Qatar Extends Force Majeure on LNG Supply Through Mid-June
QatarEnergy has extended the force majeure on its LNG deliveries until mid‑June because the Strait of Hormuz remains almost entirely closed to tanker traffic. The suspension follows earlier force majeure notices issued after the Iran‑Israel conflict escalated in February and after Iranian missile strikes damaged the Ras Laffan facility in March. The outage removes roughly one‑fifth of global LNG supply, pushing European and Asian spot gas prices higher. Customers have been notified, but QatarEnergy has not commented further.
NTCSA, IDC Seek to Catalyse Localisation on Back of Big Grid Roll-Out
South Africa’s National Transmission Company (NTCSA) and the state‑owned Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) have signed an MOU to provide financing to verified local suppliers and contractors for the Transmission Development Plan (TDP). The TDP envisions 14,500 km of new power lines...
Commission Blocks EU Funding for Huawei Solar Tech
The European Commission announced it will block EU funding for solar‑panel inverters supplied by high‑risk vendors such as China’s Huawei. Guidance will restrict the use of EU money on projects that rely on these components, though existing projects can apply...
POWER Reveals 2026 Awards Finalists; Readers to Choose Plant of the Year
POWER magazine announced the finalists for its 2026 Awards, covering projects, people and organizations that are shaping the global power sector. The ceremony will take place at Experience POWER in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 28, 2026. A new feature lets readers vote to...
Current Price of Oil as of May 4, 2026
Oil prices rose to $115.01 per barrel for Brent crude on May 4, 2026, a $3.81 increase from the previous day and roughly a 92% jump from a year ago. The gain follows a month‑over‑month rise and reflects ongoing supply‑demand dynamics...
Knutsen NYK Venture Working with Var Energi on New Project for CO2 Carriers
Knutsen Group and Japan’s NYK have created the joint venture Knutsen NYK Carbon Carriers (KNCC) to develop a dedicated fleet of CO₂ carriers. KNCC announced a cooperation with Norway’s Var Energi and Aker Solutions to design an integrated CO₂ transportation...
Wall Street Dips, Oil Prices Rise on Reports of Strike on US Navy Vessel Near Iran
Wall Street futures slipped on Monday as S&P 500 futures fell 0.2% and the Dow lost 0.5% amid conflicting reports that Iran struck a U.S. Navy vessel near the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices jumped, initially spiking 5% before settling...
Meta Signs 250-MW PPA on EDP Renewables’ Arkansas Solar Project
Meta and EDP Renewables North America have signed a long‑term power purchase agreement for the Cypress Knee Solar project, a 250‑megawatt solar farm slated for completion in Arkansas by 2028. This deal marks Meta’s third partnership with EDPR NA, bringing the...
/file/attachments/orphans/13942738_365687.jpg)
PUMP PAIN: SA Petrol Price to Surge 14% to Almost Record High on Wednesday
South Africa will see petrol prices jump 14% on 6 May, with the pump price rising R3.27 per litre (about $0.17) to R26.52/L (~$1.40). Diesel will increase R6.19/L (~$0.33) to R32.09/L (~$1.69), reflecting a Brent crude surge to $101 a barrel....
ISO New England Trims 10-Year Forecast Based on Electrification Outlook
ISO New England’s latest CELT report projects regional electricity consumption to increase 9% over the next decade, reaching 127,660 GWh by 2035, roughly 0.9% annually. The forecast trims earlier expectations—down from a 17% rise projected in 2024 and an 11% rise...
Can Canadian Energy Turn an “Unprecedented” Oil Crisis Into an Opportunity?
Oil prices could surge to $150 a barrel as the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively shut, stripping roughly 650 million barrels from global supply and pushing inventories toward historic lows. Brent briefly topped $126 per barrel and U.S. crude hovered near...
Crude Futures Rise on Reported US Vessel Attack: Update
Front‑month Brent futures surged more than $5 a barrel, hitting $114.30 after unverified reports that a U.S. Navy frigate was struck by missiles near Iran’s Jask island in the Strait of Hormuz. The price jump represented a 5.7% rise from...
