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COMMENT: Russian sanctions have failed, but its buffers are eroding
Russia’s ability to withstand Western sanctions is showing signs of strain as fiscal and external buffers erode, according to senior economists at the Institute of International Finance.
Reconnaissance Energy Africa starts drilling Kavango West 1X exploration well in Namibia
Canadian oil and gas explorer Reconnaissance Energy Africa (ReconAfrica) has announced the spudding of the onshore Kavango West 1X exploration well located within Petroleum Exploration Licence (PEL) 73 in northeast Namibia.
China’s ‘Dark Fleet’ working to evade sanctions, import Iranian oil
China is covertly importing large volumes of Iranian oil through a clandestine network of vessels operating in international waters near Malaysia and Singapore, according to a major investigation
OPEC+ nations to increase oil production by 547,000 barrels per day in September
Eight OPEC+ countries will implement a production adjustment of 547,000 barrels per day in September.
European Union allocates €1.1mn to address urgent water crisis in Iraq
The European Union is allocating €1.1mn million in humanitarian funding to address the escalating water crisis in Basra, southern Iraq, as climate change continues to dry out the country.
Ukraine imposes sanctions on 94 "shadow fleet" captains from multiple countries
Ukraine has imposed sanctions on 94 individuals from Russia, Myanmar, Iran, Pakistan, China, India, Bangladesh and Georgia, as well as five oil transportation companies.
Siberian permafrost could disappear by 2100 as rapid thawing accelerates
An international team of scientists from Britain, Switzerland, Israel and the United States has analysed the composition of more than 60 mineral formations found in caves located in the delta of Siberia's Lena River, revealing stark predictions.
Report says explosion hit pipeline that delivers Turkmen gas to Russia, but Turkmenistan no longer sells gas to Moscow
Russia appears to use pipeline to supply gas to Uzbekistan via Kazakhstan.
Russia’s Krasheninnikov volcano erupts for the first time in 600 years
Russia’s Krasheninnikov volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula erupted for the first time in recorded history on August 2, sending a plume of ash up to 6km into the atmosphere, according to the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team (KVERT).
Russia expecting the grain harvest to tumble by 20mn tonnes as Global Warming pushes its fertile grain belt northwards
Russia is on course to see its grain harvest tumble by 20mn tonnes as its grain belt bakes in a Climate Crisis heatwave and Global Warming shifts its fertile grain belt northwards.
India will continue Russian oil imports despite Trump tariff threats
India will continue purchasing oil from Russia despite threats of penalties from US President Donald Trump, two Indian government sources speaking on condition of anonymity say.
Rosatom may whiff on Kazakh nuclear project due to financing yips
Chinese firm teed up to replace Russian entity on project
Kazakhstan reviews its big oil contracts looking for a better deal
COMMENT: Kazakhstan is reviewing its big oil contracts Kazakhstan has begun laying the groundwork for a revision of the contracts it signed with big oil in the 1990s when the country was flat on its back.
US DoE muddies the ClimateCrisis waters with report downplaying the emissions problem
As part of the Trump administration’s attempts to take the Climate Crisis off the agenda, the US Department of Energy has released a report downplaying the impact of fossil fuels on global warming.
Can India dump Russian oil imports completely if Trump’s secondary sanctions appear?
Since early 2024 India has typically bought 1.5–2.0 mbpd of Russian crude, or about 35–40% of its total imports. US President Donald Trump is threatening crushing 100% tariffs on Russia’s business partners if they continue to import crude.
Syria inaugurates Azerbaijan gas pipeline through Turkey
Syria has inaugurated a regional gas transmission line linking the country with Azerbaijan through Turkey.
India to continue buying Russian oil despite Trump's threats
Indian officials have said they would keep purchasing oil from Russia despite threats of penalties from US President Donald Trump.
Aquarius Energy acquires stake in giant oil storage site in South Africa
Aquarius Energy, a joint venture focused on fuel supply and logistics has completed its acquisition of Oiltanking’s 37% stake in Oiltanking MOGS Saldanha (OTMS), Africa's largest oil storage site, located on the West Coast of South Africa.
Dangote to list refinery on Nigerian Exchange "very soon" to boost local participation
Aliko Dangote has announced plans to list his multibillion-dollar oil refinery on the Nigerian Exchange "very soon", a move aimed at allowing Nigerians to purchase shares and participate in the country’s oil and gas sector.
China launches first interprovincial green hydrogen pipeline from Inner Mongolia to Beijing
Despite its promise, the project’s success may ultimately rest on market uptake. If industrial demand for hydrogen fails to keep pace with supply - or if pricing frameworks are not supportive - the pipeline could struggle.
Indian state refiners halt Russian oil purchases as discounts narrow, Trump ramps up pressure
Indian state-run oil refiners have paused purchases of Russian crude over the past week amid shrinking discounts and renewed warnings from US President Donald Trump against buying energy from Moscow
India’s refiners face pressure as EU sanctions hit $14bn fuel exports
India’s petroleum exports to the European Union—valued at $14–15bn annually—are under threat following the EU’s latest sanctions package targeting Russian crude and its derivatives.
Just two in five Afghans have electricity, say officials
Matters could get worse. Tajikistan has advised it plans to reduce power exports to Afghanistan this winter.
300-MW solar energy project underway in Iraq’s Karbala desert
Iraqi Electricity Minister Ziad Ali Fadel announced the continuation of work on the Karbala solar power plant project, which represents the first solar project to actually enter Iraq's national electricity grid
Five Point reportedly discussing sale in US of Northwind to MPLX for $2.3bn
Five Point Infrastructure is reportedly in talks to sell Northwind Midstream Partners to MPLX.
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