OPEC might increase oil production a bit this November

**OPEC May Slightly Boost Oil Production This November**

*By Dwaipayan Roy | October 5, 2025, 6:41 PM*

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is reportedly close to finalizing a minor increase in oil production for November. According to delegates from key member countries, the group is likely to approve an output boost of approximately 137,000 barrels per day (bpd), maintaining the same increment as this month.

### Efforts to Regain Market Share

This decision comes as part of OPEC’s broader strategy to reclaim its share in the global oil markets. The group is gradually reintroducing halted production, adding back around 1.65 million bpd to the market after a larger tranche was recently restored. Despite this, oil prices have been hovering near a four-month low, underscoring the delicate balance OPEC and its allies must manage amid an oversupplied market.

### Market Overview: Prices and Supply Dynamics

Oil prices remain subdued as fresh supply enters a market still absorbing previous increases. There has been a noticeable build-up of unsold Middle Eastern cargoes, and futures market trends indicate near-term weakness ahead.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has issued warnings about a looming record surplus, projecting that inventories will swell rapidly during the current quarter. These developments are driven by slowing global oil demand and expanding supply, particularly from producers in the Americas, with the IEA forecasting a historic surplus by 2026.

### Diverging Strategies within OPEC

Within OPEC, differing views are emerging regarding the pace and scale of production increases. The co-leaders, Saudi Arabia and Russia, have expressed contrasting perspectives.

Saudi Arabia, which has been most affected by previous production cuts now being reversed, is advocating for a more aggressive output increase to regain lost market share. Russia and other members, meanwhile, appear cautious about ramping up production too quickly, reflecting strategic differences within the group.

### Constraints on Spare Capacity

The recent series of production hikes has also spotlighted the limits of spare capacity within the OPEC alliance. Since May, eight key members have restored only about 60% of a planned 2.2 million bpd supply tranche.

This shortfall partly results from some countries offsetting prior periods of overproduction. More importantly, it suggests that certain members may already be operating near full capacity, limiting how much additional supply OPEC can effectively bring to the market in the near term.

OPEC’s upcoming decision on November’s production levels will be closely watched by market participants as the group navigates a complex landscape shaped by supply constraints, internal strategic differences, and evolving global demand dynamics.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/business/opec-nearing-deal-for-minor-oil-production-increase-report/story

POWERGRID Convenes 36th Annual General Meeting

The 36th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID), a Maharatna CPSU under the Ministry of Power, Government of India, was held virtually on 26th August 2025.

The meeting was chaired by Ravindra Kumar Tyagi, Chairman and Managing Director, in the presence of key board members including Ravisankar Ganesan, Director (Finance) & CFO; Dr. Yatindra Dwivedi, Director (Personnel); Naveen Srivastava, Director (Operations); Vamsi Rama Mohan Burra, Director (Projects); Dr. Saibaba Darbamulla and Abhay Bakre, Government Nominee Directors; along with Independent Directors Shiv Tapasya Paswan, Rohit Vaswani, and Smt. Sajal Jha. Representatives of the Hon’ble President and shareholders also participated through virtual mode.

During the AGM, the company presented its key financial highlights, operational achievements, and future growth prospects. Technological innovations and ongoing initiatives were detailed, and the management addressed queries raised by the shareholders. The shareholders appreciated POWERGRID’s robust performance and extended their best wishes for sustained growth.

As of 31st July 2025, POWERGRID has commissioned and is operating 286 substations and more than 180,849 ckm of transmission lines, along with a transformation capacity of 574,331 MVA. Leveraging the latest technological tools and techniques, enhanced automation, and digital solutions, POWERGRID has successfully maintained an average transmission system availability exceeding 99.85%.

These milestones underscore POWERGRID’s commitment to strengthening India’s power transmission infrastructure while embracing innovation and operational excellence.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/corporate-gallery/powergrid-convenes-36th-annual-general-meeting

Russian President Putin set to visit India in early December

Ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s upcoming visit to India, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is scheduled to travel to New Delhi next month to finalize the finer details of the presidential trip. Putin last visited India in 2021, and preparations are now underway for the next summit between the two nations.

Sources indicate that prior to Putin’s arrival, India and Russia are expected to hold a meeting under the framework of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military-Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC). This meeting will focus on advancing the various dimensions of bilateral cooperation.

At the annual India-Russia summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Putin are anticipated to deliberate on further expanding the “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership” that defines the close ties between the two countries. While official dates for Putin’s visit have not yet been announced, the discussions are likely to emphasize deepening collaboration in key sectors such as defense and security, trade, and energy.

India and Russia have a longstanding mechanism where their leaders meet annually to review the full spectrum of bilateral relations. To date, 22 annual summit meetings have taken place, alternately hosted in India and Russia. The most recent summit was held in Moscow in July last year, when PM Modi visited for the annual meeting.

Russia has been a steadfast and time-tested partner for India, serving as a cornerstone of New Delhi’s foreign policy. Reports suggest that India is considering procuring additional batches of the S-400 air defense missile systems from Russia, especially after these weapons played a significant role during Operation Sindoor.

In October 2018, India signed a USD 5 billion deal with Russia for five units of the S-400 missile system, despite warnings from the US administration at the time about potential sanctions. So far, Russia has supplied three of the five ordered S-400 regiments, with the remaining two expected to be delivered by 2026. However, the delivery schedule has faced delays due to Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine.

