In a bold display of defiance against US sanctions, two shadowy supertankers—operating under the pseudonyms \”Crag\” and \”Galaxy 3\”—have docked at Venezuela\’s Jose port to load nearly 4 million barrels of Merey 16 crude oil destined for Asia. These vessels, part of the infamous \”dark fleet\” used to evade international restrictions, highlight the ongoing cat-and-mouse […]
Continue ReadingENB Pub Note: This is a fantastic article from Giacomo Prandelli, and Stu Turley will be interviewing him next week on the Energy News Beat podcast. This is going to be a great interview, as The Merchant News Substack is packed with fantastic insights from the global energy markets. On a quiet morning off the […]
Continue ReadingIn a significant escalation of the ongoing energy warfare between Ukraine and Russia, the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) has suspended oil loading operations at its Black Sea terminal in Novorossiysk following a Ukrainian naval drone attack. The incident, which occurred early on November 29, 2025, marks the latest in a series of targeted strikes on […]
Continue ReadingAs the world watches the evolving dynamics of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, the energy sector remains on high alert. With the current date being November 28, 2025, recent developments suggest a potential path toward peace, including a proposed 19-point plan from the Trump administration that favors Ukraine by avoiding territorial concessions in Donbas and offering U.S.-style […]
Continue ReadingIn a striking display of resilience amid tightening global sanctions, a Russian \”dark fleet\” tanker recently conducted a ship-to-ship oil transfer off the coast of Mumbai, ultimately delivering its cargo to Indian shores. This maneuver, highlighted in a recent Bloomberg report, underscores the ongoing challenges in enforcing Western sanctions on Russian energy exports. As trade […]
Continue ReadingWeekly Daily Standup Top Stories Secretary Chris Wright has a plan for Rare Earth and Critical Minerals – What is the timeline? October 25, 2025 Clark Savage In an outstanding interview with Larry Kudlow on Fox Business, Secretary Chris Wright covers some key points on the upcoming China meetings with President Trump and President Xi. • […]
Continue ReadingIn the escalating geopolitical tensions surrounding Russia\’s invasion of Ukraine, the United States under President Donald Trump has intensified its economic pressure on Moscow through a new round of sanctions targeting the heart of Russia\’s economy: its oil sector. Announced in October 2025, these measures focus on Russia\’s two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, […]
Continue ReadingIn a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in global energy supply chains, the Suez Canal was temporarily blocked early today after a sanctioned oil tanker, part of Russia\’s shadowy \”dark fleet,\” ran aground in the vital waterway. The incident, involving a Hong Kong-owned vessel laden with Russian crude, halted northbound traffic for several hours, disrupting […]
Continue ReadingDaily Standup Top Stories Secretary Chris Wright has a plan for Rare Earth and Critical Minerals – What is the timeline? October 25, 2025 Clark Savage In an outstanding interview with Larry Kudlow on Fox Business, Secretary Chris Wright covers some key points on the upcoming China meetings with President Trump and President Xi. • The […]
Continue ReadingAs the Ukraine conflict grinds into its fourth year, Western powers are once again turning to the familiar playbook of economic sanctions. This week, the United States slapped sweeping restrictions on Russia\’s two largest oil producers, Rosneft and Lukoil, while the European Union rolled out its 19th sanctions package, targeting over 100 shadow fleet tankers […]
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