Dec 2025/Jan 2026

The Italian firm is unique among IOCs in setting up entities specialising in particular regions and low-carbon technologies, creating greater flexibility in attracting investment

The Norwegian NOC has used its offshore oil and gas prowess to expand into offshore wind, but project setbacks and lower returns are a concern for investors

Vicki Hollub, president and CEO of Occidental, has been selected as the 2026 recipient of the Dewhurst Award, the highest honour bestowed by WPC Energy. The Dewhurst Award celebrates exceptional leadership, groundbreaking innovation and a lifetime of significant achievements in sup-port of the development and advancement of the energy industry.

The group’s oil production declined in November, our latest analysis finds, amid divided sentiment over market balances and geopolitical jitters

The pursuit of new oil and gas growth opportunities by European companies highlights the way forward for the two majors. In this first of a two-part article, we look at BP

In the second of this two-part series, we look at Shell’s refocusing on returns and the speculation surrounding a potential takeover of BP

The market is facing being drowned in excess crude, but one caveat is that a large chunk is due to buyers reluctant to snap up sanctioned barrels

The swelling crude supply story involves the key plot twists of reluctant buyers, limited oil stocks and refiners playing the long game

Mistaken assumptions around an oil bull run that never happened are a warning over the talk of a supply glut

The economic and environmental cost of the seven-year exploration ban will be felt long after its removal

The removal of the ban on oil and gas exploration and an overhaul of the system sends all the right messages for energy security, affordability and sustainability

The stark contrasts between the UK and Norway demonstrate how policy stability can shape the long-term trajectory of a mature basin

The interplay between OPEC+, China and the US will define oil markets throughout 2026

Aramco’s pursuit of $30b in US gas partnerships marks a strategic pivot. The US gains capital and certainty; Saudi Arabia gains access, flexibility and a new export future

Once a national oil champion, the company is now so much more

A sector beset by pessimism and pain amid price weakness contrasts with data signalling production strength and resilience

The new federal government appears far more supportive of oil and gas than former prime minister Justin Trudeau’s climate-focused administration, but the prospects look better for the latter hydrocarbon

The federal government is working with Alberta to improve the country’s access to Asian markets and reduce dependence on the US, but there are challenges to their plans

US tariffs bolster Alberta’s Industrial Heartland exports to Asia

The oil powerhouse will not just join the top five crude exporters in the coming years, it may be a model for how petrostates balance growth, policy and sustainability

The Caribbean country’s role in the global oil market is significantly diminished, but disruptions caused by outright conflict would still have implications for US Gulf Coast refineries

A more pragmatic approach has seen the country reverse its production decline in 2025 but its 1m b/d target still seems out of reach

The consensus among market observers is that the country’s oil output will fall in the long term. Yet few recognise how Moscow’s shifting tax regime is designed to keep the next barrel commercially viable

Time is running out for Lukoil and Rosneft to divest international assets that will be mostly rendered useless to them when the US sanctions deadline arrives in mid-December

Algeria’s state energy company has new leadership looking to inject fresh momentum into its upstream E&P sector—with majors’ interest piqued by untapped unconventional gas deposits

In the year since its formation, ADNOC’s energy investment company has made ambitious forays into M&A. With new leadership appointees from Wall Street’s elite, the scale of that ambition is set to ramp up

The North African producer’s first bidding round in almost two decades is an important milestone but the recent extension suggests a degree of trepidation

The launch of the bloc’s emissions trading system in 2005 was a pioneering step, but as the scheme hits 21 its impact as a driver of decarbonisation is still open to debate

Transition policies must recognise that significant industrial demand for carbon will continue even as economies hit net zero

Cash will be needed to boost production by 30% to meet region’s rapidly rising power demand, executives told the inaugural Middle East Gas Conference in December

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the host of the 25th WPC Energy Congress on 26-30 April 2026. The Ministry of Energy spoke with Petroleum Economist about the key messages and opportunities for the global energy community.

As the global energy system undergoes its most profound transformation in a century, the need for credible leadership, practical solutions and inclusive dialogue has never been greater. In 2026, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will stand at the centre of this conversation as host of the 25th WPC Energy Congress in Riyadh.

Companies will continue shifting more towards gas, where the outlook is stronger

Abdullah Aljarboua serves as a senior fellow in the energy macro & microeconomics programme at KAPSARC. His work spans macroeconomics, energy-economic modelling, large-scale optimisation and advanced computational techniques for modelling complex energy policy dynamics. Here he speaks with Petroleum Economist about the Gulf region’s role in shaping the energy landscape over the coming decades

The 25th WPC Energy Congress, taking place in Riyadh in April 2026 brings together global leaders, scientists, policymakers and innovators at a pivotal moment in the world’s energy evolution.

For the first time in its illustrious history, the WPC Energy Congress will convene in Saudi Arabia, bringing together leaders, innovators, and changemakers to chart “Pathways to an Energy Future for All.”