UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon Rachel Reeves, has announced a record £2.5 billion in additional funding this week to advance the development of the world’s first fusion power plant.
The prototype facility, known as STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production), will be constructed on the site of the former West Burton A coal power station, located near Retford and Gainsborough. Selected by the government in 2022, the site is set to host a transformative project expected to create over 10,000 jobs, spanning construction, engineering, and plant operations.
The announcement underscores the UK government’s strong commitment to becoming a global leader in clean energy, leveraging innovation in a region long associated with traditional power generation.
A pioneering scientific initiative, STEP will use fusion technology by combining hydrogen isotopes—deuterium and tritium—and heating them to temperatures exceeding 150 million degrees Celsius. These gases are confined within a powerful magnetic field to initiate fusion. The resulting energy produces steam to drive a turbine, generating electricity in a process similar to that of conventional power plants.
Paul Methven CB, CEO of UK Industrial Fusion Solutions—the organization leading the delivery of the STEP prototype fusion energy power plant—welcomed the funding boost, stating: “The UK is currently at the forefront of global fusion energy research, and STEP is the flagship programme designed to move fusion from the lab to commercial reality. It will generate high-quality jobs, create valuable spin-off technologies, and deliver significant economic benefits—both nationally and for the East Midlands, where the first plant will be built."
"Securing a global leadership position in such a critical emerging technology demands bold action. The government has shown that boldness today, and we’re excited to move forward with the practical steps that will turn this ambitious vision into reality, placing the UK at the heart of this transformative new sector,” -- he added.
The end of coal power in Nottinghamshire was marked by the closure of Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station in late 2024. With the creation of STEP in West Burton, Nottinghamshire’s “Megawatt Valley” will continue to be at the heart of the UK’s energy production - whilst leading the world in creating the green, sustainable energy of the future.
Azerbaijan has unveiled plans to export renewable electricity to Türkiye through the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, with a projected capacity of up to 1 gigawatt.
Azerbaijan showcased its green transition plan at the Copenhagen Ministerial, targeting 30% renewable energy by 2030. The country also secured a $300 billion climate finance pledge and helped finalize a key carbon market agreement, highlighting its growing role in global climate action.
In a boost for the green transition in the Middle East and North Africa, a joint guarantee agreement worth €300 million to facilitate the green transformation of urban areas and support the development of green hydrogen market in the Middle East and North Africa has been signed.
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) officially confirmed that 2024 was a record year for renewables additions to global power capacity. Renewables represented more than 92 per cent of all new electricity generation capacity installed last year.
The Air Astana Group informs passengers of changes to certain scheduled and charter flight routes due to the closure of Iranian and Iraqi airspace, the airline said in a statement.
U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Iran to reach a deal on its nuclear program, warning that more violence could follow after Israel’s latest strikes on Iranian targets.
A Hezbollah official says the group will not act independently in response to Israeli strikes on Iran, expressing solidarity with Tehran but stopping short of direct retaliation.
A delegation from the EBRD’s Board of Directors will visit Kazakhstan from 16 to 20 June 2025
Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) has cancelled certain flights scheduled for 13th and 14th June amid recent escalation of situation in the Middle East and the closure of airspace in several countries for security reasons.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 8th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay is in critical condition after being shot three times — including twice in the head — during a campaign event in Bogotá.
Pakistan will begin its first freight train service to Russia from Lahore on June 22. The route is part of the INSTC and aims to connect Pakistan's rail network with Central Asia, establishing a new trade corridor via Iran, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan and the UK are strengthening defense ties with a new Military Cooperation Plan, focusing on peacekeeping and military education.
A 30-year-old woman was shot by police in Munich on Saturday evening after stabbing two people at Theresienwiese, a central park best known for hosting Oktoberfest.
A historic May heat wave pushed Greenland’s ice melt to 17 times its average rate and sent Iceland’s temperatures soaring to record-breaking highs, raising urgent alarms about Arctic climate vulnerability.
Climate change could slash over 5% from Italy’s GDP by 2050 if no action is taken, according to the national budget watchdog, highlighting the urgent need for global emissions cuts.
At least seven people have died and several schoolchildren are missing after heavy rain and snow triggered flooding in South Africa’s Eastern Cape and southern regions, officials said Tuesday.
A new study warns that the emperor penguin population in Antarctica is shrinking faster than expected, with numbers falling by 22% over 15 years due to climate change and unstable sea ice.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres opened the Third United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, calling on the world to stop plundering the oceans.
The Air Astana Group informs passengers of changes to certain scheduled and charter flight routes due to the closure of Iranian and Iraqi airspace, the airline said in a statement.
U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Iran to reach a deal on its nuclear program, warning that more violence could follow after Israel’s latest strikes on Iranian targets.
A Hezbollah official says the group will not act independently in response to Israeli strikes on Iran, expressing solidarity with Tehran but stopping short of direct retaliation.
A delegation from the EBRD’s Board of Directors will visit Kazakhstan from 16 to 20 June 2025
Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) has cancelled certain flights scheduled for 13th and 14th June amid recent escalation of situation in the Middle East and the closure of airspace in several countries for security reasons.
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