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Morocco World
4 days ago
- Business
- Morocco World
Report: China, Russia Likely to Recognize Moroccan Sovereignty Over Western Sahara
Marrakech – A recent report by the Migration Research Institute identifies Morocco as 'the most stable country in the entire Maghreb' and indicates major diplomatic developments may soon reshape the Western Sahara dispute. Despite persistent high-level tensions with neighboring Algeria, Morocco maintains 'almost unconditional U.S. support,' according to the 'Morocco at Crossroads' report released on June 24. The analysis states that 'the coming months' could see both China and Russia 'approve Moroccan advance in the so-called 'Moroccan Sahara'' at the UN Security Council, following similar positions already adopted by the United States, France, and the UK. The report notes that since the US recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara in 2020, the territory 'has been included in Moroccan territory on U.S. maps.' France followed the US last summer, while the UK made a similar move this month. Among the permanent members of the UN Security Council, 'only China and Russia are missing for the final word.' Growing energy investment hub Strategic investments are propelling Morocco to the forefront of the global energy transition. Possessing 70% of the world's phosphate reserves, the country controls a crucial resource for mid to low-end batteries and 'can oust Indonesia in this sector due to proximity to the EU's market.' In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, China's CNGR Advanced Material announced a $2 billion investment to construct a cathode plant in Morocco aimed at supplying American and European electric battery markets , 'circumventing recent legislative restrictions.' For the director of CNGR Europe, Morocco represents a 'sweet spot' as 'fewer permits are needed to build, and products can be redirected from there to third countries in the event of European and American market closures.' In a parallel development, September 2023 saw LG Chem (South Korea) and Huayou Cobalt (China) announce 'the construction of a lithium cathode and refining plant in Morocco' where 'the competitive environment is similar to the South American quadrant where they aim at the exclusivity of Argentine lithium.' The document explains that CNGR 'invests in synergy with the ruling dynasty and aims to produce 1 million electric vehicles per year spread between Tesla, CATL (Chinese too) and LG Chem.' However, it cautions that 'the activities in connection with China are borderline,' referencing a Chatham House report on Morocco and Tunisia. French backing for Morocco has intensified, with French Trade Minister Franck Riester revealing that 'Proparco, a subsidiary of the French Development Agency, could contribute to the financing of the high-voltage line between Dakhla, the largest centre in Western Sahara, and Casablanca, as well as the construction of the Morocco-Europe pipeline.' The report discusses 'the rapprochement with France due to the trip of the foreign minister Le Maire in April 2024,' as well as cultural exchanges at the Book Fair of Rabat, which the report describes as 'anticipated in Paris by the French counterpart just one month ago.' It characterizes these interactions as 'Time for shaking hands, books and diplomatic intelligence, literally in the etymological sense of 'intus legere' or 'read inside'.' Expanding and legitimate influence Morocco's economic strengths extend beyond energy. The analysis points out that alongside 'Chinese electronic batteries and the integration of Moroccan manufacture with the EU system,' other established sectors with expansion potential include 'banks, pharmaceutical industries, fertilizer and agricultural products sectors' oriented toward Sub-Saharan Africa. The Moroccan banking sector, reformed in the 1990s, is now 'increasingly professional and transparent' with three banks ranking among Africa's top ten, controlling over $90 billion in assets and operating across 22 African countries. The report addresses water resources as another area of contention, stating that 'Morocco is going to build new big dams near the southern border with Algeria, in this way putting at risk the existence of Bechar, a big university city that also hosts an important military commando.' On regional security challenges, the document observes that most migrants entering Europe come from Africa rather than Eastern Europe. It questions how the EU plans 'to deal with a wave of migrants aged between 15 and 30 (the 'fighting age')' who are 'sometimes indoctrinated by Islamic extremist ideologues while crossing deserts.' The analysis proposes that Sufi orders could play a constructive role, describing them as entities 'with which someone will have to conduct a dialogue' to counter extremist messages. It advocates for establishing 'a cultural, even philosophical dialogue to get to know better each other's positions' as a foundation for improved mutual understanding. The document examines Turkiye's growing military presence in the region, which it describes as 'impressive for both Moroccan and European observers,' particularly in the Sahel region covering countries like Mali, Mauritania, and Chad. The report concludes by examining Morocco's delicate position between competing global powers. It reveals that China invested MAD 26 billion ($2.6 billion) in the port of Tanger Med II, which entered service in 2019. However, it raises questions about how Morocco will defend itself in the upcoming trade conflict between the US and China while managing its ongoing tensions with Algeria. As international recognition of Morocco's position on Western Sahara grows, the country appears positioned to strengthen its regional influence, balancing relationships with global powers while navigating the complex geopolitical landscape of North Africa. Tags: ChinaRussiaWestern sahara
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Chevron Is Following ExxonMobil by Entering the Lithium Sector
