https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/ The Chemical Engineer News Feed Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:02:13 GMT en https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/russian-scientists-make-new-critical-mineral-discovery/ ]]> A RARE-EARTH rich mineral has been discovered by a team of Russian scientists in Kola Peninsula in Russia, emboldening the country’s critical mineral growth efforts. Fri, 14 Aug 2026 12:42:23 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48206 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/romania-starts-shutting-down-sole-nuclear-power-station-over-drought/ ]]> EXTREME WEATHER has sent the European energy sector into uncertainty, with Romania beginning to shut down its only nuclear power station due to drought. Fri, 14 Aug 2026 12:05:51 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48205 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/london-based-startup-looks-to-recover-valuable-chemicals-from-wastewater/ ]]> METAL MORPH, an innovative startup based in London, is looking to make the utilities industry more circular through the recovery of aluminium and valuable chemicals from wastestreams. Fri, 14 Aug 2026 11:00:39 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48204 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/drones-identify-methane-emissions-in-uk-landfills/ ]]> THE UK’s Environment Agency has trialled drones in detecting and identifying methane emissions in landfills, a practice currently undertaken by humans. Fri, 14 Aug 2026 10:58:08 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48202 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/north-sea-operators-not-moving-fast-enough-with-well-decommissioning/ ]]> DESPITE a record number of well decommissions in the North Sea in 2025, “activity needs to increase,” according to the industry regulator. Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:23:51 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48198 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/chocolate-bar-created-with-100-british-ingredients/ ]]> BERKSHIRE-GROWN cocoa beans have been used at the University of Reading to make a 100% British chocolate bar, a product not seen since 1932. Fri, 14 Aug 2026 07:14:50 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48197 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/trump-spends-us-4bn-on-offshore-wind-buybacks/ ]]> The US government has paid out US$1.2bn to German energy company RWE to give up its wind power projects in the country, taking the adminstration’s total offshore wind buyouts to nearly US$4bn. It is part of the administration’s continued efforts to divest from offshore wind. Fri, 07 Aug 2026 12:51:58 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48192 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/bath-researchers-develop-energy-efficient-membrane-for-solvent-purification/ ]]> A TEAM of researchers from the University of Bath and an international research group KU Leuven, have developed a membrane to drive out water for the development of industrial solvents. Fri, 07 Aug 2026 12:45:49 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48191 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/biotech-partners-with-heriot-watt-to-turn-whey-into-fuel/ ]]> WHEY from cheese can be converted into bioethanol for fuelling cars thanks to the work of biotech firm Take Root Bio and Heriot-Watt University. Fri, 07 Aug 2026 11:28:08 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48190 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/stanford-researchers-fight-viruses-with-ai/ ]]> A CHEMICAL engineer and a bioengineering graduate student from Stanford University have developed a generative AI model that can develop new viruses to kill bacteria and fight against antibiotic resistance. Fri, 07 Aug 2026 11:21:49 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48188 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/nylon-recycling-startup-acquires-production-facility-in-spain/ ]]> LONDON-BASED biorecycling firm Epoch BioDesign has bought a “mothballed” polymerisation plant in Blanes, Spain, to take its technology to commercial scale. Fri, 07 Aug 2026 11:16:12 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48187 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/bp-q2-profits-surge-amid-sell-offs/ ]]> OIL AND GAS giant BP has reported a Q2 profit of US$5.7bn, the highest quarterly profit for the company since 2022. Fri, 07 Aug 2026 08:12:07 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48186 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/fusion-industry-attracts-record-us-45bn-in-race-to-commercial-scale/ ]]> A RECORD US$4.5bn in funding flooded into the global fusion industry this year, benefiting private and public firms alike. Fri, 31 Jul 2026 12:27:02 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48180 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/bp-puts-north-sea-oil-and-gas-business-up-for-sale/ ]]> AFTER six decades of operation, bp has made the historic move to sell its oil and gas business in the UK – giving up all production assets in its home country. Fri, 31 Jul 2026 12:23:55 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48179 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/johnson-johnson-to-pay-out-us-55bn-in-talc-cancer-case/ ]]> PHARMACEUTICAL giant Johnson& Johnson (J&J) has committed to pay out US$5.5bn to thousands of plaintiffs that have alleged the company’s baby talcum powder products cause ovarian cancer. Fri, 31 Jul 2026 07:05:33 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48175 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/engineers-deploy-first-of-its-kind-electrified-heating-system-for-cement-works/ ]]> LOW-CARBON technology firm CoolBrook and partners ABB will deploy electrified industrial heating technology to a cement works in Andhra Pradesh, India. Fri, 31 Jul 2026 06:54:16 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48173 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/lancashire-chemicals-plant-linked-to-pfas-contamination-announces-closure/ ]]> A CHEMICALS manufacturing plant based in Lancashire is to shut down amid a damning investigation into its historic emissions of “forever chemicals”, or PFAS. Mon, 27 Jul 2026 12:02:02 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48171 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/icheme-matters-julyaugust-2026/ ]]> In this issue we welcome new IChemE president Ollie Folayan and Head