NewzIntel.com

Category: Energy

  • MIL-OSI: Webcast details for Orrön Energy’s Q1 presentation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Orrön Energy AB (“Orrön Energy”) will publish its financial report for the first quarter 2025 on Tuesday, 6 May 2025 at 07:30 CEST, followed by a webcast at 14:00 CEST.

    Listen to Daniel Fitzgerald, CEO and Espen Hennie, CFO commenting on the report and describing the latest developments in Orrön Energy at a webcast on 6 May 2025 at 14:00 CEST, followed by a question-and-answer session.

    Registration for the webcast presentation is available on the website and the below link:
    https://orron-energy.events.inderes.com/q1-report-2025

    For further information, please contact:

    Robert Eriksson
    Corporate Affairs and Investor Relations
    Tel: +46 701 11 26 15
    robert.eriksson@orron.com

    Jenny Sandström
    Communications Lead
    Tel: +41 79 431 63 68
    jenny.sandstrom@orron.com

    Orrön Energy is an independent, publicly listed (Nasdaq Stockholm: “ORRON”) renewable energy company within the Lundin Group of Companies. Orrön Energy’s core portfolio consists of high quality, cash flow generating assets in the Nordics, coupled with greenfield growth opportunities in the Nordics, the UK, Germany and France. With significant financial capacity to fund further growth and acquisitions, and backed by a major shareholder, management and Board with a proven track record of investing into, leading and growing highly successful businesses, Orrön Energy is in a unique position to create shareholder value through the energy transition.

    Forward-looking statements
    Statements in this press release relating to any future status or circumstances, including statements regarding future performance, growth and other trend projections, are forward-looking statements. These statements may generally, but not always, be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “seek”, “will”, “would” or similar expressions. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that could occur in the future. There can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements due to several factors, many of which are outside the company’s control. Any forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date on which the statements are made and the company has no obligation (and undertakes no obligation) to update or revise any of them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The rise of Brazil’s fuel mafias and their gas station money laundering machines

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Robert Muggah, Richard von Weizsäcker Fellow na Bosch Academy e Co-fundador, Instituto Igarapé

    Brazil’s federal police recently pulled back the curtain on a criminal web that had infiltrated the country’s fuel distribution chains. What looked like ordinary gas stations were, in fact, outposts of a vast laundering machine, washing dirty money with diesel and ethanol. According to Justice Minister Ricardo Lewandowski, more than 1,000 service stations across the country were overseen by organised crime syndicates.

    The plot thickened when Rio de Janeiro’s state police launched raids against the so-called “fuel mafia”, dismantling a racket that sold millions of liters of adulterated fuel. In the process, they revealed a network of ghost companies churning out fake invoices.

    Crime moves into the fuel sector

    Across Brazil organised crime is diversifying beyond narcotics, arms trafficking into the biofuel and fossil fuel sectors. Criminal factions with names such as the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC), Comando Vermelho (CV), and militia groups made-up of retired and active duty police are expanding into fuel theft, smuggling, tax evasion, and money laundering. The pivot by Brazil’s criminal underworld underscores their adaptability in exploiting legitimate markets.

    Fuel theft is hardly new to Brazil. The country’s top fuel distributors – Ale, BR, Ipiranga, and Raizen – have warned of criminal infiltration. But the costs of these illegal activities are significant. According to ICL, an industry group, illegal profits generated by gas stations amounted to $23 billion reais($3.89 billion) in 2021.

    A 2022 study by the Brazilian Public Security Forum (FBSP) revealed that criminal organisations generated approximately 146.8 billion reais (around $25.4 billion) from sectors including fuel, gold, cigarettes, and beverages far surpassing the revenues from cocaine trafficking.

    Meanwhile, a 2024 assessment found that the costs of cargo-theft, fuel-related robberies and fraud generated annual losses of $29 billion reais. Vibra Energia estimated that roughly 13 billion liters of fuel were being traded through “irregular” means a year.

    Fake gas stations, adulterated fuel, and tax fraud

    Organised criminal groups employ multiple strategies to exploit the fuel sector. The most common involves the use of “pirate” gas stations — outlets that flout safety standards and sell adulterated and stolen fuel. Police have exposed hundreds of gas stations linked to individuals indicted or convicted for fuel-related offenses since 2015. In 2019, for example, BR purged its retail network of 730 stations nationwide suspected of involvement in “irregularities”.

    By 2023, the PCC reportedly extended its influence to five ethanol plants and approximately 1,100 of São Paulo’s 9,000 gas stations. And in 2024, police claimed that as many as 30 gas stations in Rio de Janeiro were under PCC control. Meanwhile, the National Agency for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) reported that violations related to the use of methanol — a toxic substance commonly used to adulterate fuels—increased by over 73 percent compared to the previous year.

    Fraud and tax evasion are also common in the fuel sector. In Brazil, fuel taxes on ethanol vary from state to state. These discrepancies create incentives for enterprising criminals to purchase fuel from low-tax jurisdictions and resell in high-tax states to station owners who charge higher tax and pocket the difference.

    A 2019 study by FGV estimated that fuel-related tax evasion generated 7.2 billion reais ($1.3 billion), with major rewards for petrol station owners that laundered funds. There are also schemes that involve tax fraud in fuel production and illegal diesel imports. One prominent case involved Copape, a company that sold fuel below market price by evading import taxes and manipulating its product. The company was later shut down amid allegations of ties to the PCC.

    Another common strategy involves outright theft by installing clandestine taps and siphoning fuel from pipelines. This practice often leads to significant economic losses and poses environmental hazards and public safety risks. The process usually involves precise “insider” knowledge of pipeline networks. In 2019, for example, Petrobras identified over 261 such incidents in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo alone.

    The direct targeting of personnel and infrastructure has also occurred. In 2019, for example, more than 40 people were arrested in Rio de Janeiro in 2019 suspected of extorting and murdering Petrobras contactors. The group was described as highly organised with separate divisions for intimidating targets, tapping pipelines, transporting stolen fuel, and monitoring police movements. Stolen fuel can be sold on to asphalt companies, underground gas owners, and others.

    The entrenchment of organised crime in biofuels such as sugar and palm oil has resulted in confrontations with state authorities. In August 2024, 59,000 hectares of São Paulo’s sugarcane plantations were ravaged by fires resulting in losses of over 1 billion reais. Authorities suspect that the PCC orchestrated arson attacks as retaliation against government measures targeting their involvement in the adulterated fuel trade.

    And in February 2025, police in Rio de Janeiro revealed that operators of an illegal gambling (jogo do bicho) network were financing the criminal extraction of oil from underground pipelines. Proceeds were used to acquire equipment, rent fuel transport vehicles, and pay off personnel. In Rio, and elsewhere in Brazil, such activities undermine the rule of law, distort markets, and erode public trust.

    Technology-enabled solutions to disrupt fuel theft

    Preventing and disrupting infiltration of organised crime into the fuel sectors is challenging. Legal proceedings are often protracted. Efforts by fuel distributors to terminate franchise agreements with non-compliant operators are often stymied by prolonged court battles. The sophistication of Brazil’s criminal organisations also complicates enforcement efforts including their blending of illicit activities with legitimate business.

    At a minimum, federal and state authorities need to track gas stations and pipelines that are implicated in crime. Advanced tracking technologies that improve transparency in the fuel supply chain. And these solutions need to be bolstered by intelligence sharing across jurisdictions. One promising response comes from Brazil’s National Institute of Metrology (Inmetro) which has expanded its inspections of fuel pumps and product quality.

    Companies like Petrobras have ramped up their security measures to protect pipelines, refineries, transportation systems, and petrol stations. Advanced surveillance systems, including drones and sensor-based technology, are now being used by its subsidiary, TransPetro, to monitor pipeline integrity.

    Specialised response teams have also been established to detect and contain illegal taps. Petrobras and Transpetro have also increased collaboration with federal and state security forces to target organised crime cells involved in fuel theft and trafficking.

    In especially high-risk areas, particularly near major refineries such as Duque de Caxias in Rio de Janeiro, joint operations with law enforcement have resulted in arrests and the seizure of illegal equipment used to tap pipelines.

    Petrobras has invested in internal compliance, audit mechanisms, and fuel traceability systems to track product movement and prevent insider threats and diversion to illicit markets. The company has also partnered with regulatory agencies like the (National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels, or ANP) to tighten oversight over gas stations and transport companies suspected of facilitating the resale of adulterated or stolen fuel.

    Legislation and regulation is also needed to increase penalties for criminality in the fuel sector. Legal reforms, including a new bill approved in April 2025 targets companies that systematically evade taxes. Another bill is being explored that would mandate real-time electronic reporting of fuel sales and storage to ANP in order to increase traceability.

    A new Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry focusing on the relationship between organised crime and fuel is also about to be launched. Federal police, together with the financial intelligence unit (COAF) and tax authorities are also preparing a broad investigation into related activities.

    Addressing the infiltration of organised crime into Brazil’s biofuel and fossil fuel sectors requires more than enforcement — it demands a coordinated national strategy backed by industry cooperation. Enforced compliance, empowered regulators, transparent supply chains, and worker protections are essential. Without urgent and sustained action, organised crime will continue siphoning off Brazil’s future, weakening one of its most vital sectors.

    *Katherine Aguirre, senior researcher at Igarape Institute, contributed to this article

    Dr. Robert Muggah is the co-founder of the Igarapé Institute, an independent “think and do tank” that develops research, solutions and partnerships to address global public, digital and climate security challenges. Dr. Muggah is also a principal of the SecDev Group, and an advisor to the United Nations, the IMF and the World Bank. An advisor to AI start-ups and a climate tech venture firms, Dr. Muggah has experience developing new technologies and testing AI systems for security and governance.

    – ref. The rise of Brazil’s fuel mafias and their gas station money laundering machines – https://theconversation.com/the-rise-of-brazils-fuel-mafias-and-their-gas-station-money-laundering-machines-254422

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: BW Energy: Appraisal well confirms potential for future Bourdon development cluster

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BW Energy is pleased to announce that second sidetrack DBM-1 ST2 well has confirmed the substantial oil discovery with good reservoir and fluid quality of the Bourdon prospect in the Dussafu Licence offshore Gabon, announced on 7 March 2025. Management estimates indicate 56 million barrels oil in place of which approximately 25 million barrels are considered recoverable.  

    “The appraisal well confirms the potential for establishing a new development cluster with a production facility following the MaBoMo blueprint. We expect at least four producing wells,” said Carl K. Arnet, CEO of BW Energy. “We continue to successfully expand the Dussafu reserve base which, together with multiple additional prospects yet to be to be drilled, will support long-term production and value-creation in Gabon.”   

    Initial data shows that oil from Bourdon field has the lowest viscosity of the Dussafu discoveries measuring an average of 3.5 centipoise (cp), compared to 5 cp and 7 cp for the Hibiscus / Tortue and Ruche fields, respectively.  

    Evaluation of logging data and formation pressure measurements confirm approximately 11.2 metres of pay in an overall hydrocarbon column of 35.2 metres in the Gamba formation. The well was drilled by the Norve jack-up rig to a total depth of 4,731 metres. 

    Bourdon is located approximately 15 kilometres west of FPSO BW Adolo and 7.5 kilometres southeast of the MaBoMo facility. The discovery will enable the Company to book additional reserves not included in its 2024 Statement of Reserves. 

    For further information, please contact:  

    Brice Morlot, CFO BW Energy

    +33.7.81.11.41.16
    ir@bwenergy.no 

    About BW Energy:  

    BW Energy is a growth E&P company with a differentiated strategy targeting proven offshore oil and gas reservoirs through low risk phased developments. The Company has access to existing production facilities to reduce time to first oil and cashflow with lower investments than traditional offshore developments. The Company’s assets are 73.5% of the producing Dussafu Marine licence offshore Gabon, 100% interest in the Golfinho and Camarupim fields, a 76.5% interest in the BM-ES-23 block, a 95% interest in the Maromba field in Brazil, a 95% interest in the Kudu field in Namibia, all operated by BW Energy. In addition, BW Energy holds approximately 6.6% of the common shares in Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. and a 20% non-operating interest in the onshore Petroleum Exploration License 73 (“PEL 73”) in Namibia. Total net 2P+2C reserves and resources were 599 million barrels of oil equivalent at the start of 2025.  

    This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s Antarctic station powered by new energy

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Two droplet-shaped wind turbines spin in front of China’s Qinling station in Antarctica. [Photo/China Daily]
    A clean energy system tailored for polar conditions has been put into operation in China’s Qinling station in Antarctica.
    The breakthrough means China has become the first country to achieve the large-scale operation of a clean energy system under extreme Antarctic conditions.
    Lead scientist Sun Hongbin, 56, told China Daily that the project marks an achievement in China’s green scientific exploration in the field of polar energy, and signifies that the nation’s polar exploration has developed from the diesel era into a new era of green energy.
    The system will generate a wealth of data, as well as present challenges that will prompt continuous research, said Sun, who is also the chief scientist on polar clean energy at the Polar Research Institute of China and president of Taiyuan University of Technology in Shanxi province.
    Since the launch of the system on March 1, it has replaced traditional diesel power sources, providing uninterrupted zero-carbon power for the research equipment and essential living facilities at Qinling station, which was established in February last year as China’s fifth Antarctic research station.
    Photovoltaic and wind power account for 60 percent of the energy capacity of the system. In situations without wind or sunlight, stored hydrogen can provide power to the station, ensuring short-term operation for research equipment and basic living facilities.
    Sun stressed the primary challenges in ensuring the reliability and safety of the equipment. For instance, the development of the droplet-shaped wind turbine capable of operating on ice caps and hydrogen fuel cells demands cold-resistant power-up technology.
    Construction of the system at the station commenced in 2023.
    As much of the equipment and facilities required specialized research and modification to adapt to the extreme conditions, Taiyuan University of Technology established a digital twin laboratory simulating the environment of Antarctica.
    This laboratory possesses the capabilities to simulate nearly 10 extreme conditions, including extreme cold, strong winds, blizzards, polar day and night, intense geomagnetic fields, strong ultraviolet radiation, low pressure and low oxygen levels.
    The primary purpose of establishing this laboratory was to address the challenges of research, testing and operation, Sun said.
    “Once the equipment arrives in Antarctica, we have no means to procure a replacement if a single screw malfunctions,” he said. “Before deployment to Antarctica, various new energy devices underwent testing here. Now the laboratory receives and analyzes real-time data transmitted back from Antarctica.”
    In recent years, various countries have explored approaches to develop clean energy in Antarctica, with solar and wind energy being the primary focus.
    However, the extreme conditions and shortage of technologies make it tough for solar and wind power generation equipment to maintain stable and efficient operation.
    China is the first country to implement hydrogen energy in the extreme environment of Antarctica on a large scale, said Dou Yinke, dean of the Taiyuan university’s College of Electrical and Power Engineering, and a leading expert who has participated in multiple Antarctic expeditions since 2004.
    Against the backdrop of global warming and glacier melting, China proposed the concept of “green exploration” in 2017, Dou said. International organizations have repeatedly urged countries to transition from fuel-based power generation to clean energy in Antarctica.
    As Antarctica possesses vast wind and solar energy potential, countries worldwide have been exploring clean energy in this area.
    To date, approximately 30 Antarctic research stations have installed clean energy generation devices, with over half utilizing solar or wind, Dou said.
    However, due to the lack of systematic application and development of clean energy technologies tailored to the Antarctic environment, these systems cannot yet fully replace traditional energy systems on the aspects of safety and stability, he said.
    Currently, 80 to 90 percent of the world’s Antarctic research stations still rely on fuel-powered electricity generation, leading to significant environmental pollution in the polar regions, said Dou.
    Last year, the Taiyuan university led the formulation of the “Twelve-Year Development Outline for Clean Energy Utilization Technologies in the Antarctic”, aiming to establish a comprehensive clean energy supply system for Antarctic research stations by 2035.
    “I will dedicate my whole life to the cause. I believe we have just taken the first step on a long journey. It is a demonstration and an experiment,” Sun said. Key technology breakthroughs can also drive the energy revolution in the province, a major energy base in China, said Sun.
    Sun hopes to establish a 20,000-square-meter Antarctic extreme environment simulation laboratory in Shanxi to enhance future research.
    “With clean energy, people can survive in polar regions. In the future, we may even install and test this technology on the moon and Mars,” Sun said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: April 21st, 2025 New Mexico Congressional Delegation Urges Trump Administration to Keep Hands Off of New Mexico’s National Monuments

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee led the New Mexico Congressional Delegation — U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M) and U.S. Representatives Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) and Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), members of the House Natural Resources Committee, and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) — in urging the Trump-Musk Administration to leave New Mexican national monuments intact.

