TWO of the biggest American oil companies, ExxonMobil and Chevron, are locked in a legal battle over an oilfield in Guyana. Both companies are industry giants and pioneers with a presence in oil fields worldwide. They have their hands in every oil field, regardless of location. Oil is their bread and butter. They are the biggest in the field with unmatched expertise. Today, however, they find themselves in a legal battle in a London court over the ownership of a massive oil project, estimated to hold over$1 trillion in reserves. The outcome of this case carries huge implications for the global oil industry. The two U.S. oil supermajors are battling over a 30 percent stake in a major oil field in Guyana, which is currently owned by Hess Corporation, a U.S. energy company that agreed to a $54 billion takeover by Chevron in 2023.
ExxonMobil, which already owns approximately 45 percent of the same field, claims it holds a “first right of refusal” under its existing agreement. This is likely to be a long legal battle over a valuable oil reserve, which is what every oil company wants. The fight between the world’s two biggest oil firms could shape the future of the industry. Whoever wins will strengthen their position in the global market. For ExxonMobil, the most valuable American oil company, winning could help it stay on top. The two oil companies are no match for national oil companies in terms of oil reserves, nor do they possess as much oil as those state-owned companies.
However, they do have the know-how, the experience, and the technology to operate in almost any oil field in the world. They are always in desperate need of more oil reserves and will go anywhere, to any place, in search of a few barrels of black gold. It is their bread and butter. For Guyana, with its small population and clean environment, there is no real need for the polluting effects of black oil to disrupt its natural surroundings. However, the financial rewards are too great to ignore, offering the country a chance to place itself on the global energy map. With oil reserves exceeding 12 billion barrels, and more expansion on the horizon, Guyana stands to gain immensely. The current legal battle between the two oil giants is over a prize worth more than $1 trillion. In the end, Chevron has more at stake and a greater need to win, as it aims to boost its oil reserves to better compete with the world’s leading oil company, ExxonMobil. It is a matter of competition and narrowing the gap with its top rival. Without a doubt, this is a case well worth fighting for.
KUWAIT CITY, June 2: Reconnaissance Research is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Maxime Izoulet, a distinguished French economist, to its Economic Affairs Unit. He will contribute to the center’s strategic output through in-depth analytical papers and global economic assessments, with a focus on structural dynamics shaping international relations. Dr. Izoulet holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the prestigious EHESS in Paris, where he studied under prominent economists such as Jacques Sapir and Alberto Bagnai. His doctoral work explored the accounting theory of money and finance, and his research has been published in several internationally peer-reviewed journals indexed by France’s National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS). Dr. Izoulet commented on his appointment: “I believe institutions like Reconnaissance Research play a vital role in offering a rare space for serious thought. I am honored to contribute to its independence, regional insight, commitment to strategic clarity, and to engage with a team that values long-term analysis over short-term noise.” He marks the beginning of his tenure at Reconnaissance Research with the release of a timely and insightful paper titled:“At the Heart of Sino-American Relations: The Over-Financialisation of the American Economy.”
The paper argues that the United States’ disproportionate reliance on financial markets, at the expense of its productive base, is at the core of the emerging asymmetry with China. Dr. Izoulet examines how this economic over-financialisation weakens U.S. domestic capacity, amplifies global instability, and shapes the Trump administration’s strategic posture towards trade, tariffs, and international alignment. His analysis offers a compelling framework for understanding the contradictions between America’s global economic influence and its internal industrial erosion. Founder and CEO of Reconnaissance Research, Abdulaziz Al-Anjeri, said: “We are confident that Dr. Izoulet’s expertise will strengthen our mission to provide high-impact economic insights to policymakers and global stakeholders operating at the intersection of economics, strategy, and geopolitics.”, he added: “His joining also refl ects our commitment to making Reconnaissance a platform for intellectual rigor, and meaningful exchange – bridging Kuwait with global expertise and reaffirming our belief in the value of serious, independent knowledge.”
Kuwait’s Minister of Finance, Noura Sulaiman Al Fozan, and Qatar’s Minister of Finance, His Excellency Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, during the signing of the agreement.
KUWAIT CITY, June 2: Kuwait and Qatar have strengthened their economic ties by formalizing an agreement to avoid double taxation on income and to prevent tax evasion and avoidance. The deal was signed by Kuwait’s Minister of Finance and Minister of State for Economic Affairs and Investment, Engineer Noura Sulaiman Al Fozan, and Qatar’s Minister of Finance, His Excellency Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, according to Qatar News Agency (QNA).
H.E. Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari underscored the importance of the agreement, stating that it will support international transparency standards through the exchange of verified financial information. He emphasized that this reflects both countries’ commitment to enhancing coordination and cooperation in tax matters and economic relations.
The agreement aims to establish a clear legal framework for tax treaties between Kuwait and Qatar, eliminating double taxation. It also seeks to boost commercial collaboration, expand investment opportunities for government entities and individuals, combat tax evasion, and ensure neutrality and fairness in taxpayer treatment.
KUWAIT CITY, June 1: The eight countries participating in the voluntary production reduction within OPEC+ are committed to market stability, considering the fundamentals pertaining to the oil market’s current statues and stable global economic forecasts, in addition to the flexibility in adjusting production, Minister of Oil, Tareq Al-Roumi said on Sunday.
This came in a press statement issued by the Ministry on Al-Roumi’s participation in the in the eight OPEC+ countries’ meeting, which was held via video conference on Saturday, on May 31. According to the statement, the minister praised the results of the meeting, saying that it discussed the current levels of commitment to oil production, along with evaluating the voluntary adjustments agreed upon by eight member countries earlier in April and November 2023. In accordance to the decision agreed upon on December fifth, 2024, to start a gradual and flexible return of adjustments of 2.2 million barrels per day starting from April first, 2025, it has been agreed to increase production for the eight countries participating in the voluntary reduction for July 2025 by an additional total of 411,000 barrels per day.
Minister Al-Roumi reaffirmed Kuwait’s steadfast support for all efforts aimed at enhancing the stability of the oil market, considering the stable global economic forecasts and the recovery of the fundamentals of the oil market based on indicators such as the decrease in oil inventories. He added that the member countries have clearly shown a desire to adopt flexible and well-considered measures that consider economic changes and market developments, contributing to achieving long-term stability that enhances the global economy’s ability to face challenges.
Minister Al-Roumi also confirmed that these measures, which involve accelerating the adjustment of production, would provide participating countries with the opportunity to expedite their compensation for previous overproductions starting from January 2024. Minister Al-Roumi, headed the delegation of the State of Kuwait, which included Kuwait’s Governor to OPEC, Mohammad Khudr Al-Shatti, and Kuwait’s National Representative to OPEC, Sheikh Abdullah Sabah Salem Al-Hamoud Al-Sabah.(KUNA)