factory
21 July 2025
Asia Manufacturing Reviewfactory
Jul 21, 2025Asia Manufacturing Review
Nigeria has secured over $20 billion in investment pledges from China, targeted at revitalizing its core industrial sectors. The funding spans agriculture, automotive manufacturing, steel production, mining, and energy—areas critical to Nigeria’s ambition to emerge as a continental manufacturing powerhouse.
Joseph Tegbe, Director General of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), delivered the message following a number of engagements at the diplomatic and business levels, which coincided with Nigeria and China's recent harmonization to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Tegbe expressed that the projects are likely to begin rollout before year's end.
Recent engagements have backed more than $20 billion in investment commitments and not just promises, in key sectors.they are looking at projects that will enhance food security, jobs, strengthen power infrastructure, and improve Nigeria's industrial positioning in Africa" Tegbe remarked.
Also Read: Saudi, Indonesia Sign $27B Deals in Energy, Defence, Technology
The NCSP, which was established under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), is the primary conduit through which Nigerian stakeholders will be related to Chinese investors, by facilitating the mobilization of Chinese assets, technology, and expertise for the acceleration of Nigeria's industrial recovery.
Tegbe pointed out that the difference is that NCSP will go beyond traditional FOCAC agreements. The NCSP is also focused on mobilizing Nigerian produce by ensuring Nigeria's export readiness of produced goods to Chinese and larger Asian markets, thereby also supporting Nigeria's economic diversification via value-added supply chains.
The strategy is in line with Nigeria's Renewed Hope Agenda, which President Bola Tinubu has launched to promote economic diversification, local manufacturing, and industrial competitiveness. Tegbe noted that institutional coordination among government and private actors is a core responsibility of delivering on commitments.
"The purpose of these engagements is to convert policy intents into real economic transformation. We shall ensure that every agreement has its impact on the ground, and that it is sustainable." he said. Now that timelines for implementation are coming up and sectors have been agreed, Nigeria's partnership with China could potentially redefine the future of Africa-Asia industrial collaboration in manufacturing, energy and logistics development.
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Clorox Comes Clean About $380 Million Ransomware NightmareEditor's Note: This story has been updated with a statement from Cognizant.
In 2024, IBM identified the manufacturing sector as the industry most attacked by cyber criminals for the third straight year – which is why we see even the biggest brands being impacted by the work of hackers.
Bleach maker Clorox is coming clean about the details surrounding a recent ransomware attack but the fingerpointing extends past the gang of perpetrators and all the way to the company’s IT provider.
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And Clorox believes that the IT firm's faults in this situation were so egregious that it has filed a lawsuit.
The suit points to a 2023 incident in which hackers from the group Scattered Spider targeted several firms.
According to Reuters, Scattered Spider is particularly adept at “tricking IT help desks into handing over credentials and then using that access to lock them up for ransom” – which is exactly what Clorox says happened in its case.
In fact, Clorox’s lawsuit claims suggest it was almost… easy.
The company alleges that one of the group’s hackers was able to repeatedly steal employees' passwords simply by calling the IT desk with its service provider - Cognizant - and simply asking for credentials. And while the hackers were posing as Clorox employees, Clorox alleges the service desk didn’t ask for verification details of any kind.
Reuters reviewed the lawsuit documents, which included call transcripts and other details showing just how basic the scheme was. According to the suit, "Cognizant was not duped by any elaborate ploy or sophisticated hacking techniques … Cognizant handed the credentials right over."
Clorox said that the hack resulted in $380 million in damages, a large chunk of which came from the company’s inability to ship its goods in the immediate aftermath of the attack.
Cognizant issued the following statement to Industrial Equipment News (IEN) regarding the incident:
"It is shocking that a corporation the size of Clorox had such an inept internal cybersecurity system to mitigate this attack. Clorox has tried to blame us for these failures, but the reality is that Clorox hired Cognizant for a narrow scope of help desk services which Cognizant reasonably performed. Cognizant did not manage cybersecurity for Clorox."
Click here to subscribe to our daily newsletter featuring breaking engineering industry news.
WEBVTT
X-TIMESTAMP-MAP=LOCAL:00:00:00.000,MPEGTS:0
00:00.009 --> 00:05.519
In 2024, IBM identified the manufacturing
sector as the industry most attacked by
00:05.519 --> 00:10.319
cybercriminals for the third straight year,
which is why we see even the biggest brands
00:10.319 --> 00:15.000
being impacted by the work of hackers.