    The letter comes in anticipation of a number of harmful executive orders to be announced tomorrow by the Trump Administration, including one that will purportedly target America’s national monuments.

    “Our national monuments in New Mexico protect some of the most significant landscapes and cultural resources in the nation. The monuments were carefully curated and represent a balance of public land protection negotiated between local leaders, communities, Tribes, and our constituents. The areas protected under national monument status across the state are culturally valuable, archeologically and geologically unique, and represent a conservation legacy that should not be erased,” the lawmakers wrote. “National monuments are vitally important to our history and any proposals to reduce their boundaries will not be reflective of the voices of New Mexicans.”

    The lawmakers emphasized how crucial New Mexico’s national monuments are to the state’s economy, underscoring the significant revenue particular monuments under threat of elimination generate annually, “In New Mexico, we have a $3.2 billion outdoor recreation sector and monuments are a significant contributor to this robust economy. In 2022 alone, monument visitation resulted in $1.9 million in tax revenue. The economic impacts of visitation to Organ Mountains — Desert Peaks National Monument (OMDP) surpassed the initial prediction by more than 50 percent. In just one year after its establishment, the Rio Grande del Norte (RGDN) National Monument saw a 40 percent increase in visitors, resulting in a 21 percent increase in Town of Taos lodgers’ tax revenue.”

    The lawmakers continued, highlighting the immeasurable cultural and economic impact of three national monuments in New Mexico under consideration for reduction or elimination: Organ Mountains — Desert Peaks, Rio Grande del Norte, and Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks, “In OMDP in southern New Mexico, you will find significant petroglyph and archeological sites and walk among historic travelers’ routes. In northern New Mexico, RGDN boasts some of New Mexico’s most prized recreational opportunities in an area where the Rio Grande carves an 800-foot gorge through historic volcanic activity. RGDN offers immense economic value to northern New Mexico and provides access for traditional use like piñon nut collection. As for the third monument under review, Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, the Bureau of Land Management recently celebrated the monument’s inclusion on TIME’s World’s Greatest Places of 2025. Not only is Tent Rocks “geologically surreal,” but it is also a sacred landscape to the Cochiti Pueblo.”

    The lawmakers concluded by demanding the Administration keep New Mexico’s national monuments intact, “There is no greater value to these natural landscapes than what is brought to the community through their continued protection. Withdrawing protections from these sites would threaten the economic benefits associated with New Mexico’s outdoor recreation economy and it undermines our community and tribal voices. We urge you to honor the voices of New Mexicans and confirm that you will leave the Organ Mountains, Rio Grande del Norte, Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks, and all other national monuments intact.”

    Read the full letter here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Global photovoltaic power generation capacity to grow 30 pct in 2025

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The global wind and photovoltaic power generation capacities are projected to increase by over 10 percent and 30 percent, respectively, year on year in 2025, according to a report released on Monday.

    The report, issued by the Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organization and the National Climate Center under the China Meteorological Administration (CMA), makes the first projections for renewable energy generation capacities both globally and in major countries, mapping the long-term potential and trends of renewable energy generation.

    The research integrates meteorological factors into renewable energy generation forecasts, marking the latest progress in energy-meteorology collaborative research.

    Currently, the global energy landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, with the proportion of new energy sources — represented by wind and solar power — continuing to rise steadily.

    By the end of 2024, the total installed capacity of renewable energy sources such as wind and photovoltaics had reached 1.45 billion kilowatts, surpassing the installed capacity of thermal power for the first time in history.

    Xiong Shaoyuan, deputy head of the CMA, said that the administration will adhere to an innovation-led approach to enhance the timeliness and accuracy of energy meteorological forecasts.

    It will also accelerate the transformation of research findings into practical applications, strengthen joint research on key issues in the field of new energy meteorology, and work collaboratively on the development of relevant standards, Xiong said. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Scholten Launches Health Care Advisory Board Amid Alarming Attacks on Health Care

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Hillary Scholten – Michigan

    GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Today, U.S. Congresswoman Hillary Scholten (MI03) announced the formation of her new Health Care Advisory Board, bringing together a group of health leaders from across West Michigan for a roundtable conversation focused on protecting access to care, advancing medical innovation, and confronting looming federal health care cuts to Medicaid, health care research, and more.

    “The Health Care Advisory Board is the next step in my ongoing partnership with health care providers throughout West Michigan—one that brings together some of the most innovative and compassionate health care minds in the country who serve right here in West Michigan,” said Rep. Scholten. “At a time when leaders in Washington are pushing dangerous cuts that would kneecap our ability to prevent illness, fight disease, make progress on cancer research and save lives, I am fighting back–with my vote in Washington, and my voice back home here in West Michigan. I will keep engaging to ensure our region remains a leader in health care innovation and access.”

    The roundtable today convened a broad coalition of regional medical leaders who represent institutions ranging from major medical centers to community clinics, federally qualified health centers, and individual family practices across urban and rural settings. The Advisory Board will serve as a long-term partner to Rep. Scholten, helping shape her health policy work in Washington and ensuring that the voices of health care professionals and patients across West Michigan are front and center in the fight for equitable, accessible care. 

    The launch comes at a critical moment. Proposed cuts to health care will slash nearly a third of the federal health budget, including a 40% cut to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as a 40% cut to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), reducing its 27 research centers to just eight. The Department of Health and Human Services also plans to cut 10,000 employees from the workforce. Additionally, an upcoming May 7 mark-up in the House will look to cut $880 billion from the Energy and Commerce budget, which covers Medicaid. 

    Rep. Scholten emphasized her interest in supporting safe and accessible innovation and reiterated her commitment to bringing local insights back to Congress.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Local News – Waitangirua Link Road reopens with new speed limit – Porirua

    Source: Porirua City Council

    Work to improve electricity network resilience and increase drinking water services is being carried out for the fast-growing eastern suburbs, with work on the Waitangirua Link Road now complete. Work on Te Ara Kāpehu (formerly Whitby Link Road) is now underway.
    Porirua Mayor Anita Baker says the first stage of this work involved laying water pipes and electrical cabling along Waitangirua Link Road, with the road closed from November 2024.
    “Porirua City Council, Wellington Electricity, Wellington Water and Kāinga Ora have teamed up to carry out these critical infrastructure service upgrades along link roads, at the same time.
    “These upgrades will increase resilience and supply for local residents and will benefit Porirua as a whole, as part of our wider plan for improvements.
    “Stage 1 is now complete, and the road has reopened with a new higher speed limit of 60km/h as part of Porirua City’s speed management plan,” she says.
    Crews will return in about two months’ time to liven the water connection. This work will happen at the Warspite Avenue end of the Waitangirua Link Road entrance. It will involve a temporary speed limit drop to 30km/h, with both lanes open and traffic management in place for up to two weeks.
    Stage 2 of the work is now underway with the lane into Whitby from Transmission Gully closed for approximately two months to allow for water pipes and electricity cabling to be laid.
    Motorists can exit Whitby using Te Ara Kāpehu but not enter on this road, which is closed between the T-junction with Waitangirua Link Road and the Silverbrooke development. A 30km/h temporary speed limit is in place during the work.
    A decision was made to close one lane rather than use stop/go or traffic light traffic management, as it will mean the work can be completed more quickly and will cost less.
    The water pipes will eventually connect to the new, larger water reservoir that will be built by Te Rā Nui at the end of Stemhead Lane. The reservoir work is planned to start later this year.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI: Smackover Lithium’s South West Arkansas Project Receives Special Designation as a Priority Transparency Critical Mineral Project From the Trump Administration

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LEWISVILLE, Ark., April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Smackover Lithium, a Joint Venture (“JV”) between Standard Lithium Ltd. (“Standard Lithium” or the “Company”) (TSXV:SLI) (NYSE:A:SLI) and Equinor, is proud to announce that its South West Arkansas (“SWA”) Project has been selected as one of the first critical mineral production projects to be advanced under Executive Order 14241, Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production, issued on March 20, 2025, by President Trump. This prestigious designation, announced by the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council at the recommendation of the National Energy Dominance Council, underscores the project’s strategic importance to national security, economic prosperity, and energy independence.

    The SWA Project, a cornerstone of Smackover Lithium’s mission to bolster domestic lithium production, has been included on the Federal Permitting Dashboard as a transparency project. This designation ensures increased transparency, accountability, and predictability in the permitting review process, aligning with President Trump’s directive to expedite domestic critical mineral projects. The support from the White House signals strong federal backing for the project, reinforcing its role in reducing U.S. reliance on China. The SWA Project is one of only three domestic lithium projects and the sole Direct Lithium Extraction (“DLE”) initiative to be included on the initial selected projects list. Additionally, it is the first project supported by the DOE’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains to be accepted into the Transparency Program.

    “We are honored by the Trump Administration’s recognition of the SWA Project as a priority project for American mineral production,” said Standard Lithium’s CEO, David Park. “This designation is a testament to the project’s economic viability and potential to strengthen national security, create high-quality jobs, and fuel economic growth in Arkansas and beyond. The streamlined permitting process, combined with federal support, reinforces our project development timeline and positions us well to deliver a low cost, sustainable, and domestic source of lithium critical to advanced energy technologies.”

    Smackover Lithium remains committed to environmentally responsible development, community engagement, and innovation as it advances the SWA Project. The JV looks forward to collaborating with federal, state, and local stakeholders to ensure the project’s success and to contribute to America’s leadership in the critical minerals sector.

    For more information about the SWA Project and Smackover Lithium, please visit www.smackoverlithium.com.

    About Standard Lithium Ltd.

    Standard Lithium is a leading near-commercial lithium development company focused on the sustainable development of a portfolio of large, high-grade lithium-brine properties in the United States. The Company prioritizes projects characterized by the highest quality resources, robust infrastructure, skilled labor, and streamlined permitting. Standard Lithium aims to achieve sustainable, commercial-scale lithium production via the application of a scalable and fully integrated Direct Lithium Extraction (“DLE”) and purification process. The Company’s flagship projects are located in the Smackover Formation, a world-class lithium brine asset, focused in Arkansas and Texas. In partnership with global energy leader Equinor, Standard Lithium is advancing the South West Arkansas project, a greenfield project located in southern Arkansas, and actively exploring promising lithium brine prospects in East Texas. Standard Lithium also holds an interest in certain mineral leases in the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County, California.

    Standard Lithium trades on both the TSX Venture Exchange and the NYSE American under the symbol “SLI”. Please visit the Company’s website at www.standardlithium.com.

    About Equinor

    Equinor is an international energy company committed to long-term value creation in a low-carbon future. Equinor’s portfolio of projects encompasses oil and gas, renewables and low-carbon solutions, with an ambition of becoming a net-zero energy company by 2050. Headquartered in Norway, Equinor is the leading operator on the Norwegian continental shelf and is present in around 30 countries worldwide. Our partnership with Standard Lithium to mature DLE projects builds on our broad US energy portfolio of oil and gas, offshore wind, low carbon solutions and battery storage projects.

    For more information on Equinor in the US, please visit: Equinor in the US – Equinor

    Investor and Media Inquiries

    Chris Lang
    Standard Lithium Ltd.
    +1 604 409 8154
    investors@standardlithium.com

    Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain certain “Forward-Looking Statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “target”, “plan”, “forecast”, “may”, “schedule” and other similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to intended development timelines, future prices of commodities, accuracy of mineral or resource exploration activity, reserves or resources, regulatory or government requirements or approvals, the reliability of third party information, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure, fluctuations in the market for lithium and its derivatives, changes in exploration costs and government regulation in Canada and the United States, and other factors or information. Such statements represent the Company’s current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Weatherford and AIQ Sign Strategic Partnership to Accelerate Efficiency in Energy Production

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Weatherford International plc (NASDAQ: WFRD) (“Weatherford” or the “Company”) today announced it has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with AIQ, the Abu Dhabi-based artificial intelligence (AI) champion developing innovative solutions for the energy sector. This partnership is set to bring transformative efficiency to energy production, leveraging advanced automation, data-driven insights, and the power of AI technology.

    The collaboration aims to integrate Weatherford’s world-class software and hardware solutions, including the Modern Edge suite, Unified Data Model, and WFRD Software Launchpad, with AIQ’s robust AI-driven systems. By combining these advanced tools, Weatherford and AIQ will enable operators to optimize their production workflows, reduce downtime, and significantly enhance operational efficiency across global oil and gas facilities.

    Girish Saligram, President and Chief Executive Officer of Weatherford, commented, “We are excited to partner with AIQ to bring innovative, AI-driven solutions to the oil and gas industry. This strategic partnership allows us to deliver cutting-edge technologies that empower our customers to maximize their operational efficiency, enhance automation, and reduce costs. By combining our strengths, we are leading the way in helping operators modernize their workflows and achieve greater success in today’s rapidly evolving energy landscape.”

    Magzhan Kenesbai, Acting Managing Director of AIQ, said, “This partnership marks another step in AIQ’s mission to build partnerships that accelerate the deployment of impactful AI systems across the energy value chain. By integrating our advanced AI-driven tools with Weatherford’s energy-specific technology, we are driving greater efficiencies to the industry through the development of scalable, automated applications. Together, we are set to empower operators to optimize their workflows, reduce downtime, and achieve unparalleled operational excellence.”

    Key Highlights of the Strategic Partnership:

    1. Modern Edge Integration: The partnership will combine AIQ’s AI technology with Weatherford’s Modern Edge, providing operators with the ability to scale their work processes efficiently while ensuring an economic return. This integration will empower customers to modernize their edge operations, facilitate autonomous production, and offer the flexibility to expand operations, all while optimizing resource usage and reducing costs.
    2. Unified Data Model: Weatherford’s Universal Normalizer will work in tandem with AIQ’s capabilities to harmonize multi-asset data, combining operational and financial analysis into a unified, API-supported data model. This will drive smarter decision-making and streamline operations across facilities.
    3. WFRD Software Launchpad: Through the WFRD Software Launchpad, customers will gain the ability to procure all of their software needs via a comprehensive industrial SaaS platform. This eliminates the complexity of managing multiple systems and vendors, providing a single point of access for all Weatherford and partner-built applications, while ensuring data security and autonomy within their own network.

    By combining their strengths, Weatherford and AIQ will enable the energy sector to unlock unprecedented efficiencies, boost productivity, and reduce operational costs. This partnership is a significant step forward in Weatherford’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions that empower operators to succeed in an increasingly competitive and data-driven industry.

    About Weatherford

    Weatherford delivers innovative energy services that integrate proven technologies with advanced digitalization to create sustainable offerings for maximized value and return on investment. Our world-class experts partner with customers to optimize their resources and realize the full potential of their assets. Operators choose us for strategic solutions that add efficiency, flexibility, and responsibility to any energy operation. The Company conducts business in approximately 75 countries and has approximately 19,000 team members representing more than 110 nationalities and 330 operating locations. Visit weatherford.com for more information and connect with us on social media.

    Contacts
    For Investors:
    Luke Lemoine
    Senior Vice President, Corporate Development & Investor Relations
    +1 713-836-7777
    investor.relations@weatherford.com

    For Media:
    Kelley Hughes
    Senior Director, Communications & Employee Engagement
    media@weatherford.com

    About AIQ

    AIQ is an innovative global technology pioneer based in Abu Dhabi, dedicated to accelerating AI-driven advancements within the Energy sector, propelling it towards a sustainable future. AIQ solutions improve performance and efficiency; protect personnel, assets, and operations; and enable customers to meet their sustainability goals. As a committed contributor to realizing the UAE’s ambition to lead the world in AI by 2031, AIQ is playing a pivotal role in the AI ecosystem of Abu Dhabi, the UAE, and the global Energy sector. To find out more, visit: aiqintelligence.ae/

    For media enquiries, please contact: aiq.communications@aiqintelligence.ai

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Fossil fuel companies ‘poisoned the well’ of public debate with climate disinformation. Here’s how Australia can break free

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Naomi Oreskes, Professor of the History of Science, Harvard University

    President Donald Trump has issued an executive order that would block state laws seeking to tackle greenhouse gas emissions – the latest salvo in his administration’s campaign to roll back United States’ climate action.

