Watts happen: Toni's weekly energy highlights (09.05.2025)

An old saying is: “The more things change, the more things stay the same.”

As the invention of James Watt's steam engine in late 17^TH The century helped to unleash forces that deformed many aspects of life, first in Great Britain, then in the west and then in the world, competition – be it politically, economically or technologically -. Now, when we enter the fourth industrial revolution and the global energy system gets into the stress, geopolitical competition has reinforced and has a competition for resources and supply chains, strategic political and economic relationships, technology and innovation as well as energy costs and security.

Watt passed The aim is to provide current news, sharp analyzes and thoughtful comments from the top of the energy sector, as this dynamic area of ​​the world continues to expand and grow before our eyes.

Weekly highlights:

The leader of the oil cartel stops its cartel -like behavior

Saudi officials are no longer interested in increasing the oil price by reducing production. Instead, the Oil Kingdom focuses on the expansion of production, enables the prices to be decreased and additional market share through low production costs. To read the latest TNI analysis, you can find here.

Minerals for weapons? The United States and Ukraine reach a mineral agreement

The United States and Ukraine have just signed an agreement in which Ukraine Washington will enable access to their minerals in exchange for the establishment of an American investment fund in Ukraine. The supporters described this as the first step in the direction of a negotiated settlement in the country and as a demonstration of a long-term US commitment, while critics do not satisfy it as the current needs of Ukraine. To read the latest TNI analysis, you can find here.

The “lamps go out everywhere” on the Iberian Peninsula

A massive power failure in Spain and Portugal paralyzed their companies and stranded 80,000 travelers. When the authorities started hunting for the cause of failure, the officers excluded a cyber attack. The head of Spain, Red Electrica, has also refused responsibility for the event and refused to resign.

Bywaj!: US nuclear technology finds a home in Poland

US companies Westinghouse and Bechtel signed an agreement with the state core energy company in Poland to design and build the country's first nuclear power plant. Construction starts next year. The plan comprises up to six Westinghouse AP1000 reactors for the Lubiatowo-Kopalino location near Dansk on the pole baltic coast. The deal supported by the Department of Energy, which is intended to cost over $ 50 billion, is an essential element of the broader US efforts to export nuclear reactors and to compete against the state-supported nuclear projects in Russia and China. Energy Minister Chris Wright supervised and described nuclear energy and natural gas as the two largest climate protection solutions for the future. To read the latest TNI analysis, you can find here.

Carney's climate course for Canada

The new Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, former central banker and ex-un special representative for climate measures and finances, will resume Canadian climate policy. On the agenda, the carbon tax of consumers, an unpopular policy that increases household costs, is scraped on the agenda. Carney suggests replacing it with a strategy that promotes more environmentally friendly consumer decisions and improves CO2 prices for industry, keeps option-based pricing for the country's largest emitter and offers subsidies for electric vehicles and household appliances that are aimed at energy efficiency. His broader plan includes a mechanism for adapting the carbon boundaries and a national energy corridor, which quickly takes over the necessary permission for new transport and energy infrastructure projects, including pipelines. As this year's G7 chairman, Carney will urge to work with carbon prices, sustainable finances and climate adjustments in Canada position as a pragmatic market leader in climate policy. To read the latest TNI analysis, you can find here.

About the author: Toni Mikec

Toni Mikec is the Managing Editor of Energy World, a publication of the Center for National Interest. Previously, he worked as a political advisor for her voters in Sacramento and as a senior editor at Eagle Financial publications in Washington DC. He has a BA in international relationships (Summa Cum Laude) from the University of California, Davis and an MA in International Relations and International Economics from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

Image: Shutterstock/Chonlateee42