Today's Energy Pulse

Oil prices tumble over 5% after Rubio backs Iran talks
Crude prices dropped more than 5% following Senator Marco Rubio's comment that the United States will give Iran every chance to succeed in negotiations. The slide pushed WTI below $89 a barrel as markets priced in renewed hopes for a diplomatic deal.
Also developing:

Three Oil Supertankers Sail Through the Strait of Hormuz
Two Chinese supertankers and a Greek vessel sailed through the Strait of Hormuz hours after a fragile US‑Iran ceasefire, marking the busiest day of oil exits since the conflict halted traffic six weeks ago. The three ships together can transport about 6 million barrels of crude, still well below normal volumes. The Chinese tankers, the Cospearl Lake and He Rong Hai, are the first from Beijing observed loading Persian Gulf oil, while the Greek Serifos loaded in Saudi Arabia. All followed Iran‑mandated northern routes away from traditional lanes, underscoring a strategic shift in shipping patterns.

The Energy Transition Isn't Dead. Here Are 2 Green Stocks Worth Buying This Month.
The recent Strait of Hormuz crisis has underscored the fragility of fossil‑fuel markets, reviving interest in the energy transition with a stronger focus on nuclear power. Constellation Energy, the United States’ largest nuclear operator, runs 21 reactors and a diversified...

A Panicked Race for Barrels Grips the Global Oil Market
Traders in the North Sea submitted 40 bids for physical crude last week, but only four offers materialized, forcing spot cargoes to change hands at record‑high prices above $140 a barrel. The scramble for immediate supplies has spilled into distant...

Global Energy Shortages Drive Renewed Reliance on Coal
Disruptions to oil and gas flows, especially the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, are prompting Asian and European nations to revive coal as a quick‑fix energy source. Global coal consumption has risen by roughly 1.3 billion tons since 2020, driven...
West Asia Tensions Push up Costs for India; Further Impact Hinges on Stability: Report
India’s trade with West Asia totals $220 billion in FY 25, but imports—especially energy—far outpace exports, creating a sizable deficit. Ongoing tensions in the region have already lifted logistics costs and inflation, with the report estimating that each $10 per barrel rise...

Data Centers Adopt Direct 800‑Volt DC for Efficiency
Most data centers use AC power, converting it to DC at the server level. But as demand rises for fast, efficient computing, there’s less room for power loss. New designs convert power from the grid directly to 800-volt DC power,...

Fuel Supply 'Stable', Ministry Says as Shell Flags Demand Spikes
Malaysia’s Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry affirmed that the nation’s fuel supply is stable and sufficient despite recent concerns. Deputy Minister Datuk Dr Fuziah Salleh said the government is closely monitoring temporary disruptions at some petrol stations as...

Windfall Levy on Export Bound Diesel, ATF Raised
India’s Finance Ministry has sharply increased the windfall levy on export‑bound diesel to ₹55.5 per litre (about $0.67) from ₹21.5 per litre, a 158% rise, and raised the levy on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) to ₹42 per litre (≈$0.51) from...

Govt Hikes Export Duty on Diesel to ₹55.5/litre; ATF to ₹42/Litre From Today — Check Details
On 11 April 2026 the Indian government raised the windfall export duty on diesel to ₹55.5 per litre (about $0.67) and on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) to ₹42 per litre (about $0.51), effective immediately. The hike follows an earlier increase in...
Novorossiysk Restarts Oil Loadings At Reduced Capacity After Drone Strike
Russia’s Black Sea hub at Novorossiysk has resumed oil loadings but only on a single berth after a Ukrainian drone strike forced a full shutdown earlier this week. The Sheskharis terminal is handling roughly 80,000 tons of cargo, a fraction...
Costco to Launch Large‑Format Standalone Gas Stations, Starting in California
Costco announced a new standalone gas‑station concept, beginning with a 40‑pump site in Mission Viejo, California. The fuel‑only format separates traffic from its warehouses, promises faster service and leverages Kirkland Signature gasoline to attract price‑sensitive members.
India's CEA Targets 1,121 GW Power Capacity by 2035‑36, 70% From Renewables
India's Central Electricity Authority released a National Generation Adequacy Plan that seeks to lift installed power capacity to 1,121 GW by 2035‑36, with 70% (786 GW) coming from non‑fossil sources. The plan highlights a 500 GW solar target, a modest rise in coal...
Iran War Triggers Biggest Gas Price Jump in Six Decades, Fueling U.S. Inflation Surge
U.S. gasoline prices leapt 21% in March, the largest monthly increase in six decades, as the Iran war disrupted oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz. The surge drove consumer inflation to 3.3% year‑over‑year, raising concerns for the Federal Reserve...

GasBuddy Warns $4 Gas May Not Be the Ceiling
U.S. gasoline prices topped $4 per gallon on April 8, reaching a $4.16 national average—the highest level since summer 2022. The surge stems from a U.S.–Iran conflict that crippled Strait of Hormuz traffic, pushing West Texas Intermediate crude to about $113 per...