Bleach maker Clorox is coming clean about the
00:15.000 --> 00:19.959
details surrounding a recent ransomware attack,
but the finger pointing extends past the gang
00:19.959 --> 00:23.510
of perpetrators and all the way to the
company's IT provider,
00:23.719 --> 00:28.287
and Clorox believes that the IT firm's
faults in this situation were so egregious that
00:28.287 --> 00:30.037
it has filed a lawsuit.
00:30.326 --> 00:35.117
The suit points to a 2023 incident in which
hackers from the group Scattered Spider
00:35.367 --> 00:37.806
targeted several firms.
According to Reuters,
00:37.926 --> 00:42.687
Scattered Spider is particularly adept at
tricking IT help desks into handing over
00:42.687 --> 00:45.876
credentials and then using that access to lock
them up for ransom,
00:46.126 --> 00:49.326
which is exactly what Clorox says happened in
its case.
00:49.606 --> 00:54.083
In fact, Clorox's lawsuit
claims suggest it was almost easy.
00:54.293 --> 00:59.094
The company alleges that one of the group's
hackers was able to repeatedly steal employees'
00:59.094 --> 01:02.923
passwords simply by calling the IT desk with
its service provider,
01:03.094 --> 01:08.094
Cognizant, and simply asking for credentials.
And while the hackers were posing as Clorox
01:08.094 --> 01:13.753
employees, Clorox alleges the service desk
didn't ask for verification details of any kind.
01:14.013 --> 01:18.541
Reuters reviewed the lawsuit documents, which
included transcripts and other details showing
01:18.541 --> 01:20.011
just how basic the scheme was.
01:20.221 --> 01:25.710
According to the suit, Cognizant was not duped
by any elaborate ploy or sophisticated hacking
01:25.710 --> 01:29.051
techniques.
Cognizant handed the credentials right over.
01:29.221 --> 01:33.621
Clorox said that the hack resulted in $380
million in damages,
01:33.740 --> 01:38.380
a large chunk of which came from the company's
inability to ship its goods in the immediate
01:38.380 --> 01:40.070
aftermath of the attack.
01:40.380 --> 01:42.100
I'm Anna Wells.
This is Manufacturing Now.
Manufacturing Net
factory
23 July 20254 min readClorox Comes Clean About $380 Million Ransomware Nightmare
Manufacturing Net
23 July 2025
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Kazakhstan Launches $26.7 Billion Push To Boost Industrial GrowthKazakhstan is implementing 17 initiatives aimed at high-value-added production, with a combined investment of 14.3 trillion tenge (US$26.7 billion), anticipated to create more than 24,600 jobs, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov stated on July 20, as reported by Kazinform. When fully operational, they are expected to boost exports by six trillion tenge (US$11.2 billion) and cut imports by 1.5 trillion tenge (US$2.8 billion) each year.
The nation has established 16 special economic zones and 55 industrial zones to support industrial enterprises, resulting in the production of over 15 trillion tenge (US$28 billion) in goods and the creation of more than 48,600 jobs. A differentiated strategy implemented in 2024 connects the amount of investment to the level of benefits provided: the greater the investment, the more significant the benefits.
KAZ Minerals Smelting and Mineral Product International will channel raw materials that were once exported (copper concentrate, coal, semi-coke, quartzite) toward local processing. At the same time, KIA Qazaqstan and Astana Motors Manufacturing Kazakhstan are developing supply chains for their new vehicle production facilities.
Included in the projects are the Tengri Tyres tire factory, inaugurated in Saran in July 2024; the Kazakhstan Mobility Engineering multimedia systems plant opened in Almaty in October 2024; the Almaty Autoparts Production seat manufacturing facility, expected to commence in 2025; Vector Pavlodar, a production unit for cast aluminum wheels; and Qarmet, which will manufacture automotive steel.
Bektenov pointed out that manufacturing production has grown by 7.9 trillion tenge (US$14.7 billion) since 2021, while exports of processed products have surged by 45.1% to reach $28.8 billion.
Also Read: Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan Sign Deals to Boost Industrial Ties
Between 2023 and 2032, initiatives are underway to upgrade assets, enhance digital operations, perform research and development activities, and establish advanced manufacturing capabilities.
