Accessibility StatementSkip Navigation Bogota D.C, Nov. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ecopetrol S.A. (BVC: ECOPETROL;Â NYSE: EC) ("Ecopetrol" and together with its subsidiaries, the "Ecopetrol Group") announces that its board of directors has approved the Ecopetrol Group's Annual Investment Plan for 2026 (the "2026 Annual Investment Plan"), with an amount ranging between COP 22 and 27 trillion. This plan maintains investment levels compared to the projected 2025 year-end figures, under capital discipline criteri ...

Core Insights - AMPYR Australia and InCommodities have signed a 15-year battery storage agreement for the Bulabul battery energy storage system, valued at over $300 million, marking InCommodities' first long-term commitment in the Australian market [1][2][3] Group 1: Project Details - The Bulabul BESS, located in Central West NSW, has a capacity of 300MW and is designed to charge from excess solar energy, providing electricity to up to 300,000 homes for two hours during peak demand [2][3] - The agreement includes a capacity swap of up to 120MW, combining InCommodities' trading expertise with AMPYR's asset management capabilities, highlighting the importance of battery storage in Australia's energy transition [3][4] Group 2: Market Impact - The entry of InCommodities into the Australian battery storage market is expected to enhance competition and drive innovation, reflecting a significant shift in the energy market structure [4][6] - Government initiatives like the NSW Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap and the Capacity Investment Scheme are facilitating new entrants in the battery storage sector, breaking the concentration of power in the market [5][6]

Core Insights - The 2025 Energy Transition Conference, held in Beijing, serves as a significant platform for the energy sector, focusing on innovation and international collaboration [1][3] - The conference's theme emphasizes collaboration between enterprises and local governments to accelerate green transition efforts [2][4] Event Overview - The conference featured a comprehensive program including an opening session, key events, technical exchanges, and thematic meetings [2] - Major reports released included the Global Energy Transition Report 2025 and the Beijing Future Science City Energy Valley Industrial Development White Paper 2025 [3] Collaboration Focus - Spotlight events aimed at enhancing cooperation among enterprises, universities, financial institutions, and local governments to foster innovation [4] - The goal is to position Energy Valley as a globally recognized hub for energy innovation [4] Technical Innovations - A hybrid technical exchange showcased innovations in green energy transition and digital technology from fifteen leading domestic and international enterprises [5] - Exhibits included hydrogen-powered technologies and AI integration in energy solutions [5] Strategic Development - Energy Valley is positioned to become a core zone for Beijing's advanced energy industry, leveraging its resources and policies to attract global talent [6] - The district aims to transform Energy Valley into a center for technological innovation and a demonstration zone for green transition [6]

Core Insights - Canada is aiming to enhance its critical minerals processing capacity to reduce dependence on China, which currently dominates the refining of these minerals [3][6][21] - The Canadian government has announced significant investments and projects to boost its critical minerals supply chain, including a $1 billion project for processing capacity [4][5][9] Group 1: Global Mineral Production - Australia accounts for 37% of total world lithium production, while Indonesia leads in nickel at 59%, China dominates rare earth elements at 69%, and the DRC produces about 75% of global cobalt [1] - In 2024, China held a 96% share of global refined graphite, 78% of refined cobalt, 70% of lithium, and 44% of copper, with a 91% share in rare earth elements refining [2] Group 2: Canada's Mineral Processing Capacity - Canada has established infrastructure for processing aluminum and uranium but has minimal refining capacity for key energy-transition metals like lithium and rare earth elements [7] - The first rare earths refinery in Canada opened in 2024, expected to produce 400 tonnes of NdPr metals annually [7] Group 3: Investment and Strategic Initiatives - The Canadian government is working on a $1 billion project to expand critical minerals processing capacity, alongside a $70 billion investment pledge from the UAE [4][5] - Canada is backing various initiatives, including a synthetic graphite plant and scaling up rare earth elements processing, with significant federal funding [14][15] Group 4: Challenges and Future Outlook - Canada has substantial reserves of rare earths but only one producing rare earths mine, highlighting the gap in production compared to China, which produced 270,000 tonnes in 2024 [17][20] - The Canadian Climate Institute estimates that Canada would need $30 billion in capital investments by 2040 to meet domestic demand for critical minerals [16]