Iran Situation Update - A Show of Good Faith on Hormuz?
U.S. Vice President JD Vance arrived in Islamabad on Thursday to lead a delegation in cease‑fire negotiations with Iran, accompanied by special envoy Steve Witkoff and former White House adviser Jared Kushner. The talks come after Iran has ignored all...
Here's What the Futures Markets Are Saying About Oil and the Conflict in the Persian Gulf
Oil futures are trading in backwardation, indicating near‑term supply concerns as the Strait of Hormuz remains partially closed. Roughly 34 % of global crude normally passes through the strait, and the curve suggests traders view the disruption as temporary. The market’s...
Saturday Links: Denying Scientific Consensus
The latest Saturday Links roundup curates dozens of stories spanning electric vehicles, energy, climate, AI, and culture, highlighting accelerating market shifts and policy moves. Off‑lease EVs are flooding the used‑car market as gasoline prices rise, while Ukraine’s drones are chipping...
Why Do Cities Continue To Accept Rising Utility Prices?
A new Building Decarbonization Coalition report finds that accelerated spending on gas‑distribution infrastructure, which has more than tripled since 2010, is the primary driver of soaring utility bills in the United States. Infrastructure costs now represent roughly 70% of residential...

LNG Will Play a Major Role in Trump’s ‘Energy Fortress America’
President Trump’s push for an “Energy Fortress America” puts U.S. LNG at the core of his energy agenda. Iran’s missile strike forced QatarEnergy to declare force majeure, pulling roughly 17% of global LNG capacity offline and prompting a rush to...
Why East Africa Fuel Crisis Will Linger After Iran War Ceasefire
East Africa's fuel shortage will persist despite a two‑week Gulf ceasefire, as the region depends on refined imports from the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda's reserves are expected to run out by mid‑May, prompting rationing...

Energy Prices Surge, Sparking Crises Across Europe and Developing Nations
This reporting from The Guardian gives us a feel for the growing pressures in Europe as energy prices remain high. The situation is worse in some developing countries, where physical shortages are already occurring. #economy #MiddleEastWar #oil #energy @guardian

Data Centers and Gas Demand Make Boring Pipelines Great Again
Williams Companies will break ground on the Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) pipeline on April 14, marking the first new gas pipe in New York in over a decade. The project reflects a broader resurgence in U.S. natural‑gas pipeline construction driven by...

Record Number of Homes in Great Britain Turn to Green Energy as Fuel Prices Soar
British households are rapidly adopting solar panels, heat pumps and electric vehicles as the Iran‑driven surge in oil and gas prices pushes the typical dual‑fuel tariff up 18% to about £1,929 ($2,450) per year. Octopus Energy reported heat‑pump orders more...

U.S. Oil Production Increases Vulnerability to Price Shocks
Being a top producer doesn’t insulate the U.S. from oil shocks It amplifies exposure. Oil is priced globally, and the U.S. economy is more oil-intensive than its peers, so higher prices hit harder. Those who think the US is less affected are...

Bearish Engulfing Signals Potential Oil Top, Await Confirmation
$USOIL - The weekly bearish engulfing candle is further evidence to what I claimed since the March 9 top, that a major top was in. Technically, it hasn't been confirmed yet. That will happen only when the price of oil...

Clean Energy Driving the Uptake of Ion Exchange Membranes
Ion exchange membranes, essential for green hydrogen, fuel cells and carbon capture, are set to drive a booming market that will surpass $2.9 billion in annual revenue by 2035, according to IDTechEx. Innovations such as ultrathin films, composite reinforcement, co‑extrusion and...

Brent Front‑month Crashes, 12‑month Spread Narrows
Brent futures 12-month spread narrowed $16.45 (48%) 6-month spread widened $15.36 (54%) for the week ending April 10 Front-month price fell $13.83 (13%) from $109.03 to $95.20 #energy #OOTT #oilandgas #WTI #CrudeOil #fintwit #OPEC #Commodities #commoditiesmarket https://t.co/gqclIvmfUr
Fossil Firms Favor GWP100 to Dodge Real Climate Action
Fossil companies support GWP100 over GWP20 because GWP100 allows them to do nothing about air pollution or global warming-to continue spewing BC, CH4 & O3 precursors & proposing fake solutions to CO2 (carbon capture, direct air capture, blue H2, electro...
CleanSpark's Texas Land Deal Boosts Houston Real Estate Amid AI Push
CleanSpark Inc. saw its shares jump over 5% after reporting record Bitcoin output and confirming a February-closed land acquisition near Houston for a hyperscale data‑center. The 447‑acre site, part of a broader 1.8 GW power portfolio, signals a new wave of...
Natural Gas Isn’t a Viable Car Fuel, only Electricity
I didn't say anything about natural gas @NGLFundamentals @RKelanic didn't either in her article except as part of electric power generation 👇 https://t.co/R5Mz43vnmO
Bauer Solar Unveils 480W Back‑Contact Solar Module
Bauer Solar launches 480 W back-contact solar module #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/oCciheOsPl
Ukraine Can Play Useful Role in Strait of Hormuz, Britain Says
Britain says Ukraine can play a useful role in securing the Strait of Hormuz, praising its drone technology as among the world’s best. The UK has convened more than 30 nations to discuss reopening the strait after Iran’s blockade choked...

