Power Markets

Voss Capital, an activist investor, has asked Sempra to spin-off its Oncor unit. This would create a Texas-focused, high-growth utility that is not burdened by the $60 billion energy company's dominant California business. Houston-based hedge funds, which hold less than 1% of Sempra (roughly 2 million shares), argue that the newly independent Oncor Electric Delivery Company could be worth up to $78 billion at the end of 2028. Sempra owns around 80% of Oncor. Its stake in the spinoff would be more valuable than Sempra’s current market value. Voss says that it would be easier for investors to understand Sempra....

Talen Energy awarded CEO Mark "Mac McFarland" a stock-based compensation of more than $300 million after the Houston company emerged out of bankruptcy and generated an overall return for investors that was 620%. Shares of Talen have soared after its gas-fired plants capitalized on the booming demand for 'electricity by AI-driven data centres in the PJM interconnection, the U.S. largest regional?electric grid. Talen generated $461m in cash flow in the first quarter of 2018, compared with $119m in the same period last year. Talen announced this week that McFarland had received?887.163 shares in restricted and performance stock. According to Talen's...

Nuclear power company Oklo said?on? Tuesday that the U.S. Energy Department has selected it for advanced talks about taking Cold War era plutonium - a dangerous, fissile substance - for use as potential fuel for nuclear reactors. Last year, it was reported that the Trump Administration plans to provide about 20 metric tonnes of Cold War-era Plutonium? from dismantled warheads to U.S. energy companies for use as reactor fuel. About a year ago, President Donald 'Trump' signed an executive ordnance ordering the U.S. Government to stop a large part of its program to dilute plutonium and dispose of it and...

The Trump administration further delayed on Thursday the planned closure of Units 3 and 4, at the Eddystone fossil fuel-fired power generation generating station in Pennsylvania, by ordering Constellation Energy Corp. to continue operations beyond the shutdown date. Energy Secretary Chris Wright issued an emergency order directing PJM interconnection, the largest power grid in 'North America to work with Constellation Energy in order to ensure 'the two units are operational and to minimize costs for American people, the?Energy Department said in a press release. Wright stated that "energy sources which perform at their peak are the most valuable." This is...

Sebastien Lecornu, the Prime Minister of France, said that France would 'continue to only offer limited relief to consumers who are impacted by high fuel prices. Paris, unlike other European countries, has refused to cut fuel taxes despite the fact that the Strait of Hormuz closure has driven oil prices over $100 per barrel. The reason given was the high budget deficit in the eurozone. Lecornu said at a press briefing that "we're not changing our strategy." "We reject any reduction in fuel taxes that is indiscriminate and general." He said that the government instead?extended targeted measures and scaled up...

Deep Fission announced on Wednesday that it is aiming for a valuation of about $1.66 billion when it makes its U.S. IPO. The company hopes to ride a wave of investor demand as the use and consumption AI-powered electricity increases. The Berkeley-based company wants to raise up to $156m by selling 6 million shares at a price of between $24 and $25 each. Deep Fission plans to go public as investors are re-engaging in nuclear power following years of public skepticism. Data?centers, artificial intelligence and data?centers have been driving investor interest. The Gravity Reactor is a small modular reactor (SMR),...

The massive merger between NextEra and Dominion Energy may hinge on the ability of the combined company to keep electricity costs down, even as it rushes in order to supply energy-hungry data centers that are driving up consumer prices. NextEra?said?buying Dominion would allow it to quickly build new generation in areas where others have lagged, and connect proposed data centres waiting to start operations. These companies will have to pass multiple reviews by local, state and national regulatory agencies who will evaluate the consumer impact of rising power bills in certain U.S. areas due to the demand for AI data...

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) said that six drones were launched from Iraq against them in the past 48 hours, including one 'that caused a fire at a nuclear plant in the Gulf State on Sunday. In a press release, the UAE's Defence Ministry said that all drones except one had been intercepted. The ministry said that three drones?in all?were targeting the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant which is?the Arab World's first commercial nuke power station. The drone that breached the UAE's defenses struck an electric generator outside of the inner perimeter, according to the?ministry. The UAE's Federal Authority for Nuclear...

