Portugal

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.
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.

Naked Energy expands solar thermal operations to Spain and Portugal

British company Naked Energy is accelerating its international expansion with a new office in Madrid to deploy its solar thermal technology in the industrially promising Iberian market.
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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.
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.

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.
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Faced with US sanctions targeting Lukoil, Bulgaria adopts emergency legislation allowing direct control over the Balkans’ largest refinery to secure its energy supply.
Swiss trader Gunvor has withdrawn its $22bn offer to acquire Lukoil’s international assets after the US Treasury announced it would block any related operating licence.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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Commodities trader Gunvor confirmed that the assets acquired from Lukoil will not return under Russian control, despite potential sanction relief, amid growing regulatory pressure.
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.
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HEINEKEN, EDP, and Rondo Energy are deploying a 100 MWh industrial heat battery in Lisbon, providing renewable steam 24/7 using on-site solar power and the grid.
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. —

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.
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Sofia temporarily restricts diesel and jet fuel exports to safeguard domestic supply following US sanctions targeting Lukoil, the country’s leading oil operator.
Swiss trader Gunvor will acquire Lukoil’s African stakes as the Russian company retreats in response to new US sanctions targeting its overseas operations.

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.
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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. —
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.
The Luxembourg-based group will handle engineering, procurement, commissioning and installation of flexible pipelines and umbilicals to link a new field to Egypt’s existing offshore infrastructure, with offshore work scheduled for 2026.
Major oil producers accelerate their return to the market, raising their August quotas more sharply than initially expected, prompting questions about future market balances.

Czech Republic hit by massive power outage disrupting the economy

A major electricity blackout paralyzed large parts of the Czech Republic, interrupting transport and essential networks, raising immediate economic concerns, and highlighting the vulnerability of energy infrastructures to unforeseen technical incidents.
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Cairo is stepping up connection works for the planned 4,800 MW El-Dabaa nuclear plant, developed with Rosatom, to feed the grid from 2026 with output equal to about seven % of national electricity.
TotalEnergies is selling half of a 604 MW Portuguese energy portfolio to the Japanese consortium MM Capital, Daiwa Energy and Mizuho Leasing for €178.5mn, retaining operation and future commercialisation of the assets concerned.

BRICS: solar production exceeds 50% of global total in 2024

Emerging economies from the BRICS group now account for more than half of global solar electricity production in 2024, driven mainly by China, India, and Brazil, according to a new report by the organisation Ember.
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Despite strong ties, Iran's dependence on oil revenues limits its ability to secure substantial strategic support from Russia and China amid current international and regional crises, according to several experts.
Westinghouse Electric Company signs a $180mn contract with ITER Organization to complete the final assembly of the vacuum vessel for ITER’s experimental nuclear fusion reactor, currently under construction in Cadarache, southern France.

Orlen ends Russian oil purchases for Czech refinery after contract expiry

Orlen announces the definitive halt of its Russian oil purchases for the Czech Republic, marking the end of deliveries by Rosneft following the contract expiry, amid evolving logistics and diversification of regional supply sources.
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The anticipated increase in the tax deduction rate may encourage independent refineries in Shandong to restart fuel oil imports, compensating for limited crude oil import quotas.
The European Union extends gas storage regulations by two years, requiring member states to maintain a minimum fill rate of 90% to ensure energy security and economic stability amid market uncertainties.

France Officially Launches Its First Floating Wind Farm in the Mediterranean

France officially commissions its first floating wind farm, consisting of three turbines with a combined capacity of 25 megawatts, introducing strategic technology in the Mediterranean, vital for national energy goals.
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Madrid announces immediate energy storage measures while Lisbon secures its electrical grid, responding to the historic outage that affected the entire Iberian Peninsula in late April.
The Russian company InterRAO anticipates a 4% annual reduction in electricity exports, primarily impacted by a significant decrease in shipments to China due to limited hydroelectric production and rising domestic demand.

Fusion Fuel: Al Shola Gas secures AED4.4 mn ($1.2 mn) in contracts

The Irish-Portuguese company Fusion Fuel strengthens its footprint in the United Arab Emirates as subsidiary Al Shola Gas adds AED4.4 mn ($1.2 mn) in new engineering contracts, consolidating an already robust 2025 order book.
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Statkraft refocuses investments on flexible Nordic hydropower and reduces commitments in offshore wind and hydrogen to lower operating costs, amid an uncertain economic environment and pressured profitability.
Budapest and Bratislava jointly reject the European Commission's proposal to ban Russian energy supplies, highlighting significant economic risks and a direct threat to their energy security, days ahead of a key meeting.

Russia and Mali Sign Trade Agreements and Target Nuclear Energy

Russia strengthens its economic presence in Mali with new agreements, notably in nuclear energy and gold refining, consolidating strategic cooperation within a rapidly evolving geopolitical context.
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Following US strikes in Iran, international energy companies partially evacuate their teams from Iraq as a precaution, while Lukoil maintains its entire personnel on southern oilfields.
Chinese independent refineries remain cautious amid rising Iranian crude prices driven by escalating Iran-Israel tensions, potentially threatening access to the strategic Strait of Hormuz.