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MABUX ARA LNG Bunker Index
Port LNG$/mton MGO LS$/mton Date
ARA
1 058.00
+104.00
1 223.00
-5.00
May 18
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Port	LNG$/mton	MGO LS$/mton	Date
ARA	1 058.00	+104.00	1 223.00	-5.00	May 18

MABUX Global Bunker Index

380HSFO$/mton		VLS FO$/mton		MGO LS$/mton		Date
791.75	-0.67	952.60	+0.58	1 418.39	-2.81	May 20

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MABUX Market Differential Index (MDI)

Correlation between market bunker prices (MBP) and MABUX Digital Bunker Price Benchmark (DBP)

All Indexes in $/mton	380HSFO			VLS FO			MGO LS			Date
All Indexes in $/mton	MBP Index	DBP Index	MDI	MBP Index	DBP Index	MDI	MBP Index	DBP Index	MDI	Date
Rotterdam	719	773	-54	793	860	-67	1 223	1 352	-129	May 20
Singapore	714	802	-88	872	952	-80	1 247	1 345	-98	May 20
Fujairah	716	747	-31	942	925	+17	1 560	1 408	+152	May 20
Houston	667	766	-99	857	901	-44	1 220	1 323	-103	May 20

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Latest News
- 2026-05-20
  Oil prices ease after Trump says US will end Iran war ’very quickly’
  Oil prices eased on Wednesday after U.S. President Donald Trump again asserted the war with Iran will end "very quickly", though investors remain wary about the outcome of peace talks amid continued disruptions to Middle East supply from the conflict.... Read more Oil prices eased on Wednesday after U.S. President Donald Trump again asserted the war with Iran will end "very quickly", though investors remain wary about the outcome of peace talks amid continued disruptions to Middle East supply from the conflict.
  Brent crude oil futures fell 45 cents, or 0.4%, to $110.83 a barrel by 0050 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures were down 27 cents, or 0.3%, to $103.88.
  Both benchmarks fell nearly $1 on Tuesday after U.S. Vice President JD Vance said the U.S. and Iran had made progress in talks, with neither side wanting to see a resumption of military action.
  "Investors are keen to gauge whether Washington and Tehran can actually find common ground and reach a peace agreement, with the U.S. stance shifting daily," said Toshitaka Tazawa, an analyst at Fujitomi Securities.
  "Oil prices are likely to remain elevated given the possibility of renewed U.S. attacks on Iran and expectations that, even if a peace deal is reached, crude supply will not quickly return to pre-war levels," he said.
  Despite Trump’s assertion to U.S. lawmakers late on Tuesday about a quick end to the conflict, he earlier said the United States may need to strike Iran again and he had been an hour away from ordering an attack before postponing it.
  His comments on the need to strike again came a day after he said he had paused a planned resumption of hostilities following a new proposal by Tehran to end the U.S.-Israeli war.
  
  In his remarks on Tuesday Trump also said Iran’s leaders are begging for a deal and warned a new U.S. attack would happen in coming days if no agreement was reached.
  The U.S.-Israeli war against Iran has caused the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries about a fifth of global oil supplies, creating the world’s biggest oil supply disruption, according to the International Energy Agency.
  Citi on Tuesday said it expects Brent crude to rise to $120 a barrel in the near term, stating that oil markets are under-pricing the risk of a prolonged supply disruption and broader tail risks.
  To make up the shortfall in global supplies from the war, countries are relying on their commercial and strategic inventories.
  In the U.S., crude oil inventories fell for a fifth straight week last week, according to market sources citing American Petroleum Institute data released on Tuesday, while fuel stocks also fell. [API/S]
  U.S. crude stockpiles reported by the Energy Information Administration are expected to have fallen by about 3.4 million barrels in the week to May 15, according to a Reuters poll. The weekly EIA data is due later on Wednesday. [EIA/S] Source: Reuters/Investing.com
- 2026-05-20
  China Turns Green Tech Into an Economic Lifeline
  For years now, China has been the world’s most generous sponsor of alternative energy systems and electric vehicles. This has not only made it the biggest market for such technologies but also the biggest exporter, and that has helped the country offset... Read more For years now, China has been the world’s most generous sponsor of alternative energy systems and electric vehicles. This has not only made it the biggest market for such technologies but also the biggest exporter, and that has helped the country offset economic troubles in other sectors and cement its place as the top transition player globally.
  
