Natural Gas Prices Weekly Update – JKM, TTF and Henry Hub (30 March 2026)
Last week natural‑gas prices diverged across regions. In Asia, the JKM spot index jumped to $20 /MBtu, spiking into the high‑$22s amid renewed Iran‑related geopolitical risk and unplanned Australian LNG outages. Europe’s TTF fell to $18.3 /MBtu as Norwegian deliveries rose and storage slipped to 28.2% of capacity. In the United States, Henry Hub held steady at $3.1 /MBtu despite a 54 Bcf draw in inventories and mixed demand signals.
Is the World Investing Sufficiently in LNG Downstream?
The article warns that global LNG downstream investment is lagging behind a surge in liquefaction capacity, driving the regas‑to‑liquefaction ratio down from 2.7 in 2015 to 2.4 in 2025 and projected to hit a historic low of 1.75 by 2035....
Australia’s Clean‑energy Rollout Stalls as Costs Blow Out
Australia’s clean‑energy rollout has stalled as 2025 utility‑scale solar and wind investment fell to less than half of 2024 levels, jeopardizing the federal goal of an 82% renewable‑energy mix. To meet the target, the country must retire most of its...
First Glimpses of Output at REECE2 Unit, Following (Possible) Fire in August 2025
The REECE2 power‑generation unit, sidelined after a suspected fire on 5 August 2025, produced its first measurable output on 1 April 2026, as captured by SCADA data at roughly 08:30 NEM time. Early market data from ez2view’s Bids & Offers widget indicate a cautious approach...
2026-04-01: Iran Doubles Oil Revenue, Strengthens Strait of Hormuz Control Amid Military Conflict
Iran announced legislation to levy transit fees and require cargo disclosures for ships passing the Strait of Hormuz, effectively turning the chokepoint into a revenue‑generating control zone. Despite U.S. threats to target Iranian oil facilities, Tehran’s oil exports have held...
ClassNK Approves Corrosion-Resistant Cable for Offshore Wind Use
ClassNK has granted both a Manufacturing Procedure Approval and a Type Approval for KOBELCO Wire Company's new semi‑parallel wire cable (SPWC), marking the society’s first endorsement of this corrosion‑resistant product. The cable features 7 mm galvanized steel wires coated in polyethylene,...
Famous Last Words: “Get Your Own Oil”
The article highlights that front‑month Brent and WTI futures have moved in lockstep since 2022, underscoring a highly integrated global oil market. It rebuts former President Trump’s claim that U.S. oil prices consistently diverge from world prices, labeling the view...
Daily Energy Report
The latest Daily Energy Report shows Iran remains the primary crude exporter through the Strait of Hormuz, while Iraq, Kuwait and Qatar have halted shipments entirely. Saudi Arabia has rerouted most of its oil to the Red Sea, and the...
How H.R. 1 Is Opening the Door to More Oil Drilling Near North Dakota’s Maah Daah Hey Trail
Last summer, Congress passed H.R. 1, dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which strips the Bureau of Land Management of discretion to protect federal lands from leasing. Under the new law, the BLM is selling oil and gas lease...
What Does Wildfire Resilience Cost?
A new UCLA Emmett Institute report titled *The Price of Resilience* examines how wildfire‑related costs are allocated between transmission customers and retail ratepayers. In California, wildfire mitigation and liability expenses now represent roughly a quarter of residential electricity bills, driven...
Earnings Calls Paint Dramatic Energy Growth Picture
Earnings calls highlight an AI‑driven surge in electricity demand, boosting both regulated utilities and independent generators. CenterPoint Energy now projects Greater Houston’s peak load to rise 50% by 2029, two years ahead of its prior estimate. The utility expects operating...
Nuclear Power and Design Automation
Nuclear energy is gaining renewed attention as data‑center power demand surges, with small modular reactors (SMRs) offering a cost‑effective alternative to traditional plants. SMRs are projected to cost $2.5‑4 B, far less than the $30 B required for full‑size reactors, while molten‑salt...
