Greater Britannia

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.
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.

Nigeria auctions 50 oil blocks in its 2025 licensing round

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission opens bidding for 50 exploration blocks across strategic zones to revitalise upstream investment.
La Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission ouvre la compétition pour 50 blocs d’exploration, répartis sur plusieurs zones stratégiques, afin de relancer les investissements dans l’amont pétrolier.
Serbia's only refinery, operated by NIS, has suspended production due to a shortage of crude oil, a direct consequence of US sanctions imposed on its majority Russian shareholder.

Oil prices rise amid tensions between Washington and Caracas

Crude prices increased, driven by rising tensions between the United States and Venezuela and drone attacks targeting Russian oil infrastructure in the Black Sea.
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Amid persistent financial losses, Tullow Oil restructures its governance and accelerates efforts to reduce over $1.8 billion in debt while refocusing operations on Ghana.
The Iraqi government is inviting US oil companies to bid for control of the giant West Qurna 2 field, previously operated by Russian group Lukoil, now under US sanctions.

Two tankers targeted in the Black Sea, Ankara warns over maritime security

Two tankers under the Gambian flag were attacked in the Black Sea near Turkish shores, prompting a firm response from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on growing risks to regional energy transport.
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The British producer continues to downsize its North Sea operations, citing an uncompetitive tax regime and a strategic shift towards jurisdictions offering greater regulatory stability.
Dangote Refinery says it can fully meet Nigeria’s petrol demand from December, while requesting regulatory, fiscal and logistical support to ensure delivery.

BP restarts Olympic pipeline after leak, increasing pressure on safety

BP reactivated the Olympic pipeline, critical to fuel supply in the U.S. Northwest, after a leak that led to a complete shutdown and emergency declarations in Oregon and Washington state.
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President Donald Trump confirmed direct contact with Nicolas Maduro as tensions escalate, with Caracas denouncing a planned US operation targeting its oil resources.
Zenith Energy claims Tunisian authorities carried out the unauthorised sale of stored crude oil, escalating a longstanding commercial dispute over its Robbana and El Bibane concessions.

TotalEnergies sells 40% of two Nigerian licences to Chevron in strategic deal

TotalEnergies restructures its stake in offshore licences PPL 2000 and PPL 2001 by bringing in Chevron at 40%, while retaining operatorship, as part of a broader refocus of its deepwater portfolio in Nigeria.
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Aker Solutions has signed a six-year frame agreement with ConocoPhillips for maintenance and modification services on the Eldfisk and Ekofisk offshore fields, with an option to extend for another six years.
Iranian authorities intercepted a vessel carrying 350,000 litres of fuel in the Persian Gulf, tightening control over strategic maritime routes in the Strait of Hormuz.

North Atlantic France Takes Control of Esso S.A.F. and Renames the Company

North Atlantic France finalizes the acquisition of Esso S.A.F. at the agreed per-share price and formalizes the new name, North Atlantic Energies, marking a key step in the reorganization of its operations in France.
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Greek shipowner Imperial Petroleum has secured $60mn via a private placement with institutional investors to strengthen liquidity for general corporate purposes.
Ecopetrol plans between $5.57bn and $6.84bn in investments for 2026, aiming to maintain production, optimise infrastructure and ensure profitability despite a moderate crude oil market.
The reduction of Rosneft’s stake in Kurdistan Pipeline Company shifts control of the main Kurdish oil pipeline and recalibrates the balance between US sanctions, export financing and regional crude governance.
Russian group Lukoil seeks to sell its assets in Bulgaria after the state placed its refinery under special administration, amid heightened US sanctions against the Russian oil industry.

Washington launches new sale of 80 million offshore oil acres

US authorities will hold a large offshore oil block sale in the Gulf of America in March, covering nearly 80 million acres under favourable fiscal terms.
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Sonatrach awarded Chinese company Sinopec a contract to build a new hydrotreatment unit in Arzew, aimed at significantly increasing the country's gasoline production.
The American major could take over part of Lukoil’s non-Russian portfolio, under strict oversight from the U.S. administration, following the collapse of a deal with Swiss trader Gunvor.

Lukoil shuts down 430 petrol stations in Finland under US sanctions pressure

Finnish fuel distributor Teboil, owned by Russian group Lukoil, will gradually cease operations as fuel stocks run out, following economic sanctions imposed by the United States.
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ExxonMobil will shut down its Fife chemical site in February 2026, citing high costs, weak demand and a UK regulatory environment unfavourable to industrial investment.
Polish state-owned group Orlen strengthens its North Sea presence by acquiring DNO’s stake in Ekofisk, while the Norwegian company shifts focus to fast-return projects.

Syria signs strategic oil deal with ConocoPhillips and Nova Terra Energy

The Syrian Petroleum Company has signed a memorandum of understanding with ConocoPhillips and Nova Terra Energy to develop gas fields and boost exploration amid ongoing energy shortages.
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Fincraft Group LLP, a major shareholder of Tethys Petroleum, submitted a non-binding proposal to acquire all remaining shares, offering a 106% premium over the September trading price.
As global oil prices slowed, China raised its crude stockpiles in October, taking advantage of a growing gap between imports, domestic production and refinery processing.

Kuwait Petroleum Corporation secures record KWD1.5bn loan to support expansion strategy

Kuwait Petroleum Corporation has signed a syndicated financing agreement worth KWD1.5bn ($4.89bn), marking the largest ever local-currency deal arranged by Kuwaiti banks.
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The Beninese government has confirmed the availability of a mobile offshore production unit, marking an operational milestone toward resuming activity at the Sèmè oil field, dormant for more than two decades.
The Iraqi Prime Minister met with the founder of Lukoil to secure continued operations at the giant West Qurna-2 oil field, in response to recent US-imposed sanctions.

Pertamina increases imports to meet gasoline demand

The sustained rise in consumption of high-octane gasoline pushes Pertamina to supplement domestic supply with new imported cargoes to stabilise stock levels.
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Canadian group CRR acquires a strategic 53-kilometre road network north of Slave Lake from Islander Oil & Gas to support oil development in the Clearwater region.
Kazakhstan’s energy minister dismissed any ongoing talks between the government and Lukoil regarding the potential purchase of its domestic assets, despite earlier comments from a KazMunayGas executive.

OPEC and GECF warn of structural deficit in global energy market

OPEC and the Gas Exporting Countries Forum warn that chronic underinvestment could lead to lasting supply tensions in oil and gas, as demand continues to grow.
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A national barometer shows that 62% of Norwegians support maintaining the current level of hydrocarbon exploration, confirming an upward trend in a sector central to the country’s economy.
ShaMaran has shipped a first cargo of crude oil from Ceyhan, marking the implementation of the in-kind payment mechanism established between Baghdad, Erbil, and international oil companies following the partial resumption of exports through the Iraq–Türkiye pipeline.