On March 9th, I wrote in an article for Oilprice.com titled “Why $100 Oil Isn’t Going to Spark a New Shale Boom.” My point, nine days into Operation Epic Fury, was that “No one—that I know—is carrying on much about the recent jump in prices, let alone cheering them on. Outside of thinking we'd better hedge, the response has mostly been a few words, a few shrugs, a ‘let’s take it while we can, attitude. Our collective reaction would surprise outsiders, but…was normal to me. It’s also normal…

The war in Iran has evolved into a global economic crisis, driving up energy prices and forcing major shifts in shipping and trade routes. Ongoing military strikes have caused significant disruptions at critical chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz, forcing governments to urgently secure alternative supply sources and reevaluate supply chain resilience. Previously, we reported that the conflict has exposed Japan's vulnerability due to extreme energy dependency on Asian producers. Japan relies on the Middle East for over 90% of its crude oil and…

Global oil production has been slashed by as much as 11 million barrels daily amid the Middle East war. With the latest attempt at ending the hostilities failing, chances are the supply disruption will last a while, and then it would take months to restore production to its full size, even in the best-case scenario. “Even if there is a durable ceasefire tomorrow and the strait reopens, markets will not return to normal for at least six months,” Rystad Energy’s head of geopolitical analysis told the Financial Times earlier this…

Nuclear energy is experiencing a resurgence in popularity on a global scale, thanks to a resurgence in energy security anxieties worldwide. The AI boom has majorly ramped up energy demand projections around the world at the same time that climate pledges are inching dangerously close with perilously little progress to show. Add to this a near-endless cycle of energy crisis and geopolitical conflict, and you're presented with a majorly heightened energy trilemma: how to source energy that is sufficient, affordable, and sustainable. To solve this…

The legendary derivatives trading team at Vitol Group, the world’s largest oil trader, has reportedly lost hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars on oil bets that went very wrong as the war in the Middle East roiled global markets and trapped physical supply at the Strait of Hormuz. Vitol’s star trader Yaoyao Liu found himself on the wrong side of bets on crude and fuel prices at the start of the U.S.-Israel war with Iran, as prices soared in the worst disruption of global oil supply in history, the Wall Street Journal reports, quoting…

U.S. President Donald Trump has acknowledged that gasoline prices might remain high through the November 2026 midterm elections, a rare admission of the potential political fallout from the ongoing war in the Middle East. Trump told Fox News' Maria Bartiromo that gas prices could "stay the same, or maybe a little bit higher, but it should be around the same" when asked if gas prices would be lower by the fall. Trump has defended the surge as a "very small price to pay" for long-term global safety and the neutralization of Iran's nuclear threat.…

U.S. President Donald Trump has acknowledged that gasoline prices might remain high through the November 2026 midterm elections, a rare admission of the potential political fallout from the ongoing war in the Middle East. Trump told Fox News' Maria Bartiromo that gas prices could "stay the same, or maybe a little bit higher, but it should be around the same" when asked if gas prices would be lower by the fall. Trump has defended the surge as a "very small price to pay" for long-term global safety and the neutralization of Iran's nuclear threat.…

U.S. President Donald Trump has acknowledged that gasoline prices might remain high through the November 2026 midterm elections, a rare admission of the potential political fallout from the ongoing war in the Middle East. Trump told Fox News' Maria Bartiromo that gas prices could "stay the same, or maybe a little bit higher, but it should be around the same" when asked if gas prices would be lower by the fall. Trump has defended the surge as a "very small price to pay" for long-term global safety and the neutralization of Iran's nuclear threat.…

Ecuador, once a stable mid-tier oil producer in Latin America, is now facing a structural energy decline that is increasingly spilling over into regional instability. Production has fallen sharply in recent years, dropping to around 349,000 barrels per day in 2025, an 8.5% annual decline, while fuel imports have surged, further deepening external dependence. This is not the result of resource depletion. Ecuador still holds very significant reserves and untapped potential. Rather, the country’s decline is the consequence of policy fragmentation,…

Kyrgyzstan is hoping to preside over the launch of a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Development Bank during its 2026 chairmanship of the group, according to local news reports that cite the Kyrgyz Ministry of Economy.  Working out details connected with the SCO bank’s launch was the focus of recent discussions between top Economy Ministry officials from both Kyrgyzstan and China. The idea of an SCO Development Bank (SCODB) gained the approval of the 10 members of the organization at its most recent summit in 2025. At that time,…

