InVert Graphite has announced the acquisition of RapidGraphite Pty Ltd, securing exclusive global rights to the RapidPulse™ graphite processing technology. Developed at Curtin University, the technology has the potential to convert natural graphite into battery-grade material within seconds, significantly improving processing efficiency.

Building a Vertically Integrated Graphite Business

The acquisition marks a major step in InVert Graphite’s strategy to create a vertically integrated graphite supply chain. By combining the RapidPulse™ technology with its wholly owned Morogoro Graphite Project in Tanzania, the company aims to strengthen its position in the growing battery materials market.

Promising Early Test Results

Initial laboratory testing delivered encouraging outcomes. The RapidPulse™ process achieved approximately 99% graphite purity while improving crystallinity levels. In addition, the technology eliminated the need for conventional acid purification and chemical washing methods, offering a potentially more sustainable approach to graphite processing.

Industry Recognition and Funding Support

As reported by Business Insider, the transaction also strengthens InVert Graphite’s relationship with Curtin University, which is expected to become a shareholder in the company. Furthermore, RapidGraphite is set to benefit from an Australian Government grant designed to support the scaling of the technology.

Capital Raising to Support Commercial Development

To advance research, development, and pre-pilot production activities, InVert Graphite has secured commitments for a A$2.5 million capital raise. The funds will support further testing, technology validation, and development of the company’s graphite processing capabilities.

Positioning for Future Battery Demand

Through this acquisition, InVert Graphite aims to establish a more efficient and environmentally sustainable pathway for producing battery-grade graphite. As demand for critical battery minerals continues to grow, the company intends to leverage both its graphite resource base and advanced processing technology to capture greater value across the supply chain.

Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy has highlighted coal gasification as a key solution for reducing India’s dependence on imported industrial inputs and enhancing long-term energy security. Speaking at a coal gasification roadshow in Mumbai, he emphasized that the technology can help the country significantly lower its annual import expenditure on products such as natural gas, ammonia, methanol, and urea.

According to the minister, India currently spends nearly Rs 3 lakh crore every year on importing these critical resources. By converting domestic coal into valuable industrial feedstocks, the country can reduce import dependence while strengthening self-reliance.

Coal Gasification to Support Industrial Growth

Reddy stressed that coal gasification will play a vital role in driving industrial growth and advancing the vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat. The National Coal Gasification Mission aims to convert 100 million tonnes of coal into syngas by 2030, creating new opportunities across sectors such as chemicals, fertilizers, and energy.

Furthermore, the initiative is expected to improve the utilization of India’s abundant coal reserves while supporting the development of downstream industries.

Rs 46,000-Crore Incentive Scheme to Accelerate Investments

To encourage large-scale adoption, the government has introduced a two-phase incentive programme worth Rs 46,000 crore. The first phase carries an allocation of Rs 8,500 crore, while the second phase includes Rs 37,500 crore.

As per Tribune India, the incentive scheme is designed to attract substantial investments and accelerate the implementation of coal gasification projects across the country. The government believes that strong industry participation will be essential for achieving the mission’s objectives.

Industry Participation Key to Mission Success

Reddy called on industry leaders and investors to actively engage with the programme. He noted that the government is seeking stakeholder feedback on the draft Request for Proposal (RFP) to ensure effective implementation.

“The success of this mission ultimately depends on the active participation of industry and investors,” he said, adding that businesses will play a central role in expanding the coal gasification ecosystem.

Maharashtra Positions Itself as an Investment Hub

During the event, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis reaffirmed the state’s commitment to supporting coal gasification projects. He stated that Maharashtra is actively positioning itself as a preferred destination for investments in the sector.

Fadnavis highlighted the potential of carbon capture technologies to make coal-based industries more sustainable. He also pointed to Vidarbha’s coal resources, available land, and infrastructure as major advantages for developing integrated industrial clusters.

Strengthening India’s Energy Future

Overall, the government’s coal gasification strategy seeks to reduce import dependence, improve energy security, and create a stronger domestic industrial base. Through policy support, financial incentives, and industry collaboration, India aims to unlock the full potential of coal gasification and move closer to achieving long-term energy self-sufficiency.

