Material Matters: Oil, Gas And Nickel

Oil executives told Politico that global petroleum inventories are nearing “tank bottom,” with a mid-to-late June deadline, citing steep draws tied to Iran effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz after Feb. 28 US/Israeli strikes. The White House and Energy Department disputed such inventory talks. S&P Global Energy cited stocks down ~500 million barrels to ~7.5 billion; Exxon’s Neil Chapman warned Brent could reach $150–$160 if declines continue.

On Jan. 7, 2026, the U.S. Department of Energy announced $2.7 billion in awards to expand domestic uranium enrichment, including two $900 million HALEU awards. One $900 million went to General Matter, a Los Angeles start-up backed by Peter Thiel that had not enriched any uranium as of April 2025, and DOE also leased it access to the Paducah, Kentucky site and stored depleted UF6.

Century Aluminum said it expects tighter U.S. and European aluminum markets, plus existing trade protections and tariffs, to support higher regional premiums and pricing, citing its production footprint. The company’s main growth plan is a planned Oklahoma smelter, described as the first new U.S. smelter in over 50 years and potentially doubling domestic capacity. The project has Oklahoma backing and a $500 million DOE grant, with financing talks ongoing.

Sempra Infrastructure, a unit of Sempra (NYSE: SRE), said the ECA LNG Phase 1 liquefaction project in Ensenada, Mexico, has begun producing LNG during commissioning toward commercial operations. Full operations are expected in coming months, according to the company. The joint venture with TotalEnergies includes one train with 3.25 Mtpa capacity and long-term sales agreements with TotalEnergies and Mitsui & Co.

Osisko Metals (TSX: OM) began its 2026 drilling at the Gaspé copper project in Quebec, aiming to add mineralization within the planned Whittle pit. It reported hole 30-1196: 80m at 1.93% Cu from 196m, including 30m at 3.49% Cu from 224m. Scotia Capital said intercepts fall in modelled waste rock, potentially supporting resource conversion.

London BTC Company Limited said its wholly owned US subsidiary Tethered Gold LLC has staked 111 mineral claims covering 2,293 acres at the Huntington-Whitman gold-silver project in Humboldt County, Nevada. The company cited this as its first US gold project under an April hedging strategy. Surface sampling is underway with assays expected mid-June; further staking in Nevada and Arizona is progressing.