Middle East & Africa
Two very different problems on one landmass: Gulf states building at giant scale for export and desalination, and African grids where the first utility-scale battery is still news.
State of play
Marc Oman leaves Google to lead energy and infrastructure at Mistral Compute as firm targets 1 GW by 2030. Marc Oman, who spent nearly 12 years at Google closing 2 GW+ of European renewable PPAs, joins Mistral Compute days after the French AI lab raised €3 billion in a Samsung-led Series D.
Latest from Middle East & Africa
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Markets & PolicyGlobal aluminum deficit widens as Middle East smelter damage opens a window for US production - if Oklahoma's power contract closes
Middle East smelter strikes and Hormuz disruptions have pushed the 2026 global aluminum deficit toward 4 Mt, creating a demand window for US producers - but the Oklahoma greenfield project still needs a power deal.
16 Aug 2026
Data CentresEskom courts Amazon, Microsoft, and Google as 6 GW surplus strains its balance sheet
Eskom chair Mteto Nyati confirmed talks with the world's biggest hyperscalers to absorb a ~6 GW power surplus - but the utility's coal-heavy grid poses a direct conflict with operators' carbon commitments.
14 Aug 2026
NuclearU.S. signs 30-year civil nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia, opening door to domestic enrichment
The Trump administration transmitted a 123 Agreement with Saudi Arabia to Congress on 22 July 2026, covering AP1000 reactor construction and a conditional enrichment pathway - then added an Israel normalization condition the next day.
5 Aug 2026