, training employees for new energy jobs, and designing for tomorrow. Keith Wilson, the mayor of Oregon's biggest city, said that cities like Portland don't wait for federal permission before taking action on climate change. Portland, Oregon created last year the nation's first zero emission delivery zone. This is where electric vehicles and bicycles are used to supply shops and restaurants. The city aims to become the first U.S. town to eliminate petroleum diesel sales before 2030.
Vestas shelves Polish turbine plant amid weak European demand, FT reports
The Financial Times reported that Vestas, a Danish wind turbine manufacturer, has shelved its plans to build its largest factory in Poland due to a lack of demand on its main European market. The report could not be verified immediately. Vestas has not responded to the request for comment. Vestas announced plans to build a second offshore wind farm in Poland last summer. The factory was to produce blades in 2026 and create over 1,000 jobs. The company informed the FT that investment in the facility had been suspended "due to a lower than expected demand for offshore winds in Europe". A bill intended to relax rules for the construction of onshore wind farms.
Ukraine wants to increase its gas imports by 30% following Russian attacks
Ukraine wants to increase its natural gas imports from Russia by 30% after Russian airstrikes damaged the gas infrastructure in Ukraine, which Ukrainian Energy Minister Svitlana Hynchuk described as significant on Tuesday. In recent weeks, Russia has intensified its attacks against Ukraine's energy industry. Last Friday, it attacked Ukraine's major gas fields. This has raised fears about a possible shortage of gas and the need to import additional gas. Hrynchuk said at a press conference after meeting with Western Ambassadors that "we plan to increase our imports by about 30%" if we are able to expand our capacity. We plan to import during the coldest months.