Reliance Industries is advancing its vision to transform its Jamnagar complex into the world’s first fully autonomous refinery. During the company’s 49th Annual General Meeting (AGM), Executive Director Anant Ambani outlined how the company is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies to enhance operational efficiency and automation.

AI-Driven Operations to Enhance Efficiency

To achieve this goal, Reliance has developed a proprietary AI-powered feedstock optimisation tool that helps identify the most efficient crude oil blends. As a result, the refinery can improve performance while optimising resource utilisation. In addition, the company has deployed an in-house digital logistics platform and smart contract execution tools to streamline operations across the complex.

Digital Transformation at the Core

Furthermore, Reliance is integrating advanced digital technologies into its refining ecosystem to create a highly automated and intelligent operating environment. These technologies are expected to improve decision-making, reduce manual intervention, and increase overall productivity.

As per the money control news release, Reliance is also strengthening its technology infrastructure in Jamnagar through major investments in AI and digital capabilities, reinforcing the site’s position as a key hub for the company’s future growth initiatives.

A New Benchmark for the Global Refining Industry

With this initiative, Reliance aims to set a new global benchmark for refinery operations. If successful, the Jamnagar complex will become the first refinery in the world to operate with end-to-end autonomy, showcasing how AI and digital innovation can transform large-scale industrial facilities.

Indian refiners could generate significantly higher value from petroleum coke (petcoke) by converting it into chemicals such as urea, methanol, and ammonia instead of selling the by-product directly in the market. According to Dastur Energy, this approach would not only improve refinery economics but also support India’s efforts to strengthen domestic chemical and fertilizer production.

Petcoke is a carbon-rich by-product generated during the crude oil refining process. Traditionally, refiners sell it as a fuel to industries such as cement and power. However, growing environmental regulations and evolving market dynamics have prompted industry stakeholders to explore more sustainable and profitable alternatives.

Converting Waste into Value-Added Products

Dastur Energy believes that refiners can transform petcoke into a strategic feedstock through gasification technology. This process converts petcoke into synthesis gas (syngas), which can then be used to manufacture a range of value-added products, including methanol, ammonia, hydrogen, and urea.

By adopting this route, refiners can move up the value chain and reduce their dependence on volatile petcoke markets. At the same time, they can create new revenue streams from chemicals that are witnessing strong domestic demand.

Economic and Strategic Benefits

The conversion of petcoke into chemicals offers both commercial and national benefits. Refiners can improve margins by producing higher-value products, while India can reduce its reliance on imported feedstocks and chemicals.

As reported by the Hindu, Dastur Energy has already conceptualised projects that enable refineries to convert petcoke from a low-value by-product into a valuable raw material for the production of methanol, ammonia, hydrogen, and other chemicals. The company also highlighted the potential for integrating carbon capture technologies to reduce emissions associated with the process.

Supporting India’s Self-Reliance Goals

Furthermore, increased domestic production of urea and ammonia could strengthen India’s fertilizer sector and contribute to the country’s self-reliance objectives. With demand for these products expected to remain robust, petcoke gasification presents an opportunity to utilise existing refinery by-products more efficiently.

The approach also aligns with broader efforts to diversify feedstocks and develop cleaner industrial processes. By converting petcoke into chemicals rather than burning or selling it as fuel, refiners can reduce environmental concerns while creating greater long-term value.

A Shift Towards Sustainable Refining

As the refining industry navigates increasing sustainability pressures, companies are looking for innovative ways to maximise the value of every barrel of crude oil. Converting petcoke into chemicals such as urea, methanol, and ammonia represents one such opportunity.

According to Dastur Energy, this strategy can help refiners improve profitability, support domestic manufacturing, and advance decarbonisation efforts simultaneously. As a result, petcoke may increasingly be viewed not as a by-product to be sold, but as a valuable resource for India’s future chemical and energy ecosystem.

Researchers have developed an innovative artificial photosynthesis system that converts sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into usable fuel without relying on batteries or complex electronic controls. The breakthrough could help simplify solar fuel production and reduce the overall cost of renewable energy technologies.

