Paul Messad

Russia plans to ship 2.1 million barrels per day from its western ports in September, revising exports upward amid lower domestic demand following drone attacks on key refineries.
A sudden fault on the national grid cut electricity supply to several regions of Nigeria, reigniting concerns about the stability of the transmission system.

QatarEnergy secures offshore exploration licence in Congo

QatarEnergy obtained a 35% stake in the Nzombo block, located in deep waters off Congo, under a production sharing contract signed with the Congolese government.
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Phillips 66 acquires Cenovus Energy’s remaining 50% in WRB Refining, strengthening its US market position with two major sites totalling 495,000 barrels per day.
Nigeria’s two main oil unions have halted loadings at the Dangote refinery, contesting the rollout of a private logistics fleet that could reshape the sector’s balance.

ReconAfrica secures offshore block in Gabon with production sharing contract

Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. enters Gabonese offshore with a strategic contract on the Ngulu block, expanding its portfolio with immediate production potential and long-term development opportunities.
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BW Energy has finalised a $365mn financing for the conversion of the Maromba FPSO offshore Brazil and signed a short-term lease for a drilling rig with Minsheng Financial Leasing.
Vantage Drilling has finalised a major commercial agreement for the deployment of the Platinum Explorer, with a 260-day offshore mission starting in Q1 2026.

Permex signs agreement for potential $25mn funding with Chisos

Permex Petroleum has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Chisos Ltd. for potential funding of up to $25mn to develop its oil assets in the Permian Basin.
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Re-elected president Irfaan Ali announces stricter production-sharing agreements to increase national economic returns.
OPEC+ begins a new phase of gradual production increases, starting to lift 1.65 million barrels/day of voluntary cuts after the early conclusion of a 2.2 million barrels/day phaseout.

Imperial Petroleum invests in seven vessels despite a 22.8% drop in revenue

Imperial Petroleum expanded its fleet to 19 vessels in the second quarter of 2025, while reporting a decline in revenue due to lower rates in the maritime oil market.
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Eight OPEC+ members will meet to adjust their quotas as forecasts point to a global surplus of 3 million barrels per day by year-end.
Greek shipping companies are gradually withdrawing from transporting Russian crude as the European Union tightens compliance conditions on price caps.

Transneft strategic site targeted in Russia strike

A key station on the Stalnoy Kon pipeline, essential for transporting petroleum products between Belarus and Russia, was targeted in a drone strike carried out by Ukrainian forces in Bryansk Oblast.
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SOMO is negotiating with ExxonMobil to secure storage and refining access in Singapore, aiming to strengthen Iraq’s position in expanding Asian markets.
Coal India issues tenders to develop 5 GW of renewable capacity, split between solar and wind, as part of its long-term energy strategy.

US utilities plan 147 GW in new high-load capacity by 2035

US utilities anticipate a rapid increase in high-intensity loads, targeting 147 GW of new capacity by 2035, with a strategic shift toward deregulated markets.
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The European Union’s new import standard forces the United Kingdom to make major adjustments to its oil and gas exports, impacting competitiveness and trade flows between the two markets.
The United Kingdom is set to replace the Energy Profits Levy with a new fiscal mechanism, caught between fairness and simplicity, as the British Continental Shelf continues to decline.
Saudi and Iraqi exporters halted supplies to Nayara Energy, forcing the Rosneft-controlled Indian refiner to rely solely on Russian crude in August.
BW Offshore has been chosen by Equinor to supply the FPSO unit for Canada’s Bay du Nord project, marking a key milestone in the advancement of this deepwater oil development.

Heirs Energies revives OML 17 and targets 100,000 barrels per day production

Heirs Energies doubled production at the OML 17 block in one hundred days and aims to reach 100,000 barrels per day, reinforcing its investment strategy in Nigeria’s mature oil assets.
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Five energy infrastructure projects have been added to the list of cross-border renewable projects, making them eligible for financial support under the CEF Energy programme.
The Tanzanian government launches a national consultation to accelerate the rollout of compressed natural gas, mobilising public and private financing to secure energy supply and lower fuel costs.

Hungary launches pipeline with Serbia despite regional supply tensions

Budapest plans to complete a new oil link with Belgrade by 2027, despite risks of dependency on Russian flows amid ongoing strikes on infrastructure.
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TotalEnergies and its partners have received a new oil exploration permit off Pointe-Noire, strengthening their presence in Congolese waters and their strategy of optimising existing infrastructure.
The Kuwaiti government has invited three international consortia to submit bids for the first phase of the Al Khairan project, combining power generation and desalination.

NNPC Ltd keeps Port Harcourt refinery and focuses on rehabilitation

Nigeria’s state-owned oil company abandons plans to sell the Port Harcourt refinery and confirms a maintenance programme despite high operating costs.
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India’s oil minister says Russian crude imports comply with international norms, as the United States and European Union impose new sanctions.
Strathcona Resources plans to acquire an additional 5% of MEG Energy’s shares and confirms its opposition to the company’s sale to Cenovus Energy.

Political crisis in France: energy roadmap threatened by new delay

The publication of the Multiannual Energy Programme decree, awaited for two years, is compromised by internal political tensions, jeopardising strategic investments in nuclear and renewables.
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Two drone strikes hit Heglig in August, disrupting the strategic Nile Blend export hub and increasing the vulnerability of Sudanese and South Sudanese oil flows.
China’s oil production has surged since 2019, driven by national companies and government support, while import dependency remains high.

EIA delays key reports after 30% staff reduction

The US Energy Information Administration reschedules or cancels several publications, affecting the availability of critical data for oil, gas and renewables markets.
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Brazilian authorities have launched a large-scale operation targeting a money laundering system linked to the fuel sector, involving investment funds, fintechs, and more than 1,000 service stations across the country.
A national study by the Davies Group reveals widespread American support for the simultaneous development of both renewable and fossil energy sources, with strong approval for natural gas and solar energy.

US crude oil inventories fall by 2.4 million barrels

Commercial crude oil inventories fell more than expected in the United States, while gasoline demand crossed a key threshold, offering slight support to crude prices.
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The United States extends a 30-day reprieve to NIS, controlled by Gazprom, as Serbia seeks to maintain energy security amid pressure on the Russian energy sector.
With net output reaching 384.6 million barrels of oil equivalent, CNOOC Limited continues its expansion, strengthening both domestic and international capacities despite volatile crude oil prices.