April 13, 2021

Le fonds souverain omanais a validé 141 projets en 2025 pour un engagement total de $1.2bn, visant à renforcer l’indépendance énergétique et l’industrialisation nationale à travers un programme d’investissement de $5.2bn.
The United States has implemented a full blockade on sanctioned tankers linked to Venezuela, escalating restrictions on the South American country's oil flows.

Fuel consumption declines in France with sharp drop in diesel

Deliveries of energy petroleum products fell by 4.5% in November, driven down by a sharp decline in diesel, while jet fuel continues its growth beyond pre-pandemic levels.
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ReconAfrica is finalising preparations to test the Kavango West 1X well in Namibia, while expanding its portfolio in Angola and Gabon to strengthen its presence in sub-Saharan Africa.
Shell has reopened a divestment process for its 37.5% stake in Germany's PCK Schwedt refinery, reviving negotiations disrupted by the Russia-Ukraine conflict and Western sanctions.

Equinor contests €60mn fine imposed for maintenance failure

The Norwegian energy group rejects the sanction imposed for illegal gas discharges at Mongstad, citing disagreement over maintenance obligations and the alleged financial benefit.
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Aliko Dangote accuses Nigeria’s oil regulator of threatening local refineries by enabling refined fuel imports, while calling for a corruption probe against its director.
Alpine Power Systems announces the acquisition of Chicago Industrial Battery to expand its regional presence and support the growth of its PowerMAX line of used and rental batteries and chargers.

Shell launches assisted recovery project at Kaikias in the Gulf of America

Shell Offshore approves a strategic investment to extend the life of the Kaikias field through a waterflood operation, with first injection planned for 2028 from the Ursa platform.
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Oil prices drop amid progress in Ukraine talks and expectations of oversupply, pushing West Texas Intermediate below $55 for the first time in nearly five years.
HASI and KKR strengthen their strategic partnership with an additional $1bn allocation to CarbonCount Holdings 1, bringing the vehicle’s total investment capacity to nearly $5bn.

EDF could sell Edison and its US renewables assets

EDF is considering selling some of its subsidiaries, including Edison and its renewables activities in the United States, to strengthen its financial capacity as a €5bn ($5.43bn) savings plan is underway.
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French group Qair secures a structured €240 million loan to consolidate debt and strengthen liquidity, with participation from ten leading financial institutions.
Xcel Energy initiates three public tender offers totalling $345mn on mortgage bonds issued by Northern States Power Company to optimise its long-term debt structure.

Phillips 66 sets $2.4bn investment budget for 2026

The US energy group plans to allocate $1.3bn to growth and $1.1bn to asset maintenance, with a specific focus on natural gas liquids and refining projects.
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Venezuelan state oil group PDVSA claims it was targeted by a cyberattack attributed to foreign interests, with no impact on main operations, amid rising tensions with the United States.
EDF power solutions' Umoyilanga energy project has entered provisional operation with the Dassiesridge wind plant, marking a key milestone in delivering dispatchable electricity to South Africa’s national grid.

BUTEC secures XOF26bn financing for two thermal power plants in Burkina Faso

BUTEC has finalised the financing of a 50 MW emergency power project in Burkina Faso, structured under a BOOT contract and backed by Banque Centrale Populaire Group.
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BW Energy has signed a long-term lease agreement with Minsheng Financial Leasing for its Maromba B platform, covering $274mn of the project’s CAPEX, with no payments due before first oil.
Shell will restart offshore exploration on Namibia’s PEL 39 block in April 2026 with a five-well drilling programme targeting previously discovered zones, despite a recent $400mn impairment.
Malgré la pression exercée sur le gouvernement vénézuélien, Washington ne cherche pas à exclure Caracas de l’OPEP, misant sur une influence indirecte au sein du cartel pour défendre ses intérêts énergétiques.
Kazakhstan redirects part of its oil production to China following the drone attack on the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal, without a full export halt.

ExxonMobil cuts $10 billion from its low-carbon plans by 2030

The American oil group now plans to invest $20 billion in low-emission technologies by 2030, down from the $30 billion initially announced one year earlier.
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US investment bank Xtellus Partners has submitted a plan to the US Treasury to recover frozen Lukoil holdings for investors by selling the Russian company’s international assets.
Ghanaian company Cybele Energy has signed a $17mn exploration deal in Guyana’s shallow offshore waters, targeting a block estimated to contain 400 million barrels and located outside disputed territorial zones.

BHP sells 49% of its Pilbara power network to GIP for $2 billion

BHP sells a minority stake in its Western Australia Iron Ore power network to Global Infrastructure Partners for $2 billion, retaining strategic control while securing long-term funding for its mining expansion.
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Oil prices moved little after a drop linked to the restart of a major Iraqi oilfield, while investors remained focused on Ukraine peace negotiations and an upcoming monetary policy decision in the United States.
TechnipFMC will design and install flexible pipes for Ithaca Energy as part of the development of the Captain oil field, strengthening its footprint in the UK offshore sector.

Vaalco launches drilling of ET-15 well offshore Gabon to support growth

Vaalco Energy has started drilling the ET-15 well on the Etame platform, marking the beginning of phase three of its offshore development programme in Gabon, supported by a contract with Borr Drilling.
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The attack on a key Caspian Pipeline Consortium offshore facility in the Black Sea halves Kazakhstan’s crude exports, exposing oil majors and reshaping regional energy dynamics.
Iraq is preparing a managed transition at the West Qurna-2 oil field, following US sanctions against Lukoil, by prioritising a transfer to players deemed reliable by Washington, including ExxonMobil.

Sudanese paramilitaries seize control of strategic Heglig oil site

The Rapid Support Forces have taken Heglig, Sudan’s largest oil site, halting production and increasing risks to regional crude export flows.
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More than $80bn in overseas cleantech investments in one year reveal China’s strategy to export solar and battery overcapacity while bypassing Western trade barriers by establishing industrial operations across the Global South.
The rehabilitation cost of Sonara, Cameroon’s only refinery, has now reached XAF300bn (USD533mn), with several international banks showing growing interest in financing the project.

Exxaro expands its energy assets and strengthens renewable capacity

Exxaro increases its energy portfolio in South Africa with new wind and solar assets to secure power supply for operations and expand its role in independent generation.
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China imported 12.38 million barrels per day in November, the highest level since August 2023, driven by stronger refining margins and anticipation of 2026 quotas.
The United States reaffirmed its military commitment to Guyana, effectively securing access to its rapidly expanding oil production amid persistent border tensions with Venezuela.

Russian tanker Kairos stranded in Bulgaria raises pressure on shadow fleet operations

Sanctioned tanker Kairos, abandoned after a Ukrainian drone attack, ran aground off Bulgaria’s coast, exposing growing legal and operational risks tied to Russia’s shadow fleet in the Black Sea.
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The United States is temporarily licensing Lukoil’s operations outside Russia, blocking all financial flows to Moscow while facilitating the supervised sale of a portfolio valued at $22bn, without disrupting supply for allied countries.
Libya’s state oil firm NOC plans to launch a licensing round for 20 blocks in early 2026, amid mounting legal, political and financial uncertainties for international investors.