Flowco Holdings Inc. (FLOC) Completes Acquisition of Valiant Artificial Lift Solutions
Flowco Holdings Inc. completed its acquisition of Valiant Artificial Lift Solutions on March 3, paying roughly $200 million in total consideration. The deal was funded with $170 million of cash from its ABL facility and about 1.5 million Flowco Class A shares. Analysts responded positively, with Evercore ISI raising its price target to $28 and Jefferies to $31, both maintaining bullish ratings. The acquisition expands Flowco’s production‑optimization portfolio and underpins expectations of strong margins and free‑cash‑flow growth into 2026.
Northland Cuts PT on Vitesse Energy, Inc. (VTS) to $19 From $20 – Here’s Why
Northland Investment Management reduced its price target on Vitesse Energy (VTS) to $19 from $20, maintaining a Market Perform rating. The adjustment follows VTS’s fiscal Q4 2025 results, which fell short of expectations, and a 2026 guidance that trims capital...
Price Controls Arrive: South Korea, Taiwan Impose Fuel Price Cap
South Korean President Lee Jae‑Myung announced the first fuel‑price cap in three decades as Brent crude breached $100 a barrel amid the Middle East conflict. Taiwan’s government simultaneously introduced a weekly cap limiting gasoline price hikes to roughly 5%, far...
UK Has Just TWO DAYS' Worth of Natural Gas Stored - Sparking Fears of a Supply Shortage as Iran Shuts...
The United Kingdom’s gas storage has plunged to roughly two days of supply, with reserves falling from 18,000 GWh last year to about 6,700 GWh today. A similar volume of liquefied natural gas (LNG) sits in storage, but the overall buffer is...
US Has Been Exporting More Oil, Petroleum Products than It Imports Since August 2021
In 2025 the United States exported roughly 10.7 million barrels of crude oil and petroleum products per day, surpassing imports of about 7.9 million barrels—a net export surplus of 2.8 million barrels daily. This marks the first full year the U.S. has been...
2026-03-09: Iran Conflict: Regional Attacks, Economic Impact, and Oil Market Turmoil
The Iran conflict has escalated from direct military exchanges to sustained attacks on critical infrastructure, including oil storage facilities, airports and desalination plants across Iran and neighboring Gulf states. These strikes, combined with ongoing constraints on commercial traffic through the...
Aula Energy Bought the Lightsource BP Solar Farm Portfolio … so, What Have They Bought?
On 23 February 2026 Aula Energy announced the purchase of Lightsource BP’s roughly 1 GW solar farm portfolio. The deal includes five operating farms – Wellington (200 MW), Wellington North (400 MW), West Wyalong (107 MW) in NSW, Woolooga (210 MW) in Queensland and Wunghnu (90 MW) in Victoria – together...
Brent Prompt Futures Open at +$108
Brent prompt futures opened above $108 per barrel on NYMEX, marking a notable price surge. The rally is driven by OPEC+ output cuts, lingering Middle East tensions, and a weakening dollar that favors commodities. Analysts warn the $108 level could...
Gas Prices Are Set to Go Vertical
The ongoing war in Iran and attacks on Gulf oil infrastructure are tightening global supply, especially as the Strait of Hormuz—through which roughly 30% of world oil passes—has been effectively shut down. U.S. retail gasoline has already risen to $3.45...
(Public- No Paywall) Oil Prices Could Rise to Unprecedented Levels- Anas Alhajji On Iran War Economics
Anas Alhajji warns that the escalating Iran war could push oil prices to unprecedented levels, potentially driving Brent above $120 per barrel. He cites a likely sharp reduction in Iranian output and limited OPEC spare capacity as key supply constraints....
Video: Oil Price Shock & Silver Exchange Bar Shortage With Bond Selloff
A recent video analysis highlights a sharp oil price shock, driven by escalating Middle‑East tensions, that pushed crude above 10% in a single week. Simultaneously, the market for exchange‑grade silver bars is tightening, with inventories down roughly 15% as industrial...
