Topic
Commodities Energy
Commodities 45 Indian power plants face critically low coal stocks as monsoon hits supply
India's Central Electricity Authority data showed 45 power plants with critically low coal stocks as of August 25, up from 31 at end-July. Monsoon rains hit mining and transport in Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, while weaker-than-normal rainfall lifted electricity demand. BigMint reported stocks fell 19% in August to 30.95 million tonnes, about 10 days of operation.
Commodities Crude Oil Prices Fall as Diplomacy Eases West Asia Supply Concerns
Crude oil futures fell on Thursday as diplomatic efforts in West Asia eased supply concerns. Brent for November slipped 0.40% to $86.59, while WTI October dropped 0.41% to $81.89. US crude inventories rose marginally, with a Qatari prime ministerial visit to Tehran and Iran-Oman talks over the Strait of Hormuz in focus.
Commodities Ofgem Moves Against Phantom Data Centers Jamming UK Power Grid Queue
The UK's grid connection queue ballooned from 41 GW to 125 GW between November 2024 and June 2025, driven by speculative data center projects that may never be built. Ofgem proposed nonrefundable deposits and stricter requirements to clear the logjam, but faces a risk of driving legitimate projects abroad.
Commodities Brent crude remains above $90 per barrel as Hormuz operations remain disrupted
Brent crude held above $90 per barrel in early Thursday trade, up 0.41% to $92, while WTI rose 0.32% to $84.66, as the US-Iran war and Strait of Hormuz disruption kept the risk premium intact. Conflicting US and Iranian statements on the strait's status slowed shipping, while the UAE suspended financial transactions with Iran. Meanwhile, US crude inventories climbed 4.4 million barrels, topping expectations for a 600,000-barrel draw.
Commodities Diesel Prices Above $5.60 as Refining Crisis, Not Crude, Drives Market
On-road diesel prices hit the high $5.60s as crack spreads surged above $100 per barrel, far beyond the normal $15–$25 range, according to a FreightWaves interview with Aaron Decker, CEO of Multi-Service Fuel Card. Decker said the problem is refining capacity, not crude, with Ukrainian drone strikes and record-low distillate inventories tightening supply. He expects diesel to remain above $5 for the foreseeable future.
Commodities Indian refiners widen oil search as Ukrainian attacks hurt Russian crude flows
Indian refiners are cutting Russian crude purchases after Ukrainian attacks disrupted export flows, turning to West Africa, the Americas and the Persian Gulf for replacement barrels. Imports of Russian crude are expected to fall to about 2 million barrels a day this month, down from around 2.8 million in July, according to Kpler.
Commodities SLB named strategic reservoir partner for Havstjerne North Sea carbon storage project
SLB has been selected as strategic reservoir partner for the Havstjerne carbon storage project in the Norwegian North Sea, providing technology and engineering services for concept and FEED phases. The project, operated by Harbour Energy with Stella Maris CCS, received €225m from the EU Innovation Fund in 2025 and confirmed reservoir quality through an appraisal well drilled that year.
Commodities Crude oil futures fall on MCX to ₹8,286 per barrel on weak global cues
Crude oil futures on MCX fell to ₹8,286 per barrel on weak global trends and soft spot demand. WTI dropped 0.58% to $86.33 and Brent fell 0.35% to $93.45, according to a PTI report published by The Hindu BusinessLine.
Commodities Firms Scramble for Battery Power in Spain and Portugal After Blackout
A massive April 2025 power cut that plunged Spain and Portugal into darkness led industrial firms such as Spanish meat processor Fribin to invest in battery back-up systems. Spanish battery storage capacity rose almost sevenfold, from 28 MW to 193 MW, while a 2,400 MW pipeline of EU-funded storage projects is under way.
Commodities Winter Energy Prices to Hit Three-Year High as Wholesale Gas Volatility Drives UK Cap
Analysts expect Ofgem to raise its winter price cap by 4% to a three-year high, driven by a 61% rise in wholesale gas prices over the past three months. Cornwall Insight forecasts a typical household will pay £1,729 a year from October, up from £1,663. Energy UK reports total consumer energy debt has reached £6bn and may hit £7bn by year-end.