A gas chemical complex has been launched that produces 500,000 tons of polypropylene each year, leading to a drop in imports from 25,000 tons in 2022 to 7,000 tons in 2024. Currently, twelve types of polypropylene are manufactured locally, with five of them having been entirely imported before. Exports have expanded to Türkiye, China, Russia, and the European Union.
Current initiatives encompass the establishment of production facilities for butadiene and its derivatives, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and terephthalic acid, laying the groundwork for an advanced chemical industry in Kazakhstan.
Asia Manufacturing Review
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23 July 20252 min readKazakhstan Launches $26.7 Billion Push To Boost Industrial Growth
Asia Manufacturing Review
23 July 2025
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Taiwan Rolls Out Ai Strategy To Drive $510 Billion EconomyTaiwan intends to initiate its "Ten Major AI Infrastructure Projects" initiative, with the goal of producing over T$15 trillion ($510 billion) in economic value by 2040 as it seeks to establish itself as a worldwide leader in artificial intelligence.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Premier Cho Jung-tai stated that Taiwan intends to utilize its information and communications technology (ICT) industry and top-tier semiconductor manufacturing abilities to establish itself as a global AI influencer and a "smart technology island."
As part of the initiative, Taiwan has recognized three essential technologies as key priorities: silicon photonics, quantum technology, and AI robotics. Silicon photonics is a field that Taiwan's TSMC, the biggest contract chip manufacturer globally, and numerous other companies in the sector are vigorously advancing.
The government intends to establish Taiwan as an international leader in silicon photonics by aligning the industry with upcoming AI development requirements. Taiwan aims to establish itself as a major center for AI robotics by leveraging its hardware and ICT supply chains.
Also Read: Saudi, Indonesia Sign $27B Deals in Energy, Defence, Technology
Industry associations, including one headed by Foxconn Chairman Young Liu, have endorsed the initiative by establishing the Taiwan AI Robotics Industry Grand Alliance on Tuesday to promote the domestic advancement of AI robotics and associated ecosystems. Taiwan is set to create a quantum technology industrial chain.
The 10 initiatives also encompass the creation of AI - the capability to develop and manage local AI technologies – as well as computing frameworks, attempts to distribute AI development evenly across various areas of the island, and the implementation of AI in numerous sectors.
The government urges an increase in AI innovation investment, targeting over T$100 billion ($3.08 billion) in venture capital funding, to establish itself as a global center for AI talent and investment. The project aims to generate 500,000 jobs and set up three research laboratories of international standards. Reuters
Asia Manufacturing Review
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23 July 20252 min readTaiwan Rolls Out Ai Strategy To Drive $510 Billion Economy
Asia Manufacturing Review
23 July 2025
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Hewlett Packard Owed Nearly $1 Billion From Late Tech Tycoon'S Estate, Court SaysLONDON (AP) — Hewlett Packard is owed more than 700 million pounds ($943 million) from British tech tycoon Mike Lynch's estate and his former finance director after they lost a fraud case involving Lynch's software company, a U.K. High Court judge ruled on Tuesday.
The court's decision comes nearly a year after Lynch was killed when his superyacht sank off Sicily, where he had gathered with friends and family to celebrate his acquittal months earlier in a separate U.S. criminal trial.
The U.S. tech company, now known as Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, had accused Lynch of fraud and conspiracy after it bought Lynch's company, Autonomy Corp., for $11 billion.
HPE also took Lynch to court in the U.K., seeking up to $4 billion in damages in a civil case. The High Court had ruled mostly in HPE's favor in 2022, but the judge had said that the amount awarded would be "substantially less" than the company was seeking.
Judge Robert Hildyard was originally due to issue a draft ruling in September but delayed it after Lynch's yacht, the Bayesian, sank in the storm off Sicily on Aug. 19. Lynch and his daughter were among seven people who died while 15 others survived, including the captain and most of the crew.
In a written judgment, Hildyard expressed his "sympathy and deepest condolences" to Lynch's wife and family.
Hildyard said HPE suffered a loss of 646 million pounds based on the difference between Autonomy's purchase price and what it would have paid had Autonomy's "true financial position been correctly presented."
HPE is also owed 51.7 million pounds for "personal claims related to deceit and/or misrepresentation" against Lynch and Sushovan Hussain, the finance director, and $47.5 million for other losses.