of Policy and Mitchell Clark shares a few notes from IChemE's ChemEngConnect virtual conference Thu, 23 Jul 2026 08:00:00 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48085 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/folayan-asks-who-is-coming-next-and-are-we-doing-enough/ ]]> New IChemE president sets out agenda on skills, diversity and public engagement Thu, 23 Jul 2026 08:00:00 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48088 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/employer-partners-listening-to-the-next-generation-mag/ ]]> At IChemE, we spend a lot of time planning Employer Partner meetings around the workforce challenges facing our profession. Skills shortages, graduate readiness, recruitment and retention are all familiar topics. This time, however, we tried something different. Thu, 23 Jul 2026 08:00:00 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48091 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/350m-boost-for-uk-chemicals-resilience-mag/ ]]> IChemE has welcomed the UK government’s £350m Critical Chemicals Resilience Fund, describing it as a significant boost for a sector that underpins everything from energy and pharmaceuticals to food production and advanced manufacturing. Thu, 23 Jul 2026 08:00:00 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48094 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/icheme-s-spring-conferring-ceremonies-celebrate-professional-achievement/ ]]> IChemE’s recent spring conferring ceremonies across the UK brought together members, volunteers and award winners to celebrate achievement and contribution to the profession. Thu, 23 Jul 2026 08:00:00 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48096 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/burnham-promises-to-reindustrialise-britain-amid-speculation-about-oil-and-gas-policy/ ]]> ANDY BURNHAM has pledged to begin “reindustrialising Britain” in his first speech as UK prime minister, while speculation grows over his oil and gas policy. Tue, 21 Jul 2026 10:02:11 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48058 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/british-steel-is-now-owned-by-the-public/ ]]> THE UK’s largest primary steel producer, British Steel, has been brought under public ownership by the government in its effort to “protect the UK’s national interest”. Thu, 16 Jul 2026 16:47:02 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48056 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/uk-government-shies-away-from-pfas-ban/ ]]> There will be no hard restrictions on PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in UK manufacturing and trade despite parliamentary pleas that protective measures are moving “too slow”. Wed, 15 Jul 2026 13:44:07 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48055 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/jackdaw-in-line-with-net-zero-developer-claims-while-questions-remain-over-emissions-intensity/ ]]> NORTH SEA oil and gas major Adura has said its plans to produce gas at the controversial Jackdaw field are “fully in line” with measures to achieve net zero. Fri, 10 Jul 2026 12:55:10 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48054 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/google-and-rwe-invest-in-fusion-project-in-europe/ ]]> COMMERCIAL fusion energy in Europe has made one large leap in financial confidence after Proxima Fusion secured €411m (US$470m) in a funding round, with Google and energy firm RWE as strategic investors. Fri, 10 Jul 2026 12:23:03 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48053 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/canada-looks-to-become-energy-superpower-as-plans-submitted-for-1m-bbld-pipeline/ ]]> CANADIAN prime minister Mark Carney has pledged to make Canada an “energy superpower” as plans to build a new oil pipeline between Alberta and the British Columbian coast were submitted last week. Fri, 10 Jul 2026 12:10:22 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48052 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/sizewell-b-operations-extended-for-another-20-years/ ]]> EDF-owned power station Sizewell B is set to run for two decades more than its expected end-of-life date as part of the UK’s efforts to keep energy prices low. Fri, 10 Jul 2026 11:53:20 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48050 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/researchers-develop-self-powered-floating-water-purification-capsule/ ]]> A SMALL, self-powered water purification system has been developed by a team of international researchers as an affordable and portable solution for drinking water access. Fri, 10 Jul 2026 11:48:39 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48049 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/private-consortium-commits-35bn-to-uk-smr-rollout/ ]]> A POLISH billionaire is leading a consortium of private investors that plans on building 14 small modular reactors (SMRs) across the UK in a project worth £35bn (US$47bn). Fri, 03 Jul 2026 12:58:38 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48039 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/hydrogen-storage-project-awarded-500-000-in-ofgem-funding/ ]]> A PROOF-OF-CONCEPT study into geological hydrogen storage for flexible power generation has been selected by UK energy regulator Ofgem in its latest allocation of funding. Fri, 03 Jul 2026 12:52:32 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48038 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/uk-supports-mexico-sustainability-goals-amid-raft-of-international-energy-agreements/ ]]> THE UK government has agreed a deal to provide technical support for Mexico’s sustainability goals, among several international agreements across energy and climate policy. Fri, 03 Jul 2026 12:36:53 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48036 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/hyundai-engineering-win-major-gas-contract-in-kazakhstan/ ]]> KOREAN construction firm Hyundai Engineering and Construction will expand its energy portfolio in Central Asia with its new gas processing project in Kazakhstan. Fri, 03 Jul 2026 12:30:57 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48034 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/anthropic-launches-ai-tool-to-speed-up-drug-discovery/ ]]> AMERICAN AI developer Anthropic has developed an intelligent tool, Claude Science, to assist researchers with drug discovery, particularly in single-cell RNA sequencing analysis