Catalyst Watch
The latest Catalyst Watch notes that despite the largest oil price shock in history, the U.S. economy remains resilient, buoyed by its status as a net exporter of crude and natural gas. Fed officials cite stable macro data and no...
Oil Prices Rocket; Iran Strikes Kuwaiti Tanker; Some Hormuz Transits Resumes | Rapid Read 31 Mar 2026
Iran resumed selective control of the Strait of Hormuz, striking a Kuwaiti tanker in Dubai and permitting only flag‑aligned vessels such as COSCO to transit. The move coincides with a U.S. deployment of thousands of Army paratroopers to the Middle...
The Oil Crisis Is About to Get Physical
The Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries about 20% of global oil, is now closed except for limited Iranian shipments, turning speculative price gains into an imminent physical shortage. J.P. Morgan predicts Gulf tankers will stop reaching Asian markets this...
PwC Deals Supports West African Renewable Energy Transaction
PwC South Africa provided financial due diligence for British International Investment’s $15 million mezzanine debt into Starsight Energy Africa Group. The funding will expand Starsight’s renewable power portfolio serving commercial and industrial customers across West Africa, primarily Nigeria. PwC’s assessment covered...
MFRR Capacity - Germany 2025
Germany’s manual Frequency Restoration Reserve (mFRR) market generated about €60 million ($65 million) in 2025, but its tendered volumes have fallen to roughly 20% of aFRR capacity over the last decade. Downward mFRR prices dip to around €1/MW·h ($1.09) in winter, while...
'Burn It Down': Destruction Of Persian Gulf Energy & Fertilizer Production Capacity
Energy analyst Anas Alhajji warns that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has dramatically increased the risk and cost of Gulf oil and LNG, making U.S. exports far more competitive. Insurance shortages force LNG carriers to detour around Africa,...
Fuel Relief or Fuel Risk?
The Australian government’s planned fuel excise cut, worth about 26 cents per litre (≈ 0.18 USD), is expected to lower pump prices. However, analysts warn that in a tight, just‑in‑time supply chain, the sudden price drop could spark a rapid surge in consumer...
Middle East Production Offline: Current Status, Restart Timelines, and Well Damage Risk
More crude oil is offline across the Middle East than ever before, with roughly 7 million barrels per day shut in due to conflict‑related damage and precautionary curtailments. The blog analyses restart timelines, highlighting that infrastructure repairs and well damage could...
Oil, Sentiment, and the Correction That Nobody Wanted
The S&P 500 closed its fifth straight losing week, falling to 6,368.85 and slipping into correction territory. Oil prices surged, with Brent near $107 per barrel and WTI above $93, pushing the 10‑year Treasury yield to 4.44%, its highest level...
Daily Energy Report
Energy Outlook Analytics (EOA) reports that Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments are set to hit a record high in April and May, surpassing previous peaks. Kpler data shows March exports already above the typical seasonal baseline, indicating a steady...
113 Years of the Real Oil Price (WTI)
The article visualizes 113 years of CPI‑adjusted WTI oil prices, highlighting both absolute levels and growth rates. It notes that the 2008 year‑on‑year surge of 640% was the largest, surpassing the 1979‑80 increase that foreshadowed the 1980 recession. However, month‑on‑month...
Another Two India-Bound LPG Tankers Cross Strait of Hormuz
Iran has allowed two additional Indian‑flagged LPG tankers, BW TYR and BW ELM, to transit the Strait of Hormuz, carrying roughly 94,000 tonnes of cargo toward Mumbai and New Mangalore. The move follows Tehran’s pledge to let “non‑hostile” vessels pass...
The War and the Energy Transition
The Iran‑War has sent oil and gasoline prices soaring, with Brent crude climbing from roughly $70 to $115 a barrel and U.S. gasoline up about 30%. Natural‑gas costs have surged 50% in Europe and Asia, while U.S. prices remain flat...
