Hard Choices Test Breakaway Climate Summit
Nearly 60 nations gathered in Santa Marta, Colombia, for the first climate summit held outside the United Nations framework, aiming to accelerate the phase‑down of fossil fuels. Co‑hosted by Colombia and the Netherlands, the six‑day meeting excluded major emitters such as the United States, Saudi Arabia and China to foster faster consensus. Delegates focused on practical tools, financing mechanisms and national roadmaps for clean‑energy transitions. Organizers plan a follow‑up summit in Tuvalu and hope to link the outcomes with the UN climate process.
Organised Criminal Syndicates Targeting Solar Installations in South Africa
Organised criminal syndicates in South Africa are increasingly targeting rooftop solar installations, stealing panels and high‑value lithium‑ion batteries during transit, storage, and at remote sites. Guardian Eye MD Rodney Taylor highlighted the vulnerability of outlying areas and the growing concern...
Oil Prices Fall as Iran Proposes New US Talks
Oil prices slipped on Friday after Iran signaled a willingness to restart talks with the United States via Pakistan, briefly pushing WTI below $100 a barrel. The dip was short‑lived, with WTI rebounding to $101.7 and Brent to $108.4 as...
Ukraine Is Hitting Oil Facilities Deep Inside Russia. Soaring Fuel Prices Could Blunt the Impact
Ukrainian drones have begun striking oil facilities deep inside Russia, hitting the Tuapse refinery, the Ust‑Luga export terminal and a Perm‑region pumping station. The attacks are designed to curtail Moscow’s oil export revenues, which fund its war effort, and President...
Graphene-CNT Phase Change Material Cools Solar PVT Panels
Researchers from India, Chile and Russia created a solar photovoltaic‑thermal (PVT) system that incorporates a graphene‑carbon nanotube (CNT) hybrid nanocomposite into traditional phase‑change materials (PCMs). By dispersing 6 wt % of the hybrid nanoparticles into stearic acid, the PCM’s thermal conductivity increased...
India-Linked Ship Carrying Cooking Fuel Manages Hormuz Exit
The Marshall Islands‑flagged tanker Sarv Shakti, carrying roughly 45,000 tons of liquefied petroleum gas, successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz on May 2, 2026. The vessel is linked to Indian interests and its passage marks a rare transit for LPG cargoes through the...
Simple EV Charger Installs May Be a Thing of the Past Due to New Rules, Says Industry Expert
New UK wiring regulations (Amendment 4) took effect in 2026, making home EV charger installations far more complex. Installers must now assess load management, circuit protection, earthing and integration with the whole‑home electrical system. The tighter safety standards leave little room...
Why Experts Say This Nuclear Development Cycle Is Strongly Underpinned
Bank of America Global Research says the uranium market is entering a multi‑decade, third nuclear build wave driven by energy security, decarbonisation and higher electricity demand. It forecasts spot prices climbing to about $135 per pound in late 2026‑27, roughly...
Six Wind Farms, Two Solar Hybrids and Seven-Hour Batteries Win Key CIS Tenders Ahead of Coal Closure
Western Australia announced winners of two Capacity Investment Scheme tenders, covering six wind farms, two solar‑battery hybrids and two seven‑hour battery projects. The generation tender will add 1.9 GW of wind and solar capacity and 2.1 GWh of storage, while the dispatchable...
UN Shipping Deal Lives to Fight Another Day, as US Fails to Derail Negotiations
Negotiations at the International Maritime Organization on its Net Zero Framework (NZF) were postponed until September, leaving the core deal intact despite a week of pressure from the United States. The EU and other climate‑ambitious nations refused to water down...
‘Trump Is an Idiot’: Californians Fume over Soaring Petrol Prices
Petrol prices in California have surged to $130 per tank, about $30 more since the United States and Israel began bombing Iran. The conflict, which started on Feb 28, has disrupted oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz, pushing gasoline to...
Fuel Spike Is Coming: Relief at Bowser Not Tipped to Last
Australia’s regional oil benchmark Tapis crude surged to US$125 a barrel, the highest level since the 2022 Ukraine war, prompting expectations of higher pump prices. After a brief two‑week respite following a US‑Iran cease‑fire, fuel prices are set to climb...
