Media missives from ADIPEC 2025

ADIPEC 2025 drew to a close on November 6 and the Oilholic had an engaging week out in Abu Dhabi. Yours truly hosted four pivotal industry panel sessions at the event on subjects ranging from hydrogen to downstream decarbonisation.

This blogger also hit the airwaves to discuss the wider energy market, quarterly results of BP and Aramco, oil supply and demand scenarios for 2026, investment by the energy sector in automation and AI, and some of the soundbites coming out of this year's ADIPEC. 

These included broadcasting calls with the BBC, France 24, and more, with the Oilholic's week also peppered with plenty of missives via the keyboard for Forbes, and of course this blog.

This year, yours truly also partnered with Schneider Electric for a global research project on the adoption of automation in the energy sector, the first phase of which - on the Middle East - was released at the event. Further details are here. 

All blog entries for ADIPEC 2025 may be found here. And here are selected Forbes copies in chronological order based on soundbites and insights from just before, during, and immediately after the event: 

• AI Is Reshaping How Industries Run, Compete, And Grow, October 26, 2025
• Energy CEOs Warn More Investment Is Needed As Demand Continues To Rise, November 3, 2025
• Big Oil Earnings Season Marks A Return To Basics With Lower Profits, November 10, 2025
• Big Oil Is Pairing Up With Big Tech For An Opportunity Worth Billions, November 11, 2025

That's a wrap for this year's ADIPEC. Keep reading, keep it here, keep it 'crude'! 

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To email: journalist_gsharma@yahoo.co.uk  

© Gaurav Sharma 2025. Photo: Gaurav Sharma at ADIPEC 2025 studio in Abu Dhabi, UAE on November 4, 2025 © dmgevents / APCO Worldwide. 

ADIPEC Days III & IV: Energy. Intelligence. Impact.

As ADIPEC 2025 entered its home stretch, the broader conference-wide discourse continued to both amplify as well as offer a diverse range of views on the event's tagline of 'Energy. Intelligence. Impact.'

Several discussion slants across the event bolstered the belief that the planet's energy future will be shaped not by any one solution or sector segment, but by collaboration across industries, generations and geographies. A true energy mix if you wish. 

To this effect, ADIPEC saw ministers, CEOs, ultra high net worth investors, innovators and leading academics call for strong partnerships between public and private sectors, aligning targeted investment with innovation, and accelerate the technologies needed to deliver affordable, sustainable and secure energy for all.

Afterall as many leaders put it - energy equals jobs, growth and prosperity - which is why getting it right in the transition era matters. The Oilholic entered the homestretch of ADIPEC 2025 with three panel sessions at a cantor. On Wednesday, yours truly moderated a session titled 'Driving hydrogen forward: technology, standards and a level playing field.' 

Panellists included Nobuo Tanaka, CEO, Tanaka Global & Executive Director Emeritus, International Energy Agency (IEA), Raphaël Tilot, CEO, John Cockerill Hydrogen, Koji Yamamoto, CTO, JOGMEC, Michèle Azalbert, Chief Hydrogen Officer, Gentari and Lionel Sinaï-Sinelnikoff, Strategic Advisor, Beyond Aero. 

We all know that hydrogen’s success as a global energy carrier will depend not only on technological breakthroughs but also on the creation of a stable, transparent, and equitable framework that allows those technologies to thrive. 

The panellists discussed establishing internationally recognised definitions of "clean" hydrogen, common life-cycle carbon accounting methodologies, and compatible certification schemes deemed vital to building investor confidence and facilitating cross-border trade. 

They also explored how learnings from the LNG trade can potentially help unlock hydrogen markets, enable global trade, and accelerate the path to affordability and sustainability. 

Next up for this blogger on Wednesday was a panel on the 'The future of refining: decarbonisation, demand disruption, and strategic direction.'

The panellists included Sultan Albigishi , CEO, ADNOC Refining, Arvinder Singh Sahney, Chairman, Indian Oil Corporation, Dr. Mumuni Dagazau, EVP Downstream, NNPC Limited, Anibor Kragha, Executive Secretary, African Refiners and Distributors Association (ARDA) and Sylvain Cabalery, SVP Sustainable Fuels, Chemicals and Circularity, Technip Energies. 

