Hayan Abdul Ghani

Portuguese energy group Galp plans to finalise a strategic partnership for its offshore oil project Mopane in Namibia before the end of the year.
A traditional leader from the Niger Delta is seeking compensation before Shell’s onshore asset sale, citing decades of unaddressed pollution in his kingdom.

Oxford Energy Institute Data Confirms the Dominance of Contrarian Strategies in Oil Trading

The Oxford Energy Institute study shows that signals from weekly positions and the Brent/WTI curve now favor contrarian strategies, in a market constrained by regulation and logistics affected by international sanctions. —
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Russian company Russneft has shipped its first oil cargo to Georgia’s newly launched Kulevi refinery, despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties between Moscow and Tbilisi.
New Stratus Energy has signed a definitive agreement with Vultur Oil to acquire up to 32.5% interest in two onshore oil blocks located in the State of Bahia, Brazil, with an initial investment of $10mn.

Clearview completes sale to listed company for $1.84 per share

Clearview Resources has completed the sale of all its shares to a listed oil company, exiting Canadian financial markets following shareholder and court approval.
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The Brazilian government has approved an offshore drilling project led by Petrobras in the Equatorial Margin region, weeks before COP30 in Belém.
In Taft, a historic stronghold of black gold, Donald Trump's return to the presidency reopens the issue of California's restrictions on oil production and fuels renewed optimism among industry stakeholders.

Vantage Drilling cancels a $80m contract after a major regulatory shift

Vantage Drilling halted a 260-day drilling contract for the vessel Platinum Explorer following a rapid evolution of international sanctions regimes that made the campaign non-compliant with the applicable legal framework shortly after it was signed.
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Paratus Energy Services received $58mn through its subsidiary Fontis Energy in Mexico, initiating the repayment of arrears via a government-backed fund established to support investment projects and ensure supplier payments.
Washington ties the removal of additional duties to a verifiable decline in India’s imports of Russian crude, while New Delhi cites already-committed orders and supply stability for the domestic market.

China cuts its oil surplus to 570,000 barrels per day and prepares a cycle of strategic purchases

The decline in imports and the rise in refining in September reduced China’s crude surplus to its lowest in eight months, opening the way for tactical buying as Brent slips below 61 dollars.
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Chinese executive Zhou Xinhuai, 54, resigned from his post as chief executive of CNOOC Limited after holding the role since April 2022. A strategic reorganization is underway.
Texas-based SM Energy gains full support from its banking syndicate, maintaining a $3bn borrowing base and easing short-term debt maturity terms.

Aker BP and Halliburton complete first umbilical-less subsea tubing hanger installation

Halliburton and Aker BP have completed the first umbilical-less tubing hanger installation on the Norwegian continental shelf, paving the way for digitised offshore operations with reduced infrastructure.
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The US group has finalised operations at the Begonia field, marking its first offshore deepwater intervention in Angola’s Block 17/06, located 150 kilometres off the coast.
Prolonged attacks on fuel convoys have depleted stocks, destabilised power generation and disrupted economic activity in Bamako and surrounding regions.

Dangote cuts crude purchases in response to rising global prices

Nigerian group Dangote has reduced crude supply to its refinery, citing a strategic adjustment to high oil prices and denying any technical failure.
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Reliance Industries reported a 9.67% increase in net profit in the second quarter of fiscal year 2025–2026, driven by recovering petrochemical margins and continued growth in its retail and telecom operations.
An operational fire was contained at the largest refinery in the US Midwest, causing a temporary shutdown of several processing units, according to industry data.
OPEC confirms its global oil demand growth forecasts and anticipates a much smaller deficit for 2026, due to increased production from OPEC+ members.
JANAF is interested in acquiring a 20 to 25% stake in NIS, as the Russian-owned share is now subject to US sanctions.

Washington targets Iranian oil with new sanctions on phantom fleet

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.
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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.
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.

Nigeria inaugurates its first publicly funded floating oil terminal

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.
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Despite open statements of dialogue, the federal government maintains an ambiguous regulatory framework that hinders interprovincial oil projects, leaving the industry in doubt.
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.

Exxon restarts catalytic cracking unit in Beaumont after technical failure

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.
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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.
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.

Chinese refineries cut Iranian crude purchases by 46% in September

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.
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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.
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.

Lycos Energy sells assets for $60mn and redistributes $47.9mn to shareholders

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.
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Russian oil output moved closer to its OPEC+ allocation in September, with a steady rise confirmed by Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak.
Fuel shortages now affect Bamako, struck in turn by a jihadist blockade targeting petroleum flows from Ivorian and Senegalese ports, severely disrupting national logistics.

McDermott signs strategic partnership with PETROFUND to train Namibia’s energy workforce

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.
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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 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.