    Under Trump, the US has clearly abdicated climate leadership. But the US has in fact obstructed climate action for decades – largely due to damaging actions by the powerful fossil fuel industry.

    In 20 years studying attacks on climate science and the powerful forces at work behind the scenes, I’ve come to think the United States is simply not going to lead on climate action. The fossil fuel industry has so poisoned the well of public debate in the US that it’s unlikely the nation will lead on the issue in our lifetimes.

    Australia, on the other hand, has enormous potential.

    I recently visited Australia from Harvard University for a series of public talks. This nation is very close to my heart. I trained as a mining geologist and spent three years in outback South Australia, before returning to academia.

    The vacuum Trump has created on climate policy provides a chance for other countries to lead. Australia has much more to gain from the clean-energy future than it stands to lose – and your climate action could be pivotal.

    The climate crisis: a long time coming

    Scientists first warned against burning fossil fuels way back in the 1950s. When the US Clean Air Act was passed in 1970, the words “weather” and “climate” were included because scientists had already explained to Congress that carbon dioxide was a pollutant with serious — even dire — effects.

    In the late 1980s, scientists at NASA observed changes in the climate system that could only be explained by the extra heating effect of atmospheric carbon dioxide. The predictions had become reality.

    When George H.W. Bush ran successfully for president in 1988, he promised to use the power of the “White House effect” to fight the “greenhouse effect”. In 1992, Bush and other world leaders gathered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to sign the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Together, 178 countries promised action to prevent “dangerous anthropogenic interference” with Earth’s climate. But that action never came.

    Trump has undoubtedly been bad news for global climate action. He makes preposterous claims about science and is dismantling the federal agencies responsible for supporting climate science and maintaining climate data.

    But the US has long failed to play its part in cutting dangerous greenhouse gas emissions. The reason for this lies largely outside the White House.

    If only George H.W. Bush had used the White House effect to counter the greenhouse effect, as he once promised to.
    mark reinstein, Shutterstock

    A long-running campaign of disinformation

    The fossil fuel industry has known about climate change for as long as scientists have.

    In the late 1970s and early 1980s, scientists at Esso (later ExxonMobil) actively researched the topic, building climate models and coauthoring scientific papers.

    The scientists informed their managers of the risk of catastrophic damage if the burning of oil, gas and coal continued unabated. They even suggested the company might need a different business model – one not so dependent on fossil fuels.

    But managers at ExxonMobil made a fateful decision: to turn from information to disinformation. Working in tandem with other oil, gas and coal companies, as well as automobile and aluminium manufacturers, ExxonMobil launched an organised campaign, sustained over decades, to block climate action by casting doubt on the underlying science.

    They ran ad campaigns in national and local newspapers insisting the science was too unsettled to warrant action. They created “astroturf” organisations that only pretended to be green, and funded “third-party allies” to argue that proposed remedies would be too expensive, cost jobs and damage the economy.

    The company funded outlier scientists to publish papers claiming atmospheric warming was the result of natural climate variability. They pressured journalists to give equal time to “their side” of the story in the name of “balance”.

    Over the next three decades, whenever any meaningful climate policy seemed to be gaining traction, the industry and its allies lobbied Congress and state legislatures to block it. So, neither Democratic nor Republican administrations were able to undertake meaningful climate action.

    While people were dying in climate-charged floods and fires, the fossil fuel industry persuaded a significant proportion of the US population, including Trump, that the whole thing might just be a hoax.

    Rise up Australia

    In a matter of weeks after becoming president, Trump pulled out of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming, shut down government websites hosting climate data, and withdrew support for research that dares to mention the word “climate”.

    This has created a vacuum that other countries, including Australia, can step up to fill.

    Few countries have more to lose from climate change than Australia. The continent has already witnessed costly and devastating wildfires and floods — affecting remote areas and major cities. It’s not unreasonable to worry that in coming years, significant parts of Australia could become uninhabitable.

    Like the US, Australia has a powerful fossil fuel industry that has disproportionately influenced its politics. Unlike the US, however, that industry is based mainly on coal for export, which Australians do not depend on in their daily lives.

    And Australia is truly a lucky country. It has unsurpassed potential to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy.

    More than 15 years ago, Australian researchers in the Zero Carbon Australia project offered a blueprint for how the country could eliminate fossil fuel use entirely. Since then, renewable energy has only become cheaper and more efficient.

    South Australia has proved the point: the state was 100% reliant on fossil fuels for electricity in 2002, but now more than 70% comes from renewables.

    Across Australia, the share of renewable electricity generation is growing. Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland are vying for second place after SA. It’s fascinating to watch the National Electricity Market balance supply and demand in real time, where a large proportion of the electricity comes from rooftop solar.

    For decades, the fossil fuel industry has told the public our societies can’t manage without fossil fuels. Large parts of Australia have proved it’s just not so. The rest of the nation can follow that lead, and model the energy transition for the world. Here’s your chance.

    Over the past two decades, Naomi Oreskes has received grant funding from various governments and non-government organisations to support the research upon which this piece is based. She serves on the board of The Climate Science Legal Defense Fund, which works to protect the integrity of climate science, and climate scientists, from politically motivated attacks. The Fund is a registered 501 c(3) non-profit organisation, meaning it does not engage in political activities. She is also an emerita board member of Protect our Winters, a 501 c (3) that works with the winter sports community to educate people about climate change and the threat it poses to winter sports. Naomi serves on the board of the Kann-Rasmussen foundation (Denmark), a non-profit foundation that works “to support the transition to a more environmentally resilient stable, and sustainable planet”.
    Naomi currently serves as a consultant to a number of groups pursuing climate litigation in the United States, and recently submitted an expert report to the International Court of Justice on behalf of Vanuatu. She also receives speaking fees and book royalties for talks and publications on the history of climate science and climate change denial. Co-author, with Erik M. Conway, of Merchants of Doubt (2010) and The Big Myth (2023).

    – ref. Fossil fuel companies ‘poisoned the well’ of public debate with climate disinformation. Here’s how Australia can break free – https://theconversation.com/fossil-fuel-companies-poisoned-the-well-of-public-debate-with-climate-disinformation-heres-how-australia-can-break-free-251221

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister Shri Jayant Chaudhary launches NSDC-PDEU Centre offering 40 skill courses at Gandhinagar in Gujarat

    Source: Government of India

    Union Minister Shri Jayant Chaudhary launches NSDC-PDEU Centre offering 40 skill courses at Gandhinagar in Gujarat

    Online and hybrid courses in semiconductors, solar, and smart manufacturing to be offered at NSDC-PDEU Centre

    Union Minister emphasizes the need for empowering universities to make them engines of national growth  

    Posted On: 21 APR 2025 6:45PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship & Minister of State, Ministry of Education Shri Jayant Chaudhary launched a Centre of Excellence (CoE) – jointly set up by National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU) – at Gandhinagar in Gujarat.

    “Universities are not merely centres of academic learning—they are transformative bridges connecting young minds to the dynamic realities of the world. By equipping students with both technical expertise and a broad-based liberal education, they cultivate the ability to think critically, innovate fearlessly, and adapt with agility. Gujarat has emerged as a frontrunner in this journey, reshaping its higher education landscape through a strong focus on academic rigor, industry partnerships, and holistic development. And our universities are producing a generation that is not only employable but also imaginative, responsible, and deeply committed to the nation’s progress.”

     

    Shri Jayant Chaudhary further emphasized the need for universities across India to realign with the evolving demands of industry and actively skill students in response. “We must empower our universities to become engines of innovation—not just to serve market needs, but to advance national growth. When universities lead innovation, it is driven by purpose—for the benefit of society and the nation at large.”

    The Centre will be equipped with advanced manufacturing capabilities labs to provide specialised training. The centre will offer over 40 online and hybrid courses in sectors such as semiconductors manufacturing, renewable and non-renewables energy, digital edge, smart manufacturing, and more.

    A Memorandum of Association (MoA) was signed earlier this month between NSDC and PDEU in this regard. These courses will cater to students from ITI, Diploma, undergraduate, and postgraduate programs. The curriculum is designed to equip learners from Tier-1, Tier-2 and Tier-3 institutes with hands-on experience in niche manufacturing skill sets across critical sectors, including energy, health, water and food.

    Shri Ved Mani Tiwari, CEO of NSDC and MD of NSDC International, said, “At NSDC, our core mission is to make youth employable, and this collaboration will strengthen the skilling ecosystem. This collaboration will support the development of training infrastructure in smart manufacturing, along with Centres of Excellence focused on automotive, EV charging, renewable energy, and semiconductors. Training in the semiconductor domain is already underway, paving the way for youth to gain practical exposure in high-demand, future-oriented fields. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the NSDC is placing a strong emphasis on global certification programmes that enable Indian students to access world-class skills and compete confidently in the international job market. We are dedicated to making India’s youth employable, entrepreneurial, and future-ready.

    “Through hybrid-mode training in renewable, non-renewable, and hydrogen energy technologies, India is equipping its youth to lead in the global energy revolution. This initiative ensures nationwide access, bridging gaps and empowering students across the country. It’s more than skill development—it’s nation building. These efforts boost youth employability while positioning India as a future global leader in the energy sector.”

    This CoE will serve as a hub for hands-on learning, R&D, and real-time industry engagement in semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, embedded systems, and VLSI design, directly addressing the talent needs of these sectors. It will act as a crucible for developing specialised skills aligned with the national priorities of sustainable development and energy security. Students will be trained to become “Energy Ambassadors for the Nation.”

    PDEU Director General S Sundar Manoharan said, “Aligning seamlessly with the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and his mission to empower youth and advance skill development across India, PDEU is committed to empower countless individuals nationwide, with Centres of Excellence playing a vital role in realizing the goals of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat.”

    Underscoring the Gujarat Government’s strategic investments in these centres, he noted their crucial contribution to national missions—particularly in the realm of semiconductors—cementing India’s position as a global innovation hub.

    The NSDC will play a key role in the smooth functioning of the CoE and in the seamless delivery of programmes to students. It will periodically monitor project progress to ensure that students receive quality training and are prepared for future job roles.

    The PDEU, which has been at the forefront of energy transition and skill development, will leverage its expertise in different verticals, including solar and wind energy, lithium and vanadium energy storage, carbon capture and smart hybrid grids to prepare students for careers in these fields. It will empower students with industry-standard manufacturing lines, including the “45 MW Solar PV Manufacturing Line” and the ATMP Semiconductor Packaging Line.

    The partnership between NSDC and PDEU marks a transformative step towards building a future-ready workforce, which is crucial for India’s economic growth and technological leadership. It will play a vital role in Make-in-India Readiness movement and accelerate the progress of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

    ****

    Beena Yadav/Divyanshu Kumar

    (Release ID: 2123253) Visitor Counter : 31

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: INDEX OF EIGHT CORE INDUSTRIES (BASE: 2011-12=100) FOR MARCH, 2025

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 21 APR 2025 5:00PM by PIB Delhi

    The combined Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) increased by 3.8 per cent (provisional) in March, 2025 as compared to the Index in March, 2024. The production of Cement, Fertilizers, Steel, Electricity, Coal and Refinery Products recorded positive growth in March, 2025. The details of annual indices, monthly indices and growth rates are provided at Annex I and Annex II.

    The ICI measures the combined and individual performance of production of eight core industries viz. Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Refinery Products, Fertilizers, Steel, Cement and Electricity. The Eight Core Industries comprise 40.27 percent of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).

    The final growth rate of Index of Eight Core Industries for December 2024 was observed at 5.1 per cent. The cumulative growth rate of ICI during April to March, 2024-25 is 4.4 per cent (provisional) as compared to the corresponding period of last year.

    The summary of the Index of Eight Core Industries is given below:

    Coal – Coal production (weight: 10.33 per cent) increased by 1.6 per cent in March, 2025 over March, 2024. Its cumulative index increased by 5.1 per cent during April to March, 2024-25 over corresponding period of the previous year.

    Crude Oil – Crude Oil production (weight: 8.98 per cent) declined by 1.9 per cent in March, 2025 over March, 2024. Its cumulative index declined by 2.2 per cent during April to March, 2024-25 over corresponding period of the previous year.

    Natural Gas – Natural Gas production (weight: 6.88 per cent) declined by 12.7 per cent in March, 2025 over March, 2024. Its cumulative index declined by 1.2 per cent during April to March, 2024-25 over corresponding period of the previous year.

    Petroleum Refinery Products – Petroleum Refinery production (weight: 28.04 per cent) increased by 0.2 per cent in March, 2025 over March, 2024. Its cumulative index increased by 2.8 per cent during April to March, 2024-25 over corresponding period of the previous year.

    Fertilizers – Fertilizer production (weight: 2.63 per cent) increased by 8.8 per cent in March, 2025 over March, 2024. Its cumulative index increased by 2.9 per cent during April to March, 2024-25 over corresponding period of the previous year.

    Steel – Steel production (weight: 17.92 per cent) increased by 7.1 per cent in March, 2025 over March, 2024. Its cumulative index increased by 6.7 per cent during April to March, 2024-25 over corresponding period of the previous year.

    Cement – Cement production (weight: 5.37 per cent) increased by 11.6 per cent in March, 2025 over March, 2024. Its cumulative index increased by 6.3 per cent during April to March, 2024-25 over corresponding period of the previous year.

    Electricity – Electricity generation (weight: 19.85 per cent) increased by 6.2 per cent in March, 2025 over March, 2024. Its cumulative index increased by 5.1 per cent during April to March, 2024-25 over corresponding period of the previous year.

     

    Note 1: Data for January, 2025, February, 2025 and March, 2025 are provisional. Index numbers of Core Industries are revised/finalized as per updated data from source agencies.

    Note 2: Since April 2014, Electricity generation data from Renewable sources are also included.

    Note 3: The industry-wise weights indicated above are individual industry weights derived from IIP and blown up on pro rata basis to a combined weight of ICI equal to 100.

    Note 4: Since March 2019, a new steel product called Hot Rolled Pickled and Oiled (HRPO) under the item ‘Cold Rolled (CR) coils’ within the production of finished steel has also been included.

    Note 5: Release of the index for April, 2025 will be on Tuesday, 20th May, 2025.

