Greek, Indian Tankers U-Turn Before Hormuz Amid Reopening Doubt
Several Greek and Indian crude tankers reversed course in the Persian Gulf on Saturday after Iran sent mixed messages about the Strait of Hormuz’s openness. The six vessels, holding roughly 8.3 million barrels of non‑Iranian crude, were heading toward the strait from waters off Dubai when they turned back toward Qeshm Island or went dark. Iran’s foreign minister claimed the passage was fully open, but a semi‑official agency warned it could remain closed if a U.S. naval blockade persisted. Shipowners reported receiving radio warnings that Iranian navy permission was still required for transit.
Who’d Have Thought a Fossil-Fuel Shill Like Trump Would Be the One to Spark a Green Revolution? | George Monbiot
George Monbiot argues that Donald Trump’s war on Iran, despite its intent to protect fossil‑fuel interests, has unintentionally accelerated the global energy transition. Oil prices have spiked, enriching executives like Chevron’s CEO with $104 million this year, while governments and consumers...
LNG Ships Move Toward Hormuz After Iran Says Strait Is Open
Iran announced the Strait of Hormuz is open for commercial shipping, prompting several LNG tankers to approach the waterway. Two empty Abu Dhabi‑owned vessels and three Qatari‑laden ships were spotted near the eastern side of Hormuz, potentially marking the first...
Assam LPG, Fuel Supply Fully Stable, Adequate Stocks Available: IndianOil AOD
IndianOil’s Assam Operations and Distribution (AOD) division reports that LPG, petrol and diesel supplies are fully stable across the state, with adequate stocks covering 21 days of petrol and 46 days of diesel demand. Around 9.3 million consumers are served by...
Oil Prices Retreat While Stock Indices Surge Following US-Iran Ceasefire
Oil prices fell sharply after a US‑Iran cease‑fire, while US equity indices surged. Brent slipped 7.6% to $91.87 a barrel and WTI dropped 9.6% to $85.57. The Dow Jones rose 1.8% to 49,447 points, the S&P 500 gained 1.2% to 7,126,...
NT Councils Could Cut Access to Pools, Street Lights Due to Power Price Hike
Northern Territory's electricity tariff reform, set to begin on 1 July, will raise power prices for local councils. Darwin City Council estimates the increase will add roughly $330,000 USD to its annual budget, translating to a half‑percent rate rise for ratepayers. To...
Airlines Fear Jet-Fuel Rationing Due to Middle East War
IATA head Willie Walsh warned that the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz could force jet‑fuel rationing in Europe within weeks. An International Energy Agency study suggests fuel inventories may run dry in six weeks, potentially triggering flight cancellations by...
Trump Eyes "Historic" China Summit as Xi Welcomes Hormuz Reopening
President Donald Trump announced an imminent summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, branding it "historic" as both leaders discuss reopening the Strait of Hormuz and bolstering regional energy security. Trump highlighted Xi’s satisfaction with mine‑clearance efforts and signaled that the...
How Biomass Processing Is Becoming a Scalable Platform
RenX Enterprises Corp. is repositioning biomass processing as a repeatable, deployable platform rather than a single, capacity‑driven operation. By pairing a proven German milling system with low‑cost green‑waste feedstock, the company creates engineered growing media that rivals traditional inputs. Recent...
What PLAN-B NET ZERO Does and What Neobanking Has to Do with It
PLAN‑B NET ZERO, a Swiss‑founded digital electricity provider, launched in Germany in 2023 offering 100 % certified renewable power with fixed weekly tariffs, no contracts and a ten‑minute digital sign‑up. Leveraging a neobank‑style app, the Neo‑App delivers real‑time consumption data, CO₂...
US Again Allows More Russian Oil Sales to Help Control Prices Amid Iran War
The U.S. Treasury issued a temporary license on April 17 allowing the sale of Russian crude already loaded on tankers before that date, extending the waiver until May 16. The move is intended to ease the surge in global fuel prices triggered...
