Friday, January 9, 2026

Industry News

Mega-deals in mining that created global giants

The companies have confirmed that they are in the early stages of talks with each other to purchase Glencore. This could result in the creation of the world's biggest mining company, valued at nearly $207 billion. This move is a result of global'miners racing to scale up metals such as copper, which are seen as?critical for the energy transition. It has fueled a surge in expansions and takeovers.

Trump has announced that he will be meeting with Venezuelan Machado in the next few days

Donald Trump, the U.S. president, announced on Thursday that Venezuelan leader Maria Corina Machado would be visiting Washington next week. In an interview with Fox News' "Hannity", Trump was asked whether he planned to?meet? Machado after the U.S. attacks on Venezuela, which resulted in Maduro being captured. When contacted for more information about the meeting, The White House didn't immediately respond.

Sources say that Chevron Vitol Trafigura are all competing to control Venezuelan oil imports.

Sources familiar with the situation say that Chevron, Vitol, Trafigura and other companies are competing to get deals from the U.S. Government to export crude oil from Venezuela. Venezuelan officials are trying to control oil sales in the United States. This competition is a reflection of the desire for many oil companies to gain access to Venezuela's crude oil stocks and production. Donald Trump, the U.S.

Vitol, Trafigura and the White House invited to Venezuelan oil discussions on Friday

Four sources familiar with the situation have confirmed that the U.S. administration of President Donald Trump has invited the heads of commodity trading companies Vitol and Trafigura to meet at the White House this Friday to discuss the marketing Venezuelan crude oil. European trading houses dominate global oil trading, and could assist the U.S. in selling oil from Venezuela despite Washington's desire for U.S. oil majors to take the lead.

Equinor, a Norwegian company, awards ten-billion-dollar five-year contracts to suppliers

Equinor announced on Thursday that it had signed framework agreements with a group of suppliers worth 100 billion Norwegian crowns (9.93 billion dollars) for the maintenance and modification of its offshore?and onshore?installations. Aibel Group, Wood Group and IKM Group as well as Head Energy, Rosenberg Worley and Aker Solutions signed new five-year deals with the option to extend them by another three and two years.

FT reports that US oil companies need guarantees before investing in Venezuela.

The Financial Times reported that U.S. Oil Companies want "serious assurances" from Washington before making large?investments into Venezuela. President Donald Trump wants them to support his efforts to reshape the energy?markets. The FT, citing sources familiar with the issue, reported that U.S. officials met with energy executives on Wednesday in Miami. Washington and Caracas are progressing, so the talks will come.

South Africa relaxes antitrust rules for companies facing high electricity costs

South Africa has loosened its antitrust regulations to allow firms battling high energy costs to build energy infrastructure together and negotiate contracts collectively. In a government announcement seen by on Tuesday, South Africa's Trade Minister Parks Tau stated that the new measure was meant to help?distressed industry. The Minerals Council of South Africa says that electricity costs have increased by over 900% in the last five years.

Venezuelan oil will boost US refiners but hurt Canadian producers

Refiners in the United States would be able to absorb most of the approximately 1 million barrels of crude oil per day if U.S. Sanctions on Venezuela are lifted. According to a report on Tuesday, the U.S. has been in talks with Venezuela about exporting crude oil from the South American country to the United States. Sources say that U.S. oil executives will visit the White House Thursday to discuss Venezuela.

ROI-Trump's Venezuela oil grab revives 'petrodollar' debate: McGeever

The arrest and capture of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro by the United States on Saturday was likely motivated by many factors, but one that has been little discussed is the White House's concern about the declining global prominence of "petrodollar". Venezuela's oil production is modest, at just 1 million barrels a day. However, its reported reserves are huge - around 300 billion barrels or 17% of global stocks.