Just a month ago, PM Modi and President Putin held talks on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) annual summit in Tianjin, China. During this meeting, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening strategic ties. This encounter occurred shortly after the US doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50%, including a 25% additional duty linked specifically to India’s purchase of Russian crude oil.

India has defended its procurement of Russian crude, maintaining that its energy strategy is driven by national interest and prevailing market dynamics.

In his televised opening remarks at the summit meeting, PM Modi welcomed President Putin warmly, saying, “140 crore Indians are eagerly waiting to welcome you in India this December.” He emphasized that this anticipation reflects the depth and scope of the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between the two nations.

Modi further noted, “India and Russia have always stood shoulder-to-shoulder even in the most difficult situations.” He underlined that close cooperation between the two countries remains important not only for their own people but also for fostering global peace, stability, and prosperity.

In their forthcoming summit talks, both leaders are also expected to deliberate on the ongoing Ukraine conflict, reflecting the significance of this issue in their bilateral discussions.

Stay tuned for updates on the official dates and outcomes of the India-Russia annual summit.
https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/russian-president-putin-set-to-visit-india-in-early-december-23596836

Indore News: 60 MW Solar Power Plant At Jalud To Begin Operating By November

**Indore’s 60-MW Solar Power Plant Nears Completion; Operations to Begin by November**

Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) is set to commission its 60-megawatt solar power plant located at Jalud in Khargone district by November. The Rs 308-crore project, spread over 220 acres, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December 2022 and is now in its final stages of completion.

This groundbreaking initiative is being financed through green bonds, with IMC successfully raising Rs 244 crore via a public issue. This makes it the country’s first renewable energy unit funded through such a mechanism, marking a significant milestone in sustainable project financing.

During a recent project review meeting, Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargav highlighted the plant’s dual purpose: promoting renewable energy and reducing electricity costs for the Narmada water project. “The plant is almost ready. Final charging tests are about to begin, and transmission line issues will soon be resolved. From November, Indore will start receiving electricity from this facility,” she stated.

Currently, IMC incurs an expenditure of approximately Rs 25 crore every month to pump water from the Narmada river at Jalud, nearly 80 km away, to Indore for domestic use. With the solar power plant operational, the civic body expects to save nearly Rs 5 crore per month in energy costs.

Mayor Bhargav further emphasized IMC’s pioneering role as the first urban local body in India to establish a renewable energy project funded through green bonds. “This initiative sets a new benchmark for civic-driven sustainability efforts,” she said.

The project not only underscores Indore’s commitment to clean energy but also exemplifies innovative financing models that can be replicated by other municipalities aiming for a greener future.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/topnews/indore-news-60-mw-solar-power-plant-at-jalud-to-begin-operating-by-november

Iran expert tells TML international community no longer hostage to talks with Tehran

Iran Expert Says International Community No Longer Hostage to Talks With Tehran

Snapback sanctions could collapse the Iranian economy as the Islamic Republic scrambles to rebuild its nuclear facilities.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian speaks during an interview in Tehran, Iran, August 28, 2025.

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-868688

‘Like a train’: remote earthquake biggest in decades

An earthquake that sounded “like a train” and rattled cupboards was the largest in southwest Tasmania in two decades, felt across the island.

The 4.1-magnitude tremor struck at 6:38 am on Thursday near Lake Pedder at a depth of 14 km. More than 120 people reported the earthquake to Geoscience Australia, including residents in Hobart, Queenstown on the west coast, and Launceston in the north.

One resident in Burnie posted on social media that it sounded like a train going down the street, while another south of Hobart reported glassware rattling in cupboards. Despite these reports, there were no calls for assistance or damage reported, according to the state’s emergency service.

Geoscience Australia senior seismologist Hadi Ghasemi said it was the largest quake within a 100 km radius of the epicentre in 20 years. “Tasmania is not high seismicity,” he explained, “but this event is testament that earthquakes can happen anywhere in Tasmania.”

Dr. Ghasemi also noted that the largest earthquake documented in Tasmania was a mid-to-high magnitude six in the late 1800s off Flinders Island.

Hydro Tasmania confirmed that no damage had been identified to its dams in the region, including Edgar Dam, which is currently undergoing upgrades. The dam, located about 30 km from the earthquake’s epicentre, is designed to withstand tremors of up to 6.8 magnitude along the Lake Edgar fault line.

“This earthquake was well below that and was not on the fault line,” said Hydro Tasmania’s General Manager of Assets and Infrastructure, Jesse Clark. “The upgrade will strengthen the dam even further.”

Hydro Tasmania emphasized that it maintains extensive seismic monitoring and will continue to inspect and monitor infrastructure over the coming days to ensure safety.
https://thewest.com.au/news/disaster-and-emergency/like-a-train-remote-earthquake-biggest-in-decades-c-20138247

EU’s von der Leyen says she wants Europe to stop buying Russian oil by end of year

**EU’s Von der Leyen Says Europe Aims to Stop Buying Russian Oil by End of Year**

In her recent address, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared that Europe intends to cease purchasing Russian oil by the end of the year. This move comes as part of the EU’s broader response to the Kremlin’s incursions.

Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump responded to the situation by stating that NATO countries should shoot down Russian aircraft if they enter NATO airspace, highlighting the heightened tensions in the region.

During her speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, on September 10, 2025, von der Leyen received applause for her firm stance and clear outline of Europe’s energy and security policies moving forward.

*Photo credit: YVES HERMAN/REUTERS*
https://www.jpost.com/international/internationalrussia-ukraine-war/article-868431