Friday, February 20, 2026

United States News

Prices for EUROPE Gas remain firm as tensions between the U.S. and Iran continue

Dutch and British wholesale natural gas prices rose on Friday morning after a sharp increase in the previous session. This was due to tensions between Iran and the United States that could impact the shipping of LNG. Gas market concerns are any possible disruptions of LNG shipments via the Strait of Hormuz. This is especially true for Qatar, the second largest gas supplier in the world. In intraday trading on Thursday, the Dutch front-month contract jumped as high as 16%.

What is the current status of international oil companies operating in Venezuela?

Here are some key facts about the international oil companies operating in Venezuela. The country has vast oil reserves, but a dilapidated infrastructure. In the early 2000s, the then-President?Hugo Chavez took assets from foreign oil companies to strengthen the control of the state-owned PDVSA over the oilfields in Venezuela. The United States, after capturing Nicolas Maduro as President in January, eased sanctions against Venezuela's oil sector this month.

Palm rises by more than 2% as Chicago soyoil and crude oil are stronger

Malaysian palm futures closed more than 2% higher Thursday as trading resumed after a two-day Lunar New Year break, due to stronger Chicago soyoil prices and crude oil. The benchmark 'palm oil' contract for May delivery at the Bursa Derivatives Exchange rose 101 ringgit or 2.51% to 4,117 Ringgit ($1,053.75) per metric ton. Anilkumar bagani, the commodity research head of Mumbai-based Sunvin Group, stated that the Crude Palm Oil Futures rose in a bullish tone following a rally on Chicago soyoil and energy futures.

Turkey declares Greece-Chevron activities off Crete illegal

Turkey has said that it opposes Greece's unilateral activities in hydrocarbon fields south of Crete, with a consortium led by U.S. oil giant Chevron. This is a violation of international law and good neighbourly relations. Chevron, a consortium led by Chevron, signed exclusive lease agreements to search for natural gas in southern Greece on Monday. This will expand the United States presence in the eastern Mediterranean.

Indonesia and US firms sign trade, investment agreements worth $7 billion

The U.S. ASEAN Business Council reported that Indonesian & U.S. firms signed 'trade and investment agreements worth more than $7 bn? on Wednesday, a day before Indonesian President Prabowo?Subianto meets with U.S. president Donald Trump for a meeting to sign a final deal. According to a U.S. ASEAN Business Council fact sheet, the agreements were signed during a dinner hosted by U.S. Chamber of Commerce for Prabowo. They include Indonesian companies purchasing 1 million metric tonnes of U.S.

NYT reports that US EPA plans on loosening mercury rules for coal-fired plants this week.

The 'New York Times' reported on Wednesday that the Trump administration will loosen restrictions this week on coal-burning power plants, allowing them more freedom to emit a variety of?hazardous pollutions, including mercury. The paper reported that senior U.S. Environmental Protection Agency representatives are expected to make the announcement during a visit to Louisville, Kentucky on Friday. The EPA exempted 47 coal-fired companies from the regulations that curb mercury and other air pollutants.

Golden Pass is moving closer to producing its first LNG by increasing natural gas flow into the facility

LSEG data show that Golden Pass, a joint venture between Exxon Mobil, QatarEnergy and Exxon Mobil, has pulled in more than 300 million cubic feet on Wednesday, bringing it closer to producing its first LNG. The '18 million metric tons per year project in Texas will be one of the biggest U.S. export facilities of super-cooled gas and help the United States maintain its position as the top exporter. Exxon CEO Darren Woods stated on January 30 that he expects the plant to begin producing LNG in March.

Microsoft will continue to buy enough renewable energy for all its needs

Microsoft has pledged to "keep buying enough renewable energy to meet all of its electricity needs" after meeting this goal for the first year. Tech giants are ramping up capital expenditures on an AI driven expansion of power hungry data centres. Microsoft announced on Wednesday that they had met their 2025 goal of procuring 40 gigawatts through power purchase agreements, which are long-term contracts designed to help utilities bring forward new projects.

Gas prices in Europe are expected to fall due to mild weather.

The Dutch and British wholesale gas prices fell on Wednesday morning as the milder weather and forecasts of windy conditions reduced demand and eased fears over storage depletion. The benchmark Dutch 'front-month contract' at the TTF hub fell?0.74 euro?to 29.70 euros per Megawatt Hour (MWh), which is $10.30/mmBtu by 0901 GMT. This was its lowest level since 12 January, according to LSEG data. Arne Lohmann-Rasmussen, Global Risk Management's chief analyst…

Politico reports that Trump has slammed the energy deal between California, Britain and Trump

Reports from Politico indicate that President Donald Trump denounced the clean energy agreement signed between California Governor Gavin Newsom and the United Kingdom on Monday. In an interview, Trump stated that it was "inappropriate for Britain" to deal with the Democratic Governor. Trump, who is Republican, called Newsom, "a loser", saying that "his state had gone to hell and his environmental work was a disaster." Newsom…

Siemens Energy investors claim that the spin-off of wind units is premature

In response to an activist investor who called for a split-up, three major Siemens Energy shareholders said that the company should fix its?loss making wind turbine division first before considering a separation. Comments reflect the company's support for its strategy to stabilise the business before considering any strategic options. Ananym Capital, an activist shareholder from the United States, disclosed its stake in Siemens Energy in December.