OFAC Issues New and Updated General Licenses Authorizing Venezuelan Energy Sector Activities Involving Venezuelan-Origin Oil, Gas, and Petrochemical Activities
The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued General License 52 and amended licenses 46B, 48A, 49A, and 50A, widening permissible activities for U.S. entities in Venezuela’s oil, gas and petrochemical sectors. GL 52 authorizes established U.S. firms to engage...
Andhra Pradesh Govt Notifies Five Model E-Mobility Cities Under EV Policy 4.0
The Andhra Pradesh government has activated its Sustainable Electric Mobility Policy 4.0 by designating Visakhapatnam, Rajahmundry, Vijayawada, Nellore and Tirupati as five model e‑mobility cities. A dedicated fund of Rs 250 crore (about $30 million) will support charging networks, battery‑swap stations, zero‑emission zones and...
EPA Says Oil & Gas Operators Can Continue to Flare Past Long-Set Deadline
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued new guidance that lets oil and gas operators keep routine flaring in operation beyond the May 7 deadline originally set for a phase‑out. Routine flaring releases methane—a greenhouse gas roughly 80 times more potent than...
Sierra Club, Allies Applaud Approval of Accelergen’s East Side Energy Storage for Wyandotte County
Wyandotte County's Unified Government approved Accelergen's East Side Energy Storage project, a 300 MW utility‑scale battery system, with an 8‑2 vote. The 10‑year conditional‑use permit, backed by the Sierra Club, Climate + Energy Project, Kansas Latino Community Network, and labor unions, clears a...
UAE Exits OPEC: What Forced the West Asian Nation to Junk the Oil Cartel Amid the US-Iran War? Explained
The United Arab Emirates announced on May 1, 2026 that it will leave OPEC, ending its participation in the cartel’s production‑quota system. Analysts say the move is a pre‑planned shift driven by a mismatch between the UAE’s 4.8 million‑barrel‑per‑day capacity and the 3.2 million‑bpd...
US LNG Exports to Asia Surged in April as Middle East Conflict Curtailed Supply
U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to Asia surged in April, with shipments climbing to 2.71 million tonnes—up 175% from February—after Middle‑East supply was disrupted by the Iran conflict. Asian spot LNG prices stayed high, averaging $17.92 per MMBtu, roughly 17%...
Oil Falls on Hopes for US-Iran Negotiations, Hormuz Progress
Oil slipped to around $102 per barrel on Friday as US‑Iran peace talks remain tenuous, even though West Texas Intermediate posted an 8% weekly gain. Traders trimmed risk amid thin volumes and global market holidays, while the ongoing de‑facto closure...
Bloomberg Talks: Chevron CFO Eimear Bonner (Podcast)
Chevron’s first‑quarter earnings fell short of expectations, sending the stock lower. In a Bloomberg Talks podcast, CFO Eimear Bonner explained the “messy” results and outlined a plan to boost shareholder returns through a larger buyback program. She also highlighted initiatives...
Biofuel Subsidies Set to Be Extended as War Grinds On
Thailand’s Energy Minister Akanat Promphan warned that biofuel subsidies, funded through the Oil Fuel Fund, may need to be extended beyond the September 24 deadline to protect energy security amid volatile global oil markets caused by the Iran war. The country’s...
SM Energy Closes $950 Million South Texas Asset Sale
SM Energy completed a $950 million sale of South Texas assets, generating about $900 million in net proceeds. The deal moves the company toward its goal of over $1 billion in divestitures as part of a broader portfolio‑repositioning strategy. Executives say the cash...
Permian Output Rises to Record Levels While Flaring Falls, Report Shows
U.S. oil output hit a new high in 2024, with the Permian Basin producing roughly 6.3 million barrels per day, nearly half of national output. Over the same period, flaring intensity fell 45% nationwide and 62% in the Permian, even as...
Newfoundland and Labrador Budget Boosts Offshore Exploration Funding
Newfoundland and Labrador’s 2026 budget earmarks $90 million (≈$66 million USD) over three years for an Offshore Exploration Fund and $8.65 million (≈$6.3 million USD) for an Innovation and Business Development Fund to boost offshore oil and gas activity. The allocation also finances a...
