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"Light vehicle sales in Russia are expected to grow from 2015 to 2021 as the economic recovery is set to push organic growth. Global original equipment manufacturers (OEM) based in Russia are estimated to increase manufacturing localization from the current 45% level in response to the devaluation of the Russian ruble. The dynamics of local production of B-subcompact vehicles are set to continue driving demand within the segment. Over 5 interviews were conducted face-to-face and over the phone by senior consultants/industry analysts with vehicle manufacturers, OEMs, regulation authorities, and distributors in Russia."

Last week the Spanish government announced plans to cut subsidies for solar photovoltaic (PV) power by about 75%. Although the nation expects to surpass its 2010 goal for installed solar by four fold, the down side is that generous subsidies for the industry have resulted in a ballooning tariff deficit for the country, which has risen to 4.85 billion euros, upfrom 745 million last year. Reuters reported that lending to the Spanish photovoltaic plants has risen to $3.59 billion in the year to day, up from $230.9 million euros last year and $192.44 million in 2006. As a result, the Spanish government will as the energy regulator to cap subsidies for new PV solar capacity at 300 megawatts (MW) per year--200 MW for rooftop systems and 100 MW for ground-mounted systems, which have been the highest growth area. CSP has been slower than PV technology in its emergence on the renewable energy scene, but expectations for the technology, which focuses the heat of the sun to produce steam to drive electricity producing turbines. Projects underway in the U.S. and Spain are expected to produce electricity that is cost-equivalent to electricity produced from burning coal or natural gas.

CHITA, September 10 (RIA Novosti) - A commission at Russia's mineral regulator has granted the Mikhailovsky mining company a license to develop a large copper field, Udokan, in East Siberia, a local government official said on Wednesday.

DOE announced on September 8 that it will award $6.6 million in competitive grants for 15 state-level projects, nine of which focus on developing policy and regulations to support gigawatt-scale clean energy capacity, and six of which focus on developing advanced building codes. Of these awards, $4 million will go to the gigawatt-scale clean energy capacity projects, which will develop policy and regulatory frameworks that will enable gigawatt-scale clean energy, either through renewable energy or demand-side reductions. Although no cost share was mandated, state partners will contribute up to $1.8 million for these projects. The six advanced building codes projects will receive $2.6 million, which will assist states in developing and implementing residential, commercial, or overarching building codes. Along with its financial assistance, DOE will support these projects with ongoing technical assistance.

BRUSSELS -- European Union antitrust regulators said Tuesday that they had put on hold an antitrust probe into miner BHP Billiton's bid for rival Rio Tinto Inc. because the companies have not provided information.

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) - European antitrust regulators said Monday they had restarted a probe into miner BHP Billiton's hostile bid for rival Rio Tinto Inc., setting a new deadline to rule on it by Jan. 15.

European regulators have charged a group of power transformer manufacturers with price-fixing.

for energy projects: a proposal for a Regulation to grant Community support to strategic energy projects. A total of € 3.5 billion is proposed for investment in carbon capture and storage (financial envelope: €1,250 million), offshore wind projects (€500 million), and gas and electricity interconnection projects (€1,750 million).

Friday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) amended an obscure clean water regulation that restricted use of aluminum in automobiles because of a potentially harmful byproduct created in the manufacturing process. Car makers treat aluminum to increase protection from corrosion in multiple ways, but the cheapest is an adhesive bonding process that uses zinc phosphate.

June 2008\nNA Copper Mail

Norddeutsche Affinerie AG (NA) said it is expecting at least EUR40 million of synergies each year from the takeover of Cumerio which was completed in March this year. The company said that it will benefit from the transfer of best practice between the two companies while cost savings mainly come from logistics and process optimization. NA also plans to increase production at its Cumerio smelters. The company expects further acquisition opportunities in Europe and in other parts of the world, including Asia. NA plans to expand its operations in southeastern Europe and the Black Sea region to capitalize on its strong economic growth before looking for growth opportunities outside Europe. In Bulgaria, the company currently expands copper cathode production capacity of its Pirdop smelter to 180,000 tonnes per year.

Norddeutsche Affinerie is to invest €62.5M to increase by 60% its copper scrap recycling capacity in Lünen, Germany by 2011. The investment will double the firm's capacity to process complex copper-bearing scrap such as shreddings, powders and electrical scrap to 140,000t/y, bringing total scrap recycling capacity up to 350,000t/y from 220,000t/y currently. The scrap will be processed into copper cathode. The investment will see the installation of a second smelting furnace, and a waste gas purification plant in Lünen. Norddeutsche's current secondary smelter in Lünen uses a range of scrap, whilst its Hamburg plant uses copper concentrate and a small percentage of high-grade scrap. Electronic scrap availability has increased in Europe as end-of-life regulations have been introduced for its disposal.

Heavy metal larceny is burgeoning, prompting 17 states including Delaware to pass or propose laws tightening regulations on the salvage industry.

The benefits for the market are obvious. Regional, ownership unbundled transmission/ infrastructure companies have a natural incentive to maximise the offering of capacity to the market, as this is the sole mechanism through which they achieve their revenues. They will be happy to invest to meet market demand. With their large scale and regional approach they can pass through the benefits of synergies and eliminate unnecessary interfaces. Finally, as they do not have any potential conflict of interest with supply or production interests, regulation can be lighter, decreasing the regulatory and administrative burden and increasing efficiency even further. Time will tell, but it seems that the ITO option has its greatest potential for those companies that can not afford to sell their transmission networks under the current economic conditions or that are opportunity constrained and have no suitable investment potential. In any event, the conclusion must be that, whereas full ownership unbundling has not been directly achieved through the Third Package, it would appear that the scene has been set for a market structure that will move gradually but inevitably into the direction originally envisaged in the Commission proposals. So was it worth it? For you to judge.

The EU energy package has officially come into force with two Directives and three Regulations aimed at creating an integrated Europe-wide energy market that will drive the first steps toward a smart grid. The gas and electricity market Directives require that EU member states implement "intelligent metering systems that shall assist the active participation of consumers". By 2020, the Directive targets that 80% of households in Europe should be equipped with smart electricity meters and that a complete rollout should be achieved by 2022.

"Central America's wind-power generation grew 120% between 2009 and 2010, according to a new study published by regional economic think tank Comision Economica para America Latina (CEPAL). All together, the region comprising Guatemala, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Panama and Belize, generated 237.2 Gwh of wind energy during the period. This came mostly from projects in Costa Rica and Nicaragua, CEPAL said, adding that Central America has attracted rising wind investments due to improving regulation for the technology."

"Rising energy costs, sharp regulations and global issues such as climate change have reinvigorated interest in industrial waste heat recovery (WHR) as a tool to increase energy efficiency. WHR offers numerous benefits, both financially and socially, including energy efficiency, reduced emissions and cost savings."

"But across Europe, energy costs are threatening the survival of the industry: 11 out of 24 smelters in the EU have shut since 2007. And industry chiefs have no doubt about what is strangling their business, complaining that the EU's environmental regulations are making electricity prices prohibitive. "

"The Electrical Installation Guide is a single document covering the techniques, regulations and standards related to electrical installations. It is intended for electrical professionals in companies, design offices, inspection organisations, etc."