In a lively discussion, the panellists offered their perspectives on how refining strategies are evolving to balance decarbonisation targets with structural market pressures, including overcapacity, shifting demand, and long-term competitiveness.

And on Thursday - ADIPEC's final day - the Oilholic turned his attention to financial innovation, chairing an open forum discussion with full audience participation, on 'Building the future energy system through infrastructure investment.' 

The speakers, who also directly engaged with members of the audience included Rajarshi Gupta, MD & CEO, ONGC Videsh Ltd and Jamil Asfour, Head of the Energy & Utilities Sector, Contango.  

Both offered their takes on innovative financing models such as infrastructure funds and public-private partnerships that address the complexities associated with critical projects will be crucial to unlocking the necessary investment to build the energy systems of the future. 

The audience members and speakers also discussed how investors, policymakers, energy executives and technology developers are planning to finance the infrastructure required for energy security and sustainability to thrive together, and what the future holds.

And with that ended the Oilholic's engagements this year ADIPEC. As always, it has been a memorable and insightful time our here in Abu Dhabi. But alas that's a wrap folks. More musings to follow real soon. Keep reading, keep it here, keep it 'crude'!

To follow The Oilholic on Twitter click here.

To follow The Oilholic on Forbes click here.

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To email: journalist_gsharma@yahoo.co.uk  

© Gaurav Sharma 2025. Photo I: Energy Analyst Gaurav Sharma at ADIPEC 2025 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Photo II: Energy Analyst Gaurav Sharma moderates ADIPEC 2025 panel on the future of refining: decarbonisation, demand disruption, and strategic direction. Photo III: Visitors to ADIPEC 2025 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Photo I: © Gaurav Sharma 2025. Photos II & III © ADIPEC / dmgevents.

ADIPEC Days I & II: Upscaling energy AI & automation

The first two days of ADIPEC 2025 have flown by and energy technology is all the rage here in Abu Dhabi, UAE. 

Accompanied, of course, by a rallying cry to invest more as the world's energy needs rise. 

Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Group CEO of ADNOC - the host of the mega-event - told attendees that a "balanced and inclusive approach" was needed to meet rising global energy demand. 

Here is the Oilholic's full report for Forbes following the event's opening ceremony on Monday. Al Jaber also called for capital investment and infrastructure development to optimise energy, advance technology to enable progress, and the embrace of artificial intelligence. 

And by the look of things at ADIPEC 2025, the energy industry isn't waiting for an invitation. In whichever direction you turn at ADIPEC's venue ADNEC, you'll see robots roaming, predictive maintenance solutions demos, AR/VR equipment for health and safety training, cloud computing offerings, and so they go.

What's more, even the exhibition space allocated to the event's AI zone went up this year to 3,150 sq. m. from last year’s 2,275 sq. m. It offers a sense of the profound changes that are afoot in the industry and its direction of travel. 

Speaking of which, over the last few months yours truly has been privileged to provide insights for Schneider Electric's energy automation report. 

It will eventually take the shape of a global piece of research on the progression of automation in the energy sector. 

The report's first section - on the Middle East - was published on Tuesday morning at ADIPEC. The Oilholic was delighted to join Devan Pillay, President Heavy Industries at Schneider Electric for the launch. 

The reporting team's fascinating findings from the Middle East signal a profound shift - autonomous technologies that boost efficiency and reduce emissions are now a strategic priority for one of the world's most prominent energy hubs and a bid for operational excellence by GCC energy majors. 

Nearly 80% of Middle Eastern energy sector leaders reported advanced operational readiness, highlighting the region’s strong ambition toward autonomous operations. And they're just getting started. More on stage I of the report's findings here. 

As Pillay noted: "Autonomous operations are increasingly seen as a strategic enabler across industries, driving gains in efficiency, scalability, and resilience. 

"In the energy sector, where safety, reliability, and sustainability are critical, autonomous systems can monitor and respond in real time, reduce manual intervention in hazardous environments, and support smarter, data-driven decision-making. Crucially, they also support both onshore and remote operations, reducing offsite travel and improving work-life balance."

Yours truly also hit the airwaves to discuss the financials of Aramco and BP both of whom published their quarterlies on Tuesday too, starting with the BBC's morning business bulletins, with two market commentary hits in quick succession on the same channel. 

