January 7, 2026

Oil & Gas – Heavy oil, light market reaction

  • Geopolitics: The changing role of the US on the world stage is increasing uncertainty in energy markets, although markets currently rate the likelihood of immediate supply disruptions as low.
  • Oil production in Venezuela: poor infrastructure and an unstable investment climate make a short-term increase in production unlikely.
  • Heavy oil: Venezuelan oil is expensive to produce and process, but it is well suited to American refineries and can therefore be economically and strategically attractive.
  • Natural gas production in Venezuela: The potential for natural gas in the ground is enormous, but exploitation of this resource is not straightforward due to American interference.
  • TTF: The active monthly contract has been trading below EUR 30/MWh for several weeks, while dependence on Russian LNG is to be phased out by 2026.