Drillers See Triple-Digit Crude and Hit the Brakes
U.S. oil drillers are seeing Brent above $100 a barrel and WTI over $90, yet most remain reluctant to expand output. The Dallas Fed Energy Survey shows only 21% intend to add significant wells, as firms focus on repairing balance...
Batteries: Still Boomin' (Pt II)
Utility‑scale battery energy storage systems have surpassed 267 GW worldwide since 2012, outpacing earlier forecasts. The deployment curve remains steep, with analysts noting that past projections were consistently conservative. Concurrently, geopolitical tensions and soaring oil prices are prompting a temporary coal...
Oil Rises, Asian Markets Sink as Middle East War Broadens
Oil prices surged on Monday as Brent crude briefly topped $117 a barrel and U.S. crude hovered around $102, driven by escalating conflict in the Middle East. Iran’s attacks on aluminium smelters in Bahrain and the UAE pushed metal prices...
KISSing CVX and COP (FREE POST)
Rob Connors highlights a long‑standing pattern linking Chevron (CVX) and ConocoPhillips (COP) to the broader market. Over a century, CVX’s price relative to the S&P 500 has oscillated between roughly 2 % at lows and 9 % at highs, while COP’s ratio has...
Transportist: April 2026
The Transportist April 2026 briefing highlights a resurgence of fuel rationing talks in Australia as diesel shortages threaten grocery deliveries and waste collection. It also notes a spate of delivery‑robot mishaps in the United States and tightening e‑bike enforcement, with Seattle...
DOE Second Guesses Coal Plant Owners
The U.S. Department of Energy is invoking Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act to keep retiring coal plants online, extending roughly 4,500 MW of coal and 1,400 MW of gas capacity. Orders, first issued in May 2025 for the 1,400‑MW J.H. Campbell plant...
Going Beyond Decarbonization: Key Insights Into Delivering a Just Transition for Steel and Mining Sectors
In March, IRMA and ResponsibleSteel released a landmark report on just transitions for the mining and steel sectors, highlighting the need to place people at the heart of decarbonisation efforts. Stakeholder interviews underscored that inclusive planning and continuous social dialogue...
Daniel Yergin Warns of Economic Meltdown if Iran Conflict Persists
Pulitzer‑winning energy analyst Daniel Yergin warned that Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz could trigger an economic meltdown if it persists. He noted that 80% of oil and 90% of natural gas flowing through the strait head to Asia,...
Zendure SolarFlow 2400 Pro Review: Is the XXL Balcony Solar System with 2,400 W & AI Worth It?
Zendure introduced the SolarFlow 2400 Pro, an all‑in‑one balcony solar solution delivering up to 2,400 W output, 2.4 kWh base storage and modular expansion to 16.8 kWh. The unit features four MPPT inputs for up to 3 kW of PV, AI‑driven energy management, and LAN connectivity,...
All Hail the King
Bulgaria’s thermal power stations, fueled by locally mined coal, generate roughly 26% of the nation’s electricity, while the sole nuclear plant provides 38%. The Mini Maritsa Iztok mine supplies 90% of the country’s coal and holds enough reserves for another...
What the Current Oil Crisis Means for Your Money (And an Asset Class Most Physicians Don’t Know About)
The U.S. and Israel’s recent strike on Iran prompted Tehran to shut the Strait of Hormuz, halting roughly 20% of global oil shipments and pushing crude above $120 a barrel. Higher oil prices quickly feed inflation, lift mortgage rates and...
EPA Sets Record High Biofuel Blending Volumes
The EPA finalized the 2026‑2027 Renewable Fuel Standard, setting total biofuel volumes at 26.81 billion gallons for 2026 and 27.02 billion gallons for 2027, with a 70 % reallocation of small‑refinery exemptions. Corn‑based ethanol retains a 15‑billion‑gallon floor, while biomass diesel and advanced...
