Germany’s government will launch a comprehensive review of its energy transition strategy as it seeks to curb some of Europe’s highest electricity prices, improve supply security, and integrate more flexible gas-fired power into its energy mix, Economy Minister Katherina Reiche said on Wednesday.

The announcement reflects growing pressure on Berlin to tackle rising energy costs that have eroded industrial competitiveness and emerged as a top issue in the country’s February federal election.

China and India approved the construction of the largest amount of new coal-fired power capacity in a decade in 2024, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), underscoring how energy security concerns are colliding with climate ambitions in the world’s two most populous nations.

In its World Energy Investment 2025 report, the Paris-based agency revealed that China approved nearly 100 gigawatts (GW) of new coal plants last year, while India sanctioned 15 GW — pushing global coal project approvals to their highest level since 2015. The approvals highlight a growing trend among large emerging economies to shore up domestic power systems amid rising electricity demand and geopolitical energy risks.

U.S. energy developer Glenfarne Group announced on Tuesday that more than 50 global firms have formally expressed interest in participating in its $44 billion Alaska LNG project, signaling revived momentum for a project long considered economically challenging. The surge of interest follows renewed political backing from President Donald Trump, who has made LNG exports a cornerstone of his administration’s energy diplomacy — particularly targeting allies in Asia.

The proposed 800-mile pipeline would transport natural gas from the North Slope of Alaska to an LNG export facility in Nikiski, on the Gulf of Alaska. The project, under discussion since the 1970s, is now being positioned as a strategic infrastructure initiative that could reshape trans-Pacific energy flows.