Oil news
Brazil, Guyana, Argentina Fuel a New Oil Boom
At the recent gathering of BRICS nations in Brazil, the members’ joint statement contained an interesting assertion. BRICS leaders said that, while recognizing the need for an energy transition, they “acknowledge fossil fuels will still play an important role in the world’s energy mix, particularly for emerging markets and developing economies.” Luckily for BRICS members, they tend to be rather rich in such fuels. A lot of these developing economies are in South America—which also happens to feature some sizable oil…
Categories: Oil news
Can Geothermal Power Save Taiwan From Energy Catastrophe?
Taiwan is facing an energy crisis that could prove existential. Not only is the country’s energy demand outpacing its grid’s capacities, the country is heavily dependent on energy imports, making the island nation highly vulnerable to military blockades from neighboring China. If Taiwan is not able to build up its own energy supply in a hurry, it will become increasingly difficult – if not impossible – to continue resistance against the Chinese agenda to annex the island under its One China policy. Taiwan’s isolated…
Categories: Oil news
Pakistan is Walking a Geopolitical Tightrope
As Pakistan’s military leaders met recently with US President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and special envoy Steve Witkoff at the White House, its regional ally Iran was being hit with a missile barrage from Israel -- Islamabad's main regional adversary and a staunch American ally. Amid escalating regional tensions, the two events highlighted the complex diplomatic chessboard Pakistan faces as it balances relations with rival powers, strained sectarian ties, and strategic interests in a region fraught with shifting alliances,…
Categories: Oil news
Reuters: Saudi Aramco in U.S. Supply Talks with Commonwealth LNG
Saudi Aramco is in advanced talks to acquire 2 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the U.S.-based Commonwealth LNG terminal in Cameron, Louisiana, according to an exclusive Reuters reported on Wednesday. The potential deal would further cement Aramco’s push into the global LNG market as it accelerates efforts to diversify beyond crude oil exports. According to unnamed sources briefed on the matter and cited by Reuters, the proposed offtake agreement would bring Commonwealth’s contracted volume to 7 Mtpa…
Categories: Oil news
Global Copper Stocks Dwindle On Tariff Concerns
The Copper Monthly Metals Index (MMI) moved sideways with an upside bias, rising 2.69% from June to July. Comex Copper Prices Nearing All-Time High on 50% Tariff Reports Comex copper prices resumed their uptrend, ending a brief pause witnessed in early June. As of July 7, the price of copper on the exchange stood $266/mt short of its all-time high from late March. This marks an almost 23% rise since the early April low. However, Comex prices aren’t alone. While LME prices remain far short of the all-time high reached in May 2024, they have…
Categories: Oil news
Why Europe's Wind Energy Edge is at Risk
Henrik Andersen, CEO of Danish wind turbine giant Vestas Wind Systems A/S, has issued a stark warning to European policymakers: without stronger and more cohesive industrial strategies, Europe may lose its edge in renewable energy manufacturing to the U.S. and other regions. “Wind is largely a European creation — born in our universities, tested on our sites,” Andersen told Bloomberg News. “If we don’t protect and support what we’ve built, companies like ours will eventually move out of Europe. It’s that…
Categories: Oil news
Standard Chartered Dismisses ‘Phantom Barrel’ Theory, Sees No Hidden Surplus
Standard Chartered has shot down a rising Wall Street narrative that global oil markets are sitting on a hidden cushion of non-OECD crude, so-called phantom barrels. In its latest Commodity Roadmap released this week, the bank states there is “nothing in trade flows, time structure, or data flow” to support claims of invisible inventory builds, particularly in China or South Africa. The rejection puts StanChart at odds with macro-driven oil bears who argue that low OECD stockpiles are masking oversupply elsewhere. Instead, the bank’s…
Categories: Oil news
Standard Chartered Dismisses ‘Phantom Barrel’ Theory, Sees No Hidden Surplus
Standard Chartered has shot down a rising Wall Street narrative that global oil markets are sitting on a hidden cushion of non-OECD crude, so-called phantom barrels. In its latest Commodity Roadmap released this week, the bank states there is “nothing in trade flows, time structure, or data flow” to support claims of invisible inventory builds, particularly in China or South Africa. The rejection puts StanChart at odds with macro-driven oil bears who argue that low OECD stockpiles are masking oversupply elsewhere. Instead, the bank’s…
Categories: Oil news
Standard Chartered Dismisses ‘Phantom Barrel’ Theory, Sees No Hidden Surplus
Standard Chartered has shot down a rising Wall Street narrative that global oil markets are sitting on a hidden cushion of non-OECD crude, so-called phantom barrels. In its latest Commodity Roadmap released this week, the bank states there is “nothing in trade flows, time structure, or data flow” to support claims of invisible inventory builds, particularly in China or South Africa. The rejection puts StanChart at odds with macro-driven oil bears who argue that low OECD stockpiles are masking oversupply elsewhere. Instead, the bank’s…
Categories: Oil news
Western And Eastern Firms Eye Up New Egyptian Gas Exploration Opportunities
Egypt remains a focus of the West’s strategy to find gas supplies to substitute for those that came from Russia following the 24 February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Its appeal is further enhanced by its key geographical location that gives it enormous influence over vital hydrocarbons transit routes. On top of these considerations, the country also occupies a unique leadership position in the Arab world. It is little wonder, then, that any new hydrocarbons exploration opportunities there excite huge interest from top Western firms, and from…
Categories: Oil news