The Abu Dhabi Media Office reported on Sunday that authorities in 'Abu Dhabi' responded to an fire caused by a drone strike on a?electrical genset outside the inner perimeter at the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, in Al Dhafra Region. The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) confirmed that the essential systems of the plant were working normally. The statement didn't give any indication as to?how the drone attack happened. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that the UAE informed it that radiation levels at Barakah Plant remained normal after the incident. The U.N. nuclear watchdog said that the IAEA...

The?U.S. has?dramatically reduced Iran's ability to threaten its neighboring countries and U.S. interest. A senior U.S. Admiral stated on Thursday that the bombings have slowed down Tehran's defence industry by 90%. Admiral Brad Cooper of U.S. Central Command emphasized 'the tactical success of the military campaign he led against Iran and said that the war has dramatically reduced the danger posed by Iran to the Middle East. Cooper refused to directly address the reports of and other news organizations that Iran had significant drone and missile capabilities. These reports cited U.S. Intelligence sources. Cooper, speaking to a U.S. Senate Committee,...

Ananym Capital Management, an activist investor, believes that BWX Technologies stock could double over the next few years if it commercializes a nuclear reactor design that was mothballed to meet soaring energy demands. Alex Silver, co-founder of the two-year old investment firm, spoke publicly about BWX Technology at the Sohn Investment Conference on Tuesday in New York. Ananym believes that BWX Technologies, which archived the design of a small modular pressurized reactor nearly a decade ago, could now be competitive as the 'demand for clean energy by data center operators has exploded. BWX Technologies of Lynchburg in Virginia, with a...

The Energy Information Administration's Short-Term Energy Outlook released on Tuesday predicted that U.S. electricity consumption would continue to rise in 2026 & 2027. The EIA projects that the power demand in 2027 will increase from 4,195 billion Kilowatt-hours in 2025, to 4,248 in 2026, and 4,379 in 2027. The demand for electricity is increasing as more homes and businesses are using less fossil fuels to heat and transport their vehicles and use more electricity. The agency stated that the increase in electricity demand is being led by the commercial sector. This is expected to surpass residential demand for the first...

Chinese coking coal prices slid on Friday, but are headed for the best week in six as Beijing's calls to ensure energy supplies during?the summer peak demand period? only partially offset supply fears sparked by mine closures following a fatal accident. According to a late-night statement posted on WeChat by China's official planner, efforts should be made to ensure the production and supply primary energy sources like coal and natural gases to meet peak electricity generation needs. Analysts said that this helped ease concerns about coal supply losses caused by?production halts at coal-rich Shanxi Province mines after a deadly gas...

Nickel prices increased on Tuesday as concerns about Indonesian supplies resurfaced. China's Tsingshan group asked its Weda Bay Industrial Park smelters to divert their power to aluminum production. Benchmark nickel prices were?up?1.8% at $18,900 per metric ton as of 0946 GMT. The price of nickel hit a two-year high earlier this month at around $20,000, with the buying being sparked by a sulphur scarcity caused by the war in Iran and lower ore quotas. Tsingshan asked producers of nickel-pig iron used to produce stainless steel to "curb" output, according to reports on Monday. The group is now focusing more on...

Sanae Takaichi, the Japanese Prime Minister, pledged on Saturday to strengthen bilateral relations with Vietnam. Energy?cooperation, and vital minerals were at the forefront of his commitments, during a?meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung. According to Vietnamese government data and customs, the pledge was made as "new" Japanese investment in Vietnam dropped 75% on an annual basis to $233 millions in the first three months, while bilateral trade grew 12.3%, to $13.7 billion, over the same time period. The two leaders discussed how to deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, established in?2023, with a focus on energy, critical mineral, artificial...

Sanae Takaichi, the Japanese prime minister, will meet To Lam, the leader of Vietnam in Hanoi on Saturday. The two countries are trying to strengthen ties in light of a sharp decline in Japanese investment in Vietnam. A Japanese official in the foreign ministry said that both sides will discuss ways to strengthen a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, established in 2023. The focus of their discussion is on energy, technology and critical minerals, as well as regional stability. Japan is still one of Vietnam's biggest foreign investors.?Many Japanese multinationals operate large manufacturing facilities throughout the country. According to data from the...

