In a stark warning delivered at S&P Global’s Middle East Petroleum & Gas Conference in London, Vitol board member Tom Baker pulled no punches: “In Europe and I think in the US, everyone is kind of asleep at the wheel and just carrying on life as normal.” Vitol, one of the world’s largest independent oil […]
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The global LNG market, once prized for its transparency and reliability, is rapidly adopting the opaque tactics of the shadow oil trade. As the Iran conflict—sparked by U.S. and Israeli strikes in late February—continues to throttle flows through the Strait of Hormuz, major Gulf producers like Qatar and the UAE are turning off AIS transponders […]
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In a breaking maritime incident that has sent ripples through global shipping and energy markets, a Panama-flagged vessel was struck by an unknown projectile, triggering a large explosion in the Arabian Gulf. The event occurred just hours after Iran announced it was suspending talks with the US until the IDF withdraws from Lebanon, raising fresh […]
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In a sharp escalation reported today, Iran has signaled its willingness to simultaneously blockade the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. According to Iran’s state outlet Tasnim, Tehran is halting indirect talks with the United States amid tensions over Lebanon and is preparing to “completely block” the Strait of Hormuz while activating other […]
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ENB Pub Note: Interesting article from Andrew Korybko’s Newsletter on SubStack. China could replace the US’ subsidization of Zambia’s healthcare industry to preempt it from obtaining influence over Zambia’s critical minerals one, but failing to act soon could lead to Zambia capitulating to the US’ demanded quid pro quo, thus threatening China’s access to its […]
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Oman’s Maritime Security Center (MSC) issued an urgent navigation warning on May 30 after a floating object suspected to be a naval mine was sighted in Omani territorial waters within the Strait of Hormuz. The alert, posted on the centre’s official X account, urges seafarers, fishermen, and commercial vessels to “exercise the utmost caution,” maintain […]
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In a stark assessment amid one of the largest oil supply shocks in history, Goldman Sachs has signaled that global energy markets—led by crude oil—are shifting into a demand destruction phase. Even if a near-term peace deal eases the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, severely depleted inventories mean markets will likely require significant demand […]
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Iran is pushing ahead with legislation to formalize its “management and sovereignty” over the Strait of Hormuz, including provisions for shipping security, navigation and environmental fees, and a regional development fund — moves widely interpreted as establishing a toll-like system and de facto control. A senior Iranian lawmaker, Alireza Salimi, stated that only Iran and […]
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As global energy markets swing wildly on every headline from the Middle East, historian Niall Ferguson aptly dubs the latest chapter “The Endless Almost-Deal in Iran.” Since the dramatic escalation on February 28, 2026—when U.S. and Israeli strikes (part of what some reports call Operation Epic Fury) targeted Iranian leadership and facilities, reportedly killing Supreme […]
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In the wake of the ongoing 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis, a growing number of tankers and commercial vessels are deliberately switching off their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders—commonly known as “going dark”—to navigate the world’s most critical energy chokepoint. There is a difference between “Going Dark” and a Tanker in the Dark Fleet” – […]
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