China has banned operators of its critical infrastructure from using Micron Technology’s products on the grounds they pose national security risks. In a statement on May 21, the Cyberspace Administration of China said after reviewing the US firm’s products sold within the country, it determined they pose “serious potential network security issues which pose a major security risk to [the] country’s key information infrastructure supply chain”.

It follows restrictions introduced by the US in 2022 on the export of semiconductor technologies to China, and comes ahead of an expected clampdown on US investment into Chinese critical technologies.

The US commerce department responded by telling media outlets that it “firmly opposes the restrictions” and that they “have no basis in fact”.

Tanzania green lights LNG export terminal

An international consortium consisting of Equinor, Shell and ExxonMobil have agreed a deal with Tanzania’s government to develop a liquified natural gas (LNG) export terminal in the east African country.

The project, which is reportedly valued at upwards of $30bn, will process deepwater gas deposits found off the country’s southern coast. On May 20, Shell vice president, Jared Kuehl, wrote on LinkedIn that “important negotiations with the government of Tanzania have concluded” on the host government agreement — which includes the establishment of a regulatory framework for the project — and a production-sharing agreement. 

Final reviews and signing of these agreements is expected in the coming weeks, Equinor’s managing director for Tanzania, Unni Fjær, wrote on LinkedIn the same day. 

ACWA signs $220m-worth of renewables deals in Uzbekistan

Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power has signed $220m-worth of agreements which expand its renewable power portfolio in Uzbekistan. In a statement on May 19, the energy giant said it has entered a $100m partnership with the state-owned chemicals group Uzkimyosanoat to decarbonise the country’s chemical sector through green hydrogen projects. 

ACWA has also signed financing agreements to fund the development of its $120m Karatau wind farm project which will sell power onto the national grid. The funding is provided by Deutsche Investitions, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and France’s Proparco. 

The announcements come just two months after ACWA announced it will develop $2.5bn-worth of solar and battery projects in the central Asian country. Uzbekistan is the group’s biggest overseas market by value.  

And finally: At the G7 summit over the weekend, the UK pledged to mobilise $40bn in financing by 2027 for global projects in sustainable infrastructure and economic development.