Interconnect Malta (ICM) has launched a Preliminary Market Consultation (PMC) to assess the feasibility of importing 0.8 TWh of renewable energy annually from North Africa. The proposed project involves a subsea power link designed to supply approximately 25% of Malta’s total electricity demand based on 2025 figures. The government is seeking market interest and non-binding price estimates under a 25-year fixed-price Contract for Difference (CfD) mechanism, aiming to leverage North Africa’s solar and wind potential to bolster national energy resilience and carbon reduction goals.

From January to February, the value added of industrial enterprises above the designated size in Baotou increased by 5.3% YoY. Among the three major categories, two rose and one declined. The value added of the mining industry increased by 20.2% YoY, manufacturing rose by 4.5%, and the production and supply of electricity, heat, gas, and water fell by 1.4%. Nearly 60% of industries recorded positive growth. Among 34 major industry categories, 19 maintained growth in value added, representing a growth breadth of 56%. Among them, the value added of the raw chemical materials and chemical products manufacturing industry increased by 97.4%, boosting the growth of value added of industrial enterprises above the designated size by 6.1 percentage points.

According to Cailian Press, Changgao Electric (002452.SZ) announced that four subsidiaries, including its wholly owned subsidiaries Hunan Changgao Electric Co., Ltd. and Hunan Changgao High Voltage Switch Co., Ltd., collectively won tenders worth 181 million yuan for three categories of products—combined electrical appliances, disconnectors, and switchgear—in the State Grid Corporation of China's 2026 power transmission and transformation project tender. The winning bid amount accounted for 10.31% of the company's audited consolidated operating revenue in 2024. After the contracts are signed, they are expected to have a positive impact on the company's operating performance in 2026 and will not affect the company's independence.

Ferroglobe’s South African unit has warned it may halt its remaining furnace operations unless it receives electricity tariff relief by Wednesday. The company, which produces ferrosilicon crucial for steel and stainless steel production, cited a 900% surge in electricity prices since 2007, which now accounts for over half of its total production costs. With an impending 9% Eskom tariff hike, continued operations are deemed financially unviable. Industry leaders highlighted a growing disparity: while government tariff relief talks have prioritized ferrochrome producers, other alloy smelters are left exposed. If a workable tariff (estimated at 62c/kWh) is not granted, Ferroglobe will initiate widespread retrenchments in early April and may shift production entirely out of the country.

While maintaining a growth structure centered on EVs, South Korea’s battery industry is accelerating its expansion into energy storage systems (ESS) and non-automotive application fields, entering a new phase of transformation. As a result, the basis of competition is shifting from product performance to broader supply chain capabilities. At InterBattery 2026 held in March, major South Korean battery producers showcased a diverse range of products for ESS, AI infrastructure, and industrial applications, underscoring this shift. The industry’s focus is now moving from the single EV market to a broader landscape of energy and industrial applications.

In late March 2026, the Philippine DOE mandated the expedited grid integration of 22 renewable energy projects (1,471 MW) by April 2026 to mitigate fossil fuel price volatility stemming from Middle East conflicts. This emergency deployment is heavily concentrated in solar PV, with 12 projects accounting for a dominant 1,284 MW of the total capacity.

With utilization rates among Korean battery manufacturers remaining around 50% and reflecting a timing mismatch between demand and supply, utilization is increasingly emerging as a key indicator of cost structure and operational efficiency in a context where capacity expansion has preceded demand realization.

SMM News, March 31 According to SMM data, the average tax-inclusive full cost of domestic aluminum industry in March 2026 rose 0.5% MoM and fell 5.7% YoY, mainly due to a slight rebound in alumina raw material costs during the period. In March, Middle East production cuts pushed up aluminum prices in and outside China. The SMM A00 monthly average spot price (February 26-March 25) rose 2.9% MoM, and aluminum profit margins expanded to 8,316 yuan/mt. Based on monthly average price calculations, 100% of China’s operating aluminum capacity was profitable in March. From the cost breakdown side: Alumina raw materials : According to SMM data, the monthly average of the SMM alumina index in March was 2,685 yuan/mt (January 26-February 25), up 2.4% MoM. During the month, total operating alumina capacity was basically stable, but the Middle East geopolitical conflict raised ocean freight rates for alumina and bauxite, and domestic alumina costs are expected to move higher. Futures prices drove spot prices higher, lifting the monthly average alumina price. Entering April, the upward momentum in spot alumina prices at month-end March appeared slightly insufficient. Some new projects are expected to come online in April or ramp up operating capacity, but as the base price at the beginning of the month was already at a high level, alumina raw material costs in April are expected to post a slight increase. Auxiliary materials market : In March, both prebaked anode and fluoride salt prices pulled back, lowering aluminum auxiliary material costs. Entering April, the Middle East geopolitical conflict raised international oil prices, and higher costs continued to push up petroleum coke prices, which in turn supported higher prebaked anode prices. The April prebaked anode tender price at a large aluminum plant in Shandong rose 300 yuan/mt MoM; for aluminum fluoride, prices are also expected to rise significantly in April due to higher raw material costs. Overall, auxiliary material costs are expected to increase significantly in April. Electricity prices : Electricity prices were generally stable in March. Entering April, power prices are expected to remain broadly stable, and aluminum power costs are expected to hold steady. Overall, in March 2026, SMM expected the weighted average tax-inclusive full cost of dometstic aluminum industry to rise slightly; in April, it was expected to increase significantly MoM, with the average at around 16,150-16,550 yuan/mt.

Zijin Mining's 2025 annual report sent a clear industry signal: its lithium business has officially moved from strategic reserve to the stage of scaled monetization.

On March 30, accompanied by a resounding whistle, the nation’s first 3,000 kW pure electric locomotive integrating charging and battery swapping slowly entered the port railway marshalling yard of Lianyungang Port and was officially put into operation.