     

    Annex I

    Performance of Eight Core Industries

    Yearly Index & Growth Rate

    Base Year: 2011-12=100

    Index

    Sector

    Coal

    Crude Oil

    Natural Gas

    Refinery Products

    Fertilizers

    Steel

    Cement

    Electricity

    Overall Index

    Weight

    10.33

    8.98

    6.88

    28.04

    2.63

    17.92

    5.37

    19.85

    100.00

    2012-13

    103.2

    99.4

    85.6

    107.2

    96.7

    107.9

    107.5

    104.0

    103.8

    2013-14

    104.2

    99.2

    74.5

    108.6

    98.1

    115.8

    111.5

    110.3

    106.5

    2014-15

    112.6

    98.4

    70.5

    108.8

    99.4

    121.7

    118.1

    126.6

    111.7

    2015-16

    118.0

    97.0

    67.2

    114.1

    106.4

    120.2

    123.5

    133.8

    115.1

    2016-17

    121.8

    94.5

    66.5

    119.7

    106.6

    133.1

    122.0

    141.6

    120.5

    2017-18

    124.9

    93.7

    68.4

    125.2

    106.6

    140.5

    129.7

    149.2

    125.7

    2018-19

    134.1

    89.8

    69.0

    129.1

    107.0

    147.7

    147.0

    156.9

    131.2

    2019-20

    133.6

    84.5

    65.1

    129.4

    109.8

    152.6

    145.7

    158.4

    131.6

    2020-21

    131.1

    80.1

    59.8

    114.9

    111.6

    139.4

    130.0

    157.6

    123.2

    2021-22

    142.3

    77.9

    71.3

    125.1

    112.4

    163.0

    156.9

    170.1

    136.1

    2022-23

    163.5

    76.6

    72.4

    131.2

    125.1

    178.1

    170.6

    185.2

    146.7

    2023-24

    182.7

    77.1

    76.8

    135.9

    129.8

    200.4

    185.7

    198.3

    157.8

    Apr-Mar 2024-25*

    192.0

    75.4

    75.9

    139.7

    133.5

    213.8

    197.4

    208.4

    164.8

        *Provisional

     

    Growth Rates (on Y-o-Y basis in per cent)

    Sector

    Coal

    Crude Oil

    Natural Gas

    Refinery Products

    Fertilizers

    Steel

    Cement

    Electricity

    Overall Growth

    Weight

    10.33

    8.98

    6.88

    28.04

    2.63

    17.92

    5.37

    19.85

    100.00

    2012-13

    3.2

    -0.6

    -14.4

    7.2

    -3.3

    7.9

    7.5

    4.0

    3.8

    2013-14

    1.0

    -0.2

    -12.9

    1.4

    1.5

    7.3

    3.7

    6.1

    2.6

    2014-15

    8.0

    -0.9

    -5.3

    0.2

    1.3

    5.1

    5.9

    14.8

    4.9

    2015-16

    4.8

    -1.4

    -4.7

    4.9

    7.0

    -1.3

    4.6

    5.7

    3.0

    2016-17

    3.2

    -2.5

    -1.0

    4.9

    0.2

    10.7

    -1.2

    5.8

    4.8

    2017-18

    2.6

    -0.9

    2.9

    4.6

    0.03

    5.6

    6.3

    5.3

    4.3

    2018-19

    7.4

    -4.1

    0.8

    3.1

    0.3

    5.1

    13.3

    5.2

    4.4

    2019-20

    -0.4

    -5.9

    -5.6

    0.2

    2.7

    3.4

    -0.9

    0.9

    0.4

    2020-21

    -1.9

    -5.2

    -8.2

    -11.2

    1.7

    -8.7

    -10.8

    -0.5

    -6.4

    2021-22

    8.5

    -2.6

    19.2

    8.9

    0.7

    16.9

    20.8

    8.0

    10.4

    2022-23

    14.8

    -1.7

    1.6

    4.8

    11.3

    9.3

    8.7

    8.9

    7.8

    2023-24

    11.8

    0.6

    6.1

    3.6

    3.7

    12.5

    8.9

    7.1

    7.6

    Apr-Mar 2024-25*

    5.1

    -2.2

    -1.2

    2.8

    2.9

    6.7

    6.3

    5.1

    4.4

      *Provisional.

       Y-o-Y is calculated over the corresponding financial year of previous year

     

    Annex II

    Performance of Eight Core Industries

    Monthly Index & Growth Rate

    Base Year: 2011-12=100

    Index

    Sector

    Coal

    Crude Oil

    Natural Gas

    Refinery Products

    Fertilizers

    Steel

    Cement

    Electricity

    Overall Index

    Weight

    10.33

    8.98

    6.88

    28.04

    2.63

    17.92

    5.37

    19.85

    100.00

    Mar-24

    256.0

    78.9

    79.3

    147.0

    116.6

    219.8

    219.4

    204.2

    175.0

    Apr-24

    173.3

    76.3

    74.8

    137.9

    117.8

    210.0

    192.3

    212.0

    161.7

    May-24

    184.7

    77.9

    78.7

    141.8

    135.9

    209.7

    190.6

    229.3

    168.2

    Jun-24

    186.4

    74.4

    75.8

    134.1

    134.0

    204.0

    198.5

    222.8

    163.7

    Jul-24

    163.0

    76.6

    78.0

    143.3

    138.8

    205.1

    174.6

    220.2

    162.8

    Aug-24

    138.2

    75.7

    77.4

    134.0

    137.5

    206.6

    177.4

    212.3

    156.3

    Sep-24

    151.8

    72.0

    75.8

    134.1

    134.8

    202.0

    178.8

    206.9

    155.4

    Oct-24

    186.0

    74.6

    79.3

    135.5

    136.9

    212.9

    187.2

    207.8

    162.4

    Nov-24

    199.6

    73.9

    75.7

    138.4

    136.2

    212.9

    177.0

    184.1

    159.1

    Dec-24

    215.1

    77.9

    78.1

    149.1

    139.8

    221.8

    211.7

    192.8

    169.4

    Jan-25*

    229.8

    77.9

    78.1

    147.2

    139.0

    228.1

    220.3

    201.9

    173.8

    Feb-25*

    215.6

    69.7

    70.0

    133.5

    124.9

    216.8

    215.2

    194.0

    163.0

    Mar-25*

    260.2

    77.4

    69.2

    147.3

    126.9

    235.5

    244.8

    216.9

    181.7

        *Provisional

     

    Growth Rates (on Y-o-Y basis in per cent)

    Sector

    Coal

    Crude Oil

    Natural Gas

    Refinery Products

    Fertilizers

    Steel

    Cement

    Electricity

    Overall Growth

    Weight

    10.33

    8.98

    6.88

    28.04

    2.63

    17.92

    5.37

    19.85

    100.00

    Mar-24

    8.7

    2.1

    6.3

    1.6

    -1.3

    7.5

    10.6

    8.6

    6.3

    Apr-24

    7.5

    1.7

    8.6

    3.9

    -0.8

    9.8

    0.2

    10.2

    6.9

    May-24

    10.2

    -1.1

    7.5

    0.5

    -1.7

    8.9

    -0.6

    13.7

    6.9

    Jun-24

    14.8

    -2.6

    3.3

    -1.5

    2.4

    6.3

    1.8

    8.6

    5.0

    Jul-24

    6.8

    -2.9

    -1.3

    6.6

    5.3

    7.0

    5.1

    7.9

    6.3

    Aug-24

    -8.1

    -3.4

    -3.6

    -1.0

    3.2

    4.1

    -2.5

    -3.7

    -1.5

    Sep-24

    2.6

    -3.9

    -1.3

    5.8

    1.9

    1.8

    7.6

    0.5

    2.4

    Oct-24

    7.8

    -4.8

    -1.2

    5.2

    0.4

    5.7

    3.1

    2.0

    3.8

    Nov-24

    7.5

    -2.1

    -1.9

    2.9

    2.0

    10.5

    13.1

    4.4

    5.8

    Dec-24

    5.3

    0.6

    -1.8

    2.8

    1.7

    7.3

    10.3

    6.2

    5.1

    Jan-25*

    4.6

    -1.1

    -1.5

    8.3

    3.0

    4.7

    14.6

    2.4

    5.1

    Feb-25*

    1.7

    -5.2

    -6.0

    0.8

    10.2

    6.9

    10.8

    3.6

    3.4

    Mar-25*

    1.6

    -1.9

    -12.7

    0.2

    8.8

    7.1

    11.6

    6.2

    3.8

       *Provisional.

       Y-o-Y is calculated over the corresponding financial year of previous year

    ***

    Abhishek Dayal / Abhijith Narayanan

    (Release ID: 2123185) Visitor Counter : 184

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Five petroleum product pipelines were completed in the United States in 2024

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    In-brief analysis

    April 21, 2025

    In 2024, pipeline companies completed five pipeline projects to transport petroleum liquids in the United States, according to our recently updated Liquids Pipeline Projects Database. The five projects consisted of three hydrocarbon gas liquid (HGL) pipelines and two petroleum product pipelines.

    The completed projects are:

    • Texas Western Products system
      Enterprise Products Partners’ Texas Western Products system is a conversion and reversal of a 60,000-barrel-per-day (b/d) pipeline that transports refined products (gasoline and diesel) from the Texas Gulf Coast to markets in the Mid-continent and Rocky Mountain regions. The system serves four key destinations: Gaines County, Texas; Jal, New Mexico; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Grand County, Utah. It was completed in the fourth quarter of 2024.
    • Houston to El Paso refined petroleum products pipeline
      ONEOK’s Houston to El Paso refined petroleum products pipeline system is a 30,000-b/d expansion along its existing route between Odessa and Crane, Texas. The new 30-mile, 16-inch pipeline increases the total capacity to approximately 1,000,000 b/d from Gulf Coast and Mid-Continent refineries to El Paso. It was completed in the first quarter of 2024.
    • Daytona NGL Pipeline
      Targa Resource’s Daytona NGL Pipeline is a 400,000-b/d pipeline that transports Y-grade natural gas liquids (NGLs) from the Permian Basin to North Texas, where it connects with Targa’s Grand Prix NGL Pipeline. From there, NGLs move to Targa’s fractionation and storage complex in Mont Belvieu, Texas. The pipeline is approximately 400 miles in length with a 30-inch diameter and was completed in the fourth quarter of 2024.
    • Seminole Red Pipeline
      Enterprise Products Partners’ Seminole Red Pipeline is a conversion of a 280,000-b/d crude oil pipeline back to an HGL pipeline while the company builds the Bahia Pipeline, another HGL pipeline project that will also service the Permian Basin. The pipeline transports Y-grade NGLs approximately 440 miles from the Permian Basin in West Texas to Enterprise’s fractionation and storage facilities in Mont Belvieu, Texas. The Seminole Red Pipeline was originally an HGL pipeline before it was converted to a crude oil pipeline in 2019. The conversion back to HGL service was completed in the first quarter of 2024.
    • West Texas NGL Loop
      The West Texas NGL Loop developed by ONEOK is a 40,000-b/d expansion that increased the total pipeline capacity to 515,000 b/d. The looping expansion involved installing additional pipeline segments in parallel to the existing line, which extends along the West Texas NGL Pipeline route from the Permian Basin to multiple fractionation and storage facilities in Mont Belvieu, Texas. The company completed the project in the fourth quarter of 2024 and plans to add pump stations by mid-2025 to further expand capacity to 740,000 b/d.

    Our Liquids Pipeline Projects Database contains information about projects at various stages of construction. In addition to these completed projects, we estimate there are nine announced pipeline projects and eight projects under construction in the United States. We estimate 17 projects have been permanently canceled since 2020.

    Our Liquids Pipeline Projects Database compiles information on more than 270 future, ongoing, and past liquids pipeline projects in the United States. These pipelines carry crude oil, HGLs, and petroleum products—which include gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and other refinery products. This database includes projects that date back to 2010. Our database contains project types, start dates, capacity, mileage, geographic information, and project status. We track expanded, reversed, converted, and new pipeline projects.

    Some projects are connected to each other, with some pipelines doubling as segments of other longer lines that may carry the same fuels to their final destination. As a result, adding together the capacity of all projects would result in overestimating or double counting some pipeline capacity.

    The Liquids Pipeline Projects Database complements our Natural Gas Pipeline Projects tracker. We update our Liquids Pipeline Projects Database based on the best available information from pipeline company websites, trade press reports, and government documents, such as U.S. Department of State permits for border crossings. We update the database twice each year. The data reflect reported plans and do not reflect our assumptions on the likelihood or timing of project completion.

    Principal contributors: Merek Roman, Jim O’Sullivan

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Washington Man Who Distributed Large Amounts of Fentanyl in the Tri-Cities Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Spokane, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard Barker announced that United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke sentenced Ricardo Cantu, age 26, to 108 months in prison on drug trafficking charges. Judge Dimke also imposed 4 years of supervised release.

    According to court documents and information provided at the sentencing hearing, in September 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) developed information that Cantu, who was a source of supply for methamphetamine and fentanyl laced pills, was distributing large quantities in and around the Tri-Cities with the assistance of several co-defendants to include Julio Gaspar Iniguez, Veronica Martinez and Daniel Mora.  

    Between September and October 2023, the DEA conducted two controlled purchases of fentanyl and methamphetamine from Cantu and Gaspar totaling nearly two pounds of methamphetamine and over 3,041 fentanyl pills. Cantu and Mora were armed with firearms during each transaction.

    On December 7, 2023, Agents executed search a warrant at Cantu’s home. Cantu and another man were smoking fentanyl in the garage at the time, and as a result, law enforcement and children inside the home were exposed to the fumes from this dangerous controlled substance.

    During a search of Cantu’s bedroom, agents located 10,000 pink fentanyl-laced pills in a child’s Hello Kitty bag.  Inside the closet, there were another 2,000 fentanyl-laced pills, a digital scale, and loaded Glock firearm, which previously had been reported stolen. During a search of the garage, agents located another 1,500 fentanyl pills, 3 digital scales and other evidence of drug distribution.

    Agents also executed a search warrant at Gaspar’s home, recovering 5 pounds of marijuana and a loaded 9mm firearm that has been associated with two shootings in the Yakima Valley. Agents also located a loaded privately made firearm, or Ghost gun, with a loaded magazine. During a search of Gaspar’s Jeep, agents located a loaded pistol in the center console.

    On March 26, 2025, Gaspar pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges. He will be sentenced on June 25, 2025, in Spokane.

    “Distributing and using fentanyl and methamphetamine in our communities – especially in places where children are present – is both reckless and deeply dangerous,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard Barker. “Mr. Cantu not only trafficked deadly narcotics but did so while armed and in the presence of children, putting lives at risk. I commend the DEA and our law enforcement partners for their work in removing these dangerous drugs and firearms from Eastern Washington communities.”

    “Mr. Cantu put the entire community at risk by trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine while armed,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division.  “This sentence conveys the seriousness of the danger Mr.  Cantu posed to law enforcement and other members of the community poised to get caught in the crossfire of his drug trafficking enterprise.”

    This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Van Marter.

    Case 2:23-cr-00132-MKD

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cantwell Hears From Healthcare Providers in Wenatchee: Medicaid Cuts Would be Devastating

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell

    04.21.25

    Cantwell Hears From Healthcare Providers in Wenatchee: Medicaid Cuts Would be Devastating

    Cantwell continues tour of WA to fight back against proposed Medicaid cuts; Cantwell reports highlight impacts to WA State health care if GOP cuts Medicaid to pay for lower taxes for the ultra-wealthy

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), senior member of the Senate Finance Committee and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, heard from health care providers in the Wenatchee Valley about the dangers of cuts to Medicaid being considered by Republican lawmakers.

    At an April 17 roundtable hosted by U.S. Representative Kim Schrier (D, WA-08) and joined by Sen. Cantwell, health care providers warned that such cuts would devastate the region’s health care system and limit access to lifesaving care. 

    Cutting Medicaid, Sen. Cantwell said, “affects the programs, then affects the hospital, then it affects the workforce, then you end up with shortages, then you end up with deserts. Then you end up with, ‘Who wants to have a business there?’ It keeps cascading,” Sen. Cantwell said. “This is a crazy idea. This is not a sledge hammer — this is like a ticking time bomb that’s blowing up the foundation of the system. And we have to take your stories and go back [to D.C.] and convince these people that it’s not even worth thinking about.”

    Wenatchee marked the fourth stop in Sen. Cantwell’s tour around the state to hear from folks who would be directly impacted by cuts to Medicare. Last month, Sen. Cantwell heard from voices across Washington state about the dangers of President Trump and the GOP’s proposed cuts to Medicaid. Doctors, patients, and health care providers in Seattle, Spokane, and the Tri-Cities warned that such cuts would devastate Washington state’s health care system and limit access to lifesaving care.

    WATCH:

    FOX 13 Seattle: WA health leaders join Sen. Cantwell against proposed Medicaid cuts

    KREM 2 Spokane: Spokane doctors, patients speak at Medicaid roundtable hosted by Sen. Cantwell

    KAPP 35 Tri-Cities: MARIA CANTWELL: How proposed cuts to Medicaid could impact South Central Washington

    In February, Sen. Cantwell released a snapshot report highlighting the impact that slashing Medicaid to fund tax cuts for corporations and the ultra-wealthy would have on Washington state’s health care system — especially in Central and Eastern Washington. In March, Sen. Cantwell released a second snapshot report highlighting impacts on the Seattle-area health care delivery system.

    READ MORE:

    The Seattle Times: Cuts to Medicaid would hurt WA’s children, poor

    The Spokesman Review: Medicaid could be on chopping block after Northwest Republicans help pass House budget measure

    The Tri-City Herald: Newhouse backs House GOP budget plan that could lead to cuts for Tri-Cities Medicaid users

    Medicaid is the federal program that insures many low-income adults and children, pregnant people, seniors, and people with disabilities. Washington state’s Medicaid program, Apple Health, ensures that eligible Washingtonians can afford to seek health care and see providers when they need to. The program also ensures that hospitals — which are required to treat everyone, regardless of their ability to pay — receive reimbursements for the significant number of low-income people they serve. Over 1.9 million Washingtonians are enrolled in Apple Health.

    The House of Representatives has passed a budget resolution that would necessitate $880 billion in cuts from the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over Medicaid. Supporters of the bill claim that the text includes no mention of Medicaid — however, the extent of the cuts required by the legislation would mean that the committee has essentially no other options other than to hack away at Medicaid.