  China’s economy is undergoing a seismic shift, where the previously dominant real estate sector has been hit by turmoil and is no longer the engine of the country’s growth, Reuters’ Gavin Maguire wrote in a recent column. Instead, China’s growth increasingly depends on things like wind and solar power equipment sales, electric cars, and of course, critical minerals processing where China is the global hegemon.
  
  While overall, China’s economy has moved from primary to secondary and, eventually, tertiary industries to support growth, just like other advanced economies, the alternative energy sectors have remained major contributors. Interestingly, so have some industries that would normally be tied to real estate, and when that suffers, they suffer, too. Per Maguire, cement and clinker production is a case in point. While China’s real estate sector contracted and remains depressed, cement and clinker production is thriving—because of growing exports.
  
  Earlier this week, the news broke that HSBC was setting up a special fund to lend money to Chinese alternative energy exporters at a time of heightened demand for such products. “China is home to some of the world's most dynamic low-carbon companies,” said HSBC’s global head of sustainable finance and transition, Natalie Blyth, as quoted by Reuters. These companies are “setting new benchmarks in high-end manufacturing,” she added. “As they scale internationally, they need financial partners with the global reach and expertise to support them. This facility is designed to provide exactly that,” Blyth also said.
  
  The timing could not be better: China’s exports of wind and solar equipment, and electric cars are running at all-time highs amid the Middle East energy crunch. The value of these exports in march soared to $25.77 billion, per data from climate outlet Ember, which was a 30% increase on February and a 50% increase on March 2025. In other words, China is reinforcing its dominance in the alternative energy field—and expanding it.
  
  “The scale of China's EV and battery industries alone has reshaped global flows of related commodities, including lithium, graphite, nickel, cobalt and rare earths, of which China is the top global consumer,” Reuters’ Maguire noted in his column, advising analysts following China to pay special attention to these industries and the effect of China’s growing presence abroad on the respective industries in countries that are turning from producers into importers—because China’s global control of supply chains has made it uneconomical for most other producers to keep producing. Buying from China has become easier.
  
  Naturally, this has raised concerns about heavy dependence on a country with which other parts of the world have geopolitical differences of opinion, notably in Europe. Indeed, earlier this month, the Financial Times reported the European Union’s central command was preparing plans to mandate European companies to buy critical components from suppliers other than China to reduce the bloc’s reliance on the country.
  
  The chances of success for such a mandate are dubious at best. This is not the EU’s first attempt to use force to reduce its dependence on China, and China has not responded positively to the previous ones. When it comes to energy, however, Europe simply cannot go it alone or switch to another supplier of panels and inverters—there are no other suppliers that sell at the same prices. As analysts have noted, without China, there can be no energy transition.
  
  Source: Oilprice.com
- 2026-05-20
  MABUX: Global bunker indices to remain volatile without a firm trend on May 20.
  The MABUX World Bunker Index — a composite benchmark reflecting daily prices for 380 HSFO, VLSFO, and MGO — recorded a moderate increase on May 19, marking the third consecutive day of gains across all fuel segments: 380 HSFO: USD/MT: 792.42 (+2.63) VLSFO:... Read more The MABUX World Bunker Index — a composite benchmark reflecting daily prices for 380 HSFO, VLSFO, and MGO — recorded a moderate increase on May 19, marking the third consecutive day of gains across all fuel segments:
  
  380 HSFO: USD/MT: 792.42 (+2.63)
  VLSFO: USD/MT 952.02 (+2.20)
  MGO: USD/MT 1 421.20 (+1.72)
  
  As of May 19, the MABUX Market Differential Index (MDI), which measures the spread between Market Bunker Prices (MBP) and the MABUX Digital Bunker Benchmark (DBP) — indicated the following developments across the four major global bunkering hubs: Rotterdam, Singapore, Fujairah, and Houston:
  
  • HSFO segment: All four hubs continued to be in the undercharge zone. The degree of underpricing widened by $14 in Rotterdam, $12 in Singapore, $8 in Fujairah, and $24 in Houston. Singapore’s MDI approached the $100 threshold, while Houston continued to remain firmly above this level.
  
