Paul Messad

Dalkia wins €15bn contract to manage Paris heating network until 2050

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.

Venezuelan oil: Caracas maintains exports despite US naval blockade

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 to require grid operators to prepare for multiple sabotage incidents

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.

Trump imposes total blockade on sanctioned tankers bound for Venezuela

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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Fuel consumption declines in France with sharp drop in diesel

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 prepares production tests after promising results in Namibia

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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Dangote escalates oil dispute with Nigerian regulator over fuel imports

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 launches assisted recovery project at Kaikias in the Gulf of America

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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Phillips 66 sets $2.4bn investment budget for 2026

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.

PDVSA denounces cyberattack targeting its administrative systems in Venezuela

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 signs 10-year lease for Maromba B platform with MSFL

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 to resume exploration on Namibia’s PEL 39 with five new wells planned for 2026

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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How RESourceEU works, the European plan to secure critical raw materials

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.

France opens final consultation phase for 2050 low-carbon strategy

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.