New York – December 18, 2025 – Element Critical today announced the launch of a new U.S. data center platform backed by 26North Partners (“26North”), Arctos, Mercuria and Safanad, anchored by the acquisition of two enterprise data center facilities in Houston and Austin.

The platform builds on Element Critical’s track record as a rapidly expanding enterprise data center operator, positioned to meet growing demand driven by AI inference, digital workloads and power-constrained markets. Safanad has spent the past decade developing Element Critical into one of the nation’s leading enterprise data center providers. With 26North, Mercuria and Arctos, the platform will accelerate acquisitions, development and strategic expansion across top U.S. markets.

“Through this investment and data-center acquisition strategy, Element Critical will be well-positioned to support the needs of leading clients in technology, financial services, healthcare, energy and Fortune 500 companies,” said Element Critical CEO Ken Parent. “These Texas facilities will anchor our expansion into other top U.S. markets.”

“Digital infrastructure is precisely the kind of opportunity our next-generation alternatives firm was built to pursue,” said 26North Founder Josh Harris. “As AI, energy and data converge, we see an opportunity to support platforms with strong fundamentals and durable demand. We pride ourselves on aligning with innovative leaders such as Mercuria, Safanad and Arctos, who each bring complementary strengths, and structuring a partnership that traditional models can’t match.”

The partnership combines 26North’s thesis-driven alpha creation expertise and disciplined investment approach with Mercuria’s deep knowledge of energy markets and low-carbon power. It also brings together Safanad’s decade of operating experience and Arctos’s well-established track record of providing bespoke capital solutions.

“The intersection of AI, data, and energy is reshaping infrastructure demands. Our investment reflects Mercuria’s commitment to supporting digital infrastructure with innovative energy solutions,” said Mercuria’s CIO Brian Falik. “We’re partnering with industry leaders to power Element Critical’s expansion and help meet the evolving needs of enterprise clients.” 

“We are proud to launch this next phase of Element Critical with partners who share our conviction in digital infrastructure and the evolution driven by AI,” said Safanad Founder and CEO Kamal Bahamdan. “Over the past decade, we have built Element Critical into a scaled, resilient platform and this new partnership readies us to grow even more rapidly.”

The partners aim to meet the surging demand from enterprises and the substantial capacity needs of AI inference and other next-generation technologies across financial services, healthcare, energy, technology and other sectors.

“We are thrilled to join forces with 26North, Mercuria and Safanad to catalyze Element Critical’s next stage of growth,” said Arctos Partner Ira Shaw. “With a customer-centric approach in colocation, Element Critical has firmly established itself within a thriving sector. This partnership marks a significant milestone for Arctos and our Keystone Real Assets strategy, as we invest into the future of digital infrastructure.”

Guggenheim Securities and Goldman Sachs acted as financial advisors to Safanad and King & Spalding acted as legal advisor. DLA Piper served as legal advisor to 26North. Kirkland & Ellis acted as legal advisor to the platform in connection with acquisitions of the Houston and Austin data centers. BofA Securities and Citizens Bank served as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners, and Huntington National Bank served as Joint Lead Arranger for the transaction financing.

About Element Critical

Founded in 2014, Element Critical is a premier data center operator in the United States. Led by an experienced executive team and supported by long-term investment partners, the company operates hybrid-ready, carrier-neutral facilities in Chicago, Austin and Houston and is actively expanding across key Tier 1 and Tier 2 markets. Element Critical serves a diverse mix of enterprise, hyperscale, AI and neo-cloud customers that require colocation and connectivity services capable of supporting both traditional workloads and GPU-intensive AI environments. The company focuses on building reliable, well-connected data centers that meet today’s performance demands while anticipating the infrastructure needs of next-generation technologies.

About 26North

26North Partners LP is an integrated, multi-asset-class investment platform that provides investment advice and opportunities to its clients across a variety of investment strategies, including, but not limited to, private equity, credit, and insurance and reinsurance solutions.

The 26North team brings decades of experience managing third-party capital to help clients achieve their financial goals while making a lasting impact in the communities where they operate.

