A new rare earth magnet recycling plant has been launched in the West Midlands, strengthening the UK’s position in rare earth recycling sector. The facility, developed by the University of Birmingham and officially opened on 15 January, focuses on separating and recycling rare earth magnets, helping reduce the UK’s dependence on imported rare earth materials, alloys, and magnets.

【SMM Steel】British Steel is expected to be fully nationalized within weeks. The UK government took over operations from China's Jingye Group in April 2025 to prevent the Scunthorpe plant's closure. Steel has been designated a national security industry. The Scunthorpe plant has the UK's last two blast furnaces. Operating costs hit £377m by Jan 2026. British Steel supports nationalization for stability. Any new owner must invest heavily in EAF technology to replace blast furnaces.

Strikes on Middle East 'LNG' infrastructure are affecting long-term 'PPAs' and battery energy storage system ('BESS') economics, according to Swiss firm Pexapark. Lead analyst Nicolas Briet noted that supply risks from Qatar have tightened European fundamentals, visibly impacting 'PPA' valuations. A 10-year solar pay-as-produced 'PPA' in the UK saw a 19% fair value increase. Despite improved economics, 'PPA' transactions may remain slow due to buyer caution and rising equipment costs linked to higher energy prices. Conversely, 'BESS' is directly benefiting from increased intraday volatility and wider price spreads. Pexapark also reported 30 new 'PPA' deals in February 2026, the highest monthly volume since February 2024.

According to market research, rising prices and global uncertainty drove Northern European buyers to increase procurement in March, despite stagnant end-user demand. Respondents noted a surge in purchasing activity from end-users, stockists, and distributors—particularly in Germany and the UK—aiming to secure material ahead of anticipated price hikes. However, market participants warn that this preemptive overbooking could result in significantly reduced sales volumes during the upcoming April holiday period and the second half of the year if genuine underlying demand fails to improve.

Cornish Tin Limited has closed its latest funding round at over £2.2 million, surpassing its initial target with a pre-money valuation of £29 million. Proceeds will fast-track exploration at the high-grade Great Wheal Vor and Tregonning South projects in Cornwall. With global tin prices recently hitting highs above $50,000/t and rising lithium demand for EVs, the company aims to secure a critical domestic supply chain for the UK and European technology and renewable energy sectors.

The UK government aims to strengthen cyber security regulations for its electricity and gas sectors following a recent attack on energy infrastructure in Poland. Highlighting the energy system as an 'attractive target' for adversaries, the government has launched an industry consultation on applying baseline cyber requirements—such as firewalls, access controls, and patch management—to all licensed energy organizations. Additionally, the thresholds for compliance with the stringent 2018 Network and Information System ('NIS') Regulations may be adjusted to cover a broader range of entities, including generators over 2 GW capacity. If expanded, more organizations will face increased compliance and security spending. Stakeholders have until May 22, 2026, to submit their views.