December 2021

Crude prices increased, driven by rising tensions between the United States and Venezuela and drone attacks targeting Russian oil infrastructure in the Black Sea.
Amid persistent financial losses, Tullow Oil restructures its governance and accelerates efforts to reduce over $1.8 billion in debt while refocusing operations on Ghana.

France: the CRE launches a transitional mechanism to regulate suppliers

The French Energy Regulatory Commission introduces a temporary prudential control on gas and electricity suppliers through a “guichet à blanc” opening in December, pending the transposition of European rules.
en_11401111111243540
The Iraqi government is inviting US oil companies to bid for control of the giant West Qurna 2 field, previously operated by Russian group Lukoil, now under US sanctions.
Two tankers under the Gambian flag were attacked in the Black Sea near Turkish shores, prompting a firm response from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on growing risks to regional energy transport.

Harbour Energy to cut 100 offshore jobs over sustained fiscal conflict

The British producer continues to downsize its North Sea operations, citing an uncompetitive tax regime and a strategic shift towards jurisdictions offering greater regulatory stability.
en_11401111111242540
Dangote Refinery says it can fully meet Nigeria’s petrol demand from December, while requesting regulatory, fiscal and logistical support to ensure delivery.
BP reactivated the Olympic pipeline, critical to fuel supply in the U.S. Northwest, after a leak that led to a complete shutdown and emergency declarations in Oregon and Washington state.

Washington increases military pressure on Caracas as Maduro alerts Opec

President Donald Trump confirmed direct contact with Nicolas Maduro as tensions escalate, with Caracas denouncing a planned US operation targeting its oil resources.
en_114030011132540
Zenith Energy claims Tunisian authorities carried out the unauthorised sale of stored crude oil, escalating a longstanding commercial dispute over its Robbana and El Bibane concessions.
TotalEnergies restructures its stake in offshore licences PPL 2000 and PPL 2001 by bringing in Chevron at 40%, while retaining operatorship, as part of a broader refocus of its deepwater portfolio in Nigeria.

Aker Solutions secures NOK2.5bn to NOK4bn offshore M&M contract with ConocoPhillips

Aker Solutions has signed a six-year frame agreement with ConocoPhillips for maintenance and modification services on the Eldfisk and Ekofisk offshore fields, with an option to extend for another six years.
en_1140290958540
Iranian authorities intercepted a vessel carrying 350,000 litres of fuel in the Persian Gulf, tightening control over strategic maritime routes in the Strait of Hormuz.
North Atlantic France finalizes the acquisition of Esso S.A.F. at the agreed per-share price and formalizes the new name, North Atlantic Energies, marking a key step in the reorganization of its operations in France.

Imperial Petroleum raises $60mn through direct share and warrant offering

Greek shipowner Imperial Petroleum has secured $60mn via a private placement with institutional investors to strengthen liquidity for general corporate purposes.
en_1140290945540
Ecopetrol plans between $5.57bn and $6.84bn in investments for 2026, aiming to maintain production, optimise infrastructure and ensure profitability despite a moderate crude oil market.
The Carney–Smith agreement launches a new pipeline to Asia, removes oil and gas emission caps, and initiates reform of the Pacific north coast tanker ban.

Post-CfD renewable assets expose investors to increased market risk

The gradual exit from CfD contracts is turning stable assets into infrastructures exposed to higher volatility, challenging expected returns and traditional financing models for the renewable sector.
en_114028281129540
Faced with oversupply risks and Russian sanctions, OPEC+ stabilises volumes while preparing a structural redistribution of quotas by 2027, intensifying tensions between producers with unequal capacities.
The United Kingdom is replacing its exceptional tax with a permanent price mechanism, maintaining one of the world’s highest fiscal pressures and reshaping the North Sea’s investment attractiveness for oil and gas operators.
China's power generation capacity recorded strong growth in October, driven by continued expansion of solar and wind, according to official data from the National Energy Administration.
Serbia’s only refinery, operated by NIS, may be forced to halt production this week, weakened by US sanctions targeting its Russian shareholders.

Trump revives US offshore with 34 lease sales planned between 2026 and 2031

The 2026–2031 offshore programme proposes opening over one billion acres to oil exploration, triggering a regulatory clash between Washington, coastal states and legal advocacy groups.
en_1140241131540
Glencore's attributable production in Cameroon dropped by 31% over nine months, adding pressure on public revenues as Yaoundé revises its oil and budget forecasts amid field maturity and targeted investment shifts.
The government of Mozambique is consolidating its gas transport and regasification assets under a public vehicle, anchoring the strategic Beira–Rompco corridor to support Rovuma projects and respond to South Africa’s gas dependency.

Contrarian strategies outperform hedge fund tracking on Brent market

The profitability of speculative positioning strategies on Brent is declining, while contrarian approaches targeting extreme sentiment levels are proving more effective, marking a significant regime shift in oil trading.
en_1140241134540
The British system operator NESO initiates a consultation process to define the methodology of eleven upcoming regional strategic plans aimed at coordinating energy needs across England, Scotland and Wales.
The Belém summit ends with a technical compromise prioritising forest investment and adaptation, while avoiding fossil fuel discussions and opening a climate–trade dialogue likely to trigger new regulatory disputes.

Asian Development Bank commits $700mn to support Kyrgyz Republic’s energy strategy

The Asian Development Bank and the Kyrgyz Republic have signed a financing agreement to strengthen energy infrastructure, climate resilience and regional connectivity, with over $700mn committed through 2027.
en_1140221134540
A study from the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies finds that energy-from-waste with carbon capture delivers nearly twice the climate benefit of converting waste into aviation fuel.
Alaska is set to record its highest oil production increase in 40 years, driven by two key projects that extend the operational life of the TAPS pipeline and reinforce the United States' strategic presence in the Arctic.

TotalEnergies strengthens position in Nigeria with 90% stake in OPL257

TotalEnergies increases its stake to 90% in Nigeria’s offshore block OPL257 following an asset exchange deal with Conoil Producing Limited.
en_114020201131540
TotalEnergies and Chevron are seeking to acquire a 40% stake in the Mopane oil field in Namibia, owned by Galp, as part of a strategy to secure new resources in a high-potential offshore basin.
Signed for 25 years, the new concession contract between Sipperec, EDF and Enedis covers 87 municipalities in the Île-de-France region and commits the parties to managing and developing the public electricity distribution network until 2051.

The CRE assesses the gradual restart of retail energy markets

The French Energy Regulatory Commission publishes its 2023–2024 report, detailing the crisis impact on gas and electricity markets and the measures deployed to support competition and rebuild consumer trust.
en_114019181127540
The reduction of Rosneft’s stake in Kurdistan Pipeline Company shifts control of the main Kurdish oil pipeline and recalibrates the balance between US sanctions, export financing and regional crude governance.
Russian group Lukoil seeks to sell its assets in Bulgaria after the state placed its refinery under special administration, amid heightened US sanctions against the Russian oil industry.

Washington launches new sale of 80 million offshore oil acres

US authorities will hold a large offshore oil block sale in the Gulf of America in March, covering nearly 80 million acres under favourable fiscal terms.
en_114019181142540
Sonatrach awarded Chinese company Sinopec a contract to build a new hydrotreatment unit in Arzew, aimed at significantly increasing the country's gasoline production.
Gathered in Belém, states from Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe support the adoption of a timeline for the gradual withdrawal from fossil fuels, despite expected resistance from several producer countries.