U.S. Coal-Fired Generating Capacity Retired in 2025 Was the Least in 15 Years
In 2025 the U.S. power sector retired just 2.6 GW of coal‑fired capacity, the lowest level since 2010. Operators had originally slated 8.5 GW for retirement, but 4.8 GW were postponed and 1.1 GW cancelled, largely due to Department of Energy emergency orders aimed...
Riding the LNG Wave
The second half of 2025 saw global LNG supply rise nearly 7%, driven largely by new U.S. projects such as Louisiana LNG and Corpus Christi Trains 8 & 9. These investments push the United States to about a 33% share of the world’s...
Trump Extends Sanctions Exemption on Some Russian Oil as High Gas Prices Persist
The Treasury Department announced a one‑month extension of the sanctions exemption for certain Russian crude, now running through May 16, 2026. The move comes just two days after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the waiver would not be renewed, and follows...
Why China Is Urgently Looking to North Africa as the Energy Crisis Rolls On
China is accelerating its North African investments as the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked, turning long‑term Belt and Road projects into urgent energy‑security measures. Beijing is committing billions to infrastructure, including a $4.7 bn El Hamdania megaport in Algeria, a $6.5 bn...
Shock Therapy: War Forces Oil-Addicted Asia to Finally Go Green
The Iran war’s disruption of oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz has forced oil‑dependent Asian economies to accelerate renewable adoption, especially solar. In Thailand, soaring electricity bills and a new 200,000‑baht (≈US$6,240) tax deduction have triggered a flood of...
"Energy Dominance" In Action
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has tightened global oil supplies, prompting buyers to turn to alternative sources. U.S. crude exports jumped to 5.2 million bpd, the highest level in seven months, while net imports fell to a record‑low 66,000 bpd, nearly...
Marcos Suspends LPG, Kerosene Excise Taxes for 3 Months
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order No. 114, suspending excise taxes on LPG and kerosene for three months, effective immediately. The suspension applies except when LPG is used for petrochemicals or motive power and when kerosene serves aviation fuel....
TotalEnergies Turns Heads With Net-Zero Plan Step-Back
TotalEnergies, once hailed as an energy‑transition leader, announced it can no longer adopt its net‑zero transition plan. The company had previously set aggressive targets, including a 60% reduction in net‑carbon intensity by 2030 and a 2050 net‑zero goal, earning strong...
Oil Company Violated Court Order by Restarting Santa Barbara Pipeline, Judge Finds
A Santa Barbara Superior Court judge found Sable Offshore Corp. in contempt for restarting the Santa Ynez and Las Flores offshore pipelines after a Trump administration order, violating a federal consent decree and a preliminary injunction. The pipelines had been...
Crude Prices Deflate as Hormuz Hopes Gain Momentum
Oil markets fell sharply on Friday after U.S. and Iranian officials announced the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Physical spot prices and futures contracts both tumbled, reflecting traders' optimism that resumed Middle‑East shipments will narrow the current supply gap....
US States Eye Fuel Tax Relief to Curb Pain at the Pump
Rising gasoline prices, driven by the Middle East energy crisis, have spurred state leaders across the U.S. to explore fuel‑tax relief measures aimed at easing consumer costs. Governors and legislators are debating temporary suspensions or reductions of gasoline excise taxes,...
Enconfund Revs up Energy Projects
Thailand’s Energy Conservation and Promotion Fund (Enconfund) is shifting from pure research support to commercial‑scale deployment, targeting projects like waste‑to‑oil and green hydrogen. The fund, financed by a 0.05 baht per litre levy, holds roughly 10 bn baht ($300 M) and spends 5‑9 bn...
FANCO EAGL-1 SMR Regulatory Engagement Advances Construction Pathway in US Nuclear Project
First American Nuclear has submitted a pre‑application regulatory engagement plan to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for its EAGL‑1 small modular reactor, marking the first formal step toward a construction permit. The fast‑spectrum, liquid‑metal SMR targets about 240 MW electrical output per...
North America Just Got Its First New Kind of Lithium Refinery
Mangrove Lithium has inaugurated North America’s first commercial electrochemical lithium refinery in Delta, British Columbia, capable of processing 1,000 tonnes of lithium annually. The facility, dubbed the Single Stack Plant, can supply battery‑grade lithium for roughly 25,000 electric vehicles each...
