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Operational Changes and Investments news
(page 7)
19 May 2026
Statkraft to invest NOK 80bn in Norwegian hydropower over 10 years
Half for major maintenance; rest for upgrades, new capacity and wind repowering. Nationwide dam reinforcements, turbine and tunnel refurbishments; projects need permits and profitability
18 May 2026
Teijin Frontier expands OCTAIR™ insulation fiber capacity at Matsuyama Plant
New equipment will boost OCTAIR™ output starting March 2027 to meet demand for down alternatives, targeting about 1,000 t/yr by 2030.
18 May 2026
Dow launches Coolant Care Network for data center liquid cooling
End-to-end coolant management for data centers: approved labs and service providers, centralized data review, expert analysis and field support to improve uptime and cut operational risk.
18 May 2026
Aramco and Pasqal launch Saudi Arabia’s first quantum computer and the Middle East’s first QCaaS platform
Located in Dhahran, a 200-qubit neutral-atom QPU offers low-latency cloud access for industrial apps, enabling optimization, simulation and AI for energy, materials, logistics, CO2 storage; workforce training.
18 May 2026
BASF opens refinery catalyst R&D center in Attapulgus, GA
R&D center focuses on applied FCC testing, QA/QC and scale-up at production site to speed commercialization and tailor catalyst solutions to refiners
18 May 2026
Essar Energy Transition completes Pre‑FEED for Stanlow Methanol‑to‑Jet SAF hub
Planned plant will convert ~550,000 tpa renewable methanol into >200,000 tpa jet fuel, using existing refinery blending and pipeline export; FEED this year, FID by early 2028.
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18 May 2026
Repsol and Santos begin Pikka oil production in Alaska
Partners reached first oil at a North Slope project; production to hit 80,000 bpd plateau in Q3 with first sales then. 28 wells drilled in phase 1; 45 wells planned; further phases expected.
18 May 2026
OMV starts production at Austria’s largest gas discovery in 40 years
Wittau well begins gas output; first phase 11 TWh for winter 2026/27, recoverable up to 48 TWh. EUR150m invested so far; project could double Austria’s gas production.
18 May 2026
Seven MDBs Pledge Support for Middle East Conflict Impacts
Offer financing, policy, private‑sector tools and technical assistance to manage shocks to energy, food and trade — providing relief, budget support, liquidity, trade finance, firm support and resilience investments
15 May 2026
PTT Global Chemical Q1 2026 Results: Integrated Value Chain Secures Production and Balances Portfolio
Q1 revenue THB 146,936m; net profit THB 3,232m. Operations sustained via feedstock flexibility and supply‑chain continuity. Pivoting to specialty chemicals, bioplastics and recycled plastics.
15 May 2026
Ercros Q1 2026: €13.6m loss
Q1: contribution €52m; adj. EBITDA −€1m; liquidity €45m. Weak demand, high energy costs, non‑EU competition. Bondalti bid 77.23% accepted. New board aims to delist, restore profitability, integrate
15 May 2026
Iberdrola completes phase 1 of Noronha Verde, installs 4,800 solar panels
Project pairs solar with battery storage on Fernando de Noronha to reach 22 MWp/49 MWh, replace biodiesel, supply ~9,000 homes; €50M (R$350M) investment, completion by end-2026.
15 May 2026
EnviTec Biogas: solid 2025; regulatory setbacks dent 2026, growth expected from 2027
Total output +6.8% to €376.4M; revenues -7.4% to €312.6M; EBT €26.0M (prev €44.0M) after ~€8M provision; dividend suspended. 2026 guidance: revenues €330–370M, EBT €5–15M.
14 May 2026
Repsol: Refining is strategic for Spain and Europe
Chairman urged removing investment barriers and securing supply amid Iran crisis. CEO forecasts 6–9% DPS growth to 2028, 30–40% of CFO for returns; AGM ok'd dividends, €350m buyback
14 May 2026
MOL adds biomethane unit to Szarvas biogas plant
Szarvas plant will add a biomethane unit to clean biogas to grid quality, yielding over 7 million m3/yr (≈8,500 households), boosting local renewables and energy security; operational by year-end.