Since launching in late 2022, 26North has grown to approximately $32 billion in assets under management.

About Mercuria

Established in 2004, Mercuria is one of the world’s largest independent energy and commodity groups, bringing efficiency to the commodity value chain with technology, expertise, and low-carbon solutions. The company established itself as a leader in the energy transition by pledging more than 50 percent of new investments toward renewables and transitional energy. The Group has made significant investments in renewable power, energy storage, grid optimization, critical transition minerals recycling, and environmental products.

About Safanad

Safanad is a principal-led investment company that builds world-class businesses. We deliver enduring value by investing with conviction, operating with an athlete’s discipline, and aligning with our management teams and investors to grow great businesses for the long-term. Safanad owns investment and operating platforms in Digital Infrastructure, Education, Healthcare, and Real Estate and we are co-headquartered in New York and Riyadh.

For more information, please visit www.safanad.com.

About Arctos

Arctos is a private investment firm designed to catalyze growth and unlock value in complex, illiquid, and underserved markets. Founded in 2019, the firm’s investment businesses span private equity and real assets (Arctos Keystone) and premier sports franchises (Arctos Sports), delivering bespoke capital solutions, differentiated insights, and purpose-built operating capabilities to industry leaders in both markets. The firm’s innovative approach is anchored by its unique quantitative research and data science platform, Arctos Insights. Arctos has a team of more than 75 investment and operational professionals with expertise across industries, geographies, and economic cycles. The firm is headquartered in Dallas, with office locations in New York, Boston, and London. For more information, visit www.arctospartners.com or Arctos’ company page on LinkedIn.

Contact

26North:

Cristina Alesci

calesci@26n.com

Mercuria:

Matt J. Lauer

communications@mercuria.com

Safanad:

Adam Steinberg

asteinberg@safanad.com

Arctos:

Prosek Partners

pro-arctos@prosek.com

Element Critical

Jaymie Scotto & Associates

jsa_element@jsa.net

December 15, 2025—

Leading marine fuel buyers and suppliers developed the Initiative to deliver unprecedented levels of accountability and efficiency.
A group of leading companies officially launched the Bunkering Services Initiative (Initiative) across Amsterdam–Rotterdam–Antwerp (ARA) ports with operations having been conducted since December 1, 2025.

The Initiative, which is voluntary and open to any third party, introduces a new gold standard of bunkering operations with technology-enabled, verifiable, and traceable insights into fuel quantity and quality to bring greater transparency and efficiency to participating companies and to help address long-standing problems across the industry.

Founding participants, from both the buying and supplying sides of the ARA bunker market, together account for a meaningful share of activity in the region and include: bp Marine, Cargill, Frontline, Hafnia, Hapag‑Lloyd, Mercuria, Minerva Bunkering, Oldendorff, Trafigura, TFG Marine, Unifeeder, and Vitol, as well as other significant industry players. Lloyd’s Register will act as system auditor carrying out checks on barges, while ADP Clear Pte Ltd will be its technology partner for multi-party workflows, real-time reporting and verifiable performance metrics.

The launch ceremony, which took place at the headquarters of Lloyd’s Register (LR) in London, marks the start of operations for a system designed to deliver unprecedented levels of transparency, accountability, and efficiency in one of the world’s largest marine fuel hubs. It was attended by representatives from the founding companies, new participants, port authorities, and other industry stakeholders, demonstrating the scale and significance of this uniquely cross-industry and collaborative approach.

Following its unveiling in July 2025, the Initiative’s supplier participants have onboarded bunker barges, installed Internet-of-Things (IoT) enabled hardware, and had crew trained in the Initiative’s protocols and mass flow meter (MFM) operational best practices.

All bunker barges have certified MFMs installed and integrated with ADP Clear’s hardware and software to allow seamless, real-time data capture. Every vessel has met LR’s qualification requirements and will remain subject to unannounced compliance inspections of the MFM system, piping, and seals.

The major fuel testing companies are providing laboratory results directly into the platform providing buyers with visibility into fuel quality from every sample drawn from each parcel of fuel from shore tank through final delivery, as required by the BSI standards.

