December 2021

The Paris Council awards a €15bn, 25-year contract to Dalkia, a subsidiary of EDF, to operate the capital’s heating network, replacing long-time operator Engie amid political tensions ahead of municipal elections.
The Venezuelan national oil company has confirmed the continuity of its crude exports, as the United States enforces a maritime blockade targeting sanctioned vessels operating around the country.

Baker Hughes signs multi-year contract to equip Kuwait’s oilfields

Baker Hughes will supply advanced artificial lift systems to Kuwait Oil Company to enhance production through integrated digital technologies.
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Norway’s energy regulator plans a rule change mandating grid operators to prepare for simultaneous sabotage scenarios, with an annual cost increase estimated between NOK100 and NOK300 per household.
The United States has implemented a full blockade on sanctioned tankers linked to Venezuela, escalating restrictions on the South American country's oil flows.

São Paulo pushes for termination of Enel’s concession before 2028

The State of São Paulo has requested the termination of Enel Distribuição São Paulo’s concession, escalating tensions between local authorities and the federal regulator amid major political and energy concerns three years before the contractual expiry.
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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.
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 restarts sale of its stake in Schwedt refinery

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.
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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.
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.

US crude falls below $55 per barrel, lowest level since 2021

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.
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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.
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.

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.

Saudi Arabia grants $60mn loan to expand Mauritania’s power transmission network

Mauritania secures Saudi financing to build a key section of the “Hope Line” as part of its national plan to expand electricity transmission infrastructure inland.
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RESourceEU introduces direct European Union intervention on critical raw materials via stockpiling, joint purchasing and export restrictions to reduce external dependency and secure strategic industrial chains.
The third National Low-Carbon Strategy enters its final consultation phase before its 2026 adoption, defining France’s emissions reduction trajectory through 2050 with sector-specific and industrial targets.
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 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.

Fossil fuel divisions block adoption of major UN report

A key scientific report by the United Nations Environment Programme failed to gain state approval due to deep divisions over fossil fuels and other sensitive issues.
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RTE warns of France’s delay in electrifying energy uses, a key step to limiting fossil fuel imports and supporting its reindustrialisation strategy.
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.

ExxonMobil in advanced talks to acquire Lukoil’s stake in West Qurna-2

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.
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The Rapid Support Forces have taken Heglig, Sudan’s largest oil site, halting production and increasing risks to regional crude export flows.
India’s central authority has cancelled 6.3 GW of grid connections for renewable projects since 2022, marking a tightening of regulations and a shift in responsibility back to developers.

Brazil launches roadmap to reduce its dependence on oil

The Brazilian government has been instructed to define within two months a plan for the gradual reduction of fossil fuels, supported by a national energy transition fund financed by oil revenues.
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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.
The German government may miss the January 2026 deadline to transpose the RED III directive, creating uncertainty over biofuel mandates and disrupting markets.

China’s oil imports reach two-year high

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.
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The United States reaffirmed its military commitment to Guyana, effectively securing access to its rapidly expanding oil production amid persistent border tensions with Venezuela.
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.

Washington will oversee the sale of Lukoil stations until April 2026

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.
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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.
European sanctions on Russia and refinery outages in the Middle East have sharply reduced global diesel supply, driving up refining margins in key markets.

Italy awards 8.6GW in renewables in Fer-X tender

Italy allocated 82% of the proposed solar and wind capacities in the Fer-X auction, totalling 8.6GW, with competitive purchase prices and a strong concentration of projects in the southern part of the country.
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L’arrêt de la raffinerie de Pancevo, frappée par des sanctions américaines contre ses actionnaires russes, menace les recettes fiscales, l’emploi et la stabilité énergétique de la Serbie.
Oil prices climbed, driven by Ukrainian strikes on Russian infrastructure and the lack of diplomatic progress between Moscow and Washington over the Ukraine conflict.