Europe has long punched above its weight in research excellence, innovation clusters and academic talent. And yet, when it comes to growing global businesses, particularly in deep technology and energy transition sectors, Europe routinely sees its most promising companies relocate or expand outside its borders. A new study from a leading European institution has put more rigour behind a phenomenon many founders quietly acknowledge but few policymakers have fully internalised. The study’s detailed analysis of relocation drivers reveals something…

Petrobras (NYSE:PBR) has made yet another deepwater hydrocarbon discovery in the Campos Basin offshore Brazil, marking another win in its strategy to replenish reserves. The discovery was made  within Block C-M-477, roughly 200 kilometers off the coast of Rio de Janeiro state. Petrobras operates the block with a 70% working interest, alongside BP Plc. (NYSE:BP), which holds the remaining 30%.  Last week, Petrobras signed a $450 million deal with Petronas Petróleo Brasil to acquire the remaining 50% stake in the Tartaruga Verde…

Petrobras (NYSE:PBR) has made yet another deepwater hydrocarbon discovery in the Campos Basin offshore Brazil, marking another win in its strategy to replenish reserves. The discovery was made  within Block C-M-477, roughly 200 kilometers off the coast of Rio de Janeiro state. Petrobras operates the block with a 70% working interest, alongside BP Plc. (NYSE:BP), which holds the remaining 30%.  Last week, Petrobras signed a $450 million deal with Petronas Petróleo Brasil to acquire the remaining 50% stake in the Tartaruga Verde…

Petrobras (NYSE:PBR) has made yet another deepwater hydrocarbon discovery in the Campos Basin offshore Brazil, marking another win in its strategy to replenish reserves. The discovery was made  within Block C-M-477, roughly 200 kilometers off the coast of Rio de Janeiro state. Petrobras operates the block with a 70% working interest, alongside BP Plc. (NYSE:BP), which holds the remaining 30%.  Last week, Petrobras signed a $450 million deal with Petronas Petróleo Brasil to acquire the remaining 50% stake in the Tartaruga Verde…

Rachel Reeves’ flagship wealth fund has announced a fresh heap of financing for Rolls-Royce SMR following its tie-up with Ed Miliband’s state-owned energy company. The National Wealth Fund has revealed a £599m financing package for Rolls-Royce Small Modular Reactors (SMR) in a bid to kick start delivery on its project with Great British Energy. The partnership will see the creation of the UK’s first small modular reactors as part of the government’s drive for clean energy. Small modular reactors are designed to produce…

UK-based supermajor BP has agreed to buy 60% in three offshore exploration blocks in Namibia as part of its ongoing strategy to grow its upstream portfolio. The company will buy from Canada-based Eco Atlantic Oil & Gas a majority 60% stake in each of the PEL97, PEL99, and PEL100 exploration blocks offshore Namibia, one of the world's most sought-after exploration sites in recent years. Subject to approvals by the Namibian government, the UK supermajor will become the operator of the three blocks in the Walvis Basin offshore Namibia, while Eco…

UK-based supermajor BP has agreed to buy 60% in three offshore exploration blocks in Namibia as part of its ongoing strategy to grow its upstream portfolio. The company will buy from Canada-based Eco Atlantic Oil & Gas a majority 60% stake in each of the PEL97, PEL99, and PEL100 exploration blocks offshore Namibia, one of the world's most sought-after exploration sites in recent years. Subject to approvals by the Namibian government, the UK supermajor will become the operator of the three blocks in the Walvis Basin offshore Namibia, while Eco…

Being irreverently British, the first thing that sprang to mind when I heard the 7 April ceasefire announcement between the U.S. and Iran was lettuce. Specifically, the 2022 moment when The Daily Star newspaper ran a 24/7 livestream of a supermarket lettuce next to a framed photo of newly?installed Prime Minister Liz Truss to monitor whether the lettuce would last longer than Truss’s premiership. The lettuce won after forty-nine days. In the case of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire — which is technically still in effect, despite the collapse…

The European Commission is preparing to adopt next week a policy paper to recommend lowering energy taxes and grid charges as the EU looks to reduce the impact of the Hormuz crisis on households and industry, sources familiar with the plan told Bloomberg on Monday. Various EU member states have already taken steps to support households and businesses in uncoordinated national measures to blunt the impact of the second major energy crisis in four years. Now the Commission is set to adopt on April 22 a policy paper that would outline recommendations…

A priest, an engineer, and an economist are stranded on a desert island. The first order of business is to get some food. The priest suggests that they all pray. The practical-minded engineer suggests that the three men make a net to catch some fish. But where will they find the necessary materials? The priest and the engineer turn to the economist and ask him if he has any ideas. The economist replies, "Assume a fish." This well-worn economist joke summarizes one of the chief flaws in contemporary economic theory. That theory almost completely…