Oil Prices, Apr. 17, 2026
Energy Intelligence, in partnership with Refinitiv, published its daily oil‑price snapshot for April 17, 2026. The report aggregates international spot and futures prices for crude benchmarks and refined petroleum products. It serves as a real‑time barometer for market participants tracking...
The Bigger Energy Lesson Behind Iran’s Control Over the Strait of Hormuz
Iran announced the Strait of Hormuz is open to commercial traffic, prompting a sharp dip in oil prices and a modest rally in equity markets. The reopening, however, does not erase the underlying geopolitical risk that the strait can be...
Skilled Labor Shortage Threatens US Gas, Data Center Build-Out
A persistent shortage of skilled tradespeople is now spilling beyond the Gulf Coast LNG sector into pipelines, power generation and data‑center construction across the United States. Employers report that the dwindling pool of welders, electricians and pipefitters is inflating labor...
Energy 'Sovereignty' Drives Mexico's Rethink on Gas Fracking
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum signaled a policy shift by allowing unconventional shale‑gas development near the U.S. border, reversing the strict bans imposed by her predecessor. The move aims to boost domestic gas production and lessen Mexico’s reliance on imported U.S....
Birchcliff CEO Upbeat Despite Canadian, Global Gas Market Woes
Birchcliff Energy’s CEO Chris Carlsen remained optimistic at the BMO CAPP Energy Symposium despite weak domestic gas prices and global market turbulence. The Calgary‑based Montney producer highlighted its role in the Rockies LNG consortium, which backs the 2.1 bcf/d Ksi Lisims export project....
Trinidad's LNG Export Renaissance Finds New Momentum
Trinidad and Tobago is preparing a new tranche of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for export to the Atlantic Basin, targeting delivery before 2030. The initiative stems from a complex asset swap between ExxonMobil and Shell, two of the world’s largest...
Market View: West Texas Gas Prices Plunge Well Below Zero
West Texas natural‑gas spot prices plunged well below zero as abundant Permian production collided with a maintenance shutdown on a key Southwest pipeline. The bottleneck forced the market to pay shippers to move gas, driving prices into negative territory for...
Polymarket Odds of Hormuz Strait Traffic Normalizing by End of May Spike to 73%
Polymarket’s prediction market showed odds climbing to 73% that Strait of Hormuz traffic will return to normal by the end of May, after a brief peak of 82% following Iran’s announcement of a temporary reopening. The cease‑fire deal prompted a...
Kairos Power Hermes 2 Reactor Construction Begins in Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Construction has begun on Kairos Power's Hermes 2 Demonstration Plant in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, marking the first commercial‑scale Generation IV reactor to receive a Nuclear Regulatory Commission construction permit. The fluoride‑salt‑cooled high‑temperature reactor will generate up to 50 MW of electricity for the...
China Plans To Double Renewable Energy By 2035. That’s The Good News.
On April 17, 2026 China’s National Development and Reform Commission announced a plan to double the country’s non‑fossil energy supply by 2035, using 2025 as a baseline. The roadmap includes massive hydropower projects in Tibet, desert‑based renewable hubs, and a...
From Site Projects to Portfolio Programs: How Industrial Operators Are Rethinking Energy Strategy
Industrial operators are moving from isolated site‑by‑site energy projects to enterprise‑wide portfolio programs. The article explains that fragmented baselines, inconsistent reporting, and local contracts hinder aggregate performance measurement across dozens of facilities. Implementing standardized baselines, centralized real‑time visibility, and a...
MarineTraffic Shows Hormuz Strait Vessel Activity After Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire Deal
MarineTraffic data released on April 17 shows a surge in tanker movements through the Strait of Hormuz following the Israel‑Lebanon ceasefire agreement. The platform recorded an average of 45 vessels per day, a 30% increase from the previous week and...
