Big Oil Begins Return to Canada Amid Energy Crunch
Big Oil is returning to Canada as energy security concerns rise. Shell announced a $16.4 billion purchase of ARC Resources, adding about 370,000 boe per day and 2 billion barrels of reserves that will feed its 40 % stake in LNG Canada. Asset managers KKR, Apollo and Blackstone are eyeing a $10‑15 billion partial sale of Shell’s LNG Canada stake. TotalEnergies, Equinor, ConocoPhillips and BP are also scouting Canadian acquisition targets, signaling a broader shift in sentiment.
Quantifying the Impact of the Iran War on US Inflation
The authors combine a calibrated DSGE model of the global oil market with a monthly structural VAR to estimate how the 2026 Iran war’s oil‑supply shock could affect U.S. inflation. A 15 % shortfall lasting one quarter pushes WTI crude to...
China’s Production Capacity for Green Fuels Reaches Eight Million Tons
China’s National Energy Administration reported that green‑fuel production capacity now totals about 8 million tons of oil‑equivalent per year, up from traditional ethanol and biodiesel to include green ammonia and methanol. Green hydrogen capacity has surpassed 1.1 million tons, with 250,000 tons already...
Three US Potential Buyers Emerge for Shell’s LNG Canada Stake
Shell is weighing a partial sale of its 40% stake in LNG Canada, with U.S. firms KKR, Apollo Global Management and Blackstone eyeing up to 30% of the holding. The transaction could generate $10‑$15 bn, valuing the full stake between $25 bn...
Oil Down, Equities up on Trump's Hormuz Plan Just Announced. Leaves Iran All at Sea.
President Donald Trump unveiled "Project Freedom," a U.S. Navy initiative to escort commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz starting Monday. The announcement sent oil futures lower as traders priced in a reduced risk of supply disruptions. At the same...
US, Iran to Allow some Hormuz Transit: Trump
The United States and Iran announced they will permit neutral vessels stranded in the Gulf of Oman to transit the Strait of Hormuz, a move President Trump called "Project Freedom." Over 700 ships, including about 120 fully‑laden tankers, have been...
Big Batteries Set New Charging Records, Despite Lack of Price Volatility
New South Wales set two battery‑charging records on May 2, with charge share climbing to 11.9% of consumption and power input reaching 1,240 MW. The fleet absorbed about 4.47 GWh at an average price of $10.4 USD/MWh and discharged 3.31 GWh at $38.8 USD/MWh, yielding a...
'Unprecedented Drought Conditions': More than 500 Data Centers Across Nevada, California, and Arizona Could Feel the Pinch as the Iconic...
The Department of the Interior’s emergency drought‑management plan could slash Hoover Dam’s output by up to 40%, cutting roughly 830 MW (1.32 TWh) of annual generation. With Lake Powell’s storage now only about 36% of design capacity, water releases will be trimmed...
No More Dark Side of the Grid: The Fossil Fuel Empire Loses Ground to Renewables and Storage
Australia’s National Electricity Market (NEM) saw renewables and storage supply just over half of its electricity in Q4 2025, pushing coal to its lowest quarterly output since the market began. Battery discharge tripled, wind and solar hit record output, and wholesale...
Atiku Cautions Tinubu Against Oil Windfall Misuse, Reserve Depletion
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar warned President Bola Tinubu that Nigeria’s recent oil windfall – roughly $11 billion – is being squandered while external reserves fell by about $1.57 billion in a single month. He argued that the Central Bank’s foreign‑exchange interventions...
Welcome To The Wild West, Where Texas Loses Nearly A Billion Dollars Of Oil A Year To Thieves
Oil thieves are siphoning millions of barrels from the Permian Basin, a problem that Texas estimates costs operators roughly $1 billion each year. In Martin County alone, field operators lose about 500 barrels weekly, equivalent to $50,000 at current $110‑per‑barrel prices....
HEA Energy Lands Fresh North Sea Wind Contract
Abu Dhabi‑based HEA Energy has secured a new operations and maintenance contract for offshore wind farms in the North Sea, slated to begin in summer 2026. The work will be carried out using its jack‑up barge HEA Hercules, which was...
