BPCL picks Andhra Pradesh for India's last greenfield refinery project
New Delhi: State-owned Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) has picked Andhra Pradesh for setting up a new oil refinery-cum-petrochemical complex, which may be the last greenfield project in India which has detailed a very ambitious energy transition plan to net zero emissions. In a stock exchange filing, BPCL said its board at a meeting on Tuesday "accorded its approval to commence pre project activities for setting up of a greenfield refinery cum petrochemical complex in east coast at Andhra Pradesh at an estimated cost of ₹6,100 crore".

IREDA lines up INR 3000 crore for green energy projects in Odisha: CMD Pradip Kumar Das
Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) has sanctioned over INR 3,000 crore for green energy projects across Odisha, covering solar, hydro, ethanol and renewable energy manufacturing sectors, its chairman and managing director Pradip Kumar Das said on Monday.

TN had not auctioned a single major mineral block in the last 9 years: Union Mines Ministry
 

FinMin rejects the plan to establish body for procuring green steel
 

Steel ministry urges FinMin to hike Customs duty to counter Chinese threat
 

Outlook 2025: Tata Steel, JSW, JSPL, SAIL others; Improvement in domestic steel prices hold key
Outlook 2025: The returns for investors by steel stocks during 2024 have remained a mixed bag. Tata Steel, JSW Steel share prices have remained rangebound year to date with gains up to 5% for investors . Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) share price on the other hand have declined 4-5% year to date. Only Jindal Steel & Power Ltd stood out with 27% returns to invetors year to date, with capacity expansions providing a trigger.

Steel Ministry in-talks for “tweaks” to PLI Scheme for speciality steel
New Delhi: Steel Ministry is eyeing possible “tweaks” in the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for speciality steel, with plans to broaden its scope and ease investment norms. Tweaks could be done either on the cap-ex requirements for companies or the inclusion of “value-added products”, something that the industry has sought, officials aware of the discussions told businessline.

Global steel production up marginally in November
Chennai: Global crude steel output increased by 0.8 per cent in November 2024 to 146.8 million tonnes (mt) compared with 145.6 mt in the corresponding period a year ago.

Is silver ready to sparkle in 2025?: Amit Pabari, MD, CR Forex Advisors
Often in the shadow of gold, silver is gearing up to take centre stage in 2025. A perfect storm of surging industrial demand, supply deficits, geopolitical uncertainties, and undervaluation relative to gold sets the stage for this versatile metal to dazzle. Here’s why silver might just be your shining investment in the coming year.

1. Industrial Demand: The Cornerstone of Silver’s Rise

Silver's unique properties—high conductivity, corrosion resistance, and versatility—make it indispensable in cutting-edge industries:

Construction Boom:

• Residential construction is expected to grow by 10% into 2025, while the Asia-Pacific region’s construction activity will reach $9.5 trillion by the same year. India’s government policies are projected to support 7% construction growth. Silver’s applications in heating systems, electrical wiring, roofing materials, and insulation underline its importance in modern infrastructure.

• Industrial demand is set to reach a record high of over 700 million ounces in 2025, marking a 7% annual growth. This surge is driven by the renewable energy transition, where silver plays a pivotal role in photovoltaics.

Expanding Data Centres:

• The surge in AI and cloud computing is driving data centre expansion, with capacity projected to rise by 33% annually through 2030. Silver’s use in electronics ensures it remains at the heart of this growth.

Green Energy Giants:

• The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai aims to produce 5,000 MW by 2030, reducing 6.5 million tons of carbon emissions annually. Projects like this highlight Silver’s critical role in solar panel technology.

• NEOM Green Hydrogen Project in Saudi Arabia, the largest green hydrogen facility globally, will utilize 319 metric tons of silver for its solar panels alone. Once operational in 2026, it will produce 600 tonnes of clean hydrogen daily, showcasing silver’s integral role in renewable energy.

2. Supply Constraints: A Looming Deficit

While demand surges past 1.21 billion ounces in 2024, global silver production struggles to keep pace, creating a supply deficit of 182 million ounces. Limited exploration for new reserves adds to the imbalance, tightening the market further.

3. Safe Haven Amid Economic Shifts

Silver’s dual role as an industrial and precious metal makes it a preferred hedge in uncertain times:

• Geopolitical and Economic Policies: Tariffs and inflationary pressures from major economies, like those under Trump-style policies, could push silver prices higher as a hedge against inflation.

• Global Inflation Trends: With inflation concerns mounting, silver’s historic performance as a store of value gains relevance.

4. Market Correction Potential:

Reports of market manipulation through paper contracts have historically suppressed silver prices. However, growing regulatory scrutiny and rising physical demand could lead to price corrections, revealing the metal’s true value.

Gold falls Rs 100 to Rs 78,600 per 10 gm; silver jumps Rs 500

New Delhi: Gold price slipped Rs 100 to Rs 78,600 per 10 grams in the national capital on Tuesday, according to the All India Sarafa Association.

Subdued crude prices help lower India’s oil import bill in Sep-Nov even as volumes rise
In the previous five months (April-August) of the current fiscal, cumulative oil imports in value terms rose 14.2 per cent year-on-year to $60.3 billion, while volumes grew by just 2.6 per cent to 101 million tonnes.

25 EV charging points to come up in Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has identified 25 electric vehicle (EV) charging points in the city, where EV city buses, autorickshaws and personal cars and motorcycles can be charged.

Electricity consumption by EV charging stations in Delhi more than doubles in Apr-Oct FY25
The quantity of electricity consumed by public charging stations (PCSs) for electric vehicles (EVs) in the national capital territory (NCT) of Delhi has more than doubled on an annual basis in the first seven months of the current financial year. As per the latest data from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), PCSs in Delhi consumed 206.23 million units (MU) during the April-October period in FY25, a growth of more than 101 per cent on an annual basis. In fact, the power consumption by charging stations in Delhi is on way to account for half of the total electricity consumed by PCSs in the country.

Mining industry gets a leg up, import reliance down
India’s mining industry took a long stride this year supported by government policies in the critical minerals mining as it intends to boost domestic production, reducing dependency on imports and helping in realising the renewable energy targets. The government also has been encouraging companies for overseas exploration and production of critical minerals and rare earth elements.

National power committee calls for more representation of RE companies
New Delhi: The National Power Committee (NPC) could soon see higher participation from renewable energy (RE) companies as the high-level panel deliberates on avenues to tackle issues arising from growing penetration of solar and wind power in the transmission grid.

Record RE addition of 30 GW, policy push for storage, hybrid energy
India made significant progress in the renewable energy (RE) sector in 2024 with total RE capacity reaching 205.5 gigawatt (GW) as of November in the current fiscal year 2024-25. To achieve the target of 500 GW non-fossil fuel capacity, the government has adopted multifaceted strategy. Apart from rapid RE capacity addition, this includes streamlining the supply chain, bringing in hybrid and storage solutions, and strengthening the domestic production of raw materials.