Energy sovereignty

The US Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on more than 50 entities linked to Iranian oil exports, targeting Chinese refineries and vessels registered in Asia and Africa.
Khartoum et Juba annoncent un mécanisme commun pour protéger les oléoducs transfrontaliers, sans clarifier le rôle des forces armées non étatiques qui contrôlent une partie des installations.

Namibia and McDermott join forces to train future oil workforce

The Namibian government signed an agreement with McDermott to strengthen local skills in offshore engineering and operations, aiming to increase oil sector local content to 15% by 2030.
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Nigeria deploys a 2.2 million-barrel floating storage unit funded by public investment, strengthening sovereignty over oil exports and reducing losses from theft and infrastructure failures.
Despite open statements of dialogue, the federal government maintains an ambiguous regulatory framework that hinders interprovincial oil projects, leaving the industry in doubt.

Sintana Energy acquires Challenger Energy to strengthen offshore assets in Africa

Canada’s Sintana Energy acquires Challenger Energy in a $61mn all-share deal, targeting offshore exploration in Namibia and Uruguay. The move highlights growing consolidation among independent oil exploration firms.
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The 120,000-barrel-per-day catalytic cracking unit at the Beaumont site resumed operations after an unexpected shutdown caused by a technical incident earlier in the week.
An agreement was reached between Khartoum and Juba to protect key oil installations, as ongoing armed conflict continues to threaten crude flows vital to both economies.

Algeria signs two oil assessment agreements with Petrogas E&P

Alnaft has signed two study agreements with Omani firm Petrogas E&P on the Touggourt and Berkine basins, aiming to update hydrocarbon potential in key oil-producing areas.
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Import quotas exhaustion and falling demand push Chinese independent refineries to sharply reduce Iranian crude volumes, affecting supply levels and putting downward pressure on prices.
Serbian oil company NIS, partially owned by Gazprom, faces newly enforced US sanctions after a nine-month reprieve, testing the country's fuel supply chain.

Chevron appoints former TotalEnergies executive to lead African exploration

US-based Chevron appoints Kevin McLachlan, a veteran of TotalEnergies, as its global head of exploration, in a strategic move targeting Nigeria, Angola and Namibia.
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Lycos Energy finalises the sale of its Alberta assets for $60mn, planning an immediate $47.9mn cash distribution to shareholders and the launch of a share buyback programme.
Russian oil output moved closer to its OPEC+ allocation in September, with a steady rise confirmed by Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak.

Jihadist blockade disrupts fuel supply across Mali

Fuel shortages now affect Bamako, struck in turn by a jihadist blockade targeting petroleum flows from Ivorian and Senegalese ports, severely disrupting national logistics.
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McDermott has signed a memorandum of understanding with PETROFUND to launch technical training programmes aimed at strengthening local skills in Namibia’s oil and gas sector.
The example of OML 17 highlights the success of an African-led oil production model based on local accountability, strengthening Nigeria’s position in public energy investment.

ExxonMobil returns to Iraq with deal on Majnoon oil field

ExxonMobil has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Iraqi government to develop the Majnoon oil field, marking its return to the country after a two-year absence.
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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.
OPEC has formally rejected media reports suggesting that eight OPEC+ countries plan a coordinated oil production increase ahead of their scheduled meeting on October 5.
International Petroleum Corporation has completed its annual common share repurchase programme, reducing its share capital by 6.2% and is planning a renewal in December, pending regulatory approval.

Kansai EPCO to decommission 1.2GW of oil-fired capacity at Gobo by June 2026

Kansai Electric Power plans to shut down two heavy fuel oil units at Gobo Thermal Power Station, totalling 1.2GW of capacity, as part of a production portfolio reorganisation.
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Canada’s Questerre partners with Nimofast to develop PX Energy in Brazil, with an initial commitment of up to $50mn and equal, shared governance.
BP commits $5 billion to Tiber-Guadalupe, with a floating platform targeting 80,000 barrels per day and first production in 2030, to increase its offshore volumes in the Gulf of Mexico.

Russian oil and gas revenues seen falling to $206.1bn in 2025

Russia projects a 12.5% contraction in oil and gas revenues in 2025, before a gradual recovery through 2028, according to official economic projections.
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Baker Hughes will supply up to 50 subsea trees and associated equipment to Petrobras to support offshore production in Brazil, strengthening its role in the development of pre-salt fields.
Driven by rising global energy consumption and exploration investments, the oilfield service equipment market is expected to grow at a 5.39% CAGR to reach $36.87bn by 2031.

US sanctions against NIS postponed by eight days, says Belgrade

US sanctions against Serbian oil company NIS, owned by Gazprom, were delayed by eight days after talks between Belgrade and Washington, President Aleksandar Vucic said.
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Nigeria’s oil union ordered the suspension of gas and crude deliveries to Dangote refinery following the dismissal of hundreds of local workers, escalating an industrial dispute with potential supply impacts.
Vitol strengthens its presence in West Africa by acquiring a 30% stake in the Baleine oil field from Eni, while maintaining an active role in the country’s offshore development.

ShaMaran signs agreement to restart oil exports via Iraq-Türkiye pipeline

ShaMaran and several international oil companies have reached a provisional deal with Baghdad and Erbil to resume crude exports from the Kurdistan region via pipeline, after months of suspension.
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The number of active drilling rigs in the United States rose for the fourth consecutive week, supported by higher crude prices and OPEC+’s difficulties in meeting production targets.
Baghdad has restarted crude shipments from Kurdistan via the pipeline to Turkey, following a two-year halt linked to legal and contractual disputes involving international firms operating in the region.

United States offers India a way out of Russian oil amid trade tensions

Washington offers New Delhi an alternative to its Russian imports while maintaining tariff pressure, exposing a double standard in US energy policy.
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Canadian group North Atlantic will acquire ExxonMobil’s stake in Esso France, including the country’s second-largest refinery, with the ownership change expected by the end of 2025.
Ghana’s only refinery is preparing to resume operations after a prolonged shutdown caused by technical and financial issues, with a restart scheduled for October according to its management.

BP delays global oil demand peak to 2030

BP revises its annual forecast and now expects global oil demand to grow until 2030, due to slower worldwide energy efficiency gains.
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The Liberian government awarded four offshore oil blocks to Nigerian company Atlas-Oranto for $12 million, strengthening the regional presence of African junior players in offshore exploration.
Oil companies are preparing for a tough 2026 with lower investments, focusing on financial discipline and cash flow redistribution at the expense of low-return projects.