When it was announced in 2023 that the African Union would become a full member of the G20, I darkly joked on a podcast that the AU’s entry into the body could very well mark the moment the G20 lost its status as one of the most important global coordination forums. Mark my words, I said, soon The Economist will be like “Uhhh, the G20 is OVER – it’s the ...
Category: Energy
China Rejects Draft Pentagon Report on Nuclear Missile Silos
China’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday, rejected a draft Pentagon report on Chinese missile silos near the border with Mongolia and told Washington to cut its own nuclear arsenal first. The U.S. assessment estimated that China had likely loaded more than 100 ...
China to Expand Power Exports to Vietnam as Needs Surge
Vietnam is considering a sharp jump in electricity purchases from China as it looks for ways to keep the lights on in its fast-growing northern region. Factories there have multiplied. So have homes. Hanoi wants double-digit economic growth, and officials say the grid needs help to ...
Why a Geopolitical Megadam Sparks Panic in India but Barely a Murmur in China
In July, China quietly launched the 1.2 trillion-yuan Metog hydropower project, the largest infrastructure project in human history. The planned Metog hydropower station sits on the “Great Bend” of the Yarlung Tsangpo, where the river drops 2,000 meters within a 50-kilometer ...
From Blueprint to Power Plant: Lessons from Chinese Power Projects in Africa
After tracing the arc from planning to procurement, financing to construction, this final installment in Part 1 of The Porcelain Jar at the End of the Rainbow pauses to reflect. What have we learned, not just about China’s engagement in Africa’s power sector, but about the systems, choices, and ...
China’s Wang Yi Urges Resumption of Iran Nuclear Talks in Call With Tehran’s Foreign Minister
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke by phone on Wednesday with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi and called for the resumption of nuclear talks. “The current political process for resolving the Iran nuclear issue is at a standstill, and this is not ...
Kenya Breaks Ground for World’s First Geothermal-Powered Fertilizer Plant in Partnership With China’s Kaishan Group
Kenyan President William Ruto led a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday for a new $800 million geothermal power facility that will produce 100,000 tons of green ammonia and fertilizer annually. The project, a joint venture between China's Kaishan Group and the state-owned ...
G7 to Launch ‘Alliance’ Countering China’s Critical Mineral Dominance
By Ben Simon G7 energy ministers meeting in Canada on Thursday planned to launch a new alliance to counter China's critical mineral dominance, in a push for more reliable access to the resources that power advanced technologies.
Building Better: What Shapes the Success of Chinese-Supported Power Projects?
After months, sometimes years, of negotiations, feasibility studies, and financial structuring, shovels hit the ground and concrete is poured. But the final outcome of a power project is not just a function of engineering inputs or Chinese execution. It also ...
China Drives Indonesia’s Push for Clean Energy and More Coal
China sits at the heart of Indonesia’s energy paradox — driving the country’s ambitious shift toward renewables while remaining deeply entrenched in its coal economy. Chinese financing and technology are accelerating Indonesia’s clean energy buildout, from nickel refining to electric vehicles ...
China and Russia Align with Iran as Nuclear Deal Runs Out
China and Russia joined Iran in declaring the official end of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran Nuclear Deal, and UN Resolution 2231. The three countries sent an official letter to the United Nations on ...
China’s Power Paradox: Record Renewables, Continued Coal
By Sara Hussein Call it the China power paradox: while Beijing leads the world in renewable energy expansion, its coal projects are booming too. As the top emitter of greenhouse gases, China will largely determine ...
Africa’s Energy Future: China’s Role and the Power of Data
As Africa confronts persistent energy gaps and mounting development challenges, China’s growing role in the continent’s electricity sector has far-reaching economic and geopolitical implications. Understanding the scope and impact of Chinese investment is crucial—not only for powering Africa’s industrial and social ...