Extracting the future: Lithium in an era of energy transition By MarkGoodale. Oakland: University of California Press, 2025. 304 pp.

Access to modern energy such as electricity is key in the economic development of any country, and yet over 600 million people remain with no access to electricity in developing countries. It is true that both renewable energy and fossil fuels are key in the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development (UN SDG) Goal 7 and Goal 1 on energy access and poverty eradication respectively. However, the current global efforts to transition to a low carbon economy, and tackle climate change as stipulated in the SDG 13 and the 2015 Paris Agreement, have created a lot of tension on fossil fuel developments in recent years.This commentary article is presented as a question and answer session aimed at addressing the misconceptions surrounding the achievement of SDG 7 and SDG 13 in this energy transition era. The paper is of interest to oil producing countries. The article follows the various questions raised by policymakers during an online seminar delivered by both the authors entitled, ‘Fossil Fuels in the Energy Transition Era’.

The oil and gas sector faces a significant quandary resulting from the need for global energy sources to move away from fossil fuels to more sustainable and environmentally friendly sources. Many International Oil Companies (IOCs) give the impression that they are transitioning to ‘cleaner energy’ due to environmental pollution caused by excessive carbon emissions from extracting and processing oil and gas resources by IOCs. However, literature suggests that many IOCs are welcoming these changes because we may run out of our present energy sources within the next 100 years. The study used an exploratory design approach to appraise the Nigerian oil and gas sector during a contemporary period of energy transition, with a focus on the activities of TotalEnergies. Study findings show that geopolitical machinations have long hampered the operations of IOCs in Nigeria, distorting the equitable allocation of the country’s oil and gas resources. On the surface, TotalEnergies’ energy transformation initiatives appear quite realistic, however, the company finds it challenging to completely achieve the goals of its energy transition agenda due to the geopolitical complexity in Nigeria. The study proposes a four-dimensional strategy for enhancing economic viability during the energy transition: Advocating for better regulatory mechanisms, enhancing host communities’ development, concentrating on gas production in the transition era, and focusing on renewable energy development. The study recommends that more effort should be made by IOCs in renewable energy investment to foster sustainable energy development in the coming decades.

Global dependence on fossil energy faces serious challenges in the era of energy transition, marked by geopolitical crises such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict, oil price volatility and global decarbonization pressures. Indonesia, as a developing country with fossil energy reserves and ambitious targets for the transition to renewable energy, is in a strategic but complex position. Energy security is now a national issue as well as part of international geopolitical strategy. This research aims to analyze Indonesia's strategy in creating energy security amid global dynamics, as well as evaluate the geopolitical implications of the national energy transition policy. This research uses a qualitative approach with a policy study method and analysis of official documents such as Presidential Regulation No. 112 of 2022, the National Energy General Plan (RUEN), as well as IEA and IRENA reports. A geopolitical analysis framework approach was also used to assess Indonesia's position in the global energy supply chain. The results show that Indonesia is developing a dual-track strategy: strengthening domestic energy infrastructure based on renewable energy and expanding energy diplomacy with strategic partners such as China, Japan and the Gulf countries. However, major challenges still exist in the form of investment imbalances, coal dependence, and local political resistance to energy transition projects. Therefore, Indonesia's energy security strategy in the transition era requires synergy between national policies and global geopolitics in an adaptive and collaborative manner.

In the context of transforming global energy markets, accelerating decarbonization, and the digitalization of energy systems, energy diplomacy is acquiring new forms that go beyond the classical geopolitics of hydrocarbons. Kazakhstan-one of Eurasia’s major exporters of oil and gas-occupies a unique position at the intersection of a resource-based development model, great-power competition, and the imperatives of the energy transition. This article examines how changes in global energy markets and the diffusion of digital technologies are reshaping Kazakhstan’s energy diplomacy amid geoeconomic rivalry between the United States, China, and Russia. The study draws on concepts from geoeconomics, energy security, and the international political economy of the energy transition, extending them through the incorporation of digitalization and climate governance. Methodologically, the paper employs a three-case analytical design comprising the Trans-Caspian transport corridor as an infrastructure-geopolitical case, Kazakhstan’s Emissions Trading System (KAZ ETS) as an institutional-climate case, and the digitalization of the electricity grid led by KEGOC as a technological-governance case. The findings demonstrate that Kazakhstan’s energy diplomacy is evolving into a hybrid form in which hydrocarbon power, transit infrastructure, and digital-climate instruments function as mutually reinforcing sources of geoeconomic influence. Diversification through the Trans-Caspian corridor reduces transit dependence on Russia, KAZ ETS enhances institutional compatibility with European climate regimes, and energy digitalization improves sectoral governance and investment attractiveness. Together, these dynamics expand Kazakhstan’s foreign-policy autonomy and access to markets and green finance. More broadly, the article shows that in the era of energy transition, power in energy is increasingly shaped not only by control over resources but also by control over infrastructure, data, and regulatory standards. Kazakhstan’s experience illustrates how middle powers can leverage the energy and digital transition to strengthen their geoeconomic position in a multipolar system. Key words: Energy diplomacy; Kazakhstan; energy transition; decarbonization; energy digitalization; Trans-Caspian corridor; KAZ ETS; geoeconomics

