For decades, the West has been sleepwalking into dependency. While we built the world’s most advanced fighter jets, smartphones, and electric vehicles, we quietly surrendered the most important component of modern tech. Rare earth elements. Today, China controls 95% of the world’s rare earth processing capacity…a leverage point so powerful, it could cripple Western economies in a matter of months. But in the heart of Canada, the tide is finally turning. Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC), Canada’s second-largest research…

There are still many areas of the world where people do not have access to electricity, due to a lack of funding for the necessary transmission infrastructure and several other challenges. Now, some countries are tackling the issue by investing in programmes to support battery rental. By allowing those without access to power to rent batteries, which helps provide a mid-term solution to the lack of power, until long-term infrastructure can be developed. Approximately 730 million people worldwide did not have access to electricity in 2024, marking…

1m ago 8:32am CST Israel Moves Energy Sector Into Emergency Mode as Iranian Missile Threat Grows Israel is preparing to shift its energy sector into emergency operations as concerns mount over potential Iranian missile attacks, according to a report from Haaretz. The newspaper reports that refinery activity has already been scaled back and portions of the country’s natural gas infrastructure have been temporarily suspended. Bazan Group confirmed it has partially shut down operations at its Haifa refinery, while Energy Minister Eli Cohen has…

Global energy markets are set to see significant volatility following a United States-Israel coordinated wave of military strikes across Iran early this morning. The attack, which targeted multiple cities including the capital of Tehran, marks a huge escalation in a regional conflict that has simmered for months. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the "preemptive strike" as a state of emergency was declared across Israel. U.S. officials described the operation as "not a small strike," involving attack planes from regional bases and…

Once one of South America’s poorest countries, Guyana is now ranked among the world’s richest because of the vast petroleum wealth contained in its territorial waters. A swath of major oil discoveries in the offshore Stabroek Block by operator ExxonMobil, with partners Chevron and CNOOC, saw Guyana emerge as a major oil producer and exporter. There is considerable production growth ahead which will boost the economy and global oil supply. U.S. intervention in Venezuela, with President Nicolas Maduro captured during a daring night raid,…

Average daily crude oil production in the United States eased in December to the lowest daily production rate in months, according to the latest EIA data. Total December production, however, was higher than in November. According to the EIA, U.S. crude oil output averaged 13.655 million barrels per day in December, down from 13.788 million in November and the lowest daily average since June 2025. The dip from November to December was modest at the national level — roughly 1% — but some regions saw sharper percentage declines. The steepest…

Average daily crude oil production in the United States eased in December to the lowest daily production rate in months, according to the latest EIA data. Total December production, however, was higher than in November. According to the EIA, U.S. crude oil output averaged 13.655 million barrels per day in December, down from 13.788 million in November and the lowest daily average since June 2025. The dip from November to December was modest at the national level — roughly 1% — but some regions saw sharper percentage declines. The steepest…

Rolls-Royce has laid out plans to return billions to investors over the next two years after the blue-chip giant’s profit rocketed, leading to an upgrade of targets. The aerospace titan revealed plans for a £7bn to £9bn multi-year share buyback from 2026 to 2028, which comes as the firm wraps up a £1bn buyback from the last 12 months. Up to £2.5bn of the buyback is set to be delivered in 2026. The FTSE 100 darling also declared a final dividend of 5p a share, taking the total for the year to 9.5p, meaning around 32…

Every cycle produces its own comforting myth, for 2026, that is the “inevitable oil glut.” The reasoning behind that is mainly that crude oil producers are pumping more, Iran is still exporting despite sanctions pressure, and the market expects OPEC+ to edge toward output hikes. The current story in the market still is that surplus is building and prices must eventually fall. When, however, looking at the physical market, the latter is bluntly refusing the script. There are no real signs, at least for a longer period, that the tanks…

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has unveiled a critical minerals agreement with Kazakhstan on Thursday as Western governments move to shift supply chains away from China, moving ahead on London's plans to diversify its critical mineral sourcing. This after the British government in its Critical Mineral Strategy published last year identified Kazakhstan as producing 22 of the 36 minerals identified in the report as vital and needed by Britain. Britain's top diplomat is hosting foreign ministers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan,…