Andy Mckeran, LR’s Chief Growth Officer, said:

“LR has always championed innovation that strengthens confidence in the maritime industry, and this Initiative is a natural progression of that commitment. By combining advanced technology with independent assurance, we are helping to deliver a new level of transparency and trust that supports safe, efficient and future-ready fuel operations.”

Jens Maul Jorgensen, Director of Bunker Purchasing at Oldendorff, said:

“We welcome the introduction of the Bunkering Services Initiative and the opportunity it creates for greater transparency and cooperation between buyers and suppliers in the ARA region. We look forward to working with our partners to ensure safe, efficient and reliable bunkering operations,”.

Kenneth Dam, Executive Director and Global Head of Bunkering at TFG Marine said:

“Since 2021, the industry has advocated for ISO 22192 standards for MFM implementation in the Ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam, set for January 2026. The BSI launch represents a decisive step by suppliers committed to eliminating market distortions, whilst aligning standards as closely as possible with Singapore. The BSI provides a strong framework for integrity, efficiency and compliance across international markets.”

Tyler Baron, CEO of Minerva Bunkering said:

“The BSI combines standardization, technology, and regulation to create a level playing field with robust competition on the basis of service quality and cost competitiveness.”

Simon Lock, Head of Technology at ADP Clear said:

“By integrating mass flow meters, blockchain workflows, and live reporting into a single platform, we’ve created a seamless chain of transparency. This level of visibility in bunkering has simply not existed before.” 

Join Us
Any marine fuel buyers and suppliers engaged in the ARA market and interested in participating in the Initiative can direct their inquiries to initiative@adpclear.io

GENEVA, Dec. 5, 2025 — Gécamines SA, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s state-owned mining enterprise, and Mercuria Energy Trading announce the formation of a Joint Venture (JV), with support from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), aimed at transforming the commercialization of copper, cobalt, and other critical minerals from the DRC’s mining sector. The collaboration enhances transparency, market access, and value retention within the DRC’s mining ecosystem.

This partnership, developed under a Memorandum of Understanding signed earlier this year, establishes a framework for leveraging Gécamines’ copper and cobalt production. It focuses on ensuring transparent and competitive global pricing, maximizing local benefits, and empowering Gécamines with greater visibility and control over its equity tons.

Strategic Objectives and Structure

A key feature of the partnership is that Gécamines will now be able to secure competitive pricing based on transparent international pricing benchmarks while ensuring its resources are marketed transparently and strategically. This new approach enhances Gécamines’ ability to participate actively in commercialization and strengthens its position in global value chains.

Additionally, the partnership allows Gécamines to direct its equity toward strategic end-user markets. By leveraging Mercuria’s global network and expertise, Gécamines gains greater control over its copper and cobalt destination, ensuring these critical resources are marketed to buyers aligned with the DRC’s long-term economic and industrial priorities.

Mercuria will provide operational support, including logistics, market access, and expertise in trade execution. The collaboration also emphasizes capacity-building, with Mercuria supporting the training and development of Gécamines’ staff in trading, risk management, and operational processes.

Catalyzing Investment and International Partnership

The Joint Venture has also received strategic support from the United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), which has issued a Letter of Intent for an equity investment into the partnership. This milestone underscores the initiative’s alignment with global development objectives and the strengthening of resilient, transparent supply chains for critical minerals. The DFC’s involvement highlights confidence in the venture’s commitment to responsible sourcing, local empowerment, and market integrity.

Strategic Access and Expanded Scope

As part of the investment contemplated under the DFC’s Letter of Intent, the Joint Venture will grant U.S. end-users a right of first refusal. This provision ensures that American industries—including those in energy, semiconductors, and defense—have secure access to critical minerals essential to economic competitiveness and national security.

While initially focused on copper and cobalt, the Joint Venture will also support the marketing of other strategic minerals produced in the DRC, such as germanium and gallium. These elements are increasingly vital in advanced manufacturing applications, including semiconductors, solar technologies, electric vehicles, and defense systems, underscoring the partnership’s global relevance and future-facing approach.