The Oilholic noted that while both companies managed to beat earnings expectations, unsurprisingly their returns were nothing like we saw in the wake of Russia-Ukraine war. The low oil price environment for much of the previous quarter also dented earnings. 

Aramco kept its bumper base dividend (of $21.1 billion) while BP maintained its share buyback at $750 million. In the case of the latter, whisper gently, but perhaps a turnaround may be on the horizon. 

Later on Tuesday, yours truly also moderated a panel titled 'Future-proofing feedstock strategies: from sourcing advantage to system adaptability.'

The panellists included Maurits van Tol, Chief Executive, Catalyst Technologies, Johnson Matthey, Marc-Xavier Joubert, Corporate Strategy Officer, SUEZ, and S. Bharathan, Member of the Board of Directors, Refineries, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited. We discussed how downstream players are reshaping sourcing models, processing capabilities and risk strategies to unlock value across an increasingly complex feedstock landscape.

The panellists offered a steer on how forward-thinking refineries and petrochemical plants should attempt to align their sourcing strategy with infrastructure adaptability, harnessing technological leaps and innovative solutions to unlock both commercial advantage and long-term sustainability. 

And the Oilholic rounded up an interesting first two days at ADIPEC over a round of drinks with none other than the inimitable Nobuo Tanaka, Executive Director Emeritus of the International Energy Agency (IEA). 

It was a privilege to unwind after a hectic but rewarding first two days at ADIPEC and hear Tanaka's views on the evolving energy mix, his faith in the potential of hydrogen (that's still intact) and prevailing geopolitics. Well that's all for the moment from ADIPEC folks. More musings to follow real soon. Keep reading, keep it here, keep it 'crude'!

To follow The Oilholic on Twitter click here.

To follow The Oilholic on Forbes click here.

To follow The Oilholic on Energy Connects click here.

To email: journalist_gsharma@yahoo.co.uk  

© Gaurav Sharma 2025. Photo I: Exhibition floor of ADIPEC 2025 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Photo II: Energy Analyst Gaurav Sharma with Devan Pillay, President Heavy Industries at Schneider Electric. Photo III: Energy Analyst Gaurav Sharma offering market commentary on the BBC from ADIPEC 2025. Photo IV: ADIPEC panel on future-proofing feedstock strategies moderated by Energy Analyst Gaurav Sharma. Photo V: Nobuo Tanaka, Executive Director Emeritus, International Energy Agency (left) with Energy Analyst Gaurav Sharma. Photos I, II, IV & V © Gaurav Sharma 2025. Photo III © BBC, November 2025.

Speaking at Schneider Electric's Innovation Summit

Delighted to announce that yours truly has partnered with global digital automation and energy management giant Schneider Electric to speak and moderate at the company's upcoming Innovation Summit.

The event - being held from October 22 to 23, 2025 in Copenhagen, Denmark - is part of Schneider Electric's global Innovation Summit series. This year's theme is "Impact today for a better tomorrow."

Explore the summit's ground-breaking agenda here. 

The two-day event will draw in a number of global leaders and industry experts including Olivier Blum, CEO of Schneider Electric, Lord Turner, Chair of Energy Transitions Commission, Nicolai Wammen, Minister of Finance of Denmark, Dr Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, Tobias Hansson, Country President, Hitachi Energy Sweden, and Teppo Hemiä, CEO of Wirepas, among many others. 

Really looking forward to the deliberations, meeting industry leaders, technologists, Schneider Electric experts and friends. Join, if you can, for some fantastic industry exchanges and networking in Copenhagen. More musings to follow soon. Keep reading, keep it here, keep it 'crude'!

To follow The Oilholic on Twitter click here.

To follow The Oilholic on Forbes click here.

To follow The Oilholic on Energy Connects click here.

To email: journalist_gsharma@yahoo.co.uk  

© Gaurav Sharma 2025. Photo: Speaker profile of energy analyst Gaurav Sharma at Innovation Summit 2025 in Copenhagen, Denmark © Schneider Electric, October, 2025.

Attending the Fuellers' Master installation dinner

The Oilholic joined friends and colleagues from across the energy spectrum for a very special occasion last Wednesday - the installation ceremony and dinner of his good friend and fellow industry analyst Ashutosh Shastri as the Master of The Worshipful Company of Fuellers, one of the livery companies of the City of London. 

