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EnQuest launches bid for Serica Energy

Serica Energy and EnQuest are in discussions about a possible transaction to combine the two companies. According to a company statement, the board of Serica believes that a combined company will have greater scale and diversification, as well as unlocking synergies and providing a stronger platform for further growth. Although discussions are ongoing, the transaction […]

Serica Energy and EnQuest are in discussions about a possible transaction to combine the two companies.

According to a company statement, the board of Serica believes that a combined company will have greater scale and diversification, as well as unlocking synergies and providing a stronger platform for further growth.

Although discussions are ongoing, the transaction will likely be structured as an all share offer by EnQuest for Serica by way of a reverse takeover under the UK Listing Rules.

This would involve a return of capital to existing Serica shareholders conditional upon completion of the transaction, and that Serica shareholders would hold a majority of the shares in the enlarged company with shares listed on the equity shares (commercial companies) (ESCC) of the London Stock Exchange.

The Serica Energy statement added that there is currently no certainty either that an offer will be made, nor as to the terms on which such offer will be made.

EnQuest will need to make a firm intention of an offer for Serica or that it does not intend to make such an offer by 4 April 2025, though this deadline can be extended.

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SolarWinds buys Squadcast to speed incident response

Squadcast customers shared their experiences with the technology. “Since implementing Squadcast, we’ve reduced incoming alerts from tens of thousands to hundreds, thanks to flexible deduplication. It has a direct impact on reducing alert fatigue and increasing awareness,” said Avner Yaacov, Senior Manager at Redis, in a statement. According to SolarWinds,

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European Commission Proposes to Extend Gas Storage Regulation to 2027

The European Commission has formally proposed to prolong to 2027 a regulation requiring that natural gas storage facilities in the European Union be at least 90 percent full by November each year. “In the current geopolitical context and volatile situation in the global gas markets, this 2-year extension will contribute to ensuring continued security of energy supply across the EU and stability of the European gas market”, the Commission said in an online statement. “It will notably ensure that the EU prepares for the upcoming winter seasons in a coordinated manner”. The Gas Storage Regulation was adopted June 2022 at the height of the energy crisis. It will expire at the end of 2025. “The EU’s significant gas storage capacities and EU storage facilities are the main supply source of gas in winter, ensuring 30 percent of EU winter supply”, the Commission added. “Enabling companies to purchase and store cheaper gas in summer, when demand is lower in the EU, helps to make energy more affordable for EU citizens”. The regulation has helped the 27-member bloc resolve gas shortages and provided a cushion against market uncertainties and price volatility, says the proposal published on the Commission’s website. While the current situation has improved compared to 2022-23, “the European gas market remains tight”, thus the need to continue storing gas, according to the proposal. “More intense competition for global LNG supplies can increase Member States’ exposure to price volatility”, the proposal says. “The gas price development during the 2024/2025 winter may confirm the trend”. The regulation contains intermediary filling targets for the months of February, May, July and September. “Predictable filling trajectories increase transparency and prevent market distortion”, the proposal says. According to the intermediary targets this year, as announced by the Commission November 29, 2024, most member states including top gas consumers Germany, Italy and

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EnQuest launches bid for Serica Energy

Serica Energy and EnQuest are in discussions about a possible transaction to combine the two companies. According to a company statement, the board of Serica believes that a combined company will have greater scale and diversification, as well as unlocking synergies and providing a stronger platform for further growth. Although discussions are ongoing, the transaction will likely be structured as an all share offer by EnQuest for Serica by way of a reverse takeover under the UK Listing Rules. This would involve a return of capital to existing Serica shareholders conditional upon completion of the transaction, and that Serica shareholders would hold a majority of the shares in the enlarged company with shares listed on the equity shares (commercial companies) (ESCC) of the London Stock Exchange. The Serica Energy statement added that there is currently no certainty either that an offer will be made, nor as to the terms on which such offer will be made. EnQuest will need to make a firm intention of an offer for Serica or that it does not intend to make such an offer by 4 April 2025, though this deadline can be extended. Recommended for you Saipem and Subsea7 unveil €20bn merger plan