Artificial photosynthesis aims to replicate the natural process used by plants, which transform sunlight into stored chemical energy. By mimicking this mechanism, scientists hope to create sustainable fuels while simultaneously reducing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere.

Self-Regulating Technology Improves Efficiency

One of the biggest challenges in artificial photosynthesis involves maintaining stable fuel production when sunlight intensity changes throughout the day. Traditionally, systems require batteries and external control units to manage these fluctuations.

However, the newly developed system addresses this issue through a specially designed electrolyzer. Instead of depending on additional electronic components, the device automatically adjusts its electrical behavior in response to changing sunlight conditions. As a result, the system continues producing fuel more consistently while reducing operational complexity.

Fuel Production Continues Under Real-World Conditions

The research team tested the technology outdoors to evaluate its performance under varying weather and lighting conditions. The system successfully converted carbon dioxide and water into formic acid, a chemical that can serve as both a fuel and an energy-storage medium.

Furthermore, the self-regulating mechanism enabled the device to maintain stable output even when sunlight levels fluctuated throughout the day. This capability represents an important step toward making artificial photosynthesis practical for real-world applications.

Press Release Highlights Potential for Future Use

As per New Atlas news release issued by Osaka Metropolitan University, researchers previously demonstrated the technology at Expo 2025 in Osaka, where the system generated enough formic acid to power a miniature display. The demonstration showcased the potential of artificial photosynthesis as a future renewable energy solution and highlighted its ability to operate without battery-based control systems.

Reducing Costs and Complexity

In addition to improving stability, the new approach could lower the cost of solar fuel production. By eliminating batteries, converters, and other supporting electronics, the technology reduces the number of components required for operation. Consequently, future systems may become easier to manufacture, maintain, and scale for broader use.

A Promising Path for Renewable Energy

Although researchers still need to address challenges related to large-scale deployment and commercial viability, the breakthrough marks meaningful progress in artificial photosynthesis. The ability to generate fuel directly from sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide using a simplified system could support future efforts to develop carbon-neutral energy sources.

As the demand for sustainable energy solutions continues to grow, innovations such as this self-regulating artificial photosynthesis system may play an increasingly important role in the transition away from fossil fuels.

Lubrizol and Polyhose have jointly inaugurated a state-of-the-art medical manufacturing facility in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The new site strengthens India’s MedTech ecosystem by expanding local production of precision medical tubing used in minimally invasive devices.

Strategic Push into Medical Device Manufacturing

The new facility focuses on producing precision extruded medical tubing for neurovascular and cardiovascular applications. Moreover, it supports the rapid growth of India’s healthcare and medical technology sectors by improving local manufacturing capacity.

In addition, the plant enhances supply reliability for both domestic and global customers, ensuring faster access to critical medical components.

World-Class Facility with Global Standards

Designed as an ISO 13485-certified operation, the Chennai facility maintains strict quality standards aligned with Lubrizol’s global manufacturing network. Consequently, it provides customers with a consistent and reliable source of high-performance medical tubing.

The facility produces tubing using a wide range of advanced materials, including polyamides, nylon, Pebax®, polypropylene, polyethylene, and Lubrizol’s medical-grade thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). As a result, it supports diverse device applications across the medical sector.

Leadership Emphasizes Innovation and Local Strengthening

John Valukas, President, Lubrizol Engineered Materials, highlighted the strategic importance of the launch. He stated that the facility reflects Lubrizol’s commitment to India and to advancing global medical device innovation.

He further emphasized that combining Lubrizol’s materials expertise with local manufacturing capabilities will accelerate the delivery of life-saving technologies. In addition, it will help customers bring high-quality medical devices to market faster with dependable local supply.

India Positioned as a Key Growth Hub

Abhishek Shrivastava, Managing Director, Lubrizol IMEA, noted that India remains a strategic growth market for the company. He explained that the Chennai facility strengthens a broader ecosystem of manufacturing, R&D, and technical services.

Furthermore, he added that the collaboration with Polyhose will foster innovation, generate skilled employment, and reinforce India’s role in the global medical device supply chain.

Advancing Minimally Invasive Medical Technologies

Mittal Shah, Business Head, Medical Devices IMEA at Lubrizol, emphasized that minimally invasive procedures are transforming patient care. Therefore, high-precision tubing plays a critical role in enabling these advanced devices.