Bousso: Trump offers US oil companies in Venezuela a poisoned cup

Donald Trump, the president of the United States, is offering U.S. companies an opportunity to revitalize Venezuela's vast and derelict petroleum industry. This is an offer that they might not want to accept. U.S. Representatives of the Trump administration will meet with oil executives this week to discuss increasing Venezuelan oil production. Monday is a holiday. Exxon…

Bousso: Trump offers US oil companies in Venezuela a poisoned cup

Donald Trump, the president of the United States, is offering U.S. companies an opportunity to revitalize Venezuela's vast and derelict petroleum industry. This is an offer that they might not want to accept. U.S. Representatives of the Trump Administration plan to meet with oil executives this week in order to discuss increasing Venezuelan oil production. Monday is a holiday.

US oil companies benefit after Trump signals access Venezuelan reserves

U.S. Oil Companies' Shares jumped Monday fueled by the prospect that the U.S. could gain access to Venezuela's vast reserves of oil after President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. was taking control of Venezuela following the arrest of their president. Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world, but its production has plummeted over the past decades because of?mismanagement?…

Toda begins commercial operation of Japan’s first floating windfarm

Toda Construction announced on Monday that their consortium had started 'commercial operations' at the Goto offshore?wind?farm located in Nagasaki,?southern?Japan. This marks the country’s first commercial floating?wind project. The floating wind farm, which has a capacity of 16.8 megawatts (MW), is the first facility to be certified by a new law enacted by the land and industry ministries to promote the sector.

US forces oil majors to invest heavily in Venezuela to recover their debts

Two people who were familiar with this outreach report that White House and State Department officials told U.S. Oil executives, in recent weeks, they needed to return to Venezuela and invest significant capital to revive the damaged industry in order to receive compensation for assets expropriated two decades ago by Venezuela. Venezuela expropriated assets from international…

Demand for lithium is expected to increase due to the growing demand for energy storage.

The boom in battery storage in 2026 has increased the demand for lithium, bringing 'hopes of an accelerated turnaround in an industry that is struggling with an oversupply. Since the second half 2022, the lithium market has struggled with an?oversupply. Demand is not keeping up with the soaring supply - fueled by a price boom that was triggered in part by a surge in electric vehicle batteries.

Venezuelan oil reserves: No quick fixes

Even if U.S. Oil Majors invest the billions that President Donald Trump announced just hours after he took office, Venezuela's crude production is unlikely to increase significantly for many years. Venezuela may have the largest oil reserves in the world, but its production has dropped?over the last decade due to a lack investment by foreign firms. In the 2000s Venezuela nationalized oil operations that included?assets? of Exxon Mobil & ConocoPhillips.

Orsted contests US stoppage of its $5 Billion offshore wind project

Orsted, a Danish company, said it would seek an injunction to stop its $5 billion offshore wind project after the U.S. government suspended the lease of its Revolution Wind joint-venture. The Trump Administration suspended on Monday leases?for?five large offshore projects that are currently under construction off of the U.S. East Coast due to what it called "national security concerns", sending shares in offshore wind companies plummeting.

NovaBio reports that sugarcane crushing in Brazil's north regions has dropped 9.4% since November 30.

Industry group NovaBio reported?on Friday that sugarcane crushing had reached 32.5 metric tons in Brazil's North-East region through Nov. 30. This is a 9.4% decrease compared to the same period last year. The cane harvested so far during the 2025/26 harvest season is a little over half the total supply that will be available for the entire harvest, which takes place from April through March. Together, they represent about 10% of Brazil’s?national harvest.

US Natural Gas Futures Rise as Forecasts Predict Colder Weather

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U.S. natural gas futures rose on Friday in thin-volume trading and were on track for a weekly gain, ending a two-week losing streak, as forecasts pointed to colder weather and increased demand in the weeks ahead.Front-month gas futures for January delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange were up 4.4 cents, or 1% at $4.29 per million British thermal units. The contract was up 8.5% so far this week.Prices reached their highest level since December 11…

Palm climbs on Dalian's strength; set to gain weekly

Malaysian palm oils futures were up on Friday, and they were poised to make their first weekly gains in three weeks,?boosted by Dalian oil, which was stronger, although a stronger ringgit limited the gains. By midday, the benchmark March palm oil contract on Bursa Derivatives Exchange had gained 31 ringgit or 0.77% to 4,068 Ringgit ($1,007.93). This week, the contract has increased by?3.38%.