Group 1: Company Overview - Venture Global Inc. (VG) is a U.S.-based liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter that has secured a long-term offtake agreement with Tokyo Gas for 1 million metric tons per annum starting in 2030, marking its fourth LNG deal with a Japanese firm [1][3][9] - Over the past six months, Venture Global has secured a total of 7.75 million tons per annum in long-term LNG offtake agreements, including the recent deal with Tokyo Gas [2][9] - The company has filed for approval for the brownfield expansion of its Plaquemines LNG project with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [2][9] Group 2: Market Position and Strategy - The CEO of Venture Global stated that the new partnership with Tokyo Gas strengthens the company's market position and aims to establish VG as a reliable LNG supplier to Japan [3] - The agreement is expected to contribute positively to the U.S.-Japan trade balance while ensuring a reliable supply of LNG to Japan, which is the second-largest LNG-importing country after China [3][4] Group 3: Industry Context - Japan imported nearly 66 million tons of LNG in 2024, highlighting its significant demand for LNG [4]

Core Insights - PetroChina and PipeChina have established two major gas storage companies to enhance natural gas capacity and stabilize energy supply in response to increasing demand [1][2] Group 1: New Ventures and Investments - The new gas storage companies, Liaohe Gas Storage and Xinjiang Gas Storage, have a combined registered capital exceeding 25.6 billion yuan ($3.62 billion) [2] - Liaohe Gas Storage will focus on storage and logistics, while Xinjiang Gas Storage will manage gas production and supply [2] - PetroChina's proposal to acquire gas storage assets from CNPC for 40.02 billion yuan ($5.65 billion) will add nearly 11 billion cubic meters (bcm) of working gas storage capacity [3] Group 2: Growth in Gas Storage Capacity - China has made significant gains in underground gas storage (UGS) capacity, adding 6 bcm since 2022, ranking sixth globally [4] - The International Gas Union (IGU) noted that while developed markets have plateaued in gas storage growth, China continues to expand aggressively [5] Group 3: Strategic Objectives - The expansion of domestic storage aims to reduce reliance on imported spot LNG cargoes, addressing vulnerabilities during global energy price fluctuations [6] - The operational expansion of China's first underground salt cavern gas storage facility enhances resilience to winter demand spikes [7] - China's strategy emphasizes reliability, affordability, and supply security in the context of fluctuating global markets, with natural gas serving as a transitional energy source [7]

Industry Overview - The Zacks Mining - Non Ferrous industry is currently experiencing promising prospects due to rising metal prices and increasing demand for non-ferrous metals driven by energy-transition trends [1][4] - Non-ferrous metals such as copper, gold, silver, cobalt, molybdenum, zinc, aluminum, and uranium are essential across various sectors including aerospace, automotive, and renewable energy [3][6] - The industry is characterized by a complex and capital-intensive mining process, with companies focusing on reserve growth and resource enhancement through exploration and acquisitions [3] Metal Price Trends - Copper futures recently peaked at $5.1 per pound, marking a 25% increase over the past year, while silver prices surged 84% year-to-date, currently at $53 per ounce [4] - Gold prices have also risen by 58.8% year-to-date, reaching $4,150 per ounce, supported by expectations of lower interest rates and tightening supply [4] - Uranium prices recently retreated to $77 per pound after reaching a 14-month high of $84, with supply concerns easing [4] Demand Drivers - The demand for non-ferrous metals is expected to remain high, particularly due to the growth of electric vehicles and renewable energy initiatives [6] - The U.S. Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is anticipated to drive significant demand for non-ferrous metals as infrastructure upgrades and green policies are implemented [6] Industry Challenges - The industry faces challenges such as a shortage of skilled workforce, rising production costs, and supply chain issues, which have led to increased operational expenses [5] - Companies are focusing on cost-reduction strategies, digital innovation, and alternative energy sources to mitigate these challenges [5] Investment Opportunities - Companies like Southern Copper Corporation (SCCO), Lundin Mining Corporation (LUNMF), Coeur Mining (CDE), and Centrus Energy (LEU) are well-positioned to capitalize on industry growth through reserve building and technological investments [2][17][21][24] - SCCO has a significant capital investment program exceeding $15 billion, primarily in Peru, and is expected to produce substantial copper outputs in the coming years [17][18] - LUNMF has reported strong operational performance, with a year-to-date stock gain of 111.7% and an increase in copper production guidance [23] - Centrus Energy is expanding its uranium enrichment capabilities, with a revenue backlog of $3.9 billion and plans for significant production increases [26] Market Performance - The Zacks Mining - Non Ferrous industry has outperformed the Zacks Basic Materials sector, gaining 10.1% over the past year, while the sector declined by 3.6% [10] - The industry's current trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA ratio is 10.59X, significantly lower than the S&P 500's 18.43X, indicating potential valuation upside [13]

