energyThursday, July 16, 2026
The Strait of Hormuz closure dominates today's energy landscape, sending gas prices surging and forcing oil majors to scramble for alternatives. Meanwhile, the AI boom continues to drive U.S. electricity demand to new highs, and a controversial space mirror project gets the green light.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is reshaping energy markets and geopolitics in real time.
US gas prices are approaching $4 and diesel has topped $5, directly linked to the Persian Gulf conflict. It's a stark reminder that geopolitical tensions have immediate consumer costs.
Chevron is exploring a pipeline from Iraq to the Syrian coast as an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz. This is a big bet on infrastructure that would bypass Iran's chokehold.
Iran has reportedly instructed the Houthis to prepare to shut the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, threatening a second critical chokepoint for global oil shipments.
Iran fired on US bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan, and claims it destroyed American radars in Oman. Trump has threatened to target Iranian power plants and bridges if talks fail.
Beyond the crisis, structural forces are redrawing the energy map.
U.S. electricity demand hit a record high last year and is projected to keep breaking records through 2027, driven overwhelmingly by AI data centers. Natural gas remains the dominant source.
A public consultation opens for the £8.7bn Rosebank oil field. The developer claims it could provide 10% of UK domestic gas, but the project has been controversial on climate grounds.
Shell and Mitsubishi are selling stakes in the $18bn LNG Canada facility, with PE-backed insurers like Apollo emerging as aggressive bidders. It signals a shift in who owns major energy infrastructure.
Two very different technologies, a space mirror and a nuclear reactor control system, made news today.
A startup got FCC approval to test an 18-meter space mirror that would reflect sunlight to Earth at night. It could power solar farms after dark, but astronomers are worried about light pollution.
Aalo's 10-MWe test reactor will use Rockwell Automation's control platform. It's a small step toward faster nuclear deployment, but the real story is the industrial backing.
New Simulation Tool Gives Green Hydrogen Investors and Policymakers a Clearer Route to Deploymentwww.azocleantech.com
Despite diesel costs decline, in 2025, manufacturers spent N1.35trn on alternative energytribuneonlineng.com
No Petrol Shortage in Pakistan: Govtpropakistani.pkOMC’s commence fuel price increase; Star Oil sells petrol at GH¢13.67, GOIL GH¢13.88www.myjoyonline.com
Based on the National Petroleum Authority price quotes, no oil marketing company should sell a litre of petrol below GH¢13.38 and diesel at GH¢14.35.
New leader of major US climate program doesn’t believe the scienceatmos.earth
Trump just put a climate denier in charge of overseeing a key report.
Google, Cypress Creek launch construction for US’ largest solar, battery storage ventureinterestingengineering.com
US firm Cypress Creek Energy and Google have launched construction on the Steel River Energy...
Iran, US Step Up Attacks, Though Release of American May Signal Path to Climbdownwww.insurancejournal.com
Iran and the United States exchanged intensified fire on Thursday in a week-long escalation that has all but torn up last month’s truce, though Iran’s release of a U.S. citizen pointed towards a path to avert the resumption of all-out …
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