STRATEGIC STORAGE
A tell-tale sign that China could be preparing for war
A notable parallel has been observed between Germany's pre-1939 invasion preparations and China's current actions, such as stockpiling resources. The focus on mineral hoarding signifies China's readiness for regional conflicts, echoing past wartime actions. Former US intelligence director Mike Studeman suggested this is part of Xi Jinping’s strategy to prepare for potential conflict.
China's nuclear force now three times larger than India's: SIPRI data
China is rapidly increasing its nuclear arsenal, now boasting 500 warheads, triple that of India. This expansion reflects heightened geopolitical tensions and a global trend toward modernizing nuclear capabilities. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reports that all nine nuclear-armed states are enhancing their arsenals, with China and the US notably placing warheads on high operational alert.
What are tactical nuclear weapons and why is Russia holding drills?
Russia and Belarus are conducting exercises to practice the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons. These weapons are intended for battlefield use and rely on nuclear fission and fusion reactions to release energy. The drills involve missiles like Kinzhal and Iskander, with Russia using non-strategic nuclear warheads. The exercises are seen as a response to perceived hostile actions by the United States and its allies.
JSW Energy begins construction as part of its foray into battery storage services
JSW Energy has started construction on a Battery Energy Storage Project (BESS) to enter the energy storage services business, enabling the storage and release of renewable energy. They were awarded a 1.0 GWh battery storage project by SECI, with commissioning expected by June 2025. The company is also developing green hydrogen and steel projects, aiming to achieve 20 GW generation capacity and 40 GWh energy storage capacity by 2030.
RBI moves 1 lakh kg of gold from UK back to India, first such move of this quantum since 1991
India's central bank has moved around 100 tonnes of gold from the UK to its domestic vaults, with plans to relocate more soon, according to a TOI report. This significant transfer, the first since 1991, addresses logistical and storage diversity concerns. The RBI, which held 822.1 tonnes of gold as of March, coordinated closely with various government bodies and used special aircraft for secure transport
Sleepy far-flung towns in the Philippines will host US forces returning to counter China threats
The remote coastal town of Santa Ana in the Philippines is gaining strategic importance as a potential site for U.S. military encampment under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. This agreement comes amid escalating tensions between the U.S. and China, with the Philippines seeking a counterbalance to Chinese military assertiveness in the South China Sea. While some locals express concerns about living near U.S. forces, others see economic benefits and enhanced security. The town's tourism potential is also expected to grow. Authorities are preparing for potential refugee influxes in case of regional conflicts.
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IIT Guwahati develops high-performance materials for supercapacitors
IIT Guwahati researchers led by Prof. Uday Narayan Maiti developed materials improving supercapacitor performance, published in 'Small'. The study introduces novel methods to tackle challenges, offering promise for energy storage applications in various industries.
DERC grants regulatory approval to Battery Energy Storage System with GEAPP's support
The project aims to provide 24/7 power to more than 12,000 low-income consumers.
Musk's big win in China: Tesla clears data security, full self driving hurdles for locally-made cars
Tesla CEO Elon Musk's surprise visit to China has proven to be a strategic move yielding significant results. Musk secured a key clearance from Chinese authorities, boosting the EV maker's efforts to revive declining sales and regain trust in the Chinese market, where local automakers like BYD challenge Tesla's dominance. Tesla cars produced in China met essential data security and privacy requirements, allowing Musk to progress in gaining approval for driver-assistance software introduction. Furthermore, a reported deal between Tesla and Baidu for mapping services in China hints at further advancements in the company's operations.
India aims for first strategic petroleum reserve with a private company by 2029-30
India is aiming to establish its first privately managed strategic petroleum reserve (SPR) by 2029-30, allowing the operator to trade all stored oil, according to the chief executive of Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd (ISPRL). This move mirrors models adopted by countries like Japan and South Korea, where private lessees, often oil majors, are permitted to trade the crude.
India to build first commercial crude oil strategic storage
India plans to build its first commercial crude oil storage at Padur, Karnataka, with 2.5 million tonnes capacity. The project under ISPRL will be operated in a PPP model, with India retaining emergency oil usage rights. Deadline for bids is April 22.
Hitachi Vantara integrates Hitachi IT platform products management division
The new structure includes the integration of Hitachi Vantara and parent Hitachi’s IT platform products management division, which is responsible for Hitachi’s business development, R&D, and production of data infrastructure solutions.
Government allows UAE's Adnoc to export oil from Indian strategic storage
In an order, the ministry said the condition of export being allowed only through IOC will continue, but "AMI (Adnoc Marketing International (India) RSC Limited India) is exempted from STE conditions and is allowed to re-export crude oil from their commercial stockpile at Mangalore strategic petroleum reserve, at their own cost".
24x7 power with green H2 storage in works
The government is developing a draft scheme for round-the-clock renewable energy using green hydrogen storage under the National Green Hydrogen Mission. Financial assistance may be offered through contract for difference or viability gap funding, with an initial 100 MW pilot project considered.