Eco Atlantic Advances JHI Acquisition, Targeting Falklands Offshore Stake
Eco Atlantic Oil & Gas Ltd. is moving forward with its acquisition of JHI Associates, a step that will give it a 35% participating interest in the PL001 offshore license in the Falkland Islands. An interim court order cleared the...
Military Permit Derails South Korea’s Anma Offshore Wind Project
The 532 MW Anma offshore wind farm, a $3.5 billion project slated for 2029 completion, has stalled because its site overlaps a military weapons‑testing area, preventing the required public waters permit. Major suppliers SK Oceanplant and LS Cable & System have suspended...
Exxon, Chevron Ramp Refinery Utilization Amid Mideast Crisis
Exxon Mobil and Chevron are aggressively increasing refinery utilization in response to severe supply disruptions caused by the near‑closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The geopolitical bottleneck has driven crude and refined product prices to their highest levels in several...
Fossil Fuel Phaseout Initiative Moves to Next Steps
The inaugural Energy Transition Summit in Santa Marta, Colombia, gathered dozens of national leaders to chart a coordinated exit from fossil fuels. Delegates agreed to develop detailed road maps that translate high‑level pledges into actionable timelines, financing mechanisms, and regulatory reforms....
Big Tech Is Funding Space Solar and Fusion While Running on Gas
Big Tech firms are simultaneously betting on futuristic clean‑energy projects while expanding their reliance on natural gas to power AI‑driven data centers. Meta signed a deal with Overview Energy to develop up to 1 GW of space‑based solar power, with a...
IOCs See Qatar NFE Expansion Start Still Possible by Early 2027
Executives from major international oil companies (IOCs) and EPC contractors say QatarEnergy’s North Field East (NFE) LNG expansion can still commence shipments by early 2027. The timeline assumes the ongoing Middle‑East conflict does not further disrupt the region’s infrastructure. While...
Coral Charge Brings Solar Power to EV Chargers
Los Angeles startup Coral Charge, founded in 2022, builds off‑grid DC fast‑charging stations that draw electricity directly from on‑site solar arrays. Its modular cabinet combines solar panels, battery storage and a charger, delivering near‑zero electricity cost for the next two...
Canada's Gas-Rich Montney Shale Braces for Upstream M&A Influx
Shell’s $16.4 billion acquisition of ARC Resources has thrust Canada’s Montney shale into the global spotlight. The deal underscores the play’s reputation for high‑liquids gas, a rare commodity in a market where dry gas inventories are shrinking. International oil and gas...
FERC Continues Narrowing Scope of Environmental Reviews
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has reversed its recent push to expand environmental reviews of natural‑gas pipelines and liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects. By narrowing the scope of these reviews, the agency can move approvals forward more quickly, even...
US Producer Antero Expects Cash Boost From Mideast War
Antero Resources, a U.S. natural‑gas producer, says the ongoing Middle East conflict will act as a significant cash‑flow tailwind. The near‑closure of the Strait of Hormuz is tightening global oil and gas supplies, pushing prices higher. Antero expects higher gas...
New US Entrants Lining Up to Fill Global LNG Supply Gap
U.S. developers of liquefied natural gas (LNG) have cleared two critical regulatory hurdles, positioning new export projects to enter service within the next few years. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved construction permits while the Department of Energy issued export...
Morningstar DBRS Confirms East-West Tie Limited Partnership's Credit Ratings at A (Low) With Stable Trends
Morningstar DBRS reaffirmed East‑West Tie Limited Partnership’s issuer and senior secured debt rating at A (low) with a stable trend. The transmission line operates under a 20‑year franchise that runs through 2033, delivering regulated revenue in Ontario’s electricity market. 2025...
Potential Public Safety Power Shutoff for Hughenden and Surrounding Area
AltaLink is closely monitoring extreme wildfire conditions forecast for May 3 in Alberta’s Municipal District of Provost No. 51. If the risk remains high, the utility may execute a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS), de‑energising two transmission lines and cutting power to...
Crude Tankers Decline Despite Yanbu Demand
Crude shipments from Saudi Arabia's Yanbu port surged to roughly 4‑4.2 million barrels per day in April, compensating for a steep drop in Middle‑East Gulf loadings that fell to 1.8‑1.9 million b/d after the US‑Israel‑Iran conflict halted Hormuz traffic. Despite the Yanbu...