The company has its historic roots in coal and the earliest known references to it appear in 1376, according to national archives. 

Its origins can be traced backed to the Worshipful Company of Woodmongers & Coal Sellers, commonly known as the Fuellers. Some other fun facts at a glance include being granted City Status in 1981, Livery Status in 1984, and (another) Royal Charter in 2014. It had a Royal charter previously, but surrendered it not so long ago in 1667! The Fuellers are now associated with the entire energy sector. 

For the next year, Shastri will have the privilege and pleasure of leading the Company that is a powerful voice across the industry with members representing oil, gas, renewables, nuclear, hydrogen segments, and more. 

They engage in a range of activities from production, supply and distribution to research and analysis, finance and education to energy procurement. 

As for the Master Fueller Ashutosh "Ash" Shastri himself, yours truly first met him some 15 years ago at an energy conference in Istanbul. A sparring match on a panel over the future of LNG and role of natural gas in the energy mix subsequently led to a friendship that's stood the test of time. 

In his address, the Master Fueller spoke of the need for collaboration, listening and engaging when it comes to dealing with the pressing issue of our age - energy security and competitive pricing. It was great joining him on this momentous occasion, and to meet so many familiar faces and friends from the industry. 

In particular, it was great to catch up with the inimitable Neil Atkinson, a voice of reason in the world of energy analysis and Court Assistant to The Fuellers, in-person for a change after ages (rather than via a video call), and raise a glass (make that two) of bubbly. 

Also met Valerie Ducrot, Executive Director of the Global Gas Centre, for the very first time and heard about the Centre's sterling work. 

Along with the installation of Shastri as the Master, came the appointments of Louise Thompson as Senior Warden, and Dr Tom James, Junior Warden, as officers of the company. The Oilholic's sincere congratulations to the Worshipful Company of Fuellers for putting on a splendid event, and to Shastri, Thompson and James for their installation as current officers of the Company. 

Last, but certainly not the least, sincere congratulations also to Elena Oderstone, the immediate past Master who handed over Shastri, for her sterling work for the Company over the last 12 months, and her longstanding engagement with it through various offices.

Well that's all for the moment folks. More musings to follow soon. Keep reading, keep it here, keep it 'crude'!

To follow The Oilholic on Twitter click here.

To follow The Oilholic on Forbes click here.

To follow The Oilholic on Energy Connects click here.

To email: journalist_gsharma@yahoo.co.uk  

© Gaurav Sharma 2025. Photo I: Installation ceremony of Ashutosh Shastri as the Master of The Worshipful Company of Fuellers on October 8, 2025. Photo II: Master Ashutosh Shastri addresses he Worshipful Company of Fuellers' dinner attendees. Photo III: © Gaurav Sharma (left) with fellow independent energy analyst, and court assistant to the Fuellers Neil Atkinson. October, 2025.

Charting the 'crude' trajectory of modern oil trading

Oil is the unmistakable poster child of the global commodities business. It is also a mission critical piece of the global economy, and a commodity that continues to have a profound impact on the world's financial systems and whole societies. And its all predicated on modern oil trading. 

So, if you’ve ever wondered how the industry and the 'black gold' trade has evolved, a new book - The Rivers of Money: Social and Economic History of Modern Oil Trading, by Adi Imsirovic and Colin Bryce, would be a splendid one to read.

The authors offer a deep dive based on their domain expertise of the evolution of modern oil trading, its implications, key movers and shakers, politics and idiosyncrasies.

Their book is a detailed explainer-cum-tale of the billions of dollars that are exchanged on any given trading day in the oil market, encompassing futures, forwards, swaps and options and all the financial intricacies in between.

For Imsirovic and Bryce, the global oil market "resembles a powerful river of capital, constantly flowing towards the most profitable and cost-efficient opportunities, much like water seeking the path of least resistance."

While this flow cannot be halted, the authors note that "it can be strategically guided to maximise social benefits" and explain how oil traders "navigate these swirling waters, leveraging arbitrage opportunities to channel oil across borders to the places of most efficient usage."

In a book of just under 350 pages, split by 18 detailed chapters, Imsirovic and Bryce take the reader through significant points in the history of the oil business, their impact and role in shaping what subsequently followed.

