Rates & oil shock: RBA assistant governor Sarah Hunter says inflation is still the board’s top priority and another rate hike is on the table if oil-driven cost pressures keep prices stronger than forecast. Market mood: ASX sentiment is hit by renewed oil strength and housing worries, with the S&P/ASX 200 slipping below 9,000 as investors price higher-for-longer rates. Grid-scale storage: Samsung wins AEMO grid clearance for its 100MW/400MWh Mangoplah battery near Wagga Wagga, aiming to support system strength and reliability as the NEM transitions. Renewables performance: Rystad Energy reports Australia’s solar curtailment nearly halves in August as PV output climbs to monthly records, with batteries helping. Gas project moves: Santos buys an extra 3.3% in Papua LNG for $262m, lifting its stake to 21% ahead of a likely final investment decision in the September quarter. Critical minerals momentum: Sunrise Energy Metals surges 20% as investors position for a widely expected final investment decision on its NSW scandium project. Regional energy risk: Indonesia’s El Niño-fuelled wildfire and haze crisis worsens, threatening air quality across South-East Asia.