Rio Tinto has signed a five-year sales agreement with Australian company SuperChar Limited to purchase 35,000 tonnes of bana grass bio pellets by 2028. This $30 million biochar facility in Boynedale, Central Queensland, aims to replace up to 50% of coal in Rio Tinto's Gladstone refinery boilers, pending council approval.
A $96 million US Department of Defense deal with Australian firm Lynas for rare earth elements, crucial for modern tech and weapons, faces Malaysian pushback. Locals and NGOs urge the government to block the deal or ensure materials aren't used in weapons, citing US support for Israel amid the Gaza conflict.
Ukraine's Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko resigned Sunday, with reports suggesting she will become Kyiv's ambassador to the US. President Zelenskyy announced broader changes in law enforcement and a "political strategy" shift. Meanwhile, a Ukrainian drone attack hit Russia's Syzran oil refinery, killing one, and Russia suspended shipping in the Sea of Azov due to drone activity.
Ukraine's drone forces have targeted 90 Russian vessels in the Sea of Azov in under a week, forcing Russia to suspend shipping. Attacks hit oil refineries and infrastructure, impacting Moscow's ability to transport sanctioned oil and other goods.
Ukraine launched attacks on Russia's Samara region and the Azov-Black Sea Canal, hitting the Syzran Oil Refinery and an empty tanker. One person died and three were injured in the Samara strike. The attacks aim to disrupt Russian military logistics and energy revenues.
Russia is experiencing fuel shortages and queues at gas stations due to oil refineries being partially shut down for repairs following drone strikes, according to Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak. He also cited panic buying as a contributing factor to increased demand.
Ukrainian drone attacks caused fires at an oil refinery in Krasnodar and fuel depots/port in Rostov, Russia. Residents were evacuated from affected areas. These strikes target Russia's energy infrastructure, contributing to fuel shortages.
Russian air defense systems destroyed 376 Ukrainian drones overnight over various regions and the Sea of Azov. Fires broke out at the Ilsky oil refinery and two oil product facilities in Azov due to falling debris, with firefighting and evacuations underway in Taganrog.
Russia is experiencing a tough fuel market due to summer peak demand and unscheduled refinery maintenance. Deputy PM Alexander Novak has instructed agencies to prevent supply disruptions, with particular focus on Irkutsk and Trans-Baikal regions. Export bans are being considered to stabilize domestic supplies.
Ukrainian drones targeted a major oil refinery in Omsk, Siberia, nearly 2,500 km from Ukraine, marking a deep strike on Russian territory. The attack, confirmed by local officials, caused a fire and highlights Kyiv's enhanced drone capabilities ahead of a NATO summit.
Ukrainian drones targeted Russia's Omsk oil refinery, its largest, located 2,700km from Ukraine. The attack, confirmed by local authorities, occurred before a Nato summit. Russia claimed most drones were destroyed, with no casualties. President Zelenskyy hailed it as a significant achievement, extending Ukraine's strike capability to Siberia.
Ukrainian drones attacked Russia's Omsk oil refinery, its largest, damaging a primary oil processing unit. The strike, confirmed by Ukrainian intelligence and the refinery's governor, marks the farthest drone penetration into Russian territory since the war began.
Port Arthur, Texas, a low-income community, suffers from severe health issues and economic hardship due to the presence of major oil refineries, including Motiva, owned by Saudi Aramco. Residents face high rates of cancer, asthma, and heart disease, with significant environmental pollution and economic disinvestment.
PM Modi inaugurated India's first integrated refinery-cum-petrochemical complex in Rajasthan, a Rs 1.06 lakh crore project with HPCL, boosting energy security and petrochemical self-sufficiency. He also launched Jaipur Metro Phase 2, rail doubling, road, and solar energy projects, marking a significant infrastructure and renewable energy push.
Russia is experiencing a severe petrol crisis, with widespread shortages, long queues at stations, and public anger. Ukrainian attacks on refineries have disrupted supplies, with about a third of refining capacity reportedly offline. President Putin acknowledged the "problems" caused by these strikes.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy announced that Ukrainian forces struck Russia's Ufa oil refinery for the second time in a week and also hit a missile components plant in Penza. These long-range attacks are a "just response" to Russia's actions, contributing to a fuel deficit in Russia, while Russian aerial attacks on Ukraine have decreased.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced strikes on Russia's Ufa oil refinery and a missile component plant in Penza. These attacks, part of a broader strategy targeting Russian energy infrastructure, aim to disrupt fuel supplies and slow the Russian advance.
Overnight Russian attacks killed at least three people and injured over a dozen in southeastern Ukraine. Meanwhile, Kyiv struck a Russian oil refinery over 1,300km away and a military-industrial facility. Ukraine also signed a deal for 16 Gripen fighter jets.
Ukraine's attacks on Russian oil refineries have led to widespread fuel shortages and rationing across Russia, causing frustration among motorists and impacting the agricultural sector. President Putin acknowledged the "temporary" issues, but analysts suggest repairs will take months, prolonging the crisis.
Ukraine's drone attacks on Russian oil refineries escalate, causing fuel shortages and rationing. Putin admits a 'certain deficit' in fuel, vows to protect facilities and increase output.
The US has sanctioned Rwanda's Gasabo Gold Refinery and two executives, accusing them of smuggling minerals from rebel-controlled areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and collaborating with the M23 rebel group. The sanctions aim to curb illicit mineral trade and destabilize the region.
Ukraine's drone strike on Moscow Refinery highlights enhanced capabilities and a strategy to hit Russia's energy revenues. Political shifts in the US and Hungary, coupled with falling oil prices, suggest a potential turning point, though depleted air defense and escalation risks remain concerns.
Australia has refused to release internal documents concerning a US$200 million trust fund for Tuvalu, a Pacific nation vulnerable to climate change. The documents, requested via Freedom of Information laws, were withheld citing potential diplomatic damage, despite the fund being invested in fossil fuel industries.
Polish PM Donald Tusk cautioned against a political conflict with Ukraine, calling it a strategic mistake. This follows Poland revoking Zelenskyy's top honor after he supported renaming a unit after nationalists who massacred Poles in WWII. Meanwhile, Ukraine's attacks on Russian fuel supplies in Crimea have led to civilian gas sales suspension.
