Cabinet approves Rs 16,300 crore critical mineral mission
The Union Cabinet approved Rs 16,300 crore outlay for the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) Wednesday. This mission will run till 2030-31 with sops for recycling critical minerals and derisking overseas acquisition of assets.

Union Budget 2025: Initiatives that can make India self-reliant in energy
The budget often deals with short-term problems and there are several of those relating to energy that we need to attend to urgently. The biggest is our concern for energy security to make India as much as possible aatmanirbhar to reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuels, much of which we import--85% of oil, 50% of gas and almost 20% of coal. Over the long run, India has to depend on renewables such as solar and wind. Another important issue is severe air pollution in India's cities due to coal-based power plants and vehicular pollution.

Vedanta Resources appoints Deshnee Naidoo as CEO
 

Jindal Stainless cuts FY25 growth forecast amid sluggish exports
New Delhi: Jindal Stainless – the country’s largest stainless steelmaker – has revised guidance downwards, to 8 – 10 per cent growth, for FY25; nearly half the growth it was anticipating in the beginning of the year; following slow down in exports, increased Chinese dumping in key markets and continued depression across Europe. Mid-fiscal, the guidance was brought down to 12 -15 per cent.

Aluminium scales back from the high
Aluminium futures broke out of a range and marked a 11-quarter high last week. The continuous contract marked a high of ₹256.45 on January 20. But then the price started to moderate. On Tuesday (January 28), aluminium futures (February) closed at ₹247.35. Although the price has dropped, we cannot really call it a trend reversal. Especially considering that a retracement is usual after a sharp up move.

We need better technology to differentiate synthetic and natural diamonds: De Beers India MD
With the growing popularity of the lab grown diamond, the natural diamond industry sees the need for technology to differentiate between synthetic and natural diamond. De Beers India managing director Amit Pratihari, while talking to TNIE, said that while he does not see competition from the synthetic diamond market, he sees risk of non-disclosure by sellers of synthetic diamonds.

Cabinet likely approves hike in ethanol prices
The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal to hike ethanol prices, ET Now reported citing sources Wednesday. Details of the proposal are yet to be known.

Unconventional fuel options: Potentials of waste plastic for synthetic fuel production
Conversion of biomass and waste plastic to fuels and chemicals holds promise to fulfill the global agenda of pursuing a carbon-neutral and waste-free human society. Biomass encompasses a wide variety of natural organic materials, both plant-based and animal-based, that can serve as potential sources for chemical production and energy fuels. The potentials of biomass as a sustainable energy source we discussed in our earlier article here.

NHPC, Andhra Pradesh govt partner for 6-8 Gw pumped storage projects