In Geopolitics Today: Monday, January 16th
India Announces $2.3 Billion Program To Promote Green Hydrogen, Somalian Forces Claim the Capture of Key Towns from Rebel Group, and other stories.
India Announces $2.3 Billion Program To Promote Green Hydrogen
India has announced a $2.3 billion program to promote "green hydrogen" production as a way to reach its net zero carbon emissions goal by 2070. Green hydrogen refers to hydrogen produced with renewable energy and is seen as a promising technology for decarbonizing sectors like steel, cement, and oil refining.
Despite the rapid expansion of renewable energy sources in India, they have not been sufficient to meet the country's energy needs. Green hydrogen production is still new and expensive, but India aims to produce 5 million tons annually by 2030 and bring down the cost to $1 per kilogram to make it competitive with coal. At the same time, the government hopes to boost investor confidence in the industry as a means to attract further foreign direct investments.
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Romania Maintains Ambiguous Stance on Energy
Romania has adopted an ambiguous political stance towards Russia's war in Ukraine. The country has remained quiet when it comes to energy-related matters, as if its large hydrocarbon resources, strategic position, and ability to support Ukraine and neighbouring Moldova were not critically important to NATO.
Romania's natural gas resources, including the Black Sea gas resources, have the potential to cover domestic demand for as long as 20 years, and could offer a lifeline to neighbouring Moldova and Ukraine. Romania's well-balanced mix of power generation sources, including hydro, renewable, nuclear and natural gas, as well as its developed network of interconnectors with nearby countries, allows for substantial energy imports and exports.
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Germany Seeks Closer Ties with Brazil
Germany has attempted to use the beginning of Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's incumbency to bolster German and European influence in Brazil. This follows years of European neglect in cultivating positive ties with Brazil, resulting in a noticeable loss of German influence with South America’s most powerful country.
German influence in Brazil is dwindling and common ground appears to be crumbling according to the Berlin-based German Institute for International and Security Affairs. Germany's share of being the country's third most important supplier in 2002 has slumped to account for only 5.1 percent, while China's portion of Brazil's imports rapidly growing to 22.8 percent. In addition, efforts to globally isolate Russia are often seen in Brazil and elsewhere as a strategy that could one day be turned against their own countries.
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Somalian Forces Claim the Capture of Key Towns from Rebel Group
An al-Shabab stronghold on the Indian Ocean has reportedly been captured by government-led forces, according to a statement made by Defence Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur on state-owned television.
The port town of Harardhere and the nearby town of Galcad were taken by the Somali armed forces, which have launched an offensive against the group since last year. The statement also suggests that other towns will also be liberated soon. The group's response to the military pressure is said to have been a series of high-profile attacks in the capital Mogadishu and other cities.
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International Firms Involved in Arms Sales to Myanmar
The production of weapons used by the Myanmar military has reportedly been enabled by companies from at least 13 countries, according to a report from the Special Advisory Council for Myanmar.
The report claims that 45 firms, including those based in Austria, China, France, Germany, India, Israel, Japan, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Ukraine, and the United States, have provided or are still providing supplies that have helped sustain an elaborate arms industrial complex. The report calls on the governments involved to take action and undermine the Myanmar military's weapons production capacity.