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Aramco CEO Says Company Is Deploying AI Tech at Scale

In Saudi Aramco’s latest results statement, which was posted on the company’s site this week, Aramco President and CEO Amin H. Nasser said Aramco is “adopting and deploying AI technologies and solutions at scale” across its operations. Nasser outlined in the statement that this is “unlocking greater efficiencies and value creation throughout” the company. In a statement posted on Aramco’s site in September, Aramco’s EVP of Technology & Innovation, Ahmad Al-Khowaiter, said “new digital technologies such as generative AI and the Industrial Internet of Things are expected to transform not only how we work, but also our commercial environment”. “Aramco is pioneering the use of these technologies at an industrial scale to add significant value across our operations. Our history of innovation inspires us to continue harnessing emerging technologies and help realize the Kingdom’s ambitions to become a global AI leader,” he added. The statement posted on Aramco’s site in September noted that, during the Global AI Summit (GAIN) – which took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in September 2024 – Aramco signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with Cerebras Systems and FuriosaAI to explore collaboration in the supercomputing and AI domains. It said another MoU signed with Rebellions focuses on potential deployment of the latter’s Neural Processing Unit chips in Aramco’s data centers, with a view to enhancing digital infrastructure and driving advanced AI innovations, and noted that Aramco signed another MoU with SambaNova Systems to explore ways to accelerate AI capabilities, innovation, and Kingdom-wide adoption. “Aramco also announced the deployment of an AI supercomputer, one of the first systems of its kind in the region,” Aramco added in that statement. “Powered by some of the most powerful NVIDIA Graphical Processing Units (GPUs), it is designed to accelerate complex computing tasks like analyzing drilling plans and geological data to recommend

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ICYMI: Secretaries Wright and Burgum Join American Energy Workers in Applauding President Trump’s Leadership & Historic Investment in American Energy Infrastructure

PLAQUEMINES PARRISH, LOUISIANA—U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, both leaders of the National Energy Dominance Council (NEDC), today joined more than a thousand American energy workers at Venture Global’s Plaquemine LNG Export facility to highlight the impacts of President Trump’s energy agenda. The secretaries joined Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and Venture Global CEO Mike Sabel in delivering remarks before touring the facility and speaking to the press. Thanks to President Trump’s commitment to restoring American energy dominance and day one reversal of the Biden-Harris LNG export permit ban, Sabel announced today that Venture Global would be making an additional $18 billion expansion to the Plaquemine LNG Export facility – making the facility the largest in the United States. Less than 50 days into the Trump administration, American energy companies are producing more energy here in the U.S. – lowering prices, providing good-paying jobs, strengthening local communities, and bolstering America’s national security. In case you missed it, remarks from Secretary Wright and Burgum are below: Secretary Wright: America is back. You, all of you here today, are bringing America back, making us greater and making us stronger. I could not be more humbled and proud to stand among you today. God bless what you do today and what you do every day. I want to also thank President Trump. He worked tirelessly, even putting his own life at risk to go back to Washington to become our president again, to bring commonsense back to Washington, DC. It all left the city. He brought back common sense with a simple agenda unleash American energy, unleash American business, and unleash the American spirit. And I see it here today with all of you. He’s from the East Coast. He’s a real estate developer. But instinctually he gets

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Dana Petroleum cancels Western Isles FPSO purchase

Dana Petroleum has terminated an agreement with NEO Energy to purchase the Western Isles floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel. The decision follows the agreement reaching its longstop date at the end of February 2025. NEO Energy was looking to buy the vessel to work on the Greater Buchan field as part of the Buchan Horst joint venture. The group held 23% of the FPSO, and was looking to buy Dana Petroleum’s 77% holding. Buchan Horst is 50% owned and operated by NEO Energy, with Serica Energy holding 30%, and Jersey Oil and Gas holding the remaining 20%. Jersey Oil & Gas CEO Andrew Benitz commented: “The route to unlocking the Buchan development continues to depend on achieving satisfactory conclusions in respect of the on-going fiscal and regulatory consultations. “The fiscal consultation was kicked off yesterday and encouragingly, while the details are yet to be fleshed out, it was apparent that the government has heard many of the concerns of the industry.” Development of the Buchan Horst project was pushed back in light of the Finch ruling, with its consultation not expected to conclude until spring this year. Recommended for you Buchan work slows with North Sea firms in ‘holding pattern’ over policy uncertainty