Key developments like the Suez Crisis, founding of OPEC, Arab Oil embargo, decline of the oil majors, growth of Asian markets, emergence of independent traders, major historical political interventions, ethics violations, resource curse hypotheses and legislative changes - most notably ones like US President Richard Nixon's pricing system and the arbitrage opportunities it created for traders – all undergo an authoritative examination.

An account of the transformation brought about by the City of London’s bulking up of crude volumes and Wall Street’s involvement in oil trading, both of which introduced new financial products and practices, is equally riveting.

For the authors, that marked the oil market's journey from a controlled oligopoly in the 1970s to a more dynamic trading environment, when the likes of Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley entered the fray in the mid-1980s with rising numbers of hedge funds and spot traders in tow.

Of particular significance, as Imsirovic and Bryce detail, was the NYMEX’s introduction of the WTI crude oil contract in 1983, and it becoming a key price leader.

It all played a part in giving rise to a metaphorical river where "the sheer scale of the financial currents propelled by the immense volume and value of oil become relentless, powerful streams of both oil and money carving their way through the global economy."

It would be hard for, perhaps even unfair of, the Oilholic to pick excerpts and chapters in Rivers of Money, to mark as favourites. But if forced to – chapters 14 and 17 – "A billion dollars is not what it used to be" and "Paper boys" – were fascinating passages, based purely on this blogger’s specific areas of interest in a wider industry context, and immensely liking the authors' take on them as part of their holistic work on the subject matter.

Equally impactful is the authors' take on the people behind the ‘crude’ deals, electronic trading, technological advancements, data analytics and a gradual reshaping of the oil trading landscape driven by human nature and economic imperatives.

All-in-all, Rivers of Money by Imsirovic and Bryce is a thoroughly enjoyable book on the evolution of oil trading that both informs and makes you reflect on what is, and will be, the energy commodity of our age for a large length of time.

To follow The Oilholic on Twitter click here.

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To email: journalist_gsharma@yahoo.co.uk  

© Gaurav Sharma 2025. Photo: The Rivers of Money: Social and Economic History of Modern Oil Trading © Palgrave Macmillan, 2025.

Gastech Days I & II: Powering a sustainable energy future

The first two days of Gastech 2025 - which officially runs from September 9 to 12 in Milan, Italy - have flown by with senior energy officials, CEOs and global industry experts offering their viewpoints on "powering a sustainable energy future."

The tag line of the event was amplified on Tuesday and Wednesday by two top US officials, dispatched by President Donald Trump, to spread the word that energy, especially LNG, exports from the States will be a stable and reliable for a power hungry world. 

That's as the proliferation of AI and hyperscale datacentres present the prospect of the world's power demand adding the entire consumption of Japan - the world's fourth-largest economy - by the end of the year to the world's current demand level. That'd be a total consumption load of 1,000 TWh, or more than double of what the planet consumed three years ago. 

Renewables simply cant meet that demand, and that's where LNG exports from the US come into view, according to Doug Burgum, Secretary of the Interior and Chris Wright, Energy Secretary. 

Both officials spent plenty of time at Gastech spread over the first two days, making a case for natural gas, and indicating that the US would double its natural gas production. 

Both officials also suggested that the US natural gas industry in general, and LNG in particular, were a force for good and a key enabler of the AI revolution. Here is the Oilholic's latest Forbes missive summing up the US pitch. 

Away from the US position, and prior to Washington's take dominating the goings-on at Gastech 2025, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, Italy's Minister of Environment & Energy Security launched the event on the opening morning on behalf of the host country. 

“Despite the progress of the energy transition, gas will continue to be part of the EU's energy mix for decades to come. This is why the Italian government – while working to ensure that clean, safe and reliable technology such as new nuclear power meets future growing energy demand – is at the same time ensuring that gas supplies are boosted and regasification capacity is increased,” Fratin noted.

Other officials from the European Union, Nigeria, Hungary, and Türkiye, also discussed the crucial role of energy supply diversification, global cooperation, and resilient infrastructure in shaping an inclusive and balanced transformation. 

In particular, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó ruffled a few feathers by noting that his country does have alternatives to Russian oil and gas imports, but chooses to rely on Moscow for strategic, cost efficiency and infrastructural reasons, and not ideological ones. 

