December 2021

A new $100mn fund has been launched to support Nigerian oil and gas service companies, as part of a national target to reach 70% local content by 2027.
Western measures targeting Rosneft and Lukoil deeply reorganise oil trade, triggering a discreet yet massive shift of Russian export routes to Asia without causing global supply disruption.

Nigeria auctions 50 oil blocks in its 2025 licensing round

La Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission ouvre la compétition pour 50 blocs d’exploration, répartis sur plusieurs zones stratégiques, afin de relancer les investissements dans l’amont pétrolier.
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The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission opens bidding for 50 exploration blocks across strategic zones to revitalise upstream investment.
Kazakhstan plans to allocate 3 GW of wind and solar projects by the end of 2026 through public tenders, with a first 1 GW tranche in 2025, amid efforts to modernise its power system.

Serbia forced to shut down its only refinery after US sanctions

Serbia's only refinery, operated by NIS, has suspended production due to a shortage of crude oil, a direct consequence of US sanctions imposed on its majority Russian shareholder.
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Hurricanes Beryl, Helene and Milton accounted for 80% of electricity outages recorded in 2024, marking a ten-year high according to federal data.
Crude prices increased, driven by rising tensions between the United States and Venezuela and drone attacks targeting Russian oil infrastructure in the Black Sea.

Tullow Oil cuts board size and seeks to refinance $1.8 bn debt

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.
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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.
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 targeted in the Black Sea, Ankara warns over maritime security

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.
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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.
Dangote Refinery says it can fully meet Nigeria’s petrol demand from December, while requesting regulatory, fiscal and logistical support to ensure delivery.

BP restarts Olympic pipeline after leak, increasing pressure on safety

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.
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President Donald Trump confirmed direct contact with Nicolas Maduro as tensions escalate, with Caracas denouncing a planned US operation targeting its oil resources.
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 sells 40% of two Nigerian licences to Chevron in strategic deal

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.
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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.
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.
Serbia is preparing a budget law amendment to enable the takeover of NIS, a refinery under US sanctions and owned by Russian groups, to avoid an imminent energy shutdown.
On the 50th anniversary of its independence, Suriname announced a national roadmap including major public investment to develop its offshore oil reserves.

Dangote selects Honeywell to expand refinery capacity to 1.4 million barrels/day

Nigeria’s Dangote refinery selects US-based Honeywell to supply technology that will double its crude processing capacity and expand its petrochemical output.
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Iraq secures production by bypassing US sanctions through local payments, energy-for-energy swaps, and targeted suspension of financial flows to Lukoil to protect West Qurna-2 exports.
Restarting Olympic Pipeline’s 16-inch line does not restore full supply to Oregon and Seattle-Tacoma airport, both still exposed to logistical risks and regional price tensions.

India’s Russian oil imports to drop sharply from December

Faced with tightened sanctions from the United States and European Union, Indian refiners are drastically reducing their purchases of Russian crude from December, according to industry sources.
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In its latest review, the International Energy Agency warns of structural blockages in South Korea’s electricity market, calling for urgent reforms to close the gap on renewables and reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels.
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 Pancevo refinery faces shutdown as US sanctions cut crude supply

Serbia’s only refinery, operated by NIS, may be forced to halt production this week, weakened by US sanctions targeting its Russian shareholders.
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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.
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 Mozambique centralises its gas infrastructure to secure the Beira–Rompco corridor

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.
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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.
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.

COP30 locks in adaptation, avoids fossil phase-out and opens a climate regulatory front

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.
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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.
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.

ConocoPhillips, Repsol and Santos revive Alaskan oil with Nuna and Pikka

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.
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TotalEnergies increases its stake to 90% in Nigeria’s offshore block OPL257 following an asset exchange deal with Conoil Producing Limited.
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.