MEOG - Middle East Oil & Gas

28 May 2026

Egypt’s ENPPI secures $355m Oman gas contract

26 May 2026

ENPPI has won a $355m turnkey contract from PDO to execute a major gas infrastructure expansion

Diplomatic progress prompts cautious resumption of Hormuz transit

26 May 2026

The tentative reopening of the Strait of Hormuz has allowed critical LNG and crude tankers to resume transit amid progressing US-Iran diplomatic negotiations.

Pakistan seeks Gulf backing for oil reserve hub siting

26 May 2026

Pakistan has revealed that it is hoping to persuade Gulf oil producers to establish crude storage reserves at a planned energy hub near Gwadar Port as Islamabad attempts to strengthen domestic energy security following months of disruption.

Iran devises AI roadmap for oil exploration to boost proven reserves

26 May 2026

Iran has drawn up an operational roadmap to deploy artificial intelligence in oil exploration, a senior official at the National Iranian Oil Co. (NIOC) said, as the country seeks to modernise its upstream sector and boost proven reserves.

Iran-US war MoU reportedly to waive oil, petchem sanctions

26 May 2026

Sanctions on Iran’s oil, petroleum products and petrochemical exports would be waived under a possible memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Tehran and Washington aimed at ending a war launched by the United States and Israel in late February.

Morocco cuts gas imports from Spain as renewable energies expand

25 May 2026

Morocco has reduced imports of natural gas delivered through Spain as the North African country increases its reliance on renewable energy and continues efforts to diversify energy suppliers and sources.

Egypt’s natural gas production down 8% y/y in Q1 2026 to 9.85bn cubic metres

25 May 2026

Egypt’s natural gas production declined by 8% year-on-year (y/y/) in Q1 2026, driven by continued pressure on domestic output as demand remained elevated.

IEA chief warns of oil markets entering "red zone" by July-August

25 May 2026

Global oil markets could enter the “red zone” by July-August if additional Middle Eastern export supplies fail to materialise and inventories continue falling during the peak summer demand season.

LNG tankers cross Hormuz as hopes for Iran-US deal lift shipping traffic

25 May 2026

Two LNG tankers travelled through the Strait of Hormuz bound for Pakistan and China, as vessel traffic through the vital global energy conduit increased significantly amid rising hopes for a deal between Iran and the US to end the war.

Baghdad accelerates efforts to revive crude exports

24 May 2026

The Iraqi government is intensifying negotiations with international energy companies to restart shuttered oilfields as Baghdad urgently seeks to circumvent the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz

Iran oil sales fall 22% in April as US naval blockade squeezes shipments, IEA says

24 May 2026

Iran’s crude oil exports fell by around 22% in April amid a US naval blockade targeting the country’s ports, according to the latest report from the International Energy Agency (IEA).

US and Iran near 60-day ceasefire extension with gradual Hormuz reopening

23 May 2026

US and Iran are close to agreeing a 60-day ceasefire extension including gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, Financial Times reports, as Pakistan's army chief leaves Tehran after productive talks.

Egypt’s Agiba Petroleum announces major gas discovery in Western Desert

22 May 2026

Egyptian upstream oil and gas operating company Agiba Petroleum has announced a new natural gas discovery in the Western Desert with estimated reserves of 330bn cubic feet of gas, alongside around 10mn barrels of condensates and crude oil

Iran's gas exports to Turkey rise 46% in first month of conflict

22 May 2026

Iran's natural gas exports to Turkey rose 46% year on year to 823mn cubic metres in March 2026, the first month of the conflict, according to Eurostat data.

Iraq coordinates with Iran to facilitate oil tanker transit through Hormuz

21 May 2026

The Iraqi government intervened directly to secure the passage of the oil tanker *Agios Fanourios 1*, carrying Iraqi crude oil, through the Strait of Hormuz amid tightened Iranian security measures and inspections on vessels.

Saudi Arabia's Natural Gas Distribution calls AGM for June 22

21 May 2026

Saudi Arabia's Natural Gas Distribution Company will hold an ordinary general assembly meeting on June 22, with shareholders to vote on a SAR3mn ($800,000) cash dividend for the 2025 financial year.

Dalia Energy strikes 20-year gas deal with NewMed and Ratio to supply two Israeli power plants

21 May 2026

Dalia Energy has signed a 20-year natural gas supply agreement with Leviathan partners NewMed Energy and Ratio Energy, securing gas for two large power stations it plans to build in Israel.

Egyptian firm Enppi secures $355mn deal for integrated energy project in Oman

21 May 2026

Egyptian oil engineering and energy services firm Enppi has secured a $355mn contract to execute the integrated Badour North-East Birba project in Oman on behalf of Petroleum Development Oman (PDO)

UAE among least disrupted from Strait of Hormuz blockade, Forbes finds

21 May 2026

In a study by Forbes, the UAE emerged as one of the Gulf's most insulated economies from the Strait of Hormuz disruption.

US marines board Iranian-flagged tanker in Gulf of Oman

21 May 2026

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces boarded an Iranian-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman and ordered it to change course amid a naval blockade imposed on vessels linked to Iran.

Egypt reduces foreign oil companies’ dues to $440mn, says petroleum minister

20 May 2026

Egypt has reduced outstanding payments owed to foreign oil companies from $6.1bn at the end of June 2024 to $440mn currently, according to a statement from the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources

QatarEnergy acquires stakes in three Uruguayan offshore exploration blocks

20 May 2026

QatarEnergy has acquired participating interests in three offshore exploration blocks in Uruguay from BG International Limited, a subsidiary of Shell, marking the Qatari state energy company's first entry into the country's upstream sector.

Iraq’s FCC protest crisis escalates in Basra after week-long refinery shutdown

20 May 2026

A labour dispute at the FCC project in Basra has escalated, with protesters continuing to block the gates of the South Refineries Company for several days, prompting the provincial governor to meet demonstrators inside the facility.

Three tankers leave Strait of Hormuz after Iran greenlights passage

20 May 2026

Three crude oil supertankers carrying 6mn barrels of Middle Eastern crude and bound for East Asia slipped out of the Strait of Hormuz on May 20 after waiting in the Persian Gulf for more than two months, shipping data showed.

QatarEnergy acquires stakes in three Uruguayan offshore blocks

20 May 2026

QatarEnergy announced that it acquired stakes in three offshore exploration blocks off Uruguay's Atlantic coast from BG International Limited, a Shell subsidiary.

Egypt plans to establish Alexandria-El Hamra refined products pipeline

20 May 2026

Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum is preparing to complete a new pipeline for transporting refined petroleum products from Alexandria to El Hamra Petroleum Port on the Mediterranean coast during H2 2026

Egypt to launch international oil exploration tender in Q3 2026

20 May 2026

Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum is preparing to launch a new international tender for oil exploration covering at least 15 sites in Q3 2026.

Oil falls below $112 as markets weigh fresh US threats against Iran

20 May 2026

Oil prices fell on May 20 as markets weighed the latest US threat to resume strikes on Iran, with Brent crude falling below $112 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate approaching $105.

Capricorn, Cheiron sign $208mn deal to expand gas exploration in Egypt’s Western Desert

20 May 2026

Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) has signed an agreement with Capricorn Energy (LSE: CNE) and Cheiron to expand oil and gas exploration and production activities in the Badr El-Din area of the Western Desert

Iran returns second repaired drilling rigs to service to speed up oilfield development

20 May 2026

Iran’s state drilling company has returned another heavy onshore drilling rig to operation after 470 days of major repairs.