Additionally, Mercuria will provide financing facilities to Gécamines, including pre-financing and off-take funding, to enhance operational flexibility and accelerate commercialization. These facilities strengthen Gécamines’ ability to participate actively in global markets while reinforcing the venture’s financial sustainability.

Empowering Congolese Sovereignty and Industrial Vision

The partnership aligns with Gécamines’ long-term vision to build in-country trading and marketing capabilities, positioning the company as an active participant in global value chains.

“This collaboration marks a pivotal step in Gécamines’ journey to strengthen its role in the global metals market. This venture aims to ensure that Congolese copper and cobalt are traded with transparency, fairness, and national benefit at the forefront. Importantly, this partnership gives Gécamines the ability to strategically direct its equity tons to end-user markets that align with our vision for sustainable and inclusive economic growth,” said Guy Robert Lukama, Chairman of Gécamines SA.

“This partnership redefines how the DRC engages with global metals markets,” said Kostas Bintas, Global Head of Metals and Minerals of Mercuria. “It empowers Gécamines with greater control and visibility over its strategic resources, while embedding commercial discipline and maximizing value for Congolese stakeholders. We are proud to be the partner of choice for Gécamines SA in recognition of Mercuria’s strong ethical profile and presence in the African Copperbelt.”

A Platform for Future Growth

The partnership is already operational and represents a significant step forward in transforming the commercialization of critical minerals in the DRC. In addition to its core activities, the collaboration will explore opportunities to invest in logistical infrastructure within the DRC to facilitate the efficient export of strategic raw materials. These investments aim to strengthen the country’s position in global markets while unlocking further growth potential for the partnership.

About Gécamines

Gécamines SA is a Congolese state-owned mining company with a strategic portfolio in copper and cobalt assets. It is committed to leveraging its resources to foster national development and industrial growth.

About Mercuria

Mercuria is one of the world’s largest independent energy and commodity groups, with a strong presence in global supply chains, energy transition assets, and strategic infrastructure. Founded in Geneva, Switzerland, the company operates across more than 50 countries.

HOUSTON – 4 December 2025 – Mercuria Energy America, LLC (“Mercuria”) is pleased to announce the closing of its USD 4.0 billion, one-year Secured Borrowing Base Facility (the “Facility”), marking another milestone in the company’s North American financing program.

Mercuria mandated Societe Generale as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, and MUFG Bank Ltd., Natixis New York Branch, Cooperatieve Rabobank U.A., New York Branch, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, ING Capital LLC, Mizuho Bank, Ltd., Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank and Wells Fargo Bank N.A., together with Societe Generale, as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Book-Runners.

Launched on August 25^th, and opened to general syndication on September 16^th, the Facility saw strong lender appetite, resulting in a substantial oversubscription. The transaction includes participation from 23 banks, representing a diversified group of both North American and international banks. Mercuria elected to right-size the Facility to USD 4.0 billion. Proceeds will be allocated toward general corporate purposes and working capital optimization.

Mercuria’s successful syndication demonstrates its established credit profile, disciplined financial strategy and sustained commitment to strengthening liquidity and supporting growth across North America.

 “The successful refinancing of our North American Borrowing Base strengthens the Group’s liquidity and flexibility as we expand our commodities’ footprint and pursue our energy transition goals,” said Guillaume Vermersch, Mercuria’s Group CFO. “The substantial over-subscription from our banking partners reflects their confidence in Mercuria’s resilient business model and in our future direction.”

The Borrowing Base remains a strategic cornerstone of our North American platform amplifying our ability to support expanding business needs with a strong capital foundation,” said Bin Wang, Mercuria’s North America CFO. “The continued depth of our banking partnerships and facility strength reflects our commitment to our regional strengths and disciplined growth.”

