The Trump administration is charging forward with a major expansion of offshore oil and gas leasing, reversing Biden-era restrictions and signaling a renewed push for American energy dominance. The Interior Department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced a detailed lease sale schedule covering the Gulf of America and Alaska’s Cook Inlet.
Federal regulators have updated oil and gas commingling rules to align with the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The Department of the Interior aims to strengthen domestic energy production by cutting red tape and streamlining operations, while maintaining safety and efficiency standards. Energy advocates praised the move as a victory for American workers and families.
A Ukrainian drone strike overnight ignited a major fire at an oil depot near the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi, intensifying the ongoing conflict as both sides continue to exchange strikes across the region. Russian officials confirmed the attack Sunday, marking yet another escalation amid growing international pressure for a ceasefire.
OPEC released its 2024 World Oil Outlook on Thursday, forecasting a 19 percent rise in global oil demand by 2050—driven by population growth, urbanization, and soaring power needs, particularly from AI and industrial expansion in developing nations. The group projects oil demand will increase from 103.7 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2024 to 123 million bpd by 2050.
