Bitumen Africa Podcast
Podcast about Market and Finanacial Events
Updated Weekly on Saturday
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U.S. Crude Production Set For A Decline
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s plan aims for 3% annual GDP growth, a budget deficit reduced to 3% of GDP, and an increase in domestic oil production by 3 million barrels per day. However, industry analysts and energy experts argue that these targets are largely unrealistic. One of the key concerns is that U.S. oil producers […]
India’s Energy Shift: Coal Declines as Renewables Surge to Record Highs
Despite the lowest coal prices in Asia in four years, India’s coal power generation in May dropped to its lowest level since the 2020 Covid lockdowns. This decline was driven by the absence of heatwaves, which typically increase electricity demand, alongside a significant rise in renewable energy generation. While coal still accounted for over 70% […]
Scandinavian Breakthrough: Sweden and Finland are leading global efforts to solve nuclear waste challenges
Several countries are reconsidering nuclear energy as a clean alternative to fossil fuels, despite longstanding concerns about radioactive waste. While nuclear plants produce very little waste relative to the energy generated, the disposal of high-level radioactive waste, such as spent fuel, remains a critical challenge. Public fears around contamination and environmental risks have historically hindered […]
India’s Green Hydrogen Ambition Amid Rising Oil Demand
India is taking major strides toward a greener energy future even as it remains a key player in global oil consumption. The country is actively advancing renewable energy initiatives, particularly through Indian Oil Corporation’s (IOC) plan to integrate green hydrogen into its refining processes. IOC’s upcoming green hydrogen plant at the Panipat Refinery, scheduled for […]
OPEC+ Boosts Output Amid Geopolitical Tensions
OPEC+ did exactly what the market expected last weekend—announcing another production increase of 411,000 barrels per day for July. Surprisingly, oil prices went up instead of down, driven not just by the group’s decision, but by broader geopolitical and supply-related developments. Key among these was a Ukrainian drone strike targeting Russian infrastructure, sparking fears of […]
The Battery Tech That Could Replace Lithium
As the world transitions to renewable energy, the demand for large-scale energy storage is rapidly growing. Currently, lithium-ion batteries dominate the market, but concerns over limited lithium supply and China’s control of critical minerals have prompted the search for alternatives. Antonio Baclig, a Stanford researcher, believes he has found a viable solution in iron-sodium battery […]
Iraq’s Big Solar Push Amid Oil Reliance
Iraq, the second-largest oil producer in OPEC, is launching a bold initiative to scale up solar energy by developing at least 1,000 small-scale solar projects over the next three years, aiming to make solar power a core part of its energy mix by 2030. Currently, solar accounts for less than 1% of Iraq’s electricity, with […]
Reports suggest OPEC+ may boost oil output in July
OPEC+ is reportedly planning a larger-than-expected oil production increase at its upcoming meeting, officially to pressure member states like Iraq and Kazakhstan to comply with output quotas. However, according to a new Reuters report, a secondary motive is to undermine the U.S. shale industry, echoing a strategy OPEC employed a decade ago. Back then, the […]
South Africa Launches SANPC: A New Era for Oil and Gas?
In a decisive energy sector shake-up, South Africa has officially launched the South African National Petroleum Company (SANPC) — a bold attempt to resuscitate the nation’s stagnant oil and gas sector and secure its energy future. Born from the merger of PetroSA, iGas, and the Strategic Fuel Fund, SANPC will operate under the Central Energy […]
China Shatters Records with Rooftop Solar Installations
In the first quarter of 2025, China set a new record by installing 60 gigawatts (GW) of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity, the highest ever for a first quarter. Of this, 60%, or 36 GW, came from rooftop installations, marking the largest quarterly increase in distributed PV in the country’s history. This rapid growth was driven […]