Oil refinery

International Business and Trade Manufacturing

UK Rare Earths Refinery Scrapped as Project Shifts to US Market

A major rare earths refinery project in the UK has been abandoned as the company shifts focus to American partnerships. The Saltend facility would have reduced British dependence on Chinese-dominated supply chains for critical minerals.

UK Loses Strategic Rare Earths Project to US

A planned rare earths refinery that would have given the United Kingdom a strategic foothold in the critical minerals sector has been scrapped in favor of US development, according to reports. The Saltend project, which would have produced magnets for electric vehicles, wind turbines, and robotics, has been abandoned by mining company Pensana after what sources indicate was insufficient government support.

by Bennett LauraOctober 16, 2025November 2, 2025

Energy Policy

California Oil Workers Face Uncertain Future Amid Energy Transition

Thousands of California oil workers face uncertain futures as major refineries close amid the state’s energy transition. Workers like Willie Cruz and his son navigate job losses while policymakers grapple with economic impacts.

California oil workers are confronting an increasingly uncertain future as the state’s energy transition accelerates, with major refinery closures threatening thousands of jobs across the industry. The planned shutdowns of Phillips 66 and Valero Energy facilities highlight the complex challenges facing workers and communities dependent on fossil fuel industries, according to recent analysis of California’s shifting energy landscape.