France Shuts Off More Nuclear Power as Heat Builds Across Europe, Sparking an Energy Domino of Failures

Electricité de France (EDF) has shut down the Golfech-2 nuclear reactor in southern France as a blistering heatwave drives temperatures toward 40°C across parts of Europe. This is the latest in a record number of heat-related outages hitting France’s nuclear fleet this summer, curbing output from what remains the backbone of Europe’s electricity system. EDF […]

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The Misconception of California’s Lower Demand for Gasoline and Diesel Sparks Debate

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 Energy Balance Globally is Shaken, and Green Energy is Tripling Down, While Oil and Gas Are Unbalanced

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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Red Sea Tanker Traffic at Multi-Month Low as Insurance and Houthi Threats Are Real

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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German Industry Warns Energy-Price Shock is Crippling Investment and Growth

German companies are delaying investments and increasingly eyeing production moves abroad as stubbornly high energy costs erode competitiveness, according to the latest survey from the German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK). The findings, highlighted in a July 27, 2026 Bloomberg report drawing on the DIHK’s Energiewende Barometer 2026, underscore deepening structural pressures from Germany’s […]

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Iran Threat Moves into Europe, Defending Russian Trade

Iran’s ballistic missile threats have expanded beyond the Middle East into Europe, with Ukraine becoming the latest target after the United Kingdom. This escalation ties directly to Tehran’s strategic partnership with Moscow and the defense of critical Caspian Sea trade and military logistics routes that sustain both nations amid ongoing conflicts and sanctions. On July […]

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Global Energy Choke Points Under Fire

In the escalating conflicts of mid-2026, the world’s most critical maritime energy arteries face simultaneous pressure from military actions, proxy threats, and environmental stresses. The Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Suez Canal, and even the Caspian Sea region have become flashpoints, disrupting flows of oil, LNG, fertilizers, and other commodities. Russian tankers are forced […]

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Ukraine Strikes Russian Refinery Deep Inside Russia Again, Demonstrating the Change in Modern Warfare

In a striking demonstration of how modern warfare has evolved, Ukrainian forces once again reached deep into Russian territory on July 25, 2026, hitting the Antipinsky (Tyumen) oil refinery more than 2,000 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The attack sparked a significant fire at the facility in western Siberia, underscoring Ukraine’s expanded long-range drone capabilities […]

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Greece Exposes the Hypocrisy and Limits of Europe’s Russia Energy Sanctions

Greece has once again highlighted the practical and commercial limits of the European Union’s sanctions regime against Russian energy. As the world’s leading maritime nation, Athens successfully pressed for exemptions on restrictions targeting the shipping of Russian LNG to third countries in the latest (21st) sanctions package. Greek officials argued that broader bans would primarily […]

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