In the shadow of the ongoing Iran war that erupted in late February 2026, QatarEnergy—the world’s second-largest LNG exporter—is sending carefully calibrated signals to the global market. On one hand, it is cautiously testing the resumption of its own exports through the Strait of Hormuz. On the other, it is aggressively securing alternative supplies to […]
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President Donald Trump announced this week that U.S.-controlled sales of Venezuelan oil have generated more than $13 billion since the January 3, 2026, capture of former President Nicolás Maduro. The figure aligns with Financial Times calculations of revenues held in U.S. Treasury accounts. Trump stated the proceeds have “paid for that war many times over,” […]
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The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) released its Weekly Petroleum Status Report on July 29, 2026, covering the week ending July 24, 2026. Commercial crude oil inventories (excluding the Strategic Petroleum Reserve) fell by 7.2 million barrels (precisely 7.167 million barrels) to 404.5 million barrels. This marked a sharp draw that far exceeded market expectations […]
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California’s energy debate often rests on a convenient narrative: gasoline and diesel demand is falling, so aging refineries can—and should—simply close. A recent CalMatters commentary by Ranjit Deshmukh, an environmental studies associate professor at UC Santa Barbara, advances exactly this view. Titled in essence “Aging oil refineries don’t need more public dollars. California should let […]
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The paper oil markets continue to signal relative calm, with WTI futures hovering in the low-to-mid $80s per barrel range in late July 2026, even as the physical markets scream warnings of tightening supplies and stress. Futures traders appear focused on hopes of de-escalation, adaptability of flows, and potential diplomatic pauses. Yet the actual delivery […]
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Global demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers is set to be significantly stronger than previously expected over the next decade. French containment-system specialist Gaztransport & Technigaz SA (GTT) has raised its forecast for LNG carrier gas-containment system design orders to about 550 vessels in the 2026–2035 period, up from its earlier estimate of more […]
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Iran-backed militias operating from Iraqi territory launched drone attacks targeting oil facilities in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province for the second consecutive day on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, according to Saudi authorities. The incidents add pressure on the kingdom’s energy infrastructure amid ongoing regional tensions and constraints on its crude oil export routes. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry […]
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ENB Pub Note: This article was first published on the Energy News Beat Substack. Head over there to comment. Tough times ahead, and countries are picking sides. The world’s energy system is under simultaneous assault from geopolitics and policy ideology. Critical oil and gas flows through maritime and pipeline chokepoints are disrupted or rerouted at […]
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OPEC+ is preparing to hit pause on its gradual oil production quota increases after a final bump in September 2026. According to delegates, the group plans to ratify a 188,000 barrels-per-day (bpd) hike for September at a virtual meeting on August 2, completing the current tier of increases, with no further hikes planned for the […]
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Tanker traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the southern entrance to the Red Sea has slumped to a multi-month low, underscoring how Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi threats and recent attacks continue to disrupt one of the world’s most critical oil shipping lanes. According to vessel-tracking data, only 11 commodity-carrying vessels—including just seven oil tankers (four […]
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