Bussiness
Oil Jumps As EU Weighs Russian Ban, Saudi Refinery Output Hit
Oil prices jumped more than $3 on Monday, with Brent above $111 a barrel, as European Union nations consider joining the United States in a Russian oil embargo, while a weekend attack on Saudi oil facilities caused jitters.
Brent crude futures climbed $3.74, or 3.5%, to $111.67 a barrel by 0739 GMT, adding to a 1.2% rise last Friday.
U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose $3.98, or 3.8%, to $108.68, extending a 1.7% jump last Friday.
Prices moved higher ahead of talks this week between European Union governments and U.S. President Joe Biden for a series of summits that aim to harden the West’s response to Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.
EU governments will consider whether to impose an oil embargo on Russia.
Early on Monday, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister, Iryna Vershchuk, said there was no chance the country’s forces would surrender in the besieged eastern port city of Mariupol.
With little sign of the conflict easing, the focus returned to whether the market would be able to replace Russian barrels hit by sanctions.
“A Houthi attack on a Saudi energy terminal, warnings of a structural shortfall in production from OPEC, and a potential European Union oil embargo on Russia have seen oil prices jump in Asia,” OANDA’s senior analyst Jeffrey Halley said in a note.
“Even if the Ukraine war ends tomorrow, the world will face a structural energy deficit, thanks to Russian sanctions.”
Over the weekend, attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group caused a temporary drop in output at a Saudi Aramco refinery joint venture in Yanbu, feeding concern in a jittery oil products market, where Russia is a key supplier and global inventories are at multi-year lows.
The latest report from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia, together called OPEC+, showed some producers are still falling short of their agreed supply quotas.
OPEC+ missed its production target by more than 1 million barrels per day (bpd) in February, three sources told Reuters, under their pact to boost output by 400,000 bpd each month as they wind back sharp cuts made in 2020.
The two OPEC countries with the capacity to instantly raise output, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have so far resisted calls from major consuming nations to step up production faster to help drive down oil prices.
U.S. energy firms are also struggling to keep the number of active oil rigs up, despite strong prices.
The poor supply outlook and high prices prompted the International Energy Agency to outline ways on Friday to cut oil use by 2.7 million bpd within four months, from car-pooling to lower speed limits and cheaper public transport.
That would help offset the 3 million bpd of Russian crude and products that the IEA estimated would be off the market by April.
Source: Reuter
Bussiness
Global Market Volatility: Gov’t absorb GH¢2.00 per litre on diesel and GH¢0.36 per litre on petrol
Effective Thursday, April 16, 2026, which is the next pricing window, the Government will absorb GH¢2.00 per litre on diesel and GH¢ 0.36 per litre on petrol.
This intervention is intended to cushion customers and ease the cost burden on households, transport operators, and businesses.
The measure, approved by Cabinet, is in response to rising prices of petroleum products on the international market, which have significantly impacted ex-pump prices in Ghana.
This temporary intervention will remain in force for a period of one (1) month.
During this period government will continue to closely monitor developments in the global oil market and assess the need for further policy adjustments.
A statement signed by Minister of Government Communications, Felix Ofosu Kwakye noted that they remain commited to maintaining price stability, protecting livelihoods, and supporting Ghana’s economic recovery in the face of external shocks.
Ghana’s gold and minerals sector is set for a major spotlight as Meetings. Co, in partnership with key industry stakeholders, announces the Mining & Minerals Convention 2025, scheduled from August 26-27, 2025, at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City, Accra.
Held under the theme “Shaping the Future of Ghana’s Gold Industry,”‘ the Convention will convene government leaders, regulators, miners, refiners, investors, sustainability partners, innovators, and responsible mining, and global competitiveness,policy experts to explore strategies that position Ghana’s gold industry for long-term growth.
The two-day convention will feature presidential and ministerial keynote addresses, industry thought leadership, technical paper presentations, policy dialogues, fireside chats, exhibitions, and high-level networking sessions.
Convention delegates can anticipate a dynamic and insightful experience, marked by thought leadership from leading policymakers and regulators, in-depth discussions on key topics such as sustainability, ESG, digital gold, and responsible sourcing, as well as valuable opportunities to forge public-private partnerships and investment deals.
Moreover, the event will offer practical action points aimed at unlocking greater economic value for Ghana.
The 2025 edition will be supported by a strong coalition of strategic partners, including the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Minerals Commission, GoldBod, the Minerals Income and Investment Fund (MIIF), and the Ghana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GHEITI).