    Video of yesterday’s roundtable in Wenatchee is HERE; photos are HERE; and a transcript of Sen. Cantwell’s opening and closing remarks are HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Secretary-General’s remarks at the Opening Ceremony of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

    Source: United Nations – English

    elcome to this twenty-fourth Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues – and thank you for bringing the voices, insights, aspirations, and concerns of Indigenous Peoples to this global stage.

    The world’s Indigenous Peoples are magnificently diverse in cultures, languages, histories, and traditions…

    But united by common features and common challenges. 

    You are the pre-eminent stewards of the world’s biodiversity and of the environment.

    Your knowledge and traditional practices are leading models of conservation and sustainable use – reflecting your commitment to living life in harmony with Mother Earth, and to the wellbeing and rights of future generations.

    The world has much to learn from your wisdom, insights and approaches, which prioritise the health of ecosystems over short-term economic gains…

    As we tackle the many challenges that we face – building sustainable food systems, moving to sustainable ways of livings, and more, we must recognize that the world does not always value you as it should.

    Dear Friends,

    The difficulties facing Indigenous Peoples around the world are an affront to dignity and justice. And a source of deep sorrow for me personally.

    Indigenous women face particular challenges – including barriers to political participation, economic opportunities, and essential services.

    On a trip to Suriname three years ago, I had the honour of visiting the Kaliña Peoples. 

    I witnessed how climate change is devastating their lands, and destroying their way of life.

    And I heard how mercury from illegal mining is harming Indigenous Peoples in the region, as in many others, namely, including Brazil – poisoning their water and food supplies. 

    Everywhere, Indigenous Peoples are on the frontline of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss – despite having done nothing to create these crises and everything to try to stop them.

    Eviction and illegal exploitation continue to harm your people and grossly violate your rights.

    You face marginalisation, discrimination, unemployment, economic disadvantage and horrendous violence – particularly as you seek to defend our common home.  

    And too often you are excluded from decisions that directly impact your land and territories – threatening your ways of life and food security.

    Meanwhile, a looming threat grows – the race for minerals critical to the global energy transition – a large proportion of which are located on or close to Indigenous Peoples’ territories.

    As demand soars, too often we see dispossession; exclusion and marginalisation in decision-making; the rights of Indigenous Peoples trampled and health jeopardised, all as you are denied the benefits you deserve.

    Dear Friends,

    We know how to right these wrongs.

    Eighteen years ago, the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples laid out a blueprint for securing the survival, dignity and well-being of Indigenous Peoples everywhere.

    The Declaration has been used by courts, parliaments and communities, to secure rights and galvanise political action. 

    And multilateralism has delivered progress. In the past year, countries have made important new commitments:

    In the Global Digital Compact – to build digital skills and capacities, including among Indigenous Peoples…

    In the Pact for the Future’s call to “recognize, respect, promote and protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples, their territories, lands and ecosystems, while safeguarding their traditions, spiritual beliefs and ancestral knowledge” – and to help do so by ensuring a seat at decision-making tables…

    And at COP16 on biodiversity. Countries committed to create a permanent new subsidiary body – a space for Indigenous Peoples and others to participate in decision-making on biodiversity. 

    And they agreed on sharing the benefits of digital genetic information – with a portion of the new Cali Fund supporting Indigenous Peoples. 

    Indigenous Peoples – particularly members of this Forum – also contributed to the work of the United Nations Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals.

    The Panel’s principles and recommendations are grounded in human rights, including the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

    Yet, we know there is much further to go.

    And I hear your calls for greater and more meaningful participation in the United Nations.

    The focus of this year’s session is implementing the Declaration within Member States and within the United Nations system. 

    This is an urgent call to action.

    And I would point to four specific areas.

    First, strengthening the Permanent Forum.

    We need Member States to ensure high-level representation.

    And we need to fortify the Trust Fund on Indigenous Issues – broadening the donor-base and increasing contributions.

    This is vital to enabling the Forum to deliver its work, including through participation and representation at international meetings. 

    Second, I urge governments and institutions to ensure that the leadership, rights and needs of Indigenous Peoples are recognized and acted upon across the board.

    In a world in flux, it is particularly important that Governments are alert to the impacts on Indigenous Peoples. 

    Governments must honour their obligations in the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples – without delay.

    And bring Indigenous Peoples, particularly women, into all forms of decision-making, and support political participation.

    Third, international finance providers should make Indigenous Peoples a key consideration – so that finance flows to their self-determined priorities and projects are including interactions.

    And fourth, I urge countries, companies and more, to work with us to deliver on all the recommendations of the Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals.

    We will soon launch the High-Level Expert Advisory Group to accelerate action on benefit sharing, value addition, and fair trade – and the needs and input of Indigenous communities will be key.

    Let’s be clear:  The clean energy era must power progress on Indigenous Peoples’ rights.

    Distinguished Members of the Forum,

    Upholding the dignity and worth of every person is central to the work and mission of the United Nations.

    It is our essence.

    And because it is at our core, we say loudly and clearly: 

    The individual and collective rights of Indigenous Peoples are non-negotiable.

    Now and forever, we stand with you all in making those rights a reality for Indigenous Peoples everywhere.

    Thank you.
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The new abnormal: Debating Canada’s future at a hinge point in history

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Stewart Prest, Lecturer, Political Science, University of British Columbia

    Canadians watched the two leaders’ debates unfold last week in Montréal. The debates, and this election, occur at a pivotal moment in history. Canadians go to the polls as the future of global democracy and governance, and in fact the very independence of the country, is in the balance.

    In crucial ways, the debates failed to meet the moment — and therefore will likely be forgotten as Canadians vote cast their ballots in a week. Unlike a past debate that focused on Canadian sovereignty between John Turner and Brian Mulroney in 1988, this one featured few knockout punches or memorable moments.

    Shadows of the past

    In the weeks prior to the debates, observers drew comparisons to that momentous English-language leaders’ showdown 37 years ago. That debate laid out a clear question for voters: Are you in favour of entering a free-trade agreement with the United States?

    Prime Minister Mulroney was supportive of the agreement, while Liberal Leader Turner was sharply opposed, fearing for the country’s independence.

    In the end, both Mulroney and Turner had a point. In the ensuing decades, free trade with the U.S. has brought both prosperity and dependence on the country as the Canadian economy became ever more deeply intertwined with that of the United States.

    A hinge point in history

    In 2025, we face an even more pivotal moment. The global order is shifting.

    Under Donald Trump, the U.S. has moved away from its decades-old position at the heart of a liberal international order centred on western democracies to embrace a transactional and illiberal foreign policy built on the language of power.



    Read more:
    Like dictators before him, Trump threatens international peace and security

    Given the gravity of the moment however, we heard comparatively little during the debates about how Canada must respond at this hinge point in history as Canadians adapt to a predictably unpredictable future.

    The threat of economic tariffs, while real, are just the beginning. Leaders alluded to the fact that Canada’s erstwhile closest ally now constitutes a threat to Canadian sovereignty, but it was not a major point of discussion, even as the the White House Press secretary recently affirmed Trump still wants Canada to become the 51st state. Threats to the territorial integrity of other former American allies continue as well.

    Viewers heard questions during the debate related to the possibility that the U.S. may no longer support Ukraine, but nothing about how Trump shocked the world with a very public dressing-down of Ukraine’s president or how he seems more comfortable co-operating with Vladimir Putin’s Russia.

    Virtually no mention was made of the fact that the U.S. is, by some measures, no longer a democracy. Its courts are politicized. Congress is polarized. The federal civil service remains under siege, and key institutions of civil society are under pressure to conform to Trump’s demands. Nor was there any discussion about how the Trump administration is openly defying court orders, effectively flouting the rule of law, and what that could mean for Trump’s annexation threats against Canada.

    There was some talk during the debate of Canada trying to reach the (Trump-demanded) NATO military target for military spending, but nothing about the fact that the future of the alliance is uncertain. European states are openly questioning the credibility of American support in the event of an attack and European leaders discussing defence strategies without American involvement for the first time since the Second World War.



    Read more:
    How could Canada deter an invasion? Nukes and mandatory military service

    A debate like any other

    It’s clear from such silences on the debate stage that Canadian voters, journalists, debate moderators and politicians alike are all still coming to terms with the depth of change in the world around them.

    The debate was filled with talk of pipelines, housing strategies and domestic law and order. In fact, neither debate was much different from those of the past 20 years.

    That’s not to suggest domestic challenges don’t require substantive discussion and policy proposals. As I and others have argued, the populist anti-incumbent wave that we saw sweeping Canadian and global politics in recent years can be traced to the sense that a portion of the population — younger voters in particular — feel left behind and ignored.



    Read more:
    Justin Trudeau’s bleak poll numbers are part of a global trend as young voters reject incumbents

    The challenges are multiple and significant, including but not limited to housing and affordability, public safety and policing, slow economic development and the challenges of responding to climate change in an economy dependent on energy exports.

    Nonetheless, in focusing so heavily on domestic and not global threats, the debate verged at times on the parochial.

    Bloc leader Yves-François Blanchet, for instance, tried to keep provincial jurisdiction and Québec’s interests top of mind. NDP leader Jagmeet Singh’s message, at its most effective, was that as the country turns to face new challenges, it cannot forget about the marginalized in Canadian society and abroad. Worthy points, but secondary to the larger moment.

    Ultimately, the debate was dominated by the other two men on the stage with a real chance to govern the country next week: Liberal Leader Mark Carney and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.

    The two appeared united in their passion for the country and pipelines, and share some other priorities, notably facilitating interprovincial economic integration.

    Conservative base is divided

    In other respects, the two leaders diverged significantly in their views. Of all the leaders, Carney was the most willing to discuss the Trump threat, including when he suggested in his closing English remarks that Trump is “trying to break us so the U.S. can own us.”

    For the majority of the debates, however, the Liberal leader focused primarily on the economic threat. He argued that the country must look away from the U.S., and instead build inward with investment in housing and energy at home, and build outward by identifying more reliable markets and allies abroad.

    Poilievre’s messaging was more nuanced, moving in different directions to suit different audiences. No doubt this is because the country’s Conservative voting base is itself deeply divided between mainstream conservatives who share their fellow Canadians’ concerns about Trump and a populist faction that tends to identify with the MAGA movement in numerous ways.



    Read more:
    Why some Canadians are in denial about Donald Trump

    In attempting to square that circle, Poilievre has signalled strong opposition to Trump and his tariffs — a point he repeatedly discussed during the debate — and called for measures to enhance Canadian productivity, notably in the energy sector.

    At the same time, however, he endorsed other policies that evoke aspects of Trump’s own political agenda, something he largely avoided mentioning during the debates. Notable among are Poilievre’s promised war on “woke” culture. While not discussed in detail during the debates, disruptive questions from right-wing media outlets following the French debate illustrated just how close to the surface such issues remain.

    The ‘new abnormal’

    In the absence of a significant gaffe, knockout blow or other dramatic twist, the debates are unlikely to change many minds, and seem likely to soon fade from memory.

    Initial post-debate polling suggests as much. Anyone leaning one way or another heard enough to affirm their views as they tuned into the debates, and nothing to make them question their choice.

    Answers to larger questions about how Canada should move forward in this emergent new global order, amid daunting new threats to peace and democracy, remain only hinted at. Whoever wins the election, those questions will continue to be asked with increased urgency in the coming years.

    Stewart Prest does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. The new abnormal: Debating Canada’s future at a hinge point in history – https://theconversation.com/the-new-abnormal-debating-canadas-future-at-a-hinge-point-in-history-254675

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Coons, Cornyn, Young Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Mapping, Safe Extraction of Critical Minerals

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper, Chris Coons, John Cornyn, and Todd Young introduced the bipartisan Finding Opportunities for Resource Exploration (Finding ORE) Act to strengthen U.S. mineral security and reduce strategic vulnerabilities. The bill leverages the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) mapping of critical mineral reserves to help responsibly develop global mineral resources around the world.
    “We can’t solve climate change or strengthen national security without harnessing the power of critical minerals,” said Hickenlooper. “Better and more accurate maps will help us and our allies safely and ethically explore untapped critical mineral deposits.”
    “From the technology that powers the cell phones in our pockets to the systems that keep us safe, Americans depend on critical minerals for our economic strength and national security,” said Coons. “The Finding ORE Act makes sure that our nation will have access to the essential materials we need to keep innovating, growing our economy, and deterring our enemies. I’m grateful for the bipartisan and industry support this bill has received and look forward to pushing for its enactment.”
    “Access to a reliable supply chain of critical minerals is essential to meet our nation’s defense, manufacturing, and energy needs,” said Cornyn. “By shoring up alliances with trusted allies and promoting geological mapping of critical mineral reserves, this legislation would ensure America has the resources needed to keep up with global demand and bolster both our mineral security and national security in the years ahead.”
    “Many countries are unmapped or reliant on outdated geological surveys. Our bill would create opportunities for collaboration between the United States and these countries to update geological mapping with the goal of locating critical mineral deposits. These partnerships would be mutually beneficial and provide the United States access to more critical minerals, reducing our dependence on China,” said Young.
    The Finding ORE Act would authorize the Director of USGS to enter into memoranda of understanding (MOU) with foreign partner countries related to mapping of critical minerals. The bill identifies four objectives for these MOU:
    Committing USGS to assist the partner country with a range of critical mineral mapping activities
    Committing the partner country to offer a right of first refusal to private companies based in the United States or an allied country in the further development of mapped critical minerals
    Facilitating investment in the development of critical minerals in the partner country, including by leveraging financing from the U.S. Development Finance Corporation and Export-Import Bank
    Ensuring that mapping data created through partnership with USGS is not disclosed to governmental or private entities in non-allied countries
    The bill requires USGS to collaborate with both the State Department and the private sector in identifying which countries to prioritize for negotiation of an MOU and would involve the State Department in the negotiation and implementation process.
    “Colorado School of Mines commends Senators Coons, Young, Hickenlooper, and Cornyn and Reps. Wittman and Castor for their bipartisan efforts to leverage U.S. expertise in mineral mapping to support safe, secure, and responsible mineral supply chains,” said Dr. John Bradford, Vice President for Global Initiatives at Colorado School of Mines. “When called upon to contribute, institutions with strong partnerships with USGS, like Colorado School of Mines, seek to support America’s government and industry partners to advance the technology, knowledge, and workforce required to responsibly identify, assess, and produce mineral resources in the U.S. and around the world.”
    “The United States has too often watched from the sidelines as our adversaries explored, invested in, and secured the world’s most promising mineral deposits,” said Abigail Hunter, Executive Director of SAFE’s Center for Critical Minerals Strategy. “This bill changes that. It positions the United States—our geological experts and industry—to help identify and potentially develop the next generation of great deposits. It ensures we show up in resource-rich nations, rather than leaving them to deepen their ties with China.”
    “The American Critical Minerals Association welcomes the bipartisan, bicameral introduction of the Finding ORE Act by Senators Coons, Young, Hickenlooper, and Cornyn and Representatives Wittman and Castor,” said Sarah Venuto, Executive Director of ACMA. “Expanding our knowledge base of global minerals resources and growing partnerships with our allies will ensure the United States is a leading force in resourcing critical minerals in a responsible way. ACMA looks forward to working with Senator Coons and his colleagues to advance the Finding ORE Act.”
    “BPC Action applauds the bipartisan introduction of the Finding ORE Act. The bill will strengthen U.S. supply chain security by enhancing coordination with allies on critical mineral development, helping secure new critical minerals sources free from adversary control,” said Michele Stockwell, president of Bipartisan Policy Center Action (BPC Action).
    “Terra AI celebrates this forward-thinking, bi-partisan critical minerals exploration legislation introduced by Senators Coons, Young, Hickenlooper, and Cornyn and Reps. Wittman and Castor,” said John Mern, CEO of Terra AI. “The Finding ORE Act would empower America’s agencies and private firms to explore and claim the next major deposits of critical minerals which will supply our industries for decades to come; supporting manufacturing, aerospace, energy, and artificial intelligence. We support this act’s unique approach to winning the critical minerals race by leveraging America and Her Allies’ relative advantages — strong diplomatic relations, world-leading technology, and entrepreneurial spirit. This act is the essential early stage first step to establishing US global mineral dominance and winning this generational opportunity. As a mineral exploration AI company, we see huge value in collaboration between the private sector and our nation’s diplomatic, geologic and financial agencies abroad. It is a winning playbook, and we look forward to seeing more legislation in this area.”
    A companion bill is led by Representatives Rob Wittman and Kathy Castor in the U.S. House of Representatives.
    In the 119th Congress, Hickenlooper has led and co-sponsored multiple other critical minerals related legislation, including:
    The bipartisan STRATEGIC Minerals Act to foster critical minerals trade with our international allies, led by Senator Young.
    His bipartisan Unearth Innovation Act to establish a DOE program for sustainable critical mineral research innovation and recycling.
    His bipartisan Critical Materials Future Act to establish a pilot program for the Department of Energy to financially support domestic critical material processing projects.
    The bipartisan Critical Minerals Security Act to help secure U.S. critical mineral supply chains and counter China’s dominance in the industry.
    A one-pager on the bill is available HERE.
    The full text of the bill is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s remarks at the Opening Ceremony of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Welcome to this twenty-fourth Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues – and thank you for bringing the voices, insights, aspirations, and concerns of Indigenous Peoples to this global stage.

