Saudi authorities confirmed a fire at Saudi Aramco’s Riyadh oil refinery following renewed military escalation in Yemen, while Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on reports of US-Russia talks regarding Lukoil’s foreign assets. Meanwhile, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis urged Europe to redirect funds from military aid to reconstruction, criticizing high energy sector profits.
Global market
Saudi authorities confirmed a fire at Saudi Aramco’s Riyadh refinery, following military strikes in Sanaa, Reuters reported, as NASA satellite thermal sensors recorded intense heat activity in the capital. Against shifting supply routes, analysts at Wood Mackenzie projected that Latin America could double its onshore wind capacity to 83 GW by 2035, led by Brazil and Mexico. Meanwhile, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis urged European leaders to redirect funding from weapons to Ukraine’s reconstruction, criticizing excessive profits earned by defense firms and energy corporations during the crisis.
Russia & CIS
Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov issued a succinct “No comment” regarding reports of confidential US-Russia negotiations over Lukoil’s foreign assets. The comment followed a New York Times report alleging talks on selling Lukoil’s international holdings to American and Middle Eastern investors. In nuclear safety developments, the Zaporizhzhia NPP press service reported equipment damage at the adjacent Zaporizhzhia Thermal Power Plant caused by intense artillery shelling in late September. The damaged thermal facility provides critical redundancy for the nuclear station’s external grid connection.
Armenia
The Riyadh refinery fire and damaged power infrastructure near Zaporizhzhia NPP remain in sharp focus for Armenian energy analysts, am.sputniknews.ru reported, evaluating broader Eurasian transit risks. Despite Middle Eastern escalation and European market volatility, retail prices for petrol, diesel, and compressed natural gas in Armenia remain stable. Natural gas imports from Russia and uninterrupted operations at the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant continue under long-term EAEU trade agreements shielding domestic consumers from global market volatility recorded by international market price assessments.