Are Biofuels Worse Than Fossil Fuels? Why They’re Not the Climate Solution
Biofuels are marketed as low‑carbon alternatives, yet first‑generation crops trigger deforestation and indirect land‑use emissions that can match or surpass fossil fuels. Advanced and second‑generation biofuels aim to use waste or non‑food feedstocks, but high production costs and limited scalability...
The Severity of the Situation.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has cut roughly 11 million barrels of oil per day, creating the largest supply shock since the 1973 embargo and pushing prices toward $200 a barrel. Asian nations are already hoarding fuel and imposing...
The New Baseline
The ongoing war in Iran has morphed from a geopolitical flashpoint into a structural supply‑chain shock. Tehran’s continued control of the Strait of Hormuz, and the risk of spill‑over into the Bab al‑Mandeb, is tightening energy flows and inflating oil...
A Mad Max World Emerges
The ongoing war in the Middle East and the constriction of maritime trade through the Strait of Hormuz are prompting nations to prioritize domestic energy and food security. The article draws parallels with the 14th‑century crisis, when trade barriers, export...
Australian Doomsday April 20
Macquarie Bank warns that if the Iran‑Israel conflict keeps the Strait of Hormuz closed through June, crude could climb to a record $200 a barrel. The bank’s March 27 analysis stresses that prolonged closure would force prices high enough to erode...
PD Ports Positions Teesport Offshore Gateway for Wind Expansion
PD Ports announced plans for a Teesport Offshore Gateway on the River Tees, designed to become the UK’s primary landing hub for the next phase of offshore wind development after the Crown Estate’s Round 6 auction. The facility will feature up...
Is America Suffering From the “Resource Curse”?
The blog revisits the classic "resource curse" theory, which argues that nations abundant in natural resources often experience slower long‑term growth and weaker institutions. It highlights how traditional petrostates like Saudi Arabia and Russia exemplify this pattern, and then asks...
Ukrainian Strikes Cause “Most Serious Threat” To Russian Oil Exports Since War Began
Ukrainian drone strikes on the Baltic ports of Primorsk and Ust‑Luga and the Kirishi refinery have knocked out roughly half of Russia's oil export capacity, the most severe disruption since the 2022 invasion began. The attacks, combined with recent seizures...
Houthis Strike Israel Again; Iran to Allow “Nonhostile” Ships Through Strait of Hormuz; Houthis Endanger Bab El Mandab Chokepoint
The Houthi rebels fired a second wave of cruise missiles and drones at Israel within 24 hours, signaling deeper participation in the Israel‑Iran conflict. Iran announced that vessels from "non‑hostile" nations, including additional Pakistani‑flagged ships, would be allowed to transit...
Strathclyde Partners with Japan Marine United on Offshore Renewables
The University of Strathclyde and Japan Marine United (JMU) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to accelerate the development of floating offshore wind turbines. The partnership will combine Strathclyde’s leading research in wind energy with JMU’s shipbuilding and floating‑platform expertise...
Quick Coal Vs. Gas Thoughts
At CERAWeek in Houston, industry leaders highlighted a rapid shift from coal to natural gas in power generation. The discussion, led by coal specialist Ernie Thrasher of XCoal, underscored falling coal demand, tighter coal‑gas price spreads, and mounting regulatory pressure...
Researchers Reveal Why Hydrogen Metal Testing Methods Produce Unreliable Results
Researchers at IIT Bombay and the Max Planck Institute uncovered why the electrochemical permeation technique often yields unreliable hydrogen‑diffusion data in steel. They showed that high charging currents induce surface rust, dislocations and hydrogen bubbles, which artificially lower measured flux. Switching...
Friday Footnotes: Supply Dynamics and a Changing World
Recent attacks in the Middle East, including Iran's retaliation and the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, have created unprecedented geopolitical turbulence. The disruption threatens global energy flows and could reverberate through commodity markets for years. Though less visible, agriculture...