He noted that the Chennai facility brings catheter tubing capabilities closer to customers across India and the IMEA region. Consequently, it will enhance collaboration with medical device OEMs throughout the product development lifecycle.

As per the press release, the new manufacturing site significantly expands India’s capacity for precision extruded medical tubing. In turn, this contributes to national efforts aimed at strengthening domestic medical device manufacturing and reducing import dependence.

Moreover, the facility improves patient access to safe, high-quality medical products by reinforcing local production capabilities.

Polyhose Highlights Collaboration and Future Vision

Shabbir Yusuf Jamnagarwala, Founder and Managing Director of Polyhose, described the partnership as a major milestone in the company’s journey. He explained that combining Polyhose’s extrusion expertise with Lubrizol’s materials science capabilities enables the delivery of advanced medical tubing solutions.

Additionally, he stressed that the investment reflects a long-term commitment to innovation, skilled job creation, and India’s emergence as a trusted global hub for medical device manufacturing.

Conclusion

Overall, the Chennai facility marks a significant step forward for India’s MedTech sector. By combining global expertise with local manufacturing strength, Lubrizol and Polyhose are not only enhancing supply chain resilience but also accelerating the development of next-generation medical technologies.

Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL) has outlined an ambitious growth roadmap for its Oil-to-Chemicals (O2C), advanced materials and green energy businesses, with major investments underway in petrochemicals, specialty materials and green chemicals.

O2C Business Demonstrates Resilience

The company’s O2C business delivered a strong performance in FY26 despite global market volatility. Revenue from the segment increased by 5.7% to ₹6,62,401 crore, while EBITDA grew by 10.1% to ₹60,546 crore.

As per the Chairman’s statement at the 49th Annual General Meeting (AGM), Reliance maintained near-full refinery throughput despite disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz through diversified crude sourcing and agile logistics management. The company also increased LPG supplies four-fold to support domestic requirements during the period.

Major Chemicals and Materials Projects Progressing

Reliance reported significant progress on several key projects aimed at strengthening its chemicals and materials portfolio.

Advanced execution is underway on a 3 million tonne per annum Purified Terephthalic Acid (PTA) facility at Dahej. The company stated that the project will further enhance its competitiveness in global PTA markets.

In addition, Reliance’s carbon fibre facility at Hazira is poised to become one of the world’s largest and most advanced facilities of its kind. The project is expected to support emerging sectors such as wind energy, hydrogen, advanced manufacturing and defence.

The company is also expanding its PVC and CPVC capacities, including a 1.2 million tonne PVC plant at Nagothane. According to the AGM statement, these investments will help reduce import dependence while meeting growing demand from infrastructure and consumer sectors.

Digitalisation Enhancing Operational Efficiency

Reliance continues to deploy advanced digital technologies across its refining and petrochemical operations.

The company has implemented an AI-driven feedstock optimisation tool to identify the most efficient crude blends. Furthermore, an in-house digital logistics platform is streamlining chartering and supply-chain operations, while smart contract execution tools are improving transaction efficiency.

As per the company’s statement, Reliance is progressing towards operating Jamnagar as the world’s first end-to-end autonomous refinery.

Focus Shifts Towards Higher-Value Chemicals

Reliance indicated that its O2C business is entering a new phase of strategic evolution, with an increasing focus on chemicals and advanced materials.

The company stated that a greater proportion of every barrel of crude processed will be converted into chemicals and high-value materials rather than transportation fuels. This transition is expected to strengthen value creation and improve long-term business resilience.

Green Chemicals Programme Gains Momentum

Reliance also highlighted progress in its Green Chemicals programme. The company is developing an alkaline electrolyser manufacturing giga-factory and plans to produce green urea, urea ammonium nitrate (UAN), green ammonia and bio-methanol.

In a significant development, Reliance has signed a US$3 billion long-term green ammonia supply agreement with Samsung C&T. As per the AGM statement, the agreement ranks among the world’s largest green ammonia offtake contracts and supports the commercialisation of the company’s green hydrogen platform.

Reliance added that discussions are underway for additional export opportunities in Japan, South Korea and Europe.