China’s Power Surge Outpaces US, Boosting Geopolitical Clout
China added 1,514 GW of power capacity in 4 years. The US added just 161 GW. ENERGY CAPACITY = GEOPOLITICAL POWER. https://t.co/mIUmWJOAqL

War Validates Obama: Iran Must Be Managed, Not Negotiated
This war has proven Obama's conclusion that the Iran problem must be MANAGED @citrinowicz We have lost 8 years since Netanyahu & Trump threw away the JCPOA We will never get a deal that good now And Hormuz is lost ART OF THE...
U.S. Inflation Jumps as Gas Prices Surge Amid Iran Conflict
Consumer prices climbed 3.3% year‑over‑year in March, the biggest annual rise since May 2024, as gasoline surged 21% amid the Iran war’s impact on oil markets. The spike sharpens pressure on the Federal Reserve and raises near‑term cost burdens for...
Trump’s Oil Exports Could Spike U.S. Gas Prices
I wonder what Trump will do when he realizes that selling U.S. oil overseas raises gas prices here. I assume no one will ever tell him.
India's Jag Vikram First Flagged Vessel Through Hormuz Post Ceasefire
LPG tanker Jag Vikram crosses Strait of Hormuz; first India-flagged vessel to transit after Iran-U.S. ceasefire - https://t.co/OIwmmT9Xpw
Iran War Triggers Strait Toll, Helium Shortage and 20% U.S. Gas Spike, Stoking Global Inflation
The Iran‑Israel‑U.S. conflict has forced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, prompting a new toll regime and choking oil‑linked supply chains. Helium shipments from Qatar, India’s LPG imports and U.S. gasoline prices have all surged, driving U.S. inflation up...
Supply Chains Face New Test: Hormuz Free Passage or Toll?
Dating back to the pandemic, the world is again learning of supply chains. But the lessons/takeaways if and when the Strait of Hormuz is opened? As free passage or a toll for Iran.
Longi Launches Global Service Network for Integrated Energy
Longi to build global service network for integrated energy strategy #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/HSF7jKS1NI
Reduced Odds Trump Would Enforce Oil Export Ban
Let’s look on the bright side—all else equal, this probably reduced the odds Trump imposed an oil export ban.
Hormuz Crisis: Shipping Stalled, Energy Flows Disrupted
The Strait of Hormuz isn’t “closed.” It’s worse than that. Shipping isn’t returning. Energy flows are broken. Confidence is gone. Dispatch 107 - Hormuz Reality Check, is out now. Exclusive to gCaptain Club Members: https://t.co/k7iXw2TSrB

Iran Conflict Sparks UK Solar Sales Surge
The Iran war is driving a solar boom in the UK. @OctopusEnergy reports solar sales up 54% in March alone. @edfenergy says residential sales are running at double last spring's rate. Every rooftop solar installation is a vote against fossil fuel price...

Energy Self‑sufficiency Shifts Oil Shock Costs to Consumers
We’ve seen this movie before, but not on the same technology. In the 1970s, an oil shock made America poorer overall. Today we’re far more energy self-sufficient, so the big story is less national collapse and more who gets stuck...

Ceasefire Hope Boosts Risk Appetite, Rallies Equities
Week Ahead: Hope Springs Eternal: Hope that the ceasefire will lead to the end of the Middle East war fanned risk appetites in recent days. Equities rallied broadly. May WTI and June Brent fell by nearly 11.5%. The dollar fell...
US Oil Production Doesn't Insulate Against Global Energy Shocks
“Top” is a subset of energy use @Mktsurfer The point is that energy blind people think the US is insulated from oil shocks because we produce a lot of oil. Classic reductionist fallacy. It might be true in isolation but the...
Public Resists Higher Energy Costs for Climate Action
Not surprising: People don’t want to pay higher energy bills to try to curb #climate change. https://t.co/jbJUa11r46 via @NYTimes

Nation Relies on Imported Natural Gas for 95% Electricity
“95% of our electricity generation is from natural gas - piped from neighbouring countries” https://t.co/8xKZtQeeEd
Oil's $100 Benchmark Marks Beginning of Further Gains
The oil markets have seen a 15% correction. However, oil at $100 is the start. It's likely to go higher in the coming years. A must-watch video from @JoshYoung: https://t.co/mq89LrvTON
Three Supertankers Mark Record Oil Transit Day
Three supertankers appear to move through the Strait of Hormuz, in what may be the biggest day of oil transits since the start of the Iran war. https://t.co/3lv3KUtjOp