EU Green Hydrogen Scheme Embraces High-Tech Solar Foods
The EU‑funded BalticSeaH2 project, a cross‑border hydrogen valley linking Finland and Estonia, has added Finnish biotech firm Solar Foods as a strategic partner. Solar Foods will supply its protein‑rich Solein product, produced via a gas‑fermentation process that consumes green hydrogen,...
The Clock Is Ticking as Oil Markets Barrel Toward Nightmare Scenarios with the West Bracing for ‘Tank Bottoms’ and Iran...
The West and Iran face opposite oil emergencies as the Strait of Hormuz stays closed, threatening “tank bottoms” for consuming nations and “tank tops” for Iran. Analysts warn OECD crude inventories could hit operational minimums by late May, while Iran...
World’s Largest Sand Battery Survives Its Worst Winter, Ready for Roll Out
Polar Night Energy’s 1 MW/100 MWh sand battery in Pornainen, Finland, survived the harsh 2025‑26 winter, keeping district heating affordable despite electricity prices swinging from $3.30 to $410 per MWh. The system eliminated oil from the town’s heating network and cut CO₂‑equivalent...
'A Dream Technology': Japanese Scientists Might Have Unlocked the Next Generation of Solar Panels that Stay Cooler and Last Longer...
Japanese researchers at Kyushu University, in partnership with Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, have demonstrated a molybdenum‑based spin‑flip emitter that captures triplet excitons from singlet fission, delivering quantum yields between 110% and 130%. The spin‑flip material effectively multiplies charge carriers from...
Govt Says Auto Fuel Shortage Rumour Led to Panic Buys, Assures Stocks Adequate
The Indian government dismissed circulating rumors of a petrol and diesel shortage, confirming that all retail outlets have sufficient stocks and prices remain unchanged. It clarified that while commercial LPG prices rose sharply—about ₹1,000 ($12) per cylinder—the supply of domestic...
Weakening Peso
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas lifted its benchmark rate by 25 basis points to 4.5% as oil prices surged past $120 per barrel amid a renewed Hormuz blockade. The central bank aims to curb second‑round inflation and stabilize a peso...
Unruly Shrub Fuels Kandla’s Eco Goals
Kandla’s Deendayal Port Authority is building a pilot bio‑methanol plant that will convert the invasive Prosopis juliflora shrub into low‑carbon fuel. The ₹100 crore ($12 million) project, slated for commissioning in March 2027, will produce about 5 tonnes of methanol per day using 15‑20 tonnes...
Battery-Methanol Tug Clears Sea Trials
AYK Energy Ltd announced that its battery‑methanol harbour tug Svitzer Balder has successfully completed sea trials, becoming the world’s first tug to combine battery‑electric propulsion with methanol fuel. Built by Turkey’s Uzmar Shipyard, the vessel is slated for delivery to Sweden’s...
CEC Commissions Itimpi II Solar Plant, Boosting Zambia’s Renewable Energy Capacity
Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) commissioned the 136 MW Itimpi II solar PV plant in Kitwe, Zambia. The new facility lifts CEC’s total solar capacity to 230 MW, making it the country’s largest solar asset and one of the biggest in sub‑Saharan Africa. Built...
Our National Energy Transition Is a Rare Opportunity to Enrich and Reward Australian Workers | Thom Woodroofe
Thom Woodroofe argues that Australia’s energy transition is a strategic chance to lift middle‑Australia workers, citing Norway’s $2 trillion sovereign wealth fund as a model. He warns the nation is still trapped in a resource‑curse mindset that relies on raw commodity exports,...
Trump’s Renewable Energy Crackdown Hits Legal Wall
President Donald Trump’s administration tried to force the Interior Secretary to approve every solar and wind project on federal lands, a move judges say exceeds legal authority. In April, a Massachusetts federal judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking the policy,...
US Is Oil Supplier of Last Resort as Hormuz Disruptions Worsen
The United States has become the world’s leading crude exporter, shipping more than 250 million barrels in the past nine weeks and overtaking Saudi Arabia as Hormuz disruptions choke Middle‑Eastern supplies. Domestic oil and fuel inventories have fallen for four consecutive...
EPA Allows Limited Routine Flaring at New Oil Wells Under Updated Rule
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has updated its regulations to allow limited routine flaring of associated gas at new oil wells that began construction after May 7 2024, extending flexibility beyond the 2026 phase‑out deadline. The rule targets wells facing takeaway or...