700 Cargoes, $40 Billion, and the Russian Exit Threat: How the Hormuz Shock Shattered Europe’s Energy Calculus
The sudden closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupted roughly 700 oil cargoes, representing about $40 billion in trade, and exposed the vulnerability of Europe’s post‑2022 energy strategy. Simultaneously, Russia warned it could exit the European market before any formal ban,...
Tesla Preps to Build Its Most Massive Supercharger Yet: 400+ V4 Stalls
Tesla is set to construct its largest Supercharger hub, Eddie World 2, in Yermo, California, featuring over 400 V4 charging stalls across six phases. Phase 1 will begin later this year with 72 high‑power stalls, expanding to more than double the current...
DOE to Make Mixed Oxide Fuel at SRS
The U.S. Department of Energy announced the restart of the HB‑Line facility at the Savannah River Site to fabricate mixed‑oxide (MOX) fuel from surplus plutonium. The move restores a unique national capability, aiming to supply advanced reactors with a faster‑path,...
The Hidden Potential of Trump’s Critical Minerals Stockpile – by Rebecca Egan McCarthy (Grist.org – March 5, 2026)
Despite a broader rollback of renewable-friendly policies, the Trump administration has accelerated efforts to build a domestic critical‑minerals stockpile. The move targets metals essential for both advanced military hardware and clean‑energy technologies, aiming to reduce U.S. reliance on China. By...
How Trump's Antitrust Enforcer Andrew Ferguson May Be Pushing Up Oil Prices
The FTC under new chair Andrew Ferguson quickly overturned Lina Khan’s condition that barred Scott Sheffield from Exxon’s board after the agency’s 2024 investigation into alleged price‑fixing between U.S. shale producers and OPEC. The reversal came just as a Middle‑East...
Global LNG Crisis: Top Stocks to Watch as Hormuz Remains Blocked & Qatar’s LNG Production Is Halted.
The Strait of Hormuz remains blocked, choking a key route for Middle‑East gas shipments, while Qatar has temporarily halted its LNG production, tightening global supply. Spot LNG prices have spiked above $30 per million British thermal units, prompting buyers to...
Iran War Update: Hormuz Shut Down; 200 Tankers Trapped; Trump Demands VETO on Next Iran Leader | Rapid Read 6...
U.S. and Israeli forces intensified airstrikes on Iranian missile sites, prompting a wave of Iranian missile and drone attacks on Gulf energy assets. The Strait of Hormuz is now effectively closed, with traffic down 90‑94% and more than 200 tankers...
Imbalance Price: Explanation of an Extreme Price in Germany
On March 1, Germany’s balancing market recorded an extreme negative imbalance price of ‑1474 €/MWh for a single 15‑minute interval. The price plunge was driven by an unexpected supply shortfall that outpaced intraday trading activity, leaving the system operator to procure balancing energy...
How Much Volume Has Been Traded on the ASX’s New Morning & Evening Peak Futures so Far?
ASX Energy introduced Morning Peak and Evening Peak electricity futures eight months ago to address peak‑demand hedging needs in the NEM. Trading activity has been minimal, with only 58 Evening Peak contracts and zero Morning Peak contracts exchanged across NSW,...
MLP Valuations: Where Are Midstream Pipelines Trading and Why Investors Are Paying Attention
Midstream master limited partnerships (MLPs) are trading at modest high‑single‑digit EV/EBITDA multiples, well below historic averages despite stronger balance sheets and disciplined capital allocation. Over recent years, operators have cut leverage, simplified structures, and shifted focus to free‑cash‑flow generation. Private‑equity...
Nickel Nationalism Holds Back Indonesia’s Clean Tech Ambitions – by Riandy Laksono (East Asia Forum – March 5, 2026)
Indonesia’s 2020 ban on raw‑nickel exports sparked a surge in domestic smelting and processing, positioning the country as a textbook case of resource‑based industrialisation. Yet its clean‑technology ambitions remain modest: EV exports totaled only US$12 million in 2024, dwarfed by Thailand’s...
