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Trump’s Russia threat rings hollow
The reaction to proposed sanctions on Russian oil buyers has been muted, suggesting trader fatigue with Trump’s frequent bold and erratic threats
US oil sector faces complicated path
Trump energy policies and changing consumer trends to upend oil supply and demand
California refiners dreaming of heyday
US downstream sector in key state feels the pain of high costs, an environmental squeeze and the effects of broader market trends
Mars attacks US oil industry
Crude quality issues are an often understated risk to energy security, highlighted by problems at a key US refinery
Bakken oil output may hold its ground
While oil prices will determine the trajectory of the key US shale patch, regulation and technological shifts are also likely to shape direction longer term
US, Russia and China circle the Arctic
The strategic importance of vast untapped oil and gas reserves and key shipping routes has come in from the cold
Trump creates new risk dynamic
US policies may have lasting effects in sectors such as energy, that rely on predictable rules and long-term planning
Momentum builds for Alaska LNG
Asian and European interest gathers pace as Trump throws his weight behind frontier state
Letter from the US: Energy needs require a rethink
Tariffs, AI, critical minerals and emerging markets all raise fundamental policy questions
Lower oil prices fuel US driving season
US gasoline consumption is at its highest level since before COVID, but while stocks remain healthy, the hurricane season threatens
Opinion
US
Dan Graeber
Grand Rapids
23 February 2021
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Letter from the US: Oil and gas sector faces cold hard facts

Glacial temperatures in southern states showcase lack of provision against extreme weather

February is typically bad for US states west of the Mississippi River in terms of winter weather. But the recent bout of Arctic cold has been extreme. Parts of the electric grid in Texas failed, the state diverted its stores of gas from power to heat and many of the region’s refineries have been shut down. While clearly unusual, the situation put the energy-rich US south on the back foot. And it could be a much-needed wake-up call for industry investments as supposedly rare events like these become more common. A state of emergency was declared on 12 February across Texas as the state grappled with unprecedented cold and snow. The following week, the frigid temperatures forced some refinerie

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