Paul Messad

South Korea under pressure from the IEA to liberalise its electricity market

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 installed power capacity reaches 3.75 bn kW, up 17.3 %

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.
en_114025251132540

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.

Cameroon: Glencore records a 31% drop in oil volumes

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.
en_1140241139540

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.

NESO launches national consultation to plan regional energy infrastructure

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.
en_1140221145540

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.

UK urged to choose between carbon capture and aviation fuels

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.
en_11402020201140540

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.

TotalEnergies and Chevron compete for 40% stake in Mopane oil field in Namibia

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.

Sipperec renews electricity concession contract with EDF and Enedis

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.
en_114019181130540

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.

Rosneft sells 11% of KPC to ease sanctions pressure

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.

Lukoil puts pressure on Sofia to finalise refinery divestment

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.
en_114019181145540

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.

Sinopec to invest $437 million in hydrotreatment unit in Algeria

Sonatrach awarded Chinese company Sinopec a contract to build a new hydrotreatment unit in Arzew, aimed at significantly increasing the country's gasoline production.