Baghdad-KRG Oil Deal Stalls Despite Reports of Breakthrough
The long-running oil export dispute between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Erbil over oil exports and public-sector salaries has now deepened, as Iraq’s Cabinet failed to address the issue in its latest session, just a day after media outlets reported that a resolution was near. According to Rudaw, the Council of Ministers on July 8 did not place the oil and salary file on its agenda, dealing a blow to expectations of imminent agreement. This comes despite reports on July 7 that negotiations had reached the “final…
Categories: Oil news
Baghdad-KRG Oil Deal Stalls Despite Reports of Breakthrough
The long-running oil export dispute between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Erbil over oil exports and public-sector salaries has now deepened, as Iraq’s Cabinet failed to address the issue in its latest session, just a day after media outlets reported that a resolution was near. According to Rudaw, the Council of Ministers on July 8 did not place the oil and salary file on its agenda, dealing a blow to expectations of imminent agreement. This comes despite reports on July 7 that negotiations had reached the “final…
Categories: Oil news
Oil Price Cap Debate Stalls EU-Russia Sanctions
The European Union is edging closer to finally adopting its latest sanctions package, the 18th since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine over three years ago. But two items still remain to be negotiated. Firstly, the price cap on Russian oil. It’s still in the draft proposal seen by RFE/RL, but there is a question whether it will remain there. Secondly, there's a Slovak veto on an issue that is related to the sanctions though not directly part of the package. When the European Commission presented the proposed package to EU member…
Categories: Oil news
Turkish Firms to Launch Oil and Gas Exploration Offshore Pakistan
Turkish energy firms will explore for oil and gas offshore Pakistan under agreements with local companies, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said during a visit to Pakistan on Wednesday. “This is one of the outcomes of the more institutionalized approach we are working to establish,” Fidan said, without elaborating on the exploration drilling plans and activities. Turkey and Pakistan are also evaluating potential cooperation in oil and gas exploration and production, mining, and rare earth elements, the minister added. Earlier this…
Categories: Oil news
Turkish Firms to Launch Oil and Gas Exploration Offshore Pakistan
Turkish energy firms will explore for oil and gas offshore Pakistan under agreements with local companies, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said during a visit to Pakistan on Wednesday. “This is one of the outcomes of the more institutionalized approach we are working to establish,” Fidan said, without elaborating on the exploration drilling plans and activities. Turkey and Pakistan are also evaluating potential cooperation in oil and gas exploration and production, mining, and rare earth elements, the minister added. Earlier this…
Categories: Oil news
EIA Backs up API With Shocking Rise of US Crude Oil Inventories
Crude oil inventories in the United States increased by 7.1 million barrels during the week ending July 4, according to new data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) released on Wednesday. The build brings commercial stockpiles to 426 million barrels, still 8% below the five-year average for this time of year. Crude prices were trading down ahead of the report, after the American Petroleum Institute (API) on Tuesday estimated a surprise 7.1-million-barrel build for the week ending July 4 after analysts had estimated a 2.8-million-barrel…
Categories: Oil news
UK Set to Ditch Controversial Plan for Zonal Power Pricing
The UK government is set to drop plans to introduce zonal pricing in the country’s wholesale electricity market, following a backlash from industry saying that splitting the market into geographical areas would damage investments in renewable energy projects, the Guardian reports, citing sources. In one of the most controversial power market reforms considered in the country, the UK government has been considering the so-called zonal pricing for electricity prices in Britain to replace a nationwide pricing system. Under the proposed reform,…
Categories: Oil news
UK Set to Ditch Controversial Plan for Zonal Power Pricing
The UK government is set to drop plans to introduce zonal pricing in the country’s wholesale electricity market, following a backlash from industry saying that splitting the market into geographical areas would damage investments in renewable energy projects, the Guardian reports, citing sources. In one of the most controversial power market reforms considered in the country, the UK government has been considering the so-called zonal pricing for electricity prices in Britain to replace a nationwide pricing system. Under the proposed reform,…
Categories: Oil news
UK Set to Ditch Controversial Plan for Zonal Power Pricing
The UK government is set to drop plans to introduce zonal pricing in the country’s wholesale electricity market, following a backlash from industry saying that splitting the market into geographical areas would damage investments in renewable energy projects, the Guardian reports, citing sources. In one of the most controversial power market reforms considered in the country, the UK government has been considering the so-called zonal pricing for electricity prices in Britain to replace a nationwide pricing system. Under the proposed reform,…
Categories: Oil news
Trump's Tariff Talk Keeps Markets on Edge
The FTSE 100 opened 22 points up this morning, despite threats of pharma and metals tariffs with stark implications for major stocks on the blue chip index. President Trump has said that an announcement is coming “very soon” on pharmaceutical tariffs – with a possible 200 per cent rate landing in “about a year”. Major FTSE 100 pharma stocks have stayed roughly steady at market open following the news overnight. Astrazeneca (AZ) stocks were down 0.37 per cent, while GSK was down 0.11 per cent. …
Categories: Oil news