Croatia

Westinghouse secures $114mn contract to supply fuel to Paks nuclear plant

MVM Group has signed an agreement with Westinghouse to secure VVER-440 fuel supplies from 2028, reducing its reliance on Russia and strengthening nuclear cooperation between Budapest and Washington.

Sofia secures Lukoil refinery ahead of planned state takeover

The Bulgarian government has increased security around Lukoil’s Burgas refinery ahead of a state-led takeover enabled by new legislation designed to circumvent international sanctions.

India and Russia strengthen nuclear cooperation with new projects

Russia and India are preparing an expanded agreement for the construction of VVER-1200 reactors and modular nuclear power plants, while accelerating work at the strategic Kudankulam site.
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Three U.S. gas basins reshape prices, flows and contracts

Appalachia, Permian and Haynesville each reach the scale of a national producer, anchor the United States’ exportable supply and set regional differentials, LNG arbitrage and compliance constraints across the chain, amid capacity ramp-ups and reinforced sanctions.

Bulgaria passes law to take control of Lukoil refinery

Faced with US sanctions targeting Lukoil, Bulgaria adopts emergency legislation allowing direct control over the Balkans’ largest refinery to secure its energy supply.

Gunvor drops $22bn bid for Lukoil assets under US pressure

Swiss trader Gunvor has withdrawn its $22bn offer to acquire Lukoil’s international assets after the US Treasury announced it would block any related operating licence.
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Trump grants Orban oil exemption in exchange for US gas deal

The United States grants Hungary a one-year waiver on sanctions targeting Russian oil, in return for a commitment to purchase US liquefied natural gas worth $600mn.

Gunvor rules out resale of Lukoil assets to Russia after acquisition

Commodities trader Gunvor confirmed that the assets acquired from Lukoil will not return under Russian control, despite potential sanction relief, amid growing regulatory pressure.

Gotion Launches First Electric Vehicle Battery Factory in Slovakia for Europe

Gotion inaugurates its Gigafactory in Slovakia, marking a significant advancement in electric vehicle battery production in Europe. This site, scheduled for 2027, strengthens the continent’s green industrial chain.
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Western sanctions disrupt Lukoil’s international operations

Sanctions imposed by the U.S. and the U.K. are paralyzing Lukoil's operations in Iraq, Finland, and Switzerland, putting its foreign businesses and local partners at risk.

Aramco’s net profit drops for the eleventh consecutive quarter

Aramco reported a 2.3% decrease in its net profit for the third quarter, amid global economic uncertainties and an oversupply of oil, although its adjusted earnings showed a slight increase.

EU bans Russian LNG, Arctic bottlenecks and clauses under strain

The gradual ban on Russian cargoes reshapes European flows, increases winter detours via the Northern Sea Route and shifts risk toward force majeure and “change of law,” despite rising global capacity. —
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Poland: Orlen Consolidates Gas, Targets Regional Hub Without Liberalization

Poland’s gas market remains highly concentrated around Orlen, which controls imports, production, and distribution, while Warsaw targets internal and regional expansion backed by new infrastructure capacity and demand from heat and power.

Bulgaria halts fuel exports to EU after sanctions on Lukoil

Sofia temporarily restricts diesel and jet fuel exports to safeguard domestic supply following US sanctions targeting Lukoil, the country’s leading oil operator.

Lukoil sells its African oil assets to Gunvor under pressure from US sanctions

Swiss trader Gunvor will acquire Lukoil’s African stakes as the Russian company retreats in response to new US sanctions targeting its overseas operations.
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Elogen to deliver electrolyser to RoyalStav and Veolia for project in Slovakia

Elogen will supply a 1 MW PEM electrolyser for a cogeneration plant operated by Veolia Energia Slovensko, in partnership with RoyalStav, near Žiar nad Hronom.

Washington temporarily authorises operations linked to Rosneft’s German assets

The United States has issued a general license allowing transactions with two German subsidiaries of Rosneft, giving Berlin until April 2026 to resolve their ownership status.

Turkey locks in 19 Bcma of LNG, Moscow and Tehran under pressure

Botaş lines up a series of liquefied natural gas (LNG, liquefied natural gas) contracts that narrow the space for Russian and Iranian flows, as domestic production and import capacity strengthen its bargaining position. —
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Lukoil begins sale of international assets after new US sanctions

Lukoil has started divesting its foreign assets following new US oil sanctions, a move that could reshape its overseas presence and impact supply in key European markets.

