Prysmian boosts high-voltage workforce in Scotland - 5 Aug 2026

As of August 5, today's news focuses on Prysmian's strategic acquisition in Scotland, alongside impactful developments from the energy sector and emerging global trends. Prysmian has acquired an established Scotland-based training facility for high voltage cable jointers in North Ayrshire, bringing more than 20 apprentice jointers and the experienced training staff into the Prysmian organization, the company said in a statement. This academy will enhance Prysmian capabilities and strengthen the development of specialist cable jointing skills. It will support installation and IMR operations in the UK, and across Europe, helping to ensure the availability of highly trained personnel involved in the delivery of the underground and subsea high voltage transmission cable projects that provide critical power grid infrastructure as part of the energy transition. Turning to market updates, Siemens Energy reported record third-quarter sales, margins and orders today, driven by demand for gas turbines from expanding AI data centres in the United States and power plant projects in the Middle East. Those trends, along with governments increasingly turning to gas to cut emissions, have fuelled demand for power plants and related equipment in what some industry executives have described as a "super cycle”. Meanwhile, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has won Japanese government support for three projects to develop next-generation nuclear reactor technologies, including advanced light water reactors and small modular reactors, Mitsubishibroader macro trends, Hungary is facing an unprecedented energy crunch due to record low water levels in the Danube River, forcing reductions in power consumption amid a severe drought. The government has encouraged households and businesses to cut back usage significantly to relieve stress on the power grid. This situation underscores the challenges posed by climate change, urging a reassessment of energy resource management. In international developments, tensions in the Black Sea have escalated, with a surge in attacks on shipping and export terminals disrupting global grain and oil supplies. Such conflicts are compounding issues already seen in major trade routes, further straining global commodity flows. The role of the Black Sea as a vital conduit for exports from both Russia and Ukraine highlights the complexities of the current geopolitical landscape and its consequences on agriculture and energy markets.