India begins talks with IEA for full membership
India's bid to join the 31-nation International Energy Agency as a full member has commenced discussions with ministers from member countries, the Paris-based organisation announced on Wednesday. The IEA acknowledged India's "strategic importance" in addressing global energy and climate concerns in a statement released during the ministerial meeting in Paris in 2024.
Energy storage segment attracts $9.2 bn funding via venture capital route in 2023: Mercom
In 2023, venture capital (VC) funding into India's energy storage sector surged by 59%, reaching a total of USD 9.2 billion. Overall investments in the segment, however, experienced a 28% decline, totaling USD 9.8 billion, including funding through debt and public market financing. The year marked the highest-ever VC/PE funding in the energy storage space, surpassing the previous year's total of USD 5.8 billion.
Govt plans to lease strategic oil reserve space to private companies
About 0.75 mmt of capacity in Mangalore and about 0.25 mmt in Visakhapatnam is currently vacant and needs to be filled, L R Jain, the CEO of Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited (ISPRL), said on Tuesday.
Omega Seiki partners with Attero for lithium-ion battery recycling
Omega Seiki Private Ltd (OSPL) has signed an agreement with Attero for recycling lithium-ion batteries. OSPL and Attero plan to recycle over 100MWh of batteries in the next 3-4 years. The strategic alliance will cover the domestic market, ASEAN, and African regions. Attero will repurpose the batteries for energy storage, addressing the complete lifecycle of EV components. OSPL aims to deploy over 1-GWH of EV batteries and Attero targets the recycling of over 100 MWh in the next 3-4 years. This is important for India's sustainable approach to Li-ion battery recycling and to avoid environmental threats and waste of rare materials.
Govt halves Budget support to oil firms, defers filling strategic oil reserves
The government has halved the equity infusion in state-owned fuel retailers to Rs 15,000 crore for supporting their investments in energy transition projects. While other state-owned oil companies have lined up investments to achieve net zero carbon emissions, the equity support was limited to the three fuel retailers
India defers $602 mln plan to fill parts of strategic petroleum reserve
In the federal budget for 2023-24, the government had outlined a plan to purchase crude oil worth 50 billion rupees for caverns in the southern cities of Mangalore and Visakhapatnam.
India holds back $600 million strategic oil reserve top-up
India has limited oil storage capacity, with space for only 39 million barrels of crude — barely enough for eight days of the country’s consumption — to use in the event of an emergency. It filled the storage in 2020, when Brent crude prices crashed, but has since released about a third of that oil to local refiners.
India's energy shift: Major growth in renewables sets stage for a green 2024
Marking a significant milestone in India's green energy chronicle was the launch of the National Green Hydrogen Mission. The government's resolve in augmenting renewable energy was further underscored by its plan to infuse 50 GW of renewable energy capacity annually till FY28.
Going vocal with local on LLMs; and other top tech, startup stories this week
While tech biggies including Microsoft, Google, and Meta are leading the charge on AI, more localised contingents are emerging across geographies, including in India and the European Union.
Egypt is ready to be India’s gateway to Europe, Africa & W Asia: Hossam Heiba, CEO, GAFI
Egypt is located at the crossroads of Africa, Asia, and Europe. This gives it a strategic location for trade and investment. The Suez Canal, which is one of the world's busiest shipping routes, is located in Egypt. This provides foreign investors with access to a large market of consumers and businesses in the MENA region, Europe, and Asia, let alone its central time zone which makes it accessible to all countries, said Hossam Heiba, CEO, GAFI.
What's at stake in Russia's assault on Avdiivka?
Russian forces escalate assaults on Avdiivka, echoing past conflicts in cities like Bakhmut. Despite Ukraine's attempts to break Russian lines, assessments foresee a prolonged conflict. Avdiivka, a city with a pre-war population of 32,000 and a vital coke plant, now witnesses intense attacks. With just 1,500 residents remaining, the city's destruction is profound. Analysts note high human costs in Russia's offensive, as both sides endure significant losses. Control of Avdiivka is pivotal for Russia's strategy in Donetsk and Luhansk, aiming to expand territory and fortify logistics.
India seeks to build strategic reserves by storing gas in depleted wells
The strategic facilities would be built in phases in India's western and northeastern regions with an initial capacity to store three to four billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas, Sumit Kishore, an executive director at GAIL, told reporters at an industry event.
Plans afoot to build strategic natural gas reserve
After oil minister Hardeep Singh Puri recently gave a green signal to the idea of setting up the gas reserve, the oil ministry directed Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC), Oil India and GAIL to jointly prepare a detailed feasibility report on the same, people said. The companies are expected to submit the report in three months.
Corporate funding in energy storage falls 31% to $15.2 billion: Mercom Capital
However, during the July-September quarter the segment attracted USD 8.2 billion investment, up 32 per cent year-on-year over USD 6.2 billion raised in the same period of 2022.
Empowering India: A glimpse into Battery Energy Storage Systems for a sustainable future
India envisions a future where 30% of new vehicle sales will be electric by 2030. A substantial amount of battery storage is needed to facilitate this shift - a staggering 34 GW or 136 GWh to support the additional 450 GW of renewables.
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