ENDS

Press Contacts:

Mercuria Energy Trading SA

Name:  Matt J. Lauer

Tel: +41 22 594 7000

Email: communications@mercuria.com

About Mercuria

Established in 2004, Mercuria is one of the world’s largest independent energy and commodity groups, bringing efficiency to the commodity value chain with technology, expertise, and low-carbon solutions. The company established itself as a leader in the energy transition by pledging more than 50 percent of new investments toward renewables and transitional energy. The Group has made significant investments in renewable power, energy storage, grid optimization, critical transition minerals recycling, and environmental products.

For further information, visit: www.mercuria.com

SINGAPORE – 24 November 2025 – Mercuria Energy Group Ltd. (“Mercuria”) is pleased to announce the successful closing of its 2025 Asian Syndicated Revolving Credit Facilities (the “Facilities”), totaling over USD 2.3 billion equivalent across USD and CNH tranches.

This year’s refinancing represents a 35% increase in committed liquidity compared to 2024, adding more than USD 600 million in additional capacity. The outcome underscores the continued confidence of global and regional lenders in Mercuria’s financial strength, disciplined liquidity management, and the Group’s expanding footprint across Asia.

The Facilities were arranged with the support of the following Bookrunning Mandated Lead Arrangers: Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank PJSC, Bank of China Limited Singapore Branch, China CITIC Bank Corporation Limited London Branch, China CITIC Bank Corporation Limited Shanghai Branch, China CITIC Bank International Limited Singapore Branch, China Merchants Bank Co. Ltd. Singapore Branch, CMB Wing Lung Bank Limited, DBS Bank Ltd., Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited London Branch, Mizuho Bank Ltd., MUFG Bank Ltd., Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Singapore Branch, The Export-Import Bank of China Fujian Branch.

SMBC acted as Facility Agent.

The Facilities comprise:

• USD 1,193 million – 1-year USD Revolving Credit Facility (Facility A1)
• CNH 3,683 million – 1-year CNH Revolving Credit Facility (Facility A2)
• USD 283 million – 1-year USD Revolving Credit and Swingline Facility (Facility B)
• USD 315 million – 3-year USD Revolving Credit Facility (Facility C)

The transaction attracted strong demand from 41 banks, including several new lenders. Chinese institutions again played a leading role, particularly through the CNH tranche, reflecting Mercuria’s deepening relationships across the region and the Group’s long-standing strategic presence in Asia.

“We are pleased to have closed the 2025 Asian RCF with a significant upsizing and an expanded group of banking partners. The strong participation from our long-standing lenders across Asia, together with the arrival of several new institutions and the solid support from Chinese banks, reflects the confidence in Mercuria’s financial strength, disciplined liquidity management and growth ambitions in the region. This facility further enhances our ability to support our customers and continue developing our activities across Asia,” said Guillaume Vermersch, Group CFO, Mercuria.

Mercuria continues to strengthen its activities across China, Japan, Southeast Asia and Australasia, with Asia serving as a central pillar of the Group’s global strategy.

Source: Mercuria Press Office

Contact: Matt J. Lauer

communications@mercuria.com

+41 22 594 7000

LUXEMBOURG – 30 October 2025 – Eurasian Resources Group (“ERG”), a global metals and mining company headquartered in Luxembourg, and Mercuria Energy Trading SA (“Mercuria”) have signed a strategic agreement based on prepayment facility for the supply of copper.

Under the terms of the agreement, Mercuria will provide up to US$100 million in prepayments to ERG. The facility is secured by a three-year supply agreement for copper sourced from ERG’s assets in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

ERG continues to advance the development of its assets in the DRC, working to fully unlock their potential. The prepayment facility further strengthens ERG’s commercial portfolio, supporting the sustainable development of the global supply chains for critical minerals, and enhancing the Group’s financial flexibility, which is important for continued investment in ERG’s assets in the region.

“This landmark transaction with the ERG Group reaffirms our long-standing partnership built on trust and shared ambition. The facility will strengthen ERG’s asset development in the Democratic Republic of the Congo—a region of growing strategic relevance to Mercuria. Our collaboration across the African Copperbelt reflects our mutual commitment to responsible growth and reliable offtake. This long-term strategic agreement underscores our continued focus on building resilient, forward-looking supply chains that benefit both parties,” said Kostas Bintas, Global Head of Metals & Minerals at Mercuria Energy Trading SA.

