EU Energy Ministers Discuss Ukraine Energy Crisis and Russian LNG
Officials said that EU energy ministers met on Tuesday in Luxembourg to discuss the rising Russian LNG imports into the EU, Ukraine's energy shortages before winter and how to equalize energy prices among member states. In June, the EU approved a 14th set of sanctions including a ban of transhipments of Russian Gas as of March of next year. However, it did not impose a complete ban. Belgium and the Netherlands saw a dramatic increase in imports since then. In a Monday letter, France and nine countries asked…
EU Energy Ministers Discuss Ukraine Energy Crisis and Russian LNG
Officials said that EU energy ministers met on Tuesday in Luxembourg to discuss the rising Russian LNG imports and Ukraine's energy shortages before winter, as well as how to balance energy costs across member states. In June, the EU approved a 14th set of sanctions including a ban of transhipments of Russian Gas as of March of next year. However, it did not impose a complete ban. Belgium and the Netherlands saw a dramatic increase in imports since then. In a Monday letter, France and nine countries asked the…
Document shows EU countries want more transparency about Russian gas imports
In a letter to the European Commission on Monday, a group of EU member states including France and the Baltic States asked for tighter reporting requirements across the EU on Russian LNG imports. In June, the EU approved a 14th set of sanctions that included a prohibition on the trans-shipment of Russian LNG in its ports. Moscow has used European ports for transshipment onto other vessels bound for Asia. Imports of Russian LNG were not banned. Several EU countries continue to receive Russian pipeline gas via Ukraine and Turkey. In the past few years, the imports of Russian gas to Europe has increased in Belgium and the Netherlands.
EU's von der Leyen announces 35 bln euro loan in Kyiv visit
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission during her visit to Kyiv last Friday, announced a loan for Ukraine up to 39 billion dollars ($35 billion), saying that it was necessary to protect the country from Russian attacks and to help it survive the winter. Zelenskiy, standing next to her, said that the loan will be used for energy procurement, air defences, and arms procurement. He urged his allies, at the press conference, to approve a "victory strategy" he had drafted by the end the year.
Moscow claims that the EU has lost its mind over increased military aid to Ukraine
The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday that the European Union has "lost their mind" and is heading towards ruin by providing additional military aid to Ukraine. According to a letter from the German finance ministry, Germany will approve an additional 400 million euros ($450 millions) of military aid for Ukraine to help it fight Russia. These funds will be added to the 8 billion euro budget for Ukraine in 2024. The European Commission's Ursula von der Leyen, President of the Commission, said that on Thursday…
X-Press Feeders to Use Green Methanol in Q2 2024
Singapore-based container shipper X-Press Feeders plans to use green methanol bunker to fuel part of its fleet in Europe in the second quarter of 2024, a senior executive said on Tuesday.The move comes as the European Union will extend its Emissions Trading System (ETS) next year to cover carbon dioxide emissions for all ships of 5,000 gross tonnage and above entering EU ports.Shippers can buy carbon credits to offset emissions or burn lower-carbon fuels such as methanol and biofuels, although supply of these fuels is limited.
Lithuania Seeks Alternative Bids for LNG Import Terminal
Lithuania is seeking alternative bids from providers of floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals to potentially replace its existing import terminal, operator Klaipedos Nafta said on Friday.The Baltic state leases a floating storage and regasification vessel (FSRU) from Norway's Hoegh LNG and has an option to buy it when the lease expires in 2024.The state-controlled Klaipedos Nafta said it had decided to seek alternative bids to make sure that it gets the best terms, and has to make the final decision by the end of 2022.Lithuania has been importing LNG via the current terminal, dubbed Independence, since 2014, thereby ending
Kiel Intros Germany's Largest Shore Power System
The Port of Kiel commissioned Siemens to build Germany’s largest shore power system to date which is capable of supplying two ships simultaneously.With a power of 16 megavolt amperes (MVA), the Siharbor solution will supply two ships simultaneously with certified eco-power, for the first time. This will reduce annual CO2 emissions by more than 8,000 tons.The system is expected to go into test operation within the 2020 cruise ship season. Maritime shipping plays a special role in Kiel. The port is the point of departure for cruises and has ferry connections to the Baltic states and Scandinavia.
US Refiners Grab HSFO on Back of IMO 2020
U.S. refiners are scooping up cheap high-sulfur fuel oil for processing from Russia and the Baltic states as they take advantage of new shipping rules that have cut demand for the dirtier marine fuel, according to oil traders and shipping data.U.S. refiners Valero Corp, Chevron Corp and Phillips 66 have been buying HSFO, traders said, taking advantage of their complex operations to turn HSFO blended with crude oils into products like diesel, gasoil and gasoline.This month, 2.2 million tonnes of fuel oil, largely from Russia and the Baltic states…
KN Bags $148Mn Loan for its LNG Terminal
The Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) and Lithuanian liquefied natural gas (LNG) and oil terminal operator AB 'Klaipedos Nafta' (KN) have signed a EUR 134.1 million (USD 148 million) loan agreement to optimize costs of LNG terminal.The 25-year maturity loan will be directed to finance the rent payable for the Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU).“Through this loan agreement we are continuing to support Lithuania´s security of energy supply, a strategically important objective for our member country”, said Henrik Normann…
Estonia's Eesti Energia to Import Novatek Gas
Estonia's energy group Eesti Energia is all set to import gas from Russia's largest private gas company Novatek via Lithuania's LNG terminal based in Klaipeda, which is operated by KN, in September.The contract with the new Klaipeda LNG terminal user was signed on Thursday. It is planned that the first cargo of Eesti Energia in the history of Klaipėda LNG Terminal will arrive in Klaipėda at the end of September. “The contract signed with Eesti Energia confirms that the conditions for using our reliable terminal satisfy the users of the terminal and natural gas users in Lithuania and abroad.
