MUFG Americas CEO: AI data centres will boost renewable energy demand, even under Trump
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, the largest Japanese banking group, has said that the U.S.'s shift to renewable energy will continue under Donald Trump. Kevin Cronin, chief executive officer of MUFG Americas, said in an interview that the anti-renewables rhetoric of President-elect Trump has not led to a change in MUFG Americas' strategy. Cronin stated that the new administration would be more positive on fossil fuels but this does not mean that renewables will disappear. Cronin said that it takes several years to plan…
Shell's former US offshore wind leader Orsted replaces Shell's executive
Amanda Dasch, Shell's director of renewables for the Americas, will join Danish offshore wind company Orsted as its head of U.S. operations in January. Shell has announced that it will stop investing in new offshore wind farms as CEO Wael Sawan concentrates on higher-margin operations. Dasch has spent the majority of her career in Shell's upstream oil and natural gas division. She has been leading Shell's offshore development in North America since 2022 and renewables in South America. Orsted, a Danish company, announced in a Monday statement that she will be joining the company on January 13.
Palm prices fall for the third consecutive session due to poor demand in key markets
The price of palm oil in Malaysia fell for the third consecutive session on Tuesday due to weak demand from major destination markets. At the close, the benchmark contract of Bursa Malaysia's Derivatives exchange fell 34 ringgit (0.71%) to 4,724 Ringgit ($1,058.01) per metric ton. Anilkumar bagani, the commodity research director at Mumbai-based Sunvin Group, stated that futures were under pressure due to lower overnight Chicago Soyoil Futures and lack fresh demand from destinations markets, amid deep negative margins in imports, particularly in India.
Palm oil demand falls due to poor demand in key markets
The price of Malaysian palm oils futures dropped for the third session in a row on Tuesday due to a lackluster demand from major destination markets. By midday, the benchmark contract of Bursa Derivatives Exchange fell 67 ringgit or 1.41% to 4,691 Ringgit ($1,055.11) per metric ton. Anilkumar bagani, the commodity research director at Mumbai-based Sunvin Group, stated that futures were under pressure due to lower overnight Chicago Soyoil Futures and a lack of new demand from destination markets, particularly in India. Paramalingam Supramaniam is the director of Selangor brokerage firm Pelindung Bestari.
Oil prices drop on forecast surplus supply in 2025, but are set to rise by a weekly gain
Oil prices fell on Friday, as investors shifted their focus to a forecast for ample supply. They also shrugged off the expectation of higher demand in 2013 due to Chinese stimulus measures. Meanwhile, they were watching a Federal Reserve rate cut scheduled next week. Brent crude futures were down 8 cents at $73.33 per barrel as of 0125 GMT, while U.S. West Texas intermediate crude was down 7 cents at $69.95 per barrel. The International Energy Agency (IEA) expects non-OPEC+ countries to increase their supply by approximately 1.5 million barrels per daily (bpd)…
In 2025, the global diesel price will be supported by refinery closures
Analysts and traders said that the global diesel market would likely see a price boost in 2025 due to the closing of around 1% of the refining capacity. This will offset the current weakness of the market and the structural downward pressure caused by the shift towards cleaner fuels. Markets end 2024 in a shaky state, despite the peak season demand. Margins in key energy hubs around the world, such as Singapore, Northwest Europe, and the Gulf of the United States, have fallen from November's high levels, due to the return of some refineries after maintenance shutdowns.
US solar industry's strategy for Trump's era downplays climate
The U.S. Solar Industry unveiled their lobbying strategy on Thursday for the incoming Trump Administration. They promoted themselves as a domestic employment engine that could help meet soaring demand for power, without mentioning its role in fighting climate change. The new policy agenda is a dramatic shift for the solar industry, which has been a major beneficiary from the Inflation Reduction Act, a landmark climate change law passed by President Joe Biden in 2022. Donald Trump, the President-elect Donald Trump, has promised to repeal the law. This would require Congress to take action.
Oil Slips, Weekly Loss Looms
Oil prices fell 1% on Friday and were headed for a weekly loss as analysts projected a supply surplus next year despite an OPEC+ decision to delay output hikes and extend deep production cuts to the end of 2026.Brent crude futures were down 85 cents, or 1%, to $71.24 per barrel at 11:04 a.m. EST. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures CLc1 were down 92 cents, or 1%, to $67.38 per barrel.For the week, Brent was on track to fall by more than 2%, while WTI was on course for a nearly 1% drop.On Thursday…
Seaspan Energy Completes First STS LNG transfer
Seaspan Energy (Seaspan) has successfully completed its first LNG ship-to-ship transfer to a containership in the Port of Long Beach.This operation marks the beginning of Seaspan’s service offering on the West Coast of North America with two LNG bunkering vessels to soon serve both the Long Beach and Vancouver markets. “Our first ship-to-ship LNG bunkering has been five years in the making and our team is so proud of this milestone especially as this represents the first ship-to-ship bunkering on the West Coast of North America,” said Harly Penner, Senior Vice President, Seaspan Energy.
