First up: Demand for petrochemicals helped pandemic-bludgeoned integrated oil companies repair their balance sheets in the second quarter. The outlook for petchems is bullish, and strategic investments are flowing according.

And: The Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan is stoking fears that vital energy transition minerals and rare earth metals could end up in China’s hands. But the situation is more nuanced than some commentators would have you believe.

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Here’s the line-up:

💥Big Oil’s chemical high

⚡Transition lines:

• Afghanistan’s minerals, China and the Taliban

• Governments bankroll dubious hydrogen projects, despite warnings

• Decarbonisation starts cheap, gets more expensive

• Equinor ‘trolls’ overheated EU gas markets

• Tellurian fever breaks Nasdaq

• And lots more…

🧠Energised minds:

• EU faces long battle over carbon border taxes

• China’s aluminium decarbonisation paradox

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