Kazakhstan

Global oversupply drove Brent crude down to $63 in December 2025

Brent crude fell to its lowest level since 2021, as persistent oversupply throughout 2025 weighed on prices despite isolated geopolitical tensions and China’s strategic stockpiling.

India’s Russian oil imports drop in January as Reliance expects no deliveries

India’s crude imports from Russia could hit an eighteen-month low as Reliance Industries anticipates no shipments in January due to logistical and commercial disruptions.

Kursk II reactor starts at 240 MW, marking gradual power increase

Russia has connected its first 1,250 MW VVER-TOI reactor at the Kursk II nuclear power plant to the grid, signalling a key step toward full commissioning by 2034.
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Belgrade hopes for swift Russia-Hungary deal to unlock NIS’s future

Serbia is aiming for a quick agreement between Gazprom and Hungarian group MOL on the sale of Russian-held NIS shares, key to restarting its only refinery shut down by US sanctions.

Storm in the Black Sea halts crude shipments at CPC terminal

Caspian Pipeline Consortium suspended loading and intake operations due to a storm and full storage capacity.

Russian gas exports to Europe fall to 18 bcm, lowest level since the 1970s

Pipeline natural gas deliveries from Russia to the European Union dropped by 44% in 2025, reaching their lowest level in five decades following the end of transit via Ukraine.
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Lithuania extends gas transit to Kaliningrad until 2030

Amber Grid has signed an agreement to maintain gas transit to Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave, with a daily capacity cap of 10.5 mn m³ until the end of 2030, under a framework regulated by the European Union.

Russia provides $9bn for Turkey’s Akkuyu nuclear power plant

Ankara confirmed new Russian funding for the Akkuyu project, Turkey’s first nuclear site, strengthening its energy ties with Moscow and advancing its domestic nuclear ambitions.

Nigerien junta rejects French accusations over uranium disappearance

Niger’s military regime disputes theft allegations by French prosecutors after uranium stock vanished from a nationalised site previously operated by Orano.
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Rosatom confirms HTGR fuel resilience under extreme temperature conditions

Rosatom successfully completed a series of tests on its high-temperature gas-cooled reactor fuel, validating its performance at up to 1,700 °C under prolonged irradiation conditions.

SOCAR delivers 22 fuel wagons to Armenia via Georgia in unprecedented logistical test

A train carrying over 1,200 tonnes of gasoline produced in Azerbaijan entered Armenia on December 19, marking the first commercial operation since recent conflicts, with concrete implications for regional transit.

Holtec and MVM join forces to deploy small nuclear reactors in Hungary

US-based Holtec has signed a memorandum of understanding with Hungary’s energy group MVM to assess the deployment of its SMR-300 technology, strengthening bilateral nuclear cooperation and opening prospects for a new market in Central Europe.
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Chevron strengthens post-Hess strategy and reassures markets on growth

In New York, Chevron outlines its long-term vision following the Hess integration, focusing on financial stability, spending reduction, and record production to consolidate investor confidence.

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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Washington locks in Kazakh tungsten supply and frames its C5+1 bet

The United States secures a tungsten joint venture in Kazakhstan and mining protocols in Uzbekistan, with financing envisaged from the Export-Import Bank of the United States and shipment routed via the Trans-Caspian corridor.

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.
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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.

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.

U.S. Tariffs: India Increases Brazilian Crude Imports by 80% in 2025

Indian imports of Brazilian crude reach 72,000 barrels per day in the first half of 2025, driven by U.S. sanctions, and are expected to grow with new contracts and upstream projects between Petrobras and Indian refiners.

Russian Strikes Threaten Gas Cooperation Between Azerbaijan and Ukraine

Azerbaijani energy infrastructure targeted in Ukraine raises concerns over the security of gas flows between Baku and Kyiv, just as a new supply agreement has been signed.

