Oil and gas

Will Iran’s 50% gas price hike pay off for the economy?

Iran’s cutbacks on gas subsidies must be accompanied by a crackdown on corruption if they are to yield real benefits for the government.

Iran

Smuggling crackdown highlights resilience of northeast Syria’s oil trade

Despite a joint Kurdish-US crackdown against oil smugglers from northeast Syria toward government-controlled territories, trade continues.

Syria

Can EU's fear of terrorists give Turkey clout in ocean drilling?

Following his threats to flood Europe with Syrian refugees, the Turkish president is now trying to use Islamic State suspects as leverage.

Syria

Egypt conducts joint drills with Greece, Cyprus amid Turkey tensions

The naval forces of Egypt, Greece and Cyprus conducted joint military exercises in the Mediterranean amid tensions with Turkey over its drilling activities in the area.

Egypt

Iran plans to wean budget off oil income by next year

Iranian officials say the country will kick its dependence on oil revenues by next year, using them only for development projects and to acquire capital assets.

Iran

Syrian Kurds OK US-led oil mission

The commander of the Pentagon-backed Syrian Democratic Forces has signed off to help the Donald Trump administration protect the war-torn country’s oil fields, even amid an ongoing Turkish incursion the group has lobbied the United States to stop.

Syria

National security officials fear White House reversal on Syria

As a residual US troop presence arrives in Syria, some Donald Trump administration officials are worried that the president himself may once again reverse his decision to leave troops in the country.

Syria

Saudi financial forum visit pays off for India

Riyadh and New Delhi were productive during the Indian prime minister’s visit to Saudi Arabia last week.

Saudi Arabia

Algeria’s hydrocarbon reform adds fuel to protest movement

Algeria’s interim government claims to be undertaking economic reforms of the energy sector, but protesters see the effort as an attempt to shore up economic and diplomatic support heading into December presidential elections.

Algeria

Draft law on hydrocarbons sparks another quarrel between regime, protest movement in Algeria

The Algerian government recently approved a law to regularize the energy sector, which was rejected by protesters.

Algeria

Syria looks to revitalize oil production to attract investors

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is tightening the regime's grip on oil fields with an eye toward their eventual rehabilitation.

Syria

Pentagon weighs options to deter Russians in Syria

After Russian forces in Syria appeared to be heading toward oil fields, the Pentagon proposed deploying tanks as a measure to guard the installations, a US official told Al-Monitor.

Iraq