Natural resources short review
Russia has the world’s most valuable natural resources, estimated at $75 trillion, followed by the U.S. $45 trillion and Saudi Arabia $34 trillion. Other countries with significant resource wealth include Canada, Iran, China, Brazil, and Australia. Globally, Russia, the U.S., and Saudi Arabia have a combined natural resource value of $154 trillion.
Why OPEC plans to keep oil production flat?
Oil producers in the OPEC+ group this weekend confirmed they will hold output levels flat in the first quarter of next year. This comes after the group spent most of this year increasing oil production.
For most of OPEC’s history, the group and its allies met in person a couple times a year to decide the fate of global oil production. Since the pandemic though, OPEC has gone virtual, only meeting monthly for much of the year, usually on Sundays. So yeah, it ruins your weekend, but hey, it’s fun, said Jorge León, an analyst with Rystad Energy. He said OPEC sets production levels so that prices don’t climb too high or fall too low. And next year, the group will hold production steady for a few reasons.
Global natural gas demand
In 2025, global natural gas demand is projected to rise by 71 bcm 1.7 percent to reach 4,193 bcm, driven primarily by China and India. The global average price is predicted to increase by over 50 percent in the U.S. and 6 percent in Europe for the year, though risks like potential production surges and weaker-than-expected demand could affect prices. Russia holds the largest proven reserves, followed by Iran and Qatar.
JAE tells Trump proposed ’50-50 partnership’
President Lee Jae Myung said Wednesday that U.S. President Donald Trump proposed that South Korea produce enriched uranium domestically and enter a 50–50 partnership with the United States — the first time such a remark has been disclosed publicly. The presidential office said no further discussions have taken place, but the comment drew attention as it could signal a shift toward a model in which South Korea produces enriched uranium — previously sourced in large part from Russia — and generates shared economic benefits with its ally. Speaking at a foreign press conference at the guesthouse of the Blue House on the first anniversary of the Dec. 3 martial law declaration, Lee recounted his Oct. 29 summit with Trump. President Trump asked where Korea imports nuclear fuel such as uranium from, said Lee. According to Lee, Trump then proposed that the two countries become partners on a 50–50 basis.
EU coal mining methane emissions explained
Methane emissions derived from coal mining in the European Union (EU) are a serious environmental threat due to methane’s high global warming potential. Coal mine methane (CMM) is released from coal seams and surrounding rock layers that are disturbed by mining activities. Both surface mining (for lignite) and underground mining (for hard coal) contribute to methane emissions, but their impacts differ considerably in terms of scale, sources, and available mitigation strategies within the EU context. Understanding these differences is key to controlling emissions effectively and meeting the EU’s climate goals. We examine these distinctions, the sources and magnitudes of emissions from each mining type, the regulatory frameworks in place, and the mitigation technologies aimed at reducing methane emissions associated with coal mining activities in the EU.
Record Australian pulse crop predicted
Australian pulse production is expected to set a record for the second year in a row in 2025-26, with a slight decline in the chickpea crop countered by increased lentil production, said the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARES) in its December crop report. The pulse harvest is well underway in Australia, with total pulse production for the country forecast by ABARES to increase by 16 percent on the year at 6.3 million tons. Of that total, chickpea production is forecast to dip to 2.120 million tons from 2.267 million tons grown in 2024/25. Meanwhile, lentil production is forecast at 1.910 million tons, which would be up 51 percent on the year. Lupin production is forecast at 991,000 tons, up 27 percent, while all other pulses at 1.283 million tons would be up by 15 percent. Increased demand from India has reportedly helped drive Australian farmers to grow more pulses. Australia exported a record 2.050 million tons of chickpeas in 2024-25, with 70 percent of that total going to India.
Palm oil falls on weak exports
Malaysian palm oil futures fell on Monday, snapping three session of gains as concerns around Indonesian output eased and weak export data weighed down the contract. The benchmark palm oil contract for February delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange closed down 5 ringgit, or 0.51 percent, at 4,093 ringgit ($991.76) a metric ton. The contract pared earlier gains after Indonesia’s largest palm oil association GAPKI said it saw no major impact yet on palm oil production due to devastating floods on the island of Sumatra, a Kuala Lumpur-based trader said.
Tanzania’s industrial and building minerals production
Tanzania’s production of vital industrial and building minerals has exceeded Sh1 trillion in value during the 2024-25 financial year, reflecting a significant contribution to the nation’s economic growth, it has been revealed. This substantial figure was announced on November 27, 2025, by the Deputy Minister for Minerals, Dr Steven Kiruswa, during the East African Construction and Infrastructure Awards ceremony held in Dar es Salaam. Dr Kiruswa attributed this successful output to the continuous growth and development of the country’s construction sector, particularly in infrastructure projects, coupled with the expansion of the industrial sector. He noted that this production value was generated by the local mineral extractors.