South Korean and Vietnamese companies will reportedly'sign dozens of deals on Thursday, according to two sources in the Korean media. These non-binding corporate deals and contracts will follow the previous day's signing of 12 co-operation pacts between Lee and Vietnam’s top leader To Lam, which included one about Korean investment in a nuclear plant in southern Vietnam. Lee, after the meeting, said that "our two countries will enhance cooperation in joint research and talent-development in semiconductors and secondary batteries as well as biotechnology." He added that among the deals set to be announced on Thursday is a contract for supplying?rolling...

To Lam, the leader of Vietnam, will meet with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, on Wednesday. This is their second meeting in less than one year. Hanoi wants to get more support from South Korea for its high tech ambitions. Vietnam, which is a major exporter for phones and electronic goods, wants to shift to more advanced technologies, such as semiconductors. South Korea, with its accumulated capital, is the largest foreign investor in Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing economy. The Samsung Group, which includes the chip giant Samsung Electronics, is the most significant corporate investor, with more than $20 billion, mostly...

Karel Havilicek, Minister of Industry and Trade, said that the 'Czech Republic' will extend the life span of the four existing units at the Dukovany nuclear power plant by 20 years to 80 years and run them until 2065-2067. Dukovany was built by CEZ, a majority-owned state-owned company, in 1985-1987. Its Soviet-designed VVER nuclear reactors are capable of 2,000 megawatts. This decision follows other life extension decisions, particularly in France, as countries seek to ensure sufficient supplies following the gradual demise of fossil fuels. The 'decision' means that the old units will be running for a longer period alongside the...

Sanae Takaichi, Japan's Prime Minister, said that Japan and France agreed to work closely together to bring an end to the U.S. - Israeli war with Iran and to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to oil and gasoline tankers. Takaichi, after talks in Tokyo with French Emmanuel Macron on industrial and security cooperation, said: "Because of the challenging international situation, I think it is important that the leaders of Japan & France deepen their personal ties - and make our cooperation stronger." Japan, France, and other countries are dealing with rising energy costs as the conflict in the Middle East...

On Tuesday, oil prices soared on fears of a shortage, after Iran denied that it had?talks? with the United States about ending the Gulf War, in contradiction to U.S. president Donald Trump, who claimed a deal would be reached soon. Crude futures dropped by more than 10% after Trump ordered the delay of attacks on Iran's power plants for five days, claiming that he had held talks with Iranian officials who were not named, and they had reached "major agreements". Brent futures were up $1.25 or 1.3% to $101.19 a barrel by 0858 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate rose $2.15...

Dan Lipman, the president of global business initiatives for 'Westinghouse', said that Japan and the United States have reached an agreement on their respective responsibilities in a possible?joint project between Westinghouse and Japanese manufacturers of nuclear power equipment. On Saturday, Dan Lipman, president of?global business initiatives at?Westinghouse's told? Sources told us this month that Japan and the U.S. were working together to include a nuclear project as part of a second tranche of deals in Japan's $550 billion investment package. The deal will involve Westinghouse. As nations seek to increase their domestic energy resources, the momentum for building nuclear facilities...

Tokyo Electric Power announced 'on Friday that it is likely to delay the start of commercial operations at the 'Kashiwazaki Kariwa nuclear power station due to a minor leak in electricity transmission. TEPCO announced that it has decided to suspend?from the No. 6 reactor of the plant. The electricity leak was detected by an alarm in the reactor No. A spokesperson for the utility said that the utility had planned to restart commercial operations on March 18, but needed time 'to investigate the issue.' It is unclear how long this delay will last. The spokesperson stated that the reactor showed...

Kim Jung-kwan, South Korea's Industry Minister, said that Seoul was 'in talks' to invest in a nuclear project in the United States. This is part of Seoul’s pledge of investing $350 billion into U.S.-based projects. Seoul is scrambling to review its deals with Washington, after U.S. president Donald 'Trump' threatened to increase tariffs on goods imported to South?Korea by 25%. He blamed a delay of the Asian ally in implementing a trade agreement agreed last year. Kim responded to a question from a member of the parliamentary committee about Korea's potential investments in U.S. nucleopower plants by saying, "We are...