Integrated Energy and Materials Vision

The company reiterated its commitment to building an integrated energy, chemicals and materials ecosystem spanning solar energy, batteries, hydrogen, bioenergy and advanced materials.

According to Reliance, the integration of its O2C, New Energy and Materials businesses will support future growth while creating new opportunities in sustainable chemicals, green fuels and advanced materials markets.

Kemira and IFF have decided to relocate the manufacturing facility of their Alpha Bio joint venture from Kotka to Hanko, Finland. The move marks a significant development in the companies’ strategy to commercialize renewable biobased materials and expand sustainable production capabilities. The partners initially announced the project in 2025, with plans to establish the facility at IFF’s biorefinery in Kotka. However, they have now selected IFF’s Hanko site as the preferred location for the investment.

Joint Venture Continues Focus on Sustainable Materials

Alpha Bio operates as a 50-50 joint venture between Kemira and IFF and focuses on producing renewable biobased materials using IFF’s proprietary Designed Enzymatic Biomaterial (DEB) technology. The technology utilizes plant-based sugars to manufacture high-performance biomaterials that can replace fossil-derived polymers across several industrial applications. Kemira retains exclusive global commercialization rights for DEB-based materials in paper, board, and water treatment markets.

Project Timeline Extended

Alongside the site relocation, the companies have revised the project timeline. Commercial production, which was originally scheduled to begin in late 2027, is now expected to start in 2029. Despite the delay, both companies remain committed to scaling up sustainable material production and meeting growing market demand for renewable alternatives. The project represents an investment of approximately EUR 130 million.

Technology Supports Circular Economy Goals

The Alpha Bio facility will leverage DEB technology to convert plant-based feedstocks into advanced biopolymers for industrial use. These materials offer enhanced purity, consistency, and performance while reducing dependence on conventional fossil-based products. Consequently, the project aligns with broader industry efforts to advance sustainability and support circular economy objectives.

Industry Commitment Remains Strong

Furthermore, the relocation highlights the partners’ long-term commitment to renewable innovation. Kemira and IFF have collaborated on DEB technology since 2020, steadily advancing the platform from development to commercial-scale production.

As per the Chemanalyst, the chemical industry continues to accelerate investments in sustainable and low-carbon technologies, reflecting growing demand for environmentally responsible manufacturing solutions. In this context, the Alpha Bio project represents another important step toward expanding the availability of renewable materials for industrial applications.

Supporting Future Market Demand

Looking ahead, the Hanko facility will play a key role in supplying biobased materials to multiple sectors, including paper packaging, coatings, and water treatment. Additionally, the project is expected to strengthen Finland’s position as a hub for sustainable industrial innovation while supporting the transition toward renewable and resource-efficient manufacturing.

Successful Project Completion at Kocaeli Facility

thyssenkrupp Uhde, in collaboration with Johnson Matthey, has successfully completed a major modernization project at İGSAŞ’s ammonia plant in Kocaeli, Türkiye. The project involved the replacement of the ammonia converter cartridge and catalyst system, marking a significant upgrade to the plant’s synthesis loop performance.

Moreover, the revamp was executed smoothly under carefully planned conditions, ensuring minimal disruption to ongoing operations and a swift return to full production capacity.

Advanced Technology Upgrade Improves Plant Performance

The modernization focused on replacing a 36-year-old converter cartridge with a newly engineered uhde® design. In addition, a high-performance catalyst system was installed to enhance efficiency and reliability.

As a result, the upgraded system now delivers improved operational stability, reduced pressure drop, and enhanced energy efficiency. Furthermore, the plant benefits from restored nameplate capacity and optimized synthesis loop performance.

Significant Gains in Capacity and Energy Efficiency

The revamp has delivered measurable performance improvements. Specifically, a recent performance test confirmed a 13% increase in production output, fully restoring the original ammonia capacity of 1,200 metric tons per day.

In addition, the plant now operates at a 7% lower synthesis loop pressure, which significantly reduces energy consumption. Consequently, the overall efficiency of the facility has improved, along with long-term reliability of operations.

