Shell’s short term thinking, US methane regs, cash-starved shale + MORE

💥Energy Flux💥Monday 28th June 2021

Market realities are hard to ignore. Crude demand is surging and oil majors that argued against a rapid transition to renewables appear vindicated. Shell CEO Ben van Beurden rammed home the message that oil companies can only follow the market, in a panel debate last week. But his infallible business logic seems to overlook one key ingredient: long-term thinking.

That’s the lead story in today’s edition of Energy Flux, which looks like this:

💥Big Oil is winning the market battle, but losing the climate war

⚡Transition lines – Decarbonisation stories you need to read

🧠Energised minds – Critical thinking on crucial energy issues

🙃‘And finally’ – Amusing energy-related tidbits from across the web

Big Oil is winning the battle, losing the war

Viewed through the short-term lens of capital markets, Big Oil has won the argument. Demand is soaring, ESG pressures have constrained upstream investment and a supply shortfall might push Brent into triple digits. IOCs that pursue a leisurely transition…