Coal Miner Thungela Digs in over Shareholder Rights
South African coal miner Thungela is fighting a Gauteng High Court case brought by Aeon Investment Management, Fossil Free SA and activist group Just Share, who seek to file a climate‑related shareholder resolution under Section 65 of the Companies Act. The...
Qualitas Energy Receives Green Light: Qualitas Energy Secures Permits for 59 MW Wind Projects in Rhineland-Palatinate and Lower Saxony
Qualitas Energy has obtained permits for two wind projects in Germany, adding more than 59 MW of capacity across Rhineland‑Palatinate and Lower Saxony. The Rhineland‑Palatinate site will host three 6.8 MW turbines, while a repowering effort in Lower Saxony will replace five...
Verogy Completes 7 Solar Projects for Connecticut Trade School System
Verogy, backed by the Connecticut Green Bank, has completed a seven‑project solar portfolio for the Connecticut Technical Education and Career System (CTECS), delivering 4.7 MW of rooftop and carport installations across six technical high schools and one carport at Howell Cheney....
OPEC Report Shows Oil Demand Reached Over 105MMBpd in 2025
OPEC’s Annual Statistical Bulletin projects world oil demand to reach 105.15 million barrels per day in 2025, a 1.30 million‑barrel increase from 2024. Global crude production is expected to rise to 74.85 million barrels per day, driven by higher output from OPEC members...
German Fuel Demand Drops Ahead of Tax Cut
German diesel and gasoline spot volumes dropped sharply in the week ending 1 May as the two‑month energy tax cut took effect. The government lowered the fuel levy by €14.04 per 100 l (about $15.30), translating to roughly 17 ¢ per litre for...
Iran War Is ‘Supercharging’ Clean Energy Transition, UN Climate Chief Says
The war between the United States, Israel and Iran is accelerating the global shift toward renewable energy, according to UN climate chief Simon Stiell. Volatile oil and gas supplies have prompted European nations to rush rooftop solar installations and Pakistan...
Uranium Spotlight: Four Companies Worth a Look – Part 2
Rising demand for nuclear power is driving renewed focus on uranium assets in Canada’s Athabasca Basin. Four junior explorers – IsoEnergy, Purepoint Uranium, Skyharbour Resources and Standard Uranium – are each advancing sizable drill campaigns, joint‑venture partnerships and land‑package expansions....
Chevron Is Negotiating for a Stake in a Massive Oilfield in Iraq: 3 Key Takeaways for Investors
Chevron has negotiated to take over production at Iraq's West Qurna 2 field and secured rights at the Nasiriyah field, together holding about 17 billion barrels of recoverable oil. The move comes as the Middle East accounts for roughly 5% of Chevron's...
165 Onshore Wind Farm Projects in U.S. Clamped Down as Pentagon Cites National Security Concerns
The U.S. Department of Defense has placed 165 on‑shore wind projects on private land under a national‑security review, effectively halting progress on roughly 30 GW of capacity—enough to power about 15 million homes. The projects span all stages, from completed negotiations awaiting...
Crude Oil Jumps over 5% as US-Iran Tensions Flare Again; Brent Crude Climbs Past $114
Oil prices surged more than 5% on May 4 after a tanker was reportedly struck in the Strait of Hormuz, reigniting U.S.-Iran tensions. President Trump pledged to guide commercial ships through the strategic waterway, while Iran warned of military action against...
Oil Jumps by 5% After Report of US Warship Being Hit by Missiles
Oil prices surged about 5% on Monday after Iran’s Fars news agency reported that a U.S. warship was hit by missiles in the Strait of Hormuz. Brent futures climbed to $113.69 a barrel and WTI to $107.04, reversing Friday’s losses....
Munich, Allianz Arena Activates High-Power Truck and Bus Charging Site Close to Motorway Interchange
Allianz Arena in Munich has commissioned two 400 kW high‑power charging stations, creating four bays for electric trucks in its coach parking area. The site sits beside the A9/A99 motorway interchange, a corridor that sees up to 10,000 trucks per day,...
Sanctioned Iranian Gas Carrier Probes US Strait of Hormuz Blockade
A U.S.-sanctioned Iranian LPG tanker, the 20,700‑cbm Nooh Gas built in 1993, attempted an eastbound passage through the Strait of Hormuz on May 4, 2026. Shipping data confirms the vessel entered the waterway despite a U.S. naval blockade aimed at enforcing sanctions against...