PD Ports Delivers Support for Northern England Solar Energy Projects
PD Ports completed a large‑scale logistics operation for northern England’s renewable energy rollout, moving more than 220 containers of solar panels and over 300 containers of lithium storage cubes through its Teesport terminal. The company handled import, warehousing and inland...
Africa Has a Nuclear Bros Problem
African nations are rapidly pursuing nuclear power, with Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and others signing agreements and joining the IAEA pledge to triple capacity by 2050. Analysts warn that many of these ambitions are unrealistic, citing projects that would dwarf current...
Thursday Radio Prep
The Trump administration announced a plan to provide U.S. insurance and military escorts for energy tankers navigating the volatile Middle East, especially the Strait of Hormuz. Simultaneously, reports suggest Trump is weighing support for anti‑regime militias in Iran, while CIA‑backed...
Russia’s Limited Gains From the Middle East War
The war in the Middle East has tightened oil and gas flows through the Strait of Hormuz, creating a temporary vacuum that Russia hopes to exploit. While the conflict restricts exports from Saudi Arabia, Iran and other regional producers, Russia’s...
The State of Alternative Propulsion Aircraft? Part 6.
The article reviews the limitations of series‑hybrid aircraft, highlighting the significant energy losses when a turbogenerator feeds an electric motor through multiple conversion stages. These inefficiencies make series hybrids uneconomical compared to conventional models like the Cessna Caravan or Saab 340....
PGI Takes Control of Muchesu as RBZ Approves Restructured Shareholding
Pacific Goal Investments (PGI) has acquired a 51% majority stake and operational control of the Muchesu coal project in north‑western Zimbabwe after obtaining registration from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. The ownership restructuring transfers the US$20 million funding commitment originally made...
Ethanol Production Profits in 2025
U.S. ethanol producers posted a sixth consecutive year of profitability in 2025, with a representative Iowa dry‑mill plant earning an average of $0.21 per gallon. Net nominal profit reached $23.2 million, well above the long‑run average. The rise was driven by...
Back to Normal? For How Long?
The latest Energy Information Administration data show U.S. crude inventories increasing by 3.2 million barrels in March, while exports rose to 5.1 million barrels, approaching record levels. Imports declined by 1.8 million barrels, indicating stronger domestic demand. Refinery utilization climbed...
UK Airport Hopes Hydrogen-Powered Ground Equipment Will Cut Emissions
Exeter Airport in the UK is conducting a second two‑week winter trial of hydrogen‑powered ground support equipment, focusing on a dual‑fuel (hydrogen/diesel) ground power unit operating in cold, inclement weather. The trial follows an April test that deployed a hydrogen...
North American Oil Data Deck (March 2026)
The March 2026 edition of the North American Oil Data Deck, a subscription‑only, 47‑page visual report, shows petroleum liquids output falling 353 kbpd month‑over‑month to 31,075 kbpd, the lowest level since August. U.S. crude production slipped for a second straight month, while Canada...
Day 5 Iran Update: Hormuz Shut Down 94%, US May Insure Ships & Escort Through Hormuz | Rapid Read 4...
On March 4, 2026 Israel’s air campaign struck Tehran, Qom and key Iranian military sites, including the first recorded air‑to‑air kill by an F‑35 against an Iranian jet. Iran retaliated with roughly 40 ballistic missiles aimed at U.S. bases in...
Good News, Bad News, Stupid News
Barclays released a research paper flagging the risk of stranded transition assets, suggesting that wind and solar projects could lose value despite soaring oil and gas prices. The paper arrives amid heightened geopolitical tension in the Middle East, which has...
Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Expansion and 3D Printing
Nigeria’s oil and gas sector is undergoing a rapid expansion, driven by $500 million local acquisitions, a $750 million Afreximbank partnership, and the launch of the 650,000 bpd Dangote refinery. Production has already surpassed 1.5 million barrels per day, with a government goal to...
