Oil & Gas

Natural Gas

Natural Gas

Taiwan has received assurances from a'major country' about LNG supplies

Taiwan's economy minister announced on Saturday that the energy minister of a "major country" producing liquefied gas had given Taiwan assurances about supply. He was speaking in relation to the?impact of the Iran War on Middle East energy imports. Taiwan, which is a major producer of semiconductors, relied on Qatar to supply around a third its LNG prior to the conflict. It has now said that it has secured alternative supplies from countries such as Australia and the United States for the months ahead. Kung Ming Hsin, Taiwan's Economy Minister, told reporters in Taipei that Taiwan enjoys good relations with...

Natural Gas

Data centers forced to become more flexible by the US grid

In times of high demand for electricity, the U.S. tech industry is being pressured to reduce its power consumption. This comes amid growing public concerns that Big Tech's massive energy needs in expanding data centers will'max out' the country's electrical grid. When utilities and grid operators ask for it, the power industry and its regulators are increasingly pushing tech companies to make a concession that was previously unthinkable - they're asking them to?scale?back their energy consumption in giant server farms called data centers. The majority of the attempts to make data centres more flexible are in pilot mode. Data centers...

Power Markets

JERA's exec claims that there is no immediate shortage of LNG in Japan, but they are currently in negotiations for additional supply.

JERA, Japan’s largest power generator, is not facing a shortage of liquefied gas, despite the U.S. and Israel’s war against?Iran. However, JERA is in talks with long-term suppliers about possible additional supplies, according to a senior executive on Saturday. Global CEO Yukio KANI said that Japan's biggest LNG buyer, Global, handles around 35 million metric tonnes of super-chilled gas annually. Around 27 million tons of this fuel are used in Japan, with about 5% passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has disrupted the shipping in the'strait', which is a conduit for 80% of the world's fossil fuel?supplies. Kani, speaking...

Energy Markets

Germany releases oil reserves to combat the energy price spike caused by Iran war

Katherina Reiche, Germany's Economy minister, said that the International Energy Agency has recommended the release 400 million barrels from its stockpiles. This is the largest?such move? in IEA's history. Reiche confirmed to reporters in Berlin that the government intends to limit petrol price increases to one per day at filling station and introduce "more stringent antitrust regulations of the sector." She did not provide a definite time frame for these measures but said that the United States, Japan and other countries would contribute the most to the release. Reiche stated that the situation is tense as oil supplies are strained...

Nuclear Power

Greenpeace activists confront Macron at the nuclear summit in France

Two Greenpeace activists rushed onto the stage during a global nuclear summit held in France on February 2, interrupting Emmanuel Macron, President of France and Rafael Grossi, U.N. nuclear watchdog chief. The protesters were dressed in black suits with ties and held banners that bore the Greenpeace logo, and read "Nuclear Power= Energy Insecurity", and "Nuclear Power fuels Russia's War". Macron was shouted by one of the protesters, "Why are we still buying Uranium from Russia?" The president responded, "We produce nuclear power ourselves." According to the latest data from the French government, France not only has its own uranium-enrichment...

Energy Markets

Petronas' profit drops for the third consecutive year as oil price pressures weigh on margins

Petroliam Nasional Bhd, the Malaysian state-owned energy company Petronas, or Petroliam Nasional, reported a profit after tax of 45.4 billion ringgit ($11.68 billion) in 2025 compared to 55.1 billion ringgit in 2024. Revenues fell from 320 million ringgit to 266.1 billion rmb ($68.44billion) over the same period. Petroliam Nasional (or Petronas) reported a profit of $45.4 billion after taxes in 2025, compared to $55.1 billion in 2024. Revenues fell from 320 billion to 266.1 billion Ringgit ($68.44 Billion) during the same time period. Tengku Taufik Tengku, the Chief Executive Officer of Tengku Muhammad Tengku Aziz, said that oil prices were...

Natural Gas

The US AI boom is facing an electric shock

The race for artificial intelligence dominance by Big Tech may soon hit a bump in the road as U.S. power grids struggle with keeping up with hyperscalers who spend big. Microsoft, Amazon and Alphabet, among other technology giants in the US, announced in recent months that they plan to spend $600 billion in AI by 2026. Some investors are already concerned about the profitability of this strategy due to the investment wave. The ambitious U.S. AI plans will be hindered by severe power-infrastructure bottlenecks including turbine shortages and slow grid expansion. The processing and cooling of data centers that are...

Natural Gas Utilities

Shell and Metlen sign a deal for LNG trading and supply.