OPEC+ Decides to Boost Output
OPEC+ members Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Oman agreed on May 3 to raise output by roughly 188,000 barrels per day in June, the first joint move after the United Arab Emirates announced its withdrawal from the group....
German Federal Ministry of Transport Commits €1 Billion to Heavy-Duty Charging Infrastructure
Germany's Federal Ministry of Transport has allocated €1 billion (≈$1.08 billion) over four years to build heavy‑duty electric‑vehicle charging infrastructure. An initial €200 million will be awarded in three funding calls starting May 2026, covering both private depot chargers and publicly accessible stations....
NextGeo’s Contract with Saipem Offshore Libya Increased by €4-6 Million
Italy’s Next Geosolutions (NextGeo) announced on May 4 that Saipem has expanded its offshore contract for the Bouri Gas Utilisation Project (BGUP) in Libya. The original €70 million ($75.6 million) agreement now includes an additional €4‑6 million ($4.3‑$6.5 million) for survey and installation support, and...
ADES Lands Nigeria Rig Deal Worth $93m
ADES Holding secured a two‑year contract with Seplat Energy for its jackup Shelf Drilling Victory in Nigeria, valued at about SAR 347.6 million ($92.7 million). The agreement includes two optional one‑year extensions and covers mobilisation, demobilisation and local‑partner fees. Operations will start in...
Argent LNG Advances Port Fourchon Export Project with FERC Filings
Argent LNG has filed a series of resource reports with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to move forward its 25‑million‑tonne‑per‑year LNG export terminal at Port Fourchon, Louisiana. The filings address plant design, environmental impacts and alternatives analysis, satisfying the first...
China Datang Brings Online 500 MW Solar Farm for Direct Data Center Supply
China Datang Corp has commissioned a 500 MW solar farm in Zhongwei, Ningxia, marking the nation’s first large‑scale renewable project built to feed a data‑center cluster directly. The plant, part of a 2 GW first‑phase build‑out that also includes a 1.5 GW wind...
Resilient Telemetry for Hazardous Environments
Telecom operators in oil & gas need resilient, low‑power telemetry for pipelines and intrinsically safe monitoring of remote storage tanks. Globalstar’s STX3 OEM satellite modem provides micro‑amp sleep currents and a coin‑size footprint, enabling years of autonomous pipeline data transmission...
ADB Unveils $70bn Plan for Asia’s Energy and Digital Infrastructure
The Asian Development Bank announced a $70 bn plan to boost energy and digital infrastructure across Asia and the Pacific by 2035. The Pan‑Asia Power Grid Initiative will mobilise $50 bn to add 20 GW of renewable capacity, build 22,000 km of cross‑border transmission...
ADB Unveils $70bn Plan for Asia’s Energy and Digital Infrastructure
The Asian Development Bank announced a $70 bn plan to upgrade energy and digital infrastructure across Asia‑Pacific by 2035. The Pan‑Asia Power Grid Initiative will mobilise $50 bn to build 22,000 km of cross‑border transmission lines, integrate 20 GW of renewable power and reach...
Arcadia Acquires Engie Impact to Create Unified Energy Intelligence Platform
Arcadia, a Washington‑based energy data platform, announced the acquisition of Engie Impact, the utility expense and sustainability arm of French power giant Engie. The combined entity will serve more than 1,500 customers—including 25% of the Fortune 500—and manage roughly $100 billion in...
Japan Reopens NEDO Perovskite Solar Call with Single-Junction Focus
Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) has launched a supplementary call for proposals to scale up single‑junction perovskite solar cell manufacturing. The five‑year Green Innovation Fund program runs from fiscal 2026 through 2030 and seeks to match...
A Closed Strait of Hormuz Was Once Unthinkable
Energy planners have historically dismissed a full closure of the Strait of Hormuz as implausible, a view reflected in 2007 and 2022 scenario exercises that omitted the extreme event. Recent disruptions, however, have forced executives like TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné...
Nuclear Power on a Faster Timeline Is Possible. Here Is How Utilities Can Make It Work.