CO2 sequestration in geological formations such as saline aquifers and depleted oil and gas reservoirs, increasing geothermal energy's share in the energy mix, and storing hydrogen produced from excess green electricity in geological formations are promising strategies to achieve the net-zero target by 2050. Wellbore integrity is a critical component of any subsurface operations. Historically, a significant portion of petroleum industry literature has focused on ensuring well integrity for safe and efficient production as well as abandonment. However, the energy transition introduces novel challenges to well integrity that remain largely unexplored and unaddressed. Wellbore integrity from a traditional standpoint will be revisited and compared with the emerging requirements driven by energy transition applications. Key challenges are identified, and actionable recommendations are proposed based on these evaluations. Our findings from laboratory experiments conducted over recent years on wellbore integrity for geothermal projects, geological CO2 storage, and hydrogen storage are summarized. The comparisons provide insights into how wellbores in the new era must evolve to meet the technical demands of the energy transition while maintaining safety, efficiency, and environmental compliance. This study identifies critical knowledge gaps in wellbore integrity and underscores areas that require further investigation. Case studies from geothermal projects in Germany are presented, showcasing practical applications and results. The permeability measurements of various wellbore components, conducted in our laboratory over the past three years, are discussed in the context of CO2 storage projects. Furthermore, with hydrogen storage in salt caverns anticipated to play a pivotal role in the energy transition, our experimental findings on wellbore integrity in such settings are briefly summarized. These results collectively emphasize the need for continued research and detailed investigations to resolve remaining challenges and support the safe, long-term use of subsurface formations for energy transition applications. The work consolidates common wellbore integrity issues across various energy transition applications, offering a unified perspective based on literature review and our laboratory's extensive experience. It highlights critical challenges and proposes future research directions to address the evolving needs of subsurface operations in the energy transition era.

Power system stability in the Era of energy Transition: Importance, Opportunities, Challenges, and future directions

Needs and Barriers of Prosumerism in the Energy Transition Era

In the era of energy transition, there is a lack of targeted research on the synergistic effects of new energy policies and informal institutions on carbon equity. This study examines how new energy policies influence urban carbon equity, with a focus on the mediating role of cultural forces. Utilizing panel data from 256 Chinese cities (2000–2021) and employing the New Energy Demonstration City (NEDC) policy as a quasi-natural experiment, this study adopts a staggered difference-in-differences (DID) approach to identify causal relationships. Key findings reveal: (1) China has been accompanied by a rise in carbon distribution inequity measured through the cumulative distribution patterns of carbon emissions and economic outcomes, highlighting the equity-efficiency trade-off. (2) The NEDC policy, while advancing energy transition, inadvertently exacerbates urban carbon inequity. The conclusion is robust to parallel trend tests, placebo analyses, and controls for concurrent policies. (3) Confucianism, as an informal institutional force, can effectively mitigate the urban policy-driven inequities. (4) Heterogeneity analysis finds that the synergistic effect of Confucianism and the policy is more significant in non-old industrial base cities and non-resource-dependent cities. Theoretically, this research bridges energy transition literature with institutional theory by revealing the compensatory role of cultural systems in formal policy frameworks. Practically, it advocates for culturally informed energy governance models, proposing Confucian principles of harmony and collective responsibility as design pillars for equitable sustainability transitions.

The energy market today is turbulent. Nations follow different energy trends and shape their policies towards Energy Transition and sustainable development. To avoid risks and pursue opportunities, oil and gas companies must adapt their longterm strategies to macro-trends and national regulations.The study's objective is to investigate how major oil and gas companies’ development trends correlate with trends and strategies at the national level. The hypothesis is that oil and gas companies’ operations and innovation portfolios are linked to national energy mixes and environmental regulations. To do this, the authors examined the energy markets of 54 countries with the focus on Brazil, Canada, China, EU, Norway, Russia, Saudi Arabia, the UK, the USA, operational indicators, and innovation development trends of 18 major oil and gas companies. The production volumes have been translated into an ordinal scale and analyzed with the use of Spearman correlation.The study confirmed a weak correlation between oil and gas companies' operational indicators and national strategies. Companies operating in countries with strict environmental regulations, primarily in the European Economic Area, have been more likely to adapt their businesses to energy transition while building up oil and gas production; they also have had more diversified innovation portfolios. As more countries moved towards later generations of environmental regulations, the increase in renewable energy investments was found in more oil and gas majors.

