Letter from Moscow: Changing of the guard
Five new technocrat ministers suggest the new PM has a refreshing focus on competence
The Russian government saw its second reshuffle of the year in early November, including veteran energy minister Alexander Novak relinquishing his post after eight years. Five new faces hail from either state companies involved in the industries they will now oversee or relevant government departments. While Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin is consolidating his power, he is also bringing together technocrats he believes can deliver on Russia’s ambitious domestic policy goals. A cornerstone of President Vladimir Putin’s 2018 re-election campaign was a $400bn state spending plan, covering investments in a range of areas from health and education to infrastructure. This National Projects progr
Also in this section
1 August 2025
A number of companies have filed arbitration claims against Gazprom over non-deliveries of contracted gas or other matters—and won. The next step is to collect the award; this is no easy task but it can be done thanks to an international legal framework under the New York Convention.
1 August 2025
Europe’s refining sector is desperately trying to adapt to a shifting global energy landscape and nowhere is this more apparent than in its largest economy
1 August 2025
The Middle East natural gas playbook is being rewritten. The fuel source offers the region a pathway to a cleaner, sustainable and affordable means of local power, to fasttrack economic development and as a lucrative opportunity to better monetise its energy resources.
31 July 2025
TotalEnergies is an outlier among other majors for remaining committed to low-carbon investments while continuing to replenish and expand its ample oil and gas portfolio, with an appetite for high risk/high return projects.