Hussain was convicted in a 2018 U.S. trial of wire fraud and other crimes related to Autonomy's sale, and sentenced to five years in prison.
"We are pleased that this decision brings us a step closer to the resolution of this dispute," HPE said in a statement. "We look forward to the further hearing at which the final amount of HPE's damages will be determined."
A hearing to deal with interest, currency conversion and whether Lynch's estate can appeal is set for November.
In a statement written before his death and issued posthumously, Lynch said the ruling shows that HP's original claim "was not just a wild overstatement - misleading shareholders - but it was off the mark by 80%."
"This result exposes HP's failure and makes clear that the immense damage to Autonomy was down to HP's own errors and actions," he said.
Manufacturing Net
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22 July 20253 min readHewlett Packard Owed Nearly $1 Billion From Late Tech Tycoon'S Estate, Court Says
Manufacturing Net
22 July 2025
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Stellantis Warns Of $2.7 Billion LossStellantis, the maker of Jeep and Ram vehicles, says its preliminary estimates show a 2.3 billion euros ($2.68 billion) net loss in the first half of the year due to U.S. tariffs and some hefty charges.
The automaker anticipates an impact of about 300 million euros for net tariffs incurred, and also expects planned production losses related to implementing its response plan.
Stellantis also expects approximately 3.3 billion euros ($3.84 billion) of pre-tax net charges mostly related to program cancellation costs and platform impairments, restructuring and the net impact of recent legislation eliminating the CAFE penalty rate. Automakers have been penalized if the average fuel economy of their annual fleet of vehicle production exceeds a certain level.
Two months ago Stellantis named Antonio Filosa as its new chief executive officer. He replaced Carlos Tavares, who resigned under pressure last year.
Stellantis, which was created from the 2021 merger of France's PSA Peugeot with Italian-U.S. carmaker Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, is the world's fourth-largest car manufacturer. It is based in the Netherlands.
The automaker provided preliminary financial figures on Monday in the absence of financial guidance, which it suspended in April.
Manufacturing Net
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21 July 20251 min readStellantis Warns Of $2.7 Billion Loss
Manufacturing Net
21 July 2025
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Siemens Among Companies Pledging To Invest $700 Billion In Germany Over Next 3 YearsBERLIN (AP) — A group of dozens of companies pledged Monday to invest at least 631 billion euros ($733 billion) in Germany over the next three years, sending a signal of confidence in Europe's biggest economy as the new government tries to breathe new life into it.
The economy has shrunk for the past two years and is expected to stagnate this year. Chancellor Friedrich Merz's administration has made revitalizing it a top priority since it took office May 6.
It has launched a program to encourage investment and set up a 500 billion euro fund to pour money into Germany's creaking infrastructure over the next 12 years. It is promising to cut red tape and speed up the country's lagging digitization.
On Monday, Merz welcomed representatives of an initiative titled "Made for Germany" to the chancellery to send a signal of confidence from and to private investors. The group currently includes 61 companies from across the economy, among them industrial conglomerate Siemens and financial giant Deutsche Bank.
"The investments by the initiative are a very powerful signal that we are now experiencing a shift in sentiment and consolidating it," Merz said. "The message ... is very clear: Germany is back. It's worth investing in Germany again. We are not a location of the past, but a location of the present and above all the future."
He stressed that private investment is crucial to encouraging growth.
The overall figure pledged Monday includes at least some already planned investments. Merz said the plans include investments in new facilities and in modernizing infrastructure, in research and development.
Deutsche Bank CEO Christian Sewing praised the new government as being "determined to end the reform backlog that has slowed us down for too long." But he said that it still needs to do more, and the companies "encouraged" the government "to continue the course of reform."
"Our priorities are clear: We want economic growth, we want to strengthen Germany's competitiveness, we want to defend or further expand our technological leadership and we want to bring our infrastructure into the digital age," Siemens CEO Roland Busch said.
Manufacturing Net
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21 July 20252 min readSiemens Among Companies Pledging To Invest $700 Billion In Germany Over Next 3 Years
Manufacturing Net
21 July 2025
factory
Nigeria Clinches $20B China Deal For Manufacturing And EnergyNigeria has secured over $20 billion in investment pledges from China, targeted at revitalizing its core industrial sectors. The funding spans agriculture, automotive manufacturing, steel production, mining, and energy—areas critical to Nigeria’s ambition to emerge as a continental manufacturing powerhouse.
