California’s fuel markets are in crisis. Refineries across the state are running flat-out on jet fuel and diesel to chase record-high margins, while gasoline output is being deliberately cut — even as pump prices surge toward all-time highs near $6 per gallon. The shift comes at the worst possible moment: two major refinery closures have […]
Continue Reading
As the Iran war enters its third month, the world is staring down the barrel of the largest oil supply disruption in history. The Strait of Hormuz—the chokepoint for roughly one-fifth of global petroleum trade—has been effectively closed to most non-Iranian shipping since early March 2026. Bloomberg’s latest analysis warns that the resulting “billion-barrel oil […]
Continue Reading
The conflict in the Persian Gulf—sparked by U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran beginning February 28, 2026—has sent shockwaves through the global food system, even though the region itself is not a major agricultural breadbasket. As detailed in Bloomberg’s April 24, 2026, analysis, the war has cut off critical sources of energy and fertilizers, essential inputs for […]
Continue Reading
In an era of geopolitical turmoil—from conflicts in the Middle East to supply chain disruptions—energy security is no longer a luxury but a strategic imperative. Countries worldwide are shifting from reliance on imported refined products to building domestic refining capacity and ramping up drilling programs. This “energy starts at home” approach not only insulates economies […]
Continue Reading
California’s energy system is teetering on the edge of collapse. Decades of aggressive refinery closures, strict CARB fuel specifications, and heavy reliance on long-haul imports have left the state uniquely vulnerable. The ongoing disruption in the Strait of Hormuz—triggered by the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran—has now turned that vulnerability into an imminent crisis. Refined product […]
Continue Reading
As a record armada of crude oil tankers steams toward the U.S. Gulf Coast to load American barrels—171 vessels en route in April 2026, with 28 VLCCs already fixed for May loadings alone—another surge is unfolding downstream. U.S. crude cargoes transiting the Panama Canal are now exceeding 200,000 barrels per day (bpd) in the first […]
Continue Reading
The global energy markets are in flux as of mid-April 2026, shaped by severe disruptions from the ongoing Middle East conflict (centered on Iran and the Strait of Hormuz). This has curtailed roughly 7–10 mb/d of crude, NGLs, and refined product exports in March–April, triggering sharp price spikes and inventory draws. Brent crude averaged $103/bbl […]
Continue Reading
By RFE/RL staff – Apr 15, 2026, 1:00 PM CDT Cargo shipments through Iran are delayed for weeks, forcing costly overland rerouting and supply chain disruptions Shipping costs and energy prices are surging, putting pressure on households and government budgets across the region Landlocked Central Asian economies face rising inflation and slower growth due to their heavy […]
Continue Reading
President Donald Trump’s recent comments on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures have sparked intense debate in energy circles. In the April 12, 2026 interview, Trump acknowledged that U.S. gasoline prices “could be the same or maybe a little bit higher” by the November midterm elections, despite earlier hopes for a quick resolution. This marks a […]
Continue Reading
ENB Pub Note: This article is from the Epoch Times and was forwarded to us by Ronald Stein, Author and Friend to the Energy News Beat Podcast. As we have been talking on the Podcast, California is a National Security Risk. California is the 4th largest economy in the world and an “ENERGY ISLAND that […]
Continue Reading