Energy / Automotive News June 18, 2025. Gas @ $3.84/MMBtu
London, June 18, 2025 (Oilandgaspress) –-The Strait of Hormuz has once again become a magnet for everyone in oil since it handles a third of the world’s maritime oil trade and most of the Middle East’s oil exports, at over 20 million barrels daily. The world’s largest tanker operator, Frontline, said earlier that shippers are refusing to go to the Strait of Hormuz amid the fighting. There is also fear that Iran may close the chokepoint, which would disrupt oil flows. Any closure, however, is likely to be short-lived due to the heavy U.S. military presence in the Persian Gulf.. Read More
Crude oil prices continue to face upward pressure as the conflict between Israel and Iran continues, raising concerns about oil supply disruptions from the Middle East.
| Oil and Gas Blends | Units | Oil Price | Change |
| Crude Oil (WTI) | USD/bbl | $74.05 | Up |
| Crude Oil (Brent) | USD/bbl | $75.75 | Up |
| Bonny Light 18/06/25 CBN | USD/bbl | $80.55 | Up |
| Dubai | USD/bbl | $71.56 | Down |
| Natural Gas | USD/MMBtu | $3.84 | Up |
| Murban | USD/bbl | $75.85 | Up |
| OPEC basket 17/06/25 | USD/bbl | $74.39 | Up |
TotalEnergies and Avril study the development of a French intermediate crop sector for the production of sustainable aviation fuels TotalEnergies and Avril, the industrial and financial leader in the French vegetable oils and proteins sector, have entered into an agreement to jointly study the development of a French intermediate crop sector for the production of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), and thus contribute to reducing CO2 emissions from air transport. This agreement is part of an ambitious dynamic led by the European Union, which requires the incorporation of 2% sustainable fuels in aviation from 2025, with a target of 70% by 2050.
Intermediate crops that do not compete with food
Catch crops are crops sown between two main crops on the same plot. As such, they do not require additional land and do not compete with human and animal food, while still providing additional income for farmers. They are eligible under European regulations for the production of SAF.
These crops also enable the co-production of plant proteins, thus contributing to the protein sovereignty of France and Europe in animal feed. They also offer numerous agronomic benefits: in particular, they limit soil erosion, improve soil structure, reduce water loss, and contribute to the preservation of biodiversity.
Vegetable oils eligible for transformation into sustainable aviation fuels
As part of this agreement, TotalEnergies and Avril will therefore evaluate the entire value chain, from the selection of plant varieties to the production of biofuels, with the aim of structuring a sustainable French sector.
Avril will supply vegetable oils from intermediate crops to TotalEnergies, which will transform them into sustainable aviation fuel in its French biorefineries and through coprocessing in its French and European refineries.
” This agreement with Avril represents a major step in the development of a French vegetable oil production sector enabling the production of sustainable aviation fuel. This project represents both an opportunity to create value for the agricultural world and to secure the raw material needed to produce sustainable aviation fuels for manufacturers. SAFs contribute to the energy transition of our customers in the aviation sector and their development is at the heart of our Company’s transition strategy ,” said Valérie Goff, Senior Vice President Renewable Fuels & Chemicals at TotalEnergies .
Renault Group launches a large-scale health program for all employees Renault Group has designed OneHealth, its global physical and mental health program, with the ambition of offering all its employees, everywhere in the world, equitable access to healthcare. Three concrete solutions for employees on a day-to-day basis
OneHealth is a global health program dedicated to health and well-being, guaranteeing equitable access to high-quality care. It offers a complete package, including free check-ups organized and financed by the company, a digital platform, a network of workplace health professionals located close to the business locations, as well as teleconsultations, personalized advice and psychological assistance available 24/7. These services, which are free for employees, are also partially open to members of their household.
The program is built around three concrete solutions focusing on the benefits for employees:
Acting for a healthy life to encourage employees to adopt good habits and take charge of their physical and mental health, OneHealth provides the Personify Health wellbeing application. Already used by more than 4,000 employees, it offers personalized advice, good health practices and individual and group challenges to boost motivation on a daily basis.
