Oil

The European Commission imposes new rules requiring proof of refined crude origin and excludes the use of mass-balancing to circumvent the Russian oil ban.
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.

Namibia High Court confirms ethical breach by NBC in ReconAfrica case

A ruling by Namibia's High Court upheld the media regulator’s decision that the state broadcaster NBC failed to ensure balance in its coverage of ReconAfrica’s oil operations.
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The Canadian oilfield services provider announced a $75mn private placement of 6.875% senior unsecured notes to refinance bank debt and support operations.
Commercial crude reserves in the United States posted an unexpected increase, reaching their highest level in over a month due to a marked slowdown in refinery activity.

China rejects US pressure over Russian oil imports

Beijing calls Donald Trump's request to stop importing Russian crude interference, denouncing economic coercion and defending what it calls legitimate trade with Moscow.
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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.
Three Crown Petroleum has started production from its Irvine 1NH well and plans two new wells in Wyoming, marking a notable acceleration of its deployment programme in the Powder River Basin through 2026.

IMF forecasts oil to fall to $68 in 2025 amid tariff-driven slowdown

The International Monetary Fund expects oil prices to weaken due to sluggish global demand growth and the impact of US trade policies.
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With lawsuits multiplying against oil majors, Republican lawmakers are seeking to establish federal immunity to block legal actions tied to environmental damage.
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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Canadian company Petro-Victory Energy Corp. has secured a $300,000 unsecured loan at a 14% annual rate, including 600,000 warrants granted to a lender connected to its board of directors.
Cenovus Energy has purchased over 21.7 million common shares of MEG Energy, representing 8.5% of its capital, as part of its ongoing acquisition strategy in Canada.

Fuel consumption in France rises despite overall oil downturn

In September 2025, French road fuel consumption rose by 3%, driven by a rebound in unleaded fuels, while overall energy petroleum product consumption fell by 1.8% year-on-year.
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Société Ivoirienne de Raffinage receives major funding to upgrade facilities and produce diesel fuel in line with ECOWAS standards, with commissioning expected by 2029.
India is funding Mongolia’s first oil refinery through its largest line of credit, with operations scheduled to begin by 2028, according to official sources.

Global energy demand rises by 40 million barrels of oil equivalent per day

Aramco CEO Amin Nasser warns of growing consumption still dominated by hydrocarbons, despite massive global energy transition investments.
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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.
The New Vista vessel, loaded with Abu Dhabi crude, avoided Rizhao port after the United States sanctioned the oil terminal partly operated by a Sinopec subsidiary.
Crude prices rose following the decision by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies to increase production only marginally in November, despite ongoing signs of oversupply.
Cenovus Energy modifies terms of its acquisition of MEG Energy by increasing the offer value and adjusting the cash-share split, while reporting record third-quarter results.

JANAF and MOL begin crucial talks on Central European oil transport

Hungarian oil group MOL and Croatian operator JANAF are negotiating an extension of their crude transport agreement as the region seeks to reduce reliance on Russian oil.
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Rail shipments of Belarusian gasoline to Russia surged in September as Moscow sought to offset fuel shortages caused by Ukrainian attacks on its energy infrastructure.
Denmark is intensifying inspections of ships passing through Skagen, a strategic point linking the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, to counter the risks posed by the Russian shadow fleet transporting sanctioned oil.

TotalEnergies appoints Nicola Mavilla as global head of exploration

Nicola Mavilla succeeds Kevin McLachlan as TotalEnergies' Director of Exploration, bringing over two decades of international experience in the oil and gas industry.
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Sahara Group is making a major investment in Nigeria with seven new drilling rigs, aiming to become the country’s top private oil producer by increasing output to 350,000 barrels per day.
Senegal aims to double its oil refining capacity with a project estimated between $2bn and $5bn, as domestic demand exceeds current output.

Chevron gradually restarts El Segundo refinery after major fire

Chevron is working to restart several units at its El Segundo refinery in California after a fire broke out in a jet fuel production unit, temporarily disrupting regional fuel supplies.
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Ethiopia has begun construction of its first crude oil refinery in Gode, a $2.5bn project awarded to GCL, aimed at strengthening the country’s energy security amid ongoing reliance on fuel imports.
Opec+ slightly adjusts its quotas for November, continuing its market share recovery strategy amid stagnant global demand and a pressured market.

Beijing transfers up to $8.4bn to Iran through parallel oil network

China has established a clandestine oil-for-projects barter system to circumvent US sanctions and support Iran’s embargoed economy, according to an exclusive Wall Street Journal investigation.
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TotalEnergies EP Norge signed two agreements to divest its non-operated interests in three inactive Norwegian fields, pending an investment decision expected in 2025.
The US Supreme Court will hear ExxonMobil’s appeal for compensation from Cuban state-owned firms over nationalised oil assets, reviving enforcement of the Helms-Burton Act.

Major fire contained at Chevron’s El Segundo refinery, investigation underway

A major fire has been extinguished at Chevron’s main refinery on the US West Coast. The cause of the incident remains unknown, and an investigation has been launched to determine its origin.
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Eight OPEC+ countries are set to increase oil output from November, as Saudi Arabia and Russia debate the scale of the hike amid rising competition for market share.
The potential removal by Moscow of duties on Chinese gasoline revives export prospects and could tighten regional supply, while Singapore and South Korea remain on the sidelines.

Putin denounces “piracy” after tanker seized off French coast

Vladimir Putin responded to the interception of a tanker suspected of belonging to the Russian shadow fleet, calling the French operation “piracy” and denying any direct Russian involvement.
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After being intercepted by the French navy, the Boracay oil tanker, linked to Russia's shadow fleet, left Saint-Nazaire with its oil cargo, reigniting tensions over Moscow’s circumvention of European sanctions.
Russian seaborne crude shipments surged in September to their highest level since April 2024, despite G7 sanctions and repeated drone strikes on refinery infrastructure.