  • VLSFO segment: Fujairah remained the only overpriced port in this segment, with its premium increasing by $11. The other three hubs stayed underpriced, with discounts widening by $24 in Rotterdam and $21 in Houston, while narrowing by $6 in Singapore.
  
  • MGO LS segment: Rotterdam, Singapore, and Houston continued to be undercharged. The underpricing ratio widened further by $31 in Rotterdam, $17 in Singapore, and $36 in Houston. Fujairah was the only overpriced port, though its premium declined by $27. MDI values in Rotterdam, Singapore and Fujairah continued to stay above the $100 mark.
  
  The bunker market remains supported by persistently elevated geopolitical risk premiums in crude oil, ongoing concerns over potential disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, and uncertainty surrounding regional supply replacement flows. MABUX expects the global bunker indices to continue irregular movements without a clear directional trend on May 20: plus-minus 2-5 USD/MT, VLSFO: plus-minus 2–5 USD/MT, MGO LS: plus-minus 5–10 USD/MT.
  Source: MABUX
- 2026-05-20
  Oil Holds Near $110 After Trump Delays Iran Strike
  Oil prices steadied near $110 as Trump delayed planned action against Iran and Washington extended waivers for buyers of Russian crude. Historic SPR Drawdowns Propel US Crude to Global Markets - Record US SPR volumes are pushing out record volumes... Read more Oil prices steadied near $110 as Trump delayed planned action against Iran and Washington extended waivers for buyers of Russian crude.
  
  Historic SPR Drawdowns Propel US Crude to Global Markets
  
  - Record US SPR volumes are pushing out record volumes of US crude to the export markets, with May US oil exports potentially surpassing the 5.5 million b/d threshold for the first time in history.
  
  - A record 9.9 million barrels were drawn from the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve last week, lowering the total inventories held in US SPR sites to just 374 million barrels, its lowest since July 2024.
  
  - Roughly 60% of released SPRs ends up in the domestic downstream market, with the rest exported abroad – European buyers have been particularly keen to purchase niche grades such as Bryan Mound Sour.
  
  - The pace of SPR drawdowns seen last week marks an all-time high, with more than 1.4 million b/d of strategic stocks supplied into the market, above Biden’s average rate of 1 million b/d.
  
  - An expedited drawdown of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is likely to damage the salt caverns where SPR barrels are held, making them susceptible to salt falls and cavern deformation.
  
  Market Movers
  
  - US oil major ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) has signed a 30-year long-term natural gas supply deal for the planned $40 billion Alaska LNG project with developer Glenfarne, bringing a potential FID on the 20 mtpa liquefaction plant closer.
  
  - The proposed 14 mtpa LNG Canada Phase 2 project is aiming for a final investment decision by end-2026, boosting the LNG portfolio of UK-based energy major Shell (LON:SHEL) and its partners Petronas, Mitsubishi, PetroChina and Kogas.
  
  - Japan’s leading upstream investor INPEX (TYO:1605) has agreed to acquire CNPC’s 10.67% stake in Australia’s Browse project, boosting its natural gas portfolio with the Brecknock, Calliance and Torosa offshore gas fields.
  
  - Norway’s state oil firm Equinor (NYSE:EQNR) is reportedly finalizing offtake deals for its South West Arkansas (SWA) lithium project jointly developed with Canada’s Standard Lithium, aiming for an FID later this year and targeting first production in 2029.
  
  - UK-headquartered mining giant Anglo American (LON:AAL) has agreed to divest its metallurgical coal assets in Australia to Dhilmar Ltd for up to $3.875 billion in an all-cash transaction, marking its full exit from steelmaking coal.
  
  Tuesday, May 19, 2026
  
  The noise around an imminent resumption of hostilities between the US and Iran has eased somewhat after US President Trump tweeted that his administration would ‘hold off’ on a planned military attack. The issuance of another 30-day waiver for buyers of Russian crude and products has also helped cap oil prices for this week, with ICE Brent trending around $110 per barrel.
  