Iran Says Strait of Hormuz Is ‘Completely Open’
Iran announced the Strait of Hormuz is "completely open" following the Israel‑Hezbollah cease‑fire, but Washington reiterated its naval blockade, citing unfinished transactions with Tehran. The U.S. Central Command reported 19 ships intercepted since the blockade began, underscoring lingering tension. Oil...
US Oil Shipments Via Panama Canal Near 4-Year High
U.S. crude shipments through the Panama Canal have surged to roughly 200,000 barrels per day, the highest level since July 2022. The spike is driven by Asian refiners seeking an alternative to Middle‑East oil after a week‑long disruption in the...
Don’t Blame Technology For The Start-And-Stop Transition To Clean Energy
Renewable technologies such as solar, wind and grid‑scale batteries have become cheaper than new fossil‑fuel plants, driving ambitious capacity targets—about 80 % of power‑plant additions over the next decade are slated to be renewable. Electric vehicles now have the lowest lifetime...
Hormuz Is (Apparently) Unblocked. Energy Markets Remain a Mess
Iran’s foreign minister announced that commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is "completely open," a sentiment echoed by President Donald Trump. The news sent Brent crude futures tumbling more than 10% to $89 a barrel, their lowest level since...
PowerSecure to Build Solar and Storage Project for Wyoming Utility Co-Op
PowerSecure, a Southern Company subsidiary, will construct a 1.25‑MW solar farm paired with a 21.6‑MWh battery storage system for Wyoming cooperative Powder River Energy Corporation (PRECorp). The hybrid project is designed to alleviate peak‑demand stress, boost reliability, and lower wholesale...
Taroom: Australia’s New Oil Play
Queensland’s Taroom Trough is emerging as Australia’s first major on‑shore oil play in decades, with early drilling indicating light crude and condensate potential. Pilot production has already begun, providing proof of concept and attracting investor interest. The Queensland government is...
Nat-Gas Prices Rise on Expectations of Hot US Temps to Boost Air-Conditioning
May Nymex natural gas (NGK26) closed up 1.02% as forecasters expect above‑average spring temperatures to drive higher air‑conditioning demand. The rally follows a recent 17‑month low that was sparked by milder weather and elevated storage levels, which sit 5.8% above...
Futures Settle: Hints of New Demand Trump War Fallout, Boosting Nymex Natural Gas
Natural‑gas futures on the NYMEX held a tight range Friday but edged higher as traders sensed a modest lift in near‑term demand. The front‑month contract gained momentum after reports of President Trump’s peace overtures, which eased geopolitical concerns tied to...
Alphabet’s Northern Indiana Data Center Secures Dedicated Power Supply in Landmark NiSource Deal
Alphabet’s Indiana subsidiary has signed a long‑term power agreement with utility NiSource to supply up to 515 MW for a new hyperscale data‑center campus, with deliveries beginning in summer 2026. The deal uses NiSource’s NIPSCO Generation (GenCo) model, aggregating owned generation and...
Greek Shipowner Sends Biggest Oil Tanker Yet Through Hormuz
Greek shipowner Dynacom Tankers sent its Very Large Crude Carrier Atokos, a 2 million‑barrel supertanker, through the Strait of Hormuz with its transponder off, marking the largest non‑Iranian vessel to use the waterway since the conflict began. The transit brings Dynacom’s...
Hold the Champagne: Oil Recovery Faces Weeks of Delay as Supply Chain Shocks Deepen
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has forced oil tankers onto longer, less efficient routes, leaving only seven empty vessels to transit the strait and no fully laden ships delivering product. Around 330 compliant tankers and 102 vessels carrying...
Venture Global Secures Pre-Filing Waiver for CP2 Phase 3 Buildout
Venture Global received a pre‑filing waiver from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for the third phase of its Calcasieu Pass (CP2) LNG expansion. The waiver eliminates the need to submit a formal pre‑filing application, potentially shaving months off the project's...
Battery Recycling Still Isn’t Easy. Just Ask Ascend Elements.
Ascend Elements, a battery‑disassembly startup that launched a plant near Atlanta in 2023 and is building a Kentucky facility, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on April 9 after losing $274 million in federal grants and facing delayed buyer commitments. The collapse reflects broader...