Metlen, a Greek company, announced on Wednesday that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Shell to collaborate on the supply and trading of liquefied gas. Greek energy companies are seeking to replace Russian gas with U.S. LNG in central and southern Europe. Metlen is a London and Athens listed energy and metals company. The agreement will allow it to trade and secure between 0.5 billion cubic metres of LNG per year from 2027 until '2031. Deliveries are routed through Greece's Revithoussa terminal and Alexandroupolis. The agreement also envisages the use of the Vertical Gas corridor, a route...

Natural Gas

Trump announces that Japan will invest in energy and industrial projects in Ohio Texas and Georgia

The administration of President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that Japan would?finance three projects worth $36 billion, including an oil-export facility in Texas, a diamond plant in Georgia, and a natural-gas power plant in Ohio. Trump stated on Truth Social that the projects were part of Japan's $550 Billion U.S. Investment pledge, as part a trade agreement that reduced Trump's tariffs against Japanese imports by 15%. Trump gave very few details on the projects. In a statement, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated that the Portsmouth, Ohio, power plant would be the world's largest natural gas-fired generation facility with a capacity?9.2...

Oil Equipment

Saudi and US firms partner on northeast Syria Energy Project

Two people who have direct knowledge of the plan say that Saudi Arabian and U.S. firms will form a consortium to explore and produce oil and gas in northeastern Syria. Sources said that Baker Hughes, Hunt Energy, and Argent LNG plan to partner with TAQA on the project. The project would cover four to five exploration blocks in the northeastern area. The project is the latest in an array of large-scale business deals that have spanned Syria's entire economy, since the former autocrat Bashar Al-Assad was overthrown by Islamist rebels who became rulers a year earlier and after the U.S....

Natural Gas

EUROPE GAS - Prices rise on colder weather and weaker winds

Dutch and British wholesale gasoline prices rose Friday morning due to colder weather forecasts, and a weaker wind output. The benchmark 'Dutch front month contract at TTF hub increased by 1.16 euros to 34.97 Euros per Megawatt Hour (MWh) as of 0925 GMST, according to LSEG data. LSEG data shows that the contract reached a high intraday of 35.17 during earlier trading, its highest level since August 1, last year. The Dutch March price was 0.69 euros higher, at 33.42 Euros/MWh. The UK price for February was 3.67 pence more expensive? at 91.17 pennies per therm. This week, prices have...

Energy Markets

Prices for EUROPE GAS rise and reverse earlier losses

Dutch wholesale gas prices increased on Wednesday. They reversed earlier losses due to concerns about liquefied gas (LNG) supply if tensions escalate in Iran. LSEG data shows that the benchmark Dutch front-month 'contract' at TTF hub is up?1.42 Euros?at 32.55 Euros per megawatt hour by 1213 GMT. This is the highest level recorded since October 7, last year. The Dutch March rate was 31.66 Euros/MWh, an increase of 1.28 euros. The British day-ahead contract was down 0.40 pennies at 82.80 pence/therm. Iran warned its neighbours that it could strike U.S. military bases if Washington interferes with protests, despite the fact...

Environment

Energy Markets

Big Tech invests in next-generation nuclear power as AI demand soars

Big Tech has reshaped the funding landscape of new nuclear technologies. It is seeking to boost electricity supply for power hungry AI data centers. Deals are being signed that offer both?funding for nuclear companies and a more clear path to make money. A number of?U.S. The U.S. is developing modular reactors which are smaller, more advanced and more scalable than conventional nuclear power plants. But no commercial electricity has been produced yet due to challenges like financing and unique risks. The sector is gaining momentum due to the need to provide enough energy to power the data centers in the...

Mineral Resources

Fortescue, Australia's Fortescue, will accelerate diesel elimination plans in Pilbara

Fortescue, an Australian mining company, announced on Friday that it was accelerating the rollout of its 'off-grid green energy system' to 'eliminate fossil fuels from Pilbara mines, especially diesel. The world's largest mining companies rely on diesel as their primary energy source, but it is expensive, volatile and carbon-intensive. Therefore, they are increasingly looking to replace this with renewable power. By the end of 2028 it is expected that the world's fourth largest iron ore mining company will have completed its Pilbara Green Grid, including a 1.2 gigawatt solar power, more than 600 megawatts of wind energy and 4-5 GW...

Mining

Greenland's prime minister rejects Trump's remarks as NATO tensions increase

Greenland's Premier Jens-Frederik Nielsen stated on Thursday that he represents an?advanced nation seeking to?maintain the global order. He was responding to the latest remarks about the Arctic Island by U.S. president Donald Trump. Trump vented his frustration on Wednesday with NATO, as relations reached a point of crisis?over Iran war. He stated that the military alliance wasn't?around when it was needed and that he remembered Greenland still, a "BIG POORLY RUN, PIECE ICE". Nielsen said: "What's important to us is maintaining the 'world community' that we built after World War Two, where we have a defence alliance that we respect...

