PLANTS, CENTERS, AND FACILITIES

Fired-up performance from The AMRICC Centre in milestone year

A strong set of performance figures from its first year of operations reveal The AMRICC Centre is already playing a pivotal role to support the U.K.’s standing within the multibillion-pound global advanced ceramics sector.

UC Irvine launches Engineering+ Sustainability Institute to focus on critical materials

A new Engineering+ Sustainability Institute in the Samueli School of Engineering at the University of California, Irvine will focus on the sustainable processing of critical materials and seek to reinvent the materials supply chain, closing the loop between sourcing, production, utilization, and recycling.

World’s largest clay-based cement facility begins operations in Ghana 

Ghana recently inaugurated the world’s largest clay-based cement facility. The $110 million plant, operated by CBI Ghana Limited, has an annual capacity of 1.5 million metric tons of cement, including 400,000 metric tons of calcined clay.

 

ACQUISITIONS AND COLLABORATIONS

Australia and Canada sign first clean energy partnership

Australia and Canada signed their first bilateral Clean Energy Partnership, establishing a framework for cooperation across five key areas, including grid modernization, hydrogen standards development, and Indigenous engagement in the clean energy transition.

Türkiye seals nuclear energy collaboration deal with Canada

Türkiye Nuclear Energy Corporation and Canadian-based nuclear energy company AtkinsRealis signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate in the development of nuclear power plants in Türkiye.

Codelco and Microsoft sign mining AI and analytics collaboration agreement 

Chilean state-owned mining company Codelco signed an agreement with Microsoft establishing a framework for collaboration to evaluate joint initiatives in artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, automation, and digital security, among other areas.

Simulating the seas to make additive manufacturing fleet-ready

The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory partnered with GKN Aerospace to develop a novel capability that simulates shipboard motion for additive manufacturing. This innovative effort supports the U.S. Navy’s goal of resilient, on-demand logistics by enabling reliable 3D printing operations aboard naval vessels.

 

Africa’s Green Economy Summit 2026 delivers roadmap to turn climate ambition into reality

Africa’s Green Economy Summit 2026 concluded in Cape Town with a resounding call to action, urging the continent to leverage its digital revolution, transform water financing, and redesign agriculture to unlock a sustainable, net-zero future. The four-day platform united more than 600 delegates from 42 countries, including global investors, project developers, and policymakers.

Bioferia 2026: Latin America’s largest sustainability festival returns to the Palermo Hippodrome

Bioferia 2026, Latin America’s largest sustainability and regeneration festival, returns to the Palermo Hippodrome in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from April 10–12, 2026. Celebrating its 7th edition, the event promotes a sustainable lifestyle through interactive experiences, workshops, and conscious brands.

US Interior secretary is in Venezuela to discuss critical minerals

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum met in Venezuela with acting President Delcy Rodríguez in the latest sign of the Trump administration’s intent to exercise control over the South American country’s natural resources.

 

MARKET TRENDS

The Middle East and global energy markets

The International Energy Agency is closely monitoring the Iran war’s potential implications of prolonged disruptions to energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz. This article paints a picture of the current market background due to the conflict.

As renewable energy economics shift, smaller buyers get creative

Rising electricity prices, expiring incentives, and interconnection backlogs are driving many small and mid-size companies in the market for renewable energy to juggle priorities—emphasizing on-site installations and local suppliers.

 

NEW PRODUCTS

Corning launches Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3 with enhanced drop durability

Corning Inc. launched Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3, the toughest Gorilla Glass Ceramic ever made. Designed to help deliver enhanced durability across a device’s lifetime, Gorilla Glass Ceramic 3 will be featured on Motorola’s upcoming razr fold device.

ASTM publishes first comprehensive laminated glass effective thickness standard

ASTM International published a new glass design standard, ASTM E3491, for determining laminated glass effective thickness, including calculation methods for various configurations of glass plies bonded with polymeric interlayers.

 

Author

Lisa McDonald