Commodities Benchmark diesel price is now highest since war began
The DOE/EIA average weekly retail diesel price rose 19.8 cents/gallon to $5.652/g, its highest level since military action against Iran began in early March. ULSD futures on the CME reversed course, falling 22.72 cents/gallon after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent signaled a shift to economic pressure on Iran. Bullish diesel-specific factors including Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries continue to underpin the market.
Commodities Wars and Export Curbs Now Hit More Than 43% of World's Oil Supply
Wars, attacks and export curbs now touch more than 43% of the world's oil supply, equal to about 45 million barrels a day of 2025 production, according to Reuters calculations based on IEA data. The Gulf disruption alone is estimated at 5–7 million barrels per day, while conflicts have cut global refining capacity by a tenth. With IEA emergency stockpile releases largely complete and inventories declining, crude and fuel markets face a thinning safety buffer.
Commodities India emerges as new ‘swing supplier’ of refined oil products as Middle East crisis reshapes
India is emerging as a global 'swing supplier' of refined oil products, with Singapore becoming its largest export destination at $4.3 billion. Refinery capacity expansion, discounted Russian crude and supply disruptions in Russia and the Middle East are driving the shift, according to Business-Today.
Commodities Hanwha establishes Hanwha Horizon USA to build US LNG trading and logistics arm
Hanwha Aerospace has created Hanwha Horizon USA, a new US company that will serve as the control tower for the conglomerate's global LNG operations, combining procurement, trading and logistics. The venture will initially supply Hanwha Energy's Yeosu power plant in South Korea before expanding LNG sales to utilities across Asia, according to Splash247.
Commodities India readies year-wise drilling, rig deployment roadmap for Samudra Manthan
India’s Oil Ministry is finalising a year-wise roadmap for drilling, seismic surveys and rig deployment under the $8.8 billion Samudra Manthan offshore exploration scheme. The programme, backed by ₹84,000 crore in Phase-1 funding, targets 10-15 million tonnes of oil equivalent of incremental annual production.
Commodities Equinor, Aker BP and Vår Energi join forces on Norwegian Continental Shelf exploration
Equinor, Aker BP and Vår Energi have formed a strategic exploration collaboration on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. They plan to mature and test 20-25 opportunities over four to five years, aiming to drill around five high-impact wells annually. The effort supports reliable European energy supplies amid an expected post-2035 production decline.
Commodities Govt to offer city gas distributors 200 SCM extra gas to push household PNG switch
India's oil ministry will provide city gas distributors an additional 200 SCM of lower-priced APM gas for every new billed household PNG connection above a set threshold, effective September 1. The incentive is designed to cut the payback period for PNG connections to about three years from around 10 and accelerate the switch from LPG to piped gas, following supply disruptions during the West Asia crisis.
Commodities US Natural Gas Rises as Texas Heat Outlook Boosts Power Demand
Nymex September natural gas futures settled 3.2% higher at $2.776/mmBtu as intense Texas heat lifted power demand. Houston temperatures are expected to average 100F from August 20-23, and ERCOT peak load could set a record this week. BNEF data showed Lower-48 dry gas production at 112.5 bcf/day, up 2.6% year-over-year.
Commodities India offers city gas distributors 200 SCM cheaper domestic gas for every new PNG connection
India will offer city gas distributors 200 SCM of lower-priced domestic natural gas for every new billed household PNG connection, effective September 1. The incentive aims to activate unused connections and expand networks, potentially cutting the payback period for distributor capital expenditure to about three years from 10 years.
Commodities Russia Turns to Asia for Refined Fuel, Set to Receive Nearly 270,000 Tonnes in August
Russia is importing nearly 270,000 metric tonnes of refined fuel from Asia in August via ship-to-ship transfers after Ukrainian strikes disrupted domestic refinery output, according to shipping data and trade sources cited by Reuters. About one-third of the cargoes originated in India, with the rest loaded off South Korea and Malaysia. The imports mark a sharp reversal for Russia, a major net exporter of refined petroleum products, which has also extended its own fuel export bans into next year.
