Here’s all the dumb oil wars that electric cars have nothing to do with — SkimNews
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- Strait of Hormuz has been largely closed since March after a US/Israel attack killed Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei; Iran declared the strait shut despite it previously moving roughly a fifth of global oil.
- China's EV-driven cut to oil imports and use reportedly 'saved the world' from a worse price shock after the Hormuz closure, with diesel in the US still hitting record highs.
- Houthis blew up a Saudi East-West pipeline pumping station last week, forcing a precautionary shutdown; the group also threatens Bab-El-Mandeb (9% of seaborne oil) and has launched missiles at Riyadh.
- Ukraine has struck 24 of Russia's 33 biggest refineries, cutting refining capacity to roughly 70% of domestic use; Russian gas-station lines have followed, and EV sales more than doubled in three months.
- Libya's petroleum security force suspended production at several fields and shut down a pipeline this week over a dispute demanding ownership transfer.
- The US kidnapped Venezuelan leader Maduro in an attack and now claims control of oil fields; a recent deal gives US companies access to large greenfield sites that won't come online for up to a decade.
- The US blockade on Cuban oil shipments has triggered rolling hospital blackouts; Cuba is responding by rapidly building solar and electrifying transportation.
Why it matters: With 43% of global oil now coming from conflict-affected countries, the article frames China's rapid EV adoption as the primary cushion preventing a worse price shock — cutting its oil imports while Russia sees gas-station lines and doubled EV sales. Cuba is pursuing the same playbook, suggesting electrified transport is becoming the default shock-absorber for oil disruptions.
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