Russia & CIS
Global News May 2023
Latest industry developments.
Editor’s Notebook: Nord Stream Questions Grow Murkier
(P&GJ) — While the investigation into who deliberately blew up Nord Stream continues, the operator of the previously functional first line appears to be taking a serious look at how it will seal and empty the pipeline before more damage occurs.
Russia Looks to Companies Beyond Gazprom to Supply Gas to China
Russia is considering supplying natural gas to China by a 2,600-km (1,620-mile) pipeline from companies other than Kremlin-controlled Gazprom, which currently has the monopoly for Russian pipeline gas exports, an Energy Ministry official said on Tuesday.
Naftogaz Held Talks with Exxon, Chevron, Halliburton About Energy Projects in Ukraine -FT
Naftogaz has held talks with Exxon Mobil, Halliburton and Chevron about projects in Ukraine as the country looks to lure back foreign investment to its energy sector, the Financial Times reported on Friday. Naftogaz hopes to sign a contract with Halliburton that would help increase production to a target of 13.5 Bcm this year.
US Warns Companies Over Russian Oil Price Cap Evasion Via ESPO Pipeline
The U.S. Treasury published a warning to U.S. companies on Monday of possible evasions of the Russian oil price cap exported through the Eastern Siberia Pacific Ocean (ESPO) pipeline and ports in eastern Russia.
Natural Gas Producer Novatek Expected to Win Big from Shell's Sakhalin-2 Stake
Russian natural gas producer Novatek has scooped a lucrative deal with its purchase of Shell's stake in the Sakhalin-2 energy project, analysts said on Thursday.
US Plans to Refill Strategic Reserve If Advantageous to Taxpayers This Year
The Biden administration plans to refill the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve soon and hopes to refill it at lower oil prices if it's advantageous to taxpayers during the rest of the year, U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said on Wednesday.
Hungary Agrees on Option for More Russian Gas Shipments, Oil Transit Fees
Hungary's foreign minister said on Tuesday that Russian energy giant Gazprom would maintain an option to supply additional gas to Hungary this year on top of the shipments agreed under a long-term deal.
G7 Climate Ministers Drop Language on Growing LNG Demand in Draft
Climate ministers of the Group of Seven countries have backtracked for now on earlier language touting growing future demand for LNG, instead noting there may be "considerable uncertainty" for consumption.
Global News April 2023
US LNG exports hit record as Freeport production returns, Granholm says refilling US strategic petroleum reserve could take years, EU Nations seek legal option to stop Russian LNG imports, Oil firms halt or cut output in Iraqi Kurdistan, and more!
EU Countries Seek Legal Option to Stop Russian LNG Imports
European Union countries agreed on Tuesday to seek a legal option to stop Russian companies sending LNG to EU nations by preventing Russian firms from booking infrastructure capacity.
Diplomat: Russia May Demand Compensation for Nord Stream Pipeline Blasts
Moscow may seek compensation for the damage to the Nord Stream gas pipelines from two explosions last September, but the future of the projects is unclear, according to a Russian diplomat cited by the news agency RIA Novosti.
Kremlin: Important to Identify Object Found Next to Nord Stream Pipeline
The Kremlin on Friday said it was important to identify an object discovered next to one of the Nord Stream pipelines and said the ongoing investigation into blasts that struck the pipelines last September must be conducted with full transparency.
Spain Asks Gas Importers to Wean Themselves Off Russian LNG
The Spanish government has asked LNG buyers to refrain from signing new contracts for Russian gas once existing contracts have expired, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Friday.
Kazakhstan's KMG Starts Shipping Oil Via Caspian Sea to BTC Pipeline
Kazakhstan's state Kazmunaigaz (KMG) has started shipping oil to the BTC (Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan) pipeline in Azerbaijan, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters, as it seeks alternatives to exporting via Russian ports.
Russia Hopes to Seal Power of Siberia 2 Deal with China This Year
Moscow is eyeing the 2,600 km (1,620 mile) pipeline — which would have a capacity of 50 Bcm of gas per year — as a way to replace lost exports to Europe.
Explainer: Does China Need More Russian Gas Via the Power-of-Siberia 2 Pipeline?
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping met in Moscow for two days of talks which ended Tuesday, during which they discussed a major new infrastructure project, Power-of-Siberia 2, to deliver gas to China via Mongolia.
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.
Romania’s Transgaz to Build $529 Million Gas Pipeline for Black Sea Gas
The gas pipeline is meant to bring offshore Black Sea gas to the national grid once two gas producers make a final investment decision, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca said on Thursday.
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.
Nord Stream Owners Discuss Pipeline Repairs, Says E.ON
Shareholders of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline operator are discussing how to seal and empty the damaged gas pipeline to halt corrosion from sea water, said the chief financial officer of E.ON, one of the owners.
Putin Says Germany Remains "Occupied" Due to Response to Nord Stream Pipeline Explosion
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Germany's response to the explosion on North Sea pipelines showed that the country remained "occupied" and unable to act independently decades after its surrender at the end of World War Two.
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.
Ukraine to Jointly Buy Gas with European Union Countries
Ukraine will take part in the European Union scheme to jointly buy gas in global markets, to procure 2 billion cubic meters of the fuel ahead of next winter, the EU energy policy chief said on Thursday.
German Minister: Nord Stream Attacks May be 'False Flag' Operation
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius on Wednesday warned against reaching premature conclusions on who was responsible for blowing up the Nord Stream pipelines, suggesting the attack could also have been a "false flag" operation to blame Ukraine.
Alaska's Qilak LNG Targets Asia with $5 Billion Project to Compete with Russia
Qilak LNG plans to invest $5 billion in a proposed LNG facility in Alaska's North Slope to compete with Russia's Yamal project for Asian customers towards the end of this decade, its chief executive said.
US Intelligence Suggests Pro-Ukrainian Group Sabotaged Nord Stream Pipelines -NYT
New intelligence reviewed by U.S. officials suggests that a pro-Ukrainian group carried out the attack on the Nord Stream pipelines last year, the New York Times reported on Tuesday.
Sources: Russia Set to Mothball Damaged Nord Stream Gas Pipelines
Russia's ruptured undersea Nord Stream gas pipelines are set to be sealed up and mothballed as there are no immediate plans to repair or reactivate them, sources familiar with the plans have told Reuters.
Global News - March 2023
Latest industry news and developments
Russian Governor: Sakhalin-1 Oil, Gas Output Less Than Half of Plan in 2022
The project saw a sharp decline in output following the departure of U.S. oil and gas major Exxon Mobil after Moscow sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24 last year.
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- U.S. Appeals Court Strikes Down Controversial Biden Pipeline Safety Rules
- Williams Seeks Emergency Certificate to Operate $1 Billion Mid-Atlantic Gas Pipeline After Court Reversal
- Texas Oil Pipelines Near Max Capacity, Threatening Future Export Limits
- Energy Transfer Subsidiary Selects KTJV for Lake Charles LNG Export Project
- Saudi Arabia Looking to Expand Pipeline to Reduce Oil Exports via Gulf
- Report: Houston Region Poised to Become a Global Clean Hydrogen Hub
- Texas Startup Endeavors Again to Build First Major U.S. Oil Refinery Since 1977
- Puerto Bahia, Gasco to Build Liquefied Petroleum Gas Facility in Cartagena, Colombia
- U.S. Court Overturns FERC Approval for NextDecade’s $18 Billion Rio Grande LNG Project
