Nexans, a global leader in cable system manufacturing, has secured €250 million in financing from the European Investment Bank (EIB), a portion of which is earmarked for a major new copper production and recycling facility at its historic site in Lens, northern France.

A press release said that the new plant is being built on the same site as Nexans’ existing copper production facility in Lens, northern France. This investment—over €90 million of which is directed to the site—will leverage existing operational expertise. The development is an expansion at the Lens location ​that began copper casting operations in 1971. Once operational, the new plant will increase copper wire production by over 50% and will have annual capacity to recycle up to 80,000 metric tons of copper annually.

The initiative was described as a strategic component of both France’s national reindustrialization agenda and the European Union’s REPowerEU. The project was recognized as part of France’s “France 2030” plan for forward-looking industrial modernization. The Lens site is already France’s only copper rod foundry, and the additional capacity is seen as vital for securing copper supplies and advancing Europe’s circular economy. Nexans projects that, by 2028, a quarter of its cable output from Lens will use recycled copper sourced and refined on-site.​

Beyond Lens, the EIB financing will also support investments at Nexans’ sites in Charleroi, Erembodegem, Calais, and Bourg-en-Bresse, targeting the offshore wind sector, submarine interconnections, and low-carbon cable production. These moves underscore Nexans’ commitment to the energy transition and its Science Based Targets initiative for carbon neutrality.​

Sterlite Electric Ltd., a prominent member of India’s expansive Sterlite group, plans to enter the public market with an IPO designed to accelerate its domestic manufacturing footprint and further global ambitions—including supply to U.S. utilities and infrastructure projects.

A press release described Sterlite Electric as “the leading products and solutions division of Sterlite,” responsible for manufacturing high-voltage overhead conductors, advanced power cables (HVAC and HVDC), and Optical Ground Wire (OPGW), plus providing master system integration for transmission and distribution networks.

Sterlite Electric stands apart from both the U.S.-based Sterling Electric Inc.—which is solely focused on electric motors and gear reducers—and from other divisions within the greater Sterlite group, such as Sterlite Power Transmission (which develops transmission infrastructure assets, often with BOT models in India and Brazil) and Sterlite Technologies, a fiber-optics leader with a dedicated U.S. factory (STL) supplying the telecom market. The IPO relates directly to Sterlite Electric’s products business, constituting a substantial core segment rather than a small specialty operation.

The company exports regularly to over 70 countries, and noted that substantial order volumes come from U.S. customers seeking advanced grid components and transmission solutions. Its products—ranging from high-capacity AL59 conductors to smart grid optical cabling—have found utility in major American power projects, reinforcing Sterlite Electric’s status as a genuine participant in the U.S. wire and cable market, not just a peripheral global supplier.

Proceeds from the IPO, likely valued at around $180 million, will primarily fund a new power cable factory in Gujarat’s Vadodara and help reduce corporate debt, enhancing the company’s debt-equity position and supporting ambitious expansion plans. Of the 15.6 million shares to be offered, half will be freshly issued, with strong institutional investor interest anticipated. At least 75% of the issue is reserved for qualified institutional buyers, including potential North American investors.

COFICAB Americas has upgraded its cable capabilities at its Mexico operations, where it has begun upcasting production at one of its nine plants in the Americas.

A posting on LinkedIn announced that COFICAB Americas has begun producing its own copper for the first time at its plant in Durango, Mexico. The new upcasting production line represents a significant step toward manufacturing autonomy and enhanced supply stability for the company’s automotive wire and cable operations across North America. The line is from Finland’s UPCAST Oy. A second line was also ordered.

COFICAB states that reintegrating copper production into its process closes the loop on its supply chain and enables it to apply circular economy principles. It will reduce waste, improve efficiency and lower consumption of natural resources while maintaining consistent, high-quality raw material input, and furthers COFICAB’s commitment to responsible manufacturing practices and environmental stewardship at its Mexican facilities.​

Durango has long been a strategic hub for COFICAB Americas, serving as its headquarters for eight production units and an R&D center throughout the region. In 2018, the company had a $50 million launch of the Ciudad Juárez plant, which became one of its largest global sites and a major supplier of automotive harness wire for OEM and tier-one manufacturers throughout the Americas.​

COFICAB joins a select group of cable manufacturers committed to integrating materials sourcing and production. By using its own copper and distributing finished wire and cable from its Mexican facilities, the company can more effectively support critical supply timelines and quality standards for automotive and industrial customers throughout North and South America.

“As our ninth plant in the Americas, this investment reaffirms COFICAB role as a trusted partner and a forward-looking company, building the sustainable future we all deserve,” the release said. Within Mexico, COFICAB’s presence in Durango and Juárez places capacity near harness makers and OEM supply chains, facilitating program ramps and just‑in‑time delivery for regional platforms.

Prysmian has been selected by SP Transmission plc and National Grid Electricity Transmission plc, owners of the electricity transmission systems in Great Britain, as the preferred bidder for the Eastern Green Link 4 (EGL4) high voltage direct current (HVDC) cable connection.

A press release said that contract negotiations are ongoing and further communications will be provided in due course. The value is estimated at around €2 billion.

The project, which will connect Scotland and England via the North Sea, will play a central role in further strengthening the U.K.’s energy security. EGL4 will help make the U.K. energy grid more resilient for the future, while facilitating the transition to cleaner and more affordable energy.

Prysmian has considerable experience in such interconnection projects in the U.K., including Eastern Green Link 1 and 2 as well as the Viking Link project, which is the longest high voltage underground and submarine interconnection cable in the world.

Per the customer, EGL4 will require approximately 646 km of cable in total. This includes both the subsea section between Kinghorn, Fife (Scotland) and Anderby Creek or West Norfolk (England), and associated onshore underground cable sections at either end. Of this total, the subsea part is about 530 km, with additional underground cable segments bringing the combined installed cable length to around 646 km for the entire project.