and CRISPR screen design. Fri, 03 Jul 2026 09:10:00 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48032 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/snp-condemns-nuclear-obsession-after-uk-government-says-scotland-has-high-potential/ ]]> THE SCOTTISH government has warned against a “nuclear obsession” after the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) claimed that Scotland has “high potential” for new nuclear sites. Thu, 02 Jul 2026 16:44:48 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48031 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/humanity-will-not-survive-if-we-wait-urge-carbon-removals-experts-at-london-climate-action-week/ ]]> CLIMATE experts have urged business and policy leaders to begin rapidly scaling carbon removal technology, warning “we will not survive as humanity” without action at a roundtable in London this week. Fri, 26 Jun 2026 12:41:14 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48030 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/william-bill-lionel-wilkinson-1931-2026/ ]]> David William Wilkinson remembers his father William, a highly decorated chemical engineer and former IChemE president, who has died at the age of 95. Fri, 26 Jun 2026 12:29:41 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48029 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/newcastle-head-of-chemeng-research-wins-rsc-sustainability-award/ ]]> NEWCASTLE University’s head of chemical engineering research and development (R&D) has been awarded the Royal Society of Chemistry’s (RSC) early career prize for environment, sustainability and energy, for his work in membrane-based carbon capture. Thu, 25 Jun 2026 17:29:55 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48021 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/skills-england-says-250-000-more-workers-needed-in-clean-energy-and-advanced-manufacturing-sectors/ ]]> ALMOST 250,000 more workers will be needed for jobs across the clean energy and advanced manufacturing sectors, according to the government’s latest analysis. Thu, 25 Jun 2026 15:54:50 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48019 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/saf-benefits-at-risk-of-being-diluted-by-heathrow-expansion-government-warned/ ]]> THE BENEFITS of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) are at risk of being “diluted” by a third runway at London Heathrow Airport, a campaign group has warned, following government research predicting significant emissions rises caused by expansion. Wed, 24 Jun 2026 14:17:11 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48018 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/we-can-t-afford-to-lose-the-contribution-of-women-says-wsp-technical-director-in-inwed-speech/ ]]> MARIAN Croak, Gladys West and Dame Stephanie Shirley “changed the world” with their inventions in internet telecommunications, GPS and software technology, according to Nike Folayan, co-founder of the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE). Tue, 23 Jun 2026 16:10:44 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48016 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/imperial-spinout-scales-up-heat-free-crude-oil-separation/ ]]> IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON spinout Exactmer has developed a pilot-scale membrane that can separate crude oil fractions without heat, a breakthrough that could significantly reduce the energy required for oil refining. Thu, 18 Jun 2026 19:10:58 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48012 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/esso-refinery-fine-the-thickness-of-a-pencil-for-exxonmobil-says-safety-expert/ ]]> ESSO has been fined £1m (US$1.32m) for an uncontrolled release of liquid petroleum gas (LPG) at its Fawley refinery in the UK – a penalty one leading process safety expert has dismissed as "the thickness of a pencil" for a company the size of ExxonMobil. Thu, 18 Jun 2026 17:23:00 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48013 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/tata-steel-to-transfer-port-talbot-cold-mill-staff-to-llanwern-after-fire/ ]]> TATA Steel is to transfer staff from Port Talbot to a site around 64 km away in Llanwern after fire damaged part of the Port Talbot steelworks’ cold mill earlier this month. Wed, 17 Jun 2026 16:48:50 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48005 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/valaris-receives-tenth-uk-safety-warning-in-five-years-and-fined-over-worker-s-death/ ]]> OFFSHORE drilling rig contractor Valaris has received its tenth UK safety warning in less than five years, while one of its subsidiaries has been fined following the death of a worker on a North Sea rig in 2023. Wed, 17 Jun 2026 16:15:31 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48004 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/i-was-regarded-as-someone-who-would-never-amount-to-much-says-icheme-fellow-awarded-mbe/ ]]> IChemE Fellow Peter Robertson has been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours this week for “services to research and innovation” following a 40-year career in academia across Northern Ireland and Scotland. Tue, 16 Jun 2026 15:24:56 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48003 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/solar-overtakes-coal-in-us-electricity-mix-for-first-time/ ]]> SOLAR power generated more electricity than coal in the US for the first time in May, marking another milestone in the country's shift away from fossil fuels despite efforts by President Trump to revive the coal industry. Fri, 12 Jun 2026 16:12:06 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48001 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/declining-stem-graduate-numbers-could-cost-major-economies-trillions-report-warns/ ]]> MAJOR economies including China, the US, India and the UK risk losing trillions of dollars in economic output over the next decade as STEM graduate numbers fail to keep pace with growing industry demand, according to a new report. Fri, 12 Jun 2026 11:43:04 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/48000 https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/news/icheme-matters-june-2026/ ]]> In this issues IChemE Matters, President Raffaella Ocone writes her last blog and reflects on her time in post, and head of policy Mitchell Clark provides some tips on how to engage with policymakers Mon, 08 Jun 2026 08:00:00 GMT https://www.thechemicalengineer.com/47909