The UAE, Italy, and Albania have signed a tripartite cooperation agreement to build a subsea interconnection across the Adriatic Sea, valued at approximately €1 billion, with a target completion date of 2028.

Per multiple media reports, the project is designed to transfer renewable energy from Albania to Italy to strengthen energy infrastructure in the Mediterranean region. The energy generated in Albania will be transferred to Italy via an underwater cable crossing the Adriatic Sea that would add to existing connections between Italy and the Balkans that include a 430-km subsea power link from Montenegro to Italy. The undersea cable will have the capacity to carry up to 1,000 megawatts of electricity, marking a significant milestone in renewable energy integration.

The deal, signed at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, will leverage the UAE’s expertise in solar and wind energy to bolster Albania’s renewable energy capacity. “The investment agreement for the underwater connection of the energy distribution network with Italy, as well as for investments in increasing production from renewable sources in Albania, was signed today,” said the Albanian government in a statement.

The underwater cable would link the Albanian port of Vlore with Italy’s Puglia region. The key participants would be Italian grid operator Terna and the UAE’s National Energy Company (Taqa). The project would allow Albania to invest in and develop its untapped solar and wind potential, while helping Italy reduce CO2 emissions and decrease reliance on non-allied states.

UAE Industry and Technology Minister Sultan al-Jaber described the agreement as a “far-sighted collaboration” that connects Albania’s renewable energy potential, the UAE’s expertise and Italy’s sophisticated energy market. Al-Jaber, who also chaired the COP28 climate summit, said the initiative aligns with global goals to triple renewable energy capacity and transition away from fossil fuels.

Italy is currently developing the Elmed submarine cable between Italy and Tunisia and the SoutH2 Corridor for the transport of hydrogen from North Africa to Central Europe, passing through Italy.

In 2019, Italian energy firm Terna inaugurated a similar cable connecting Montenegro and Italy, following an investment of €1.1bn.

Italy’s Danieli has provided a tailor-made roughing mill featuring shiftable stands for a Nippon Steel plant in Kamaishi, Japan.

Per a Danieli press release, the new mill can provide twist-free rolling of 130- to 168-mm billets at 130 tph. The installation of the shiftable roughing mill, in a narrow space, increased billet charging flexibility and efficiency. The produced billets will be used to manufacture wire rod at the same facility. It started operations in 1961 and was described as the longest-running wire rod mill currently operating in Japan.

The Kamaishi operation includes a three-strand wire-rod mill that produces special steel wire rod in mild and hard steel wire, low-alloy steel, spring steel, special melt wire, and bearing steel grades. The main equipment supplied includes two mono-groove vertical and horizontal housingless stands.

In December 2024, Italy’s Tratos Cavi S.A.  completed its acquisition of Spain’s TELNET Fibre Optic S.L.U., which has a firm base in fiber optics technology.

A press release and media reports outlined how the strategic move was expected to significantly boost Tratos’ position in the fiber optic technology sector and expand its presence. The long list of cited advantages includes the following key benefits and expectations: expanded production capacity, as TELNET’s facilities add more than 12,000 sq m of manufacturing space with an annual output of 1.5 million km of fiber optic cables; enhanced technological capabilities as TELNET’s expertise in fiber optic cables and passive optical components complements Tratos’ existing product portfolio; market expansion, as it allows Tratos to establish a strong foothold in Spain and enhance its commercial operations in the region; increased revenue; a broader product range and more innovation, as the merger makes it possible to offer a more comprehensive range of solutions for high-speed connectivity and advanced telecommunications infrastructure while adding TELNET’s R&D capabilities will help Tratos achieve further technological advancements in the telecom industry; and strategic growth, as this deal fits well into the broader strategy of Tratos to strengthen its presence across Europe and expand into new markets.

The release noted TELNET has an impressive customer base that includes: fibre optic cables for several high-profile clients in Spain and across Europe, including Telefónica de España S.A.U., Vodafone Spain, MasOrange, DIGI Spain Telecom, ADIF, and international operators like IP Telecom Portugal, Vodafone UK, Portugal Telecom, Cabo Verde Telecom, Digi Belgium, Telecom Argentina, Telefónica Argentina, Telefónica Uruguay, Colombia Telecomunicaciones and Unsere Grüne Glasfaser (UGG) in Germany.

