MSCI

The third National Low-Carbon Strategy enters its final consultation phase before its 2026 adoption, defining France’s emissions reduction trajectory through 2050 with sector-specific and industrial targets.
The Turkish president suggested to Vladimir Putin a limited ceasefire targeting Ukrainian ports and energy facilities to reduce risks to strategic assets and pave the way for negotiations.

Iran seizes tanker carrying 6 mn litres of diesel in the Gulf of Oman

Iranian authorities intercepted a vessel suspected of fuel smuggling off the coast of the Gulf of Oman, with 18 South Asian crew members on board, according to official sources.
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Nel ASA launches the industrial phase of its pressurised alkaline technology, with an initial 1 GW production capacity and EU support of up to EUR135mn ($146mn).
Electricité de France's Flamanville 3 reactor has reached full power for the first time, marking a key industrial milestone in the deployment of EPRs in Europe, despite cost overruns reaching EUR23.7bn ($25.7bn).

Zimbabwe plans 600 MW floating solar power plant on Lake Kariba

Zimbabwe plans to launch the construction of a 600 MW floating solar power plant on Lake Kariba in 2026, aiming to reduce its reliance on drought-affected hydropower.
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Indian group JSW Energy launches a combined promoter injection and institutional raise totalling $1.19bn, while appointing a new Chief Financial Officer to support its expansion plan through 2030.
Morocco plans to commission its first liquefied natural gas terminal in Nador by 2027, built around a floating unit designed to strengthen national import capacity.

Harbour Energy to acquire Waldorf’s UK assets for $170mn

Harbour Energy will acquire Waldorf Energy Partners’ North Sea assets for $170mn, increasing its stakes in the Catcher and Kraken fields, while Capricorn Energy settles part of its claims.
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An explosion on December 10 on the Escravos–Lagos pipeline forced NNPC to suspend operations, disrupting a crucial network supplying gas to power stations in southwestern Nigeria.
The explosion of battery storage applications in Germany is causing grid congestion and pushing Berlin to revise its regulatory framework to prevent market saturation.

Controllable solar hits strategic threshold at $65/MWh despite China supply risk

The collapse in storage costs positions batteries as a key lever for dispatchable solar, but dependence on Chinese suppliers creates growing tension between competitiveness and supply chain security.
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At an international forum, Turkmenistan hosted several regional leaders to discuss commercial cooperation, with a strong focus on gas and alternative export corridors.
The Big Beautiful Gulf 1 sale attracted more than $300mn in investments, with a focused strategy led by BP, Chevron and Woodside on high-yield blocks.

Washington seizes oil tanker linked to Maduro and tightens sanctions on Caracas

The United States intercepted an oil tanker loaded with Venezuelan crude and imposed new sanctions on maritime entities, increasing pressure on Nicolas Maduro’s regime and its commercial networks in the Caribbean.
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The company has secured a 108 MW solar project in Sicily, its largest in Italy, following the second national FER X auction, strengthening its portfolio of energy investments in the country.
GE Vernova Hitachi’s BWRX-300 small modular reactor has passed a key regulatory hurdle in the United Kingdom, opening the door to potential commercial deployment, despite no current plans for construction.

JA Solar commissions its first industrial solar-storage system in Sicily

JA Solar has launched a microgrid combining 5.2 MW of solar and 2.61 MWh of storage at an industrial site in Sicily, marking its first application of the "PV+Storage+X" model in Italy.
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Independent power producer GreenGo strengthens its portfolio to 193 MW under public schemes, after winning a new 48 MW solar project through the FER X NZIA programme.
The Norwegian government has allocated two areas of the Utsira Nord project to the Equinor–Vårgrønn and EDF–Deep Wind Offshore consortia, launching a preparatory phase before a competitive state aid auction.
The United States reaffirmed its military commitment to Guyana, effectively securing access to its rapidly expanding oil production amid persistent border tensions with Venezuela.
Sanctioned tanker Kairos, abandoned after a Ukrainian drone attack, ran aground off Bulgaria’s coast, exposing growing legal and operational risks tied to Russia’s shadow fleet in the Black Sea.

Washington will oversee the sale of Lukoil stations until April 2026

The United States is temporarily licensing Lukoil’s operations outside Russia, blocking all financial flows to Moscow while facilitating the supervised sale of a portfolio valued at $22bn, without disrupting supply for allied countries.
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Libya’s state oil firm NOC plans to launch a licensing round for 20 blocks in early 2026, amid mounting legal, political and financial uncertainties for international investors.
European sanctions on Russia and refinery outages in the Middle East have sharply reduced global diesel supply, driving up refining margins in key markets.

La Serbie anticipe un choc économique après la mise à l’arrêt de sa raffinerie

L’arrêt de la raffinerie de Pancevo, frappée par des sanctions américaines contre ses actionnaires russes, menace les recettes fiscales, l’emploi et la stabilité énergétique de la Serbie.
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Oil prices climbed, driven by Ukrainian strikes on Russian infrastructure and the lack of diplomatic progress between Moscow and Washington over the Ukraine conflict.
Chevron has announced a capital expenditure range of $18 to $19 billion for 2026, focusing on upstream operations in the United States and high-potential international offshore projects.

ExxonMobil shuts down steam cracker in Singapore and redirects assets to China

ExxonMobil is shutting down its oldest ethylene steam cracker in Singapore, reducing local capacity to invest in its integrated Huizhou complex in China, amid regional overcapacity and rising operational costs.
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Brazil, Guyana, Suriname and Argentina are expected to provide a growing share of non-OPEC+ oil supply, backed by massive offshore investments and continued exploration momentum.
The revocation of US licences limits European companies’ operations in Venezuela, triggering a collapse in crude oil imports and a reconfiguration of bilateral energy flows.

Bourbon secures five-year contract with ExxonMobil for Angola’s Block 15

Bourbon has signed an agreement with ExxonMobil for the charter of next-generation Crewboats on Angola’s Block 15, strengthening a strategic cooperation that began over 15 years ago.
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Faced with tighter legal frameworks and reinforced sanctions, grey fleet operators are turning to 15-year-old VLCCs and scrapping older vessels to secure oil routes to Asia.
Reconnaissance Energy Africa completed drilling at the Kavango West 1X onshore well in Namibia, where 64 metres of net hydrocarbon pay were detected in the Otavi carbonate section.

CNOOC launches production at Weizhou 11-4 oilfield in South China Sea

CNOOC Limited has started production at the Weizhou 11-4 oilfield adjustment project and its satellite fields, targeting 16,900 barrels per day by 2026.
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The Adura joint venture merges Shell and Equinor’s UK offshore assets, becoming the leading independent oil and gas producer in the mature North Sea basin.
A Delaware court approved the sale of PDV Holding shares to Elliott’s Amber Energy for $5.9bn, a deal still awaiting a U.S. Treasury licence through OFAC.

Nigeria releases $100mn to accelerate local integration in the oil sector

A new $100mn fund has been launched to support Nigerian oil and gas service companies, as part of a national target to reach 70% local content by 2027.
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Western measures targeting Rosneft and Lukoil deeply reorganise oil trade, triggering a discreet yet massive shift of Russian export routes to Asia without causing global supply disruption.
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission opens bidding for 50 exploration blocks across strategic zones to revitalise upstream investment.