Smooth Execution Through Strong Collaboration

The success of the project was made possible through close coordination between thyssenkrupp Uhde, Johnson Matthey, and İGSAŞ technical teams. Catalyst loading was carried out efficiently using advanced dense-loading technology, followed by systematic commissioning and start-up activities.

As per thyssenkrupp Uhde’s official news release, “the installation proceeded smoothly under the supervision of Uhde specialists, ensuring a swift and reliable return to full operation.” 

Moreover, full supervision was provided throughout critical phases such as converter opening, catalyst unloading, assembly, and performance testing, ensuring high execution quality and operational safety.

Long-Term Reliability and Sustainability Benefits

Importantly, the upgrade replaces equipment that had been in operation for over three decades, demonstrating the durability of the original design. Meanwhile, the new system enhances long-term plant reliability and reduces overall energy consumption.

In addition, the combination of Uhde’s converter technology and Johnson Matthey’s catalyst supports future flexibility, including potential capacity expansion and greener ammonia production pathways.

Conclusion

Overall, the successful revamp of İGSAŞ’s ammonia converter marks a significant step toward higher efficiency, lower energy use, and improved reliability. Consequently, the project strengthens long-term operational performance while supporting more sustainable fertilizer production at the facility.

Himadri Speciality Chemical Ltd (Himadri), a global leader in speciality chemicals and advanced carbon materials, has increased its stake in International Battery Company, Inc. (IBC) to 20.47% through an additional investment of USD 0.66 million. The move further strengthens the strategic partnership between the two companies and underscores Himadri’s commitment to advancing next-generation battery technologies.

Strategic Investment Reflects Growing Confidence

Before the latest investment, Himadri had invested a total of USD 5.43 million in IBC and held a 17.29% stake on a fully diluted basis. Following the fresh capital infusion, the company’s aggregate holding has risen to 20.47%, including both common and preferred stock.

The increased investment reflects the substantial progress achieved through the partnership over the past year. It also highlights Himadri’s confidence in IBC’s technology platform, commercialization strategy, and long-term growth prospects.

Expanding Presence Across the Battery Value Chain

The partnership marks a significant milestone for Himadri as it supports the commercial deployment of the company’s Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) Cathode Active Materials and advanced Anode Materials.

Additionally, the alliance provides Himadri with strategic access to IBC’s battery technology capabilities, including its research and development centre in California, manufacturing facility in South Korea, and upcoming Gigafactory in Bengaluru, India.

Mutual Benefits for Both Companies

As per the press release, the collaboration creates substantial strategic value for both organizations. Himadri strengthens its downstream integration within the battery value chain by leveraging IBC’s advanced battery technology, AI-driven research capabilities, and established manufacturing infrastructure.

As a result, the company can accelerate the transition of its cathode and anode materials from laboratory development to commercial applications. At the same time, IBC gains access to a reliable supply of high-quality battery materials that are essential for performance, safety, and cost competitiveness.

Furthermore, IBC benefits from Himadri’s expertise in materials science, supply chain management, manufacturing excellence, and global market reach.

Management Commentary

Commenting on the development, Anurag Choudhary, CMD & CEO of Himadri Speciality Chemical Ltd, said:

“The decision to increase our stake is backed by tangible progress achieved over the past year, including successful validation of our battery materials, advancement of next-generation cell development programs, and the creation of a clear pathway toward commercial deployment across mobility and energy storage applications.”

He further added:

“We see tremendous potential in combining Himadri’s advanced materials expertise with IBC’s battery technology and manufacturing capabilities. This collaboration not only supports the commercialization of our battery materials portfolio but also strengthens our position across the global battery value chain. As demand for high-performance and sustainable energy storage solutions continues to grow, we remain committed to investing in technologies and partnerships that create long-term value and accelerate the transition to clean energy.”

Focus on Next-Generation Energy Storage Solutions

Looking ahead, the strengthened partnership is expected to accelerate the development and deployment of next-generation battery technologies. Together, Himadri and IBC aim to address the growing demand for high-performance, scalable, and sustainable energy storage solutions across mobility, grid storage, and emerging applications.

With this expanded collaboration, both companies are well-positioned to play a larger role in the global transition toward cleaner and more efficient energy systems.