The number of newly discovered oil and gas fields worldwide declined to a 45-year low in 2025, attributed to a significant reduction in exploration investments, according to Nikkei. In 2021, OPEC and Russia had already issued warnings regarding the risks of underinvestment. Five years later, the situation has deteriorated further due to oil sanctions against Russia and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. The head of the International Energy Agency described this as the largest oil and gas crisis in history, exceeding those of 1973, 1979, and 2002. Analysts caution that the worst effects are yet to come.