Energy transition emphasizes a drastic reduction in fossil fuel energy sources and to step up the deployment of alternative and renewable energies as pathways to industrialization and development. Attention is therefore shifting from coal and crude oil to solar, wind, geothermal and natural gas sources of energies. Although the use of coal for electrical power generation has been on the decline and it is being discouraged world-wide, the Smokeless Coal Research Team at IBB University has been able to differentiate “good” from “bad” coals. Not all coals are environmentally harmful for electrical power generation. And even for the so-called “bad coals the team at the IBBU has identified processes to clean up such coals. Whether generated from dams, gas turbines or thermal sources, Nigeria has been a nation with an acute supply of electricity; yet the country has far more resources of oil, gas and coals than it has the demand for them. The country is currently challenged by series of energy crises with concomitant economic and social implications. Electricity generation and energy availability are in gross shortfall which has resulted in the shutting down of many industries with the attendant job losses and escalating unemployment. Power supply to many homes is very epileptic, covering not more than 10% of the total average domestic daily demand. With these enormous energy challenges, the government of Nigeria is working on reforms at several fronts that will embrace appropriate energy-mix, enabling power generation / energy production from nuclear, coal and renewable sources (solar, wind, biomass) in addition to the conventional hydro and thermal sources. With the use of 30% diluted benzoic and formic acids on some Nigerian coals, smoke emission reduced considerably, thus allowing the use of abundant Nigerian coal deposits as alternative clean energy source for electrical power generation in a physically sustainable environment in an era of energy transition. Furthermore, some coals (in Nigeria and elsewhere) do not need processing (cleansing) based on the inherent chemical and petrological composition as elucidated in this paper. Power (electrical) is the single major factor to social and economic transformation in Nigeria.

Exacerbating climatic change accelerates the formation of ESG national regulatory approaches and the development of non-financial reporting, stimulating new green financing mechanisms both abroad and in Russia. Russian oil and gas companies, particularly Lukoil, Rosneft, and Tatneft, demonstrate the strengthening of environmental and social components in their reports, administration restructures, and improved corporate regulatory documentation concerning the principles of sustainable development. Due to the national features of regulatory and market approaches, European companies are more ambitious regarding the pace of their energy transition and updating the climatic agenda at all operating levels.The article compares the strategies of European energy companies (Shell, Eni, Totlenergies) and Russian energy companies (Lukoil, Rosneft, and Tatneft) in sustainable development and energy transition. The case selection is based on positive financial indicators and companies’ progress in sustainability rankings, such as ACRA, WFF Russia, CDP, and TPI. In conclusion, the article identifies the following priority corporate strategies: digitalization as a way of reducing emissions; an increase in the share of the gas business; development of renewable energy sources; optimization of the internal structure; adding ESG indicators to the leadership’s KPI; adding ESG indicators to requirements for contractors.

_ Two critical facets of the discipline of well control and wellbore integrity—decarbonization and groundbreaking automation of essential processes—are highlighted in the three primary paper selections presented at SPE and SPE-affiliated conferences during the past year. These authors advance studies dedicated to heightening safety and embracing the energy transition, two goals that must be interwoven as the industry enters the second quarter of the century. In paper SPE 221116, the authors describe a methodology for analyzing blowout-preventer (BOP) pressure charts that leverages computer vision to decode image captures of data in conjunction with a BOP-inspection application. Their findings indicate that an average of 90 minutes can be saved per test while the accuracy of readings is simultaneously improved. Additionally, the operator deploying the technology has reported a 300% return on investment. Plugged and abandoned (P&A) wells are already playing a crucial role in CO2-storage projects, but they pose special challenges because of the potential for corrosion and decreased casing thickness once they are exposed to CO2. The authors of paper SPE 222449 present a modeling framework that provides a quantitative, risk-based assessment of the long-term integrity of P&A wells. The framework includes three newly developed modules (centered on geochemical, geomechanical, and corrosion concerns) customized for CO2 storage. The authors of paper SPE 225550 adopt a broad scope in addressing the discipline’s ability to accommodate and enhance the energy transition. The paper summarizes their findings from laboratory experiments conducted in recent years on wellbore integrity for geothermal projects, geological CO2 storage, and hydrogen storage. A wide range of concerns, approaches, and options are reviewed, from existing salt-cavern-storage projects to methods of drilling new wells that better accord with net-zero goals. Summarized Papers in This January 2026 Issue SPE 225550 - Study Explores Wellbore-Integrity Challenges in the Era of Energy Transition by Taofik H. Nassan, SPE, and Mohammed Amro, SPE, TU Bergakademie Freiberg. SPE 222449 - Modeling Framework Developed To Assess Integrity of Legacy Wells for CO2 Storage by Saeed Ghanbari, Morteza H. Sefat, SPE, and David Davies, Heriot-Watt University, et al. SPE 222116 - BOP Pressure-Chart Analysis Approach Uses Computer Vision Technology by Ali Mohamed S. Al Hosani, SPE, and Geetha Selvamoorthy, ADNOC, and Koushik Kumar, Trust Technical Services. Recommended Additional Reading at OnePetro: www.onepetro.org. SPE 224896 - Innovative Recovery Strategies for High-Risk Well-Integrity Failures by M. Al Mahrooqi, Petroleum Development Oman, et al. SPE 225047 - Cutting-Edge Wellhead Support To Secure Subsiding and Unstable Onshore Wells: Casing and Structural Rehabilitation Methodology by A.M. Darwish, ADNOC, et al. SPE 225724 - Success Story: A Cost-Effective and Systematic Approach To Restore Integrity in Wells Having Sustained Annulus Pressure Using Rigless Intervention by A.Y. Sulaiman, ADNOC, et al. OTC 35769 - Fingerprinting Burst and Collapse Events in Well Casings Using Electromagnetic Logs by Huiwen Sheng, Halliburton, et al.