Shukhrat Ibragimov, Chairman of the Board of Managers and CEO of ERG, said: “We look forward to building on this extended strategic cooperation with Mercuria, which will further drive the success of our international copper business. This marks an important step in deepening our collaboration with global partners as we work to realise the full potential of our core operations in the DRC. It also reflects the confidence our stakeholders place in ERG as a reliable source of responsibly produced copper for global markets.”

About Eurasian Resources Group

Eurasian Resources Group (ERG) is a leading diversified natural resources group headquartered in Luxembourg, with integrated mining, processing, energy, logistics, and marketing operations. The Group has around 67,000 employees and sells products in more than 40 countries. The Group’s main shareholder (40% stake) is the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

ERG is one of the world’s largest producers of cobalt and ferrochrome and is a large international supplier of copper and iron ore. In Eurasia, it is a leading supplier of alumina and is the only producer of high-grade aluminium in Kazakhstan.

Overall, in Kazakhstan, the Group operates many of the country’s leading production entities, including Kazchrome, Sokolov-Sarbai Iron Ore Mining Production Association (SSGPO), Kazakhstan Aluminium Smelter, Aluminium of Kazakhstan, Eurasian Energy Corporation, and others. The Group is a key power supplier and a large railway operator in Central Asia.

ERG Africa also forms a core part of the Group’s international asset portfolio. In the DRC, Frontier is the cornerstone of the Group’s copper business and Metalkol is a major tailings reprocessing operation, which has become one of the world’s largest producers of cobalt and a major producer of copper. The Group also has its own supply chain on the continent through its logistics company SABOT.

In Brazil, ERG is developing BAMIN, an integrated mining and logistics project in the State of Bahia, which comprises the Pedra de Ferro high-grade iron ore mine, the Porto Sul deep-water port and the associated stretch of the new FIOL broad-gauge railway.

About Mercuria

Established in 2004, Mercuria is one of the world’s largest independent energy and commodity groups, bringing efficiency to the commodity value chain with technology, expertise, and low-carbon solutions. The company established itself as a leader in the energy transition by pledging more than 50 percent of new investments toward renewables and transitional energy. The Group has made significant investments in renewable power, energy storage, grid optimization, critical transition minerals recycling, and environmental products.

For additional information please contact

Eurasian Resources Group, Luxembourg

Email: press@erg.net

Website: www.eurasianresources.lu

Lafayette, LA – October 01, 2025 – Black Bayou Gas Storage, LLC, a subsidiary of Black Bayou Energy Hub, proudly announces the receipt of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). This authorization marks a pivotal milestone, enabling the construction and operation of the Black Bayou Gas Storage Project, an underground natural gas storage facility situated in Cameron and Calcasieu Parishes, Louisiana.   

The project encompasses the development of four salt dome storage caverns, offering a combined working gas capacity of 34.7 billion cubic feet (Bcf). It is designed to deliver up to 2.0 Bcf per day and inject up to 1.6 Bcf per day, providing rapid cycling capabilities to meet the dynamic demands of the energy market. The storage facility, located within 25 miles of more than 30 Bcf / day of demand from current and planned LNG liquefaction operations,  is supported by a 27-mile looped pipeline header with connections to 10 major interstate pipelines, making the facility one of the most interconnected balancing and wheeling hubs in the Gulf Coast region.  Initial operations for Caverns 1 and 2 are expected in 2028, with Caverns 3 and 4 following by 2030.

FERC’s approval follows a comprehensive environmental review process, including the issuance of an Environmental Assessment on April 18, 2025. The assessment concluded that the project would not significantly impact the environment, provided that the recommended mitigation measures are implemented.  Black Bayou formally accepted the FERC Certificate on August 22, 2025. 

