The days of carefree plastic use may soon be over. Even though the world is suffocating in polluting waste, sales of fresh polymers are projected to rise 40% to $529 billion by 2031. This may change if supporters of taxes and other restrictive measures prevail at ongoing talks for a global treaty to end plastic pollution by 2040. Drastic action would shrink a promising market for Big Oil and cut packaging firms’ margins.
A fire that broke out at the Afipsky oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar region was likely caused by a drone, the region's governor said early on Wednesday.
Top oil exporter Saudi Arabia may further slash the official selling prices (OSPs) for all crude grades to Asia in July, a Reuters poll showed, despite the looming OPEC+ meeting that could leave the door open to further output reduction.
Norway's Hammerfest liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant was shutting down on Wednesday due to a gas leak, a spokesperson for operator Equinor said, confirming an earlier police report.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, including Russia, are known as OPEC+ and will meet in Vienna, Austria, on June 4 to discuss their joint output policy.