Bitumen Africa Podcast
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BP Fires Up Sixth Major Project of 2025 with Murlach Field Launch
BP has officially brought the Murlach oil and gas field online in the UK North Sea, marking its sixth major project launch this year. The move is part of the energy giant’s aggressive upstream strategy to activate ten new oil and gas fields by 2027. Murlach: Breathing New Life into a Legacy Field Located within […]
Solar-Powered Irrigation in Pakistan: A Boon or a Brewing Crisis?
In recent years, farmers across Pakistan have been transitioning from diesel-powered irrigation systems to solar energy. This shift is largely driven by rising fuel costs and unreliable electricity, making solar panels an attractive alternative for powering tube wells—motorized pumps that draw groundwater for crops. While the upfront investment in solar technology is steep, the long-term […]
Supertanker Freight Rates Surge as Global Crude Flows Intensify
Freight rates for very large crude carriers (VLCCs)—the massive ships that haul up to 2 million barrels of oil—have soared to levels not seen since 2022. This spike is driven by rising crude output from OPEC+ and South America, along with a surge in longer-haul shipments to Asia. Rates on the key Middle East-to-China route […]
When Oil Shapes Trade—India’s Balancing Act with the U.S
In a world where diplomacy is increasingly driven by energy flows, India finds itself at a crossroads. Washington has made it clear: any progress on a U.S.–India trade deal depends on New Delhi dialing back its Russian oil imports. The message is blunt—less Russian crude, fewer tariffs. But India isn’t folding. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal […]
Why Africa’s Largest Untapped Oil Field Has Yet to Flow
TotalEnergies’ Venus project in Namibia’s Orange Basin is one of Africa’s most significant oil discoveries in decades, with an estimated 1.5 billion barrels of light crude and 4.8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. The field, discovered in 2022, could produce up to 150,000 barrels per day and remain active for 30–40 years. Its ownership […]
Trump Presses Europe
U.S. President Donald Trump recently urged European NATO members to halt imports of Russian oil and gas and impose tariffs on China to help end the war in Ukraine. He emphasized that continued energy trade with Russia undermines Europe’s leverage and that China’s growing economic ties with Moscow provide a financial lifeline to Russia. Trump […]
Why Big Oil Is Doubling Down on Exploration Again
🌍 Over the past few years, energy security and affordability have taken center stage, pushing major oil and gas companies to rethink their strategies. After a period of ambitious investment in clean energy, many of the world’s largest firms—like BP, Shell, Exxon, and Chevron—are returning to their roots: fossil fuel exploration. The shift comes as […]
Europe’s Energy Balancing Act: Between Sanctions, Supply, and Strategy
The European Union finds itself in a complex energy dilemma. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright recently suggested that the EU could phase out Russian natural gas within a year, even switching to U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) in just six months. But the reality is more tangled. Russian LNG remains significantly cheaper than American alternatives, […]
Africa Climate Summit 2: A Bold Step Toward a Greener Future
In September, the Africa Climate Summit 2 (ACS2) convened in Ethiopia, drawing over 25,000 participants from across the continent. Hosted by the Government of Ethiopia and the African Union, the summit aimed to unify Africa’s voice on climate action ahead of the global COP30 summit in Brazil. Leaders, youth, civil society, and private sector representatives […]
Africa’s Railways: The New Frontline in the Global Minerals Race
The global competition for critical minerals—especially copper and cobalt—has shifted from mines to railways, with central and southern Africa emerging as the new strategic battleground. China, the United States, and Japan are now backing rival railway corridors originating in Zambia, aiming to secure faster, more reliable routes to export these vital resources to global markets. […]