14 May 2026
Petrobras restarts fertilizer production at Fafen-BA
Plant resumed operations after R$100M investment, running at 90% capacity and meeting ~5% of national fertilizer demand. Plans include E&P, biodiesel, waste-oil programs and cultural funds.
14 May 2026
LanzaTech Q1 2026 Results
Q1: closed $30M equity raises (plus up to $20M option), going‑concern resolved; revenue $12M; net loss narrowed to $14.7M; Adj. EBITDA loss $7.9M; OpEx down 59%; India, UK, Japan milestones.
14 May 2026
Iberdrola begins commissioning Tâmega wind‑hydro complex
Tâmega Norte enters commissioning as the Iberian Peninsula's first grid-connected wind‑hydro hybrid: 195 MW (27×7.2 MW), ~414 GWh/yr; €346M for both farms; >230,000 t CO2/yr avoided.
13 May 2026
Messer appoints Peter Mohnen as CEO and restructures European leadership
Planned CEO handover on July 1, 2026; outgoing CEO to retire; European COO departs June 30; CMO to become COO Europe; focus on continuity and family ownership.
13 May 2026
Worley wins engineering contract for Orbia's Louisiana LiPF6 plant
Engineering, supply-chain, modularization, construction and automation support for a new large-scale battery electrolyte production facility in the US to bolster battery materials supply.
13 May 2026
EnviTec Biogas opens Bio-LNG filling station in Holdorf
New Bio-LNG station in Holdorf offers A1/B214 access, 30,000 kg storage and two pumps; supports LNG truck fleet, enabling ~200 t CO2 savings per truck/year (at 125,000 km).
13 May 2026
Avantium sells Ray Technology IP to UPM
Sale transfers Ray Technology patents for bio-based MEG/MPG (up to end‑2023). Seller refocuses on FDCA/PEF; €2.7M proceeds used to repay debt (€2.0M) and dismantle pilot (€0.7M).
12 May 2026
SPIE partners with SkyNRG on DSL-01 SAF plant in Delfzijl
100,000 t/yr SAF plus 35,000 t/yr sustainable by‑products; CO₂ savings up to 80%; construction started and operation expected mid‑2028.
12 May 2026
Messer Belgium builds sustainable air separation plant at North Sea Port
€60M investment creates 30 jobs to produce oxygen, nitrogen and argon; construction starts mid‑May, commissioning by 2028, CO2‑free operation using green electricity; serves Lille‑Rotterdam axis
12 May 2026
EWE awards Bilfinger contract for Emden hydrogen plant
Final major contract fixes cost and planning for a 320 MW electrolyser, enabling long-term green-hydrogen supply deals. First production slated late 2027; stable regulation needed.
12 May 2026
Asahi Kasei to Realign Material Supply by FY2030
Streamline Mizushima Works by FY2030; no immediate supply impact. Exiting low-margin derivative businesses (¥116.2bn 2025) to boost margins, free capital for pharma, healthcare, homes, electronics.
12 May 2026
PETRONAS LNG signs 20-year charter with MISC for five LNG carriers
174,000-cbm newbuild LNG vessels to be built in Shanghai, delivery 2029–2030; will use XDF2.1 propulsion, shaft generators and onboard reliquefaction; project and ship management arranged.
12 May 2026
Asahi Kasei, Mitsui Chemicals and Mitsubishi Chemical agree 45/45/10 equity split for western Japan ethylene JV
Plan to integrate western Japan ethylene assets: close Mizushima plant by 2030 and consolidate operations at a single site to decarbonize, optimize capacity and strengthen competitiveness.
11 May 2026
POSCO Holdings invests USD 765m for 30% stake in Australian lithium JV with Mineral Resources
Secures rights to 30% of spodumene concentrate from Wodgina and Mt. Marion; aims to link upstream mining supply with downstream processing and capture dividend income.
11 May 2026
Covestro to install Dormagen steam compressor, cutting Germany energy use 2%
Heat-pump upgrade will save ~40,000 t CO2/yr, cut low three-digit GWh energy use; investment low double-digit million euros; expected operation mid-2027.
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