“With strong partners and committed capital, this milestone strengthens our ability to execute at scale, backed by the commercial depth and global market understanding needed to advance this critical infrastructure,” said Tad Lalande, CEO of Black Bayou Energy Hub. “We are advancing toward FID with a contracted portfolio of strategically located gas storage assets underpinned by long term commercial agreements with a diversified portfolio of credit worthy, market leading customers, positioning the project to meet the growing demands of LNG, power, and industrial customers across the Gulf Coast and beyond.”

Mercuria, one of the world’s largest energy traders and a strategic investor in Black Bayou, recognizes the project as a critical enabler of energy system resilience and flexibility, reinforcing its commitment to scaling high-impact transitional energy assets across North America.

Black Bayou Energy Hub has recently mandated Mercuria to provide a fully committed financing facility, expanding Mercuria’s position as a cornerstone capital provider.  This financing facility exemplifies Mercuria’s commitment to be a significant capital provider and highlights its capacity to deliver not only financial solutions but also commercial acumen and market access, supporting the advancement of critical infrastructure projects through FID and beyond.

“Receiving FERC certification is a key inflection point for the Black Bayou Energy Hub,” said Boris Bystrov, Managing Director of Investments at Mercuria. “Strategic infrastructure projects like this are essential to our broader mission of enhancing market efficiency and supporting the energy transition. We are proud to back the development of this highly flexible and commercially significant asset in the heart of the U.S. Gulf Coast.”

Key Project Features:

• Four underground salt dome storage caverns with a total working capacity of 34.7 Bcf.
• Two 27-mile, 24-inch-diameter bi-directional header pipelines.
• Ten interconnect metering and regulation stations.
• A 44,000-horsepower natural gas-powered compressor station.
• A cavern leaching plant with nine freshwater wells and nine saltwater disposal wells.

About Black Bayou Energy Hub

The Black Bayou Energy Hub is an underground salt dome storage development project in Southwest Louisiana.  Ideally located in the heart of LNG Alley and less than 25 miles from the growing industrial demand centers in Lake Charles, LA, and Port Arthur, TX, Black Bayou will provide essential transportation, storage, and balancing services needed to reliably meet the demands of the rapidly growing Gulf Coast energy markets.  Its current partners include Mercuria, Charlestown Energy Partners, Cameron Prairie Sporting Club, and Tomac Cove Investment Partners.

About Mercuria

Established in 2004, Mercuria is one of the world’s largest independent energy and commodity groups, bringing efficiency to the commodity value chain with technology, expertise, and low-carbon solutions. The company established itself as a leader in the energy transition by pledging more than 50 percent of new investments toward renewables and transitional energy. The Group has made significant investments in projects such as renewable power, energy storage, grid optimization, critical transition minerals recycling, and environmental products.

###

Black Bayou Media Contact:

Dan Craig, Chief Commercial Officer: Marketing@BlackBayouEnergyHub.com

NEW YORK – 23 September 2025 – BOTAŞ, the state-owned Turkish corporation responsible for oil and gas trading and infrastructure, and Mercuria, one of the world’s largest independent integrated energy and commodities groups, signed an LNG purchase and sale agreement.

The agreement was attended by Alparslan Bayraktar, the Republic of Türkiye’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, during his visit to the United States for the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Abdulvahit Fidan, BOTAŞ Chairman and General Manager, and Daniel Jaeggi, president and co-founder of Mercuria. 

Under the agreement, BOTAŞ will receive 4 billion cubic meters of natural gas equivalent of LNG per year—mainly during the winter season—both at U.S. loading ports (FOB) and at regasification terminals located in Türkiye, Europe, and North Africa (DES). Deliveries are expected to start in 2026 and continue until the end of 2045.

Speaking on the agreement, Minister Bayraktar said: “Today, we have signed a milestone agreement which will be in place for the upcoming 20 years to deliver US-sourced LNG. We firmly believe that a partnership with Mercuria under such an agreement will enable BOTAŞ to form a significant presence in the global LNG scene. The agreement will also greatly contribute to achieving 100 billion USD of trade volume with the United States.”

Along with recent infrastructure investments and other concluded agreements, the deal is expected to reinforce Türkiye’s long-term energy supply and price security on the LNG side. In addition, the agreement signed with Mercuria will support BOTAŞ’s strategy of becoming a significant player in international LNG trade.