  White House Extends Russian Sanctions Waiver. The Trump administration has announced the extension of its sanctions waiver for ‘vulnerable countries’, allowing them to buy Russian oil and refined products risk-free provided the cargoes were loaded onto ships before June 17.
  
  AI Boom Creates US Giant Utility. Leading US utility companies NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE) and Dominion Energy (NYSE:D) announced their plan this week to merge in a $66.8 billion deal, forming one of the world’s largest power companies with more than 130 GW of generation capacity.
  
  IEA Warns of Drastic Inventory Drawdowns. Fatih Birol, the executive director of the International Energy Agency, warned that commercial oil inventories in OECD countries are ‘depleting very fast’ despite the organization’s largest-ever joint release of strategic reserves, totaling 400 million barrels.
  
  Chinese Refinery Runs Plunge on Weak Margins. China’s National Bureau of Statistics showed that the country’s April crude throughput dipped to 13.3 million b/d, the lowest monthly reading since August 2022, due to processing margins turning negative amidst a refined product export ban.
  
  Venezuela Revamps Its Oil Tax Code. Venezuela’s Rodriguez government has published a new draft oil law that would allow Caracas to set royalty and tax rates for private and foreign investors on a project-by-project basis, capping the royalty rate at 30% and the integrated hydrocarbon tax at 15%.
  
  US Boosts LNG Outlook with New Project. Caturus, the joint venture of Kimmeridge, Mubadala and Canada Pension Plan, has announced a final investment decision on the 9.5 mtpa Commonwealth LNG project after securing $9.75 billion in project financing, aiming to start production by end-2030.
  
  Tankers Build Around Iran’s Key Loading Port. According to Bloomberg, some 23 Iran-controlled tankers are anchored near the country’s main crude oil loading terminal Kharg Island, the highest number since the US blockade of the Arabian Sea started, suggesting storage is filling up.
  
  Kenya Paralyzed by Nationwide Fuel Protests. Kenya’s economy has been severely disrupted by protests and police clashes across the African country’s main cities over rising fuel prices, as previous government-to-government supplies from the Middle East were stranded by the US-Iran conflict.
  
  Get Ready for Indonesia’s Export Restrictions. The government of Indonesia is planning to tighten control over commodity exports including coal and palm oil as Jakarta seeks to clamp down on tax evasion and to boost the domestic currency, creating a new state agency to manage all exports.
  
  Alaska’s Top 2026 Project Finally Launches. Australian upstream firm Santos (ASX:STO) has announced first oil from the first phase of its Pikka project in the US state of Alaska, ramping up production to reach a plateau of 80,000 b/d by the third quarter of this year, boosting ANS flows.
  
  Dangote Turns Against Nigerian State. Nigeria’s Dangote oil refinery has sued the government in the country’s High Court, claiming the Ministry of Petroleum Resources has breached laws by issuing gasoline import licenses for Q2 2026, as its own output should be enough to meet domestic demand.
  
  China Saves Australia from Jet Dearth. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced his government managed to secure 3 cargoes of jet fuel from China, all arriving in June despite Beijing’s ongoing ban on refined product exports, keeping jet import levels elevated at 140,000 b/d.
  
  Brazil to Breathe Life into Mexico’s Upstream Lull. Brazil’s national oil company Petrobras (NYSE:PBR) is considering investments into Mexico’s deepwater assets involving both mature areas and new frontiers, with an executive delegation from Pemex expected to come to Brazil in June.
  
  Nickel Jumps on Indonesia Supply Qualms. Nickel prices continued their upward momentum after Indonesia’s Tsingshan Group asked nickel pig iron producers to cut output to save electricity for aluminium production, sending the benchmark three-month LME contract to $18,840 per tonne. Source: Oilprice.com
- 2026-05-20
  A Handful of Tankers Are Still Crossing the Strait of Hormuz
  Despite a near-halt in daily Hormuz traffic, Bloomberg reports that almost all large non-Iranian tankers that have entered the Persian Gulf during the war appear to have successfully exited with a cargo, underscoring the emergence of a small group of... Read more Despite a near-halt in daily Hormuz traffic, Bloomberg reports that almost all large non-Iranian tankers that have entered the Persian Gulf during the war appear to have successfully exited with a cargo, underscoring the emergence of a small group of shipowners willing to risk crossing the Strait of Hormuz.
  
