Author: Erick Parel

Middle East Oil Producers Face Export Hurdles Amid Hormuz Disruptions: Demand Destruction or Market Mispricing? Analyst Views on the Road Ahead for Oil Prices

Energy News Beat Middle East oil producers are grappling with significant challenges in selling their crude, even as global benchmark prices (Brent and WTI) have surprisingly softened below or near pre-conflict levels. This comes despite a major supply shock from disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz following the early 2026 Iran conflict (U.S./Israeli strikes on […]

Micron Breaks Ground on $9 Billion Plant Expansion in Japan

Energy News Beat Hiroshima facility expansion targets high-bandwidth memory (HBM) for AI as the company reports record earnings and advances global capacity buildout Hiroshima, Japan – July 5, 2026Micron Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MU) held a groundbreaking ceremony on July 4, 2026, for a major expansion of its semiconductor manufacturing facility in Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture, western […]

Canada, Alberta announce new West Coast oil pipeline to boost exports

Energy News Beat CALGARY — In a major step toward diversifying Canadian crude exports, Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced on July 2, 2026, plans for a new West Coast oil pipeline capable of transporting 1 million barrels per day (bpd) from Alberta’s oil sands to a deep-water terminal on British […]

Largest US power grid PJM escalates emergency actions to avoid blackouts

Energy News Beat The largest U.S. regional transmission organization, PJM Interconnection, escalated emergency measures on July 3, 2026, issuing a federal alert to cut electricity consumption across its vast territory amid generator outages, overloaded high-voltage transmission lines, and surging air-conditioning demand from a prolonged heatwave. PJM, which manages the electric grid for approximately 67 million […]

Jack Prandelli stops by the Energy News Beat Global Oil and Gas Markets Update

Energy News Beat You won’t want to miss this episode with Jack Prandelli from Switzerland. As an international trader and Substack Author, Jack has been on target with his articles on global oil and Gas Markets. Check out The Merchant’s News : https://themerchantsnews.substack.com/ Follow Jack on X @jackprandelli Connect with Jack on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prandelligiacomo/ Add Free for our SubStack […]

China Merchants Stay the Course on VLCCs – What does this mean for the energy markets?

Energy News Beat China Merchants Energy Shipping (CMES) is doubling down on Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs), signaling strong long-term confidence in global crude oil trade despite short-term market volatility. In a recent Lloyd’s List report, the Chinese shipping giant dismissed a nearly 40% drop in VLCC spot rates since late June 2026 as a […]

The U.S. is leading SMR Projects Globally

Energy News Beat Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are reshaping the nuclear energy landscape with their compact size (typically up to 300 MWe per unit, versus 1,000–1,400 MWe for traditional large reactors), factory-built modular designs, enhanced safety features, and faster deployment potential. These attributes make SMRs ideal for powering data centers, remote communities, industrial sites, and […]

Calls for Oil Glut May Not Consider Realistic Oil Movements and Exploration

Energy News Beat Recent analyst predictions of an impending oil glut and sharply lower prices have gained traction amid falling benchmark crude prices and reports of recovering tanker flows through the Strait of Hormuz. However, a closer look at actual oil movements, inventory dynamics, refinery constraints, and exploration activity suggests these calls may be getting […]

US is looking to ban Chinese inverters on Green Energy

Energy News Beat The Trump administration is drafting restrictions that would effectively ban imports of new foreign-made energy inverters used in solar projects and battery storage systems, citing risks that China could use the devices to disrupt U.S. power supplies. According to an exclusive Reuters report published June 30, 2026, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) […]

World’s Largest Data Center Project On Verge Of Collapse After Blackstone Unexpectedly Pulls Out

Energy News Beat In a significant setback for one of the most ambitious AI infrastructure projects in the United States, Blackstone-backed QTS Realty Trust has decided to abandon its portion of the Prince William Digital Gateway (also known as the PW Digital Gateway) in Northern Virginia’s Prince William County. The move comes just days after […]