Geopolitical risks are colliding across multiple theaters in early August 2026, creating a perfect storm for energy markets. The Strait of Hormuz is flaring again, with Iranian loadings collapsing toward zero. Saudi Arabia’s Jazan refinery has been hit by Houthi drones for the second time in weeks. Ukraine continues deep strikes on Russian refining infrastructure, […]
Continue Reading
West Texas Intermediate crude hovered near $90 per barrel on July 23, 2026, with Brent trading higher in the mid-to-high $90s amid escalating disruptions across multiple global oil transit routes. Markets are reacting to simultaneous pressures on four critical choke points: the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal corridor, and the […]
Continue Reading
Turkish state energy company BOTAŞ is engaged in negotiations with Russia’s Gazprom to extend natural gas supply contracts that are due to expire at the end of 2026. Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar confirmed the discussions at the Baku Energy Forum in Azerbaijan on June 1, 2026, noting that volumes and contract duration have not […]
Continue Reading
ENB Pub Note: This article ran on Andrew Korybko’s SubStack and is worth reading. He brings up some interesting points, and Turkey is out for Turkey and should be watched. The Polish-led “cordon sanitaire” that’s taking shape along Russia’s western borders will connect with the Turkish-led one that’s poised to emerge along its southern borders, thus […]
Continue Reading
As Europe races to eliminate its remaining dependence on Russian natural gas by late 2027, a long-dormant project is suddenly back in the spotlight. The proposed Trans-Caspian Pipeline (TCP) — a roughly 300-kilometer subsea link across the Caspian Sea from Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan — could deliver a significant new source of non-Russian pipeline gas to […]
Continue Reading
The global oil market has been upended by the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran that began in late February 2026. The effective closure or severe restriction of the Strait of Hormuz — the chokepoint carrying roughly 20 million barrels per day (bpd), or about one-fifth of global seaborne oil and LNG — triggered the largest supply […]
Continue Reading
As energy security concerns mount amid ongoing disruptions in the Middle East, several nations are reversing course on coal phase-outs and ramping up existing coal-fired power plants. Japan is the latest example, with the government preparing emergency measures to lift restrictions on older coal facilities for the fiscal year starting April 2026. This move comes […]
Continue ReadingIn a bold escalation of its long-range drone campaign, Ukraine has claimed responsibility for a strike on Rosneft\’s Syzran oil refinery in Russia\’s Samara region. The attack, which occurred overnight on December 27, 2025, marks the latest in a series of targeted operations aimed at disrupting Russia\’s energy infrastructure amid the ongoing conflict. Ukrainian military […]
Continue ReadingENB Pub Note: This is a fantastic article from Giacomo Prandelli, and Stu Turley will be interviewing him next week on the Energy News Beat podcast. This is going to be a great interview, as The Merchant News Substack is packed with fantastic insights from the global energy markets. On a quiet morning off the […]
Continue ReadingIn a significant escalation of the ongoing energy warfare between Ukraine and Russia, the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) has suspended oil loading operations at its Black Sea terminal in Novorossiysk following a Ukrainian naval drone attack. The incident, which occurred early on November 29, 2025, marks the latest in a series of targeted strikes on […]
Continue Reading