Germany plans to abolish fixed feed-in tariffs for small rooftop solar installations as of 2027, saying that falling costs have made the technology economically sound without subsidies, Bloomberg reported on Friday, citing a draft proposal for reforms it has seen. At present, rooftop solar installations of any kind are eligible for guaranteed tariffs. This could change in a few months, if the government approves the proposal of the German economy ministry to have subsidies abolished for projects of less than 25 kilowatts. The ministry argues that…

The total number of active drilling rigs for oil and gas in the United States fell this week, according to new data that Baker Hughes published on Friday, bringing the total rig count in the US to 550 this week, down 43 from this same time last year. The number of active oil rigs fell to 407 during the latest reporting period, according to the data. This is 79 below this same time last year. The number of gas gained one, reaching 134, which is 32 more than this time last year. The miscellaneous rig count stayed the same at 9. The latest EIA data…

As U.S.-Iran tensions climb and talk of a potential strike refuses to fade, the UAE and Saudi Arabia are already behaving as if an oil supply disruption is a matter of when, not if. If they move more crude now, there is a chance there will be calm markets later. Abu Dhabi is set to export additional volumes of its flagship Murban crude in April, trade sources told Reuters on Friday. ADNOC has reportedly offered extra barrels to partners in its onshore concession, where companies including BP, TotalEnergies, CNPC, Inpex, Zhenhua Oil, and GS Energy…

As U.S.-Iran tensions climb and talk of a potential strike refuses to fade, the UAE and Saudi Arabia are already behaving as if an oil supply disruption is a matter of when, not if. If they move more crude now, there is a chance there will be calm markets later. Abu Dhabi is set to export additional volumes of its flagship Murban crude in April, trade sources told Reuters on Friday. ADNOC has reportedly offered extra barrels to partners in its onshore concession, where companies including BP, TotalEnergies, CNPC, Inpex, Zhenhua Oil, and GS Energy…

Central Asian states increasingly acknowledge a need to change the way they manage their rapidly dwindling water resources. But while all involved acknowledge that the current management framework is inadequate, Central Asian leaders are having trouble finding consensus on what needs to be done to match existing resources with economic development ambitions. Over the past year, Central Asian states have rolled out water-intensive economic development blueprints, outlining plans for the construction of nuclear power plants, data centers, IT hubs,…

Russia’s oil exports were essentially flat in 2025 compared to a year earlier, with most supplies – a massive 80% -- going to China and India, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Friday.  Last year, Russian oil exports were about 238 million tons, or around 4.8 million barrels per day (bpd), basically flat compared to the 240 million tons Russia exported in 2024, according to Russia’s top oil official representing Moscow at the OPEC+ meetings.   Today, Russia exports around 80% of its oil to India…

Russia’s oil exports were essentially flat in 2025 compared to a year earlier, with most supplies – a massive 80% -- going to China and India, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Friday.  Last year, Russian oil exports were about 238 million tons, or around 4.8 million barrels per day (bpd), basically flat compared to the 240 million tons Russia exported in 2024, according to Russia’s top oil official representing Moscow at the OPEC+ meetings.   Today, Russia exports around 80% of its oil to India…

Oil ends the month on a firm footing as Iran tensions simmer, but muted attention on the upcoming OPEC+ meeting could set the stage for an unexpected production hike. Friday, February 27, 2026 Oil prices are finishing February on a high note, with the month’s last traded week posting a $1 per barrel gain as US-Iran tensions are mounting. Indirect talks held between Washington and Tehran this week in Geneva yielded no results, and Trump’s ’10- to 15-day’ deadline will be running out soon. Amidst all this, media attention…

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Kyiv is counting on a future trilateral meeting with the United States and Russia to take place in early March after Ukrainian and US negotiating teams wrapped up the latest round of peace talks in Switzerland. Zelenskyy said in a video address on Telegram after the February 26 meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, that "there is more readiness for the next trilateral format. "Most likely, the next meeting will be in the United Arab Emirates, in Abu Dhabi," he said. Urging the finalization of what Ukrainian and…

Politics, Geopolitics & Conflict Iran is now trying to shift tack, openly appealing to Trump’s transactional approach to foreign policy as nuclear talks resume in Geneva. Tehran is talking about clear economic benefits for the United States. They have pointed to oil and gas field development, mining projects, and access to critical minerals as areas where American companies could invest if sanctions are eased. The Iranian Foreign Minister is meeting US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner for a third round of negotiations, and an opportunity…