Helium prices rise as Qatar LNG shutdown exposes fragile supply chains
The Iran war has caused disruptions in Qatar's natural-gas processing, which have pushed helium prices up sharply. This exposes the fragility of this small but important market that supports industries ranging from semiconductors to imaging. According to Phil Kornbluth of Kornbluth Helium Consulting's president, the spot price for helium has?doubled in recent months as buyers scrambled to secure supplies.
India is ready to support the oil markets after IEA releases record-breaking release
India announced 'on Wednesday that it is ready to support the global oil'markets, in line with the International Energy Agency releasing a record 400,000,000 barrels - of oil in an effort to tame the prices which have risen following the U.S./Israeli war against Iran. India has not provided any details about how it will support the IEA. An official source said on Monday that India has…
Zambia seeks global investors to triple copper production by 2031
Zambia is wooing investors from around the world, including those in the United States. It aims to triple its copper production to 3 million tons by 2031. Washington wants to work with the second largest copper producer in Africa, Africa's Democratic Republic of Congo. The United States is intensifying efforts to loosen China’s grip on critical materials for advanced manufacturing. Zambia missed its annual target of 1,000,000 tons by a mere?890.346 tons.
Novak, quoted by the media as saying that Russia is considering redirecting LNG from Europe to Asia-Pacific
Interfax and Izvestia reported that Russia's Deputy Premier Alexander Novak stated on Friday he had discussed the?possibility? of redirecting Russian LNG supplies from Europe to alternative markets. This week, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia can halt gas supply to Europe immediately due to the spike in energy costs triggered by the Iran Crisis. He was preempting EU plans for stopping 'Russian LNG imports until end-2026 and pipeline gas before September 30…
Novak, the Russian Minister of Energy, says that his government will discuss gas exports to Europe soon.
Minister Alexander 'Novak, the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, said on Thursday that the Russian government would meet "soon" to discuss ending gas exports to Europe. Vladimir Putin stated on Wednesday that Russia can stop gas supplies immediately due to the spike in energy costs caused by the Iran Crisis. He said that the European Union was attempting to ban the purchase of Russian gas, liquefied gas, and other products.
Iran Conflict triggers New Gas Crisis in Separatist Moldova Region
Transdniestria, Moldova's separatist Transdniestria, has experienced a new gas shortage due to the conflict in Iran, according to authorities. The crisis, which lasted a year ago, caused a power and heat outage for homes and industries. Transdniestria, a pro-Moscow region, has been receiving Russian gas for years, almost without payment, via a pipeline crossing Ukraine. Kyiv authorities stopped the gas transit last year as the war against Russia continued…
Russia exports 238 million tonnes of oil by 2025, says Deputy Prime Minister
Alexander Novak, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, said that the country's oil exports will reach 238 million tons by 2025. Around 80% of these volumes are sent to China and India. The Russian exports of 480 million barrels a day or 240?million tonnes are roughly comparable. After the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Russia was forced to divert its oil exports away from Europe. This used to be their main?market of commodity supplies.
EU delays 'Made in Europe' plan after disagreements over scope
The European Commission announced on Monday that it had 'delayed announcement of a new policy to prioritise industrial products and parts made in Europe by a week due to disagreements over the scope of the program. Thursday was the date set for the announcement of these measures, which would establish minimum thresholds in order to use locally-made parts in projects involving public funds.
EU considers a revamp of the industry's free allowances in Carbon Market Reform
As part of a redesign of its carbon market, the European Union may overhaul its system of free "CO2 permits" for industries. Brussels is redesigning its Emissions Trading System (ETS), the EU's most important policy on climate change, which requires power plants and industry to purchase CO2 permits when polluting. Brussels, according to a presentation made by the European Commission internally…
Sources say that Venezuela's Orinoco Belt is loosening, which helps to boost oil production to 1 million barrels per day.
Sources close to the operations reported that Venezuela's state-owned?oil firm PDVSA reversed the majority of output cuts in its own oilfields and joint ventures located along the Orinoco Belt. Total production has increased to close to one million barrels a day. OPEC member Venezuela was forced to reduce its crude production after Washington imposed an oil blockade in December in order to put pressure on Nicolas Maduro.