Biden Administration will not finalize the clean fuel tax credit guidelines
Three sources have confirmed that Biden administration officials won't finalize the highly anticipated guidelines for new clean fuel production credits targeted at the airline industry and biofuel industries by the time they depart in January. This casts doubt on the future success of this key part of the U.S. President's climate agenda. The tax credit was to go into effect on Jan. 1 but, due to a lack detailed guidelines from the U.S. Treasury, it would have been rendered dormant. The global emissions of greenhouse gases from air travel are around 2.5%…
Eletrobras Santo Antonio Power Plant bounces back after Brazil's historic drought
Santo Antonio is one of Brazil's biggest hydroelectric plants. Its head said that the plant had survived an extreme drought. He credited the plant's resilience with a series of measures which kept it running, even at record low water levels. According to the Brazilian geological service, Santo Antonio on Amazon's Madeira River was forced to temporarily stop operations in 2023 due to drought, which lowered water levels to an all-time low of 1.1 meters (3.6 feet). This year, however, despite an even worse drought that brought Madeira's levels of water to a record low of 0.19 meters.
Total closing in on 2 bln euro deal for renewables developer VSB, Bloomberg reports
Bloomberg News reported that TotalEnergies, a French oil giant, is on the verge of acquiring renewable developer VSB Group. The deal will cost about 2 billion euro ($2,10 billion). TotalEnergies has declined to comment. VSB Group, Partners Group and TotalEnergies did not respond to comments immediately. VSB sells electricity to its clients and builds wind, solar and battery projects in Germany, Italy and France. The French oil major has steadily increased its green portfolio. It is bucking…
Exxon continues to discuss shallow-water blocks in Guyana's auction, the company reports
Exxon Mobil, the U.S. oil giant and its partners continue to negotiate with Guyana’s government about terms for developing an oil block in shallow water. An Exxon spokesperson confirmed this on Monday. Exxon Hess, CNOOC and Exxon won the offshore block S8 during a bid round that was launched by President Irfaan Ali’s administration in late 2022. A spokesperson for Exxon Mobil confirmed via email that the group is still interested in the block, and that talks are ongoing. The spokesperson…
Solar tariffs in the US will increase prices and reduce profit margins for Southeast Asia
Analysts said that a new round of U.S. import tariffs against Southeast Asian solar panel producers will likely increase consumer prices while reducing producer profits. However, the industry had anticipated this move. The Commerce Department announced new duties on Friday that extend the United States anti-dumping regime to solar cells in Southeast Asia, instead of just finished modules. Citi analyst Pierre Lau wrote in a report that the tariff increase was in line with what had been expected.
US energy lobby groups cautious about Trump tariffs
The U.S. oil industry said that they are concerned about President-elect Donald Trump’s threats to impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico and the United States, stating that such policies may affect consumers, industries and security. Trump, who will take office on January 20, has promised to impose a tariff of 25% on imports coming from Canada and Mexico. These are two of America's largest trading partners. He said he would do this until these countries crack down on drugs - particularly fentanyl - and migrants at the border. This move appears to be in violation with a free trade agreement.
Turkey talks with U.S. and Russia about sanctions waivers on energy imports
Turkish officials said that Turkey was in talks with both the United States of America and Russia to try and secure a waiver from U.S. Sanctions so it could continue paying Gazprombank in order to import Russian natural gas. The United States has imposed new sanctions against Russia's Gazprombank last week as President Joe Biden intensifies his efforts to punish Moscow for its invasion in Ukraine before he leaves the office in January. Turkey imports nearly all of its gas requirements and Russia is its top supplier, providing over 50% of its pipeline imports.
Exxon executive: US oil producers are unlikely to switch to "drill baby, drill" mode
LONDON, November 26 - U.S. producers of oil and gas are unlikely to increase production dramatically under President-elect Donald Trump, as companies remain focused upon capital discipline, said a senior Exxon Mobil executive on Tuesday. Liam Mallon is the head of Exxon’s upstream division. He told the Energy Intelligence Forum in London that "we're not going see anyone in a 'drill baby, drill'" mode. He said that a radical change in production is unlikely, because most, if no one else, are focused on the economics.
Mexican oil service companies ask Pemex for debt repayment
A letter published on Monday shows that the association representing the interests of some the most important oil services providers in Mexico has asked the state company Pemex for payment of overdue bills totaling 103.6 trillion pesos (about $5 billion). The Mexican Association of Oil Service Companies, in a letter dated November 15 addressed to Pemex’s CEO and the energy and finance ministers of the country, requested that a schedule be provided for payments made on time and those due.
Trump Energy Pick writes ESG report praising oil and gas, while downplaying climate worries
According to a report that he wrote as the CEO of oilfield service company Liberty Energy, Donald Trump's nominee to head the Energy Department believes fossil fuels will end world poverty. He says this is a bigger problem than the "distant threat" of climate change. Chris Wright stated in a February report entitled "Bettering Human Lives" that the energy transformation has not yet begun, and that while climate change is a problem, it's not the biggest threat to humanity. Wright, who founded a foundation to expand propane cook stoves for developing countries…
US natural gas drillers will increase output in 2025, reversing a year-long cut
The U.S. Natural Gas producers will increase output in 2025 after a series production cuts this past year. Rising demand from LNG export plants should raise prices, which had dropped to multi-decade lows. According to the latest U.S. Energy Information Administration outlook, U.S. natural gas production will decline in 2024, for the first drop since 2020 when the COVID epidemic reduced demand. After the average monthly spot price at the U.S. Henry hub benchmark, drillers started cutting back on gas production.
