Chemical news · Three minutes a day
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Lead Story
Germany's Merz Promises Relief Plan 'Soon' as Pump Prices Hit RecordGerman Chancellor Friedrich Merz promised imminent relief measures as E10 gasoline prices hit a record €2.286 per litre amid rising consumer pressure. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil proposed a windfall tax on European energy firms to help mitigate soaring costs.
Australian miner EQ Resources joins a joint venture to restart the Springer tungsten project in Nevada with $75 million in U.S. Department of Defense funding. The agreement secures an eight-year off-take for 4,000 tonnes of tungsten concentrate annually.
CATL secured approval to acquire a stake in Geely-backed Chongqing Yaoning, marking a key step in Beijing’s strategy to consolidate the battery sector and curb capacity oversupply.
Santos secured LNG supply agreements with POSCO Steel and Western LNG, sourcing from its global portfolio and the proposed Ksi Lisims project in Canada starting around 2030.
Tata Group shares surged after India's central bank rejected a deregistration application, reviving listing hopes. Tata Chemicals led gains with a 20% rise.
Novo Nordisk CEO Mike Doustdar unveiled "The Novo Way" cultural strategy to regain market leadership against rival Eli Lilly in the obesity drug sector. The initiative emphasizes customer obsession as investors question the company's momentum following Wegovy's initial success.
J-Power announced a delay in the Ohma nuclear plant's operation start date to beyond 2030 due to construction complexities, while also revising plans for coal plant phase-outs and expanding renewable energy projects.
Sasol Ltd. has begun selling sustainable aviation fuel produced from used cooking oil to tour operator White Desert, marking a practical commercial step. The company aims to increase annual SAF production capacity to 100 million liters by 2030.
Corteva CEO Luther Kissam advocates for the continued use of crop protection chemicals despite political opposition and market volatility. As the company separates from its seed business, it focuses on expanding its chemical and biological product pipeline to sustain agricultural yields.
Senegal and Italian oil company Eni have signed an MoU to conduct preliminary studies on five offshore blocks, supporting the government's strategy to resume oil and gas exploration with Petrosen playing a central role.
ChemBrief