  At least 19 oil- and liquefied petroleum gas-carrying ships without Iranian links have both entered and exited Hormuz since March 1, according to vessel-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg. In contrast, about 100 such tankers that entered the Gulf before the conflict remain stuck for fear of attacks, the data show.
  
  As noted above, merchant shipping through the vital energy chokepoint has, for the most part, ground to a halt since US-Israeli attacks at the end of February triggered a wave of Iranian retaliation and led Tehran to tighten its grip over the waterway. Yet a handful of vessels have been managing to cross under an array of schemes, including deals arranged at a government level (with payment in bitcoin) in some cases (and keep in mind that the numbers, both for ships stranded in the Gulf and those making the crossing, could be higher in reality, given many vessels in the region are switching off their satellite signals to protect against strikes).
  
  Of the 19 ships to cross, seven have been linked to Greece’s Dynacom Tankers Management. The company has been one of the main firms to continue using the Strait since the conflict began. In true honey badger form, the company is known to turn off its ship transponders and then to quietly make the Hormuz crossing, usually under the cover of night. It is unclear if Dynacom had arranged any special arrangements with Tehran ahead of its crossings.
  
  The cargoes the vessels were carrying have largely been from the United Arab Emirates and Iraq. Of the rest, three were transporting oil from Saudi Arabia or a mix of oil from the kingdom and other Arab Gulf nations.
  
  Only one large tanker that entered the Gulf after the war started hasn’t left, the data show.
  
  The crossings are only a fraction of the typical Hormuz transits before the war, which accounted for about a fifth of the world’s oil supply. Source: Oilprice.com
- 2026-05-20
  US Crude Inventories Fall Quickly, But Still Up This Year
  The American Petroleum Institute (API) estimated that crude oil inventories in the United States fell by 9.1 million barrels in the week ending May 15. In the week prior, US crude oil inventories fell by 2.188 million barrels. Analysts had expected... Read more The American Petroleum Institute (API) estimated that crude oil inventories in the United States fell by 9.1 million barrels in the week ending May 15. In the week prior, US crude oil inventories fell by 2.188 million barrels.
  
  Analysts had expected a 3.4 million-barrel draw for the current reporting period.
  
  US crude inventories have risen by 26 million barrels so far this year, according to API data.
  
  Inventories in the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) continue to draw down in an attempt to alleviate the pressure on prices. For week ending May 15, 9.9 million barrels left the SPR, bringing the new total to 374.2 million barrels—the largest single-week drawdown in history and the lowest level since July 2024 and 351 million barrels shy of maximum capacity.
  
  US production rose to 13.710 million bpd for the week ending May 8, up from 13.573 million bpd in the week prior, according to the latest EIA data, and up 323,000 bpd from a year earlier.
  
  At 3:26 pm ET on Tuesday, before data release, Brent crude was trading down on the day at $111.10 (-0.87%) after US President Donald Trump paused plans to attack Iran. This is still up $2 week over week. WTI was also trading down on the day, by $0.19 per barrel (-0.18%) at $104.20, but up roughly $2 per barrel week over week.
  
  Gasoline inventories saw a draw this week of 5.8 million barrels in the week ending May 15. In the week prior, gasoline inventories grew by 502,000 barrels. As of last week, gasoline inventories were already 5% below the five-year average for this time of year, according to the latest EIA data.
  
  Distillate inventories fell by 1 million barrels, after shedding 319,000 barrels in the week prior. Distillate inventories were already 9% below the five-year average as of the week ending May 8, the latest EIA data shows.
  
  Cushing inventory—the inventory kept at the delivery hub for the WTI Crude futures contract—fell 1.4 million barrels over the reporting period.
  