LNG

Pollution

Electric Utilities

How AI has sabotaged clean-air initiatives in one of America’s most polluted city

Barbara Johnson, an organizer for Metropolitan Congregations United in North St. Louis' mostly Black neighborhoods, has been fighting coal pollutants for decades. The group is one of many activist groups that are campaigning for cleaner pollution in a city with some of the dirtiest air in the nation. Johnson believed that things would get better because the federal soot standard, adopted by Biden in 2024, was scheduled to take effect in 2027. This meant that plants had to reduce emissions or close. Ameren Labadie Energy Center, one of the region's largest polluters, would have been forced to reduce its soot...

Pollution

Investors pressure Amazon, Microsoft, and Google over water and power usage in US data centres

Amazon, Microsoft, and Alphabet’s Google all abandoned the construction of multi-billion dollar?data centres due to community opposition. Now the companies face shareholder pressure regarding the environmental impact of the?projects. Interviews with have revealed that more than a dozen shareholders are putting pressure on tech companies to provide data about their water consumption and conservation efforts, as they look to increase computing power. Andrea Ranger said that Trillium Asset Management of Boston, with assets of more than $4 billion, had filed a shareholder resolution in December asking Alphabet to clarify how it would meet its existing climate goals, given the increasing...

Pollution

US agencies monitor drinking water for microplastics and pharmaceuticals

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Health and Human Services announced on Thursday that they would monitor the 'impact of microplastics and pharmaceutics on 'drinking -water. This is the first step towards assessing the health risks and forming new policies. The announcement by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. was hailed as a victory for President Donald Trump’s "Make America healthy Again" agenda, whose goals have included reducing childhood vaccines recommended and promoting whole -foods in the new dietary guidelines. The EPA has now included microplastics, pharmaceuticals, and other contaminants on its sixth...

Carbon Emissions

Stellantis and China's Leapmotor sign a carbon credit deal for Europe and UK

Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology entered into an agreement to transfer carbon credits generated in Europe and the UK over the remainder of 2026 to Stellantis subsidiaries. The agreement covers all credits generated from the sale and registrations of battery electric vehicles, range-extended models and electric cars under 'the Leapmotor Brand' between March 31 and December 31, said a company filing in an exchange on Tuesday. Leapmotor said that the deal would help it expand its revenue sources as well as fulfill its "corporate social responsibility". Stellantis and Leapmotor have a joint venture to sell the Chinese electric vehicle maker's vehicles in...

Crude Oil

Mexican Navy says that a petroleum tanker and natural seabed are likely to be responsible for Gulf Coast spill

Mexican officials confirmed on Thursday that an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is due to both natural 'causes' and a petroleum 'tanker, which authorities are attempting to identify. Raymundo Morales is the Mexican navy's head. He said that satellite images showed an oil slick near the coast and that any of the 13 vessels which had passed by the area may have been responsible. Morales stated that four of the vessels were still in Mexican waters, and being inspected by the Navy. Mexico has asked for international assistance to inspect the nine remaining vessels, which are now in...

Pollution

Research shows that battery-electric cars will reach 23% of the market in EU and Norway by 2026.

As EVs get cheaper and emissions targets are met, the market will be supported by a battery-electric vehicle share of 23% in 2026 in 'the European Union and Norway and a share of?28% in '2027. European 'campaign' groups say Europe is on the right track in its transition to electric vehicles and that it can be profitable for the carmakers. They pushed the European Commission last December to reverse the effective ban on the sale of new internal combustion engines cars starting 2035. T&E stated that 'battery-electric cars prices have fallen in average by 4 percent in 2025 due to...

Pollution

Europol's operation against illegal waste trade leads to arrests of more than 330 people

Europol announced on Wednesday that more than 330?people?were arrested in 70?countries as part of a crackdown against organised crime 'networks' accused of?trafficking illicit waste?in Europe and exporting them to Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The authorities seized 127.149 metric tonnes of waste and 602 tons of polluting agents, along with 75 tons?of plant protection chemicals and 2.3 tons?of mercury, as well as nearly?10 millions euros ($11.6 million) of cash and bank account. Officials said that the seized 'waste' could have generated illicit profits of at least 31 million euros. The Guardia Civil of Spain, which was involved in the operation...

Pollution

China plans to reduce carbon dioxide emissions per unit GDP by approximately 3.8% in 2026

According to documents released by the Chinese government on Thursday, China will reduce its carbon intensity - or carbon emissions per unit gross domestic product - by 17% in its current five year plan. This is an acceleration of the previous period between 2020 and '2025. China's new five-year plan released on Thursday called for the replacement of 30 million metric tonnes per year with renewables, and pushing towards peak coal. However, it did not set further limits on coal use. China's carbon intensity was reduced by 12% during the five-year plan which ended last year. According to a report...