Regular check-ups: to identify any health problems: Renault Group offers free health check-ups to all its employees. From the age of 45, a physical check-up complements the digital check-up; before that age, personalized monitoring is offered in the event of risk factors. This approach makes it possible to detect potential problems at an early stage, map the risks and provide targeted advice, both physical and psychological.
Support employees benefit from comprehensive support provided by the workplace health and safety teams, covering all issues relating to health and working conditions. This system is currently supported by a network of 148 health centers in 12 countries, offering local access to healthcare professionals. OneHealth also offers a 24/7 hotline for psychological support tailored to the personal, family or professional concerns of employees and their household members. The program also aims to provide all employees with health cover that is at least equal to or better than the standards in force in each country: a package of services that enables every employee to feel fully supported, both professionally and personally.
Rapid and ambitious international deployment
Launched in 2024, OneHealth is being rolled out progressively on an international scale, considering the social calendars of each country. To date, the program already covers 95% of Renault Group employees. By September 2025, it will cover 100% of the Group’s employees.
A focus on local realities: the example of India
In April 2025, a health centre was inaugurated in India. This launch demonstrates the program’s ability to adapt to the health challenges specific to each region. It also illustrates the Group’s commitment to offering a system that goes beyond simple standardised deployment, to provide a concrete response to local needs.
TotalEnergies is Granted a New Exploration License TotalEnergies, jointly with QatarEnergy, has been awarded the Ahara license following the “Algeria Bid Round 2024”, launched by The National Agency for the Valorization of Hydrocarbon Resources (ALNAFT), the first call for tender conducted under the hydrocarbon law No.19-13.
Ahara is a large license covering an area of approximately 14,900 km², located at the intersection of the prolific Berkine and Illizi Basins. TotalEnergies will serve as the operator during the Exploration and Appraisal phases of this license with a 24.5% effective interest, the same share as QatarEnergy (24.5%). The national company SONATRACH will retain a majority interest of 51%, in accordance with Algerian law.
“TotalEnergies is delighted that its joint bid with QatarEnergy has led to the award of the Ahara license, allowing us to write a new chapter in our long-lasting partnership with SONATRACH in Exploration in Algeria”, said Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies.
Hyundai Lands Five Vehicles on 2025 Cars.com American-Made Index Hyundai has secured five vehicles on the 2025 Cars.com American-Made Index. The Hyundai Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, IONIQ 5, Tucson and Santa Cruz were all included in Cars.com’s annual, independent ranking that identifies the most American-made vehicles—criteria that are increasingly important to today’s car buyers. The Cars.com American-Made Index evaluates vehicles based on five key criteria: final assembly location, percentage of U.S. and Canadian parts, origin of engines and transmissions, and the number of U.S. manufacturing employees relative to the automaker’s footprint. More than 400 model-year 2025 vehicles were analyzed to determine this year’s top 99.
Hyundai Models on the 2025 American-Made Index:
Santa Cruz – 26th (Assembled at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama)
IONIQ 5 – 30th (Assembled at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America)
Santa Fe – 62nd (Assembled at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama)
Tucson – 76th (Assembled at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama)
Santa Fe Hybrid – 87th (Assembled at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama)
“Hyundai’s strong showing on this year’s American-Made Index is a testament to the company’s growing investment in U.S. production and its commitment to building vehicles that resonate with American consumers,” said Patrick Masterson, lead researcher for Cars.com’s American-Made Index. “The Santa Fe, Tucson, and Santa Cruz all earned spots on the Index due to their U.S. assembly in Montgomery, Alabama, and substantial domestic parts content. These models are not only popular with shoppers for their design and value but also stand out for their economic impact here at home.”
For nearly four decades, Hyundai has been a driver of American growth and innovation – contributing jobs, economic activity and investments that have helped Americans prosper.
Subsea 7 – contract award offshore Norway Subsea 7 S.A. (Oslo Børs: SUBC, ADR: SUBCY) today announced the award of a substantial1 contract offshore Norway.