    The world’s Indigenous Peoples are magnificently diverse in cultures, languages, histories, and traditions…

    But united by common features and common challenges. 

    You are the pre-eminent stewards of the world’s biodiversity and of the environment.

    Your knowledge and traditional practices are leading models of conservation and sustainable use – reflecting your commitment to living life in harmony with Mother Earth, and to the wellbeing and rights of future generations.

    The world has much to learn from your wisdom, insights and approaches, which prioritise the health of ecosystems over short-term economic gains…

    As we tackle the many challenges that we face – building sustainable food systems, moving to sustainable ways of livings, and more, we must recognize that the world does not always value you as it should.

    Dear Friends,

    The difficulties facing Indigenous Peoples around the world are an affront to dignity and justice. And a source of deep sorrow for me personally.

    Indigenous women face particular challenges – including barriers to political participation, economic opportunities, and essential services.

    On a trip to Suriname three years ago, I had the honour of visiting the Kaliña Peoples. 

    I witnessed how climate change is devastating their lands, and destroying their way of life.

    And I heard how mercury from illegal mining is harming Indigenous Peoples in the region, as in many others, namely, including Brazil – poisoning their water and food supplies. 

    Everywhere, Indigenous Peoples are on the frontline of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss – despite having done nothing to create these crises and everything to try to stop them.

    Eviction and illegal exploitation continue to harm your people and grossly violate your rights.

    You face marginalisation, discrimination, unemployment, economic disadvantage and horrendous violence – particularly as you seek to defend our common home.  

    And too often you are excluded from decisions that directly impact your land and territories – threatening your ways of life and food security.

    Meanwhile, a looming threat grows – the race for minerals critical to the global energy transition – a large proportion of which are located on or close to Indigenous Peoples’ territories.

    As demand soars, too often we see dispossession; exclusion and marginalisation in decision-making; the rights of Indigenous Peoples trampled and health jeopardised, all as you are denied the benefits you deserve.

    Dear Friends,

    We know how to right these wrongs.

    Eighteen years ago, the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples laid out a blueprint for securing the survival, dignity and well-being of Indigenous Peoples everywhere.

    The Declaration has been used by courts, parliaments and communities, to secure rights and galvanise political action. 

    And multilateralism has delivered progress. In the past year, countries have made important new commitments:

    In the Global Digital Compact – to build digital skills and capacities, including among Indigenous Peoples…

    In the Pact for the Future’s call to “recognize, respect, promote and protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples, their territories, lands and ecosystems, while safeguarding their traditions, spiritual beliefs and ancestral knowledge” – and to help do so by ensuring a seat at decision-making tables…

    And at COP16 on biodiversity. Countries committed to create a permanent new subsidiary body – a space for Indigenous Peoples and others to participate in decision-making on biodiversity. 

    And they agreed on sharing the benefits of digital genetic information – with a portion of the new Cali Fund supporting Indigenous Peoples. 

    Indigenous Peoples – particularly members of this Forum – also contributed to the work of the United Nations Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals.

    The Panel’s principles and recommendations are grounded in human rights, including the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

    Yet, we know there is much further to go.

    And I hear your calls for greater and more meaningful participation in the United Nations.

    The focus of this year’s session is implementing the Declaration within Member States and within the United Nations system. 

    This is an urgent call to action.

    And I would point to four specific areas.

    First, strengthening the Permanent Forum.

    We need Member States to ensure high-level representation.

    And we need to fortify the Trust Fund on Indigenous Issues – broadening the donor-base and increasing contributions.

    This is vital to enabling the Forum to deliver its work, including through participation and representation at international meetings. 

    Second, I urge governments and institutions to ensure that the leadership, rights and needs of Indigenous Peoples are recognized and acted upon across the board.

    In a world in flux, it is particularly important that Governments are alert to the impacts on Indigenous Peoples. 

    Governments must honour their obligations in the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples – without delay.

    And bring Indigenous Peoples, particularly women, into all forms of decision-making, and support political participation.

    Third, international finance providers should make Indigenous Peoples a key consideration – so that finance flows to their self-determined priorities and projects are including interactions.

    And fourth, I urge countries, companies and more, to work with us to deliver on all the recommendations of the Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals.

    We will soon launch the High-Level Expert Advisory Group to accelerate action on benefit sharing, value addition, and fair trade – and the needs and input of Indigenous communities will be key.

    Let’s be clear:  The clean energy era must power progress on Indigenous Peoples’ rights.

    Distinguished Members of the Forum,

    Upholding the dignity and worth of every person is central to the work and mission of the United Nations.

    It is our essence.

    And because it is at our core, we say loudly and clearly: 

    The individual and collective rights of Indigenous Peoples are non-negotiable.

    Now and forever, we stand with you all in making those rights a reality for Indigenous Peoples everywhere.

    Thank you.
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater Delivers Remarks Before Opening Arguments in Google Search Remedies Trial

    Source: United States Attorneys General

    Thank you, Deputy Attorney General Blanche. I thank both you and Attorney General Bondi for your strong support for DOJ antitrust enforcement.

    In a time of political division in our nation, this case against Google brings everyone together. This case was filed during President Trump’s first term and litigated across three administrations. It has unified our nation. Forty-nine states, two territories and the District of Columbia have all joined the Department of Justice in prosecuting Google here. And for good reason.

    Each generation has called for the DOJ to challenge a behemoth that crushed competition. In decades past, it was Standard Oil and AT&T. Today’s behemoth is Google. It is a gatekeeper for our commerce and our information. It is so ubiquitous and so powerful that it interacts with millions of Americans, billions of times per day. Fortunately, DOJ’s Antitrust Division exists for cases just like this one.

    Today begins the final chapter for this historic litigation. The Court has already decided liability and judge Mehta has made two things clear: one, Google is a monopolist and two, Google broke the law. We are not here to relitigate the case, we are here to ask the Court to fix the harm from Google’s unlawful conduct.

    The Google search case matters because nothing less than the future of the internet is at stake here. Are we going to give Americans choices and allow innovation and competition to thrive online? Or will we maintain the status quo that favors Big Tech monopolies? If Google’s conduct is not remedied, it will control much of the internet for the next decade and not just in internet search, but in new technologies like artificial intelligence.

    The Trump administration has prioritized policies that support and advance artificial intelligence. But nothing will advance AI faster than an open and competitive marketplace free from gatekeepers and monopolies. For almost two centuries, American technological dynamism has been built on innovation, and innovation is built on competition. This is the American way.

    In its defense, Google asks the Court to keep the status quo. It seeks to tell the judge that there is nothing to see here, even though the same judge has already found Google liable. Google wants to keep the fruits of its misconduct intact, as though the DOJ had never taken action and judge Mehta had never written his 277-page opinion.

    Worse still, Google has called the DOJ’s proposed remedies “dangerous” and “irresponsible.” Not so. You know what is dangerous? The threat Google presents to our freedom of speech, to our freedom of thought, to free American digital markets. You know what is irresponsible? Leaving Google’s monopoly abuse unaddressed.

    In the trial beginning today, our exceptional team at the Antitrust Division will explain why robust remedies are required to restore and unleash competition. The online search market has been frozen in place for decades, and a free market will not be restored overnight. Please remember this important fact as you learn more about the DOJ’s proposed remedies in this case.

    Finally, a word of thanks to the men and women of the DOJ Antitrust Division. I am so very proud of the team that brought this case to where it is today and want to thank them for their diligence and service to the country. Thank you for your time and attention. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: TMD Energy Limited Announces Pricing of US$10.08 Million Initial Public Offering

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TMD Energy Limited (the “Company”) (NYSE American: TMDE), together with its subsidiaries is a Malaysia and Singapore based services provider engaged in integrated bunkering services which involves ship-to-ship transfer of marine fuels, ship management services and vessel chartering services, today announced the pricing of its initial public offering (the “Offering”) of 3,100,000 ordinary shares (“Shares”) at a price to public of US$3.25 per Share for the total gross proceeds of approximately US$10.08 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and other related expenses, assuming the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option to purchase additional Shares. The Shares will begin trading on April 21, 2025, U.S. Eastern time, on the NYSE American under the symbol “TMDE”. The Offering is expected to close on April 22, 2025, subject to customary closing conditions.

    The Company has granted the underwriter a 45-day option to purchase up to an aggregate of 465,000 additional Shares to cover over-allotments at the initial public offering price, If the underwriter exercises their option to purchase the additional Shares in full, the total gross proceeds before deducting underwriting discounts and other related expenses from the offering are expected to be approximately US$11.59 million.

    The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering for (i) the purchase of cargo oil; (ii) defraying listing expenses; and (iii) working capital and other general corporate purposes.

    Maxim Group LLC (“Maxim”) is acting as sole book-running manager of the Offering. Loeb & Loeb LLP, is acting as U.S. legal counsel to the Company, and Pryor Cashman LLP is acting as U.S. legal counsel to Maxim for the Offering.

    A registration statement on Form F-1, as amended (File No. 333-283704) related to the Offering was initially filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on December 10, 2024 and was declared effective by the SEC on March 31, 2025. The Offering is being made only by means of a prospectus forming a part of the effective registration statement. Copies of the prospectus relating to the Offering may be obtained from Maxim Group, LLC, 300 Park Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10022, United States of America or by email at syndicate@maximgrp.com. In addition, a copy of the prospectus relating to the Offering may be obtained via the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

    This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

    About TMD Energy Limited

    TMD Energy Limited and its subsidiaries (“TMDEL Group”) are principally involved in marine fuel bunkering services specializing in the supply and marketing of marine gas oil and marine fuel oil which includes high sulfur fuel oil, low sulfur fuel oil and very low sulfur fuel oil, to ships and vessels at sea. TMDEL Group is also involved in the provision of ship management services for in-house and external vessels, as well as vessel chartering. As of today, TMDEL Group operates in 19 ports across Malaysia with a fleet of 15 bunkering vessels. For more information, please visit the Company’s website at: www.tmdel.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, the Company’s Offering. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs, including the expectation that the Offering will be successfully completed. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may”, “could”, “will”, “should”, “would”, “expect”, “plan”, “intend”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “predict”, “potential”, “project” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement and other filings with the SEC.

    For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

    TMD Energy Limited
    Email: corporate@tmdel.com

    WFS Investor Relations
    Email : services@wealthfsllc.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Aemetis India Plant Receives $31 million of Biodiesel Orders from OMCs for Delivery in Next Three Months

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CUPERTINO, Calif., April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Aemetis, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMTX), a diversified global renewable natural gas and biofuels company, announced the Company’s subsidiary in India, Universal Biofuels, received multiple orders for an aggregate of $31 million for the delivery during May, June and July of more than 33,000 kiloliters of biodiesel to the three government-owned Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).  

    Additional OMC orders are expected throughout the year in order to continue shipments to fuel blending terminals on an ongoing basis to support the India government goal of increasing from a 1% to 5% biodiesel blend.

    ”Universal Biofuels and other biodiesel producers look forward to continuous support from the government of India to ensure that climate issues are addressed, while ensuring a healthy biodiesel industry,” stated Sanjeev Duggal, CEO of Universal Biofuels.

    “We are pleased with the progress being made in India in support of the 5% biodiesel blending target of more than 1.2 billion gallons per year,” stated Eric McAfee, Chairman and CEO of Aemetis.  “The OMCs did not take deliveries during this past winter and instead decided to issue new orders for biodiesel with deliveries from May to July. Our Universal Biofuels subsidiary has successfully completed deliveries under contracts with the OMCs for the past several years, highlighting our track record for producing and timely delivering high quality renewable fuels at our India plant.”

    Recently, India achieved a 20% ethanol blend into gasoline and the government stated a new 30% blend target for ethanol, enabling further growth in ethanol production and expanding revenues for farmers while reducing the importation of petroleum gasoline into India.

    Universal Biofuels significantly expanded the production capacity of the Kakinada biodiesel plant to 80 million gallons per year during a recent plant upgrade and maintenance cycle, including expansion of its proprietary process that produces biodiesel from waste and byproducts that Universal utilizes to produce biofuels that are lower carbon intensity at a significantly reduced cost. 

    Aemetis’ Universal Biofuels subsidiary is one of the largest biodiesel producers in India, having been in operation for more than 17 years. Universal Biofuels increased annual biodiesel capacity from 50 million gallons to 80 million gallons last year, with further biodiesel expansion to other locations and diversification into biogas production planned for 2025. To support further growth, Universal Biofuels is preparing for an IPO in India which is expected to be completed in late 2025, subject to continued favorable stock market conditions.

    Universal Biofuels completed $112 million of biodiesel and glycerine shipments in the twelve months ended September 2024, including deliveries to the three government-owned oil marketing companies under a cost-plus contract. Shipments of biodiesel to OMC’s are expected to begin in early May under the next round of biodiesel contracts. 

    About Aemetis

    Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Aemetis is a renewable natural gas and renewable fuel company focused on the operation, acquisition, development, and commercialization of innovative technologies that replace petroleum products and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Founded in 2006, Aemetis is operating and actively expanding a California biogas digester network and pipeline system to convert dairy waste gas into Renewable Natural Gas. Aemetis owns and operates a 65 million gallon per year ethanol production facility in California’s Central Valley near Modesto that supplies about 80 dairies with animal feed. Aemetis owns and operates an 80 million gallon per year production facility on the East Coast of India producing high quality distilled biodiesel and refined glycerin. Aemetis is developing a sustainable aviation fuel plant and a CO2 sequestration project in California. For additional information about Aemetis, please visit www.aemetis.com. 

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This news release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding assumptions, projections, expectations, targets, intentions or beliefs about future events or other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, projections of financial results; statements related to the development, engineering, financing, construction and operation of the Aemetis biodiesel and other biofuel facilities; our ability to promote, develop, finance, and construct facilities to produce biodiesel, renewable fuels, and biochemicals; and statements about future market prices and results of government actions. Words or phrases such as “anticipates,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “predicts,” “projects,” “showing signs,” “targets,” “view,” “will likely result,” “will continue” or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current assumptions and predictions and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties. Actual results or events could differ materially from those set forth or implied by such forward-looking statements and related assumptions due to certain factors, including, without limitation, competition in the ethanol, biodiesel and other industries in which we operate, commodity market risks including those that may result from current weather conditions, financial market risks, customer adoption, counter-party risks, risks associated with changes to federal policy or regulation, and other risks detailed in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, and in our other filings with the SEC. We are not obligated, and do not intend, to update any of these forward-looking statements at any time unless an update is required by applicable securities laws.

    Company Investor Relations
    Media Contact:
    Todd Waltz
    (408) 213-0940
    investors@aemetis.com

    External Investor Relations
    Contact:
    Kirin Smith
    PCG Advisory Group
    (646) 863-6519
    ksmith@pcgadvisory.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Dragonfly Energy Partners with the National Forest Foundation to Plant Thousands of Trees for Earth Day

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Dragonfly Energy’s collaboration with the National Forest Foundation underscores the company’s continued commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. The pledge from Dragonfly Energy to plant thousands of trees is part of a bigger environmental plan initiated by the US Forest Service to combat climate change.
    • Dragonfly Energy is committed to helping the National Forest Foundation reach its goal to successfully plant 50 million trees by the end of 2025.