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China Energy Imports Down at Start of 2025

Chinese energy imports broadly fell at the start of 2025, after last year’s record shipments of coal and gas created an overhang of supply and demand for oil continued to ease. Crude oil imports fell 5 percent on-year in January and February to 83.85 million tons as buyers had to scout for alternative supplies after the US tightened sanctions on Russian and Iranian cargoes. Chinese demand is in particular focus this year after imports declined in 2024 for the third time this decade, underscoring how consumption is being undermined by the country’s energy transition and shifts in its economy. Metals imports also saw sharp drops. The trade figures combine the first two months of the year to smooth distortions caused by the irregular timing of the Lunar New Year holiday. Faltering industrial demand and a mild winter curbed China’s appetite for power and heating fuels. Natural gas imports fell 7.7 percent, and while coal imports rose 2.1 percent, they were much lower than the peaks hit in the second half of last year. China’s coal market remains saddled with massive oversupply, which is likely to hinder inbound shipments through the year.  Gas demand is also moderating due to a slowing economy and cheaper alternatives. Liquefied natural gas imports, which make up well over half of foreign supplies, fell to a five-year low in February, according to data from Kpler, as traders diverted cargoes to take advantage of higher European prices. For metals, copper fell 7.2 percent as demand weakened and China produced more of its own supply, while iron ore plunged 8.4 percent after cyclone disruptions to supply from Australia. Last year’s record imports of the steel-making material could prove a high-water mark as port inventories remain elevated, while China’s plan to cut steel output this year should weigh on demand.  Among exports, aluminum continued to sag after China ended

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Seven important trends in the server sphere

The pace of change around server technology is advancing considerably, driven by hyperscalers but spilling over into the on-premises world as well. There are numerous overall trends, experts say, including: AI Everything: AI mania is everywhere and without high power hardware to run it, it’s just vapor. But it’s more than just a buzzword, it is a very real and measurable trend. AI servers are notable because they are decked out with high end CPUs, GPU accelerators, and oftentimes a SmartNIC network controller.  All the major players — Nvidia, Supermicro, Google, Asus, Dell, Intel, HPE — as well as smaller vendors are offering purpose-built AI hardware, according to a recent Network World article. AI edge server growth: There is also a trend towards deploying AI edge servers. The Global Edge AI Servers Market size is expected to be worth around $26.6 Billion by 2034, from $2.7 Billion in 2024, according to a Market.US report. Considerable amounts of data are collected on the edge.  Edge servers do the job of culling the useless data and sending only the necessary data back to data centers for processing. The market is rapidly expanding as industries such as manufacturing, automotive, healthcare, and retail increasingly deploy IoT devices and require immediate data processing for decision-making and operational efficiency, according to the report. Liquid cooling gains ground: Liquid cooling is inching its way in from the fringes into the mainstream of data center infrastructure. What was once a difficult add-on is now becoming a standard feature, says Jeffrey Hewitt, vice president and analyst with Gartner. “Server providers are working on developing the internal chassis plumbing for direct-to-chip cooling with the goal of supporting the next generation of AI CPUs and GPUs that will produce high amounts of heat within their servers,” he said.  New data center structures: Not

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Data center vacancies hit historic lows despite record construction