  Source: Oilprice.com
- 2026-05-20
  U.S. LNG Exporters Ask Europe for a Methane Timeout
  U.S. natural gas exporters are asking Europe for something increasingly common in global energy markets these days: a timeout. American LNG suppliers want the European Union to push back enforcement of its methane emissions rules until at least 2028,... Read more U.S. natural gas exporters are asking Europe for something increasingly common in global energy markets these days: a timeout.
  
  American LNG suppliers want the European Union to push back enforcement of its methane emissions rules until at least 2028, arguing the regulations are already creating enough uncertainty to freeze long-term gas deals at exactly the wrong moment.
  
  Charlie Riedl, senior vice president of the Natural Gas Supply Association, said Tuesday that some U.S. companies have gone as far as telling commercial teams not to sign long-term contracts with European buyers until there is more clarity.
  
  That is awkward timing.
  
  The United States became Europe's largest LNG supplier after Russia's invasion of Ukraine upended pipeline flows in 2022. Since then, Europe has leaned heavily on U.S. gas to plug a massive supply gap. Now, amid the Iran war and severe disruption to global LNG markets, Europe suddenly needs reliable gas suppliers even more.
  
  And this is where energy policy once again runs headfirst into energy reality.
  
  Under the EU's methane law, imported gas beginning in 2027 must comply with monitoring and verification standards equivalent to Europe's or satisfy strict industry certification requirements. The regulation sits at the center of Europe's climate agenda.
  
  Unfortunately for Brussels, LNG markets have developed a habit of refusing to cooperate with carefully organized policy calendars.
  
  Global gas markets are already under pressure after the Middle East crisis disrupted roughly one-fifth of global LNG supply and delayed new projects. Europe has scrambled to secure replacement cargoes, while companies have signed new deals with U.S. producers to compensate for supply disruptions tied to the conflict.
  
  The methane rules have been causing heartburn for months. Earlier this year, oil and gas companies, including European majors, urged Brussels to pause the regulation, warning it could disrupt fuel imports.
  
  The European Commission has softened portions of the policy and delayed some penalties. Now exporters appear to be asking for something more substantial.
  
  Source: Oilprice.com
- 2026-05-20
  Venezuela Tries to Convince Big Oil It’s Safe to Come Back
  Venezuela is making a fresh pitch to foreign oil companies: this time, if things go sideways, you may not have to fight it out in Caracas. Oil Minister Paula Henao said Tuesday that Venezuela’s new hydrocarbons framework will allow contract disputes... Read more Venezuela is making a fresh pitch to foreign oil companies: this time, if things go sideways, you may not have to fight it out in Caracas.
  
  Oil Minister Paula Henao said Tuesday that Venezuela’s new hydrocarbons framework will allow contract disputes to be resolved outside the country, offering international arbitration options in what appears to be an effort to tackle one of the industry's biggest concerns: legal certainty.
  
  Because when executives say they want "stability," what they often mean is: if a multi-billion-dollar project blows up, we want confidence that the matter will be settled in a neutral court or arbitration panel.
  
  "On the issue of legal certainty, which I know many of you are looking for, the law incorporates all of that," Henao said at an energy conference in Texas.
  
  The comments arrive as Venezuela suddenly finds itself back in fashion. After years spent in sanctions limbo and political isolation, international oil majors have been reappearing across the country at surprising speed.
  
  Shell and BP are advancing offshore gas developments. Repsol has signaled plans to sharply increase production. Eni recently signed agreements tied to the massive Junin-5 heavy oil project. Even U.S. firms are beginning to edge back into the Orinoco Belt.
  
  Exports are already moving in the right direction. Venezuela shipped 1.23 million barrels per day in April, the highest level in more than seven years, as flows to the United States, India, and Europe rebounded.
  
  Oil companies clearly see an opportunity. Venezuela sits on the world's largest crude reserves and remains one of the few places where giant resource discoveries are no longer necessary because the barrels are already there.
  
  The challenge has been everything other than geography.
  
  Earlier this year, some analysts still described Venezuela as effectively uninvestable because of legal uncertainty, infrastructure deterioration, and years of sanctions-related complications. Heavy crude production in the Orinoco Belt also requires substantial spending and specialized infrastructure.
  
