Business & Markets

Azerbaijan's January-February 2023 Oil Exports Via BTC Pipeline Rise 6.9% from 2022

Azeri oil exports through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline via Georgia and Turkey were up by 6.9% in January-February 2023 from a year earlier at 4.6 million tonnes, the State Statistics Committee said on Friday.

Insight: Huge Phillips 66 Biofuels Project Will Test the Industry’s Green Promises

In the oldest refining town in the American West, Phillips 66 is promising a greener future as it moves to halt crude-oil processing and build a massive renewable diesel plant, leading a global trend.

Lukoil-backed Congo Project to Begin LNG Output in December

Lukoil Vice President Ivan Romanovsky said the initiative will produce around 600,000 tonnes of LNG per year, and that Lukoil plans to boost total LNG output at the Marine XII oil and gas project in the Congo to 3 million tonnes by the end of 2025.

Sempra Reaches Final Investment Decision on Port Arthur LNG Plant's Phase 1

U.S. power and gas utility Sempra Energy said on Monday the first phase of its proposed Port Arthur LNG export terminal received the financial greenlight to move ahead with investment firm KKR & Co. agreeing to a minority stake in the project.

Canada's B.C. Province Sets High Emissions Bar for New LNG Projects

British Columbia's decision this week to toughen emissions standards for new LNG projects creates one of the most robust climate plans in North America, but sets a high hurdle for industry even as many countries look to Canada to become a global supplier of gas.

Kremlin: Turkish Gas Hub is Complex, Will Require Time

President Vladimir Putin proposed the idea of a Turkish gas hub - the exact details of which remain unclear - last year as European countries moved to sharply cut their imports of Russian gas in response to Russia's military actions in Ukraine.

Thailand Approves Nearly $1 Billion Investment in LNG Terminal Project

"The projects that have been granted investment privileges today will help strengthen the country's infrastructure, which is a key factor in attracting more foreign investment," Mr. Narit Therdsteerasukdi, Secretary General to the BOI, told reporters at a briefing held at Government Houses after the board meeting chaired by Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha.

China Strengthened Energy Ties With Russia Through Oil and Gas Purchases in 2022

Putin, Xi and the president of Mongolia held talks in September 2022 on a proposed new Power of Siberia 2 pipeline capable of delivering 50 bcm of gas per year from Russia to China via Mongolia. Moscow put forward the idea many years ago, but it has gained urgency as Russia turns to China to replace Europe as its major gas customer.

Netherlands to Build Hydrogen Production Facility, Use Existing Gas Pipeline for Transport

The new hydrogen plant will be connected to an offshore wind farm off the coast of the northern province of Groningen, where the hydrogen could be transported to land by using an existing natural gas pipeline.

Edison to Make Final Investment Decision on Mediterranean Gas Pipeline by Years-End

The EastMed-Poseidon pipeline, which would initially connect several gas fields offshore Israel to Italy and have an annual capacity of 10 billion cubic meters of gas, could be ready by 2027, Edison said.

Germany Cannot Rule Out Gas Shortage Emergency for Winter 2023/24

Additional risks could be posed if Germany's planned liquefied natural gas import infrastructure does not work and if neighboring countries require supply support from Europe's biggest economy down the line.

Norway Named Europe’s Largest Gas Supplier in 2022 as Russian Flows Drop

Norway exported more than 120 billion cubic meters of gas in 2022, mainly via pipelines, making it Europe's largest gas supplier following a drop in Russian flows last year.

British Columbia Toughens Emissions Standards for New LNG Projects

As part of a new energy action framework, the western Canadian province will require proposed LNG projects that are going through or entering the environmental assessment process to have a credible plan to be net-zero emissions by 2030.

Repsol Ditches Plans to Develop LNG Terminal on Canada’s East Coast

"Following a study carried out by the company, it was determined to not continue with the Saint John liquefaction project as the tolls associated to it made it uneconomical," a Repsol spokesperson said in a statement.

Study Finds Potential for Massive North Sea Hydrogen Pipeline Network

The study, commissioned by German gas pipeline operator Gascade, says that up to 300 terawatt hours a year of clean hydrogen made from North Sea offshore wind power could be transported by the grid.

