Even the most optimistic reopening of the Strait of Hormuz won’t deliver a quick fix. Physical barrels tell a far harsher story than paper futures. Art Berman (@aeberman12) nailed it in his May 25, 2026, post: There is no clean, modelable “successful reopening” of the Strait of Hormuz. Even in the wildly optimistic scenario, the […]
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Saudi Arabia has delivered a stark update to OPEC: its crude oil production plunged another 651,000 barrels per day (b/d) in April, hitting just 6.316 million b/d—the lowest level since the 1990 Gulf War. According to a monthly report from OPEC’s secretariat obtained by Bloomberg, the kingdom’s output has now fallen a cumulative 42% since […]
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The Strait of Hormuz crisis, now in its third month, has evolved from a dramatic military flashpoint into a grinding economic and diplomatic stalemate. As of May 12, 2026, President Donald Trump has rejected Iran’s latest counterproposal as “totally unacceptable,” describing the broader ceasefire as on “life support.” The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) continues […]
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In a sharp rebuke that underscores the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” doctrine, President Donald Trump has rejected Iran’s latest peace proposal as “totally unacceptable,” signaling that backchannel talks remain deadlocked and energy markets could face renewed volatility. The rejection comes amid a fragile ceasefire that has held since early April 2026 but is now strained […]
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Shell is actively exploring the development of Venezuela’s offshore natural gas resources, with plans to route production through Trinidad and Tobago’s existing infrastructure for export as LNG. In a February 2026 earnings call and subsequent Bloomberg TV interview, Shell CEO Wael Sawan confirmed ongoing talks with Venezuela’s government to advance offshore gas projects, specifically targeting […]
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Venezuela’s long-suffering electricity system is once again flashing red warning lights. According to Bloomberg, the country has announced emergency measures after power consumption reached a nine-year high, raising the specter of widespread blackouts that could derail the nascent economic recovery following the dramatic political changes earlier this year. Installed generation capacity stands at roughly 37,000 […]
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The United Arab Emirates’ announcement on April 28, 2026, that it will formally exit both OPEC and the wider OPEC+ alliance effective May 1 marks a seismic shift in global oil politics. As one of the cartel’s most significant producers with substantial spare capacity, the UAE’s departure delivers a major blow to an already strained […]
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Venezuela’s oil exports surged to an average of 1.23 million barrels per day (bpd) in April 2026, marking the highest monthly volume in more than seven years and the strongest performance since late 2018, before U.S. sanctions crippled the sector. The 14% jump from March’s 1.08 million bpd reflects a rapid rebound driven by a […]
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Energy Security Starts at Home, and Energy Dominance is Displayed through your exports. Well, the US is clearly energy dominant until you hit California, and then they are 80% dependent on foreign energy. 1. Global Energy Crisis & Iran War Impact The Podcast opens with the Iran war creating a severe global energy crisis. […]
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Houston-based Chevron Corporation remains the leading Western oil major active in Venezuela, but CEO Mike Wirth is calling for deeper reforms from Caracas if the country’s vast oil sector is to achieve meaningful revival. In comments reported by Bloomberg on April 26, 2026, Wirth acknowledged recent positive policy moves under Venezuela’s Hydrocarbons Law but stressed […]
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