Subsea7’s scope includes engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) of pipeline bundles, spools, protection covers and tie-ins using key vessels from Subsea7’s fleet.
Project management and engineering will commence immediately at Subsea7’s offices in Stavanger, Norway and Aberdeen, Scotland. Fabrication of pipeline bundles will take place at Wester, Scotland. Offshore operations are expected to take place in 2025-2027.
Erik Femsteinevik, Vice President for Subsea7 Norway said: “We are excited to have been awarded this project. Our collaboration with our clients leverages our collective experience from past and current projects. By engaging early in the field development process, we can optimise design solutions and contribute to a positive final investment decision. Subsea7 looks forward to a safe, efficient, and reliable field development.”
No further details are disclosed at this time.
Chevron Enters Domestic Lithium Sector to Support U.S. Energy SecurityYearbook 2025/26, Chevron U.S.A. Inc., a subsidiary of Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX), announced today the acquisition of two leasehold acreage positions. The first from TerraVolta Resources, whose investor is an affiliate of The Energy & Minerals Group (EMG), and the second from East Texas Natural Resources (ETNR) LLC.
The estimated leasehold position includes ~125,000 net acres and is situated across regions where the Smackover Formation is present, specifically spanning Northeast Texas and Southwest Arkansas. This formation is of particular interest due to its notably high lithium content and marks Chevron’s first step toward establishing a commercial-scale, domestic lithium business.
Future development will aim to utilize the direct lithium extraction (DLE) process, a set of advanced technologies employed to extract lithium from brines produced from the subsurface. Chevron seeks to deploy this emerging technology, which allows for faster and more efficient production and is expected to have a smaller environmental footprint compared to traditional extraction methods.
“This acquisition represents a strategic investment to support energy manufacturing and expand U.S.-based critical mineral supplies,” said Jeff Gustavson, president of Chevron New Energies. “Establishing domestic and resilient lithium supply chains is essential not only to maintaining U.S. energy leadership but also to meeting the growing demand from customers. This opportunity builds on many of Chevron’s strengths including subsurface resource development and value chain integration.”
Lithium is a key component supporting the trend toward electrification and can contribute to building a resilient, lower carbon energy system that meets growing energy demand, while balancing reliability and affordability.
Eni: report on the purchase of treasury shares During the period from 9 to 13 June 2025, Eni acquired on the Euronext Milan no. 3,652,950 shares (equal to 0.12% of the share capital), at a weighted average price per share equal to 13.6875 euro, for a total consideration of 49,999,739.14 euro within the treasury shares program approved by the Shareholders’ Meeting on 14 May 2025, previously subject to disclosure in accordance with applicable legislation.
On the basis of the information provided by the intermediary appointed to make the purchases, here below a synthesis of transactions for the purchase of treasury shares on the Euronext Milan on a daily basis: From the start on 20 May 2025 of the buyback program, Eni acquired no. 14,372,170 shares (equal to 0.46% of the share capital) for a total consideration of 190,002,965.08 euro.
Considering the treasury shares already held and the purchases made, Eni holds n. 105,982,497 shares equal to 3.37% of the share capital.
Woodside and PETRONAS eye long-term LNG supply through its subsidiary PETRONAS LNG Ltd (PLL), have signed a non-binding Heads of Agreement (HOA) for the supply of 1 million tonnes per annum of LNG to Malaysia from 2028 for a period of 15 years.
The LNG would be supplied from Woodside’s global portfolio and may include the recently approved Louisiana LNG project in the United States. The HOA reflects the shared ambition of both companies to formally commit to deepening cooperation across the LNG value chain, building a relationship of mutual trust, benefit and success. Woodside Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer Mark Abbotsford welcomed the HOA with PETRONAS, recognised globally as one of Asia’s most respected energy companies. “This agreement marks the beginning of a new era of collaboration between Woodside and PETRONAS and is an important step towards what would be our first long-term LNG sales to Malaysia. It reflects the value global buyers see in Woodside’s Louisiana LNG project and our reputation as a safe and a
reliable supplier of energy to Asia.”
