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The history of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), their danger to the ozone layer, and the drive to replace them reminds me of an observation from former CBS news correspondent and commentator Eric Sevareid: "[T]he real cause of problems is solutions." When chemists F. Sherwood Roland and Mario Molina asked where chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) go after leaking from refrigerators and air conditioners or being intentionally released from aerosol cans, they did not know that the answer would lead to the world-shaking discovery that these chemicals were threatening…
Abu Dhabi’s national oil company, ADNOC, keeps making headlines again, not only when looking at upstream but also in its LNG strategic operations. At present, the oil and gas giant’s quiet acceleration in LNG shipping is often treated as merely a capacity add. Mainstream media is focusing on factors such as increased hulls, greater flexibility, and improved service for export projects. This focus is, however, too narrow, as the UAE’s national champion is not simply expanding its fleet. ADNOC is clearly establishing the physical…
Ford and General Motors (GM) have both announced plans to venture into the world of energy storage, following in the footsteps of the electric vehicle (EV) giant Tesla. The two U.S. automakers have big plans for business expansion, which could drive down EV manufacturing costs, reduce reliance on imports, and expand their portfolios. The U.S. EV market is growing at a slower pace than anticipated as the Trump administration waters down aims set by the previous government to restrict the sale of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and incentivise…
A right-wing group pushing the province of Alberta to secede from Canada has ramped up a petition campaign aimed at achieving independence after meeting with officials from the Trump administration. The group has already held three meetings with officials from the State Department, where they’ve discussed the logistics of a potential secession from Canada, including border security, switching over to U.S. currency and how their radical plan can benefit the United States. Volunteer canvassers have set a target to collect approximately 177,000…
Crude oil prices began trade with a decline today, set for the second consecutive weekly loss as fears of a U.S.-Iran escalation faded. At the time of writing, Brent crude was trading at $67.36 per barrel, with West Texas Intermediate at $62.66 per barrel, both essentially unchanged on Monday but down from higher levels seen earlier in the week. “Signs the U.S. is seeking more time to reach a nuclear deal with Iran, reducing the near-term geopolitical risk premium,” have pressured prices, according to IG analyst Tony Sycamore, as quoted…
