Paul Messad

Rail shipments of Belarusian gasoline to Russia surged in September as Moscow sought to offset fuel shortages caused by Ukrainian attacks on its energy infrastructure.
Denmark is intensifying inspections of ships passing through Skagen, a strategic point linking the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, to counter the risks posed by the Russian shadow fleet transporting sanctioned oil.

Africa aims for local transformation to gain weight in the global energy economy

Opportunities are emerging for African countries to move from extraction to industrial manufacturing in energy technology value chains, as the 2025 G20 discussions highlight these issues.
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According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global renewable power capacity could more than double by 2030, driven by the rise of solar photovoltaics despite supply chain pressures and evolving policy frameworks.
Nicola Mavilla succeeds Kevin McLachlan as TotalEnergies' Director of Exploration, bringing over two decades of international experience in the oil and gas industry.

Sahara Group deploys seven rigs to boost oil output in Nigeria

Sahara Group is making a major investment in Nigeria with seven new drilling rigs, aiming to become the country’s top private oil producer by increasing output to 350,000 barrels per day.
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Algeria plans to allocate $60 billion to energy projects by 2029, primarily targeting upstream oil and gas, while developing petrochemicals, renewables and unconventional resources.
Senegal aims to double its oil refining capacity with a project estimated between $2bn and $5bn, as domestic demand exceeds current output.

Chevron gradually restarts El Segundo refinery after major fire

Chevron is working to restart several units at its El Segundo refinery in California after a fire broke out in a jet fuel production unit, temporarily disrupting regional fuel supplies.
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Ethiopia has begun construction of its first crude oil refinery in Gode, a $2.5bn project awarded to GCL, aimed at strengthening the country’s energy security amid ongoing reliance on fuel imports.
China set a record for clean technology exports in August, driven by surging sales of electric vehicles and batteries, with more than half of the growth coming from non-OECD markets.

Ukrainian strike cuts power to 5,400 homes in Belgorod region

A night-time attack on Belgorod’s power grid left thousands without electricity, according to Russian local authorities, despite partial service restoration the following morning.
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Opec+ slightly adjusts its quotas for November, continuing its market share recovery strategy amid stagnant global demand and a pressured market.
China has established a clandestine oil-for-projects barter system to circumvent US sanctions and support Iran’s embargoed economy, according to an exclusive Wall Street Journal investigation.

TotalEnergies exits three mature fields in Norway’s Ekofisk area

TotalEnergies EP Norge signed two agreements to divest its non-operated interests in three inactive Norwegian fields, pending an investment decision expected in 2025.
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The French Academy of Sciences calls for a global ban on solar radiation modification, citing major risks to climate stability and the world economy.
The halt of US federal services disrupts the entire decision-making chain for energy and mining projects, with growing risks of administrative delays and missing critical data.

US Supreme Court to rule on ExxonMobil case over 1960 Cuban asset seizures

The US Supreme Court will hear ExxonMobil’s appeal for compensation from Cuban state-owned firms over nationalised oil assets, reviving enforcement of the Helms-Burton Act.
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A major fire has been extinguished at Chevron’s main refinery on the US West Coast. The cause of the incident remains unknown, and an investigation has been launched to determine its origin.
Eight OPEC+ countries are set to increase oil output from November, as Saudi Arabia and Russia debate the scale of the hike amid rising competition for market share.
Vitol strengthens its presence in West Africa by acquiring a 30% stake in the Baleine oil field from Eni, while maintaining an active role in the country’s offshore development.
ShaMaran and several international oil companies have reached a provisional deal with Baghdad and Erbil to resume crude exports from the Kurdistan region via pipeline, after months of suspension.

U.S. oil drilling rebounds amid global tensions

The number of active drilling rigs in the United States rose for the fourth consecutive week, supported by higher crude prices and OPEC+’s difficulties in meeting production targets.
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The Prime Minister dismissed rumours of a moratorium on renewables, as the upcoming energy roadmap triggers tensions within the sector.
Baghdad has restarted crude shipments from Kurdistan via the pipeline to Turkey, following a two-year halt linked to legal and contractual disputes involving international firms operating in the region.

Kuwait adds 14 GW of power capacity by 2031 to avoid shortages

Kuwait plans to develop 14.05 GW of new power capacity by 2031 to meet growing demand and reduce scheduled outages, driven by extreme temperatures and maintenance delays.
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The partnership with the World Bank-funded Pro Energia+ programme aims to expand electricity access in Mozambique by targeting rural communities through a results-based financing mechanism.
The European Commission strengthens ACER’s funding through a new fee structure applied to reporting entities, aimed at supporting increased surveillance of wholesale energy market transactions.

United States offers India a way out of Russian oil amid trade tensions

Washington offers New Delhi an alternative to its Russian imports while maintaining tariff pressure, exposing a double standard in US energy policy.
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Canadian group North Atlantic will acquire ExxonMobil’s stake in Esso France, including the country’s second-largest refinery, with the ownership change expected by the end of 2025.
Ghana’s only refinery is preparing to resume operations after a prolonged shutdown caused by technical and financial issues, with a restart scheduled for October according to its management.

BP delays global oil demand peak to 2030

BP revises its annual forecast and now expects global oil demand to grow until 2030, due to slower worldwide energy efficiency gains.
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The Liberian government awarded four offshore oil blocks to Nigerian company Atlas-Oranto for $12 million, strengthening the regional presence of African junior players in offshore exploration.
Oil companies are preparing for a tough 2026 with lower investments, focusing on financial discipline and cash flow redistribution at the expense of low-return projects.

North Atlantic signs to acquire Esso S.A.F. from ExxonMobil before end of 2025

North Atlantic finalises agreement to acquire ExxonMobil’s stake in Esso S.A.F., marking a decisive step in a strategic transfer in France. Completion remains subject to regulatory approvals expected this quarter.
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France’s Court of Auditors is urging clarity on EDF’s financing structure, as the public utility confronts a €460bn investment programme through 2040 to support its new nuclear reactor rollout.
The U.S. Department of Energy will return more than $13bn in unspent funds originally allocated to climate initiatives, in line with the Trump administration’s new budget policy.

Dispute escalates between MOL and Janaf over Adriatic pipeline’s supply capacity

A technical dispute between Hungarian group MOL and Croatian operator Janaf raises doubts about the Adriatic pipeline's ability to supply oil to Hungary and Slovakia.
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Commercial crude inventories in the United States declined unexpectedly, as analysts had forecast an increase, amid rising imports and falling exports.
Adnan Ahmadzada, a former senior figure at SOCAR, has been placed in pre-trial detention in Baku on suspicion of large-scale embezzlement and threatening the country's economic security.