The aim of this study is to elaborate the impact of collaborative work among stakeholders in Indonesia upstream oil & gas industry for create value through supply chain management by prioritizing local products. Challenges of local products are not only from qualities and quantities as per industrial demands, but also from sustainable principles that start applying by Upstream Oil & Gas Industry. The implementation of sustainable principles is very important to ensure that Indonesia can fulfil the target of energy transition as mentioned on the Paris Agreement in 2015. In this moment, Indonesia oil and gas industry and supported by the Government of Indonesia already prepared the roadmap to support the energy transition by reducing emissions, applying new technology for CCU/CCUS, and emphasizing the crucial role of the supply chain sustainability. As part of supply chain management (SCM) sustainability principles, the government and industry need to prepare the local companies to support the energy transition target. The landscape of the Indonesian petroleum industry, focusing on specific regulations for local content improvement and their alignment with supply chain sustainability in the energy transition era. Indonesian oil and gas companies operate under Production Sharing Contracts (PSC) with the government. The PSC has agreed to target local content with the government during exploration and operation. To achieve this, local companies must enhance their capabilities through research and development (R&D) to remain competitive and support decarbonization strategies without compromising local content and emissions reduction initiatives. This paper discusses, according to the research, local companies have limitations to get access of new technologies that will be implemented during energy transition era. Therefore, collaborative work among Government and Industries is required to ensure local companies can be ready by the time the energy transition begins. Overcoming the challenge and limitation, this paper belief that collaboration among Government, Oil & Gas Company, Supporting Industries (Vendor), Financial and Education Institution in Indonesia during the energy transition has pivotal role. By fostering collaboration, embracing sustainability principles, and investing in research and development, stakeholders can create a thriving ecosystem that supports local economic growth and environmental stewardship. Successful development programs through collaboration are ultimately expected to enhance job creation for Indonesian citizens, addressing the needs of the country with large population like Indonesia.

The world economy has entered an era of profound transformations associated with the fourth energy transition. The technological development of states should not only ensure technological sovereignty, but also comply with ESG standards. The purpose of article: based on the analysis of foreign and domestic scientific approaches to content of “technological sovereignty”, to formulate the author's definition, as well as to identify some concepts of investment industrial policy that meets the principles of ESG. Based on the study of patent activity in Russia, it is concluded that there is a critical “compression” of innovation activity, which, in the conditions of unprecedented sanctions, threatens national sovereignty and actualizes the task of forming a new model of economy. A number of positions are reasoned and proposed, which it is advisable to include in the new Concept of technological development of Russia for the coming years. The concepts of the regional technological agenda aimed at enhancing innovation activity and particularly relevant for traditionally “old-industrial” regions in the context of the transition to a new technological order are identified. It is argued that the technological development of industry should be based on a solid institutional foundation, in which ESG principles should be implemented.

Based on a computer model, an assessment was made of the future additional demaand for minerals for the production of wind turbines, solar panels, energy storage systems and electric vehicles necessary to implement the IEA 2DS scenario for the transition to low-carbole energy. Demand for some critical metals and industrial minerals has been compared tj therir available economic reserves and resources. The supply of critical mineral materials for some energy transition technologies may pose a new challenge to the sustainable develkpment of the mineral base of the world economy, and in the future become a deterrent to the use of renewable energy sources.