Senior industry CEO's also came calling. Claudio Descalzi, CEO of Italy's Eni, told Gastech: "We want to reduce emissions, but this is not achievable overnight. 

"You cannot do it by losing money or through subsidies and incentives. You have to make it affordable, because that is the economy - there is no other way."

Shell CEO Wael Sawan added: "Consistency of the regulatory environment is a priority, making sure that regulation incentivises one area but does not disincentivise others. 

"Everyone is rightly saying that we need to go to lower carbon products, yet we see maximum consumption of everything. We therefore need to broaden the perspective to say not what is good or bad, but to create the right incentives to allow the market to function."

And TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanne warned the Americans were building too much LNG infrastructure. "We are facing many US projects. We will face oversupply for some years if all these projects come onstream."

Well into Day II the focus was firmly on the natural gas-AI nexus, as the Oilholic began his Gastech 2025 speaking engagements with a panel on achieving operational excellence through the application of AI. 

The panellists included Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Alebri, CEO of ADNOC Sour Gas, Olakunle Osobu, Deputy MD of NLNG, Michael Deighton, SVP - Operations at Kent, Fabricio Sousa, Global President - Worley Consulting & Technology Solutions at Worley and Andy Webster, Global Digital Senior Director at KBR. 

The engaging panel discussion offered actionable insights into leveraging AI for enhancing  system reliability, and maintain a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving energy landscape. That's as natural gas, hydrogen, and power networks face mounting pressure to enhance efficiency and resilience.

In step with the conference, Gastech's exhibition also opened its doors with a focus on supporting industry growth and collaboration, bringing in more than 1,000 global exhibitors and 20 country pavilions showcase a transformative range of products and services.

From hydrogen-ready equipment and next-generation LNG terminals to AI and machine learning platforms, the exhibition underscored Gastech’s role as the leading meeting place for executives, investors, and innovators to scale new solutions for efficiency and decarbonisation across the value chain.

Yours truly also took time out to discuss the Norwegian election results as they arrived on Day I of Gastech with Enda Brady on TRT World's Roundtable programme. 

Among various other macroeconomic facets, we talked about how Norway's hydrocarbon production is currently at its highest since 2011, by drilling and producing from the North Sea - the very same continental shelf it shares with the UK. 

Ironically while the UK is discouraging fresh North Sea production, Norway's centre-left government that's just been re-elected has no such hang ups. That includes exporting $30 billion-plus of natural gas to none other than their British counterparts, currently governed by a party also of a supposed centre-left political persuasion!

That's all for now folks. More musings to follow from Milan over the coming days. Keep reading, keep it here, keep it 'crude'! 

To follow The Oilholic on Twitter click here.

To follow The Oilholic on Forbes click here.

To follow The Oilholic on Energy Connects click here.

To email: journalist_gsharma@yahoo.co.uk  

© Gaurav Sharma 2025. Photo I: Gastech 2025 which officially runs from September 9 to 12 in Milan, Italy. Photo II: Doug Burgum, US Secretary of the Interior, speaks at Gastech on September 9, 2025. Photo III: Wael Sawan, CEO of Shell, speaks at Gastech on September 9, 2025. © Gaurav Sharma, September 2025. Photo IV: Energy Analyst Gaurav Sharma moderates panel on achieving operational excellence through the application of AI on September 10, 2025. © KBR, September 2025. Photo V: Gastech 2025 exhibition floor on September 10, 2025. © Gaurav Sharma, September 2025. Photo VI: Energy Analyst Gaurav Sharma speaks on TRT World's Roundtable programme. © TRT World, September 2025.

A Brent crude price floor at $65 for now?

The global oil market saw crude futures jump to two-week highs on Thursday with the Brent front-month futures contract keeping up its defence of $65 per barrel. But for how long that is the question? 

What's just happened is that a dip in US inventories bumped up the prices a smidge, with little tangible movement on the Ukraine peace push by US President Donald Trump. 

But as The Oilholic told Reuters this morning, if the White House's efforts do result in a halt to hostilities in Ukraine, and Russia gradually coming back into the international fold, it will be bearish for the crude market. 

While for now the Brent price floor to watch out for remains at $65 per barrel, geopolitical infractions aside, there appears to be a mismatch in where the prices are at compared to current global OPEC and non-OPEC crude output levels. 

There will likely be a supply surplus as we enter the fourth quarter of the year and head to the first quarter of 2026, as yours truly said in a recent Al Jazeera interview.

Year-till-date, Brent remains down by around 10% and there's further ground to give. And well, that can only be price positive for global consumers. 

Away from crude prices, here are a couple of Forbes missives from this blogger published over the last few days on Elon Musk and Tesla's potential bid to shake-up the UK electricity market, and why New Zealand's lifting of its 2018 oil and gas drilling ban is unlikely to alleviate the industry pain and energy shortages it caused anytime soon. 

Well that's all for the moment folks! More musings to follow soon. Keep reading, keep it here, keep it 'crude'! 

To follow The Oilholic on Twitter click here.

To follow The Oilholic on Forbes click here.

To follow The Oilholic on Energy Connects click here.

To email: journalist_gsharma@yahoo.co.uk  

© Gaurav Sharma 2025. Photo: Energy analyst Gaurav Sharma on Al Jazeera English TV network. © Al Jazeera, August 2025. 

Speaking and moderating at Gastech 2025

Delighted to announce that yours truly will be speaking and moderating at Gastech 2025 in Milan, Italy, from September 9 to 12, one of the world's largest natural gas industry event. 

Explore this global event's critical conference agenda that is driving the energy transition through groundbreaking innovation, visionary leadership and action here.

Further details on the Oilholic's panels and sessions to follow here over the coming weeks.

Entering its 53rd year this September, Gastech will champion the role of natural gas in delivering affordable, reliable, low carbon energy to meet rising global energy demands. 

Over four days, Gastech will convene 50,000 attendees from over 150 countries, 1,000 exhibitors and 21,000 expert speakers, present company included, uniting the world’s leading energy professionals to power the sustainable energy ecosystem of tomorrow. 

Looking forward to the deliberations, meeting thought leaders and friends. Join, if you can, for some fantastic industry exchanges and networking in Milan. 

Keep reading, keep it here, keep it 'crude'! 

To follow The Oilholic on Twitter click here.

To follow The Oilholic on Forbes click here.

To follow The Oilholic on Energy Connects click here.

To email: journalist_gsharma@yahoo.co.uk  

© Gaurav Sharma 2025. Digital event banner courtesy of dmgevents, August 2025.

Seesawing crude price, fresh lows & more

Oil prices have been seesawing all of this week in the wake of another round of Trump Tariffs, an OPEC+ production hike, market uncertainty, and so it goes. You name it, the market bears have it with crude prices currently lurking around 8-week lows. 

Brent closed at its lowest since June 10 on Wednesday, while the WTI closed at its lowest since June 5. 

However, even if you were to drown out the latest din, it is almost inescapable that both benchmarks have struggled to meaningfully maintain a price floor of $70 a barrel. 

Specifically on the global proxy benchmark Brent, as The Oilholic told Reuters, for all of what has been thrown the oil market's way geopolitically, it has struggled to stay above $70 a barrel for any convincing length of time. 

At the time of writing, Brent is down by over 10% on the year, 9% on a six-month basis, and, even more tellingly 11% year-to-date. That's because despite the various permutations and shifts the market has seen, it essentially remains well supplied at a time of uncertain demand.

Furthermore, the various macro factors - most notably China’s manufacturing contraction, weak US labour market data, and the chaos of Trump Tariffs - continue to temper expectations of any sort of lasting bullishness for crude.

Away from crude prices, here are yours truly's Forbes missives on a 10th successive quarterly profit decline at Saudi Aramco, Shell's share buybacks despite its own profits dip, and BP's latest bid to cheer up its underwhelmed shareholders. 

Additionally, here's The Oilholic's latest column for Energy Connects on the sector's incremental embrace of industrial AI and the commercial opportunities that presents the technology industry. 

Well that's all for now folks! More musings to follow soon. Keep reading, keep it here, keep it 'crude'! 

To follow The Oilholic on Twitter click here.

To follow The Oilholic on Forbes click here.

To follow The Oilholic on Energy Connects click here.

To email: journalist_gsharma@yahoo.co.uk  

© Gaurav Sharma 2025. Photo: Oil pump jack building block model at the AVEVA World 2023 Conference, Moscone Center, San Francisco, US © Gaurav Sharma, October 2023.