Joseph Tegbe, Director General of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), delivered the message following a number of engagements at the diplomatic and business levels, which coincided with Nigeria and China's recent harmonization to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Tegbe expressed that the projects are likely to begin rollout before year's end.
Recent engagements have backed more than $20 billion in investment commitments and not just promises, in key sectors.they are looking at projects that will enhance food security, jobs, strengthen power infrastructure, and improve Nigeria's industrial positioning in Africa" Tegbe remarked.
Also Read: Saudi, Indonesia Sign $27B Deals in Energy, Defence, Technology
The NCSP, which was established under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), is the primary conduit through which Nigerian stakeholders will be related to Chinese investors, by facilitating the mobilization of Chinese assets, technology, and expertise for the acceleration of Nigeria's industrial recovery.
Tegbe pointed out that the difference is that NCSP will go beyond traditional FOCAC agreements. The NCSP is also focused on mobilizing Nigerian produce by ensuring Nigeria's export readiness of produced goods to Chinese and larger Asian markets, thereby also supporting Nigeria's economic diversification via value-added supply chains.
The strategy is in line with Nigeria's Renewed Hope Agenda, which President Bola Tinubu has launched to promote economic diversification, local manufacturing, and industrial competitiveness. Tegbe noted that institutional coordination among government and private actors is a core responsibility of delivering on commitments.
"The purpose of these engagements is to convert policy intents into real economic transformation. We shall ensure that every agreement has its impact on the ground, and that it is sustainable." he said. Now that timelines for implementation are coming up and sectors have been agreed, Nigeria's partnership with China could potentially redefine the future of Africa-Asia industrial collaboration in manufacturing, energy and logistics development.
Asia Manufacturing Review
factory
21 July 20252 min readNigeria Clinches $20B China Deal For Manufacturing And Energy
Asia Manufacturing Review
21 July 2025
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Bahrain Reveals $17 Billion In Us Investment Drive Across Five Key SectorsSubscribe to our free newsletter today to keep up to date with the latest manufacturing today industry news.
Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa arrived in Washington with more than diplomatic intent. His visit included a slate of announcements totaling over $17 billion in planned investments across several US sectors. The agreements, signed during discussions with President Trump, signal a deeper realignment between the Gulf kingdom and American economic priorities.
The deals span aviation, energy, advanced manufacturing, digital infrastructure, and nuclear cooperation. The announcement reflects growing interest among Gulf states in building long-term economic anchors in the United States, particularly as they seek to diversify revenue streams and reduce dependence on regional hydrocarbons.
The investment portfolio comes at a time when the US administration has prioritized bilateral economic diplomacy, positioning Bahrain’s involvement as part of a broader Gulf–US partnership.
At the center of the package is a $7 billion aviation order. Gulf Air, Bahrain’s national carrier, will purchase 12 Boeing aircraft, with an option for six more, and 40 GE engines. The order is expected to support approximately 30,000 US jobs across aerospace manufacturing and supply networks.
The alignment with Boeing and GE suggests a growing strategic preference for US logistics and defense infrastructure. With ongoing geopolitical tensions, Bahrain is modernizing its aviation sector to enhance regional mobility and operational resilience.
Bahrain’s investment in US energy and manufacturing marks a shift from short-term capital flows to longer-term industrial collaboration. Among the announced deals is a $2 billion commitment from Mumtalakat, the Bahraini sovereign wealth fund, toward aluminum and manufacturing projects.
These investments are tied to demand for sustainable infrastructure and regional supply chain development. The aluminum initiative aligns with Bahrain’s strategy to move beyond extraction toward value-added production.
Simultaneously, Bahrain will participate in US liquefied natural gas projects, supporting energy diversification and providing insulation from regional supply disruptions.
A significant component of the investment package involves advanced digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence. Bahrain will invest in chip manufacturing and secure data centers through partnerships with Oracle and Cisco. This pivot aligns with broader efforts in the Gulf to reduce reliance on Chinese digital hardware.
Bahrain had previously committed over $200 million to AI and data platforms through regional vehicles. These new agreements deepen ties with US firms, embedding American technology into Bahrain’s next generation of digital infrastructure.