Commodities India's July Crude Oil Imports Rise Over 9% Month-on-Month, PPAC Data Shows
India's crude oil imports rose more than 9% month-on-month in July 2026, and 13% year-on-year, according to PPAC data cited by The Economic Times. Product exports rose over 8%, while fuel consumption hit a four-month high of 19.92 million metric tons. Refiners are facing a crude cost surge as Gulf premiums rise and Russian discounts vanish, the report added.
Commodities Indian Refiners Forced to Buy Oil at Premium as Russian Discounts Vanish
Indian refiners are paying sharply higher premiums for Gulf and West African crude as the Middle East conflict tightens physical supply, while discounts on Russian and Venezuelan oil have narrowed or disappeared. Brent futures have risen about $10 a barrel in two weeks, and US Senate tariff legislation could add further pressure on global supplies.
Commodities SLB wins Brunei Shell Petroleum contract to revive shut-in offshore wells
SLB has been awarded a production restoration contract by Brunei Shell Petroleum, a Shell subsidiary, targeting shut-in wells across multiple offshore fields. The integrated contract covers subsurface evaluation, well candidate selection, engineering, and offshore execution, and marks the first such solution for BSP, according to Splash247.
Commodities Arabian Drilling Expands GCC Footprint with Oman Rig Deal, Signs Masirah Oil Contract
Arabian Drilling, Saudi Arabia’s largest drilling contractor by fleet size, has signed a contract with Masirah Oil and Northern Offshore for two firm and two optional wells in Oman, according to Splash247. The deal marks the company’s entry into a new GCC market, while it also resumed operations on suspended offshore rigs in Saudi Arabia earlier this month.
Commodities U.S. Diesel Crack Spread Hits Record $102 a Barrel, Signaling Q4 Supply Crunch
The U.S. diesel crack spread hit an all-time record of roughly $102 a barrel on August 17, 2026, according to Reuters figures cited by FreightWaves, with distillate inventories at the lowest level for that time of year since 1996. The spread, four to six times normal, points to a refining and supply crunch rather than a crude oil problem. FreightWaves frames it as an early-warning signal for diesel buyers heading into Q4.
Commodities US-Iran War Oil Shock: How Long Can the World and India Absorb It?
The US-Iran war has caused one of the biggest oil supply disruptions in history, but crude prices have only spiked modestly so far, according to Business Today. The IEA released 400 million barrels from emergency reserves, while the EIA forecasts prices will stay elevated until early 2027. India and the global economy face an uncertain period if the conflict continues for another six months.
Commodities ExxonMobil awards $1.1bn in Mozambique LNG project deals ahead of FID
ExxonMobil has awarded approximately $1.1bn in pre-investment contracts for the Rovuma LNG Phase 1 development in Mozambique, covering subsea production systems, valves, and line pipe. The awards, reported by Splash247, enable suppliers to begin fabrication ahead of a final investment decision and support the 18.6 mtonnes-per-year onshore LNG facility.
Commodities Crude Oil Rises on Reports of Iran Adopting More Offensive Stance
Crude oil futures rose Tuesday morning after reports that Iran plans a more offensive stance in the West Asia crisis. October Brent traded at $91.49, up 0.68%, and October WTI at $84.41, up 0.80%, according to The Hindu Business Line. The move follows threats of a 'timely and precise' military attack against the US naval blockade and the expiry of a US-Iran memorandum of understanding.
Commodities Crude prices cross $90 as ceasefire hopes dim, Hormuz disruption weighs on supply
Brent crude surged past $90 a barrel on Tuesday, while WTI climbed to $84.84, as stalled ceasefire hopes and a collapse in tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz raised supply concerns. Iran signalled a 'fully offensive' posture, the US ruled out extending the ceasefire, and Houthi attacks spread to the Red Sea, according to Business Today.
Commodities Oil rises as Iran signals offensive stance, US rules out ceasefire extension
Oil prices climbed on Tuesday as Iran signalled a fully offensive military posture and the US ruled out extending a temporary ceasefire, heightening supply worries. Brent rose 0.3% to $91.14 a barrel while WTI gained 42 cents to $85.04, with Hormuz vessel transits falling to five on Saturday and none on Sunday.
