U.S. natural gas prices this week hit a two-week low on forecasts of a milder weather ahead. At $3.03 per mmBtu, natural gas was the lowest since late September—but it was significantly higher than in October 2024. Surging LNG exports may have something to do with this. The situation poses something of a dilemma for President Trump. When he came into office, Trump vowed to make energy cheap and make America energy dominant globally. In oil, this means low prices at the pump and ever-growing exports. In natural gas, the goal is identical—and…

The dispute between Venezuela and Guyana over the mineral-rich Essequibo escalated after ExxonMobil made over 30 world-class discoveries, containing 11 billion barrels of crude oil, in the prolific Stabroek Block. By late 2023, Guyana was a regular target of Caracas’ bellicose saber rattling with threats of annexation and invasion, forcing the government in Georgetown to seek security assurances from Washington. While the White House’s deployment of U.S. warships off the coast of Venezuela sparked considerable consternation across Latin…

The United States is making a play to join the ranks of the world’s largest lithium suppliers. At present, the country – and the rest of the world – is highly reliant on just a few nations for lithium supplies, as well as downstream manufacturing of lithium-based products like batteries to power electric vehicles and energy storage. The element’s central role in clean energy technologies has turned it into the “white gold” of the clean energy transition, and interest in lithium supply chains is surging accordingly. …

Oil prices extended losses on Wednesday as rising OPEC+ supply and escalating U.S.-China trade tensions deepened concerns over global demand, prompting Bank of America to warn that Brent crude could drop below $50 per barrel in the months ahead. In midday trading at 1:13p.m. ET on Wednesday, WTI crude was trading at $58.55, while Brent was trading at $62.14. The pullback leaves both benchmarks down about 5-6% since the start of October, marking their lowest levels in five months and erasing much of their late-summer gains. Natural gas eased to…

Between May and August 2025, Mexico shipped more than $3 billion worth of subsidized fuel to Cuba through Gasolinas Bienestar, a subsidiary of state oil company Pemex, according to an investigation by Mexicanos Contra la Corrupción y la Impunidad (MCCI). The figure is three times higher than the total shipments during the final two years of the previous administration. MCCI found that at least 58 fuel shipments — including gasoline, diesel, and crude — departed from Mexican ports over just four months, mostly from Coatzacoalcos,…

Between May and August 2025, Mexico shipped more than $3 billion worth of subsidized fuel to Cuba through Gasolinas Bienestar, a subsidiary of state oil company Pemex, according to an investigation by Mexicanos Contra la Corrupción y la Impunidad (MCCI). The figure is three times higher than the total shipments during the final two years of the previous administration. MCCI found that at least 58 fuel shipments — including gasoline, diesel, and crude — departed from Mexican ports over just four months, mostly from Coatzacoalcos,…

General Motors said on Oct. 14 that it will bear a $1.6 billion loss to scale back its electric vehicle (EV) operations, citing weaker expected demand following recent U.S. policy changes that ended federal EV tax credits and loosened emissions rules. The Detroit-based automaker said its Audit Committee approved the loss on Oct. 7, covering the three months ended Sept. 30. The company noted that the loss is part of its plan to realign EV production and factory operations to better match customer demand. The decision was made after the expiration…

After years spent cast as the underbelly of the global economy, mining is undergoing a reputational and financial revival. Ali Lyon explores what’s behind the renaissance, and whether London risks losing its status as the industry’s spiritual home as a result. With his thick-rimmed spectacles, salt-and-pepper hair and wiry, lean build, Gustavo Pimenta is a sharp departure from the brash mining executives of yesteryear. Appointed in 2024 to head up Vale – the world’s sixth-largest miner by revenue – he faced an unenviable…

OPEC will bring in an independent consultant to evaluate the production capacity of its member states, Kuwait’s Oil Minister Saad Al Barrak said Wednesday, in what marks a rare external audit of the group’s internal metrics as quota negotiations intensify ahead of 2026. Speaking to reporters in Kuwait City, Al Barrak said the consultant would provide a “technical, neutral assessment” of each producer’s sustainable output, a process designed to ensure future production baselines reflect real capacity rather than self-reported…

OPEC will bring in an independent consultant to evaluate the production capacity of its member states, Kuwait’s Oil Minister Saad Al Barrak said Wednesday, in what marks a rare external audit of the group’s internal metrics as quota negotiations intensify ahead of 2026. Speaking to reporters in Kuwait City, Al Barrak said the consultant would provide a “technical, neutral assessment” of each producer’s sustainable output, a process designed to ensure future production baselines reflect real capacity rather than self-reported…

