Houthi rebels board the Galaxy Leader container ship in the Red Sea
Oil: Five things to watch in 2024
Many of the biggest themes of 2023 will come to a head this year, but beware both naysayers and apologists
Last year was supposed to be the year of the new normal. Instead, there remains huge uncertainty over the global economic outlook, OPEC’s unity, geopolitical tensions and the energy strategies of both IOCs and NOCs. But the oil industry must navigate not only vastly opposing market forces but also the competing agendas of bullish and bearish narratives. This raises the question of where those with vested interests should put their trust. Even apparently independent commentators must be assessed for their biases, especially when there are headlines to be written and money to be made, and when the way ahead is unclear. Is $80/bl a sweet spot? An oil producer’s bare minimum level? A pain point
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5 March 2026
Gas is a central pillar of Colombia’s energy system, but declining production poses a significant challenge, and LNG will be increasingly needed as a stopgap. A recent major offshore gas discovery offers hope, but policy improvements are also required, Camilo Morales, secretary general of Naturgas, the Colombian gas association, tells Petroleum Economist
4 March 2026
The continent’s inventories were already depleted before conflict erupted in the Middle East, causing prices to spike ahead of the crucial summer refilling season
4 March 2026
The US president has repeatedly promised to lower gasoline prices, but this ambition conflicts with his parallel aim to increase drilling and could be upended by his war against Iran
4 March 2026
With the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed following US-Israel strikes and Iran’s retaliatory escalation, Fujairah has become the region’s critical pressure release valve—and is now under serious threat