Russian Oil & Gas Monthly - February, 2026
The February 2026 edition of Russian Oil & Gas Monthly highlights a sudden escalation in Middle‑East tensions, specifically the outbreak of hostilities involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. The conflict, which unfolded at the end of February, disrupted global...
On Imbalance Prices
The blog explains how imbalance prices act as a 15‑minute settlement tool for Balance Responsible Parties (BRPs) in the European power market, bridging the gap between scheduled and real‑time generation. It contrasts three pricing scenarios—day‑ahead parity, punitive rates, and asymmetric...
Clean Planet Moves From Validation to Commercialization
Clean Planet has moved from research validation to commercial rollout, securing a ¥1 billion grant from Tokyo’s Zero Emission program in April 2025 and a ¥500 million strategic equity round in January 2026. The company now promotes its QHe IKAROS heat module,...
Diesel Prices Rise Sharply, While Gas Increases Remain Modest Across the U.S.
U.S. diesel prices jumped 10 cents to $3.809 per gallon for the week ending Feb. 23, with the Midwest posting the steepest regional rise of 13 cents. The West Coast continues to lead in absolute cost, averaging $4.465. By contrast, gasoline...
Day 4 Iran Update: Hormuz BLOCKADE Incoming: Reinsurers CANCEL All Gulf Coverage + Qatar LNG SHUT DOWN | Rapid Read...
On March 3, 2026, coordinated U.S. and Israeli airstrikes continued to degrade Iranian command, missile and naval infrastructure while collateral damage caused civilian casualties. Major marine reinsurers issued 72‑hour war‑risk cancellation notices for the Persian Gulf and adjacent waters, effective March 5,...
Economic Implications of the Iran Attacks
U.S. and Israeli strikes prompted Iran’s Revolutionary Guard to announce a closure of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most vital oil chokepoints. The move threatens to halt commercial traffic, immediately spiking crude prices and prompting insurers to...
Oil and Beyond Oil: What Might Be the Economic Implications of Iran’s War on Asia?
The United States and Israel have launched a military strike on Iran, prompting analysts to model two outcomes: a swift conflict that keeps oil prices near a baseline of $80 per barrel, and a drawn‑out war that could push prices...
Qatar’s LNG Crisis: The Massive Geopolitical Risk Premium—And How You Can Profit From It
Qatar, the world’s largest LNG exporter, faces a supply crunch as regional geopolitical tensions and export‑capacity constraints tighten the market. The disruption has injected a hefty risk premium into spot and forward LNG prices, pushing contracts up 15‑20% year‑over‑year. Buyers...
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Does that Use a Lot of Energy? [Update]
A prototype web tool now lets users compare the energy use of everyday products and activities, turning raw watt‑hour data into intuitive visualizations. Recent updates, driven by extensive community feedback, add rough energy‑cost equivalents for several countries, making the information...
Basslink Gets Final Revenue Determination for Operation as a Regulated Service
On 27 February 2026 the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) issued its final revenue determination for Basslink Pty Ltd’s transmission cable for the 2026‑30 control period. The regulator approved a nominal, smoothed revenue of $459.5 million, marginally below Basslink’s revised $461.2 million proposal. Cost allocation...
Engineering Proof of Performance
The piece introduces boundary thermodynamics as a framework for evaluating building performance, arguing that interior conditions must be measured against documented exterior loads. It explains that HVAC components, envelopes, and IAQ systems only prove their effectiveness when load‑relative data—temperature, humidity,...
The Electric Vehicle Tariff Boomerang
The Canada‑China trade deal announced in January reduces the tariff on Chinese electric vehicles to 6.1 % for an initial 49,000‑unit quota, expanding to 70,000 over five years. The move stems from Trump‑era pressure on Canada, prompting a diversification toward Beijing....
The Hormuz Standoff: Global Energy Flow Severs After 'Epic Fury' Strikes
The Strait of Hormuz, a 21‑mile narrow waterway, was shut after a severe incident dubbed “Epic Fury.” The closure halted the transit of roughly 20 million barrels of oil per day, about one‑fifth of global consumption. Heightened tensions between Iran and...