JANUARY - 20259TOP STORIESINDIA TO INK GEOLOGY AND EXPLORATION PACT WITH MONGOLIAIndia is anticipated to soon sign a preliminary pact with Mongolia regarding geology and exploration, a senior Indian government official with direct knowledge of the situation added. Mongolia, which is landlocked, has abundant reserves of copper and coking coal, while India primarily relies on imports to satisfy the increasing demand for copper utilized in power, construction, and electric vehicles, as well as coking coal for steel production. "India's cabinet has approved the MoU (memorandum of understanding) and both countries are expected to sign it soon," the source said, declining to be identified as the deliberations are not yet public.Firms like Adani, Hindalco, and Vedanta have shown interest in obtaining copper from Mongolia, according to the source. Indian and Mongolian officials are coordinating supply routes for Indian firms to obtain copper and coking coal, with India favoring the Vladivostok route in Russia even though it is farther, stated the official."China is convenient but we prefer the route from Russia," the official said.Relations between the Asian powerhouses India and China became tense following a fatal military confrontation on their contested border in 2020, but have improved since they came to an accord in October to withdraw forces from their remaining two standoff locations in the western Himalayas. In contrast to China, India has historically upheld strong relations with Russia. IMRJUPITER INTERNATIONAL EXPANDS SOLAR PRODUCTION TO LEAD THE INDUSTRYSolar Solutions Company Jupiter International has established production capacities of 3 GW for wafers, 9.4 GW for cells, and 6 GW for modules, planning to satisfy the increasing market demand with advanced, dependable solar solutions.Jupiter International, a manufacturer of photovoltaic solar cells and supplier of solar energy solutions, intends to invest 6,500 crore in the next three years to establish itself as a fully integrated leader in solar manufacturing.The investment will strengthen the company's standing in the solar industry by significantly increasing its capabilities in wafer production, solar cell manufacturing, and module assembly, it announced in a statement on Thursday. The integration of wafer manufacturing and improved module assembly capabilities establishes the company as an integrated solar producer with full oversight of its value chain.By completely incorporating these processes, the company intends to create a strong and smooth supply chain that covers all stages of solar production. It stated that this integration guarantees better control over quality standards, increased operational efficiency, and optimized costs, while also reinforcing the company's capability to provide dependable, high-performance solar solutions to satisfy rising market demands.Alok Garodia, Managing Director, Jupiter International said, "At Jupiter, we are not just building capacity; we are redefining what it means to be a leader in solar manufacturing. The investment reinforces our commitment to innovation, quality, and sustainability, ensuring we remain at the forefront of the renewable energy transition. We are well positioned to not only meet the surging demand but also to lead the market in both innovation and growth". IMR
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