Kuwait

The inclusion of hydrogen in China’s 15th Five-Year Plan confirms a public investment strategy focused on cost reduction, domestic demand stimulation and geo-economic influence across global markets.
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.

KNPC plans gas production increase to 18.3 million cylinders by 2027

Kuwait National Petroleum Company aims to boost gas production to meet domestic demand driven by demographic growth and new residential projects.
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Kuwait is preparing a battery storage project with a capacity of up to 6 GWh to stabilise its power grid and address rising electricity demand.
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.

COP30 opens in tension as negotiations fail on initial agenda

COP30 begins in Belém under uncertainty, as countries fail to agree on key discussion topics, highlighting deep divisions over climate finance and the global energy transition.
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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.
TotalEnergies has tasked Vallourec with supplying tubular solutions for drilling 48 wells as part of its integrated gas project in Iraq, reinforcing their ongoing industrial cooperation on the Ratawi field.

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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OMS Energy is accelerating investments in artificial intelligence and robotics to position itself in the growing pipeline inspection and maintenance sector, a strategic segment with higher margins than traditional equipment manufacturing.
Swiss trader Gunvor has withdrawn its $22bn offer to acquire Lukoil’s international assets after the US Treasury announced it would block any related operating licence.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.
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JA Solar has signed an agreement with Larsen & Toubro to supply photovoltaic modules for the Samarkand 1 and 2 solar power plants, developed by ACWA Power with a total installed capacity of 1.2 GW.
Two photovoltaic plants with a combined capacity of 1,400 MW will be operational in 2027, strengthening EDF Group's international presence and Asian actors in Saudi Arabia's energy market.

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.
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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 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.

Two SANAD Drilling Rigs to Resume Operations in Saudi Arabia by Mid-2026

The SANAD drilling joint venture will resume operations with two suspended rigs, expected to restart in March and June 2026, with contract extensions equal to the suspension period.
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The Chinese wind turbine manufacturer and Saudi operator sign a seven-year framework agreement to deploy local production lines and enhance technological cooperation in several strategic markets.
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. —
Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder supported the Nord Stream 2 pipeline before an inquiry, dismissing criticism over his role and Russian funding linked to the project.
The Dutch Supreme Court has rejected Russia's final appeal, confirming a record $50bn compensation to former Yukos shareholders, ending two decades of legal battle.

Trump says Modi will stop Russian oil purchases amid rising tensions

Donald Trump says he secured Narendra Modi’s commitment to end Russian oil imports, adding political pressure to India-Russia trade relations.
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Two European Parliament committees propose to advance the full halt of Russian hydrocarbon imports to 2026 and 2027, including oil, gas, and LNG, strengthening the European Union’s geopolitical position.
Beijing calls Donald Trump's request to stop importing Russian crude interference, denouncing economic coercion and defending what it calls legitimate trade with Moscow.

Washington urges Japan to cut energy ties with Russia

The United States has called on Japan to stop importing Russian gas, amid rising tensions over conflicting economic interests between allies in response to the indirect financing of the war in Ukraine.
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India faces mounting pressure from the United States over its purchases of Russian oil, as Donald Trump claims Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged to halt them.
The United Kingdom targets two Russian oil majors, Asian ports and dozens of vessels in a new wave of sanctions aimed at disrupting Moscow's hydrocarbon exports.

Brent under pressure: traders expect prices to fall towards $60

Major global oil traders anticipate a continued decline in Brent prices, citing the fading geopolitical premium and rising supply, particularly from non-OPEC producers.
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Gotion High-Tech presented in Saudi Arabia a modular 20 MWh storage solution aimed at strengthening the country's energy capacity under its Vision 2030 strategy.
The United Nations nuclear agency is urging Ukraine and Russia to establish a local ceasefire to repair damaged power lines at the Zaporizhzhia plant, which remains on alert after losing all external power supply.

Midad Energy signs $5.4bn contract with Sonatrach in Algeria

Sonatrach and Midad Energy North Africa signed a production-sharing hydrocarbon contract in the Illizi South perimeter, involving a total investment estimated at $5.4bn for exploration and exploitation of the site.
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Aramco CEO Amin Nasser warns of growing consumption still dominated by hydrocarbons, despite massive global energy transition investments.
China imported an average of 11.5 million barrels of crude oil per day in September, supported by higher refining rates among both state-run and independent operators.

Koweït découvre un champ gazier offshore de 28,3 milliards de m³

Kuwait Petroleum Corporation annonce une découverte majeure dans la zone offshore avec le champ de Jazah, soutenant les efforts publics d’investissement dans les infrastructures énergétiques nationales.
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OPEC confirms its global oil demand growth forecasts and anticipates a much smaller deficit for 2026, due to increased production from OPEC+ members.
Moscow strengthens industrial joint ventures with Tajikistan by leveraging hydropower, agriculture, and mining in a strategy based on mutual interest and economic complementarity.

Croatia targets Russian stake in NIS to maintain oil flows

JANAF is interested in acquiring a 20 to 25% stake in NIS, as the Russian-owned share is now subject to US sanctions.
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Falling Chinese imports and Asia’s regional pivot increase pressure on Australian thermal coal exporters.
The construction of Uzbekistan’s first small modular reactor (SMR) is underway, with 1.5mn m³ of earth being excavated in Jizzakh, marking a major milestone for the nuclear project led by Rosatom.