Russian Oil Deliveries to Hungary and Slovakia Suspended After Strike

Oil flows to Hungary and Slovakia via the Russian Druzhba pipeline have been halted, following an attack Budapest attributes to repeated Ukrainian strikes.
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Putin Signs Decree Paving the Way for Exxon’s Return to Sakhalin-1

A new Russian presidential decree could allow Exxon Mobil to reclaim its stake in Sakhalin-1, under strict conditions tied to Western sanctions and equipment logistics.

Modi Defends India’s Energy Autonomy Amid U.S. Tariff Pressure

Under threat of increased U.S. tariffs, New Delhi is accelerating its energy independence strategy to reduce reliance on imports, particularly Russian oil.

Funds Push European Carbon Positions to Highest Since April

Investors hold 28.9 million EUAs net long as of August 8, four-month record level. Prices stable around 71 euros despite divergent fundamentals.
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OT Cyberattacks: Energy Sector Faces $329 Billion in Risks

A Dragos report reveals the scale of cyber vulnerabilities in global energy infrastructures. Potential losses reach historic highs.

Moscow develops Arctic turbines for the Northern Sea Route

The Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade is announcing "Arctic configuration" wind generators to power infrastructure on the Northern Sea Route, without listing any companies at this stage, with the stated aim of technological sovereignty.

Russia Targets Gas Turbines Over 300 MW in Technological Leap

Moscow is preparing to develop gas turbines exceeding 300 MW while strengthening existing capacities and positioning itself against the most high-performing models worldwide.
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Eleven US companies selected to fast-track small nuclear reactor testing

The United States Department of Energy has selected eleven companies to build experimental nuclear reactors by July 2026, under a programme aimed at meeting rising electricity demand.

OPEC Revises Global Oil Forecasts for 2026 to 106.5 Million b/d

OPEC's August report reveals Russian production above quotas and commercial dominance in Asia, while Kazakhstan massively exceeds its reduction commitments.

Russia gains adoption of oil and gas standards in Africa and the Middle East

Around 80 Russian technical standards for oil and gas have been internationally validated, notably by the United Arab Emirates, Algeria and Oman, according to the Institute of Oil and Gas Technological Initiatives.
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Russian Shadow Fleet Disrupts Global Oil Balance in Asia

Hundreds of aging tankers transport Russian oil to Asia, circumventing Western sanctions while creating major environmental risks and transforming global trade flows.

ADNOC L&S Defies Maritime Turbulence with Record Second Quarter Results

The Emirati logistics giant posts 40% revenue growth despite depressed maritime freight rates, driven by Navig8 integration and strategic fleet expansion.

OPEC+ Cuts Production Despite Higher Quotas in July

OPEC+ oil production fell to 41.65 million barrels per day in July 2025, reveals S&P Global's Platts survey, as Saudi Arabia normalizes production after June's Iran-Israel tensions.
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Armenia and Azerbaijan Sign TRIPP Corridor Agreement Under American Auspices

The two countries end 37 years of conflict with a 43-kilometer corridor under American control for 99 years. The infrastructure will transport 50 million tons of goods annually by 2030.

Canada joins EU and G7 to lower the Russian oil price cap

The Canadian government adopts a new dynamic cap of $47.60 per barrel for Russian oil, aligning its position with that of the European Union and the United Kingdom.

OPEC+ to complete in September the full withdrawal of 2.2 million b/d voluntary cuts

The eight OPEC+ members concerned will end next month the cuts introduced in November 2023, while keeping the option to readjust their output depending on market fundamentals and quota compliance.
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Surveys for Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant enter active phase

Field studies to determine the location of Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant have begun near the village of Ulken, marking a key stage in a project led by Rosatom.

The Black Sea Defies Financial Obstacles to Become Europe’s Gas Hub

Giant discoveries are transforming the Black Sea into an alternative to Russian gas, despite colossal technical challenges related to hydrogen sulfide and Ukrainian geopolitical tensions.