Strikes at LNG Terminals and Gas Refineries Continue in Response to French Pension Reform

At least seven LNG ships heading to France have changed course to terminals in Britain, the Netherlands and Spain since the strike action started. The closure of French terminals for another week would significantly hamper France's ability to export gas to neighboring countries.

India Seeking Delivery of Eight LNG Cargos to First East Coast Terminal

The Dhamra terminal by Adani Total Private Ltd will be India's first one on the east coast. It is expected to receive its first LNG cargo in April and begin commercial operations 30 to 45 days after receiving the shipment.

Australian LNG Exports May Be Diverted to Mitigate Winter Gas Shortage

Despite increased production commitments from the industry since last year, the supply in southern Australia is declining rapidly, raising risks of near-term shortages and long-term supply gaps, the Australian Energy Market Operator said.

Exxon Considers Selling Stake in LNG Terminal Offshore Italy

Exxon Mobil Corp. is considering selling its majority stake in Italy's main regasification terminal as part of a wider strategy to divest from noncore assets, the company said in a statement on Wednesday.

Green Groups Sue Biden Administration Over Approval of Alaska Willow Oil Project

Six environmental groups filed a lawsuit on Tuesday over the Biden administration's approval of ConocoPhillips' Willow oil and gas project in Alaska, which they claimed could be a stepping stone to more development in an ecologically sensitive region.

Osaka Gas to Secure More LNG Than Usual in FY23/24 Amid Tight Global Supply

Japan's Osaka Gas Co. Ltd. plans to secure more LNG than usual in the financial year starting in April to ensure a stable supply of the fuel as global supply is expected to stay tight, its president said on Wednesday.

Mongolia to Decide on Gas Pipeline Route After Russia-China Cost Agreement

Mongolia will make a decision on which part of its territory will be used to construct the Russia-China gas pipeline once its neighbors reach an agreement on costs, the country's prime minister said.

Pembina Pipeline, Haisla Nation Receive Approval to Construct Pipeline for Cedar LNG Project

The Haisla Nation and Pembina Pipeline Corp., partners in the development of the proposed Cedar LNG project, have announced that Cedar LNG has received its Environmental Assessment Certificate for the construction of a pipeline that will connect the project into the Coastal GasLink pipeline.

Wave of New LNG Export Plants Threatens to Knock Gas Prices

A flood of LNG export projects due online worldwide in mid-decade will vie against lower-cost renewable energy and a revived nuclear power sector, which could rock gas prices and hurt some proposed projects, analysts say.

Minister: Britain to Announce New CCS Support Within Days

The British government will outline within days incentives for companies to bury their greenhouse gases deep underground, using a promising technology for reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide, a minister said on Thursday.

Norway Does Not Fear EU Joint Gas-Buying Will Create Cartel

Europe's biggest natural gas supplier Norway is not worried the European Union scheme to buy gas jointly in global markets will create a buyers' cartel, its oil and energy minister said on Friday.

EIA: US Shale Production Set to Rise to Highest Since December 2019 in April

Shale production is expected to rise by 68,000 barrels daily — the slimmest rise since December 2022 — to 9.21 million bbl/d, the EIA data showed. Crude output in the Permian Basin in Texas and New Mexico, the biggest U.S. shale oil basin, is expected to rise to 5.62 million bbl/d.

Venture Global LNG to Move Forward with Phase 2 of Plaquemines Export Plant

U.S. liquefied natural gas company Venture Global LNG said on Monday that it will go forward with the second phase of its Plaquemines LNG export plant in Louisiana after securing $7.8 billion of financing.

Malaysia's Petronas Posts Higher Q4 Profit, Sees Lower Oil Prices in 2023

Malaysia's state oil firm Petronas on Monday posted a 55% jump in quarterly profit on higher energy prices and bigger sales volume but warned of moderating prices for this year due to an expected slowdown in the global economy.

Biden Administration Approves ConocoPhillips' $7 Billion Willow Project in Alaska

The Biden administration has approved a scaled-back version of ConocoPhillips' $7 billion oil and gas drilling project in Alaska. The department reduced the size of ConocoPhillips' proposal by 40% by denying two requested drill pads that will prevent the development of 11 miles of roads, 20 miles of pipelines, and 133 acres of gravel.