The Ducab Group, a UAE-based end-to-end solutions provider and manufacturer, announced that it has expanded its presence in Africa by supplying 220 kV high-voltage (HV) cables to Senegal for the first time.

A press release said that the sale, for a critical component of a Dakar project, will help upgrade the power infrastructure of Senegal’s capital to meet increasing energy demands. This initiative supports Senegal’s ambitious goal of achieving universal electricity access by 2026.

The order from Senegal represents the 23rd African country to have been supplied by Ducab’s cable portfolio. Some other African nations it exports to include Angola, South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Egypt. Ducab operates in 75 global markets. Also, its revenues grew by 1% in 2024, and its expectations for 2025 call for a 15% increase. In terms of volume, Ducab recorded a 4% growth in 2024 and estimates a 21% surge in 2025.

The activity stems from Ducab’s African Growth Strategy: This expansion is part of Ducab’s broader growth strategy in Africa, and aligns with the UAE’s recent $4.5 billion pledge to fund renewable energy initiatives in Africa. Charles Mellagui, CEO of Ducab Cables Business, emphasized the importance of this milestone, stating that it not only strengthens Dakar’s energy infrastructure but also reinforces Ducab’s commitment to delivering reliable, world-class solutions across Africa.

Ilva, a one-time giant Italian steel manufacturer, now called Acciaierie d’Italia (ADI), was formerly known as Ilva, with product lines that included wire rod. Below is an update on its recent status based on multiple media reports, including past WJI stories, but it starts with a brief look at its early days,

Ilva, founded on Feb.1, 1905, as Società Industria Laminati Piani e Affini (ILVA) in Genoa, Italy, had a long and successful run as a steel maker before encountering significant problems. Its heyday spanned several decades, particularly from the 1960s through the 1980s. In 1965, ILVA inaugurated its crown jewel: the Taranto steelworks, which became Europe’s largest steel plant. At its peak in the 1970s, the Taranto plant alone annually produced more than 17 million metric tons of steel and employed around 40,000 people, representing about 16% of Taranto’s population.

The company’s prosperous period lasted for about three decades, from the mid-1960s to the mid-1990s. In 1995, the Riva Group purchased ILVA from the Italian government, marking the end of its state-owned era and the beginning of a troubled period that would eventually lead to environmental and financial crises.

In 2012, the Italian court ordered Ilva to upgrade its production line to meet regulatory standards due to concerns about pollution harming people’s health. This decision came after prosecutors sought to close the steel mill following an inquiry into abnormal rates of cancer and respiratory diseases in the Taranto area.

Despite attempts to keep the plant running while improvements were made, Ilva continued to struggle. By 2024, the company was grappling with rising energy costs and weak demand, leading to reduced production and financial difficulties. This situation ultimately resulted in ADI being placed under state-led administration.

As of February 2024, Acciaierie d’Italia has been placed under the control of commissioners appointed by the Italian state. On Feb. 29, 2024, the Milan Bankruptcy Court declared a state of insolvency for the business, citing a debt of about US$3.37 billion as of Nov. 30, 2023. Prior to this, ADI was 62% owned by ArcelorMittal and 38% by Invitalia, a state-owned investment agency.

The company has faced ongoing financial difficulties due to increases in energy prices and a drop in rolled-steel coil prices. In early January 2024, ArcelorMittal initiated bankruptcy procedures, seeking special administration to allow ADI to reorganize its debts and obligations. The Italian government has taken steps to address the situation, including creating a guarantee fund for small- and medium-sized enterprises affected by ADI’s financial troubles. This recent development is part of a long history of financial struggles and environmental controversies surrounding the company, particularly its Taranto steelworks.

ADI has been in the middle of a bidding process for its acquisition. The company received 10 offers by the Jan. 10, 2025 deadline, with three bids for the entire business and seven for individual assets. The front runners for acquiring the whole company are Baku Steel Company (in consortium with Azerbaijan Investment Company), Jindal Steel International, and Bedrock Industries Management Co., Inc.

Today, ADI’s Taranto plant, Europe’s largest steel facility, continues to operate at reduced capacity. Some 10,000 people are still considered employed by the company, commissioners have requested a 12-month extension of temporary layoffs starting in March 2025, affecting 3,420 employees, with 2,955 specifically from the Taranto steel mill.