A1 Data Center plans to repurpose a former glass manufacturing facility and develop a transformational 1-gigawatt, power-first data center campus in Millville, N.J. The development leverages existing infrastructure—including smokestacks and power systems—to reduce environmental impact and accelerate deployment.
The first radioactive waste from the Hanford cleanup site was disposed of in a new engineered dump called the Integrated Disposal Facility in Central Hanford.
Neo Performance Materials produced its first batch of heavy rare earth elements following the successful commissioning of the solvent extraction line at its Silmet facility in Estonia. The small-scale production line is currently operating at its nameplate capacity, producing separated terbium and dysprosium oxides from mixed rare earth carbonate feedstock.
Global testing, inspection, and certification services company Bureau Veritas signed an agreement to acquire Lotusworks, which specializes in mission‑critical assets commissioning and quality assurance and control. The acquisition reinforces Bureau Veritas’ position in data centers and allows it to enter the semiconductor sector.
The U.S. Department of Defense awarded BlueHalo LLC of Huntsville, Ala., a $19 million contract for the development of advanced ceramic materials, processes, and sophisticated computational models. The work will take place at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio with an expected completion date of Dec. 4, 2029.
The Australian company St. George Mining Ltd. signed a memorandum of understanding with Técnicas Reunidas, under which it will contract the Spanish company to complete processing test work on samples of the rare earth resources of the deposit of Araxá, a town in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais.
The inaugural meeting of a joint Kazakhstan–Uzbekistan working group dedicated to the development of mineral resources met in the Kazakh capital of Astana on April 7, 2026. The two countries agreed to set up a mechanism to facilitate joint prospecting work, technology exchanges, and coordinate work to extract and refine critical minerals.
Brazilian lawmakers proposed bills to create a state-run company focused on rare earths and critical minerals in the latest push from the South American nation to localize refining. A proposal from Congressman Rodrigo Rollemberg would create Terras Raras Brasileiras SA, or Terrabras, and target minerals research, exploration, and commercialization.
Four months after the U.S. effectively imposed an oil blockade on Cuba that worsened its energy crunch, nearly every aspect of Cuban society has been feeling the strain. An article by CNN explains how Cuba reached this point and where it could go from here.
An article on The Conversation looks at the effect of the Iran war on different Asian countries. Faced with tightening supplies and rising prices, many Asian governments have moved quickly to curb energy demand.
The European Union-Mercosur Partnership Agreement would create the first binding legal framework aimed at reducing China’s chokehold on critical mineral processing and shifting part of that processing to South America. This deal contrasts greatly with the U.S., where the Trump administration is waging a trade war to obtain critical minerals from its economic partners.
The U.S. does not impose federal regulations on e-waste disposal, relying instead on a patchwork of state laws. A WUFT article describes what local Florida authorities are doing to manage the surge.
The American Concrete Institute (ACI) released a new certificate program, Low-Carbon Concrete: Quantification, Design, and Compliance. The program is a joint initiative between ACI University and NEU: An ACI Center of Excellence for Carbon Neutral Concrete.
