Opinion Energy Gulf welcomes Trump’s hands-off approach to energy policy Trillions were pledged in AI and energy, but Opec stayed out of the spotlight May 22, 2025
Oil & Gas Qatar warns low oil price may hurt AI power needs Crude prices falling below $60 a barrel would have a detrimental effect on global oil sector investment, and on fast-growing, energy intensive industries such as data centres and artificial intelligence, Qatar’s energy minister has said. “If oil prices decline below $60, there is definitely going to be a decline in investments,” Saad Al-Kaabi said at an […] May 22, 2025
Oil & Gas Aramco profits down – and worse is to come, say analysts Saudi Aramco announced a drop in net income for the first three months of the year on Sunday, due to rising oil prices and higher operating costs. With state and state-affiliated institutions dependent on the national oil company dividends to fund numerous Vision 2030 infrastructure projects, the downturn throws Aramco’s investment plans into doubt. Oil […] May 12, 2025
Oil & Gas Aramco to post lower profit and may slash dividend National oil company Saudi Aramco is forecast to post lower first-quarter profit and may cut its 2025 dividend further as oil prices dip below its self-funding breakeven point, analysts have said. The world’s biggest oil company by production is likely to maintain its guidance for capital expenditure, however. Aramco is expected to post at least […] May 9, 2025
Oil & Gas Goldman Sachs expects oil at $60 after Opec+ decision Goldman Sachs reduced its oil price forecast following decisions by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, Opec+, to accelerate oil output increases, the bank said in a note on Sunday. Goldman now expects Brent crude to average $60 per barrel for the rest of 2025 and $56 per barrel in 2026, […] May 6, 2025
Opinion Oil & Gas Opec+ throws the car into reverse, but keeps its grip on the wheel It is a stretch to see how the current market can be regarded as anything but uncertain May 5, 2025
Oil & Gas Opec+ triples additional June barrels to deter quota-breaking Saudi Arabia and seven members of Opec+ will triple the volume of barrels they add to the market in June, as part of the kingdom’s new strategy to squeeze quota-busting members and boost market share, experts said. Saudi Arabia and seven other countries implementing voluntary cuts decided in an online May 3 meeting to add […] May 5, 2025
Oil & Gas Opec+ accelerates oil output hikes despite weak demand Opec+ has agreed to accelerate oil production hikes for a second consecutive month, raising output in June by 411,000 barrels per day (bpd), the group said on Saturday. This is despite falling prices and expectations of weaker demand. Following an online meeting lasting just over an hour, the producer group announced the supply increase, saying […] May 5, 2025
Oil & Gas Saudi Arabia signals it can live with lower oil prices Saudi Arabian officials are briefing allies and industry experts to say the kingdom is unwilling to prop up the oil market with further supply cuts and can handle a prolonged period of low prices, sources said. This possible shift in Saudi policy could suggest a move toward producing more and expanding its market share. This […] May 1, 2025
Economy Rising gas exports to boost Gulf economies, says IMF Increased natural gas production in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE and Oman will boost their economic growth in the medium term, the International Monetary Fund has predicted. Qatar, the world’s third-largest exporter of liquefied natural gas, is due to nearly double its annual output to 142 million tonnes by 2030. Saudi Aramco said in March […] May 1, 2025
Opinion Markets Trumponomics, tariffs and the global flight from the US GCC and Asian economies are moving to de-risk from American dominance April 28, 2025
Oil & Gas Opec+ to consider further oil output increase for June Several Opec+ members are to suggest the group accelerates oil output hikes in June for a second consecutive month, as a dispute worsens between members over compliance with production quotas. Oil prices hit a four-year low in April, dragged down by a US-China trade war and an unexpected decision by Opec+ to increase output by 411,000 barrels per day […] April 24, 2025
Opinion Oil & Gas Oil markets are vulnerable to Trump’s turbulence The only factor the sector is certain about is that uncertainty will continue April 23, 2025
Industry Iraq revives war-devastated fertiliser plant Iraq’s industry and minerals minister broke ground on Thursday on a major fertiliser plant in the north of the country which was destroyed by Daesh militants nearly 10 years ago. Khalid al-Najm laid the ground stone for the plant in Baiji city in the northern Saladin Governorate during a ceremony attended by local tribal chiefs, […] April 18, 2025
Oil & Gas Saudi Arabia and UAE to cut oil output in Opec’s latest plan Opec has received updated plans for seven countries including Saudi Arabia and the UAE to make further oil output cuts to compensate for pumping above agreed quotas, the group said on Wednesday. Opec+, which includes Opec plus Russia and other allies, has implemented a series of output cuts since late 2022. Its compensation plan is […] April 17, 2025
Oil & Gas IEA slashes oil demand outlook as trade tensions bite The International Energy Agency (IEA) slashed its 2025 oil demand growth forecast on Tuesday, citing rising trade tensions and a weakening global economy. The forecast widens the gap with Opec’s more upbeat outlook. The Paris-based watchdog now expects demand to grow by just 730,000 barrels per day in 2025, down from 1 million bpd previously […] April 15, 2025
Oil & Gas Opec cuts 2025 oil demand forecast on tariff trade tensions Opec on Monday lowered its 2025 forecast for global oil demand growth, warning that rising trade tensions and weaker economic activity are likely to weigh on consumption. Opec, the oil exporters’ group of which Saudi Arabia is the largest producer, expects demand to grow by 1.3 million barrels per day (bpd) this year, down from […] April 14, 2025
LUNCH WITH FRANK KANE Energy Ahmed Al Azkawi: ‘We are the national champion for oil and gas’ The chief executive of OQEP gives our Editor-at-Large a crash course in Omani energy past, present and future April 10, 2025
Analysis Infrastructure Oil price raises $1 trillion question for Saudi Arabia Questions are being raised about the long-term future of Saudi Arabia’s trillion-dollar infrastructure strategy as oil prices hit a four-year low and global stock markets tumble, according to economists. For the world’s second-largest oil producer, much depends on the trajectory of crude prices. The price of Brent crude has fallen by about 13 percent to […] April 8, 2025
Oil & Gas US energy secretary heads to Gulf to secure oil flows US energy secretary Chris Wright is to begin a nearly two-week tour of three Middle East countries, including Saudi Arabia, marking his first visit as a US official to the de facto leader of the Opec oil producer group, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters. The trip, which will also include visits to […] April 8, 2025
Economy Aramco losses mirror wider Saudi stock plunge The Saudi stock market opened at more than 2 percent lower on Monday to a 17-month low, following its biggest single one-day drop since the 2008 financial crisis. The Tadawul All Share Index (Tasi) tumbled by about 1,025 points or 8.6 percent following US President Donald Trump’s announcement last week of a minimum 10 percent […] April 7, 2025
Oil & Gas Oil hit as Opec+ agrees to increase production Eight Opec+ countries unexpectedly agreed on Thursday to advance their plan to phase out oil output cuts by increasing output by 411,000 barrels per day (bpd) in May. The decision prompted oil prices to extend earlier sharp losses. Oil, which was already down over 4 percent on US president Donald Trump’s announcement of tariffs on […] April 4, 2025
