During the period from January 10th to 16th, 2026, the following international news occurred:
1. Pulsar Helium enters Michigan with Hybrid Hydrogen buy
Canadian helium exploration company Pulsar Helium has entered the Michigan market by acquiring US exploration firm Hybrid Hydrogen for $80,000. This acquisition grants it an exclusive lease option for approximately 5,742 acres of mineral rights in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, targeting non-hydrocarbon gases, primarily helium. The move aims to extend its exploration experience from the Topaz project in Minnesota to geologically similar areas.
2. CK Supply signs 10-year industrial gas deal with HTS Coatings
Midwestern US industrial gas supplier CK Supply has signed a ten-year gas supply agreement with Illinois-based thermal spray service provider HTS Coatings. Under the agreement, CK Supply will provide various industrial gases including oxygen, propane, hydrogen, argon, nitrogen, and welding gas mixtures to support HTS Coatings' manufacturing operations such as thermal spraying and welding. This long-term agreement aims to ensure stable production capacity for HTS Coatings in industries like aerospace and automotive.
3. Samsung E&A breaks ground on Indiana ammonia project
Samsung Engineering has held a groundbreaking ceremony for its low-carbon ammonia project in Wabash, Indiana, USA. Located in Terre Haute, the project will have an annual ammonia production capacity of 500,000 tons and capture 1.67 million tons of CO2 per year, with completion scheduled for 2029. The project is co-funded by the US Department of Energy and several Korean ministries. Samsung Engineering signed an Engineering, Procurement, and Fabrication contract worth approximately 680 billion won with Wabash Valley Resources in October last year.
4. Honeywell to supply Commonwealth LNG in Louisiana
Honeywell has secured a contract to provide integrated pretreatment and liquefaction solutions for the Commonwealth LNG export project in Louisiana, USA. Under an agreement with EPC contractor Technip Energies, Honeywell will supply single mixed refrigerant liquefaction process technology and six modular coil-wound heat exchangers. The project plans an annual production of approximately 9.5 million tons of LNG. However, due to regulatory approval delays, its construction and startup dates have been postponed to December 2031, and the final investment decision is still pending.
5. ASP Isotopes completes acquisition of helium and LNG business Renergen
Texas-based advanced materials company ASP Isotopes has completed the acquisition of South African helium and liquefied natural gas producer Renergen. The transaction integrates both parties' advanced isotope enrichment technologies with helium operations. The core asset, the Virginia gas field, has a helium concentration over ten times the global average. The deal secured $40 million and additional $750 million in follow-up funding for expansion, aiming to stabilize the supply chain for critical materials in sectors such as semiconductors.
6. Spain scales biogas for power and heat with €50m backing
Spain's Ministry for Ecological Transition has announced that it will provide €50 million in grants through the second round of the Renocogen program to support projects shifting from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources like biomass and biogas for power generation and heating. The funding originates from the EU's Next Generation Recovery Fund. Individual projects can receive up to €15 million, covering up to 65% of costs. The application period runs from January 26 to March 2, and projects must be completed by June 30, 2029. This initiative aims to accelerate Spain's decarbonization process. Recently, energy company Moeve also signed several biogas project development agreements.
7. Russia’s Arctic LNG continues EU cash flow despite planned 2027 ban
Despite the EU reaching an agreement to phase out imports of Russian gas by 2027, in 2025, 76.1% of the gas originating from the Yamal LNG project still arrived at EU ports, generating approximately €7.2 billion in revenue for Russia. France and Belgium were the primary recipients. Transportation heavily relies on a fleet of 14 special ice-class LNG carriers, with two European shipping companies handling over 70% of the shipments. Analysis points out that EU ports have effectively become a critical logistical support for this Arctic project, highlighting the continued dependency before the ban's enforcement.
8. IDE Technologies signs contract for new seawater desalination plant in Tamil Nadu, India
IDE Technologies has signed a contract with the Tamil Nadu Industrial Promotion Corporation of India to build a 60 Million Liters per Day seawater reverse osmosis desalination plant in Thoothukudi. Following a Public-Private Partnership model, IDE will be responsible for the plant's design, construction, and subsequent 15 years of operation and maintenance, with partners including Jindal Water Infrastructure and Vishnusurya Projects. The facility aims to address the region's increasingly severe water scarcity and provide a sustainable drinking water source.
9. Algeria to build three large-scale seawater desalination plants
A subsidiary of Algeria's state-owned oil company has signed contracts to build one large-scale seawater desalination plant each in the provinces of Tlemcen, Chlef, and Mostaganem, with each plant having a daily capacity of 300,000 cubic meters. This project constitutes the first phase of the national plan to increase seawater desalination capacity, constructed by domestic engineering companies. It aims to enhance potable water supply capacity and support the national goal of achieving 5.6 million cubic meters of desalinated seawater per day by 2030, thereby improving water security and promoting socio-economic development.
10. EBRD to advance secure and sustainable water supply in Egypt through desalination
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will provide a senior loan of 350 million Egyptian pounds (approximately €6.4 million) to Egypt's Ridgewood desalination company to support the construction of new and the upgrading of existing small-scale desalination plants along the Red Sea and Mediterranean coasts. This move aims to enhance water supply reliability for key economic sectors in Egypt, such as tourism and industry, and alleviate water scarcity pressures. The project is expected to add 10,000 to 15,000 cubic meters of daily desalination capacity and improve energy efficiency, thereby promoting sustainable water supply.
11. Mandatory pollution reduction plans introduced for water firms in England and Wales
Under the Water Industry Special Measures Act 2025, all water companies in England and Wales must annually develop and publish a 'Pollution Incident Reduction Plan' starting from April 1, 2026, and submit annual implementation reports from the following year. The plans must analyze the causes of pollution incidents from the previous year, measures already taken, and future reduction plans, with detailed reporting by asset type and incident severity. The company's Chief Executive Officer must personally approve the documents. Non-compliance may constitute an offence. This initiative aims to systematically reduce pollution incidents such as sewage spills.
12. $484 million approved to upgrade wastewater systems across Wisconsin
The state of Wisconsin, USA, has approved over $484 million to support upgrades for wastewater and stormwater infrastructure across 82 municipalities. The funding is provided through the Clean Water Fund Program and includes $438 million in low-interest loans and $46 million in principal forgiveness (grants). It will prioritize small and disadvantaged communities and be used for updating aging facilities, phosphorus reduction, and improving system reliability. The projects are expected to be awarded within the next year. Funding sources include the federal Clean Water State Revolving Fund and allocations from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.