On March 17, at the 2026 Huawei Data Storage Spring Launch Event, Huawei officially released a new AI data infrastructure for AI inference scenarios, including an AI data platform for centralized inference scenarios and the FusionCubeA1000 AI hyper-converged appliance for branch and edge inference scenarios, aiming to comprehensively upgrade the AI inference experience, significantly lower the barrier to inference deployment, and accelerate a positive business cycle for AI.

According to BJX Power News, all power grid projects under construction in Zhejiang, from UHV to distribution networks, have fully resumed work. State Grid Corporation of China has launched an investment plan of over 4 trillion yuan for the 15th Five-Year Plan period. As a core part of this plan, State Grid Zhejiang Electric Power’s total investment in 2026 will exceed 51 billion yuan. Of this massive investment, 33.46 billion yuan will be directly allocated to power grid infrastructure construction. To ensure a strong start to the annual tasks, State Grid Zhejiang Electric Power is striving to complete over 10 billion yuan of investment in Q1.

Indonesian steel producer PT Bahagia Steel has partnered with SMS Group to install a new twin-strand rebar production line at its Kampung Wringinanom site. The project is part of a plan to reach a total capacity of 1.2 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) to serve Southeast Asia’s growing infrastructure demand.

US critical minerals miner Critical Metals announced a $30 million plan to rapidly develop the Tanbreez heavy rare earth project in Greenland. This funding will advance drilling, infrastructure, engineering design, and metallurgical programs, with the goal of commencing the first batch of ore production in Q4 2028 or Q1 2029, and starting rare earth concentrate exports in Q3 2029.

【SMM Steel】Surabaya-based Bahagia Steel is building a new twin-strand HSD® rebar line with SMS group. Set for late 2026, it will process 5.2-32 mm rebar at 45 m/s to meet rising domestic construction demand. SMS will supply mechanical and automation equipment, including a waterbox and high-speed shear. The tech improves yield by ~2% and ensures tighter tolerances than traditional slitting.

In early March 2026, Qatalum—the 648,000-tonne-per-year primary aluminum smelter in Qatar, a 50/50 joint venture between Norsk Hydro and Qatar Aluminum Manufacturing Company initiated a controlled shutdown of production. The decision, effective from March 3, followed a warning from gas supplier QatarEnergy that natural gas deliveries would be fully suspended due to disruptions linked to the ongoing U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict, including attacks on regional energy infrastructure.

The situation on Khark Island has been brought under control, and the defense system was restarted shortly after coming under attack. According to reports, following the attack on Khark Island, preliminary observation and assessment found that the island’s critical oil infrastructure sustained no damage, and related operations are continuing. All employees in the oil sector on Khark Island were unharmed. Citing informed sources, the report said that the attackers failed to achieve their intended strategic objectives.

Gold prices fall due to interest rate gloom and Middle East tensions. US Fed and major central banks likely to maintain current interest rates. Long-term gold outlook positive, seen as a hedge against risks.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has opened its first gold refining facility, marking a significant step in the country’s effort to capture greater value from its vast mineral wealth.

China’s Ministry of Finance launched the 2026 application process for pilot programs to address shortcomings in county-level charging and battery swapping infrastructure. For charging and battery swapping stations powered by PV generation, if the amount of electricity “generated for self-use” exceeds 40% of total charging volume, the annual total charging volume of such “generated for self-use” electricity may be converted at 1.2 times.