Commodities Tata Power’s Digital Command Centre for Real-Time Monitoring of Renewable Energy Assets
Tata Power Renewables launched CREAMS, its integrated digital command centre, at the Trombay plant on August 20. The facility provides 24x7 real-time monitoring, analytics, forecasting, scheduling and performance optimisation for solar and wind assets across multiple states, according to Business-Today.
Commodities E20 Petrol Row: Chief Economic Adviser Nageswaran Calls for Lower Ethanol Blend at Pumps
Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran has called on the government to restore lower-ethanol petrol such as E10 alongside the mandatory E20 blend, according to Business Today. The call follows consumer concerns over vehicle performance and damage, and comes as the Supreme Court hears challenges to the E20 policy. The Centre last month said it had no proposal to bring back lower blends, and has defended the programme as cutting imported crude dependence.
Commodities Russia faces fresh fuel shortages as refinery attacks disrupt supplies
Fuel shortages have resurfaced in parts of Russia, with at least 10 regions tightening petrol sales restrictions after fresh drone attacks on refineries, according to Business Today. Petrol was unavailable at some Moscow filling stations, and wholesale gasoline sales on the St Petersburg International Mercantile Exchange fell 20% since the beginning of August.
Commodities India Caps Refiners' LPG Output at 63,810 TPD Until December on Supply Disruption
India's Central Government has set a maximum daily LPG production limit of 63,810 tonnes per day for all refiners, including joint ventures and private firms, until December 2026. The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas issued the directive after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first bi-annual production cap. Reliance Industries received the largest allocation at 18,000 TPD.
Commodities BP returns to Venezuela offshore gas with Loran Phase 2 licence award
BP has signed agreements with Venezuela to develop offshore gas, including the Loran Phase 2 exploration and production licence in the Plataforma Deltana area. BP will operate the project with equal partners XRG and UCC Oil and Gas, covering around 4 trillion cubic feet of recoverable gas. The deal marks BP's return to Venezuela's offshore gas sector as the country reopens to foreign investment.
Commodities US expected to become India's top LPG supplier with 55% import share: OPEC
OPEC's latest monthly report projects the US will emerge as India's largest LPG supplier, accounting for about 55% of imports, replacing the Middle East Gulf. The shift follows a 2025 sales agreement and is supported by record US propane and butane exports to India, while Indian imports from the Middle East have fallen sharply amid supply disruptions.
Commodities Brent Crude Oil Price Today: Futures Edge Higher Amid West Asia Uncertainty
Brent crude oil futures traded higher on Monday, with October Brent at $88.65, as uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz and US-Iran tensions persisted, according to The Hindu Business Line. WTI eased to $81.39, while MCX crude and natural gas futures fell. Turmeric and guargum gained on NCDEX.
Commodities Domestic Refiners Told to Boost LPG Output as Hormuz Uncertainty Lingers
India has directed private and state-owned refiners to maximise LPG production as uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz threatens imports, with output already lifted to 54,000 tonnes a day from 36,000 tonnes pre-war. The government set a 63,810-tonne-a-day target, assigning Reliance Industries the largest quota at 18,000 tonnes a day, ahead of the September-November festival season.
Commodities Oil Holds Steady as Strait of Hormuz Nears Zero Traffic; Iran-US Talks Stall
Brent crude edged up 0.42% to $88.89 and WTI rose 0.21% to $82.57 as vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz nearly halted over the weekend. Kpler data showed only five commodity vessels crossed on Saturday and none on Sunday, versus 31 the prior weekend, while Iran-US talks remained stalled.
Commodities India cooks up LPG safety net: Govt fixes refinery-wise output targets; Reliance gets biggest quota
India's petroleum ministry has, for the first time, fixed maximum LPG output targets for 21 refineries and upstream companies, capping combined output at 63,810 tonnes per day. Reliance Industries' Jamnagar DTA refinery gets the largest single quota of 18,000 tonnes a day, while imports had covered over 64% of demand before the Iran war shut the Strait of Hormuz.
Commodities India's Russian crude imports hit record $6.4 billion in July, CREA data shows
India's crude oil imports from Russia reached a record value of about $6.4 billion in July 2026, surpassing the previous high of $5.14 billion in June, according to The Hindu BusinessLine and CREA. Russian crude inflows rose 2.1% month-on-month to €5.5 billion, even as Russia's oil product exports slumped to an all-time low. The Urals price discount to Brent held at 26% while the grade traded well above the EU-UK price cap.