Applied Atomics, founded by former SpaceX engineers, is importing a vertical‑integration model to nuclear power development. By owning design, manufacturing and operational knowledge, the company aims to compress feedback loops that traditionally cause costly delays. Safety is engineered into the...
What Savvy Facilities Leaders Should Now Ask Their Power Suppliers
Facilities leaders are being urged to adopt a grid‑aware strategy as load growth outpaces new generation and inflation pushes power costs higher. CPV Retail argues that suppliers with operating generation assets can better manage capacity, ancillary services and transmission costs,...
Fast-Tracking Approvals Process Key to Unlocking Australia’s New Oil & Gas Projects
Australian Energy Producers praised Opposition Leader Angus Taylor’s pledge to fast‑track approvals for oil and gas projects, arguing that quicker permits are essential to avoid future gas shortfalls. The industry also welcomed the Coalition’s plan to reinstate the Junior Minerals...
Elevated Infrastructure: Champion Fiberglass® Supports Reliable Power at Luxury Mountain Resort Town
Wasatch Peaks Ranch, a 12,740‑acre luxury ski and golf resort, required a durable underground power conduit capable of surviving extreme altitude, temperature swings, and heavy snowfall. After evaluating PVC, the project team chose Champion Fiberglass® conduit for its lightweight, high‑temperature...
Israel’s Biggest Solar Power Plant Receives Final Approval
Israel’s Energy and Finance ministries have green‑lit the final financing for a 265 MW photovoltaic solar farm near Dimona, the country’s largest ever. Built by EDF Renewables under a 25‑year public‑private partnership, the plant will span roughly 740 acres and sell power...
Study Finds ‘Relatively Good’ Agreement in Worldwide Solar Cell Calibrations, but Flags Key Differences in Testing Methods
An interlaboratory comparison involving nine metrology institutes evaluated solar‑cell calibrations under the World Photovoltaic Scale. The study found generally good agreement, with short‑circuit current values aligning within –2.2% to 3.5% and most measurements falling inside expanded uncertainties. Nonetheless, discrepancies up to...
Ocean Winds Delivers First Power From French Floater
Ocean Winds has commissioned its 30 MW Éoliennes Flottantes du Golfe du Lion floating offshore wind farm off Port‑La Nouvelle, marking the developer’s second operating float and first in France. The site hosts three 10 MW turbines on floating foundations 16 km offshore and...
Woodside in the Clear for Plug & Abandonment Ops Offshore Australia
Woodside has secured NOPSEMA approval for its environmental plan to permanently plug and abandon three subsea exploration wells in the Julimar‑Brunello licence (WA‑49‑L) off Western Australia, with a contingent remediation of non‑water‑based mud in a fourth well. The operation will...
From Building Capacity to Building a System: Why Flexibility Is the Foundation of India's Energy Future
India added a record 50 GW of renewable capacity in FY 2025‑26, pushing non‑fossil sources above 50 % of installed power. Yet 2.3 TWh of solar – enough for 400,000 homes – was curtailed because coal plants cannot drop below a 55 % load and...
Asian Buyers Offer Big Premium for Diesel-Rich Crude From UAE
Asian refiners are offering roughly $20 a barrel above ADNOC’s official selling price to secure Upper Zakum crude, a diesel‑rich grade from the UAE. The premium reflects heightened demand for medium‑sour crudes after the Iran‑related conflict disrupted traditional supply routes....
EU Issues New $704MM Funding Call for Cross-Border Energy Projects
The European Commission has opened a €600 million (≈ $704 million) funding call for cross‑border energy projects that are already on the second list of Projects of Common Interest (PCIs) and Projects of Mutual Interest (PMIs). The call, part of the Connecting Europe...
B15 Biodiesel to Be Rolled Out June 1, 2026 – Zahid
Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid announced that B15 biodiesel will be produced by 19 licensed plants beginning June 1 2026, with a combined monthly capacity of about 1.5 million litres. The rollout will be staged, moving to B20 and potentially B50 within...
Top US Nuclear Regulator Is Rewriting Its Rules for New Era of Reactors
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is rewriting its rules under the 2024 ADVANCE Act, which expands the agency’s mission to weigh the risks of delaying nuclear power alongside radiation safety. The overhaul follows a series of Trump‑era executive orders that...