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Copper prices have hit record highs, but smelters face mounting strategic pressures
copper Copper markets enter uncharted territory as structural and short-term pressures converge Copper prices have surged to record highs this year, briefly exceeding USD 14 500 per tonne (intraday) in January 2026, having only passed USD 12 000 per tonne for the first time in December 2025. The unprecedented price levels have been driven by some important short-term developments, including supply disruptions at several major mines and a build-up of US copper inventories due to tariff uncertainty. But they have also been underpinned by some underlying factors, such as challenges in developing new copper mines and the…
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Global EV Outlook 2026 Executive summary
After another record year for EV sales, attention is turning to the impacts of the energy crisis for global car markets Electric car sales grew by 20% globally to exceed 20 million in 2025, meaning one-quarter of all new cars sold were electric. Europe saw the strongest growth among major electric vehicle (EV) markets, with electric car sales rising by more than 30% to reach 28% of total sales, following an increase in the stringency of the European Union’s CO2 standards for cars. China’s growth in electric car sales slowed slightly, in part due to a temporary…
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Renewables for Industry Executive summary
…industrial emissions, although emissions have declined by around 8% since 2013.Industrial energy use is largely in the form of heat and is increasingly being supplied from electricity. Over the past decade, global use of electricity for industrial heat has accelerated, with the People’s Republic of China (hereafter, “China”), India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) recording the largest increases. Despite differing industrial structures, all major economies have converged toward similar electricity shares for industrial heat of around 4–5%. Increased uptake is being driven by improving cost competitiveness, expanding technology availability and stronger policy signals, alongside…
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Appliances and Equipment
Standards and labelling can lift the average rate of energy efficiency improvement by two to three times
Based on global evidence from countries with Energy efficiency standards and labelling (EES&L) programmes, the average energy efficiency of new major appliances in these countries can increase two to three times the underlying rate of technology improvement. This can result in average energy reductions of 10-30% over 15 to 20 years in the stock of most regulated products across all countries.
In leading countries with strong regulations and long-running programmes which are regularly updated, the contribution could be much higher…
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Lebanon
The government of Lebanon launched the "National Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Action" in 2010 a mechanism dedicated to the financing of green energy projects in the country. Private sector entities can apply for subsidised loans for any type of environmentally friendly projects.
- Overview
- Energy mix
- Emissions
- Electricity
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+ 5 pages
![Lebanon Flag]()
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Financing Clean Energy in Africa Clean energy investment landscape: setting the scene
…upfront spending. The cost of capital for utility-scale energy projects in Africa is two to three times higher than in advanced economies and is often higher for smaller projects that have fewer capital providers available. This can act as a major barrier to scaling up investment. Cost of capital largely reflects two sets of risks: those associated with the country, and those associated with the sector or technology. Addressing these requires different country-specific solutions, with country risks generally requiring longer-term structural reforms, and more specific risks addressed with energy policy reforms.At the country risk level, the…
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Lithuania 2025 Executive summary
Energy independence is the key principle guiding Lithuania’s energy strategy. Lithuania moved with pace and determination to end its reliance on energy imports from the Russian Federation (hereafter, “Russia”). Thanks to strategic infrastructure investments, Lithuania is an important regional energy hub, and with the recently completed electricity grid synchronisation with the Continental European Synchronous Area (CESA), the Baltic states have successfully disconnected from the Russian-controlled system. While these are important achievements, Lithuania’s final energy consumption remains highly reliant on imported fossil fuels, notably in transport, and a significant share of electricity demand is met by imports. This…
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Coal 2025 Executive summary
Global coal demand in 2025 is set to remain close to 2024 levels amid unusual regional trends Key factors such as weather, fuel prices and policy decisions all shaped global coal consumption in 2025, driving changes in demand that often ran counter to recent country or regional trends.In India – one of the traditional engines of coal demand growth – an early and strong monsoon season depressed electricity demand and boosted hydropower output. As a result, the country’s annual coal power generation is set to decline year-on-year for only the third time in the past five decades. In…
- Executive summary
- Demand
- Supply
- Trade
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+ 2 pages
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Outlook for Biogas and Biomethane Introduction to biogas and biomethane
…before use of the biogas. Landfill gas recovery systems: The decomposition of municipal solid waste (MSW) under anaerobic conditions at landfill sites produces biogas (also known as “landfill gas”). This can be captured using pipes and extraction wells along with compressors to induce flow to a central collection point. Wastewater treatment plants: These can be equipped with anaerobic digesters to stabilise and reduce the volume of sewage sludge. Wastewater facilities can also treat wastes from bio-based industries such as pulp and paper. Biomethane (sometimes also referred to as a “renewable natural gas”) is a near-pure source of methane…
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National Climate Resilience Assessment for Algeria
Algeria’s energy system already faces significant disruption due to extreme weather events. Critical infrastructure has been impacted in recent years by flash floods, drought-induced wildfires and heatwaves. With the climate projected to warm more rapidly than the global average, these risks are likely to intensify. Proactive measures to enhance the resilience of Algeria’s energy system could offer substantial benefits.Algeria has experienced significant warming, averaging 0.49 °C per decade from 2000 to 2023 and exceeding the global average of 0.37 °C per decade. Temperatures are expected to rise further, reaching up to 5.6 °C above pre‑industrial levels…
