The European Union is moving to create its first coordinated stockpile of critical minerals, initially targeting tungsten, rare earths, gallium and likely magnesium, germanium and graphite, with storage talks under way with the Port of Rotterdam as a central logistics hub. Ten member states, led by planning groups in Italy, France and Germany, are designing the scheme amid concerns over China’s export controls on gallium, germanium and graphite and its dominance in rare earth magnet supply, which covers about 93% of EU wind turbine permanent magnets. For miners and processors, the plan signals stronger EU-backed offtake certainty but also sharper scrutiny of permitting bottlenecks, as shown by delays at the Chvaletice manganese project despite its Strategic Project status.

Financing for the 3.2GW Sizewell C nuclear plant has been criticised by the UK National Audit Office, which says the Regulated Asset Base (RAB) model and £700M of direct government investment place more risk on taxpayers and bill-payers than Contracts for Difference used on other low‑carbon projects. The NAO estimates consumer benefits will not exceed costs until after 2060, well beyond the station’s planned early‑2030s commissioning. For civil and nuclear contractors, the findings signal prolonged political and regulatory scrutiny of cost overruns, schedule risk and allowable returns.

The UK government is introducing the Small Business Protections Bill (Commercial Payments Bill) to parliament, imposing a statutory 60‑day cap on payment terms for large firms and mandatory interest on late payments to smaller suppliers. The bill grants the Small Business Commissioner new powers to investigate, adjudicate and levy fines worth tens of millions of pounds on persistent late payers. For construction, a planned ban on cash retentions could significantly alter contract structures, cashflow management, and security arrangements for defects and incomplete works.