The growth comes despite considerable headwinds facing data center operators, including higher construction costs, equipment pricing, and persistent shortages in critical materials like generators, chillers and transformers, CRBE stated. There is a considerable pricing disparity between newly built data centers and legacy facilities, reflecting the premium placed on modern, energy-efficient infrastructure. Specifically, liquid/immersion cooling is preferred over air cooling for modern server requirements, CRBE found. On the networking side of things, major telecom companies made substantial investments in fiber in the second half of 2024, reflecting the growing need for more network infrastructure and capacity to accommodate growing demand from AI and data providers. There have also been many notable deals recently: AT&T’s multi-year, $1 billion agreement with Corning to provide next-generation fiber, cable and connectivity solutions; Comcast’s proposed acquisition of Nitel; Verizon’s agreement to acquire Frontier, the largest pure-play fiber internet provider in the U.S.; and T-Mobile’s entry into the fiber internet market via partnerships with fiber-optic providers. In the quarter, Meta announced plans for a 25,000-mile undersea fiber cable that would connect the U.S. East and West coasts with global markets across the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans. The project would mark the first privately owned and operated global fiber cable network. Data Center Outlook

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AI driving a 165% rise in data center power demand by 2030

Goldman Sachs Research estimates the power usage by the global data center market to be around 55 gigawatts, which breaks down as 54% for cloud computing workloads, 32% for traditional line of business workloads and 14% for AI. By 2027, that number jumps to 84 GW, with AI growing to 27% of the overall market, cloud dropping to 50%, and traditional workloads falling to 23%, Schneider stated. Goldman Sachs Research estimates that there will be around 122 GW of data center capacity online by the end of 2030, and the density of power use in data centers is likely to grow as well, from 162 kilowatts per square foot to 176 KW per square foot in 2027, thanks to AI, Schneider stated.  “Data center supply — specifically the rate at which incremental supply is built — has been constrained over the past 18 months,” Schneider wrote. These constraints have arisen from the inability of utilities to expand transmission capacity because of permitting delays, supply chain bottlenecks, and infrastructure that is both costly and time-intensive to upgrade. The result is that due to power demand from data centers, there will need to be additional utility investment, to the tune of about $720 billion of grid spending through 2030. And then they are subject to the pace of public utilities, which move much slower than hyperscalers. “These transmission projects can take several years to permit, and then several more to build, creating another potential bottleneck for data center growth if the regions are not proactive about this given the lead time,” Schneider wrote.

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Top data storage certifications to sharpen your skills

Organization: Hitachi Vantara Skills acquired: Knowledge of data center infrastructure management tasks automation using Hitachi Ops Center Automator. Price: $100 Exam duration: 60 minutes How to prepare: Knowledge of all storage-related operations from an end-user perspective, including planning, allocating, and managing storage and architecting storage layouts. Read more about Hitachi Vantara’s training and certification options here. Certifications that bundle cloud, networking and storage skills AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional The AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional certification from leading cloud provider Amazon Web Services (AWS) helps individuals showcase advanced knowledge and skills in optimizing security, cost, and performance, and automating manual processes. The certification is a means for organizations to identify and develop talent with these skills for implementing cloud initiatives, according to AWS. The ideal candidate has the ability to evaluate cloud application requirements, make architectural recommendations for deployment of applications on AWS, and provide expert guidance on architectural design across multiple applications and projects within a complex organization, AWS says. Certified individuals report increased credibility with technical colleagues and customers as a result of earning this certification, it says. Organization: Amazon Web Services Skills acquired: Helps individuals showcase skills in optimizing security, cost, and performance, and automating manual processes Price: $300 Exam duration: 180 minutes How to prepare: The recommended experience prior to taking the exam is two or more years of experience in using AWS services to design and implement cloud solutions Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Data Center The Cisco CCIE Data Center certification enables individuals to demonstrate advanced skills to plan, design, deploy, operate, and optimize complex data center networks. They will gain comprehensive expertise in orchestrating data center infrastructure, focusing on seamless integration of networking, compute, and storage components. Other skills gained include building scalable, low-latency, high-performance networks that are optimized to support artificial intelligence (AI)

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Netskope expands SASE footprint, bolsters AI and automation

