Ross McCracken

Latest articles from Ross

• What To Do About Peak Oil Demand

  Published 12 June 2019 | viewed 7,349 times

  Long-term energy scenarios for the most part come in three variants: business as usual, which de-emphasises the possible impacts of technological and regulatory change; a…

• OPEC Powerless Against Global Production Growth

  Published 05 June 2019 | viewed 10,352 times

  Despite US sanctions on Iran, Venezuela’s ongoing crisis, Libya being at risk of conflict-related oil disruption and Russian oil exports curtailed by contamination problems, oil…

• Is India’s Oil Demand Being Underestimated?

  Published 29 May 2019 | viewed 7,432 times

  Huge jumps of 8.2% and 9.5% in Indian oil demand in 2015 and 2016 led to growing expectations that India had reached a critical developmental…

• The Trade War Is Transforming Oil Markets

  Published 22 May 2019 | viewed 6,809 times

  The increase of US tariffs on goods imported from China in May and the Chinese response – higher tariffs on a further $60 billion of…

• The Politicization Of European Gas

  Published 15 May 2019 | viewed 4,044 times

  In April, the EU awarded two sets of funds designed to strengthen Polish gas security. It granted €128 million ($144 million) from the European Regional…

• The Energy Implications Of Additive Manufacturing

  Published 08 May 2019 | viewed 5,337 times

  Additive Manufacturing (AM) is a three-step process involving Computer Aided Design (CAD), creation of a digital computer file and then manufacture of a product from…

• LNG: A Growing Factor In Oil Demand Destruction

  Published 01 May 2019 | viewed 8,555 times

  The global population of plug-in electric vehicles (PHEVs) is expected to reach 8.5 million by the end of 2019, according to EV Volumes, with an…

• Trump’s Gunboat Diplomacy

  Published 24 April 2019 | viewed 4,855 times

  Washington’s announcement that it will not extend its sanctions waivers for key importers of Iranian oil - China, India, Turkey, Japan and South Korea -…

• The Exceptional Factors Driving Oil Markets

  Published 17 April 2019 | viewed 5,912 times

  Brent crude moved over $70/barrel in the first half of April, despite a weak global economy. In its latest World Economic Outlook, the IMF reduced…

• Is Carbon Capture And Storage Unavoidable?

  Published 10 April 2019 | viewed 2,302 times

  Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) has so far been more notable for its failures than its successes. In North America, only two commercial-scale post-combustion projects…

• The Hydrogen Economy – A Bonanza For Natural Gas

  Published 03 April 2019 | viewed 7,650 times

  The hydrogen economy might be on its way, but it won’t be arriving any time soon, not until after 2030 at least. If and when…

• Uncertain Times For Dated Brent

  Published 27 March 2019 | viewed 5,434 times

  The global crude oil benchmark Dated Brent is set to change once again this November as S&P Global Platts, the benchmark’s custodian, introduces trade in…

• How China’s Oil And EV Policies Combine

  Published 20 March 2019 | viewed 4,838 times

  China’s continued expansion of its oil refining sector and its environmental policies often appear contradictory. On the one hand, it is the world’s leader in…

• The IEA’s Search For A New Narrative Of Doom

  Published 13 March 2019 | viewed 5,514 times

  The International Energy Agency (IEA) released its Oil 2019 report March 11, providing forecasts to 2024. The IEA paints an extraordinary picture of transition for…

• Oil For Power: Bucking A Long-Term Trend

  Published 07 March 2019 | viewed 5,559 times

  Oil demand for power generation has been in long-term decline since 1990 as countries have gradually displaced oil with cheaper feedstocks, primarily coal and natural…

• Oil Is Going Nowhere In Maritime Transportation

  Published 27 February 2019 | viewed 7,784 times

  What do Japan’s recent positioning in favour of open-loop scrubbers and the global trade slowdown have in common? They will both serve to slow fuel…

• How Robo-Taxis Will Impact Oil Demand

  Published 20 February 2019 | viewed 7,231 times

  Vehicle automation is expected to have a huge impact on demand for energy in transport, but there is very little clarity as to what the…

• LNG’s Downstream Glitch

  Published 13 February 2019 | viewed 7,586 times

  A slowing Chinese economy and upcoming elections in India could both impact a hitherto robust demand outlook for the LNG industry, which currently occupies an…

• OPEC: Success Or Stagnation?

  Published 06 February 2019 | viewed 7,650 times

  Since the co-option of Russia at the end of 2016, OPEC has appeared resplendent, but it remains a far from perfect cartel with no real…

• What Comes Next For Venezuela?

  Published 30 January 2019 | viewed 7,646 times

  Having written last week that Venezuela was staggering on through seemingly endless social and economic crises, an end game may finally be insight. It is…