FEATURE-AI data explosion in Mexico fuels rise of dirty energy
The country's power infrastructure is overloaded and pollution has increased due to the shortfall in green power, despite promises by government and industry to increase capacity. The data centers are huge warehouses that are the size of Olympic stadiums. They sprawl over industrial parks and house hundreds of servers, which consume a lot of energy. These servers power the most powerful technology companies, like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon.
AI data explosion in Mexico fuels growth in dirty energy
The lack of green power, despite promises by government and industry to increase capacity, has overloaded and increased local pollution. Masheika Allgood is the founder of AllAI Consulting. She provides information on data center environmental impacts. The data centers are huge warehouses that are the size of Olympic stadiums. They sprawl over industrial parks and house hundreds of servers, which consume a lot of energy. These servers power the most powerful technology companies, including Microsoft, Google, and Amazon.
Bousso: The geopolitical premium of oil in the ROI vanished by 2025 and is unlikely to return.
In 2025, the global oil markets were faced with multiple black swans events - such as the Israel-Iran War and Ukrainian attacks on Russian refiners. Yet they were barely affected. In an era when energy is abundant, this calm could be the new norm. The year 2025, by any measure, was chaotic in geopolitics, with President Donald Trump's return to his White House and his flurry of trade, diplomatic and policy initiatives dominating the year. On June 12, Israel attacked military, government, and nuclear sites in Iran.
Bousso: The geopolitical premium of oil in the ROI vanished by 2025 and is unlikely to return.
In 2025, the global oil markets were faced with multiple black swans events - such as the Israel-Iran War and Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries - but they were not fazed. In an age of abundant energy, this calm could be the new norm. The year 2025 will be remembered as a geopolitical chaos, due to President Donald Trump's return in January, and his frenzy of trade, policy and diplomatic initiatives. On June 12, Israel bombed Iranian military, government, and nuclear sites.
Baker Hughes reports that US drillers have cut their oil and gas rigs a second time in a week.
Baker Hughes, an energy services company, said that the U.S. firms have cut back on the number of oil and gas rigs for a second consecutive week for the first time since August. The number of oil and gas rigs, a good indicator of future production, dropped by six in the week ending December 19. This is the lowest since September. Baker Hughes reported that oil rigs dropped by eight this week to 406; their lowest level since September 2021. Gas rigs remained at 127, and miscellaneous?rigs increased by two to 9.
What is Fusion Energy, the Quest that Trump Media is so enamored with?
Scientists and businesses have tried for decades to harness the fusion energy that powers the sun to produce electricity on Earth. The $6 billion merger announced on Thursday between U.S. president Donald Trump's Trump Media and Technology Group and?Google-backed TAE technologies is the latest development for an industry still a long way from commercialization. What is Fusion? The process of fusion energy that powers the…
Germany launches 30 billion Euro fund to mobilize private investment
Germany launched the 30 billion?euro initiative "Deutschlandfonds", aiming to boost competitiveness in Europe's biggest economy by mobilizing private capital. The state-owned KfW will implement the fund coordinated by the Finance and Economy Ministries. It will use guarantees, loans, and equity stakes in order to reduce risk for private investments. KfW says that new guarantees approved by the parliament for next fiscal year account for 95%.
Russell: Despite Trump's trade moves, the US imports to Asia will drop by 2025.
Asia's imports from the United States of crude oil, coal, and liquefied gas are expected to decrease this year in spite of President Donald Trump’s efforts?to increase shipments through his trade and tariff policy. China is the main driver of the decline in US imports. China, as the world's largest buyer of commodities, has slowed down its purchases since Trump increased tariffs on U.S. imported Chinese goods, with an average rate of around 47.5%.
Why US producers are paying attention to Canada's most popular shale play
Executives, analysts, and advisors say that U.S. producers of oil and gas are seeking new drilling territories in Western Canada's Montney Basin, an enormous shale play in a remote area. The basin is already a hub of M&A and may see even more deals in the near future. The United States has become the largest oil producer in the world as a result of extensive drilling on shale deposits over the past 15 years. After a period of rapid expansion…
Japan's JERA signss LNG sales agreement with Hokkaido Gas
JERA, Japan's largest power generator, has signed an agreement to sell and buy liquefied gas with Hokkaido Gas. The deal will see JERA supplying two-to three LNG cargoes per year for seven years starting in 2027. JERA will deliver 130,000-200,000 metric tonnes of LNG per year, delivered ex ship, under the agreement. It said that the deal would strengthen Japan's energy security, diversify JERA's portfolio of LNG sales, and enhance stability and flexibility in the domestic market.
Russell: Despite Trump's trade moves, the US imports to Asia will drop by 2025.