As Gulf economies adapt to global data governance standards, Bahrain’s shift toward US tech partners reinforces its evolving digital alignment.
The signing of a memorandum on civilian nuclear cooperation adds a new layer to the relationship. The agreement, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, enables Bahrain to explore non-military nuclear energy options with US partners.
While still preliminary, the agreement points to Bahrain’s intent to expand into alternative energy sectors, positioning itself alongside larger Gulf economies that have pursued similar frameworks.
If developed further, the pact could lead to collaboration on reactor safety, regulation, and technical education, areas where the United States brings institutional expertise.
The announcement highlights a shift in how smaller Gulf nations approach international investment. While Saudi Arabia and the UAE continue to draw attention with large-scale initiatives, Bahrain’s strategy is more focused and implementation-driven.
Sources:
Manufacturing Today
factory
18 July 20253 min readBahrain Reveals $17 Billion In Us Investment Drive Across Five Key Sectors
Manufacturing Today
18 July 2025
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Chevron Gets Go Ahead For $53B Hess Deal, Access To One Of The Biggest Oil Finds This DecadeHOUSTON (AP) — Chevron has scored a critical ruling in Paris that has given it the go-ahead for a $53 billion acquisition of Hess and access to one of the biggest oil finds of the decade.
Chevron said Friday that it completed its acquisition of Hess shortly after the ruling from the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris. Exxon had challenged Chevron’s bid for Hess, one of three companies with access to the massive Stabroek Block oil field off the coast of Guyana.
Guyana is a country of 791,000 people that is poised to become the world’s fourth-largest offshore oil producer, placing it ahead of Qatar, the United States, Mexico and Norway. It has become a major producer in recent years.
Oil giants Exxon Mobil, China’s CNOOC, and Hess squared off in a heated competition for highly lucrative oil fields in northern South America.
With Chevron getting the green light on Friday, it is now one of the major players in the Stabroek.
“We disagree with the ICC panel’s interpretation but respect the arbitration and dispute resolution process,” Exxon Mobil said in a statement on Friday.
Chevron announced its deal for Hess in October 2023, less than two weeks after Exxon Mobil said that it would acquire Pioneer Natural Resources for about $60 billion.
Chevron said at the time that the acquisition of Hess would add a major oil field in Guyana as well as shale properties in the Bakken Formation in North Dakota.
“Given the significant value we’ve created in the development of the Guyana resource, we believed we had a clear duty to our investors to consider our preemption rights to protect the value we created through our innovation and hard work at a time when no one knew just how successful this venture would become,” Exxon Mobil said Friday. “We welcome Chevron to the venture and look forward to continued industry-leading performance and value creation in Guyana for all parties involved.”
Manufacturing Net
factory
18 July 20252 min readChevron Gets Go Ahead For $53B Hess Deal, Access To One Of The Biggest Oil Finds This Decade
Manufacturing Net
18 July 2025
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Chinese Pv Industry Brief: Zhejiang Bangjie Drops 18 Gw Factory PlanZhejiang Bangjie Holding Group has announced the termination of its large-scale PV manufacturing project in the Jiangshan Economic Development Zone, citing changes in the solar market environment. The project, launched in 2023, was planned to include annual production of 16 GW of high-efficiency n-type solar cells and 16 GW of large-size silicon wafer slicing capacity. The total planned investment stood at CNY 8 billion ($1.10 billion), with the first phase accounting for CNY 6 billion and the second for CNY 2 billion. Under an agreement with local authorities, the company will pay CNY 15 million in compensation to the local government to address the impact of the cancellation.
Arctech Solar has signed a deal with Shanghai Electric for the Sadawi solar project in eastern Saudi Arabia, with a planned capacity of 2.3 GW over a 40 square km desert site. The project will exclusively deploy Arctech’s Skyline II tracker system, engineered to withstand wind speeds of up to 55 m/s and integrate with high-efficiency bifacial modules and robotic cleaning systems. Arctech expects the project to generate more than 6 TWh of clean electricity per year, or enough to power over 700,000 households.