Klaipeda LNG in Full Capacity
Lithuania's liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal Klaipėdos Nafta (KN) said that its terminal capacities are now fully booked for the rest of the Gas Year, following the favorable situation in the international gas markets that has been determining the highest operative efficiency of the LNG terminal since the launch of its activities.The Gas Year is calculated from 1 October of the current year until 30 September of the following year.According to a press note from the operator of the Klaipėda Oil Terminal based in Klaipėda…
Vattenfall May Raise Offshore Wind Target
Sweden's Vattenfall may raise its target for installing offshore wind power generation in Europe beyond the 11,000 megawatts (MW) it now plans to have in place by 2025, an executive said.Gunnar Groebler, the Swedish power firm's board member in charge of wind, had announced the 11,000 MW target in January, after installed capacity reached 3,000 MW at the end of 2018.But he told Reuters on Wednesday that such targets needed "constant monitoring and reviewing.""It could become more, as we notice the market is very dynamic and we wish to keep or expand our market share…
EU Funding for Polish LNG Terminal Expansion
The Polish government and the Polskie LNG company signed a grant agreement on 24 April for the extension of the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal in Świnoujście, in north-western Poland on the Baltic Sea coast.Almost EUR 128 million from the European Regional Development Fund is invested in extending this terminal, which is the only facility of its size in Northern, Central and Eastern Europe.Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Creţu said: "The extension of the Świnoujście terminal will help diversify natural gas supply sources and improve the country’s energy security.
Poland and Lithuania Agree to Build Undersea Power Cable
Polish and Lithuanian power grid operators said on Friday they had agreed to build a high voltage direct current (HVDC) underwater cable by 2025 as part of a plan to connect the electricity grids of the Baltic states with those of the European Union.Poland's PSE and Lithuania's Litgrid said they signed an initial cooperation agreement regarding what they called a "Harmony Link", with an investment decision expected in 2020.EU Climate Commissioner Arias Canete was quoted in a statement as saying the cross-border project was a clear sign of how political and professional accords were helping the three Baltic states gain full control o
Merkel Sees No Threat in New Gas Pipe to Russia, Poland Disagrees
The planned Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline connecting Germany and Russia poses no threat to Europe's energy security, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday, publicly disagreeing with her Polish counterpart. Poland, Ukraine and Baltic states fear the pipeline to be laid under the Baltic Sea would increase Europe's dependence on Russian gas and could cut off Ukraine - still fighting a conflict with Russian-backed separatists - from gas transit fees. "We had different views on the Nord Stream issue," Merkel told reporters at a joint press conference with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in Berlin.
Trump Nominee for Key U.S. Energy Post Would Oppose Russia Pipeline
U.S. President Donald Trump's nominee for a top State Department energy position said on Thursday he would oppose Russia's proposed natural gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea to Germany - the Nord Stream 2. "The United States' position, it is my understanding, is to strongly oppose that pipeline," Francis Fannon, who has been nominated Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources, said during his U.S. Senate confirmation hearing. Fannon said he would "continue to advance alternate ways" to decrease Europe's need for Russian energy.
Lithuania Receives First U.S. LNG Cargo
Lithuania received its first spot shipment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States on Monday, the result of a deal aimed at reducing dependence on Russia and consolidating relations with Washington amid increased tension in the region. Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 has spooked the Baltic states, once ruled from Moscow but now members of both NATO and the European Union. "This is crucially important for the whole region," said Lithuania's Foreign Affairs Minister Linas Linkevicius. "We want…
EU Nations Back Plan for Talks with Russia Over Pipeline
Thirteen EU nations voiced support on Monday for a proposal to empower the bloc's executive to negotiate with Russia over objections to a new Russian gas pipeline to Germany, despite opposition from Berlin. At an informal debate among EU energy ministers, Germany's partners in the 28-nation bloc spoke out against Russia's Nord Stream 2 pipeline plan to pump more gas directly from Russia's Baltic coast to Germany. EU nations are expected to vote in the autumn on the European Commission's request for a mandate to negotiate with Russia on behalf of the bloc as a whole.
EU Divided On New US Sanctions against Russia
European Commission preparations to retaliate against proposed new U.S. sanctions on Russia that could affect European firms are likely to face resistance within a bloc divided on how to deal with Moscow, diplomats, officials and experts say. A bill agreed by U.S. Senate and House leaders foresees fines for companies aiding Russia to build energy export pipelines. EU firms involved in Nord Stream 2, a 9.5 billion euro ($11.1 billion) project to carry Russian gas across the Baltic, are likely to be affected.
