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Hydropower

Hydropower is the generation of electricity by harnessing the energy of flowing or falling water, typically through dams, run-of-river installations or pumped-storage schemes. It is one of the oldest and most widely deployed forms of renewable energy, accounting for a significant share of global electricity production. Hydropower plants convert the kinetic energy of water into mechanical energy via turbines, which then drive generators to produce electrical power. The technology ranges from large-scale dam-based facilities with multi-gigawatt capacity to small micro-hydro installations serving remote communities. Major hydropower regions include sub-Saharan Africa, where rivers such as the Congo and Zambezi offer substantial untapped potential, as well as Asia, South America and parts of Europe. Hydropower is valued for its ability to provide baseload power, rapid response to demand fluctuations and energy storage through pumped-storage configurations. Environmental and social considerations include impacts on river ecosystems, sediment transport, fish migration and the displacement of communities during dam construction. Despite these challenges, hydropower remains a cornerstone of many countries' energy transitions, often developed alongside solar, wind and other renewable sources. Investment in new capacity and the refurbishment of ageing infrastructure continue to shape the sector's growth trajectory.

Hydropower News


Hydro employee at aluminium smelting operation
Aluminium supply shock revives long-idled Western smelters, Reuters says
10th July 2026 By: Reuters

The supply shock caused by the Iran war is sparking old Western aluminium smelters back into life. In the US, Magnitude 7 Metals is reactivating the New Madrid smelter in Missouri. 


Three large yellow load haul trucks at the Longonjo rare earths mine in Angola
Major rare earths mine construction progresses
10th July 2026 By: Halima Frost

The construction of the Longonjo rare earths mine in Angola is progressing on target and on budget for first mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC) commissioning in 2027, according to owner and operator... 


Met coal mine
India coal-fired power output in June rises to highest since November 2023
8th July 2026 By: Reuters

India's coal-fired power generation surged to a near-three-year high in June because of increased cooling demand from higher temperatures from an extended heatwave and below-average monsoon... 


New South32 CEO Matt Daley.
New South32 CEO sees strong growth ahead in zinc, lead, silver, copper
3rd July 2026 By: Martin Creamer

Being a premier base metals-focused business with strong growth potential is the vision for South32 of new CEO Matt Daley. “We've got around 55% production growth over the next handful of years in... 


Image of smelter
Nag Hammadi aluminium smelter project, Egypt
3rd July 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

Trafigura, Egyptian Aluminium Company, and Metallurgical Industries Holding Company have signed a term sheet and entered into exclusive negotiations to develop the project.  


Africa's Energy Future Lies in Integrated Power Systems
Africa's Energy Future Lies in Integrated Power Systems
2nd July 2026

As Africa races to provide reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity to more than 600 million people without access to power, energy experts increasingly agree that the continent's future... 


Norsk Hydro's Slovalco joint venture aluminium smelting plant, in Slovakia
Norsk Hydro's Slovak aluminium smelter to partially restart production
1st July 2026 By: Reuters

Norsk Hydro said on Wednesday its Slovalco aluminium joint venture had struck an agreement with the Slovak government to partially restart production after a four-year shutdown, with the deal... 


Fossil generation ‘substituted’ by renewables in 2025 amid electricity tipping point
Fossil generation ‘substituted’ by renewables in 2025 amid electricity tipping point
30th June 2026 By: Terence Creamer

Record global electricity demand last year was met entirely by low-carbon sources, resulting in fossil fuels generation being substituted rather than supplemented, the Energy Institute’s... 


Africa urged to embrace equitable resource-based industrialisation
Africa urged to embrace equitable resource-based industrialisation
29th June 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

As a continent endowed with a vast number of natural resources and high renewable-energy potential, Africa’s natural resources can be a platform for industrialisation if linkages with the rest of... 


An image of graphite from Blencowe
Blencowe selects site for downstream processing operations in Uganda
29th June 2026 By: Tasneem Bulbulia

London-listed Blencowe Resources has selected the preferred site for the future downstream operations associated with its Orom-Cross graphite project, in Uganda. Following an extensive search and... 


Tanzania LNG – unlocking future growth across energy and industry
Tanzania LNG – unlocking future growth across energy and industry
26th June 2026

By: Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed Hegazy - Business Development Leader, Energy and Chemicals, Schneider Electric East Africa Tanzania’s energy and chemicals segment is projected to show tremendous growth in... 


Coal
China's coal power on the rise again in 2026, reversing first-in-a-decade decline
24th June 2026 By: Reuters

China's coal-fired power generation is set to rebound this year from its first fall in a decade, analysts said, due to the impact of El Nino and the Iran war and as renewable sources of energy have... 


Regional Power Pools: Africa's Greatest Opportunity to Accelerate Electrification
Regional Power Pools: Africa's Greatest Opportunity to Accelerate Electrification
23rd June 2026

As Africa strives to achieve universal access to electricity while supporting economic growth and industrialisation, regional power pools are increasingly being recognised as one of the continent's... 


Lithium mineralisation at the Shaakichiuwaanaan – lithium only project
Shaakichiuwaanaan – lithium-only project, Canada – update
19th June 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

PMET Resources, following the completion of a concept study, has identified a potentially viable pathway for producing a value-added lithium chemical. 


Coal
China mine disaster, Indonesia policy changes upend global coal market
17th June 2026 By: Reuters

A deadly mining accident in China's biggest coal-producing region and mounting policy chaos around Indonesian exports are choking global supplies, which analysts and industry officials say could... 


PMET's Shaakichiuwaanaan project
PMET Resources confirms value-added lithium processing viability on site in Québec
15th June 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

ASX-listed lithium explorer PMET Resources has confirmed in a concept study that the Shaakichiuwaanaan project, in Québec's Eeyou Istchee James Bay region, can viably produce a value-added lithium... 


Kamoa-Kakula copper smelter
Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex, Democratic Republic of Congo
12th June 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

An updated independent technical report supports a revised mine plan for the complex that is expected to ramp up production to more than 500 000 t/y of copper from 2028 onwards.  


Troilus copper and gold mine
Troilus hosts Québec officials at near-term copper mine
11th June 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

TSX-listed Troilus Mining Corporation this week hosted representatives of the Québec government on site at the Troilus copper/gold project to announce its allocation of 70 MW of hydroelectric power... 


Frontier Rare Earths CEO James Kenny.
South Africa’s Zandkopsdrift rare earths project highlighted at Junior Indaba
10th June 2026 By: Martin Creamer

The Zandkopsdrift rare earths project in South Africa’s endowed Northern Cape was highlighted on day two of the Junior Indaba, which also learnt of the rapid forward momentum of West Wits Mining’s... 


An image of the Longonjo site
Pensana continues to progress Longonjo mine construction
8th June 2026 By: Tasneem Bulbulia

London-listed Pensana has achieved progress on construction of the Longonjo mine, in Angola. The $250-million development is on target and on budget for first mixed rare earth carbonite (MREC)... 


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pqt: 0.099s - ct: 0.159s - 277pq - 2rq
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