Kazakhstan considers swift decision on Lukoil’s local assets

Kazakhstan is reviewing Lukoil's stakes in major oil projects after the Russian group announced plans to divest its international assets following new US sanctions.

Brussels prepares tariffs on Russian oil imported by Hungary and Slovakia

The European Commission is considering targeted tariffs on Russian oil imports still allowed in Hungary and Slovakia, in an effort to bypass existing exemptions.

Iran signs agreement with Rosatom to develop small modular reactors

Iran and Russia have signed a memorandum of understanding for the design and construction of small modular nuclear reactors, strengthening their cooperation in the field of civilian nuclear energy.

Serbia to renew gas contract with Russia in October despite tensions

A new three-year gas import agreement will be signed between Belgrade and Moscow, as Serbia’s energy ties face growing diplomatic scrutiny from the West.
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Trump urges NATO to halt all Russian oil purchases by member states

The US president has called for an immediate end to Russian oil imports by NATO countries, denouncing a strategic contradiction as sanctions against Moscow are being considered.

Russia shifts coal exports toward Asia, expert says

Facing Western restrictions, Russia plans to increase coal deliveries to China, India and Turkey, according to a recent presentation on the sector’s outlook.

German Greens oppose nuclear project linking Framatome to Rosatom

A nuclear fuel fabrication project in Lingen involving the French company Framatome and Russia’s Rosatom is raising concern in Germany, where the last reactors were shut down in 2023.
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OMV fires executive accused of links to Russian espionage in Vienna

OMV terminated the contract of one of its executives after suspicions of spying for Russia, prompting the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to summon a Russian diplomat.

Brussels seeks to ban Russian liquefied natural gas from January 2027

The European Commission proposes bringing forward by one year the ban on imports of Russian liquefied natural gas, as part of a new sanctions package backed by Washington.

Brussels seeks to accelerate ban on Russian LNG in 19th sanctions package

The European Commission is preparing a new sanctions package including an accelerated ban on Russian liquefied natural gas, with negotiations already underway among member states.
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Russia and Indonesia overtake Australia in South Korea’s thermal coal supply

Port congestion in Australia has boosted Russian and Indonesian coal exports to South Korea, with both now dominating the market due to lower prices and reliable delivery schedules.

Oil industry could unlock 1,000 billion barrels through AI recovery methods

A new analysis estimates that existing oil fields could yield up to 1,000 billion additional barrels without major new discoveries, using proven methods supported by artificial intelligence.

Novatek redirects 70,000 tonnes of condensate to Novorossiisk after Ust-Luga incident

Russian producer Novatek rerouted part of its gas condensate output to the port of Novorossiisk, following a temporary shutdown at its Ust-Luga complex after a drone attack caused a fire.
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Kazakhstan resumes crude exports via BTC after one-month technical halt

KazMunayGas has resumed oil shipments to Turkey through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, following a stoppage due to a contamination issue resolved at the Aktau terminal.

Washington approves $130mn project to connect Moldova’s grid to Europe

The United States is funding a new high-voltage line to integrate Moldova into the European electricity market, following the cutoff of supplies from the separatist Transnistria region.

Poland urges European Union to end Russian oil imports by 2026

Poland’s energy minister calls on European Union member states to collectively commit to halting Russian oil purchases within two years, citing increasing geopolitical risks.
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Ukraine seeks $1bn to secure gas reserves ahead of winter

Despite gas stocks covering over 80% of winter needs, Kyiv must still import more to offset the impact of Russian strikes on energy infrastructure.

Brussels and Washington prepare new energy sanctions against Moscow

The European Commission and the United States plan to intensify their economic measures against Russia, targeting the energy sector and cryptocurrencies in a new sanctions package.

Australian port congestion reshapes coal flows to South Korea

Russia and Indonesia overtook Australia as South Korea's top thermal coal suppliers in August, driven by lower prices and more reliable logistics amid persistent Australian shipment delays.
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Italian judge approves extradition of Ukrainian linked to Nord Stream sabotage

A Ukrainian national arrested in Italy will be extradited to Germany, where he is suspected of coordinating the 2022 attack on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea.

Bringing forward the EU gas ban would push up TTF in Central Europe

Starting the ban on Russian gas as early as 2026 would raise benchmark prices, with a spread close to $1/MMBTU in 2026–2027 and spikes above $20/MMBTU in Austria, Hungary and Slovakia, amid tight regional supply and limited LNG availability.