Iran turns to natural gas to thwart oil shortages
There are signs that the US naval blockade targeting Iranian crude oil exports is compelling Tehran to reshape its domestic energy balance. Iran appears to be redirecting larger portions of its crude and condensates into domestic refining and power generation, thereby freeing up natural gas for export to neighboring states, particularly Iraq and Turkiye.
The shift marks a potentially important evolution in the Islamic Republic’s energy strategy: from maximizing crude exports to maximizing strategic regional influence through pipeline gas trade and domestic resilience.
Since its inception last month, the US blockade has sharply limited Iran’s seaborne crude exports. Some reports suggest that oil sales fell by more than 80 percent at one point, with millions of barrels stranded in floating storage. At the same time, Tehran has started winding down output. According to sources, production was cut by 130,000 barrels per day (bpd) in March and 230,000 bpd in April. From a baseline of 3.6M bpd in February, Iran cut 10 percent of production before May.
Thai Nguyen starts a series of projects
Thai Nguyen province simultaneously started construction and broke ground for many key projects on the occasion of the 136th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh’s birth.
The total investment of the projects is more than 7,300 billion VND, belonging to the fields of urban, education, tourism – services and high-tech agriculture.
In Quan Chu commune, two projects were started including: Complex of high-tech tea production and processing plant and organic tea raw material area; Cultural and sports complex of Quan Chu golf course.
In which, the High-Tech Tea Production and Processing Plant Complex and Organic Tea Raw Material Area Project is worth 1,200 billion VND. The project orients the planning of large-scale organic raw material areas associated with deep processing and application of modern technology.
The Quan Chu golf course cultural and sports complex project has a total investment of about 1,000 billion VND, an 18-hole golf course with a modern infrastructure and auxiliary service system.
The project is expected to open up a new direction for tourism, resorts and high-quality services.
In Van Xuan ward, Saigonres Van Xuan Real Estate Co., Ltd. held the Groundbreaking Ceremony of the Nam Tien 2 Urban Area Project.
Dairy sector: merged districts shifting to commercial farming
The dairy sector in merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is undergoing a significant transformation from traditional subsistence-based livestock rearing to modern commercial dairy farming, offering renewed hope for economic growth and poverty alleviation in the region.
The transition aims to increase milk production, improve quality of dairy products and create sustainable livelihood opportunities for thousands of rural families dependent on livestock for their survival.
“The initiative has been launched by the Livestock and Dairy Development Department under the scheme ‘Integrated Livestock Development in Merged Districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’,” said Dr Kamran, Senior Veterinary Officer.
He said the Livestock Department is focusing on enhancing the production capacity of livestock and ensuring a steady supply of essential food items, particularly meat and milk, at affordable prices in the merged districts.
In this regard, the department is gradually transforming traditional livestock rearing practices into modern commercial dairy farming by introducing improved breeds, better animal healthcare and scientific farming techniques.
China-related investment shifts toward long steel
China-origin private capital is now moving into the gap. With flat steel routes into Brazil narrowing, Chinese-backed groups are planting mills in Paraguay focused on long steel — rebar and wire rod — a segment that remains largely open to imports and has yet to face equivalent trade remedy action, according to sources.
A Brazilian distributor source told Fastmarkets that Chinese representatives linked to steel operations have recently conducted in-person visits to distribution companies in Brazil — including in São Paulo and Paraná — without prior scheduling, in what sources described as an effort to establish commercial channels for products sourced from Paraguay.
“Chinese representatives came directly to my office. No appointment was made. They simply arrived and knocked on the door,” the source said, adding that a market contact of theirs reported the same type of outreach in November 2025.
House committee examines uranium exploration and nuclear program development
The Lower House Energy and Mineral Resources Committee on Sunday visited the Jordan Uranium Mining Company (JUMCO) to assess the state-backed enterprise’s progress in mineral exploration and strategic mining projects.
The parliamentary delegation, which included lawmakers Jamal Qammoh, Khader Bani Khaled, Rakeen Abu Hanieh, and Iman Al-Abbasi, met with Khaled Toukan, Chairman of the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC), and Mohammad Al-Shannag, General Manager of JUMCO.
The lawmakers emphasized the strategic importance of JUMCO’s ongoing operations in central Jordan, praising its efforts to advance a national project aimed at bolstering the domestic economy and expanding foreign direct investment in the kingdom’s mining and energy sectors.
Toukan delivered a comprehensive briefing on the broader Jordanian nuclear program and the peaceful applications of atomic energy across the country. He highlighted the cross-sectoral benefits of utilizing nuclear science and technology to support industrial manufacturing, advanced medicine, agricultural development, and scientific research.
Al-Shannag reviewed the company’s milestones in mapping and exploring uranium reserves in Jordan’s central region, noting that all exploration activities comply strictly with international standards.