Maguire: Maguire, China's renewables boom has boosted it to a rare clean-capacity club.
In 2025, the world's largest polluter will have crossed an important energy transition threshold by installing more clean power generation capacity than fossil fuel generation capacity. Global Energy Monitor data shows that China will have 1,494 gigawatts (GW) of clean power generation in operation by 2025. This compares to the?1,420-GW capacity powered by coal, gas, and other fossil fuels.
Brazil will rebuild ethanol stock in the new harvest following a 21% decline in 2025-2026
Analysts and industry data suggest that Brazil's sugar mills and ethanol producers will be strongly prompted to build up ethanol inventories for the harvest of 2026-2027, as biofuel prices are at multi-year highs. Sugar?futures are also hovering around five-year lows. According to data from Brazil's agriculture ministry, ethanol?stocks totaled 5,81 billion liters on Jan. 15.
BP confirms that it has applied for an OFAC license to develop the Venezuela/Trinidad Gas Field
BP wants a license to 'develop' its Manakin Cocuina Gas Field that crosses the border between Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela and Trinidad. This was revealed by interim BP CEO Carol Howle on Tuesday. Shell's Dragon and Manatee project and BP's Manakin are among the energy companies that have moved forward with their plans in Venezuela since the U.S. captured former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Equinor, a Norwegian oil and gas company, plans to increase its international production by 2030.
Equinor’s international oil-and-gas portfolio will grow?in the coming years, as the Norwegian energy company targets a?sharply?increased?output abroad in 2030. Equinor produces oil and natural gas in seven other countries than Norway after recent divestment in Argentina. This is down from 12 in 2019. Equinor's goal is to increase overseas oil production from 730,000 barrels per day in 2025 to more than 900,000.
Brazil's Raizen hires financial and legal advisers to try and fix its fortunes
To improve its liquidity, Brazil's Raizen appointed Pinheiro Neto & Cleary Gottlieb to act as legal?advisers as well as Rothschild & Co. as financial advisors. The sugar and ethanol producer, which is in dire straits, has also announced that it and its advisors have begun an exploratory and preliminary assessment of financial and economic alternatives as they try to turn their fortunes around.
Brazil's Raizen names Pinheiro Neto and Cleary Gottlieb to try to improve its fortunes
Three people with knowledge of the matter confirmed on Monday that Brazil's Raizen has hired law firms Pinheiro Neto & Cleary Gottlieb to help it strengthen its liquidity and turn its fortunes. Raizen, the joint venture between Brazilian oil giant Cosan, and London listed oil company Shell has suffered a string of heavy losses in recent quarters and amassed high levels of debt.
Shell is in need of a big deal or discovery as its oil and gas reserves are dwindling
Shell and analysts agree that the company needs to find a way to increase production to compensate for an expected shortage of between 350,000 and 800,000 barrels equivalent to oil per day in 2035, due to mature fields that are unable to meet its output targets. Oil majors have resisted the urge to 'top up' their reserves for years. They…
Namibia Flags Approval Need for TotalEnergies, Petrobras Offshore Stakes
Government officials stated on Sunday that Namibia would not recognize the purchase of offshore stakes by TotalEnergies or Petrobras announced last week until the oil companies followed the proper approval route.A spokesperson for the Presidency, Jonas Mbambo confirmed that "no transaction" can be recognized or considered valid until a formal application is submitted…
Namibia's Energy Ministry blasts TotalEnergies and Petrobras for failing to follow procedure
Namibia expressed concern that TotalEnergies and Petrobras acquired new offshore positions within the Luderitz basin without notifying the energy ministry and/or obtaining the necessary approval. Both French and Brazilian oil companies, TotalEnergies & Petrobras, announced on Friday that they each acquired a 42.5% share in an offshore Namibia exploration license.
Brazil's Inpasa increases exports of dried distillers grain to China
Inpasa, a Brazilian corn ethanol manufacturer, will increase exports of dried distillers grains with solubles to China in this year. Gustavo Mariano Oliveira said Friday. Inpasa produces DDGS (a corn ethanol product used as animal feed) in the amount of 3.3?million metric tons per year. The company announced on Tuesday that it would be making its first shipment to China soon.
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.
TotalEnergies and Petrobras purchase land north of Namibia's massive Mopane discovery
Both TotalEnergies, the French oil giant, and Petrobras, the Brazilian firm acquired a 42.5% share in an offshore exploration license. The firms are looking to "develop" oil in one of last frontiers in exploration. Total has expanded its holdings in South Africa, where the company hopes to become the first oil producer by the end decade.
Merz, Germany's Merz, promises arms cooperation while he seeks to increase Qatari energy
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz promised to take a more-restrictive approach to arms exports to Gulf States during a visit to 'Qatar' on Thursday. The trip came as Europe’s largest economy seeks to deepen economic ties and to diversify its sources of energy. Merz has launched a campaign aimed at promoting Germany as an attractive country for doing business, as the U.S.
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.
Oil majors buy up West African oil blocks to prepare for the next Brazil
Chevron, TotalEnergies and other oil majors are snatching up offshore blocks off the coast of West and Southern Africa. Geology, regulatory reforms and the need to replenish the reserves have prompted the search for the next Brazil. Companies are restocking oil and gas assets as fossil fuel demand is expected to remain higher than forecasted just a few short years ago.
Experts say that Brazil is on track to increase ethanol production in 2026.
Analysts and commodities traders stated on Tuesday that a healthy ethanol price, the expansion of corn-ethanol plants, and a large sugarcane harvest are all factors contributing to the increase in biofuel production in Brazil this year, the world's?second largest producer. They said?during an event at the Dubai Sugar Conference, that increased…
Grain prices in Chicago corn and soy recover after updated biofuel guidance
Analysts said that Chicago grain and soybean contracts gained ground on Tuesday, as the selloff of commodities markets subsided?and the U.S. Department of the Treasury issued updated guidance?on biofuel credit credits. As of 11 am CT (1600 GMT), the most active soybean "contract" on the Chicago Board of Trade recovered from a three session fall.
Grain futures rise as gold and commodities stabilize, while soybeans continue to climb.
Chicago soybean futures rose on Tuesday as traders struggled with teetering commodity markets and rising gold prices. Wheat and corn also traded higher. As of 0453 GMT, the most active soybean contract on Chicago?Board?of Trade was up 0.2% to $10.62-3/4 a Bushel. CBOT corn was up 0.3% and wheat rose 0.3%. The rise in grain and soybean prices is related to the recovery of gold and silver.
Over the objections of the government, French Senate approves a proposal to allow oil exploration in overseas territories
The French Senate approved by a large majority a proposal on Thursday to allow oil and gas exploration within its overseas territories. This followed a heated debate which pitted the country's decade old climate commitments with growing concerns about energy sovereignty and supply security. French Guiana, a South American territory located east of Venezuela and sandwiched between Brazil and Suriname…
Brokers say that Brazil's sugar mills will focus more on ethanol because they are underhedged.
Sugarcane producers in Brazil have been very slow to hedge for the season 2026/27 that will begin in April. They are also likely to focus more on ethanol, as the current sugar prices are below the cost of production. Czarnikow is a broker and provider of supply chain services. According to a Monday report, Brazilian sugar mills hedged by taking short positions on the ICE exchange in New York.