US takes on Chinese dominance in the race for African minerals
Diplomats, executives and analysts have said that the U.S. uses offtake agreements and state-backed financing to compete with China?in a short time frame? in order to secure supplies of African cobalt, copper and other essential minerals. Washington is focusing on Zambia, Guinea and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is expected to produce 3.3 million tons of copper by 2024 and account for 70% of global cobalt supply.
Glencore focuses on short-term disposals while Rio deal remains elusive
Glencore, the Swiss-based mining company, is likely to sell assets to bolster its copper portfolio after failing to merge with Rio Tinto. The two companies have called off talks to create a global mining giant worth $240 billion due to disagreements over valuation and ownership. This is the third failed attempt at a tie-up, following earlier merger discussions between 2014 and 2024.
Brazil's oil regulator authorizes Petrobras to resume Foz do Amazonas drilling
A document obtained by?showed that Brazil's oil regulator ANP had?authorized the?state-run Petrobras on Wednesday to resume drilling operations in the environmentally sensitive Foz do Amazonas area. The drilling was halted by the?ANP in early December after a synthetic liquid leaked from auxiliary lines that connected Petrobras' drill rig with a planned well located off the coast of Brazil’s?Amazonian State of?Amapa.
Bunge's forecast profit is below estimates due to trade and biofuel uncertainties
Bunge Global, the world's biggest oilseed processor, forecast lower-than expected profit in 2026 on Wednesday. The company is navigating commodity market volatility as well as?tight?margins that took a toll last year. Bunge, a Missouri-based company, reported its lowest adjusted annual profit and fourth quarter since 2019 although both exceeded consensus analyst's estimates. Analysts characterized the outlook as "conservative"…
Knight Vinke's founder says that his fund cannot invest in the uncertain US under Trump
Eric Knight, a hedge fund manager, said that his fund could not invest in the United States with President Donald Trump as the risks were too high. However profits can be made by investing in Europe where the rules and policies regarding green energy projects is more predictable. Knight Vinke Asset Management, based in Monaco, sold its 'last' U.S. assets in August. This was revealed in an interview with its CEO and founder Knight.
German wind energy supply expected to plummet Wednesday
The French baseload contract fell on Tuesday due to the anticipated return of two reactors. However, the German contract is expected to increase because there will be a decrease in wind power. LSEG data shows that the French day-ahead power?contract fell 2.3% to 87 euros ($102.61 per megawatt hour) at 1002 GMT. The German contract was not traded. LSEG data shows that German wind power production is expected to drop by 12.1 gigawatts on Wednesday to 26.4 GW.
Qatar Energy CEO: By 2030, the LNG glut may be reduced to a gap due to AI power requirements.
Qatar Energy CEO Saad Al-Kaabi said on Monday that the expected global glut of liquefied gas could become a shortage in 2030 due to rising demand for gas and fuels, particularly in Asia. The LNG supply expected between 2026-2029, including projects such as Golden Pass LNG in the U.S. Gulf Coast region and Qatar's North Field Expansion are likely to be significant. Kaabi added that the demand expectation has increased "primarily due to...AI and data center needs".
OPEC+ agrees that oil production will remain unchanged despite Iran tensions
OPEC+ decided to keep its oil production unchanged for March during a meeting on Sunday, the producer group reportedly said. This was despite crude prices hitting six-month highs due to fears that the U.S. might launch a military attack on OPEC's member Iran. Brent crude oil closed at $70 a barge on Friday, near the $71.89 high it reached on Thursday. The eight OPEC+ member countries met as prices rose to a six-month peak.
Sources say that OPEC+ will not increase oil production in March due to the price spike.
Three OPEC+ delegates said that OPEC+ will likely?keep its planned pause for oil production increases in?March?" when it meets on Sunday. This is even though crude prices have reached six-month highs due to fears the U.S. might launch a strike against OPEC member Iran. The eight OPEC+ member countries met as Brent crude prices closed at $70 a bar on Friday. This was close to the?six-month peak of $71.89 on Thursday.
Mexico tries to avoid US tariffs for states that ship oil to Cuba
Mexico will look for diplomatic solutions to help Cuba. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Friday that the country would seek alternatives and find diplomatic solutions after U.S. president Donald Trump signed a tariff order on oil-supplying countries. The White House Executive Order on Thursday could be devastating for Cuba and Mexico, as it is one of the last oil suppliers.