Saturday, January 31, 2026

The National News

Union rejects Marathon's Contract Offer

United Steelworkers rejected a comprehensive offer from Marathon Petroleum during talks to create a national model agreement for U.S. workers at refineries and chemical plants, the union said on Wednesday. USW and Marathon, the lead negotiators for energy companies, have a deadline of 12:01 am on Sunday morning to "hammer out" a new contract to the current four-year agreement.

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…

S.Africa energy regulator approves power cost relief for ferrochrome makers

South Africa's Energy Regulator approved Eskom's application on Thursday to reduce electricity rates?by 35 percent for two distressed ferrochrome plants that are battling high power costs. In recent years, more than a dozen smelters in South Africa have closed, resulting in thousands of job losses. This is largely because electricity prices have increased by over 900% since 2008.

Australia reaches new renewable milestone over 50%

The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), a'statement made on Thursday,' said that Australia had achieved a clean energy milestone in the quarter ending December, despite a rise of over 2,2% in power demand from a year earlier. The gas-fired generation has fallen to its lowest levels since 2000. Meanwhile, the total electricity…

US crude and natural gas production recovers after winter storms ravage output

U.S. crude and?natural-gas producers brought wells online on Wednesday following a severe storm that swept across the country at the weekend. The storm strained energy infrastructure and power systems. According to Energy Aspects consultancy, domestic crude production is down by around 600,000 barrels a day. This represents 4% of the total output.

Kuwait Readies $7b Pipeline Deal as Gulf Turns to Foreign Investors

© Adobe Stock/chitsanupong

Gulf governments are stepping up infrastructure deals with foreign investors, with Kuwait set to launch an oil pipeline network stake sale as soon as February in a deal that could raise up to $7 billion, three sources with knowledge of the matter said.The shift comes as oil prices, down more than 25% in two years, sit below levels needed to fund the Gulf’s diversification plans.

Australia and Timor call for progress on Greater Sunrise Gas Field

On Wednesday, East Timor's Xanana Gushmao and Australia's Anthony Albanese said that the Greater Sunrise -gas project should begin "as quickly as possible" with Australia pledging a third of state revenues to its neighbour. Albanese signed a partnership agreement on Wednesday with Gusmao, during his first visit to Australia's northern neighbor.

The UK National Wealth Fund has set its sights on carbon capture, batteries, and hydrogen as a way to boost growth

The National Wealth Fund of Britain announced on Wednesday that carbon capture, power grids and battery manufacturing will be among ten'sector' it will concentrate on in the next five-year period to help the relatively sluggish British economy recover. Oliver Holbourn, CEO of the company, aims to invest between 4 and 5 billion pounds per year (between $5.49 billion and £5.50 billion) in projects.

Sources say that the US will issue a general license to lift some sanctions against Venezuelan oil industry

Four sources said that the U.S. is preparing to issue a license to lift sanctions against Venezuela's energy industry. This would be a shift from the previous plan of granting individual exemptions for companies wishing to do business with Venezuela. After the capture by the U.S. of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro in early this month, U.S.

Norway Police File Charges Over Suspected Oil Bribery In Congo Republic

Norwegian police said Monday that they have charged two Norwegian executives and an oil company with paying millions of dollars to family members of Congo Republic president Denis Sassou-Nguesso. Norwegian police said that the investigation began after Monaco police requested legal assistance in relation to a suspicious banking transaction.

Australia PM Albanese discusses security and gas with East Timor during his visit to the country

In his first official visit to East Timor, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to highlight Australia's desire for stronger security and energy relations when he speaks in the?parliament of East Timor on Wednesday. The visit comes at a time when the tiny Catholic nation - also courted by China - continues to push for a liquefied gas plant to be built on its south shore…

Major Gulf bourses see gains as earnings season progresses

Investors focused on corporate earnings drove the early trading on Tuesday on major stock markets across the Gulf. Saudi Arabia's benchmark indices gained?0.4% led by an increase of 0.9% in Al?Rajhi bank. The bank's net profit was 24.79 billion Saudi riyals, up from 19.72 billion the year before. Al Rajhi announced a dividend of 1…

ADNOC CEO: Oil demand will remain above 100 million barrels per day (bpd) through 2040

The head of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), said that 'global oil demand is expected to remain at or above 100 million barrels a day until 2040. Demand for both LNG and electricity are expected to grow 50% or more. The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer?Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber said at the India Energy Week…

Venezuelan oil reform encourages immediate investments, but executives still need to go deeper

Foreign and local executives and attorneys said that a proposed reform to Venezuela's oil laws is sufficient to encourage existing companies to expand, and to start investing. However, deeper reforms are needed to attract the $100 Billion the U.S. estimates is necessary to overhaul the nation's energy industry. The U.S. now controls…

Trinidad's Atlantic LNG Project to Decommission Liquefaction Train

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Trinidad and Tobago's flagship liquefied natural gas project, Atlantic LNG, will begin removing one of its liquefaction trains from operations in the last quarter this year, its director for capital projects, Michael Daniel, said on Tuesday.The project's shareholders, including Shell, BP and Trinidad's National Gas Company, agreed…

Tanzanian minister: Tanzania will sign $42 billion mega LNG Project before June

A senior government minister said on Monday that Tanzania is expecting to sign a deal before June for its $42 billion project to build a liquefied gas plant. Production will begin in eight years. Equinor & Shell are the joint operators for this mega-gas project. It aims to unlock 47.13 trillion cubic foot of natural gas reserves.

Houston, the US oil capital, is buzzing as industry prepares for Venezuelan oil rush

Matthew Goitia explains his idea in a bar downtown Houston. He wants to build and refurbish marine terminals for Venezuela that will allow crude oil to be blended and exported, and chemical products shipped. Matthew Goitia, a director at Pelorus Terminals, explains his ambitious plan to refurbish and build marine terminals that can blend and export crude and ship chemical products in Venezuela.

Libya signs 25-year agreement with TotalEnergies and ConocoPhillips that will bring in over $20 billion of investment

Libya's Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah announced that the country will sign on Saturday a 25-year agreement with TotalEnergies of France and ConocoPhillips in the United States. The deal involves more than $20 billion dollars worth of foreign-financed investments and is aimed at increasing production by as much as 850,000 barrels a day.

India's state-owned BPCL signs $780 million oil contract with Brazil's Petrobras

India's Bharat Oil Corp Ltd. will purchase?12,000,000 oil barrels from Brazil's Petrobas for $780 million in fiscal 2027. This is?twice as much as its contract with Petrobas 2026, and will be used to replace Russian oil. A government statement was released on Friday. Indian refiners have redrafted their oil import strategy, purchasing more oil from countries in the Middle East…

Documents show that Venezuela's proposed oil-reform will give companies operating autonomy and cash proceeds to companies.

Drafts of a proposed overhaul of Venezuela's hydrocarbons laws showed that foreign and local companies could operate oilfields independently through a new model of contract, commercialize the?output?, and receive sales proceeds, even when acting as minor partners of PDVSA. Delcy Rodriguez, Venezuela's interim president, presented the proposal last week to the National Assembly.