Russia is grappling with fuel shortages and price hikes after a string of Ukrainian attacks on its oil refineries. To protect supplies in Russia, where long lines at gas stations have been reported in some regions, Moscow has banned or restricted the export of gasoline and diesel. The move has triggered fuel shortages and price rises in some of the former Soviet republics of Central Asia, which are heavily reliant on Russian energy. Tajikistan Among Hardest Hit Tajikistan, which imports almost all its fuel -- mostly from Russia -- has been among…

Cenovus Energy Inc. said on Wednesday it had built up a 9.8% stake in MEG Energy over the past week, days before MEG shareholders are expected to vote on a Cenovus takeover offer that could put an end to a two-month-long bidding war.    Cenovus Energy on Wednesday revealed it had bought an additional 3,276,460 common shares of MEG Energy through the facilities of the Toronto Stock Exchange or other Canadian alternative exchanges or markets.  Following the latest acquisition, Cenovus beneficially owned, directly or indirectly,…

Cenovus Energy Inc. said on Wednesday it had built up a 9.8% stake in MEG Energy over the past week, days before MEG shareholders are expected to vote on a Cenovus takeover offer that could put an end to a two-month-long bidding war.    Cenovus Energy on Wednesday revealed it had bought an additional 3,276,460 common shares of MEG Energy through the facilities of the Toronto Stock Exchange or other Canadian alternative exchanges or markets.  Following the latest acquisition, Cenovus beneficially owned, directly or indirectly,…

When war in Afghanistan ended in 2021, the Central Asian republics could now focus on investments in human development and physical infrastructure without the prospect of violence spilling over the border from Afghanistan. One of the republics, Uzbekistan, pursued what Yunis Sharifli has called a “multi-vector transport strategy” coupled with a “good neighbor” foreign policy. The region has seen many proposed regional transport links, such as the Kabul and Kandahar corridors through Afghanistan to Pakistan, the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan…

Hungary won’t accept any outside pressure on its energy supply policy and will continue to rely on Russia for oil and gas imports, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Wednesday, while attending an energy forum in Moscow.    “We have never been let down (by Russia). The deliveries have always arrived... Contracts were always respected. And my question is only why we should cut this relationship,” Szijjarto said, as carried by Reuters. Hungary has continuously clashed with its fellow EU member states…

Hungary won’t accept any outside pressure on its energy supply policy and will continue to rely on Russia for oil and gas imports, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Wednesday, while attending an energy forum in Moscow.    “We have never been let down (by Russia). The deliveries have always arrived... Contracts were always respected. And my question is only why we should cut this relationship,” Szijjarto said, as carried by Reuters. Hungary has continuously clashed with its fellow EU member states…

Hungary won’t accept any outside pressure on its energy supply policy and will continue to rely on Russia for oil and gas imports, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Wednesday, while attending an energy forum in Moscow.    “We have never been let down (by Russia). The deliveries have always arrived... Contracts were always respected. And my question is only why we should cut this relationship,” Szijjarto said, as carried by Reuters. Hungary has continuously clashed with its fellow EU member states…

In a move with major implications for the global automotive industry, the U.S. federal government has implemented a 15% import tariff on auto imports from the European Union. According to a federal register notice from September 24, the move affects cars as well as auto parts. That notice went on to indicate that the duties are also retroactive to August 1. The Move Follows a Protracted Negotiation The new tariff follows an August 21 announcement by the United States and the EU regarding a “Framework for an Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair and…

The Norwegian government on Wednesday proposed to raise the spending from the country’s oil fund, the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund, in next year’s budget, according to the draft budget of the Labor party, which won a second term in office at the general elections last month.  The Labor government of Jonas Gahr Støre will need support from its junior partners in the coalition to pass the bill in Parliament.  The 2026 budget proposes to use $57.4 billion (579 billion Norwegian crowns) from the Government…

The world needs more investment in oil and gas as they will continue to account for a large part of the global energy mix in 2050, OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais said on Wednesday, reiterating the cartel’s view that investment in new supply will be needed in the foreseeable future.  Primary energy demand will jump by 23% by 2050, Al Ghais said in remarks to the Russian Energy Week conference in Moscow, as carried by Reuters. And oil will still represent 30% of total global energy consumption in 2050, OPEC’s Secretary General…