Top Siemens Energy investors: Wind unit spin-off premature for now

Three of the largest Siemens Energy shareholders said that the company should fix its 'loss-making... wind turbine division, before considering a spin-off. They were responding to an activist investor who was pushing for a split-up. The comments show support for the current strategy of the company to stabilise the business and then look at strategic options. Ananym Capital, an activist shareholder in the United States, disclosed its stake in Siemens Energy in December.

Chevron and a consortium of companies sign contracts for gas exploration offshore Greece

On Monday, a consortium led by U.S. oil giant Chevron signed exclusive lease agreements to search for natural gas in southern Greece. This agreement expands the United States presence in the Eastern Mediterranean. The deal will double the amount of Greek marine acreage that is available for exploration. It's also the second time in recent months that a U.S. oil major has been involved. This is because the European Union wants to reduce its dependence on Russian gas and the U.S. wants to replace it.

Chevron and a consortium of companies sign contracts for gas exploration offshore Greece

The United States has expanded its presence in the Eastern Mediterranean with the signing of exclusive lease agreements by a?consortium headed by U.S. major oil company?Chevron? to search for natural gas offshore southern Greece. This deal, the second to be signed in recent months by a 'U.S. company, doubles the amount available of Greek marine acreage for exploration. The European Union is phasing out Russian supplies and the United States is looking to replace them. The European Union is looking to replace them.

Maurel & Prom hopes for a resumption of Venezuelan oil sales boosted with the easing of sanctions

Maurel & Prom, a French oil producer, is optimistic that it will be able to resume the export of Venezuelan crude oil soon after the United 'States government eased'sanctions against the country on Friday. On Friday, the U.S. government issued two general licenses, allowing major energy companies to operate in OPEC-member Venezuela. This is the biggest easing of sanctions against Venezuela since U.S. troops 'captured' and removed President Nicolas Maduro.

Take Five GRAPHIC: Giddy up

As the year of fire horse dawns, much of Asia will celebrate the Lunar New Year. This rare combination is said to combine elements of energy and volatility. The markets will be looking for the first from the consumer leader Walmart, and the second from the earnings of European miners. The week will be filled with UK data and leading economic indicators. Indonesia is also facing a crucial central bank decision. Here is everything you need to 'know' about the upcoming week in financial markets from Gregor Stuart Hunter…

Triso-X can use HALEU uranium to make reactor fuel

The U.S. Nuclear?power regulator announced on?Friday that it had issued a license to?Triso X for the use of a more-enriched uranium, known as HALEU, for making a fuel for high-tech commercial nuclear reactors. Triso-X is a subsidiary company of X-energy and plans to manufacture TRISO fuel in Oak Ridge Tennessee. This fuel contains uranium that has been coated with hard ceramics and carbon layers. Ho K. Nieh said that commercial-scale production is essential to enable the deployment of advanced reactor designs.

Caturus signs a 20-year LNG Supply Deal with Saudi Aramco

U.S. Gas Producer 'Caturus' said on Friday that its unit, Commonwealth LNG, had signed a twenty-year agreement with Saudi Aramco to supply 1,000,000 tonne per year of lNG from?its proposed Louisiana Export Project. The U.S. is working hard to surpass Qatar and Australia as the largest LNG exporter in the world. Since President Donald Trump lifted the pause on export permits last summer, commercial activity in the LNG sector has risen. Caturus CEO David Lawler said, "This agreement highlights the strong demand for U.S.

Maguire: Maguire, China's renewables boom has boosted it to a rare clean-capacity club.

In 2025, the world's largest polluter will have crossed a crucial energy transition threshold by installing more clean power than fossil fuel production capacity for the first. Global Energy Monitor data shows that China will have 1,494 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy generation capacity operating in 2025. This compares to 1,420 GW?of fossil fuel-fueled capacity. China now draws 51% of its energy from clean sources, surpassing Brazil…

Serbia's NIS wants to lift new sanctions on crude oil imports

The Serbian-owned NIS Oil Company has asked the United States for a second waiver of sanctions to allow crude imports. This is while they await a sale to Hungary's MOL. NIS is responsible for 80% of the fuel requirements in Serbia. It operates the only oil refinery, located in Pancevo in the north of the country. In October, the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned NIS as part of measures targeting Russia's oil sector in response to Moscow's war against Ukraine. The U.S.