NEW YORK: Oil prices rose more than 1.5% on Tuesday as investors await an OPEC+ meeting expected to rubber stamp continued output cuts while a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon provided additional support. Brent crude futures rose $1.16, or 1.6%, to $72.99 a barrel by 1346 GMT while US West Texas Intermediate crude was up $1.16, or 1.7%, at $69.26. OPEC+ is likely to extend its latest round of oil output cuts until the end of the first quarter when it meets on Thursday, four OPEC+ sources told Reuters.…
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Fuel oil smuggling network rakes in $1bn for Iran and its proxies
DUBAI: A sophisticated fuel oil smuggling network that some experts believe generates at least $1 billion a year for Iran and its proxies has flourished in Iraq since Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani took office in 2022, five sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. The operation exploits a government policy under which Iraq allocates fuel oil to asphalt plants at heavily subsidised prices and involves a network of companies, groups and individuals in Iraq, Iran and Gulf states, according to the five people and three Western intelligence reports, two…
Read MoreOil prices steady ahead of imminent OPEC+ decision; geopolitical turmoil in focus
Oil prices were little changed on Wednesday, with traders expecting OPEC+ to announce an extension to supply cuts this week while heightened geopolitical tensions continue to dominate market sentiment. Brent crude futures were up 5 cents, or 0.07%, at $73.67 a barrel by 1214 GMT while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell 4 cents, or 0.06%, to $69.90. On Tuesday, Brent posted its biggest gain in two weeks, rising by 2.5%. A shaky ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, South Korea’s curtailed declaration of martial law and a rebel offensive…
Read MoreMeta Seeks Nuclear Power Developers to Meet AI and Environmental Goals
Meta, the tech giant, is inviting proposals from nuclear power developers to add 1 to 4 gigawatts of U.S. nuclear generation capacity by the early 2030s. This move aligns with the company’s efforts to address rising electricity demand for artificial intelligence and environmental sustainability. “Nuclear energy will play a pivotal role in transitioning to a cleaner, more reliable, and diversified electric grid,” Meta stated. The company’s initiative reflects broader trends, with U.S. data center power demand projected to triple by 2030, requiring 47 gigawatts of new generation capacity, according to…
Read MoreKE Cuts Power to Railways Over Unpaid Bills; Railways Cites Rs70 Billion in Dues
KARACHI: The power utility company, K-Electric (KE), disconnected electricity to Pakistan Railways (PR) on Tuesday over unpaid bills amounting to Rs430 million since May 2024, disrupting key operations, including the online ticketing and signal systems for 38 daily passenger trains from Karachi. In its statement, KE stressed the unsustainability of continuing supply without payment and highlighted repeated defaults despite prior accommodations. “Notices and disconnections have been issued before, but undertakings by railway authorities to clear dues and pay monthly bills have been consistently dishonored,” KE stated. The utility warned that…
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