Oil Cools Slightly After a 4-Year High as Gasoline Jumps
Brent crude slipped to $108.27 a barrel on Friday after hitting a four‑year high above $120 amid shaky U.S.–Iran peace talks. West Texas Intermediate fell about 3% to $101.92, reflecting broader market cooling. Meanwhile, U.S. gasoline prices rose 9 cents...
Scope 3 Emissions: Challenging? Yes. Impossible To Reduce? No.
Scope 3 emissions—upstream and downstream activities—represent roughly 80% of most companies' carbon footprints, yet only about 5% of U.S. firms currently disclose them. The SEC’s 2024 climate‑disclosure rule narrows mandatory reporting to large accelerated filers, leaving most firms with voluntary transparency....
Continuous Monitoring Center Helps Prevent 17 California Wildfires, Over 1,000 Outages
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) launched a Continuous Monitoring Center (CMC) in San Ramon to centralize data from millions of sensors and smart meters across its grid. The hub uses machine‑learning models to flag early‑stage faults, enabling crews to intervene before...
Production Begins at Eighth FPSO in Brazil’s Largest Offshore Field
Petrobras has started production on the P‑79 floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel at the Buzios pre‑salt field in the Santos Basin. The new unit can process 180,000 barrels of oil per day and compress 7.2 million cubic metres of...
It Now Costs $160 to Fill up America’s Top-Selling Vehicle as the Iran War Nears Its 10th Week
Gasoline prices have surged to four‑year highs since the Iran war began, reaching $4.42 per gallon nationally. At that price, filling a new Ford F‑150, America’s best‑selling vehicle, costs about $160. The price jump represents a nearly 50% increase in nine...
Exxon Mobil CEO Sees ‘More to Come’ on Price Spikes From Iran War as Exxon, Chevron Beat on Earnings Despite...
Exxon Mobil and Chevron posted first‑quarter earnings that beat analysts’ forecasts, yet both saw net income plunge year‑over‑year as early‑year price weakness and Middle‑East disruptions hit results. CEOs Darren Woods and Mike Wirth warned that if the Strait of Hormuz...
Trump Pushes ‘Peace Pipelines’ to Boost Exports of Climate-Busting LNG to Europe
The Trump administration announced a series of “Peace Pipelines” agreements at the Three Seas Initiative summit, aiming to accelerate U.S. LNG exports to Central and Eastern Europe as a substitute for Russian gas. The Department of Energy says U.S. natural‑gas...
U.S. Targets Iran–China Oil Pipeline in Dual Sanctions Move on Shipping and Finance
The United States announced a dual‑pronged sanctions package that hits a China‑based oil terminal, Qingdao Haiye Oil Terminal Co., for handling tens of millions of barrels of Iranian crude since early 2025, and three Iranian currency‑exchange houses that convert oil...
Reynolds Wrap Up: How Healthy Is Your FEMI Tree?
John Reynolds’ March/April 2026 Inspectioneering article introduces the ‘FEMI Tree’ analogy to illustrate how a healthy Fixed Equipment Mechanical Integrity (FEMI) program is built. He identifies twelve primary ‘nutrients’—programs such as design verification, corrosion control and competency training—that feed the canopy...
Mechanical Integrity and Damage Mechanism Concerns in Midstream Facilities
The article highlights that mechanical integrity (MI) programs in midstream gas processing are less mature than those in refining, despite growing natural‑gas infrastructure. It outlines common damage mechanisms such as stress corrosion cracking, liquid metal embrittlement, and general corrosion, referencing...
Crude Futures Fall on New Iran Proposal for Peace Talks
Crude futures slipped on Friday after Iran sent a new peace proposal to Pakistani mediators, easing some of the market’s war‑risk premium. Brent settled at $108.17 a barrel, down $2.23, while WTI fell to $101.94, down $3.13. Despite the dip,...
Illinois Shines Celebrates Walldog Solar, One of the Program’s 171 Approved Agrivoltaics Projects
Illinois Shines, the state’s adjustable block incentive program, is nearing 4 GW of approved solar capacity and highlights the 5 MWac Walldog Solar project in Pontiac as a flagship agrivoltaic community solar installation. The bifacial array on 42 acres is projected to...