Pollution

Argentina is voting to relax glacier protections as it pushes for mining investments

Despite growing protests by environmental groups, Argentine legislators are preparing to pass sweeping amendments that would 'loosen a glacier protection act from 2010'. President Javier Milei is seeking to?unlock millions of dollars worth of mining investment. The proposed reform is driven by a change in?authority?over glacier protection. The current Glacier Law protects all glaciers that are identified by a scientific inventory. Activities such as oil exploration, mining and infrastructure development in these areas are prohibited. The bill that the Argentine Senate will debate on Thursday would allow each province to establish its own standards in protecting glaciers and their periglacial...

Pollution

Verona protests ahead of Olympics closing ceremony

The protest was against the housing costs, and the environmental concerns associated with the Winter Games. The "Olympics?" rally was organized by university groups and associations that oppose hosting an event they say disrupts forests, pours concrete onto fragile land and deepens social inequality. The rally, "Olympics? "We're here to protect our territory against speculation...and from the impossible cost of attending events," Giannina, a 76 year old activist said. Tickets were priced between 950 euros and 2,900 euros. The ceremony began at 8:30 pm (1930 GMT), inside Verona’s ancient Roman Arena. The banner said: "Fewer Games, more homes." Francesca (34),...

Pollution

US orders restrictions on new FEMA disaster deployments during DHS shutdown

Internal messages obtained by showed that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which is under the administration of President Donald Trump, has ordered the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to suspend the deployment of hundreds of relief workers in disaster-affected regions around the country. FEMA, which is a part of DHS, has been operating largely despite the partial shutdown. The shutdown occurred after Republicans and Democrats were unable to reach an agreement?on immigration reforms. DHS has issued an order to stop all DHS-funded travel as of 2/18/26. This will last until the end of the budget lapse. According to an...

Carbon Emissions

California and Connecticut prepare a 'attack' on Trump's repealing of US climate regulations

Attorneys General from California and Connecticut have announced a "multi-state plan of attack" to combat President Donald Trump's decision to repeal the federal climate regulation for'vehicles'. The Environmental Protection Agency rescinded last week the "endangerment findings" which said that greenhouse gas emissions from cars endanger the public's health. Trump called this "the biggest deregulatory measure in the history of the United States." Connecticut Attorney General William Tong stated in an interview that "we're going to take action" and described efforts to determine standing, claims, and other elements of the?suit. "We are putting together the best possible plan of action." The...

Wind Farms

Power Markets

New York files suit against the Trump administration for a halt on two offshore wind project

New York's Attorney General sued the Trump Administration on Friday over the suspension of construction on two offshore?wind farms that it says are needed to power a million homes and reduce the state's reliance on fossil-fuels. Letitia J., New York's Attorney General, has filed two separate lawsuits asking the federal court in Washington not to allow President Donald Trump's freeze of federal offshore leases owned by Equinor from Norway and Orsted from Denmark on December 22, 2018. The Interior Department said that it had halted the project due to complaints from?the Pentagon, that wind turbines can cause radar interference which...

Wind Farms

Japan’s KEPCO Buys Majority Stake in Ireland’s Simply Blue Energy

Japan’s Kansai Electric Power Co. (KEPCO) has signed a share subscription agreement with Ireland’s Simply Blue Group’s offshore wind development arm, Simply Blue Energy OSW (SBE OSW).The strategic investment marks KEPCO’s first investment involving management participation in an offshore wind developer.KEPCO will acquire a majority stake in SBE OSW through its wholly owned subsidiary, KPIC Netherlands BV.Simply Blue Energy OSW is actively engaged in multiple offshore wind projects across Europe and elsewhere and possesses extensive experience and expertise in offshore wind development from the early stages of project formation.With KEPCO’s investment, SBE OSW aims to accelerate the expansion of its...

Renewable Fuels

L&T Joins Hitachi Energy to Support TenneT’s 2GW Offshore Wind Grid Scheme

India’s EPC contractor Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has been hired to deliver High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) converters in support of the Dutch-German transmission system operator (TSO) TenneT’s 2GW offshore wind grid program in the North Sea.Collaborating with Hitachi Energy, a global technology leader in electrification, L&T has been nominated by TenneT to deliver HVDC converter stations, as part of the initiative that aims to accelerate the integration of large-scale renewable energy into the European power grid, particularly across the German and Dutch sectors of the North Sea.The collaboration brings together complementary strengths in advanced technology, engineering excellence, and end-to-end...