Saturday, 17 October 2026

China has drafted export restrictions or outright bans covering 40 technologies across artificial intelligence, semiconductor chips, solar power and biomedicine, with national security cited as the basis, according to Breaking Belize News.

Artificial intelligence accounts for the largest share, with 23 technologies named, among them AI models, agents and computing clusters. Beijing is seeking to limit overseas transfers of what it deems sensitive, Finanznachrichten reported.

Solar power supplies another 12 entries on the list, including polysilicon production methods central to the solar supply chain. Five biomedical technologies tied to cell and gene therapy also fall under the draft, according to Breaking Belize News.

Under the proposal, exports of core technologies behind AI models trained on sensitive national data would be banned outright. Advanced models carrying at least two trillion parameters could also be caught by the controls, according to Breaking Belize News.

The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) criticised a European Commission proposal to postpone certain requirements of the EU Methane Regulation, warning that delays to rules covering imported fossil fuels could undermine the legislation's impact.

Most methane emissions tied to fossil fuels consumed in the EU arise before those fuels reach the bloc's borders, according to EIA, which said that makes the import provisions particularly important to the regulation's objectives.

Separately, a coalition of European renewable fuels companies asked EU commissioners to keep a meaningful transport target in the post-2030 renewable energy framework, calling for a clear long-term trajectory to support further deployment of renewable energy in transport.

Renewable energy made up 11.2% of EU transport energy consumption in 2024, below the 29% target set for 2030 under the current Renewable Energy Directive (RED III), according to the coalition.

Stakeholders have cautioned Nigeria's federal government against repeating the environmental and social failures of the Niger Delta as the country expands investments in renewable energy, green hydrogen, battery storage and critical minerals, according to Leadership.

The warning frames the buildout of these sectors against the record of oil-producing regions, pressing the government to avoid the harms tied to past resource development.

Separately, Nigeria's National Single Window Secretariat has set a target of cutting cargo clearance time in the country to one day, according to Prime Time Reporters.

The Michigan Public Service Commission approved rate increases for two major gas suppliers in Michigan, including SEMCO Energy, according to the Mining Gazette.

SEMCO Energy will raise its rates by USD 33 million starting January 1, 2027, according to Gas Safety Engineer Timothy Dombrowski.

Residential natural gas customers of Consumers Energy will see bills rise by 4.33% starting November 1, according to WIN Country. The commission approved the Consumers Energy rate hike at Michigan Technological University in Houghton.

Guinea-Conakry plans to operate five alumina refineries by 2030, with three already under construction, according to The Energy Republic.

The country is targeting annual alumina production capacity of between seven million and eight million tonnes by 2030, according to Africa Briefing.

The refinery targets were set out at African Mining Week, as African mining nations push for local processing of their mineral output.

New curtailment rules in Brazil hand solar developers a firmer regulatory footing, yet worries about how deep future generation cuts will run, and what they cost, keep holding investment back, pv magazine reported.

Even with the rules clarifying how curtailment is compensated and allocated, industry experts told pv magazine they see little prospect of a rebound in new utility-scale solar builds.

Developers have repeatedly handed back project authorizations, pointing to curtailment running near 25% and the lack of clarity on payment for the power they cannot sell, according to pv magazine.

The Coal Ministry has drafted rules that would let authorities suspend coal and lignite mining where operators breach their approved mining plans, according to Businessworld. The draft sets out a tougher line on enforcement for mining firms.

Authorities could halt operations in full or in part under the proposed framework when needed to safeguard public safety or the environment, or to head off imminent or irreparable harm.

The draft also calls on company boards to file yearly declarations attesting that their mining matches approved plans and the applicable laws.

China will restrict exports of several solar technologies, according to Bloomberg Law. The country plans to add 12 solar-related technologies and core equipment to its list of items subject to export controls.

The move forms part of a wider package. China announced plans to restrict or ban exports of 40 key technologies spanning artificial intelligence, advanced chips and solar power, according to Archyde.

China's Ministry of Commerce said the controls are intended to safeguard national security and interests.