Commodities Govt sets LPG production targets for refiners; Reliance gets largest quota
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry has fixed maximum LPG production targets for 21 refineries and upstream companies, with combined potential of 63,810 tonnes per day. Reliance Industries' older refinery gets the largest quota of up to 18,000 tonnes per day. The move follows supply disruptions during the West Asia crisis, when the Strait of Hormuz closure exposed India's 64 percent import dependence.
Commodities Crude Check: Brent set to consolidate between $83 and $91, MCX range ₹7,400-₹8,000
Brent crude oil futures on ICE consolidated between $83 and $91 per barrel after rallying 5.9% to $88.50, while MCX crude futures in India rose 6.1% to ₹7,810 and faced resistance at ₹8,000. According to The Hindu BusinessLine, both contracts are expected to trade sideways, with the trade strategy being to stay out.
Commodities Demand destruction cushions impact of geopolitical oil spikes
Global crude prices have stayed remarkably stable during the largest oil supply shock in decades, according to Alpine Macro's Kelly Xu. Four buffers—demand destruction, non-Gulf supply growth, alternative export routes, and strategic inventories—rebalanced the market and cushioned India's inflation. Indian refiners retain leverage on Russian crude, though discounts have narrowed.
Commodities Indian refiners snap up crude months ahead as wars upend supply
Indian state-owned refiners are securing spot crude cargoes for October and November delivery, far earlier than usual, as Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy assets and the Strait of Hormuz standoff disrupt supply, according to Bloomberg. HPCL bought about 4 million Middle Eastern barrels for October, while MRPL booked West African oil. US sanctions threats and India's festival season are tightening the demand picture.
Commodities Simple-Cycle Turbines Make Data Center Gas Power Plants Far Dirtier
Amazon's off-grid Texas data center power plant, permitted to emit up to 33 million tons of greenhouse gases annually, will rely entirely on simple-cycle gas turbines — a far less efficient design than the combined-cycle units used at most grid power plants. WIRED reports that a growing wave of data center projects from Meta, Microsoft, Google, and xAI are turning to the same quick-install turbines, with big implications for AI's climate footprint.
Commodities Asian refiners buy more US crude as Hormuz remains blocked, traders say
At least four Asian refiners bought US crude this week as the Strait of Hormuz remained effectively closed, according to traders cited by The Hindu BusinessLine. The purchases, spanning Mars and WTI grades for delivery later this year, came at premiums of $8–14 per barrel above Dubai, WTI, and Dated Brent benchmarks. Asia's July imports of US crude hit a record 2.35 million barrels per day, data from Kpler showed.
Commodities Ethanol emerges as marine fuel as Shandong Shipping orders first ethanol-fuelled engines for Vale
Shandong Shipping ordered the world's first ethanol-fuelled two-stroke engines in May, backed by a Vale charter, according to an article by WinGD's Andrea Lazzaro in Splash247. The IMO's approval of emissions factors for Brazilian corn ethanol, along with ethanol's wide availability in Brazil and the US, supports marine adoption, though FuelEU Maritime still excludes food-crop biofuels.
Commodities India's coal demand seen at 1.6 billion tonnes by 2030 as govt pushes market-driven trade
India's coal demand is projected to rise to 1.6 billion tonnes by 2030, said Coal Secretary Vikram Dev Dutt at the Global Commodity Conclave 2026. With domestic production past 1 billion tonnes, the government plans a many-to-many coal exchange and eventual derivatives market for transparent, market-driven price discovery.
Commodities Crude oil futures flat as US signals tougher economic pressure on Iran
Crude oil futures traded flat on Friday after the US signalled it could maintain a naval blockade of Iran indefinitely and intensify economic pressure. October Brent slipped 0.01% to $87.06, while September WTI rose 0.06% to $81.30, with MCX crude contracts trading lower. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said more announcements are coming next week.
