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Oil Prices Slip Despite U.S.-China Talks

“We have reached a framework to implement the Geneva consensus and the call between the two presidents,” U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said, as quoted by Reuters. “The idea is we’re going to go back and speak to President Trump and make sure he approves it. They’re going to go back and speak to President Xi and make sure he approves it, and if that is approved, we will then implement the framework.”

Repsol Taps Halliburton to Support UK North Sea Operations

The Repsol-NEO statement added, “Aligned with market standards in the UKCS, Repsol E&P will retain a [decommissioning] funding commitment up to a nominal amount of $1.8 billion, representing approximately 40 percent of the decom liabilities related to its legacy assets. Repsol E&P will continue to provide decommissioning security for existing Repsol E&P legacy assets”.

Saudi Arabia Cuts Oil Prices for Asia as OPEC+ Adds More Barrels

Saudi Aramco cut the price of its main oil grade to buyers in Asia after OPEC+ continued with its outsized output increases for a third month.

The Saudis led the producer group over the weekend in agreeing to raise production by 411,000 barrels a day in July, a third straight month of outsized hikes. In tandem with US President Donald Trump’s trade war, the supply increases have helped drive benchmark oil prices about 12% lower in London since early April.

South Africa Launches Oil Giant to Revive Energy Sector

South Africa has officially launched the South African National Petroleum Company (SANPC), a new state-owned oil enterprise designed to consolidate and energize the country’s long-stalled hydrocarbons sector. Formed from the merger of PetroSA, iGas, and the Strategic Fuel Fund, SANPC will operate under the Central Energy Fund and is already integrating staff and assets to streamline operations. The aim? Reducing oil imports, bolstering energy security, and tapping into over R95 billion in potential investment.

TotalEnergies Inaugurates Europe’s Largest Solar Park

TotalEnergies said it is developing a competitive portfolio that integrates renewable sources with flexible assets to provide clean, reliable power to its customers. By the end of March 2025, TotalEnergies said it expects to have 28 GW of installed gross renewable electricity generation capacity, aiming to achieve 35 GW by the end of 2025 and exceed 100 TWh of net electricity production by 2030.

Egypt is Scrambling For Cheap Oil and LNG as its Energy Crisis Deepens

Egypt is once again facing a resurgence of natural gas shortages, drawing headlines as the country enters the peak summer season. With soaring temperatures above 40°C expected in the coming months, electricity demand—driven largely by air conditioning—is putting intense pressure on the national grid. In response, the Cairo government is scrambling to implement emergency measures to avoid blackouts.

Russian Oil and Gas Revenues Dipped by 12% With April Price Crash

Russia saw its budget revenues from oil and gas drop by 12% in April from a year earlier, due to the oil price rout last month, the Russian finance ministry said on Wednesday.

Oil and gas revenues for the Kremlin dipped to $13.45 billion (1.09 trillion Russian rubles) in April, from $15.2 billion (1.23 trillion rubles) in the same month of last year.

For the first four months of the year, oil and gas revenues fell by 10.3% to $46 billion (3.73 trillion rubles), according to the ministry’s data.

MODEC secures ExxonMobil contract for Hammerhead FPSO in Guyana

The contract, issued as a Limited Notice to Proceed (LNTP), allows MODEC to begin early-phase work on the FPSO while awaiting regulatory and government approvals. Phase one of the project will involve front-end engineering and design (FEED), followed by engineering, procurement, construction, and installation (EPCI) in phase two—pending final project sanction by ExxonMobil Guyana and its Stabroek Block co-venturers.

The Hammerhead FPSO will have a production capacity of 150,000 barrels of oil per day, along with processing facilities for associated gas and water. It will be moored in approximately 1,025 meters of water using a SOFEC spread mooring system.

The LNTP enables MODEC to begin FPSO design activities to support an early project startup target of 2029, should approvals move forward.