Leaders
Gas has ‘unique’ dual role to play in world energy, says GECF
Secretary General Hamel warns on gas underinvestment, and highlights the energy source as playing a transitional role in the West and being a destination fuel in the Global South
Energean finds its sweet spot
E&P company is charting its own course through the transition, with a highly focused natural gas portfolio, early action on its own emissions and the development of a major carbon storage project
Forward Intelligence
Trump tariffs could upend oil flows
Potential tariff hikes against Canada and Mexico may hurt US refiners and change supply dynamics in global oil trade reshuffle
Saudi Arabia's path to transition, part 1: Energy diversification
The oil behemoth recognises the need to broaden its energy mix to reduce both environmental and economic risks
Saudi Arabia's path to transition, part 2: Energy addition
Maintaining a competitive edge means the transformation must maximise oil resources as well as make strategic moves with critical minerals
Saudi Arabia's path to transition, part 3: Closing the gap
The Energy Transition Advancement Index highlights how the Kingdom can ease its oil dependency and catch up with peers Norway and UAE
Letters
Letter from Japan: Power market risks highlight LNG rework
Flexibility and sharing of risk in gas buying and selling is becoming more essential
Letter on Europe: More gas winters of discontent?
Warnings in 2022 of a potential three-winter European gas price crisis remain pertinent amid push-pull from the US and Russia
Letter from London: Beware false prophets
The oil and gas sector’s renewed upstream activity stands in marked contrast to just a few years ago, highlighting that the market does indeed cycle
Letter from the US: Trump’s protectionism threatens oil and gas industry
A trade war may damage US economic growth, with commodity producers the ultimate losers if history is a guide
Letter from Azerbaijan: COP half-full, or COP half-empty?
The agreement by the parties to raise at least $300b/yr for developing countries by 2035 was derided as a betrayal by the Global South, but the UN urged pragmatism
Americas
Trump to unleash new wave of US LNG projects
The incoming administration is expected to quickly change-up the LNG approvals process and boost several major projects to FID. But market fundamentals still matter
US gas surge coming from oil patch
Associated gas from legacy oil basins could offer a new lease of life to wobbling shale gas production and cement US powerhouse status
M&A activity likely to slow in Canada
After a recent surge led to 2024 consolidation matching that of previous years, there is less optimism the feat will be repeated in 2025
Uruguay’s offshore continues to make waves
With Chevron and AIM-listed Challenger Energy having completed their Uruguayan farm-out deal, Challenger CEO Eytan Uliel updates Petroleum Economist on the firm's progress in the frontier basin
The changing face of Argentina’s upstream
Sector at economic and strategic crossroads, but clear path ahead for midstream additions
Asia Pacific
India’s Russian crude buying has reached its limit
Middle East grades remain a diminished but important part of the South Asian country’s diet, especially as new refining capacity comes online
Petronet LNG making progress on India’s gas ambitions
The company is on track to boost import terminal capacity by 40% in three years, CEO Akshay Kumar Singh tells Petroleum Economist
Oil India eyes IOC partnerships
Chairman talks up IOC and NOC tie-ups to help substantially boost oil and gas production over the next two years
Chinese teapots bag cheap crude
Canadian and Iranian barrels being snapped up by China’s smaller refineries amid weaker domestic demand
China looks to become LNG trading hub
Crucial role of gas means country is laying the foundations to control physical and trading supply chains
Papua LNG set for FID next year
Papua New Guinea’s LNG sector appears to be back on track, with other projects in the pipeline
Australia faces up to Victoria’s gas folly
As gas supplies dwindle, LNG becomes the only viable solution in a state that has focused on transition
EMEA
US goes after Russian gas money, part 1
The latest sanctions on Gazprombank and other Russian banks may cause disruption, but willing buyers of Russian energy will find ways to continue payments
US goes after Russian gas money, part 2
While Donald Trump’s future sanctions policy is anything but certain, he may use a ‘carrot and stick’ approach to pursue an end to the war in Ukraine, although any changes will not happen overnight
Assad’s downfall is bad news for Iran
The collapse of the Syrian dictator’s regime will weaken Tehran in profound ways both economically and geopolitically
Aramco and ADNOC diverge on big petchems bet
The NOCs are both looking to take advantage of the petrochemicals boom, with the Saudi firm snapping up stakes in Asian JVs tied to offtake agreements and its Emirati counterpart striking big M&A deals
BP’s revised ‘energy addition’ strategy
London-listed IOC is pivoting back towards oil and gas and refocusing its clean energy business, with its Indonesia investment a perfect example of this new way forward
Mazarine looks ahead following management buyout
The independent is now seeking to expand its operations
Untangling Dangote’s supply
The Nigerian mega-refinery has yet to reach its full product-producing potential
Uganda must solve three-piece oil puzzle in 2025
Energy minister says country is delaying first oil production until pipeline and refinery are ready
Carbon Economist
China eyes expansion of emissions trading system
Prices in world’s largest compliance market have risen this year but remain below those seen in the EU
Letter on carbon: Five factors to watch in 2025
CCUS and other carbon management technologies are gaining traction around the world, but heightened policy risk and other pressures will make 2025 a challenging year in some regions
Saudi Jubail CCS hub advances with equity deal
Completion of phase-one construction expected in 2027 as technology providers SLB and Linde take equity stakes in one of world’s largest CCS projects
Digital Exclusives
Petroleum Economist’s Paul Hickin named among 50 top voices in commodities
Editor-in-chief recognised by Cititec as among the 50 voices in commodities worth following
Shell’s Sacha Luces joins MCEDD advisory board
Deepwater Development Conference welcomes Shell’s deepwater development manager to advisory board for March 2025 event