Chevron is acquiring land to produce lithium. It's following in the footsteps of Exxon in developing a lithium business. The oil companies are slowly building out lower-carbon energy businesses. 10 stocks we like better than Chevron › Oil giants Chevron (NYSE: CVX) and ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM) can read the writing on the wall: They can see that fossil fuels will eventually go extinct. That's leading these energy giants to invest in expanding into lower-carbon energy. One area both oil stocks are expanding into is lithium, a key ingredient for making batteries for electric vehicles (EVs). Exxon entered the sector in 2023 by acquiring land in Arkansas' Smackover Formation, which is rich in lithium brine. Chevron is now following in Exxon's footsteps by acquiring land in the region to produce lithium. Chevron has signed two deals to buy leasehold acreage related to the Smackover Formation. It's buying 125,000 net acres across Northeast Texas and Southwest Arkansas from two sellers. The energy company noted that the Smackover Formation underneath this land has high lithium content. The land acquisitions mark Chevron's first step toward establishing a commercial-scale U.S. lithium business. The energy company would utilize a direct lithium extraction (DLE) process to develop the acreage. DLE is a set of advanced technologies that extract lithium from brines produced from subsurface formations like the Smackover. While Chevron doesn't have experience producing lithium, the DLE process would enable the company to leverage its subsurface, drilling, and resource extraction capabilities and strengths. That makes lithium production a strong strategic fit for oil companies like Chevron and Exxon. Chevron's move into the Smackover follows Exxon's prior entry into the lithium supply sector. In 2023, the oil giant reportedly paid around $100 million for more than 120,000 total acres in Arkansas above the Smackover Formation. Exxon drilled its first well in the region that year and aims to begin commercially producing lithium by 2027. It set a bold goal of producing enough lithium by 2030 to supply the auto industry with the metal to meet the manufacturing needs of over 1 million EVs per year. That would make it one of the world's top producers in a very short period. Exxon has already started signing lithium supply deals with potential customers for its branded product, Mobil Lithium. Last year, it inked a nonbinding agreement with battery parts maker LG Chem to potentially supply 100,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate over several years. LG Chem would use it at its cathode plant in Tennessee, which it expects to complete this year. The oil giant is also looking into other potential lithium projects worldwide. It's reportedly working with oilfield services giant SLB on potential lithium investment opportunities in Chile. Energy giants Chevron and Exxon are taking methodical approaches to the transition to lower-carbon energy. Both companies continue investing heavily in oil and gas to meet the world's near-term needs for fossil fuels. For example, Exxon is investing $140 billion in major projects and in developing the Permian basin through 2030. This investment level will add 1.2 million oil-equivalent barrels per day (BOE/d) to its output, which it expects will reach 5.4 million BOE/d by 2030. However, the energy companies are also steadily ramping up their investments in lower-carbon energy. They're taking a broad approach by investing in industries adjacent to the fossil fuel sector, such as hydrogen, biofuels, carbon capture and storage, and lithium. Exxon aims to invest up to $30 billion into lower carbon energy opportunities through 2030, while Chevron is currently allocating about 10% of its $15 billion annual capex budget to lower carbon energy opportunities. The oil companies want to methodically build profitable lower-carbon energy businesses that generate high investment returns to complement their oil and gas operations. Chevron and Exxon know that the world wants to switch to lower-carbon energy sources. That's leading the energy giants to expand into new areas like lithium. They want to leverage their extensive expertise to build profitable businesses that can grow shareholder value over the long term. It's a smart approach that could pay off for investors in the future. Before you buy stock in Chevron, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Chevron wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $659,171!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $891,722!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 995% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 172% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 9, 2025 Matt DiLallo has positions in Chevron. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Chevron. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Chevron Is Following ExxonMobil by Entering the Lithium Sector was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
LG Chem, Noritake develop high-performance paste for auto power semiconductors
South Korea's LG Chem Company has announced that it has developed a high-performance silver paste in collaboration with Japan's Noritake Company, designed specifically for bonding silicon carbide (SiC) chips to substrates in automotive power semiconductors. Noritake is a 120-year-old company with expertise in advanced ceramics, and it supplies grinding wheels, materials for electronic components, and kilns (thermal processing equipment) for applications in the semiconductor and automotive industries. Demand for automotive power semiconductors is growing rapidly, driven by the rapid adoption of automotive electrification and autonomous driving technologies. LG Chem pointed out that that 'traditional soldering methods, which rely on melting metals to join components, have become less effective as the operating temperatures of power devices increase. This has created a growing need for paste that can maintain stability and performance under high thermal conditions.' LG Chem stated that the silver paste co-developed with Noritake is a high-performance