Puresil India commissioned the first fully integrated vertical processing plant for high-purity silica sand and kaolin in India. The company’s new facility will have an annual production capacity of 450,000 metric tons.
Ambuja Cements, the building materials subsidiary of Indian infrastructure firm Adani Group, is evaluating the integration of carbon capture technology at its 6.6 million metric tons per annum Sanghi cement plant in Gujarat, India. The company has partnered with U.K.-based clean energy technology firm Leilac on the project.
The European Commission approved €76 million of German state aid for QuantumDiamonds GmbH, which is planning to set up a cutting-edge semiconductor testing facility in Munich. The Commission said QuantumDiamonds has agreed to work with small-and-medium-sized enterprises and with universities and research institutions.
Altona Rare Earths rebranded as NeoTerra Group Plc, reflecting a strategic shift beyond rare earth exploration toward a broader portfolio of critical minerals that includes gallium, fluorspar, and copper. At the center of NeoTerra’s strategy is the Monte Muambe project in northwestern Mozambique.
Quantum Computing Inc. announced the completion of acquiring NHanced Semiconductors, Inc. for a combination of cash and QCi stock valued at $73.1 million. The acquisition marks an important step in QCi’s transition from research-driven innovation and prototyping to scalable commercial production.
Mining company Steenkampskraal Monazite Mine and South African national research institution Mintek successfully produced high-purity mixed rare earth oxalate, marking the first achievement of its kind on the African continent.
RHI Magnesita announced a strategic joint venture with Khemka Refractories Pvt. Ltd. to develop a greenfield refractory recycling facility in Odisha. The initiative aims to strengthen circular economy practices in India’s refractory sector.
The United Arab Emirates and China are collaborating on an increasing number of renewable energy projects across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Through this partnership, UAE companies provide funding and project development support while Chinese firms supply equipment, technology, and construction services.
The National Science Foundation has slashed the budgets for hundreds of its basic science programs for the remainder of this fiscal year, according to a June 18 memo obtained by Science. The memo asks program managers to not inform potential and current principal investigators and other grantees about the changes.
The Republic of Korea unveiled plans for at least $880 billion of investments to build out the country’s chip manufacturing and artificial intelligence capabilities in the coming years. It is part of the country’s so-called Three Mega Projects to develop new chip production hubs, data centers, and robotics technology.
This year’s rare “super” El Niño could be the world’s next energy market shock, analysts say, threatening renewable energy production in some places as it drives extreme heat. Solar power may drop in places such as California and southeastern China, while hydropower dries up in the U.S. Pacific Northwest and southern Africa.
