UAE to Double Oil Exports by 2027 With New Fujairah Pipeline Bypassing Hormuz

• Sunday, 17th May 2026
• by Fatma Ahmed

The UAE will accelerate construction of a new oil pipeline to the port of Fujairah, aiming to double export capacity by 2027, according to the Abu Dhabi Media Office. Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed directed Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), UAE state-owned energy company, to fast-track the West-East Pipeline project, which is already under construction and expected to begin operations next year.

Libya’s NOC Ends Trasta Partnership, Restores Full Control of Ras Lanuf Complex

• Thursday, 14th May 2026
• by Fatma Ahmed

Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) has signed a final agreement with Trasta Company, officially ending their long-running partnership in the Libyan Emirates Oil Refining Company (LERCO) after more than a decade of legal and arbitration disputes, paving the way for the Ras Lanuf refinery and petrochemical complex to return to full Libyan ownership and management.

OPEC Cuts 2026 Oil Demand Forecast Amid Strait of Hormuz Closure

• Thursday, 14th May 2026
• by Fatma Ahmed

OPEC reduced its forecast for global oil demand growth in 2026, citing the impact of the ongoing war in Iran that has effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transit route. The closure has curtailed millions of barrels of Middle East supply, driving fuel prices higher and prompting governments to adopt conservation measures.

IEA Warns of Oil Supply Deficit in 2026

• Wednesday, 13th May 2026
• by Sarah Samir

Global oil supply is expected to fall short of demand this year, as the war in Iran severely disrupts Middle East production, Reuters reported citing the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) monthly oil market report.
This comes as global supply in 2026 is projected to fall short of demand by 1.78 million barrels per day (b/d), overturning last month’s forecast of a 410,000 b/d surplus and December’s estimate of nearly 4 million b/d in excess supply.

ADNOC Drilling to Boost UAE’s Oil Production Capacity

• Wednesday, 13th May 2026
• by Sarah Samir

The Abu Dhabi-listed ADNOC Drilling Company is ready to boost the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) oil production capacity beyond the planned 5 million barrels per day (b/d) by 2027, should official approval be granted, the company’s CFO, Youssef Salem, told Reuters.

TotalEnergies, QatarEnergy, ConocoPhillips to Evaluate Offshore Syria Block

• Wednesday, 13th May 2026
• by Fatma Ahmed

TotalEnergies, alongside partners QatarEnergy and ConocoPhillips, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Syrian Petroleum Company (SPC) to evaluate Block 3 offshore Syria in the Mediterranean Sea.

India Rejects Sanctioned Russian LNG Cargo

• Tuesday, 12th May 2026
• by Fatma Ahmed

India has declined to receive liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia’s Portovaya plant in the Baltic Sea, which is subject to US sanctions, leaving a tanker bound for India in limbo as talks continue over permitted cargoes, industry sources told Reuters. The decision comes despite tightened LNG supply conditions driven by Middle East tensions.

The move underscores India’s effort to balance energy security with compliance risks, as sanctioned LNG cargoes are harder to disguise than crude shipments. One source noted the vessel had signaled India as its destination in mid‑April, though paperwork suggested the cargo was non‑Russian. Tracking data later confirmed its origin from Portovaya.

Syria Advances First Deep-Water Offshore Energy Project with Chevron and UCC Holding

• Tuesday, 12th May 2026
• by Fatma Ahmed

Syria has designated an offshore block for its first deep-water oil and gas exploration project, in partnership with Chevron, the US energy major and UCC Holding, Qatari construction conglomerat, according to the Syrian Petroleum Company (SPC).

New US Sanctions Target Iran Oil Shipments to China Ahead of Trump-Xi Meeting

• Tuesday, 12th May 2026
• by Fatma Ahmed

The US has imposed sanctions on three individuals and nine companies for facilitating Iranian oil shipments to China, including entities based in Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman.

Saudi Crude Exports to China Expected to Hit Record Low in June

• Monday, 11th May 2026
• by Fatma Ahmed

Saudi Arabia’s crude oil exports to China are set to decline further in June, as Chinese refiners reduce demand in response to higher prices linked to US –Iran tensions, industry sources said to Reuters.