paste containing nano-sized silver (Ag) particles, combining LG Chem's particle engineering technology with Noritake's particle dispersion expertise, offering superior heat resistance and thermal conductivity in a single formulation. LG Chem said in a statement: 'Unlike conventional silver pastes, which require cold storage and have a short storage life that complicates inventory management, the new product offers long-term stability at room temperature. This improvement enhances transportation and storage efficiency, while also extending the usable time within customer processes—ultimately reducing material loss.' LG Chem expects that the global market for silver paste for automotive power semiconductors will grow from KRW 300 billion (US$ 220 million) in 2025 to KRW 850 billion by 2030. The two companies plan to pursue further joint development of next-generation materials for future automotive applications. LG Chem's CEO, Shin Hak-Cheol, said that by 'leveraging our accumulated technological expertise and advanced materials design capabilities, LG Chem has provided customized solutions across various industries, including automotive electronics. Through our partnership with Noritake, we aim to strengthen our differentiated competitiveness in the global automotive materials market.' "LG Chem, Noritake develop high-performance paste for auto power semiconductors" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Fibre2Fashion
16-06-2025
- Automotive
- Fibre2Fashion
LG Chem & Japan's Noritake unveil heat-resistant silver paste
LG Chem announced today that it has co-developed a high- performance silver paste with Japan's Noritake, designed specifically for bonding silicon carbide (SiC) chips to substrates in automotive power semiconductors. LG Chem and Noritake co-developed a high-performance silver paste for bonding SiC chips in automotive power semiconductors. The paste, combining LG's particle tech and Noritake's dispersion expertise, offers superior heat resistance, thermal conductivity, and room-temp stability. The market may grow from KRW 300B in 2025 to KRW 850B by 2030 as EV and autonomous tech demand rises. Noritake is a leading Japanese company with over 120 years of expertise in advanced ceramics, supplying grinding wheels, materials for electronic components, and kilns (thermal processing equipment) for applications in the semiconductor and automotive industries. As the automotive electrification and autonomous driving technologies experience a rising trend, the demand for power semiconductors is growing rapidly. However, traditional soldering methods, which rely on melting metals to join components, have become less effective as the operating temperatures of power devices increase. This has created a growing need for paste that can maintain stability and performance under high thermal conditions. The silver paste co-developed by LG Chem and Noritake is a high-performance paste containing nano-sized silver (Ag) particles, combining LG Chem's particle engineering technology with Noritake's particle dispersion expertise. The two companies achieved superior heat resistance and thermal conductivity in a single formulation. Unlike conventional silver pastes, which require cold storage and have a short storage life that complicates inventory management, the new product offers long-term stability at room temperature. This improvement enhances transportation and storage efficiency, while also extending the usable time within customer processes—ultimately reducing material loss. Building on this successful collaboration, LG Chem and Noritake plan to pursue further joint development of next-generation materials for future automotive applications. The global silver paste market for automotive power semiconductors is expected to grow from KRW 300 billion in 2025 to KRW 850 billion by 2030. 'Leveraging our accumulated technological expertise and advanced materials design capabilities, LG Chem has provided customized solutions across various industries, including automotive electronics,' said Shin Hak-Cheol, CEO of LG Chem. 'Through our partnership with Noritake, we aim to strengthen our differentiated competitiveness in the global automotive materials market.' Note: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (HU)
Korea Herald
16-06-2025
- Automotive
- Korea Herald
LG Chem, Noritake develop heat-resistant chip adhesive for EVs
LG Chem, a leading chemical company under LG Group, said Monday that it jointly developed a silver paste with Japan's Noritake for use in silicon carbide automotive power semiconductors, specifically for bonding chips to substrates. Noritake, an expert in precision ceramics, supplies materials and equipment to the semiconductor and automotive sectors. Demand for semiconductors capable of handling high voltages and currents is growing with the rise of electric vehicles and autonomous driving technologies. Traditional soldering methods struggle with the high operating temperatures — up to 300 degrees Celsius — associated with these components. The newly developed silver paste incorporates silver nanoparticles and combines LG Chem's formulation and particle design technology with Noritake's dispersion expertise. It is designed to deliver both high heat resistance and effective thermal conductivity. A notable feature of the product is its extended shelf life. It can be stored at room temperature for up to six months, eliminating the need for refrigeration and improving logistics and on-site usability. The two companies plan to continue their partnership to advance adhesive materials for future semiconductor applications. The market for silver paste in automotive power semiconductors is expected to grow to 850 billion won ($623.3 million) by 2030. 'LG Chem has provided customer-tailored solutions across various fields, including automotive electronic components, based on its long-standing technological expertise and material design capabilities,' LG Chem Vice Chairman Shin Hak-cheol stated. 'Through this partnership, we will secure a differentiated competitive edge in the global automotive adhesive market.'
