An in-depth look at the July 2026 brief by the National Center for Energy Analytics (NCEA), Dr. Lars Schernikau, and Portia Roberts, with updates on U.S. policy and global fleet management. Dr. Schernikau has been on the Energy News Beat Podcast, and we highly recommend buying his book. In a world racing toward ambitious net-zero […]
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The U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) is being drained at a record pace under the current administration, with projections showing it could hit operational minimum levels as early as August 2026—faster than the Biden-era releases of 2022. At the same time, California is staring down a severe refined-product crunch, with jet fuel and diesel inventories […]
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In the latest chapter of the green energy wars, a coalition of Democratic state attorneys general filed suit Tuesday against the Trump administration’s deal to wind down costly offshore wind projects. The lawsuit, led by New York Attorney General Letitia James and joined by her counterparts in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and […]
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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 Trump administration continues its aggressive use of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to stabilize surging oil prices and provide relief to American consumers amid ongoing global supply disruptions tied to the U.S.-Iran conflict. On Monday, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the release of an additional 53.3 million barrels of crude oil from […]
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In a stark illustration of mounting pressure on Iran’s oil sector amid the U.S. naval blockade of its ports, Tehran has reactivated a 30-year-old Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) that had been languishing in retirement off Kharg Island. The vessel, NASHA (IMO 9079107), built in 1996 and capable of holding approximately 2 million barrels of […]
Continue ReadingIn a bold escalation of U.S. policy toward Venezuela, President Donald Trump has ordered a \”total and complete blockade\” of all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving the country. The announcement, made via Truth Social, comes amid rising tensions over Venezuela\’s use of shadowy \”dark fleet\” vessels to evade international sanctions and export crude oil, […]
Continue ReadingVenezuela, home to the world\’s largest proven oil reserves, has long been a pivotal player in global energy dynamics. However, years of political turmoil, economic mismanagement, and stringent U.S. sanctions have crippled its oil industry, reducing production from peaks of around 2 million barrels per day (bpd) in the mid-2010s to roughly 900,000 bpd today. […]
Continue ReadingIn 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 ReadingThe Monroe Doctrine, first articulated in 1823, has long served as a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy, asserting American influence over the Western Hemisphere and warning against external interference. Today, Venezuela stands at the heart of this doctrine\’s modern application, embodying a high-stakes battle over resources, sovereignty, and global power dynamics. With the United States\’ […]
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