In a move that fuses domestic revival with international strategy, the Trump administration has greenlit the expansion of Montana’s Bull Mountains coal mine—unlocking nearly 60 million tons of coal destined for key U.S. allies Japan and South Korea. The approval, announced Friday by the Department of the Interior, comes under …
Read More »Africa’s Biggest Refinery Boosts U.S. Crude Oil Purchases
The Dangote oil refinery in Nigeria, Africa’s largest crude processing facility, has been buying increasing volumes of U.S. crude WTI despite the fact that Nigeria is the biggest crude oil producer in Africa. But Africa’s top OPEC member has been struggling to materially boost domestic crude output, so the 650,000-barrels-per-day …
Read More »Venezuela Replaces U.S. Oil Giants with Chinese and Argentine Firms
Venezuela hasn’t waited long to replace Western service providers in its oil industry after the U.S. sanctions, and has signed at least nine agreements with foreign firms, including from China, sources with knowledge of the deals told Bloomberg. Under the U.S. sanctions, Western oil producers were given time until May …
Read More »Trade War and Rising Oil Supplies Weigh on Crude Prices
Worries over the health of the global economy amid escalating trade protectionism together with an accelerated unwind of OPEC+ output cuts pushed Brent crude to a four-year low of $60/bbl in early May – though prices have risen off their lows. Responding to the weaker economic outlook, the IEA downgraded …
Read More »Tariffs and Turmoil Undermine Trump’s Oil and Gas Promises
When U.S. President Donald Trump came into office in January, he promised to back greater oil and gas production, doubling down on his “drill, baby, drill” catch phrase. He rapidly introduced executive orders aimed at encouraging new oil and gas exploration across the country while reining in the renewable energy …
Read More »China Schools the West on EVs
In April this year, China’s BYD hit a first–it sold more cars in Europe than Tesla. Of course, one reason for this was EV fans’ reaction to Elon Musk’s political endeavors, but another was that BYD’s EVs were simply better and more affordable. And now Western carmakers want to learn …
Read More »Turkey’s First Floating Gas Platform Reaches Black Sea Port
Turkey’s first floating natural gas production platform, Osman Gazi, arrived Saturday at Filyos Port in Zonguldak on Turkey’s Black Sea coast. The massive platform was sent off from the Presidential Dolmabahce Office in Istanbul on May 29 — the 572nd anniversary of Istanbul’s conquest — in a ceremony attended by …
Read More »U.S. Ethane Exports Face Licensing Hurdles after China Lifts Tariffs
China has waived a short-lived 125% tariff on U.S. ethane imports, but American shipments to China could be hindered by a U.S. requirement of export licenses. Ethane, a natural gas liquid primarily extracted from raw natural gas during processing, is mainly used as a feedstock for ethylene production, one of …
Read More »China’s Metal Exports Surge Stirring Global Markets
Chinese mills are churning out steel, aluminum and even refined copper at near-record levels and sending the surplus abroad, a trend steel industry analysts say could pressure industrial metal prices in the United States. After a year of lagging domestic demand, China’s exports of construction and manufacturing metals have surged, …
Read More »Elon Musk Says Oil is “Small-Time”
With six little words, Elon Musk has relegated the oil industry to a historical footnote. This, despite the oil industry underpinning the workings of the entire world. “Compared to solar, oil is small-time,” Musk posted on X, delivering a withering verdict on the fossil fuel era. No charts, no caveats. …
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