Citigroup has raised its third-quarter 2026 Brent crude forecast to $80 per barrel from $75, citing the prolonged U.S.-Iran conflict and continued constraints on oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz. The bank left its fourth-quarter 2026 forecast unchanged at $70 per barrel and continues to project an average of $65 per barrel for full-year […]
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President Donald Trump announced this week that U.S.-controlled sales of Venezuelan oil have generated more than $13 billion since the January 3, 2026, capture of former President Nicolás Maduro. The figure aligns with Financial Times calculations of revenues held in U.S. Treasury accounts. Trump stated the proceeds have “paid for that war many times over,” […]
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In a major escalation of the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict, President Donald Trump has signaled that U.S. forces will strike Iran “VERY HARD TONIGHT” and, in the near future, take control of Iran’s critical oil infrastructure, including Kharg Island. This development draws direct parallels to the administration’s approach in Venezuela and aligns with commentary from energy […]
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ExxonMobil’s massive offshore operations in Guyana are delivering blockbuster returns, even as global oil markets navigate geopolitical turbulence. The U.S. supermajor, operator of the world-renowned Stabroek Block, is riding a wave of record production, ultra-low breakeven costs, and newfound regional stability following Venezuela’s political restructuring. As highlighted in recent market analysis, the consortium’s cost-recovery phase […]
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Even the most optimistic reopening of the Strait of Hormuz won’t deliver a quick fix. Physical barrels tell a far harsher story than paper futures. Art Berman (@aeberman12) nailed it in his May 25, 2026, post: There is no clean, modelable “successful reopening” of the Strait of Hormuz. Even in the wildly optimistic scenario, the […]
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Saudi Arabia has delivered a stark update to OPEC: its crude oil production plunged another 651,000 barrels per day (b/d) in April, hitting just 6.316 million b/d—the lowest level since the 1990 Gulf War. According to a monthly report from OPEC’s secretariat obtained by Bloomberg, the kingdom’s output has now fallen a cumulative 42% since […]
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Shell is actively exploring the development of Venezuela’s offshore natural gas resources, with plans to route production through Trinidad and Tobago’s existing infrastructure for export as LNG. In a February 2026 earnings call and subsequent Bloomberg TV interview, Shell CEO Wael Sawan confirmed ongoing talks with Venezuela’s government to advance offshore gas projects, specifically targeting […]
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Venezuela’s long-suffering electricity system is once again flashing red warning lights. According to Bloomberg, the country has announced emergency measures after power consumption reached a nine-year high, raising the specter of widespread blackouts that could derail the nascent economic recovery following the dramatic political changes earlier this year. Installed generation capacity stands at roughly 37,000 […]
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Chris Johnson, President of the American Energy Leadership Institute, stops by the Energy News Beat podcast. What a great conversation, and you will recognize Chris from his many interviews. I have seen him on Mornings with Maria, and he’s all over the map. It is very encouraging to have young leaders trying to help with […]
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Venezuela’s oil exports surged to an average of 1.23 million barrels per day (bpd) in April 2026, marking the highest monthly volume in more than seven years and the strongest performance since late 2018, before U.S. sanctions crippled the sector. The 14% jump from March’s 1.08 million bpd reflects a rapid rebound driven by a […]
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