###

August 27th, Beijing – To celebrate outstanding business achievements of Swiss companies in China and mark the 75th Anniversary of Sino-Swiss bilateral relations, the biannual Sino-Swiss Business Awards announced this year’s winners in five award categories during an exclusive gala evening. Organized by SwissCham China, in partnership with the Embassy of Switzerland in China, the event welcomed over 400 distinguished guests, including Swiss President of Council of States Andrea Caroni, Member of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, Vice-Chairman of the Financial and Economic Committee of the National People’s Congress Guo Shuqing, and top political and business leaders from both Switzerland and China.

This year, a new award category was introduced: the Legacy Award, honoring companies with a strong Swiss identity—either Swiss-owned or Swiss-managed—that have operated continuously in China for more than 20 years. These businesses represent the enduring spirit of cooperation and long-term commitment between the two nations.

We are proud to share that Mercuria China, which entered the Chinese market in 2004, was conferred the Legacy Award. The award was presented by Mr. Andrea Caroni, President of the Council of States, to the winning companies. This recognition highlights Mercuria’s long-term commitment to fostering strong Sino-Swiss relations and its dedication to excellence in the Chinese market.

DUBLIN, IRELAND – 27 AUGUST, 2025— TechMet Ltd., a leading critical minerals investment company, today announced additional investment from Mercuria Energy Trading. This new capital brings Mercuria’s total investment in TechMet this year to $68 million, enhancing their position as one of TechMet’s largest shareholders and an important strategic partner.

As part of the new investment with Mercuria, TechMet will establish a new trading arm, TechMet SCM, which will be wholly-owned by TechMet and focus on specialty metals where the company has unique expertise. TechMet and Mercuria will continue to partner on strategic initiatives contributing to Mercuria’s enhanced commitment to bulk metal trading.

Brian Menell, Chairman & CEO of TechMet, said: “Mercuria’s backing adds to TechMet’s growth as we secure Western-aligned supply of the critical minerals that will drive the 21st century economy. TechMet SCM will be instrumental in achieving this objective, vital to both economic growth and national security.”

Kostas Bintas, Global Head of Metals and Minerals at Mercuria, stated: “We are excited about our expanding partnership with TechMet. Their team has unrivalled expertise in critical minerals at a time when securing supply has never been more important.”

TechMet SCM will manage offtakes from TechMet’s portfolio companies as well as third-party producers, leveraging its unique Western-aligned position and unparalleled industry experience. It will build on the success of the joint venture and expand its global footprint with teams in South Korea, Western Europe and Washington D.C. to strengthen partnerships and secure new offtake agreements. Quentin Lamarche will serve as CEO of TechMet SCM.

Quentin Lamarche, CEO of TechMet SCM, said: “I am honoured to lead TechMet SCM into its next chapter. Our mission is to build a world-class trading platform that serves the rapidly growing demand for critical minerals across the energy, technology, aerospace and defence industries. With TechMet’s backing, and supported by our partnership with Mercuria, we are well positioned to deliver impact at scale.”

About TechMet

TechMet Ltd. is a leading global critical minerals investment company with a current portfolio of ten operating companies across four continents that responsibly produce, process, and recycle the minerals that will define and power the 21st century economy. TechMet’s major shareholders include the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), S2G Investments, and Mercuria.

About Mercuria

Established in 2004, Mercuria is one of the world’s largest independent energy and commodity groups, bringing efficiency to the commodity value chain with technology, expertise, and low-carbon solutions. The company established itself as a leader in the energy transition by pledging more than 50 percent of new investments toward renewables and transitional energy. The Group has made significant investments in renewable power, energy storage, grid optimization, critical transition minerals recycling, and environmental products.

About TechMet SCM

TechMet SCM is a global trading, sales, and marketing company focused on critical minerals. As the wholly-owned supply chain management arm of TechMet, TechMet SCM is a Western-aligned entity providing offtake and marketing solutions to producers and transparent supply to end-users across technology, energy, aerospace and defence industries.