<i>Hello from The National and welcome to the Energy This Week newsletter, our expert analysis on oil and gas, renewables and clean energy.</i> Oil <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/energy/2025/02/07/oil-set-for-third-weekly-loss-as-trade-tariffs-raise-concerns-of-crude-demand-growth/" target="_blank" rel="">lost ground</a> for a third week running, as markets fretted about trade wars and a possible economic slowdown. Having opened the week at $75.96 per barrel, Brent faded to $74.66, even after picking up slightly on Friday. But the resumption of the US’s “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, with the goal of driving its oil exports to zero, could ease the path for Opec gradually to <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/energy/2025/02/04/how-could-trumps-maximum-pressure-campaign-against-iran-affect-opec-cuts/" target="_blank" rel="">unwind its cuts</a>. President Mahmoud Pezeshkian <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2025/02/10/iran-wont-kneel-to-trumps-pressure-president-masoud-pezeshkian-says/" target="_blank" rel="">responded</a> that Iran “does not seek war … but will not yield to foreign pressure”. The US has reaffirmed its pursuit of “energy dominance”, announcing tariffs on Canada and Mexico, two of its key oil and gas trade partners. But an overbearing attitude leads other nations and multinational blocs to consider how to safeguard their interests. Donald Trump’s <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/economy/2025/02/10/will-trumps-aluminium-and-steel-tariffs-hit-gulf-exports/" target="_blank" rel="">newly-announced tariffs</a> on steel and aluminium might affect Gulf exporters. About a quarter of the UAE’s exports to the US consisted of products based on these metals, and the UAE was the second-largest exporter of aluminium to the US after Canada. But the cost-competitive Gulf producers should have no trouble finding markets elsewhere, and their competitors are likewise also facing tariffs. On Sunday, Qatar and Turkey <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/gulf/2025/02/09/qatar-and-turkey-join-regional-integrated-industrial-partnership/" target="_blank" rel="">joined</a> five Arab member states, including the UAE, in an industrial partnership. The meeting included a $2 billion raw materials deal between Qatar Steel and Bahrain Steel. Post-Assad Syria is facing severe electricity shortages. With just two to three hours of grid electricity per day, new president Ahmed Al Shara is trying to increase that to eight hours. The government is struggling to secure new crude and fuel supplies to replace lost Iranian shipments, and then to fix up battered power plants and grid connections. There are hopes that Turkey, Qatar or Saudi Arabia may step in to assist. Iraq’s energy troubles also continue. Now, President Abdul Latif Rashid has <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2025/02/10/iraqi-president-sues-prime-minister-and-finance-minister-over-delayed-krg-salaries" target="_blank" rel="">filed a lawsuit</a> against Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani and Finance Minister Taif Sami Mohammed, over delayed salaries for government employees in the Kurdistan Region. In turn, these delays stem from the continuing dispute over the Kurdistan Region’s rights to manage its oil exports and budget revenue, and what companies operating there should be paid for their output. Adnoc Gas <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/energy/2025/02/06/adnoc-delivers-5-billion-in-net-revenue-for-2024/" target="_blank" rel="">reported another strong year</a> as the UAE’s gas expansion continues. The listed subsidiary of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company had net income of $1.38 billion in the fourth quarter and $5 billion for the year as a whole, driven by higher prices and growing sales volumes, particularly exports of liquefied natural gas. After years of frustration, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer intends to simplify planning rules to speed up the construction of new nuclear reactors. The UK’s last nuclear power station was built in 1995, but it wants a generation of new, small modular reactors. Nuclear power had been expected to see a global renaissance to power artificial intelligence systems – but the announcement of China’s frugal DeepSeek cast some doubt on this. Consultant Maryam Salman, though, <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/future/technology/2025/02/10/did-deepseek-end-nuclear-energys-ai-comeback/" target="_blank" rel="">believes</a> AI and other growing electricity needs mean nuclear retains an important future role. The Leap conference in Riyadh on Monday brought <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/future/technology/2025/02/10/leap-2025-more-than-24bn-investments-pledged-to-boost-saudi-arabias-data-centre-capabilities/" target="_blank" rel="">more than $7.4 billion</a> of planned investment in data centres and other technology ventures in Saudi Arabia. The Zayed Sustainability Prize has <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/climate/2025/02/10/zayed-sustainability-prize-issues-global-call-for-submissions-seeking-share-of-59m-fund/">asked for submissions</a> for its $5.9 million prize pool next year, split between the winners in six categories, including energy, water and climate. The UAE has also <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/climate/2025/02/05/uae-launches-new-programme-to-woo-green-tech-innovators/">launched</a> a “Green Intellectual Property” road map, intending to speed the issuance of patents to attract eco-friendly innovators. A <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2025/02/10/dubai-rail-bus/">solar-powered rail-bus</a> in Dubai could help cut pollution and traffic. Last month was the hottest January on record. This came even though the shift of the Pacific to the La Nina weather pattern should have cooled the globe. Professor Mike Berners-Lee <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/climate/2025/02/08/world-is-accelerating-into-the-problem-of-climate-change-amid-global-temperature-surge/" target="_blank" rel="">warns</a>: “We’re making the climate crisis worse by a larger amount every year than we did the year before. We’re accelerating into the problem.” Middle East cities could have a crucial role in <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/climate/2025/02/06/middle-east-tipped-to-play-critical-role-in-how-cities-adapt-to-rising-temperatures/" target="_blank" rel="">showing</a> how urban areas can adapt and become more resilient on a hotter planet, says an official of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Even famously wet Britain <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/opinion/comment/2025/02/12/water-disputes-will-be-part-of-the-future-even-in-wet-uk/" target="_blank" rel="">faces</a> a future of water disputes, a legacy of climate change, bad regulation and poor management by water companies.