The China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association said six manufacturers signed new polysilicon orders this week. N-type reprocessed polysilicon traded at CNY 40,000 to CNY 48,000 per ton, with an average price of CNY 41,700, up 12.4% from last week. N-type granular polysilicon rose 15.17% to an average of CNY 41,000 per ton. With domestic monthly demand around 110,000 metric tons and August production expected to match, the industry faces no immediate inventory pressure. The association expects prices to stabilize as downstream supply-demand conditions improve. It also recorded sharp increases in wafer prices across all major specifications. N-type G10L wafers (182×183.75mm, 130μm) surged 22.09% to CNY 1.05 per piece. N-type G12R wafers (182 mm × 210 mm, 130 μm) rose 15.00% to CNY 1.15, while G12 wafers (210 mm ×210 mm, 130 μm) climbed 13.45% to CNY 1.35. Analysts linked the gains to upstream silicon price hikes and easing oversupply concerns. Prices are now beginning to transmit downstream, with several cell and module manufacturers reportedly preparing to raise their prices.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com.
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18 July 20252 min readChinese Pv Industry Brief: Zhejiang Bangjie Drops 18 Gw Factory Plan
PV Magazine
18 July 2025
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Pacific Fusion Pursues $1 Billion Research Facility In New MexicoALBUQUERQUE — Pacific Fusion has signed a memorandum of understanding with the state of New Mexico to pursue a new R&D facility in Albuquerque.
The company intends to build a state-of-the-art research facility, known as the Demonstration System, that would prove a critical fusion milestone called net facility gain, where more energy is produced from a fusion reaction than the total energy stored in the system. Demonstrating these conditions is an essential step toward eventually delivering carbon-free electricity to the grid.
The project would represent a capital investment of some $1 billion and bring more than 200 long-term jobs to the state, along with hundreds more construction jobs, workforce development programs, and regional economic activity.
The company expects to make a final decision in late September 2025, contingent upon successful site selection and finalization of state incentives. The project will undergo environmental and planning reviews as part of the approval process.
Keith LeChien, co-founder and CTO at Pacific Fusion said, “New Mexico is a natural fit for this project. The Z Machine at Sandia National Laboratories helped lay the foundation for our approach, and the state’s legacy of applied physics innovation, deep talent pool, and business-friendly environment put it in a unique position to become a national leader in fusion energy innovation.”
Founded in 2023, Pacific Fusion is a fusion energy company building directly on breakthrough innovations from Sandia National Laboratories to deliver the world’s most affordable on-demand power source.
Pacific Fusion has raised more than $900 million in private capital from General Catalyst, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, and other investors.
According to the company, the Demonstration System would be a research facility, not a power plant, and would operate safely and quietly.
Manufacturing Net
factory
17 July 20252 min readPacific Fusion Pursues $1 Billion Research Facility In New Mexico
Manufacturing Net
17 July 2025
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Volvo Cars Takes $1.2 Billion Hit From Us Tariffs, Product DelaysVolvo Cars said on Monday it is booking a $1.2 billion charge because of U.S. tariffs and production delays that are hitting its two latest electric-powered cars.
"Due to import tariffs the company is currently unable to sell the Volvo ES90 profitably in the United States, while ES90 margins are also under pressure in Europe for the same reason," the carmaker said in a statement to investors.
In the United States, Volvo has to grapple with a 25% import tariff decided by U.S. President Donald Trump in April.
Volvo Cars -- owned by China's Geely automotive group -- had planned to sell its ES90 luxury sedan in the United States from next year for a price starting around $75,000.
It was to join the Volvo EX90 all-electric SUV that it started selling this year from $81,000.
But the company said EX90 launch delays and additional development costs, and the tariff barriers to selling the ES90, meant "we have reassessed volume assumptions for these two cars" and would have to take a non-cash impairment charge.
The one-off non-cash impairment charge of SEK 11.4 billion (US$1.2 billion) will be booked in the second quarter of 2025.
The carmaker's chief financial officer, Fredrik Hansson, said the tariffs and the production delays have "resulted in a lower than planned lifecycle profitability."
Volvo makes cars in several plants around the world, including in South Carolina, as well as in Sweden and in China.
The company's CEO, Hakan Samuelsson, said in early April that Volvo would increase auto production in the U.S. plant and would likely move ES90 manufacturing there.
In late May, the company announced it was cutting 3,000 jobs, around 15% of its office-based workforce, nearly half of them in Sweden.
2025 © Agence France-Presse
Industry Week
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14 July 20252 min readVolvo Cars Takes $1.2 Billion Hit From Us Tariffs, Product Delays
Industry Week
14 July 2025
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