  So Venezuela appears to be addressing one of the industry's oldest concerns: contract risk. Source: Oilprice.com
- 2026-05-20
  India Curtailed 300 GWh of Clean Energy in Q1 as Grid Lags Solar Build
  India's electricity grid is expanding at a slower pace than the boom in renewable energy installations, leading to increased share of clean energy curtailments and threatening to slow the solar and wind boom in the world's most populous country. Grid... Read more India's electricity grid is expanding at a slower pace than the boom in renewable energy installations, leading to increased share of clean energy curtailments and threatening to slow the solar and wind boom in the world's most populous country.
  
  Grid and transmission constraints accounted for nearly two-thirds of all renewable energy curtailment at 300 gigawatt-hours (GWh) in the first quarter of the year, clean energy think tank Ember said in a report on Tuesday.
  
  “This growing mismatch between fast-moving solar projects and slower-moving transmission infrastructure is now the most critical operational risk to the country’s 2030 target of 500 gigawatts (GW) of non-fossil electricity,” Ember’s analysts wrote.
  
  While India’s solar and wind power installations have been outpacing government targets in recent years, India has delivered only about 80% of its annual transmission targets in the past five years, according to Ember’s analysis.
  
  Currently, one in four Inter-State Transmission System schemes nationwide faces a delay of a year or more, due to right-of-way disputes, fragmented land ownership, forest and biodiversity clearances, and a thin global supplier base for high-voltage direct current (HVDC) components, Ember notes.
  
  India expects to nearly quadruple its solar power capacity and triple wind power-generating assets within ten years, according to the new Generation Adequacy Plan published by the country’s Central Electricity Authority earlier this year.
  
  In 2025, India boasted achieving five years ahead of schedule its target to have 50% of its installed electricity capacity coming from non-fossil fuel sources.
  
  Despite booming renewable capacity additions, India continues to rely on coal to meet most of its power demand as authorities also look to avoid blackouts in cases of severe heat waves.
  
  Coal-fired power generation and capacity installations in India continue to rise, and coal remains a key pillar of India’s electricity mix, with about 60% share of total power output.
  
  This jump in installed renewable capacity does not mean renewable power generation will soon replace coal in India, especially if grid constraints and battery and transmission delays persist.
  
  Source: Oilprice.com
- 2026-05-20
  Iran Lays Out Sweeping Demands as U.S. Weighs Military Strike Pause
  Iran wants the U.S. blockade and sanctions to be lifted and Iran’s frozen funds to be released in the latest peace proposal to the United States, Iranian state media reported on Tuesday. “The Iranian proposal to end the war includes the country’s insistence... Read more Iran wants the U.S. blockade and sanctions to be lifted and Iran’s frozen funds to be released in the latest peace proposal to the United States, Iranian state media reported on Tuesday.
  
  “The Iranian proposal to end the war includes the country’s insistence on its right to uranium enrichment and peaceful nuclear activities, an end to conflicts across all fronts including Lebanon, the lifting of the US naval blockade, the release of Iranian assets, compensation by the United States for damage caused during the latest war to support reconstruction efforts, the removal of all unilateral sanctions and UN Security Council resolutions, and the withdrawal of US forces from areas surrounding the Islamic Republic,” the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported.
  
  The news agency relayed the latest briefing of Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, to the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee at the Parliament.
  
  A Pakistani source told Reuters that Pakistan had shared the latest proposal with the United States.
  
  Both sides “keep changing their goalposts,” the source told Reuters and added “We don’t have much time.”
  
  Oil prices dropped early on Tuesday after U.S. President Donald Trump said he had paused a planned military strike on Iran to allow negotiations to continue.
  
  Speaking to reporters on Monday, President Trump said “There seems to be a very good chance that they can work something out. If we can do that without bombing the hell out of them, I would be very happy.”
  
  On Monday, Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported that the U.S. had accepted in its new proposal to waive Iran’s oil sanctions during the negotiation period.
  
  However, an anonymous U.S. official who spoke to Reuters denied the U.S. had agreed to such a demand.
  
  On Tuesday, the Iranian IRNA news agency reported that a top Iranian commander warned the United States and its allies against “repeating strategic mistakes or miscalculations regarding Iran.” Source: Oilprice.com

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