The agreement is expected to support PETRONAS’ efforts to ensure secure, flexible LNG supply to meet growing demand in Peninsular Malaysia and the broader Asia-Pacific region. “We are pleased to launch our new collaboration with Woodside, a leading supplier of LNG to Asia. We hope this will be the start of cooperation between PETRONAS and Woodside on future opportunities to support energy security and sustainability across the region,” said Shamsairi Ibrahim, Vice President of LNG Marketing & Trading, PETRONAS.
The agreement was exchanged at the Energy Asia 2025 conference in Kuala Lumpur in the presence of Woodside CEO Meg O’Neill and PETRONAS Executive Vice President & CEO Gas & Maritime Business Datuk Adif Zulkifli.
The Parties are now working to convert the HOA into a sales and purchase agreement. Woodside and PETRONAS share a long-standing relationship, having previously cooperated on exploration studies and research and development initiatives along with both spot and mid-term LNG sales and purchases.
Strategic Roadmap for Net-Zero Maritime Transport The Maritime Standard has announced the first session of the upcoming Transportation & Climate Change Conference (TMS TACCC 2025), which will take place on Thursday, 25th September 2025 at the Saadiyat Rotana Resort, Abu Dhabi. Held under the overarching theme “Accelerating Sustainable Transportation: Innovation, Policy & Climate Action,” the event will bring together senior leaders from the maritime, logistics, aviation, and transportation industries to address the path toward net-zero emissions.
Session 1, titled “Net-Zero Maritime Transport – Policy, Investment & Global Roadmap,” will explore the policy frameworks, financial tools, and technological innovations shaping the decarbonization journey of the maritime sector.
This opening session will delve into the latest regulatory developments from the International Maritime Organization (IMO MEPC), the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) expansion into shipping, and the broader UNFCCC climate agenda. Experts will discuss how aligning corporate strategies with these regulations is critical to achieving sector-wide transformation.
Among the key themes, the session will explore carbon pricing and green taxation—examining their economic impact on global trade and the preparedness of shipping stakeholders for emerging carbon markets and maritime emissions trading schemes. These discussions will sit alongside a broader analysis of regulatory alignment, investment pathways, and technological innovation driving the sector’s transition to net-zero.
The session will also spotlight financing mechanisms essential for the energy transition. Topics will include green bonds, climate finance instruments, and innovative public-private partnership (PPP) models aimed at building clean shipping corridors, modern green ports, and fueling infrastructure for low- and zero-emission vessels.
In parallel, the integration of artificial intelligence and digital innovation into maritime logistics will be discussed, including the role of AI in emissions forecasting, smart vessel routing, and port energy optimization—laying the foundation for a more sustainable and efficient global shipping network.
Geopolitical implications and the role of global governance in advancing maritime climate action will also be examined, as panelists consider how climate and trade regulations are impacting maritime security and cross-border supply chains.
Finally, the session will offer insights into regional progress toward multi-modal, low-carbon logistics corridors that combine shipping with electrified rail and road transport—highlighting infrastructure strategies that enable fully decarbonized trade networks.
TMS TACCC 2025’s first session promises to be a strategic knowledge platform for regulators, investors, and operators working to accelerate the decarbonization of maritime transport.
Equinor secures exploration acreage in Brazil Equinor has been awarded a new exploration opportunity in Brazil, providing the potential for deepening the company’s position in the country. Equinor has deepened its position in the Santos basin after winning the S-M-1617 block during Brazil’s 5th Open Permanent Concession bid round. The S-M-1617 license in Brazil was secured by Equinor on a 100% basis with a total signature bonus of around 30.5 million Brazilian Real (around 5.5 MUSD).
The block is located 60 kilometers away from the S-M-1378 block already owned by Equinor. This is an addition to our existing opportunity set in Brazil and demonstrates the company’s continued commitment and growth ambition in the country. Equinor will now work to conduct necessary geological and geophysical assessments for future exploration activities.
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OilandGasPress Energy Newsbites and Analysis Roundup | Compiled by: OGP Staff, Segun Cole , victor@oilandgaspress
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