The U.S. trade policies of President Donald Trump, which include tariffs and increased shipments of crude oil and coal to Asia are expected to lead to a decline in imports this year. The drop in US imports is mostly due to?China. As the largest buyer of commodities worldwide, China has slowed down its purchases since Trump increased tariffs on U.S. imported?Chinese?goods. According to commodity analysts Kpler, Asia's crude oil imports are expected to drop to 1.43 million barrels a day (bpd)…
US permits oil sales from Russia’s Sakhalin-2 Project through June 18,
The U.S. extended a waiver on Wednesday that allows oil sales from Russia's Sakhalin-2 Project through June 18, next year. This is a move that will likely allow production of liquefied gas to continue. The general license issued by the U.S. Treasury Department is crucial for U.S. allies Japan who gets around 9% of their LNG from Russia. The license that allows transactions with Sakhalin-2 is a waiver of sanctions imposed by the former president?Joe Biden on this project in 2022 due to Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine.
Carlyle hires Goldman Sachs to bid for Lukoil assets
Two sources familiar with the matter said that Carlyle, the U.S.-based private equity firm, has hired Goldman Sachs for its bid to acquire Lukoil's assets. The race for the Russian oil company's foreign portfolio is heating up. Carlyle and?U.S. Sources have confirmed that Exxon Mobil, Chevron and Abu Dhabi conglomerate IHC as well as Saudi Arabia's Midad Energy are interested in buying Lukoil assets. Carlyle and Goldman Sachs both declined to comment.
The UK has exempted Egypt's Zohr Gas Field from Russian sanctions
Britain added Egypt's Zohr Gas Field, where Russian oil major Rosneft has a 30% stake - and London-based BP a 10% one – to a list of projects that are exempted from its Russia sanctions. In October, Britain and the United States sanctioned Russia's two largest oil companies, Rosneft, and Lukoil for their involvement in funding Moscow's invasion in Ukraine. The amended?general license, issued on Wednesday, allows for payments and business activities?linked to Zohr up until October 2027.
The UK has exempted Egypt's Zohr Gas Field from Russian sanctions
The UK added Egypt's Zohr Gas Field, where?Russian oil giant Rosneft has a 30% stake? and London-based BP has a 10%?holding?, to a list that exempts Russia sanctions. In October, Britain and the United States sanctioned Rosneft, one of Russia's largest oil producers, for their role in financing Moscow's invasion in Ukraine. The amended general licence, dated?on Wednesday?, allows now payments and business activities linked to Zohr?until?October 2027. BP, Rosneft, Eni and other partners hold a?stake?
Wall St. inches up as investors focus on policy outlook; Oracle slips
Wall Street's major indexes rose slightly in volatile trading Wednesday as investors sought clues about the future of interest rates. However, caution was still evident following reports that Oracle's plans for data centers were facing funding hurdles. Oracle shares fell by 2.8% following a report that Blue Owl Capital, the company's biggest data center partner, said it would not support a $10 billion contract for its next facility.
What changes have been made to the proposed Indian civil nuclear law?
India has proposed legislation that would end the state's monopoly on nuclear power after six decades. This law would allow private companies, and even individuals?to build and run reactors. The bill must be passed by both the lower and upper chambers of parliament before it becomes law. What is the civil nuclear law? Nuclear projects have been restricted since 1962 to companies under the Department of Atomic Energy. This includes Nuclear Power Corporation of India.
FT reports that US investor Kimmeridge has offered $6 billion to gas driller Ascent Resources
The Financial Times reported that activist investment firm Kimmeridge Energy Management had made a $6 billion bid to buy Ascent Resources. FT reported that the bid was the latest attempt to stop Energy & Minerals Group (EMG), a private equity firm backing Ascent, from selling a stake of more than 30% in the company to another fund, valuing Ascent as high as $5.5 billion. Ben Dell, managing partner of Kimmeridge in the United States…
Russia expects oil refining in 2025 to be flat with 2024
The Russian energy ministry announced on Thursday that the country's oil refinery, coal and gas?production?will remain largely unchanged in 2025, compared with 2024, despite repeated Ukrainian drone attacks against energy facilities. Russia is the third largest oil producer in the world, after Saudi Arabia and the United States. It also holds the largest known reserves of natural gas. Since August, Ukraine has resumed drone strikes deep within Russia.
Palm catches up with Dalian rivals, strengthening ringgit caps the advance
The Dalian Commodity Exchange's strength in edible oils rivals helped to support the palm oil futures on Thursday. However, the stronger ringgit limited the gains. By midday, the benchmark palm 'oil 'contract for February delivery at the Bursa Derivatives exchange in Malaysia rose 46 ringgit or 1.13% to $4109 ringgit (US$1,000.97) per metric ton. The futures traded today in positive territory due to the strength of rival oils. The February contract reached a morning high of 4,128 ringgit.