Netskope is expanding its global presence by adding multiple regions to its NewEdge carrier-grade infrastructure, which now includes more than 75 locations to ensure processing remains close to end users. The secure access service edge (SASE) provider also enhanced its digital experience monitoring (DEM) capabilities with AI-powered root-cause analysis and automated network diagnostics. “We are announcing continued expansion of our infrastructure and our continued focus on resilience. I’m a believer that nothing gets adopted if end users don’t have a great experience,” says Netskope CEO Sanjay Beri. “We monitor traffic, we have multiple carriers in every one of our more than 75 regions, and when traffic goes from us to that destination, the path is direct.” Netskope added regions including data centers in Calgary, Helsinki, Lisbon, and Prague as well as expanded existing NewEdge regions including data centers in Bogota, Jeddah, Osaka, and New York City. Each data center offers customers a range of SASE capabilities including cloud firewalls, secure web gateway (SWG), inline cloud access security broker (CASB), zero trust network access (ZTNA), SD-WAN, secure service edge (SSE), and threat protection. The additional locations enable Netskope to provide coverage for more than 220 countries and territories with 200 NewEdge Localization Zones, which deliver a local direct-to-net digital experience for users, the company says.

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Inside the Nuclear Race for Data Center Energy with Aalo Atomics CEO Matt Loszak

The latest episode of the DCF Show podcast delves into one of the most pressing challenges facing the data center industry today: the search for sustainable, high-density power solutions. And how, as hyperscale operators like Google and Meta contend with growing energy demands—and, in some cases, resistance from utilities unwilling or unable to support their expanding footprints—the conversation around nuclear energy has intensified.  Both legacy nuclear providers and innovative startups are racing to secure the future business of data center giants, each bringing unique approaches to the table. Our guest for this podcast episode is Matt Loszak, co-founder and CEO of Aalo Atomics, an Austin-based company that’s taking a fresh approach to nuclear energy. Aalo, which secured a $29.5 million Series A funding round in 2024, stands out in the nuclear sector with its 10-megawatt sodium-cooled reactor design—eliminating the need for water, a critical advantage for siting flexibility. Inspired by the Department of Energy’s MARVEL microreactor, Aalo’s technology benefits from direct expertise, as the company’s CTO was the chief architect behind MARVEL. Beyond reactor design, Aalo’s vision extends to full-scale modular plant production. Instead of just building reactors, the company aims to manufacture entire nuclear plants using prefabricated, LEGO-style components. The fully modular plants, shipped in standard containers, are designed to match the footprint of a data center while requiring no onsite water—features that could make them particularly attractive to hyperscale operators seeking localized, high-density power.  Aalo has already made significant strides, with the Department of Energy identifying land at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) as a potential site for its first nuclear facility. The company is on an accelerated timeline, expecting to complete a non-nuclear prototype within three months and break ground on its first nuclear reactor in about a year—remarkably fast progress for the nuclear industry. In our discussion,

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Microsoft will invest $80B in AI data centers in fiscal 2025

And Microsoft isn’t the only one that is ramping up its investments into AI-enabled data centers. Rival cloud service providers are all investing in either upgrading or opening new data centers to capture a larger chunk of business from developers and users of large language models (LLMs).  In a report published in October 2024, Bloomberg Intelligence estimated that demand for generative AI would push Microsoft, AWS, Google, Oracle, Meta, and Apple would between them devote $200 billion to capex in 2025, up from $110 billion in 2023. Microsoft is one of the biggest spenders, followed closely by Google and AWS, Bloomberg Intelligence said. Its estimate of Microsoft’s capital spending on AI, at $62.4 billion for calendar 2025, is lower than Smith’s claim that the company will invest $80 billion in the fiscal year to June 30, 2025. Both figures, though, are way higher than Microsoft’s 2020 capital expenditure of “just” $17.6 billion. The majority of the increased spending is tied to cloud services and the expansion of AI infrastructure needed to provide compute capacity for OpenAI workloads. Separately, last October Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said his company planned total capex spend of $75 billion in 2024 and even more in 2025, with much of it going to AWS, its cloud computing division.

