Global Energy Roundup: Mexico Biofuel Plan, Somali Piracy Surge, AI's Dirty Power

Mexico is launching a $115 million plan to combat a massive seaweed infestation on its Caribbean coast, with researchers exploring its potential as a biofuel feedstock. According to OilPrice.com, as much as 9,000 tons of sargassum seaweed washes up daily, costing around $2 billion annually to manage. President Claudia Sheinbaum announced the plan in July, which includes deploying ships and containment barriers to collect seaweed before it reaches shore. Authorities aim to increase daily collection capacity from 2,200 metric tonnes to 4,000 tonnes by 2027. The project, which includes a partnership with Japan, is examining uses for the algae, such as biofuel or fertilizer.

In maritime security, Somali piracy has surged due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, forcing commercial shipping onto longer routes around Africa. OilPrice.com reports that oil tankers MT Honour 25, MT Eureka, and MT Asana were hijacked between April and July 2026. The piracy resurgence is fueled by diverted naval resources and coordination with Yemeni militants, who supply advanced weaponry and tracking devices. Ransom demands are significant, with $10 million reportedly sought for the MT Eureka and $3 million for the MT Honour 25. A study cited by the source found Horn of Africa piracy generated over $400 million in ransoms from 2005 to 2012.

Meanwhile, the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence is driving a major increase in energy consumption and emissions among Big Tech firms, often reliant on fossil fuels. OilPrice.com reports that companies like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft are seeing emissions balloon due to energy-hungry data centers. Amazon is building a gas-fired power plant in Texas permitted to release 33 million tons of CO2 annually, which would be the largest source of power-related emissions in the U.S. According to a Climate Power tracker scoring companies on clean energy use, Elon Musk's xAI ranks as the dirtiest, with a score of 6 out of 100, as all its projects are gas-powered.

Bakken Context: For North Dakota operators and royalty owners, these global stories underscore interconnected energy markets. The exploration of seaweed-based biofuel represents a growing alternative energy sector that could influence long-term fuel markets. The piracy surge in critical shipping lanes highlights ongoing risks to global oil transportation and tanker security, which can impact crude pricing and logistics. Most directly, the massive new demand for reliable, baseload power from AI data centers—often met with natural gas—reinforces the structural demand for fossil fuels, potentially supporting sustained production in hydrocarbon-rich regions like the Bakken.