OPEC Members Increase Oil Production Quota by 188,000 Bpd, No Word on UAE's Withdrawal Amid War in West Asia
Saudi Arabia, Russia and five other OPEC members announced a 188,000 barrel‑per‑day increase to the June production quota, effectively filling the gap left by the United Arab Emirates’ sudden withdrawal from the cartel. The boost mirrors similar adjustments made in...
The US Sanctioned Chinese Oil Refineries. Now China Is Really Pushing Back
China has ordered domestic firms to ignore U.S. sanctions on five Chinese oil refineries accused of trading Iranian fuel, invoking the 2021 Blocking Rules in a first‑ever formal injunction. The decree warns that banks or suppliers that cut ties with...
A New MIT-Backed Tool Shows Exactly Why Your Electricity Bill Is Going up in Your Neighborhood — You Should Be...
Researchers at MIT and Heatmap News launched the Electricity Price Hub, a neighborhood‑level tool that visualizes how residential electricity rates and bills are evolving across the United States. Over the past five years, average rates have risen about 33%, adding...
IRGC Just Outdid Khamenei? Forces Kuwait to Halt All Crude Exports for the First Time in 35 Years?
On April 2026, Kuwait ceased all crude oil shipments, marking the first full export halt since the Gulf War. TankerTrackers confirmed zero outbound cargo, attributing the stoppage to heightened security risks in the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating U.S.-Iran tensions....
U.S. Crude Oil Exports Surge to Record as Tankers Flock to Gulf Coast During Iran War
U.S. crude oil exports surged to a record 5.2 million barrels per day in April, driven by Asian and other buyers seeking alternatives after Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The Gulf Coast, especially the Port of Corpus Christi, saw unprecedented...
Seplat Raises Q1 Dividend on Robust Oil Price Outlook
Seplat Energy PLC lifted its quarterly dividend by 8% QoQ and 96% YoY to $0.09 per share, driven by higher oil prices and strong cash flow. Q1 profit after tax surged 62.7% to $37.9 million, while revenue rose 3.9% to $840.7 million....
California Braces for Uncertainty as Last Shipment of Persian Gulf Oil Arrives in Long Beach
The last California‑bound tanker from the Persian Gulf, the New Corolla, has off‑loaded 2 million barrels of crude at the Port of Long Beach, marking the end of Gulf shipments amid the Iran‑triggered Strait of Hormuz closure. California now faces a daily shortfall...
Driving Electric in Costa Rica Is Surprisingly Doable
Costa Rica’s 2018 law mandates fast chargers every 50 miles and offers tax breaks, propelling electric vehicles to represent about one in five new car sales. The country’s utilities typically install a single charger per site, but many units are...
How We Tracked the Lithium Rush
Journalists from Columbia Journalism Investigations and Inside Climate News compiled a global database of roughly 1,200 lithium mining projects, drawing on S&P Global, government filings and proprietary sources. They linked each U.S. project to the CDC's Social Vulnerability Index and...
CSTPS Output Falls by 1,320MW as 2 Units Shut Down over Tube Leakage
Chandrapur Super Thermal Power Station (CSTPS) in Maharashtra saw output plunge by 1,320 MW after two 500 MW units were taken offline due to tube‑leakage faults. The plant is now generating only 1,600 MW of its 2,920 MW installed capacity, heightening strain on the...
Cabinet to Soon Approve ₹37,500 Crore Incentive Scheme to Promote Coal Gasification Projects
The Union Cabinet is set to approve a ₹37,500 crore (≈ $4.5 billion) incentive scheme to accelerate coal‑gasification projects across India. The program offers up to ₹3,000 crore ($360 million) per project and targets 100 million tonnes of gasification capacity by 2030. By converting domestic coal...
Ukraine Steps up Tanker War Against Russia, Hitting Three More Ships
Ukraine announced that sea‑drone operations on May 3, 2026 struck three Russian‑registered tankers, intensifying its maritime sabotage campaign. Two vessels were hit at the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk and a third at the Baltic port of Primorsk. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted video...
FY27 Earnings Growth May Drop to 10%: Jitendra Sriram on the Impact of Sustained $100 Oil
Jitendra Sriram of Baroda BNP Paribas warns that FY27 earnings growth in India could slow to 10‑12% as sustained $100 crude prices strain corporate margins and consumer spending. The two‑month West Asia conflict has already pushed the rupee to the...