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John Deere unveils more autonomous farm machines to address skill labor shortage

Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn More Self-driving tractors might be the path to self-driving cars. John Deere has revealed a new line of autonomous machines and tech across agriculture, construction and commercial landscaping. The Moline, Illinois-based John Deere has been in business for 187 years, yet it’s been a regular as a non-tech company showing off technology at the big tech trade show in Las Vegas and is back at CES 2025 with more autonomous tractors and other vehicles. This is not something we usually cover, but John Deere has a lot of data that is interesting in the big picture of tech. The message from the company is that there aren’t enough skilled farm laborers to do the work that its customers need. It’s been a challenge for most of the last two decades, said Jahmy Hindman, CTO at John Deere, in a briefing. Much of the tech will come this fall and after that. He noted that the average farmer in the U.S. is over 58 and works 12 to 18 hours a day to grow food for us. And he said the American Farm Bureau Federation estimates there are roughly 2.4 million farm jobs that need to be filled annually; and the agricultural work force continues to shrink. (This is my hint to the anti-immigration crowd). John Deere’s autonomous 9RX Tractor. Farmers can oversee it using an app. While each of these industries experiences their own set of challenges, a commonality across all is skilled labor availability. In construction, about 80% percent of contractors struggle to find skilled labor. And in commercial landscaping, 86% of landscaping business owners can’t find labor to fill open positions, he said. “They have to figure out how to do

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2025 playbook for enterprise AI success, from agents to evals

Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn More 2025 is poised to be a pivotal year for enterprise AI. The past year has seen rapid innovation, and this year will see the same. This has made it more critical than ever to revisit your AI strategy to stay competitive and create value for your customers. From scaling AI agents to optimizing costs, here are the five critical areas enterprises should prioritize for their AI strategy this year. 1. Agents: the next generation of automation AI agents are no longer theoretical. In 2025, they’re indispensable tools for enterprises looking to streamline operations and enhance customer interactions. Unlike traditional software, agents powered by large language models (LLMs) can make nuanced decisions, navigate complex multi-step tasks, and integrate seamlessly with tools and APIs. At the start of 2024, agents were not ready for prime time, making frustrating mistakes like hallucinating URLs. They started getting better as frontier large language models themselves improved. “Let me put it this way,” said Sam Witteveen, cofounder of Red Dragon, a company that develops agents for companies, and that recently reviewed the 48 agents it built last year. “Interestingly, the ones that we built at the start of the year, a lot of those worked way better at the end of the year just because the models got better.” Witteveen shared this in the video podcast we filmed to discuss these five big trends in detail. Models are getting better and hallucinating less, and they’re also being trained to do agentic tasks. Another feature that the model providers are researching is a way to use the LLM as a judge, and as models get cheaper (something we’ll cover below), companies can use three or more models to

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OpenAI’s red teaming innovations define new essentials for security leaders in the AI era

Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn More OpenAI has taken a more aggressive approach to red teaming than its AI competitors, demonstrating its security teams’ advanced capabilities in two areas: multi-step reinforcement and external red teaming. OpenAI recently released two papers that set a new competitive standard for improving the quality, reliability and safety of AI models in these two techniques and more. The first paper, “OpenAI’s Approach to External Red Teaming for AI Models and Systems,” reports that specialized teams outside the company have proven effective in uncovering vulnerabilities that might otherwise have made it into a released model because in-house testing techniques may have missed them. In the second paper, “Diverse and Effective Red Teaming with Auto-Generated Rewards and Multi-Step Reinforcement Learning,” OpenAI introduces an automated framework that relies on iterative reinforcement learning to generate a broad spectrum of novel, wide-ranging attacks. Going all-in on red teaming pays practical, competitive dividends It’s encouraging to see competitive intensity in red teaming growing among AI companies. When Anthropic released its AI red team guidelines in June of last year, it joined AI providers including Google, Microsoft, Nvidia, OpenAI, and even the U.S.’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which all had released red teaming frameworks. Investing heavily in red teaming yields tangible benefits for security leaders in any organization. OpenAI’s paper on external red teaming provides a detailed analysis of how the company strives to create specialized external teams that include cybersecurity and subject matter experts. The goal is to see if knowledgeable external teams can defeat models’ security perimeters and find gaps in their security, biases and controls that prompt-based testing couldn’t find. What makes OpenAI’s recent papers noteworthy is how well they define using human-in-the-middle

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