Commodities Oil prices today: Crude edges higher as US-Iran tensions revive supply concerns
Oil prices edged higher on Friday as the US threatened to maintain a naval blockade of Iran indefinitely, reviving supply concerns. Brent rose 0.1% to $87.16 a barrel, while WTI gained to $81.29, although weaker demand forecasts and rising US inventories capped upside. OPEC and the IEA lowered demand growth forecasts this week, and US crude inventories posted their largest weekly rise in over 3.5 years.
Commodities Russia now supplies more than half of India's crude oil imports, GTRI says
Russia accounted for 52% of India's crude oil imports in July 2026, up from 48.6% in June, according to GTRI. The report says the shift sharply limits India's ability to reduce Russian purchases at short notice, even as the US threatens tariffs of up to 100% on Russian energy.
Commodities India seeks more US LPG to cut West Asia reliance, aid trade deal
India has directed Indian Oil Corp., Bharat Petroleum Corp. and Hindustan Petroleum Corp. to source at least 15% of 2027 LPG imports through US term contracts, according to Bloomberg. The move follows the country's first US term deals of 2.2 million tons and record US shipments of 3.9 million tons this year. LPG consumption fell 16% year-on-year to 2.35 million tons last month as Strait of Hormuz disruptions triggered shortages.
Commodities US Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale BBG3 Rebounds but Still Far Short of 2025 Record
The third Big Beautiful Gulf lease sale yielded $82.7m in high bids for 59 blocks, rebounding from March's weak result but still less than a third of the December 2025 record. The Marine Minerals Administration said bidding remained highly selective, with 16 companies focusing on a narrow set of prospects, while the Trump administration faces pressure over oil prices linked to the war in Iran.
Commodities India to expand strategic petroleum reserves with new caverns in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan
India is expanding its strategic petroleum reserves with new caverns at Bina in Madhya Pradesh and Bikaner in Rajasthan, plus added capacity at Mangalore, according to Business Today. The government-owned Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd has completed feasibility studies for the sites, while Phase-II projects at Padur and Chandikhol progress. The parliamentary standing committee has urged the ministry to work toward the 90-day crude storage benchmark.
Commodities HPCL buys 4 million barrels of West Asian crude through spot tender, traders say
HPCL has bought 4 million barrels of West Asian crude through a spot tender, with BP supplying 2 million barrels of Murban, PetroChina 1 million barrels of Murban, and Trafigura 1 million barrels of Oman crude, according to Reuters. Murban delivered was priced about $7 per barrel above dated Brent, while Oman was about $4-5 above. The cargoes are scheduled to arrive around early October.
Commodities Crude oil futures fall as OPEC, IEA predict decline in demand in 2026
Crude oil futures fell on August 13, 2026 as OPEC and IEA both revised 2026 demand forecasts downward, with October Brent at $88.55 (down 0.48%) and September WTI at $82.76 (down 0.61%). The IEA projects a 1.6 million barrel-per-day decline in 2026 demand, citing the Strait of Hormuz closure and elevated fuel prices.
Commodities Oil Prices Slip as OPEC Cuts 2026 Demand Forecast; Iran War Keeps Supply Risks Alive
Oil prices slipped more than $1 on Thursday as OPEC cut its 2026 global demand growth forecast to 580,000 bpd and the IEA lowered its consumption outlook, while US crude inventories posted their biggest weekly build since January 2023. Brent fell 0.92% to $88.16/bbl and WTI fell 1.07% to $82.38/bbl. Middle East supply risks from attacks on shipping in Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb and stalled Iran-US talks kept the downside limited.
Commodities Parliament panel questions rising oil and gas capex as India's crude output set to fall
A parliamentary committee has questioned why rising capital expenditure in India's oil and gas sector is not translating into higher production. Domestic crude output is projected to fall to 28.7 MMT in 2024-25 from 34.2 MMT in 2018-19 despite PSU capex rising from Rs 1.3 lakh crore to Rs 1.7 lakh crore.
Commodities Why Global Diesel Prices Are Soaring: War, Hurricanes & Drone Attacks
Wholesale diesel prices have climbed to roughly $180 a barrel, with Gulf Oil's Tom Kloza warning that a US Gulf hurricane could push them past $200. Drone strikes on refineries in Russia, Saudi Arabia and Libya have tightened an already short global refining market, while record US distillate exports and EIA-linked fuel surcharges add to the strain, according to FreightWaves.