The Hormuz Blockade: Why a Fragile Ceasefire May Not Lower Global Oil Prices
Brent crude surged to $125 a barrel, the highest level since March 2022, as naval blockades in the Strait of Hormuz curtailed roughly one‑fifth of global oil flows. Iran’s conditional reopening and U.S. naval actions have left tankers stranded and insurers...
Will the West Asia War Accelerate the Age of Electricity? Explained in Charts
The International Energy Agency’s latest report declares we are entering an “age of electricity,” as power generation and consumption outpace fossil‑fuel use worldwide. The agency cites a steady rise in electricity’s share of final energy demand, driven by renewable‑capacity expansions...
Commercial LPG Price Hike, Supply Crunch Push Restaurants to Brink
Nagpur’s restaurants are confronting a severe cost squeeze after the official price of a 19‑kg commercial LPG cylinder rose to ₹3,248 (≈$39), up from ₹2,059 (≈$25) just weeks earlier. The hike, combined with an ongoing supply crunch and black‑market rates...
UP Tops India in Rooftop Solar with over 5 Lakh Installations
Uttar Pradesh has become India’s rooftop‑solar leader, installing 500,115 systems that generate 1,696.68 MW of power. The programme received roughly $493 million in combined central (≈$371 M) and state (≈$122 M) funding. Daily electricity output is valued at about $610,000, supporting 65,000 direct jobs...
From Stubble to Strategy: How Agricultural Waste Can Power India’s Energy Transition
India generates roughly 350 million tonnes of agricultural residue each year, much of which is burned, worsening air quality and wasting a renewable resource. Government schemes such as GOBARdhan and the National Bioenergy Programme have spurred the development of 979 biogas...
Scaling Battery Production: The Growing Importance of Quality Assurance and Multi-Modal Inspection
The global battery market, valued at $181 bn in 2025, is projected to more than double to $432 bn by 2034, driven by a 10% CAGR. As factories scale—exemplified by a $4.3 bn U.S. plant and CATL’s $8.55 bn Hungarian gigafactory—quality assurance becomes a...
Chinese Exports of Green Technologies Surged to Record Levels After Iran War Began
Chinese green‑technology exports surged to record levels in March as the Iran war triggered a global oil shock. China shipped 68 GW of solar equipment, a 50% jump over the previous peak, while total solar, battery and electric‑vehicle exports rose 70%...
Expert Raises Concern over Disruptions to Naphtha Supply
Academic Pakorn Opaprakasit warned that the ongoing Middle East conflict threatens naphtha imports, a critical feedstock for Thailand's plastic pellet production. He estimates pellet prices could jump 30‑40% and downstream packaging costs 60‑70%. The expert urged the Thai government to...
Oil and Gas Companies Making Hay by Making Plastic?
The surge in U.S. fracking has turned ethane—a by‑product of natural‑gas extraction—into a cheap feedstock for polyethylene, the world’s most common plastic. Petrochemical plants built to process this ethane are energy‑intensive, emitting greenhouse gases comparable to half a million cars....
'We’re Not Selling and We’re Not Giving Way': Lone Farmer Defeats Tennessee's TVA as US Electricity Giant Grapples with Exploding...
The Gregory family’s 650‑acre farm, in operation since 1787, successfully blocked the Tennessee Valley Authority’s plan to carve a 100‑foot power‑line corridor across its land. The dispute highlights the clash between TVA’s push to meet exploding AI‑driven data‑center electricity demand...
The $19B "Nuclear AI" Energy Startup That Couldn't Sign a Single Client
Fermi, a Texas‑based “Nuclear AI” startup, went public in October with a market value exceeding $19 billion despite having no revenue or signed customers. The company promised to build a 5,000‑acre campus capable of generating 17 GW of power—enough for three times...
Living Without Fossil Fuel Is Harder Than We Think
Journalist Caitlin Cassidy attempted a day without any fossil‑fuel‑derived products and quickly discovered the pervasive reliance on petrochemicals in everyday items, from packaging to cotton towels. Professor Yuan Chen explained that even bio‑based goods often depend on petrochemical fertilizers and...