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Iran hits targets in three Gulf countries and Jordan as seventh night amid American strikes

Iran struck US military targets in four countries, hitting a fuel pier in Kuwait and an air base in Bahrain, as a seventh night of American strikes on Iran's Gulf coast cut water supplies and destroyed bridges.

Kazakhstan, China sign $15bn worth of deals as Tokayev visits Shanghai

Agreements range across AI, digital infrastructure, corridor freight, manufacturing, energy and critical minerals.

EIB approves €800mn loan for refurbishment of Romania's Cernavodă nuclear unit

EU's development bank gives a major financing boost for one of Romania's largest strategic energy projects, with an estimated cost of approximately €1.9bn.

Indonesia breaks ground on $21bn Abadi Masela LNG megaproject

Unlocking one of the largest offshore gas reserves in the Asia-Pacific region, Indonesia has launched an upstream megaproject of the Abadi Masela LNG Block National Strategic Project.

Iran’s NIDC logs 1,900 drilling operations in nearly 4 months

The Iranian state driller carried out 1,900 drilling operations during the first 110 days of the current Persian calendar year which began on March 21.

Iraq hands Muthanna seismic work to two Chinese contractors

Iraq’s Oil Exploration Co. (OEC) has awarded back-to-back seismic survey contracts to two Chinese state-linked firms

Russia-Argentina nuclear cooperation grinds to halt as Milei pivots to US

Russia and Argentina have effectively halted cooperation on civil nuclear energy projects, Russia's ambassador to Buenos Aires said, as President Javier Milei's government deepens its alignment with the United States and moves away from Moscow.

Glenfarne announces $500mn investment to support Texas LNG

Glenfarne Group has secured a $500mn investment, with the lead investors involved being investment funds and accounts managed by HPS Investment Partners, to support the continued development of its Texas LNG project.

Mitsubishi closes acquisition of Aethon’s Haynesville shale assets

Japan’s Mitsubishi has closed its acquisition of Aethon Energy Management’s assets in the US’ Haynesville shale gas play.

Shell awards $518mn contracts to 123 Nigerian firms in 2025

Shell (LSE: SHEL, NYSE: SHEL) awarded contracts worth $518mn to 123 indigenous companies in Nigeria in 2025, as the company expanded local participation across its oil and gas operations and supply chain

US attacks tanker bound for Iran’s Kharg Island as blockade takes force

The US military said on July 16 that it had attacked a commercial tanker heading toward Iran’s Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf, in the first publicly announced strike since the United States reinstated a naval blockade targeting Iranian ports.

Hormuz stays closed until US accepts Iranian rule of the strait, Iran's army says

Iran's army says the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until Washington accepts Iranian legal authority over the waterway, confirming strikes on shipping and warning Gulf neighbours that hosting US forces will not go unanswered.

China's 'impossible' gas price risks killing off Power of Siberia-2

China has effectively priced Russia's flagship Power of Siberia-2 gas pipeline out of existence, demanding a price for gas that analysts say would make the project uneconomic.

Azerbaijan's H1 oil and gas exports fall in value despite volume gains

Azerbaijan exported oil, gas and related products worth a combined $10.8bn in the first half of 2026, according to State Customs Committee data.

Cambodia clears over $1bn in renewable energy investments

Cambodia approved more than $1bn worth of renewable energy projects in the first half of 2026, strengthening its clean energy capacity and supporting broader investment growth.

Angola’s oil reforms offer lessons for Algeria’s upstream investment drive

Algeria could strengthen its oil and gas sector by adopting some of the regulatory reforms that helped revive Angola's upstream industry.

Iran warns of wider disruption to oil, gas export routes after US reinstates naval blockade

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned on July 15 that oil and gas export routes “serving the United States and its allies” could face disruption after the American military reimposed its naval blockade against the country.

LNG Canada reaches equity deal with 5 First Nations

Shell-operated LNG Canada and its joint venture partners have agreed to an equity option agreement with MNT Investments, a limited partnership consisting of the economic development organizations of five neighbouring First Nations.

China and Kazakhstan intensify nuclear ties

China-Central Asia Monitor: July 3-9, 2026.

Trump says US to unveil major oil partnership with Iraq

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi met US President Donald Trump at the White House. Trump announced that the US would shortly unveil a major oil partnership with Iraq.

Iran claims strikes on weapons depots in Bahrain, drones in Kuwait

Iran's IRGC says it struck weapons depots at Bahrain's Sheikh Isa base and drones at Kuwait's Ali Al Salem base under Operation Nasr 2, retaliation it says will continue while US strikes persist.

US LNG exports to Latin America unlikely to stay at three-year high as regional supply pressures ease

Tankers stack up off Fujairah as Hormuz becomes contested chokepoint

Ship-tracking data shows tankers clustering at anchorages off Fujairah, Khor Fakkan and Sohar rather than transiting the Strait of Hormuz, as a US cargo levy, Iranian tolls and mining claims turn the waterway into a contested chokepoint.

Russian refining down to record lows, LNG exports to Europe at record highs

Russia’s crude output declined to the lowest in at least two and a half years in June as Ukraine attacked the nation’s oil infrastructure on an almost daily basis. But LNG production remains untouched and exports to Europe are at record highs.

Ukraine seeks €7bn for power recovery as allies expand air-defence cooperation

Ukraine has lost about half of its electricity generation capacity since the war began in February 2022, with flexible generating facilities among the hardest hit.