    RENO, Nev., April 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Dragonfly Energy Holdings Corp. (Nasdaq: DFLI) (“Dragonfly Energy” or the “Company”), an industry leader in green energy storage and maker of Battle Born Batteries®, in recognition of Earth Day, is pledging to plant thousands of trees through a collaboration with the National Forest Foundation (NFF), the official non-profit partner of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service. In support of the company’s commitment to environmental sustainability, Dragonfly Energy aims to exceed last year’s planting of 10,000 trees.

    The National Forest Foundation is leading the charge on natural solutions for climate change having planted more than 33.5 million trees to date since the campaign began in 2018, and over five million alone in 2024. In Dragonfly Energy’s backyard alone, the Sierra Nevada, the NFF planted 24,225 trees in 2024, which included planting in five National Forests. These efforts are helping to restore public lands and ensure that forests can continue to sequester carbon dioxide (CO2), as America’s forests are the most efficient natural systems for pulling CO2 out of the atmosphere.

    “Healthy forests are vital to a greener future, just as eco-friendly battery development and manufacturing are essential to sustainable progress,” said Tyler Bourns, chief marketing officer for Dragonfly Energy. “As we enter our second year of partnership for Earth Day, we remain dedicated to environmental stewardship and the pursuit of a more sustainable planet.”

    Earth Day, celebrated globally on April 22, serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting the planet for future generations. In honor of this world-wide celebration, Dragonfly Energy pledges to plant 10 trees for every battery sold during its annual Earth Day sale taking place April 21 through April 25.

    “We want to thank Dragonfly Energy for its commitment to our reforestation initiatives and dedication to making significant environmental impacts within United States through an annual donation of trees being planted on public lands,” said Abby Schembra, National Forest Foundation Reforestation Team. “As a project-focused nonprofit organization, we value our partners who are helping us to reach our goal to successfully plant 50 million trees by the end of 2025.”

    For more information about Dragonfly Energy, visit DragonflyEnergy.com. For more information about the National Forest Foundation and its Reforestation Program, visit NationalForests.org.

    About National Forest Foundation

    The National Forest Foundation works on behalf of the American public to inspire personal and meaningful connections to our National Forests. By directly engaging Americans and leveraging private and public funding, the NFF leads forest conservation efforts and promotes responsible recreation. Each year the NFF restores fish and wildlife habitat, facilitates common ground, plants trees in areas affected by fires, insects and disease and improves recreational opportunities. The NFF believes our National Forests and all they offer are an American treasure and are vital to the health of our communities. Learn more at nationalforests.org.

    About Dragonfly Energy

    Dragonfly Energy Holdings Corp. (Nasdaq: DFLI) is a comprehensive lithium battery technology company, specializing in cell manufacturing, battery pack assembly, and full system integration. Through its renowned Battle Born Batteries® brand, Dragonfly Energy has established itself as a frontrunner in the lithium battery industry, with hundreds of thousands of reliable battery packs deployed in the field through top-tier OEMs and a diverse retail customer base. At the forefront of domestic lithium battery cell production, Dragonfly Energy’s patented dry electrode manufacturing process can deliver chemistry-agnostic power solutions for a broad spectrum of applications, including energy storage systems, electric vehicles, and consumer electronics. The Company’s overarching mission is the future deployment of its proprietary, nonflammable, all-solid-state battery cells.

    To learn more about Dragonfly Energy and its commitment to clean energy advancements, visit investors.dragonflyenergy.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical statements of fact and statements regarding the Company’s intent, belief, or expectations, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the National Forest Foundation and its Reforestation Program, the Company’s future results of operations and financial position, planned products and services, business strategy and plans, market size and growth opportunities, competitive position and technological and market trends. Some of these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words, including “may,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “will,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “predict,” “plan,” “targets,” “projects,” “could,” “would,” “continue,” “forecast” or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar expressions.

    These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors (some of which are beyond the Company’s control) which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include those set forth in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, and in the Company’s subsequent filings with the SEC available at www.sec.gov. If any of these risks materialize or any of the Company’s assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that the Company presently does not know or that it currently believes are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date they were made. Except to the extent required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

    Investor Relations
    Eric Prouty
    Szymon Serowiecki
    AdvisIRy Partners
    DragonflyIR@advisiry.com

    Media Relations
    Margaret Skillicorn, RAD Strategies Inc.
    Margaret@radstrategiesinc.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a18578f5-be14-44bb-8604-a590b68b994e

    Source: Dragonfly Energy Holdings Corp.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Joint doorstop interview, Macquarie Park

    Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

    JEROME LAXALE:

    I’m Jerome Laxale, the Member for Bennelong. It’s so great to welcome the Minister for Housing and the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, the Assistant Minister Jenny McAllister. It’s so great to be here at a small business in Bennelong. These energy efficiency upgrades will make a difference. I’ve run a small business my whole life. And I know that each and every day you’re looking to make savings, you’re looking to reinvest in the business. To get a better outcome for the bottom line, but also for your customers. Investing in these energy efficiency upgrades will help small businesses right across the country. Round 2 being announced today builds on the back of Round 1, which was announced last year. And we had a great example, in Bennelong where a supermarket used these energy efficiency grants to install controllers on their refrigerants, which has reduced their power prices by 20 per cent to 30 per cent. By the government providing these grants, it gives small businesses incentives, to do the homework, and to invest in upgrades to their energy efficiency, reduces emissions and reduces power bills. This is exactly what this Albanese government was elected to deliver. And it’s so great that we have another business here in Bennelong that has applied, that has been successful. They’ll see the power prices go down; they’ll see their emissions go down – all from this incentive by the federal government. It gives me great pleasure to invite Minister McAllister, to talk about it a lot more. It’s a very exciting program and one that I’m proud to have been an advocate for.

    SENATOR MCALLISTER:

    Thanks very much, Jerome, for your warm welcome and for your tireless advocacy for the people of Bennelong. It’s a pleasure to be here with my friend and colleague, Minister Collins. And today to announce the second round of the Energy Efficiency Grants for Small and Medium Enterprises. Now, we know that over the last 10 years, electricity has literally been leaking out the doors and windows of Australian homes and businesses because too little government attention was paid to the opportunities afforded by energy efficiency. Small improvements to businesses can make a big difference in an ongoing way to the energy demands. Now here at The Governor in Jerome’s electorate of Bennelong, they understand that changes to the energy performance of this operation will help them with their overall business performance. They’ve already made the decision to put solar on the roof, but in addition to that, they are now seeking to install monitoring equipment on the refrigeration, switch over their hot water from gas to a much more efficient electric system, and do an overall energy audit, so that can also understand the future opportunities to improvements right here. Our grants will allow these kinds of activities to happen right across the country. So from Darwin down to Hobart, Sydney to Perth, we will assist more than 1,700 Australian small and medium sized businesses to improve their energy performance. Lighting, refrigeration, heating and cooling, all of these things can make a lasting and enduring difference to the bills paid by small businesses and help these businesses to thrive. There’s a lot of work to do. This area of policy was characterised by a decade of neglect. But we are up for this task, and it is my very great pleasure to announce these grants today. I might introduce the Small Business Minister, Minister Collins, to make a few additional remarks, about the work that we are doing [inaudible] to support the small business sector.

    JULIE COLLINS:

    Thanks, Jenny. It’s terrific to be here at The Governor Hotel, and I thank them for having us today and for their success in this energy efficiency grant. It’s also terrific, obviously, to be with my friend and local Member, Jerome. It’s terrific to visit Jerome’s electorate. And again, as my colleague said, he’s a terrific advocate for people in Bennelong here in New South Wales. And of course, my other friend and colleague, Minister McAllister, who’s doing a terrific job when it comes to climate and energy, and particularly in terms of helping small businesses improve their energy efficiency and put downward pressure on their energy bills. That is what we have been doing as a government supporting small businesses with targeted support in ways to support small businesses, but also put downward pressure on inflation. These grants are a prime example of the government supporting and investing with small businesses in their business so that they get the returns not just today, but over the long term. As we’ve heard from Minister McAllister and indeed from the local member, Jerome, these grants are incredibly popular because what they do is they get small businesses to think about their energy efficiency, and they’ve put downward pressure on their energy bills over the long term. They are, of course, from our government, supporting small businesses, as we’ve heard, the second round over $40 million going to 1,700 small businesses and medium‑sized enterprises across the country. We, of course, are supporting small businesses in other ways. What we saw in our last budget was our Small Business Budget Statement, which has got over $640 million in targeted support for small businesses.

    Because we know while many small businesses are thriving, some small businesses are doing it tough, and we’re providing that targeted support. For things like our direct energy bill relief, up to $325 for around 1 million small businesses across the country. Our instant asset write‑off $20,000, for each asset for small businesses has been extended for this financial year as well as last. We have of course extended important programs to provide mental health and wellbeing for small businesses. To make sure that if they want to expand and grow their business or if they’re having some issues with their small businesses, they can get that targeted personal support for their business through financial counselling and advice. We, of course, are also leveling the playing field. We have got through the parliament legislation in relation to improving payment times for small businesses, again, to help small businesses with their cash flow. We’re reforming the franchising system to make sure that we have as a level playing field as we can get so that small businesses can compete with big businesses. We want to stay small businesses thrive in Australia, and that is what our small business target of support is all about. Labor is the party of supporting small businesses, and I look forward to continuing to work with colleagues like Minister McAllister to ensure that small businesses thrive right across the country.

    JOURNALIST:

    AEMO has flagged drops in energy supply for renewables throughout winter, with more gas needed to fill the gap. What is the plan if renewable output doesn’t improve?

    COLLINS:

    Look what we know is that renewables are the cheapest form of energy. AEMO supports what Labor is doing in terms of more renewables into the grid. What we also know is, is that the Liberal and National plan for nuclear will be too slow and too expensive when it comes to energy in Australia. What we’re doing here today is supporting small businesses to put downward pressure on their energy and to help them with their energy bills. And I’m happy to hand over to Minister McAllister to talk more about energy more generally. What I would say is that the alternative plan coming from Peter Dutton to go nuclear is too slow and too expensive, and our plan is being supported by AEMO to get more renewables into the system. Can I say, as a proud Tasmanian, we have a lot of renewables in Tasmania. We’ve been successfully net zero now for 8 out of the 9 last years. So it can be done.

    MCALLISTER:

    Thanks very much, Julie. Today we’ve received 2 reports from the market bodies indicating that renewables remain the lowest cost form of generation and are making an increasingly important contribution to the grid. Now, the reports also confirm the information that has been provided to successive governments over a very long period of time now – which is that more investment is required in generation capability to replace the aging coal‑fired power fleet that is coming to the end of its life.

    Unfortunately, during the period of the last government under the Liberals, these warnings were ignored. Twenty-four coal fired power stations announced or brought forward their closure dates, and the response to this was zero from the previous government. We are acting and taking steps now to bring on the new, reliable renewables that are necessary to develop – to deliver affordable energy for Australians. Now Peter Dutton’s plan is in no way responsive to the information that’s in front of us.

    Mr Dutton’s plan, apparently, is to have a conversation over the next term about nuclear with some communities, and then to wait until 2040 to deliver new generation capacity. We can’t wait that long. We need to get on with the job delivering the technologies that the experts tell us, are necessary to deliver an affordable and reliable power grid.

    JOURNALIST:

    The government has approved gas exploration licenses around Victoria and Tassie. How quickly do we need to get gas – that gas into the grid?

    MCALLISTER:

    We understand that the future of the Australian electricity market will be built on a range of technologies: renewables, like wind, solar, batteries, pumped hydro and of course, gas for those occasions when we need it as a backup. And what AEMO tells us is that looking to the future, we will see gas used less and less frequently, but when it’s used, it will be really important. It’s on that basis that we built the Future Gas Strategy. It’s important for Australians to think about where we are going to get the gas that we will need out ‘til 2050, but at the same time we retain focus on our core purpose, which is building out the new generation capability that is necessary to replace the aging coal‑fired generation. This is a task that has been completely ignored by the previous government, and it appears that in opposition they have not learned the lessons from the past. The current plan is to do something, perhaps in 2040. What happens between now and then is a complete mystery. And it’s time for Mr Dutton to front up and explain to Australians what the plan is between now and 2040, to meet the energy demands that the Australian economy requires.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Powers Innovation, Efficiency and Growth in African Mining

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    ACCRA, Ghana, April 21, 2025/APO Group/ —

    African mining projects are increasingly incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline operations and meet ambitious production targets set by governments across the continent. As the mining industry undergoes a digital transformation, the upcoming African Mining Week (AMW) will highlight the pivotal role of AI and other digital tools in optimizing exploration and production processes, with a view to unlocking new mineral reserves, reducing costs and enhancing worker safety.

    Botswana Diversifies Mineral Portfolio

    In Botswana, Botswana Diamonds is expanding its mineral portfolio beyond diamonds with an AI-based nationwide exploration campaign launched in August 2024. By March 2025, the company identified potential deposits of besshi, greenstone, Mississippi Valley-type lead and zinc, SEDEX and platinum group metals (PGMs). To capitalize on these discoveries, Botswana Diamonds has applied for 11 new prospecting licenses. John Teeling, Chairman of Botswana Diamonds, stated: “During the initial analysis of the big database, it became clear that the AI technology could be used to identify other unknown minerals opportunities… Our analysis so far has identified a series of targets in copper cobalt, zinc and gold.”

    KoBold Advances Zambia’s Critical Mineral Market

    U.S.-based startup KoBold Metals is applying AI to enhance critical mineral exploration and mine development in Zambia. In January 2025, KoBold raised $537 million in new capital, bringing its total funding to $1 billion. The company is developing one of the world’s largest untapped copper basins in Zambia, with plans to produce 300,000 tons annually by 2030 from its $2 billion Mingomba Project. Additionally, KoBold Metals is exploring the Dumbwa Mine and Konkola West Project, contributing to Zambia’s goal of reaching 3 million tons of annual copper production by 2031.

    Kilken Platinum Drives Mine Expansion

    In South Africa, Kilken Platinum is utilizing AI to optimize operations at its Thabazimbi processing plant in Limpopo as part of an expansion plan to double PGM production to 83kgs per month. The project has already increased output to 40kgs in its initial phase. Dondo Mogajane, CEO of Kilken Platinum’s parent company Moti Group, emphasized that AI enables real-time tracking of production metrics and ensures strict adherence to safety protocols.

    Beyond these projects, Rio Tinto subsidiary Richards Bay Minerals is employing AI for ore body modeling, equipment dispatch management and blast control at its mines in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Glencore is leveraging digital technology to streamline critical mineral exploration as part of its Phase 2 expansion at the KTO copper and cobalt project. AMW 2025 will feature high-level discussions focused on AI’s impact on industry growth, investment opportunities for technology providers and the broader economic benefits of digital transformation in mining.

    African Mining Week serves as a premier platform for exploring the full spectrum of mining opportunities across Africa. The event is held alongside the African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies 2025 conference from October 1-3 in Cape Town. Sponsors, exhibitors and delegates can learn more by contacting sales@energycapitalpower.com.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: SPbPU became the driver of discussions at the international economic congress

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    The 10th St. Petersburg International Economic Congress was held. The main topic was “Labor and the Transformation of Society: Knowledge, Creativity, Noonomics.” The event was organized by the S. Yu. Witte Institute for New Industrial Development together with the Free Economic Society of Russia with the participation of the Economics Section of the Social Sciences Department of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Department of Global Problems and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the assistance of the World Association of Political Economy and the International Union of Economists. This significant event brought together more than a thousand leading scientists, experts, and representatives of the business community from Russia and 12 countries, including China, India, Greece, Great Britain, Canada, Turkey, Austria, Hungary, and others.

    At the plenary session, the Director of the Witte Institute of Industrial Development and the President of the Free Economic Society of Russia Sergei Bodrunov noted that over 10 years of work, SPEC has achieved significant results – both theoretical and practical, and has become a provider of scientific thought into practice. SPEC-2025 received numerous greetings from scientists, public and government figures: the President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Gennady Krasnikov, the Governor of St. Petersburg Alexander Beglov, the head of the UN group in Russia Vladimir Kuznetsov, the President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Alexander Shokhin. They all emphasized the high importance of such events for uniting the country’s intellectual potential and expert discussion of fundamental problems of economic science, the development of practical mechanisms for solving pressing problems.

