Apr 2026

The Strait of Hormuz disruption has exposed weakness in the global energy system and reignited debate over security of supply, but it should not be used to justify an accelerated shift away from fossil fuels, says the secretary general of the IGU

Petroleum Economist analysis sees increases in output from Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Kazakhstan among others before region’s murky descent

From Venezuela to Hormuz, the US—backed by the most powerful military force ever assembled—is redrawing not only oil and gas flows but also the global balance of energy power

The extent of the US-Israel war with Iran means there will be no going back to the previous market equilibrium no matter how the conflict ends

The Strait of Hormuz crisis highlights how key waterways can become global chokepoints

Risks of shortages in oil products may cause world leaders to panic and make mistakes instead of letting the market do what it does best

The US-Iran conflict demonstrates the need for diversification in several senses of the word. It also exposes the limits of Washington applying pressure on major oil and gas producers it considers geopolitical adversaries

It is not a case of if or when, but the length and magnitude of economic damage from elevated oil prices

The continent is home to mega-scale projects on both its east and west coasts as its growing economies see rising demand for gas

The region’s gas producers are investing heavily in the fuel in order to satisfy burgeoning demand resulting from economic growth and a shift to cleaner fuels

The EU is still weaning itself off Russian gas, but the expansion of its import infrastructure has slowed while Russia and Kazakhstan push ahead with expanding production

Countries in the region are turning to the cleaner-burning fuel for power generation, driving demand for imports

The US has used booming shale production to massively expand its LNG infrastructure, but Canadian developments have not fare so well while in South America consumption outstrips production

The overlooked oil supply issue is that even after the Strait of Hormuz opens, barrels won’t readily return

It is an unusual story of out with the new and in with the old, as America First Refining shows the US going back to trusted energy security developments

Emergency oil stocks provide a last line of defence to oil market shocks, so the IEA’s unprecedented 400m bl release represents something of a double-edged sword

The crisis in the Middle East has put LNG’s ability to offer security and flexibility under uncomfortable scrutiny

Missiles over Dubai and disruption in Hormuz are testing the emirate’s reputation—and shaking the energy hub at the centre of the Gulf economy

Disruptions to Qatari LNG exports have highlighted the risks of concentrated supply, potentially strengthening the long-term position of US exporters despite limited near-term flexibility

Rising LNG exports and AI-driven power demand have raised concerns that US gas prices could climb sharply, but analysts say abundant shale supply and continued productivity gains should keep Henry Hub within a range that preserves the competitiveness of US LNG

Energy sanctions are becoming an increasingly prominent tool of US foreign policy, with the country’s growth in oil and gas production allowing it to impose pressure on rivals without jeopardising its own energy security or that of its allies, argues Matthew McManus, a visiting fellow at the National Center for Energy Analytics

Golden Pass’s startup offers QatarEnergy a timely boost but may also force a difficult choice between honouring disrupted contracts and capitalising on soaring spot LNG prices

The company plans for phase-one startup in late 2029 as it seeks to maximise value from chemicals project following nine-month hiatus

The government is taking important steps to revive domestic production, lift investment and benefit from the geopolitical crisis even if more needs to be done in the longer term

The Iran crisis is exposing the gaping holes in the region’s stockpiles and asking questions of its longer-term energy strategy

The country’s rapidly expanding economy is boosting its consumption of oil as demand for the fuel slows elsewhere in the world

Alongside a rapid continued build-out of renewables, China’s latest five-year plan stresses the value of domestic hydrocarbon production for energy security and calls for increased Russian gas imports

Brussels is again weighing a cap on gas prices amid the Hormuz crisis, but the measure could backfire by deterring the LNG cargoes Europe urgently needs

The continent’s inventories were already depleted before conflict erupted in the Middle East, causing prices to spike ahead of the crucial summer refilling season

The US may be systemically stripping Russia of key geopolitical allies, but Moscow can reap rewards from the Hormuz crisis, both in the short and long term

The regional crisis highlights the undervalued role of fixed pipelines in the age of tanker flexibility

A complex and sometimes contradictory web of factors that include unpredictable oil prices, the globalisation of LNG markets, the expansion of Middle Eastern sovereign capital and the growth of datacentre demand will shape the energy landscape beyond 2026

Attacks on key oil and LNG assets across the Gulf mean a prolonged supply disruption, with damage to Qatar’s export capacity undermining confidence in the global gas system

Disappointing results in its bidding round are a reality check for Libya, and global exploration generally

LPG could rapidly expand access to clean cooking across Africa and prevent hundreds of thousands of deaths from indoor air pollution each year, but infrastructure shortages and regulatory barriers are slowing investment and market growth

Emerging industry must work with policymakers to convince a broader pool of investors to buy into its long-term potential