Core Viewpoint - UBS anticipates a significant increase in copper prices due to ongoing supply disruptions and strong long-term demand driven by electrification and clean energy investments, revising its price forecast for March 2026 to $11,500 and setting a new year-end target of $13,000 per ton [1] Supply and Demand Dynamics - UBS has sharply revised its deficit forecasts, now expecting a 230,000-ton shortfall in 2025, up from 53,000 tons, and a 407,000-ton deficit in 2026, previously expected to be 87,000 tons [2] - Structural supply constraints are expected to persist in 2026 due to disruptions in major producing countries, slower recovery in Chile, and ongoing protests in Peru [3] Market Influences - The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) has decreased by 0.52% over the past five days and 8.19% year to date, making dollar-priced copper more attractive to global buyers, which supports higher copper prices [4] - Market expectations of a Fed rate cut in December, with an 85.1% likelihood of lowering rates to 3.50-3.75%, are seen as a tailwind for copper prices, easing financial pressures on manufacturers and construction firms [5] Demand Growth Factors - Global copper demand is expected to rise by 2.8% in both 2025 and 2026, driven by sectors such as electric vehicles, renewable energy expansion, power-grid investments, and increasing data-center activity [6] Investment Opportunities - UBS recommends maintaining long copper positions, noting that any near-term price softness is likely to be short-lived. Several ETFs are highlighted for exposure to copper, including: - Global X Copper Miners ETF (COPX) with a year-to-date gain of 56.27% [7] - United States Copper Index Fund (CPER) with a year-to-date gain of 18.60% [8] - iShares Copper and Metals Mining ETF (ICOP) with a year-to-date gain of 48.63% [8] - Sprott Copper Miners ETF (COPP) with a year-to-date gain of 37.31% [8] - Themes Copper Miners ETF (COPA) with a year-to-date gain of 64.26% [9]

Group 1 - The article discusses the author's long-term and contrarian approach to equities investing, initially focusing on the Tech sector and now expanding to Commodities and Energy sectors due to the ongoing energy transition [1] Group 2 - No relevant content available for this section [2][3]

Core Insights - Abaxx Technologies Inc. has received registration as a Foreign Board of Trade (FBOT) from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), allowing U.S.-based futures commission merchants, brokers, and trading firms to access Abaxx Exchange's regulated markets directly for the first time [1][2] Group 1: Company Overview - Abaxx Technologies is a financial software and market infrastructure company, and the majority shareholder of Abaxx Singapore, which owns the Abaxx Commodity Exchange and Clearinghouse [1][8] - The company aims to build Smarter Markets by providing better tools, benchmarks, and technology to address significant societal challenges, including the energy transition [7] Group 2: Market Expansion - The FBOT registration is a significant milestone for Abaxx, marking the opening of its physically-deliverable futures markets to the largest derivatives trading community globally, thus enhancing participation in its benchmark contracts [2][5] - Abaxx's suite of centrally-cleared commodity futures and derivatives is designed to improve price discovery and risk management for commodities essential to the transition to a lower-carbon economy, including energy, environmental, battery materials, and precious metals [3][9] Group 3: Unique Offerings - Abaxx Exchange features unique products such as the only physically-backed LNG forward curves, U.S. dollar-denominated gold kilobar futures contracts based in Singapore, and lithium carbonate benchmarks outside China [4][9] - The exchange also offers financially-settled contracts indexed to the utilization of installed wind capacity in Germany, addressing practical challenges in price discovery, hedging, and risk management [4][9] Group 4: Industry Response - Industry leaders have expressed positive sentiments regarding Abaxx's FBOT registration, highlighting the increased access for U.S. commercial players to engage with commodity benchmarks anchored in real physical trade flows [5][6]