    In his greeting to the participants of SPEC-2025, the rector of SPbPU and chairman of the St. Petersburg branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences Andrey Rudskoy pointed out the importance of consolidating the efforts of the scientific and expert community to solve the problems of Russia’s socio-economic development.

    “Traditionally, the congress brings together researchers from various fields – economists, sociologists, philosophers, lawyers, historians, education specialists and representatives of the exact sciences. Key issues of the global economy, social structure and problems of strategic development of Russia are discussed here. Today, the country faces difficult geopolitical tasks. The system of international relations and the structure of world economies are undergoing significant changes. In these conditions, it is especially important to develop theoretical and practical proposals for the transformation of national institutions, to consolidate the efforts of scientific communities in order to ensure the implementation of national development goals of the country,” Andrei Ivanovich noted.

    The congress was attended by Abel Aganbegyan (Corresponding Member of the British Academy, Honorary Member of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia, Vice President of the Russian Economic Society), Sergey Glazyev (current member of the Board for Integration and Macroeconomics of the Eurasian Economic Commission), Vladimir Okrepilov (member of the Presidium of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of St. Petersburg) and other renowned economists.

    The forum participants discussed key challenges of our time — from personnel shortages and digital transformation to technological sovereignty and the development of the creative economy. Plenary sessions and round tables featured reports on innovations in the agricultural and industrial sectors, the prospects of artificial intelligence, strategic planning, and new approaches to macroeconomic modeling.

    Polytechnic University was represented at the congress by the IPMET delegation consisting of representatives of the institute’s structural divisions. Our colleagues took an active part in the work of the forum. Some moderated sections, some made reports, and students had a unique opportunity to get acquainted with the latest research and discuss current issues with leading experts.

    Director of the Higher School of Business Engineering Igor Ilyin not only acted as a moderator of the section “Structural, Technological and Digital Transformation of Industry in Russia”, but also presented a report on the implementation of digital technologies in the process architecture of enterprises and organizations. As part of SPEC-2025, Igor Vasilyevich headed the section, which brought together leading experts, representatives of industrial companies and scientists. The main focus of the section was on discussing current trends, challenges and prospects for digital transformation in Russian industry.

    “Digital transformation is not just the introduction of new technologies, it is a change in the entire business logic, processes and approaches to management. And successful transformation requires a comprehensive approach, including both technological and organizational changes,” Igor Vasilyevich emphasized.

    In his report, Igor Vasilyevich presented an analysis of modern digital technologies and their impact on the process architecture of enterprises. He focused in detail on such relevant areas as artificial intelligence, blockchain, digital twins, the Internet of Things (IoT) and confidential cloud computing. The practical examples presented in the report included cases from the medical and energy industries, which are being worked on within the framework of close cooperation between the Higher School of Business and the Laboratory of Interdisciplinary Research and Education on Technological and Economic Problems of Energy Transition (CIRETEC-GT) headed by Igor Vasilyevich and business partners of the Institute of Mechanics and Electronics and Telecommunications.

    Teachers and students of the Higher School of Industrial Management also took an active part in the forum. Associate Professor Olga Ergunova and Senior Lecturer Andrey Somov made presentations. Also, student reports were presented by HSPM Master’s students Maria Belova and Diana Yakimenko, who demonstrated a high level of research training. The reports were presented in specialized sections devoted to the digitalization of the economy, intellectual work and the transformation of production and social practices.

    The report by Marina Yanenko, professor at the Higher School of Service and Trade, presented an analysis of the impact of artificial intelligence on the process of market transformation, changes in business requirements for the knowledge and skills of specialists, and the emergence of new needs for the content of labor. Marina Borisovna noted that the growing availability of artificial intelligence makes it a key tool in a wide variety of economic sectors and formulated recommendations for improving competitive strategies in the labor market in the context of the development of artificial intelligence.

    The Higher School of Engineering and Economics was represented by the Head of the Research Laboratory “Digital Economy of Industry” Professor Alexander Babkin, Professor Irina Rudskaya, Associate Professor Lyudmila Guzikova and Associate Professor Nikolai Dmitriev. Lyudmila Aleksandrovna participated as a moderator of the seminar “New and Old Challenges of the Russian Labor Market: Adaptation Strategies of Various Socio-Demographic Groups”, and also spoke at this seminar with a report on the topic “Implementation of the Principles of Noonomics in a Unified Interregional System of the Labor Market for Specialists with Higher Education”. Alexander Vasilyevich took part in the plenary session and also made a report on the topic: “Strategizing the Digital Transformation of the Intelligent Cyber-Social Industrial Ecosystem Based on Industry 6.0”, noting that in modern conditions, issues of developing strategic approaches to the integration of advanced technologies and the creation of sustainable, human-oriented production systems are relevant.

    This year, representatives of the Department of Economic Theory of the IPMEiT took an active part in the work of the congress: Associate Professor Elena Milskaya, Associate Professor Anna Strizhak, Associate Professor Ekaterina Afonichkina, Associate Professor Olga Naumova, as well as 47 students in the areas of “Economic Security”, “Economic Statistics”, “Customs”.

    “We really enjoyed the event, we learned a lot of new things, the ideas and topics of the speakers inspired us to study individual economic issues in detail. It was great that we could choose the literature ourselves and take it for study. I would also like to emphasize the relevance of each problem raised at the congress, this is what aroused special interest. It was interesting to listen to the reasoning of professors and prominent figures in economics. We thank the organizers and want to say a huge thank you to Elena Andreevna Milskaya, who gave us a chance to become participants in the congress. It is great that our educational program in macroeconomics goes beyond the university!” – noted student of group 3753801/40002 Yulia Arteyeva.

    SPEC-2025 has once again confirmed its importance as a leading platform for discussing strategic challenges and opportunities in the knowledge economy. The participation of IPMET representatives in such a large-scale scientific event emphasizes the university’s sustainable aspiration for scientific leadership, integration into the expert community and the development of young scientists.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: In memory of journalist and writer Arkady Sosnov

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    On April 20, St. Petersburg journalist, editor and writer Arkady Yakovlevich Sosnov passed away.

    Arkady Sosnov was born on October 14, 1948. In 1971, he graduated from the Leningrad Technological Institute named after Lensovet, receiving a degree in chemical engineering. After graduation, he worked as a junior research fellow at the Research Institute of Petrochemical Processes.

    The turning point in his life was 1976, when he devoted himself entirely to journalism. Over the years, he collaborated with such publications as Smena, Poisk, Moskovskiye Novosti, Ogonyok and Literaturnaya Gazeta. In 1978, Arkady Yakovlevich joined the Union of Journalists of the USSR. Later, for many years, he was a member of the board of the Union of Journalists of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region. He was the initiator of the creation of the Guild of Correspondents and the celebration of “Maecenas’s Birthday” in the State Hermitage Museum. In 2008, he became the editor-in-chief of the almanac “Russian Patron”.

    The creative legacy of Arkady Yakovlevich includes the authorship of the books “Recovered Nature”, “Energy of the Earth”, “Natalya Petrovna’s Dreams Come True: From Conversations with Academician Bekhtereva”, as well as the compilation of the collection “Alferov Gate”.

    For his professional contribution to the development of journalism and culture, he was awarded many prizes, including the USSR Union of Journalists Prize, the St. Petersburg State University Christmas Prize “For Humanism in Journalism”, and the first prize in the Media Union competition “St. Petersburg. Revival of a Dream”.

    Arkady Sosnov was one of those outstanding journalists who professionally, with a full understanding of the subject and at the same time fascinatingly writes about science and scientists. Of course, this was facilitated by an engineering education, but also by an innate talent and a deep interest in the topic. Arkady Yakovlevich a lot of materials dedicated to the Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, wrote aboutresearch work polytechnics, the international activities of the university, about extraordinary events in the life of the university, for example, restoration of the estate of the first director of the Polytechnic Institute, Prince Andrei Gagarin, in Kholomki, did interview with outstanding scientists of SPbPU. Arkady Yakovlevich participated in the events of the Polytechnic University dedicated to in memory of Nobel laureate Zhores Ivanovich Alferov, was a welcome guest at the opening of the estate in Kholomki andDay of knowledge.

    “As a special correspondent for the RAS newspaper Poisk, Arkady Yakovlevich wrote a lot and enthusiastically about the development of higher education and the achievements of Russian scientists, and these materials will undoubtedly become a chronicle of modern Russian science and education,” wrote Andrey Rudskoy, rector of SPbPU, in his Telegram channel in memory of his friend. “Arkady Sosnov is a Name and a sign of quality in journalism. And it will always be so. I express my deep condolences to the family and friends of Arkady Yakovlevich.”

    The passing of Arkady Sosnov was a great loss for journalism and culture in St. Petersburg. The Polytechnic University expresses its sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Arkady Yakovlevich.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Historic Women Representation in Civil Services: Dr. Jitendra Singh Hails Largest-Ever Representation of 74 Women IAS Officers in a Batch of 180, Nearly 41 Percent

    Source: Government of India

    Historic Women Representation in Civil Services: Dr. Jitendra Singh Hails Largest-Ever Representation of 74 Women IAS Officers in a Batch of 180, Nearly 41 Percent

    Union Minister Interacts with IAS Officer Trainees of 2023 batch; Highlights India’s Administrative Transformation and Vision for Viksit Bharat @ 2047

    Interaction was part of the ongoing Assistant Secretary programme, wherein the IAS Officer Trainees are attached to 46 Central Ministries for a period of 8 weeks

    This batch of IAS officers is not only the youngest and most diverse—but also the most representative of New India’s aspirations: Dr. Singh

    Posted On: 20 APR 2025 4:47PM by PIB Delhi

    In a thought-provoking and motivating interaction with the Officer Trainees (OTs) of the 2023 IAS batch, Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space hailed the largest women representation in the history of Indian Administrative Services, with 74 women officers, making up 41 percent of the current batch of 180 officers.

    The interaction was part of the ongoing Assistant Secretary programme, wherein the IAS Officer Trainees are attached to 46 Central Ministries for a period of 8 weeks from April 1 to May 30, 2025, giving them early exposure to policy formulation and the workings of the Central Government.

    Dr. Jitendra Singh attributed this landmark development to the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, under whose tenure women-led initiatives have gained unprecedented momentum. “The Prime Minister has always been a champion of women empowerment. This record representation is a testament to his unwavering support for inclusive and progressive governance,” the Minister said.

    The Minister reflected on the inception of the Assistant Secretary Programme in 2015, calling it Prime Minister Modi’s brainchild to give young officers real-time governance exposure at the beginning of their careers. “The programme has brought a resurgence of confidence among officers. During the pandemic, many of these officers performed remarkably when called upon for district-level crisis management,” Dr. Jitendra Singh added.

    As the initiative marks its 10th anniversary, Dr. Jitendra Singh noted its outstanding impact on nurturing capable and confident civil servants. He also celebrated the democratisation of Civil Services, with increasing representation from states like Punjab, Haryana, and the North-East, regions that earlier saw fewer selections.

    The Minister took pride in the academic and professional diversity of the batch, mentioning that 99 officers hail from engineering backgrounds, along with many from medicine and other technical fields. “For years, I wondered why technocrats joined the civil services. But now, I realize the technical nature of flagship Government programmes—from Digital India to Smart Cities—makes their presence a national asset,” he said.

    Dr. Jitendra Singh praised the young average age (22–26 years) of the batch, which provides a long-span career trajectory to contribute to the nation. He urged the officers to stay technologically ahead and make full use of the iGOT Karmayogi platform, a digital learning ecosystem offering continuously updated capacity-building modules.

    “You are fortunate to be in the best of times, when India is rapidly moving towards becoming Viksit Bharat @2047,” he emphasized.

    In an open-floor dialogue with the young officers, Dr. Jitendra Singh expressed support for a more dynamic and flexible civil service ecosystem, where officers may be allowed to gain exposure outside government for a few years and return as domain specialists—a model that he termed “a win-win for both the officer and the government.”

    On the issue of bridging the digital divide, the Minister called technology a great leveller, citing examples like the Swamitva Mission, which eliminates the need for revenue officials by leveraging drone-based property mapping. “This has democratised access to land records and decentralised service delivery at the grassroots,” he said.

    Dr. Jitendra Singh also stressed the importance of grievance redressal mechanisms, urging the trainees to study the CPGRAMS platform, which he described as a global benchmark. “Nearly 26 lakh grievances have been disposed of with a 98% resolution rate, most within 13 days,” he shared.

    Yet, he reminded the officers that human intelligence and empathy must complement technology. “Despite resolving grievances technically, many citizens still feel emotionally dissatisfied. That’s why we have created a ‘human desk’ to provide emotional closure, proving that governance is not just administrative but deeply human,” he remarked.

    In a moving exchange, one of the Officer Trainees quoted Dr. Singh’s past speech “One retires from service, not from citizenship.” Responding to this, Dr. Singh spoke about initiatives to involve retired civil servants through a Digital Repository of Expertise, allowing India to harness their knowledge. He also highlighted the Anubhav Awards, which encourage retiring officers to document their experiences for the benefit of future generations.

    As the interaction concluded, Dr. Jitendra Singh urged the young civil servants to uphold the highest standards of integrity, accountability, and service, aligning their efforts with the spirit of Antyodaya—working for the last man standing.

    “This batch of IAS officers is not only the youngest and most diverse—but also the most representative of New India’s aspirations. Let your work reflect the hopes of a billion people.” said Dr. Jitendra Singh.

    ****

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Grigorenko: Amur GPP is the result of coordinated work of the state and business

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Dmitry Grigorenko got acquainted with the activities of the enterprise as part of a working trip to industrial development sites in the Far East

    April 20, 2025

    Dmitry Grigorenko got acquainted with the activities of the enterprise as part of a working trip to industrial development sites in the Far East

    April 20, 2025

    Dmitry Grigorenko got acquainted with the activities of the enterprise as part of a working trip to industrial development sites in the Far East

    April 20, 2025

    Dmitry Grigorenko got acquainted with the activities of the enterprise as part of a working trip to industrial development sites in the Far East

    April 20, 2025

    Dmitry Grigorenko got acquainted with the activities of the enterprise as part of a working trip to industrial development sites in the Far East

    April 20, 2025

    Previous news Next news

    Dmitry Grigorenko got acquainted with the activities of the enterprise as part of a working trip to industrial development sites in the Far East

    The construction of one of the world’s largest gas processing plants (GPP) is nearing completion in the Amur Region. Deputy Prime Minister – Chief of the Government Staff Dmitry Grigorenko familiarized himself with the enterprise’s activities as part of a working visit to industrial development sites in the Far East.

    The Amur GPP is over 90% ready. Once fully operational, the plant will process 42 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Yakutia and the Irkutsk region annually. It is the world’s second largest plant in terms of natural gas processing capacity.

    The project implementation became possible due to comprehensive measures of state support. Development institutions provided financing, and special economic regimes created preferences for investors. This approach allowed attracting private capital to a project of strategic importance for the country.

    It is expected that the Amur GPP will double Russia’s ethane production after reaching its design capacity. This gas serves as the basis for the production of polymers, which are widely used in construction, automobile manufacturing, furniture and packaging. Thus, the Russian market will be fully supplied with plastics, which Russia currently often purchases abroad.

    The country’s helium production is planned to increase more than 10-fold by launching the Amur plant. This rare gas plays a critical role in high-tech industries: it is needed in medicine, scientific research, the production of optical fiber and even quantum computers, where it is used for ultra-low-temperature cooling.

    “The Amur Gas Processing Plant is the result of the coordinated work of the Government, development institutions and business. Together, we are solving a critical task – creating a modern production facility for deep gas processing in Russia, which will provide the country with critically important products and take our industry to a new technological level,” said Dmitry Grigorenko.

    All necessary infrastructure has been created for the construction and operation of the Amur Gas Processing Plant: 40 km of railways and 27 km of access roads have been laid, a pier has been built on the Zeya River for the delivery of large-sized cargo. Particular attention was paid to creating comfortable conditions for the plant’s employees. A residential microdistrict for 5 thousand people with full social infrastructure is being built near the plant: a school, a kindergarten, a clinic, a sports palace, a community center and a shopping center. Some of the housing has already been put into operation.

    The new plant will employ around 5,000 workers. Today, the enterprise already employs over 3,000 people, over 35% of those employed are residents of the Amur Region.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –