A 'crude' view from Singapore as oil hits a crazy patch

As the Middle East crisis rages and the global oil market rides a roller-coaster, the Oilholic has headed out East to Singapore - Asia's energy gateway - to find out what contacts here make of the latest turmoil. 

Here's a view of tankers in the waters off Singapore from this blogger's flight - British Airways BA 11 from London's Heathrow Airport to Singapore's Changi Airport - as it was coming in to land on Monday. 

It is a customary sight that greets visitors to the City-state. For context, Singapore is a vital link between Middle Eastern crude producers and the high demand centres of Asia. It is among the world's top three trading hubs and has a refining capacity of 1.5 million plus barrels per day with the Jurong Island petrochemical complex at the heart of it all. 

It is also the world's largest bunkering port for marine fuels supplying close to 55 million tons per annum based on data from various industry aggregators. Virtually, every major oil and gas firm has trading operations here, including energy behemoths from India to the UK. 

And Singapore also happens to be a leader in building high-end FPSO - or Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading - units and jack-up rigs. All-in-all, there simply isn't a better place to gauge the market mood in Asia than Singapore, and that mood has turned sour pretty rapidly since the crisis began.  

As yours truly was making his way from London to Singapore, the Brent front-month futures contract hit $100+ per barrel before retreating back to the $90s (on US President Donald's Trump's latest quip on Iran), and Brent-WTI differential came down to sub-$4 at one point. 

Where is all this going in the event of a prolonged conflict in the Middle East is what's worrying the industry here. True there is a lot of non-OPEC, non-Middle Eastern crude out in the market, but for high-demand Asian economies - the Middle East remains its main supplier, and for many the only supplier of crude. 

For several Asian buyers supply restrictions from the Middle East are a source of huge anxiety. According to S&P Global Platts data, the region accounts for nearly 60% of all crude oil and petrochemical feedstock to Asia, with Saudi Arabia, UAE and Iraq being the leading exporters in that order. 

Sourcing from elsewhere is both "problematic and expensive" says one market source. Geography lays bare the expensive bit of that. In normal circumstances, it takes 21 to 28 days from oil from the Middle East via the Strait of Hormuz to reach China. By comparison, West African or American crude takes 42 to 56 days to reach a comparable Chinese hub. 

Furthermore, you can't just put a new crude configuration or another type from elsewhere in a snap - the problematic bit. That's because the cracking or processing points - as they are known in the industry - for separating crude oil into its various products, need to be adjusted. 

Here's a BBC World Service explainer the Oilholic contributed to a few months back when the Venezuela situation erupted. These are troubling times for many in Asia who can't turn elsewhere and don't have the resourcing diversity that China and India have. 

Two indicators - and rather clear ones too - happen to be that high sulphur bunker fuel delivered in Singapore has risen by over 40%, while jet fuel has risen by 140% (currently trading around ~$230 per barrel) since the conflict began. 

Yours truly will continue to monitor what the coming days greet us with, but that's all for now folks. Next stop is Hong Kong. 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 2026. Photo: Tankers off Singapore as seen from British Airways flight BA11 from London's Heathrow Airport to Singapore's Changi Airport on Monday, March 9, 2026. © Gaurav Sharma 2026.

Nearly a week in to the latest Middle East crisis

It's nearly coming up to a week since the latest Middle East crisis began last Saturday, after US and Israeli jets pounded Iran and took out its senior leadership. Tehran retaliated by hitting targets across the region embroiling several oil and gas producing Gulf states in a war that isn't of their choosing. 

The skirmishes continue at the time of writing and the conflict is threatening to spiral out of control. Iran - which physically does not need to close the key maritime artery that's the Strait of Hormuz and actually can't - has threatened to do so. It has spooked both shipping firms and insurers thereby severely reducing transits in the Strait. 

Brent and WTI front-month contracts are above $80 levels, with the former nearing $90 on Friday. Unsurprisingly, the Oilholic has spent the entirety of the week providing client intel and analysis, alongside changing travel plans to the region with air-space(s) shut and media commentary.

Natural gas prices are another matter of concern after Qatar stopped its LNG exports on Monday knocking off 20% of the world's LNG supply. It triggered a jump of over 40% to begin with before calm returned followed by another rise. Prices are higher at the moment but not at Ukraine War levels yet when the initial shock of that event hit the markets and lurked around for much of 2022. 

Switching back to thoughts on the oil price - firstly, the reason we are not yet talking of $150 oil prices (or at least this blogger isn't) is largely thanks to the comfort cushion of non-OPEC crude barrels. Let's not forget that the market was heading for a surplus before the conflict started. Secondly, oil is not just a story of supply but one of demand too, which is looking pretty lacklustre in the run up to the conflict. 

Secondly, what is US President Donald Trump's end goal? Quite possibly, some say almost certainly - regime change - and/or a destruction of both Iran's nuclear programme as well as its ability to militarily threaten the region directly or via proxies like Hezbollah, Houthi rebels and Hamas. All of these perhaps cannot be met via an aerial bombardment. 

So where is the crisis going - an achieving of partial objectives and an off-ramp for the warring sides? A prolonged conflict? That's anybody's guess. But right now the market appears to be betting on an easing of hostilities within four to six weeks based on the soundbites from the White House. 

If that happens to be the case, the market bulls currently out in force will enjoy a short-lived outing, and the perma-bulls are unlikely to get much joy. Since last Saturday, yours truly has also been discussing this and much more with publications, radio and television networks including Tagesspiegel, BBC World Service Radio, Energy Connects, Arabian Gulf Business Insights, Radio New Zealand, Al Jazeera English, TRT World and BBC World News. 

That'd be seven days, eight media outlets, discussing where all this is heading to, all alongside modelling and making predictions for clients during an unprecedented global event. 

Overall, the crude oil market finds itself in uncharted waters and a profound geopolitical crisis. But the price risk is at present manageable with OPEC+ currently somewhat of a spectator to what's unfolding. While a prolonged conflict could change that, we are not there yet. 

Should we get there, high oil (and gas) prices would put inflationary pressures on consumers and industries to begin with felt most acutely in Europe and Asia. However, the domino effect would subsequently dent demand and global economic growth. 

We're in for a roller-coaster over the coming weeks. Let's see what the coming days greet us with first. 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 2026. Photo (Top to Bottom): Gaurav Sharma, Energy Analyst, Oilholics Synonymous, on BBC News (March 6, 2026), Al Jazeera English (March 2, 2026) and TRT World (March 5, 2026).

Talking smart home control systems with Starflow

Gaurav Sharma, Energy Analyst, Oilholics Synonymous, (left) with Jonas Helmikstøl, CEO of Starflow in Oslo, Norway.

As the concept of digital home control systems, or energy home hubs advances - there's is a lot of kit out there promising to optimise your 'smart' home, complete with energy savings to back that up. 

But last month, the Oilholic got a rather unique demo in Oslo, Norway from Starflow, a startup backed by serial entrepreneur Jonas Helmikstøl. The company is working on bringing together the concept of a home hub and a direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) inverter under one console. 

Here's the logic - solar panels are increasingly finding favour with end-consumers in smart homes. But solar panels, and batteries, use DC while homes run on AC. Inverters help with the conversion between the two. In tandem, the home hubs bring an efficient energy control dynamic for a smart home into view. 

"Our idea is to not treat the inverter like a commodity, but as the foundation of a seamless home energy experience by overlaying it with a home console and control unit," Helmikstøl said. 

The idea was born in 2023, after Helmikstøl and fellow Starflow co-founders Ola Stengel (Chief Technology Officer) and Nikolai Konopelko (Principal Electronics Engineer) saw an opportunity to "harmonise the chaos" of various smart home concepts, technologies and residential renewable energy generation via solar panels. 

Following a very interesting demo, Helmikstøl told The Oilholic that while both home hubs and inverters have been around for a while, his company's bid to integrate the two into a lightweight, modular, and "visually appealing" kit is its selling point. 

Plans for pilots in five homes are underway with the number of homes eventually rising to 25. Thereafter, commercial upscaling will begin, potentially in 2027. The company has raised around $10 million and counting. Read The Oilholic's detailed Forbes report from October 2025 for more on that. 

For now, this blogger wishes Team Starflow well and will be keeping an eye out for the startup and its cool kit. 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 2026. Photo: Gaurav Sharma, Energy Analyst, Oilholics Synonymous, (left) with Jonas Helmikstøl, CEO of Starflow in Oslo, Norway.

Media missives from India Energy Week 2026

India Energy Week 2026 drew to a close on January 30, as the Oilholic rounded off an engaging week out in Goa. Yours truly hosted pivotal industry panel sessions and fireside chats at the event on subjects ranging from city gas distribution networks to the evolving energy mix. 

This blogger also had the privilege of hosting high ranking officials from India, US, Canada and Oman. In the between the speaking, meeting and greeting, yours truly also wrote plenty of missives via the keyboard for Forbes, Energy Connects and of course this blog. 

All blog entries for India Energy Week 2026 are below: 

• Speaking and moderating at India Energy Week 2026
• India Energy Week sessions to be hosted by yours truly
• IEW 2026 Days I & II: A $500bn investment opportunity?
• IEW 2026 Days III & IV: Speaking, meeting & greeting

And here are selected Forbes copies in chronological order based on soundbites and insights from the event:

• India Ups Energy Clout With Renewables Surge And 40-Plus Oil Suppliers, January 23, 2026
• India’s Biofuel Blended Gasoline Initiative Enters Overdrive Mode, January 30, 2026
• Canada Nears $3 Billion Uranium Deal With India, May Be Inked In March, February 1, 2026

And finally, here are a couple of reports on the Oilholic's panels by Energy Connects and an Indian renewables preview by yours truly ahead of the event: 

• Mapping India's rise as a superpower of unconventional energy, January 12, 2026
• Global South nations look to renewables to tackle energy access and climate risks, January 28, 2026
• Canada eyes doubling trade relations with India to $60bn by end of decade, January 28, 2026

That's a wrap for this year's India Energy Week. 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, January 2026. Energy Analyst Gaurav Sharma at India Energy Week 2026 © Photo: Gaurav Sharma, January 2026. 

IEW 2026 Days III & IV: Speaking, meeting & greeting

Days three and four brought another 60+ insightful sessions for the benefit of the attending delegates. There was plenty to deliberate on from downstream AI to smart-grids, biofuels to coal's evolving role in the energy mix. 

On the latter subject, the Oilholic hosted his fifth and final session of the event on the topic of 'coal’s evolving role in a secure energy mix: charting a balanced and pragmatic approach.' Panellists included Vikram Dev Dutt, Secretary, Ministry of Coal, Government of India, Kyle Haustveit, Assistant Secretary for Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy, US Department of Energy and B. Sairam, Chairman and MD, Coal India Limited.

Despite the global push against it, coal remains a leading source of electricity generation across the world, providing viable power for millions, as well as underpinning energy security and economic growth.

It is also believed in many quarters that coal demand will remain at elevated levels until at least the end of the decade, and furthermore, the exponentially growing boom in AI data centres is creating a new need for the readiness and consistency of coal-fired plants. 

So, with coal set to remain an essential component of the energy mix for decades beyond its projected peak in 2030, the panellists discussed how can this reality be reconciled with the need for energy transformation. 

From integrating Clean Coal Technologies (CCTs) and Clean Coal Utilisation (CCU) solutions, and implementing AI-driven efficiency measures, to enabling co-firing with biomass or hydrogen fuels, advanced technology innovations are the most viable routes to reducing coal’s ongoing carbon footprint while meeting energy demand. Their widespread adoption, however, will be reliant on enabling policies, financing mechanisms and incentivising private sector engagement. 

Bearing these points in mind, the panellists offered insights on optimising coal’s socioeconomic benefits as a core component of the mid-term energy mix, while minimising its environmental impact through climate technology and digital efficiencies. Officials from both the US and India also advocated for a pragmatic approach to coal and its usage. 

Additionally, Assistant Secretary Haustveit revealed the launch and repurposing of the National Energy Technology Laboratory in Morgantown, West Virginia as a Center of Excellence for Coal research this February - a place and a town very familiar to yours truly and the readers of this blog, when one visited it in 2019. 

Another subject of note over Thursday and Friday of India Energy Week was biofuels, and India's Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri's pet project of enhanced ethanol blending into fuel dispensed at the country's petrol forecourts. 

The initiative is now firmly in overdrive mode, as noted by yours truly's in a Forbes post from the event. Have a read here if you wish. 

With speaking engagements all done on Thursday, it was time for some more meeting and greeting at the exhibition halls and getting to know what the energy sector was bringing to bear in 2026 and beyond. 

The Oilholic's many engagements included meeting Emerson's Chief Sustainability Officer and longstanding industry colleague Mike Train, as well as Erik Lindhjem, President of Asia Pacific and Anil Bhatia, Vice President & Managing Director India. We had a great discussion on investment opportunities in India (see above right, click to enlarge).

A meeting with Abhilesh Gupta, CEO of Think Gas, who was also a panellist yours truly panel on city gas distribution (CGD) networks and their potential, followed (see left, click to enlarge).

It was great discussing the plans of this prominent Indian CGD company specialising in the distribution of compressed natural gas (CNG), piped natural gas (PNG), and liquefied natural gas (LNG) for residential, commercial, and industrial use with him.

Also had a fascinating discussion as the event's conclusion approached with Chander Mani, GGM, Impex & Shipping, at Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL), a subsidiary of ONGC (see right, click to enlarge).

MRPL is a crucial part of the ONGC group, acting as a refining arm that processes crude oil from ONGC’s fields in Mumbai High, and other imported crudes. 

In Dec 2024, MRPL and ONGC signed a performance MoU to improve operational efficiency and secure energy at the 300,000 barrels per day refining facility in Southern India.

We also discussed the refining industry's current operational complexities with the state of global geopolitics and crude supplies as they stand. 

Finally, the Oilholic also caught up with the team at Applied Computing, a UK energy AI start-up making waves with its downstream platform Orbital (see below left, click to enlarge).

The duo of Hari Ramani, Vice President of Commercial Markets at Applied Computing (left) and Harry Ashcroft, Communications Advisor (right), discussed the company's expansion plans, including the recent opening of a new office in Bengaluru, India, pointing to the inexorable direction of travel for many energy technology firms both large and small.

Well that's all for now from India Energy Week 2026 folks. It has been a memorable and insightful time out here in Goa. More missives 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, January 2026. Photo I: Energy Analyst Gaurav Sharma chairs India Energy Week 2026 panel on coal on Thursday, January 29, 2026. Photo II: (L to R) Energy Analyst Gaurav Sharma with Emerson's Anil Bhatia, Vice President & Managing Director, India, Mike Train, Chief Sustainability Officer and Erik Lindhjem, President of Asia Pacific. Photo III: Energy Analyst Gaurav Sharma (left) with Abhilesh Gupta, CEO of Think Gas. Photo IV: Energy Analyst Gaurav Sharma (right) with Chander Mani, GGM, Impex and Shipping, MRPL. Photo V: (L to R) Hari Ramani, Vice President of Commercial Markets at Applied Computing, Energy Analyst Gaurav Sharma and Harry Ashcroft, Communications Advisor. © Photos: Gaurav Sharma, January 2026.

IEW 2026 Days I & II: A $500bn investment opportunity?

India Energy Week 2026 got underway in Goa, India, on Tuesday with yours truly in attendance to hear the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, who declared the event open via video-link and noted that the energy sector was at the heart of his country's aspiration's for the future. 

India's burgeoning economy needs energy, and his government is working overtime to ensure security of supply of all sources traditional and renewable. The move holds over $500 in billion investment opportunities, according to the PM. 

It certainly seems that way with more than 75,000 attendees from over 120 countries in attendance and 700-plus exhibitors here in Goa. Making a pitch for his nation, PM Modi urged them to "Make in India, Innovate in India, Scale with India, and Invest in India." 

Later on in the opening morning's proceedings, India's Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri emphasised on the diversity of supply with over 40-plus crude oil suppliers. 

He also noted: "India's rapid expansion of LPG coverage, clean cooking access and diversified energy mix reflect the country's commitment to inclusive growth and equitable energy access." 

Additionally, it was widely acknowledged on the first day of India Energy Week that the country remains on track to meeting its 500GW renewable energy capacity target for 2030. The opening day also heard market observations of ADNOC Group CEO Dr Sultan Al Jaber in his keynote address to the event.  

"From air conditioning to AI, exponential growth in energy demand will require all forms of energy. Oil demand will remain over 100 million barrels per day for a good few decades yet. As the world third's largest consumer of oil and power, India is an unquestionable driver of global demand that energy sector players simply cannot ignore," Dr Al Jaber told India Energy Week delegates. 

As the event's exhibition floors opened their doors and the dialogues began in earnest, the Oilholic also began his flurry of speaking engagements. 

This kick-started with a fireside chat on day one with Mohsin Hamed Al Hadhrami, Undersecretary, Ministry of Energy & Minerals, Oman on his country's energy sector potential, minerals industry and how it can be a strategic trading partner for India and indeed the world (See above left). 

With 30-odd insightful conversations successfully negotiated on day one, Wednesday - day two - brought a similar number of panels and dialogues to the fore, with yours truly keeping busy with three sessions of his own. 

The first of these was a fireside chat with Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Canada, who set out his country's stall for a reset and reboot of relations with India drawing a line under the diplomatic spats of 2023. Hodgson outlined an array of commodities Canada could reliably supply to India, not just oil and natural gas, and that a state visit to the country by Prime Minister Mark Carney was imminent. (See above right)

Following the fireside, yours truly hosted two unique panels. The first of these, was titled 'Global South clean energy solidarity: powering South-South cooperation for a shared future.' 

The panellists included Prof. Elmutasim Ibrahim Ahmed Ali, Minister of Energy and Petroleum, Republic of Sudan, Ralph Regenvanu, Minister of Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology and Geo-Hazards, Energy, Environment and Disaster Management of Vanuatu, and Indra Mani Pandey, Secretary General, BIMSTEC (see left).

We discussed strategic energy solidarity, and how policymakers can empower the Global South’s geopolitical voice in the evolving multi-polar world order, reflective of the rising economic weight behind its emerging and diverse markets.

The second of the Oilholic's panels touched on establishing global models for city gas distribution (CGD) networks, with panellists Suresh Manglani, Executive Director and CEO, Adani Total Gas Limited, Goutom Chakraborty, CEO, GAIL Gas Limited, Kamal Kishore Chatiwal, MD, Indraprastha Gas Limited, Abhilesh Gupta, MD and CEO, THINK Gas, and Sandeep Jain, Former Executive Director, Gas, Indian Oil Corporation Limited (See right), 

As CGD markets are projected to more than double in size to $30 billion in the coming decade, we discussed which strategic models, collaborations and technologies will be key to delivering the next phase of international development. Well that's all for now folks. As the second half of India Energy Week 2026 approaches, there's more to follow. 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, January 2026. Photo I: Energy Analyst Gaurav Sharma at India Energy Week 2026 in Goa, India. Photo II: India's Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri speaks at India Energy Week 2026. Photo III: Energy Analyst Gaurav Sharma hosts India Energy Week 2026 session with Mohsin Hamed Al Hadhrami, Undersecretary, Ministry of Energy & Minerals, Oman. Photo IV: Energy Analyst Gaurav Sharma hosts India Energy Week 2026 session with Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy And Natural Resources, Canada. Photos V & VI: India Energy Week panels hosted by Energy Analyst Gaurav Sharma. © Photos I & II: Gaurav Sharma, January 2026. © Photo III: Sammy Ahmed, KPMG. © Photos IV, V & VI: India Energy Week / dmgevents, January 2026.

India Energy Week sessions to be hosted by yours truly

As India Energy Week 2026 approaches, the Oilholic is looking forward to moderating panels and fireside chats at the event being held in Goa, India from Jan 27 to 30, covering vital topics across the international energy sphere. It will bring together global leaders, corporate visionaries and technical experts. Here are the detail's of yours truly's sessions:

Wednesday, January 28, The Addition Stage, MDF Building, ONGC ATI, Goa @ 12:00pm

From reset to results: translating Canada–India political momentum into a priority partnership for long-term energy and critical minerals cooperation

• A fireside chat under the event's Energy Talks programme with Hon. Timothy Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Government of Canada.

Wednesday, January 28, The Transition Stage, Convention Centre, ONGC ATI, Goa @ 10:30am

Global South clean energy solidarity: Powering South-South cooperation for a shared future

With panellists:

• H.E. Prof. Elmutasim Ibrahim Ahmed Ali, Minister of Energy and Petroleum, Republic of Sudan
• H.E. Ralph Regenvanu, Minister of Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology and Geo-Hazards, Energy, Environment and Disaster Management, Vanuatu
• H.E. Dr. Eng. Sultan Welle Ahmed, State Minister of Energy, Ministry of Water and Energy, Ethiopia
• H.E. Indra Mani Pandey, Secretary General, The BIMSTEC Secretariat

Wednesday, January 28, The Resilience Stage, Convention Centre, ONGC ATI, Goa @ 13:40pm IST

Establishing global models for City Gas Distribution (CGD) networks: building clean, secure and equitable gas-based economies

With panellists:

• Suresh P Manglani, Executive Director and CEO, Adani Total Gas
• Goutom Chakraborty, CEO, GAIL Gas Limited
• Kamal Kishore Chatiwal, MD, Indraprastha Gas Limited
• Abhilesh Gupta, MD & CEO, THINK Gas
• Sandeep Jain, Former Executive Director, Gas, Indian Oil Corporation Limited

Thursday, January 29, The Resilience Stage, Convention Centre, ONGC ATI @ 16:30pm IST

Coal’s evolving role in a secure energy mix: charting a balanced and pragmatic approach

With panellists:

• Shri Vikram Dev Dutt, Secretary, Ministry of Coal - Official, Government of India
• Kyle Haustveit, P.E., Assistant Secretary for Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
• B. Sairam, Chairman-cum-MD, Coal India Limited

Explore the event's exciting agenda here, and be sure to register here. 

The Oilholic is excited to play his part in the deliberations on pathways towards secure, inclusive, and affordable energy systems, tackling critical challenges such as decarbonisation, investment security and industrial transformation.

Looking forward to meeting old friends and making new ones! See you in Goa, if you can make it! More to follow. 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, January 2026. Photo: IEW 2026 speaker profile of energy analyst Gaurav Sharma © India Energy Week / dmgevents, January 2026.

Media missives from WFES 2026

The World Future Energy Summit 2026 - held as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week and hosted by Masdar - drew to a close on January 15, as the Oilholic rounded off an engaging week out in Abu Dhabi.

Yours truly hosted pivotal industry panel sessions and fireside chats at the event on subjects ranging from hydrogen to green bonds. 

This blogger also wrote plenty of missives via the keyboard for Forbes, and of course this blog. 

All blog entries for WFES 2026 are below: 

• WFES 2026 sessions to be hosted by yours truly
• WFES Day I: Kick-off after ADSW opening ceremony
• WFES Day II: Nexus of Next at ADSW
• WFES Day III: Talking green bonds & more on final day

And here are selected Forbes copies in chronological order based on soundbites and insights from the event:

• ‘Artificial’ Intelligence Craves ‘Actual’ Energy, Says Masdar Chairman, January 13, 2025
• Middle East Set For High Renewable Energy Capacity Growth By 2040, January 14, 2025
• UAE’s Masdar Raising Green Finance On An ‘Industrial Scale’, Says CFO, January 19, 2025.

That's a wrap for this year's WFES. 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 2026. Photo: Gaurav Sharma at WFES 2026 in Abu Dhabi, UAE on January 15, 2026 © Gaurav Sharma, 2026. 

WFES Day III: Talking green bonds & more on final day

On the final day of the World Future Energy Summit another 61 sessions deep-dived into various aspects of the energy transition, aspects of renewable energy and green finance. 

On the latter point, yours truly kicked off the event's green finance discussion in the day's first fireside chat with Mazin Khan, Chief Financial Officer of Masdar. 

In his opening remarks ahead of the fireside chat, Khan set the stall for the efficacy of green bonds as a financial instrument to enable the transition and bring about change in hard-to-abate sectors. 

The Masdar CFO also shared the experience of his company on its issuances of green bonds and how they continue to play a key role in making it the UAE's renewables champion. 

Following the opening remarks, yours truly and the Masdar executive had a wide-ranging fireside chat touching on how green bonds improve transparency, drive resource efficiency, enhance governance, and, of course, signal a commitment to the cause of lowering carbon emissions. 

We also discussed how green bonds were now mainstream and issuances of 100-years maturities - indicative of an ultra long-term commitment - are no longer the novelty headline grabbers like they used to be, but rather routine. 

Additionally, Khan also touched on the incentives for issuing green bonds ranging from attracting a wider investor base to enhancing corporate reputation. They also form part of the wider agenda that encourages the development of regulatory frameworks supportive of the green finance industry. 

As of mid-2025, Masdar has raised $2.75 billion via its own green bond issuance programme, and Khan's concluding verdict was that the future of the green bonds remains bright with the global market only expected to get bigger. 

Away from the fireside chat, the Oilholic also joined the thousands who attended the event for a visit to its exhibition floor on its final day, as the conclusion of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week approached. 

The event saw over 41,000 visitors from 114 countries and 455 exhibiting companies from 60 countries. It was also a great place to network and gain the latest energy industry insights. And on that note, its time to bid goodbye. 

As always, it has been a memorable and insightful time out here in Abu Dhabi for ADSW and WFES. 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, January 2026. Photo I: Energy Analyst Gaurav Sharma at WFES 2026. Photo II: Energy Analyst Gaurav Sharma hosts fireside with Mazin Khan, Chief Financial Officer of Masdar. Photo III: Exhibition floor of WFES 2026 panel on January 15, 2026. Photos I & III © Gaurav Sharma, January 2026. Photo II © Zeena Zalamea / Portalproductions.me January 2026.

WFES Day II: Nexus of Next at ADSW

As the second day of the World Future Energy Summit 2026 and its programme came into its element, the Oilholic took some time out to have a walk about the event's sprawling Innovation Intelligence Hub spread over 3,600 sqm at the venue.

It's here that the forces shaping the transformation of the global energy system appear to be on full display covering all facets from technology to infrastructure, ideas for capital investment to future concepts. 

Bringing all of these facets to the foreground at the hub were over 70 startups translating breakthrough ideas into commercially viable solutions they appear to be pitching to the world. Of particular significance was an AI pavilion with over 30 companies embedding intelligence across generation, grids and demand. 

For the energy sector, AI is no longer an enabling tool - it is quite simply becoming a core infrastructure play.

Today, AI-driven optimisation can improve asset performance by up to 30%, while advanced forecasting and control systems are redefining how grids operate, balance risk and absorb variability. 

At the same time, it was observed at WFES 2026 that global investment in clean and intelligent energy start-ups now exceeds $50 billion annually, with capital flowing fastest into AI-enabled systems, hydrogen, storage and digital resilience. The good folks at the summit and the wider Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week family, as well as the hosts Masdar call it the “Nexus of Next: All Systems Go.”

This in their words is "a theme to life by reflecting a clear strategic reality: the next phase of energy systems transformation will be driven not by standalone technologies, but by integrated, intelligent, and secure systems designed to perform together, investable at scale, and ready for deployment."

As the second day progressed, 59 sessions across various WFES and ADSW content streams discussed the very forces shaping tomorrow, alongside discussions on energy transition economics and technologies. 

The discussion slants ranged from challenges and opportunities to capital investment and policy frameworks. 

The Oilholic got his summit speaking engagements underway by moderating two panels on the clean energy track. The first of these was on the subject of PV-battery storage. 

The panellists (see above) included Syed Ali Gilani, Planning and Energy Markets Director, Department of Energy Abu Dhabi, Jad Abdel Masri, Senior Director, Group Supply Chain and Procurement, Masdar, Dr. Thi Minh Phuong Nguyen, Battery Storage Systems Expert, MAI Group, Mike Sronce, Managing Director and Vice President, Sargent & Lundy and Mohammad Al Natour, Managing Director, SMA Solar Technology. 

We explored the economic drivers of grid-connected battery storage, deployment hurdles, and policy enablers positioning large-scale storage as the backbone of a clean energy future. 

The second panel touched on financing hydrogen and the innovative mechanisms that could be deployed to unlock capital in the segment. 

The panellists for this session included (see below) Dr Dimitrios Dimitriou, Group Vice President of ESG and Sustainability, EMSTEEL Group, Cornelius Matthes, CEO, Dii Desert Energy, Siddharth Malik, Managing Partner, Green Investors, Dan Feldman, Global Head of Energy, King & Spalding and Santosh Raikar, Managing Partner, Silverpeak.

Apart from discussing innovative financing structures, we also touched on risk mitigation strategies to instil investor confidence and secure guarantees necessary to scale hydrogen infrastructure. 

Elsewhere at WFES, attendees got to hear about the natural path of progression of renewable energy in the Middle East which is being led by the UAE. It appears the nation's renewable energy capacity is on track for a tenfold increase by 2040. 

And it is quite simply serving as a beacon for its peers with a pragmatic blend of traditional with renewable energy. Here's yours truly's feature on Forbes on the subject. 

Well that's all for now folks. More musings to follow as the event and the week enter their home stretch tomorrow. 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, January 2026. Photo I: Innovation Intelligence Hub at WFES 2026. Photo II: Masdar's innovation globe. Photo III: Energy Analyst Gaurav Sharma moderates PV-battery storage panel at WFES 2026 on January 14, 2026. Photo IV: Energy Analyst Gaurav Sharma speaks at WFES 2026 on January 14, 2026. Photo V: Energy Analyst Gaurav Sharma moderates WFES 2026 panel on hydrogen on January 14, 2026. Photos I & II © Gaurav Sharma, January 2026. Photos III, IV & V © Zeena Zalamea / Portalproductions.me January 2026.

WFES Day I: Kick-off after ADSW opening ceremony

The World Future Energy Summit 2026 - being held as part of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week - got underway with aplomb on Tuesday. 

Before formal proceedings began, the attendees including were treated to an opening ceremony marked by cultural performances. 

The performances were followed by a keynote address from Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE’s Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Chairman of the country’s international renewable energy company Masdar, and CEO of ADNOC.

In his remarks, Al Jaber called for pragmatic thinking on the energy mix, innovation, harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and continued investments in renewable energy and cleantech. Here is your truly's latest Forbes missive touching on it. 

The morning's proceedings also included the Zayed Sustainability Prize awarding ceremony. The prizes were handed out in various categories. These included the energy category prize, which went to Switzerland's BASE. It is a specialized partner of the United Nations Environment Programme, that offers "Cooling as a Service" or CaaS in emerging markets.

BASE's innovative business model enables a diverse range of end users of cooling systems to base their decisions on life-cycle costs rather than on the purchase price of cooling equipment. (If interested, read more about them here.)

The conclusion of the awards ceremony marked the mid-morning start of the summit with a packed agenda. 

Two of the world's most pressing topics - AI and climate change  - took centerstage at the Envision Global Technology Day, with a discussion in how technology is reshaping the future of global energy systems.

Science Based Targets Initiative's pathways for low carbon cities were also widely discussed throughout the first morning. 

Among other things, the attendees got treated to a special screening of Ocean - the powerful new documentary by Sir David Attenborough. 

The documentary was a compelling call to action that explores the beauty, fragility, and future of our oceans. 

A full day's programme - including two panels hosted yours truly - gets underway on Day II. But that's all for now folks. More musings to follow throughout the week. 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, January 2026. Photo I: Signage of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. Photo II: Glimpses of the ADSW opening ceremony. Photo III: Energy Analyst Gaurav Sharma at the World Future Energy Summit 2026 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. © Gaurav Sharma, January 2026.  

WFES 2026 sessions to be hosted by yours truly

As Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week week approaches, the Oilholic is looking forward to moderating panels and fireside chats at the World Future Energy Summit (January 13 to 15), an event being hosted by Masdar (Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company) as part of the week-long ADSW proceedings covering vital topics across the energy spectrum.

The event will bring together global visionaries, leaders and technical experts. Yours truly can't wait to get started. Here are the details of the sessions: 

Wednesday, January 14, ADNEC Hall 4, Stage 3 @ 11:40 GST

The PV-battery storage tipping point

This panel will explore the economic drivers of grid-connected battery storage, deployment hurdles, and policy enablers positioning large-scale storage as the backbone of a clean energy future. Fellow panellists include: 

• Syed Ali Gilani, Planning & Energy Markets Director, Department of Energy Abu Dhabi
• Jad Abdel Masri, Senior Director, Group Supply Chain & Procurement, #Masdar
• Dr. Thi Minh Phuong Nguyen, Battery Storage Systems Expert, MAI Group
• Mike Sronce, Managing Director & Vice President, Sargent & Lundy
• Mohammad Al Natour, Managing Director, SMA Solar Technology

Wednesday, January 14, ADNEC Hall 4, Stage 3 @ 15:55 GST

Financing hydrogen: Innovative mechanisms to unlock capital

This panel will explore innovative financing structures and risk mitigation strategies to instil investor confidence and secure guarantees necessary to scale hydrogen infrastructure. Fellow panellists include: 

• Dr Dimitrious Dimitriou, Group Vice President of ESG & Sustainability, EMSTEEL Group
• Cornelius Matthes, CEO, Dii Desert Energy
• Siddharth Malik, Managing Partner, Green Investors AG
• Dan Feldman, Global Head of Energy, King & Spalding
• Santosh Raikar, Managing Partner, Silverpeak

Thursday, January 15, ADNEC Hall 7, Stage 4 @ 10:15 GST

Green bonds and beyond: Innovative financing instruments to accelerate the energy transformation

• A fireside chat with Mazin Khan, CFO of Masdar 

Explore the event's exciting agenda here, and be sure to register here.

Join the Oilholic in Abu Dhabi next week if you can! More to follow. 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 2026. Digital event banner courtesy of WFES 2026 & Masdar.