By Tyler Losier, Energy Reporter, Oil & Gas 360 Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announces sanctions for Zhuhai Zhenrong and its chief executive The United States government will be imposing sanctions on Zhuhai Zhenrong Company Limited, a state-run oil company in China, and its chief executive for purchasing crude oil from Iran. On Monday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced
From Reuters Saudi Arabia’s cabinet said on Tuesday that Iran’s interception of commercial vessels in Gulf waters, including its seizure of a British tanker, violated international law and must be prevented. The Saudi remarks came after Britain called on Monday for a European-led naval mission to ensure safe shipping through the Straight of Hormuz, the world’s most important oil artery.
From Bloomberg Iran-owned tankers continue to haul shipments to bonded tanks, oil held by Iran’s state-owned producer and Chinese companies Tankers are offloading millions of barrels of Iranian oil into storage tanks at Chinese ports, creating a hoard of crude sitting on the doorstep of the world’s biggest buyer. Two and a half months after the White House banned the
By Tyler Losier, Energy Reporter, Oil & Gas 360 British and Liberian-flagged vessels seized by Iran, who President Trump calls “nothing but trouble” Iran has seized two oil tankers – one British-flagged and one Liberian-flagged – in the Strait of Hormuz, following through on its threats to retaliate after one of its ships was seized by U.K. authorities off the
From The Houston Chronicle Oil tanker owners are avoiding sending their ships to the Middle East’s main refueling hub after a spate of attacks on vessels in the past two months ratcheted up tensions and highlighted the growing risks of operating in the region. Strikes on tankers just outside the Persian Gulf in mid-June were the second in a month
By Tyler Losier, Energy Reporter, Oil & Gas 360 Vessel suspected of carrying Iranian oil to Syria in violation of EU sanctions An Iranian supertanker carrying oil allegedly bound for Syria was detained in Gibraltar by British Royal Marines this Thursday for violating sanctions put in place by the European Union, further straining the already tense relationship between and Tehran
From Bloomberg Nine-month extension takes output cuts into a fourth year, countries approve new charter formalising OPEC+ grouping It was supposed to be a six-month fling, but Saudi Arabia and Russia have instead signed up for eternity. Complete with poem and celebratory badges, Moscow and Riyadh led two dozen countries in signing a charter to formalize the OPEC+ group that
From The Houston Chronicle Saudi Arabian Oil Co. has the experience and infrastructure it needs to keep crude flowing should supply through the Strait of Hormuz be disrupted, according to the chief executive officer of the state-run producer. “We are increasing our readiness,” Amin Nasser said in an interview in Seoul on Tuesday. “We can supply through the Red Sea
By Tyler Losier, Energy Reporter, Oil & Gas 360 Downed drone leads to comments from White House As of mid-afternoon Thursday, WTI crude oil prices are trading at almost $57 after President Trump tweeted that Iran made a “very big mistake” by shooting down a U.S. spy drone over the Strait of Hormuz. According to CNBC, U.S. officials are reporting
By Tyler Losier, Energy Reporter, Oil & Gas 360 Two vessels seriously damaged after seemingly intentional strike Two tankers were attacked Thursday near the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf of Oman, leading to a spike in oil prices as markets opened today. U.S. officials are blaming Iran for the incidents; however the country has vehemently denied any involvement. Source:
[EDITOR’S NOTE: this is the final installment of the OAG360 story in which Helen El Mallakh, director of the International Research Center for Energy and Economic Development (ICEED), discusses the changing political scene and the shifting geopolitical sands that are challenging the balance of oil producers in the Middle East. El Mallakh was keynote speaker at the Energy Finance Discussion
“The Middle East shapes energy politics, energy crises, and it has a huge impact on geopolitics” – Helen El Mallakh Ahead of the upcoming 174th OPEC meeting in Vienna, Austria, (scheduled for Friday, June 22, and immediately followed by the fourth OPEC/non-OPEC ministerial meeting Saturday), Helen El Mallakh, director of the International Research Center for Energy and Economic Development (ICEED)
