Canada opens Pacific trade pact to new members following Taiwan's complaint
Canada's government confirmed that a major Trans-Pacific Trade Pact is still open for other aspirant member countries, including Taiwan, to join. This was after Taipei complained about the lack of a working group that would consider Taiwan's entry. Taiwan's Government expressed its disappointment Friday at the fact that members of Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership had not established a working group in order to discuss membership during a meeting of ministers held in Vancouver. The government said there should be no political considerations.
Mitsubishi Japan expects LNG production to reach 17 million tonnes per year by early 2030
Mitsubishi, a Japanese trading company, expects to see its LNG production capacity grow by over 17 million tonnes per year in the early 2030s. This is due to its stakes including projects in Malaysia and Canada. Mitsubishi has invested in 12 LNG projects with a total production capacity of 110,4 million tons per annum in Brunei Malaysia Australia Oman Russia Indonesia USA Canada. This was revealed in a presentation on earnings by the company. LNG Canada will ship its first cargo in mid-2020, but all other projects produce gas.
Malaysian PM: Petronas exploration in South China Sea to continue
Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia's prime minister, reiterated on Tuesday that the state-owned energy company Petronas would continue to conduct oil exploration in Malaysia's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the South China Sea despite China's objections. He told the parliament that this includes exploration activities for Petronas Kasawari Gas Development off Sarawak State on Borneo. Anwar stated, "We will continue to discuss with all countries. He said Malaysia has territorial disputes with many neighbours including Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia and that its differences with China are being overemphasized.
Preliminary data shows that Japan's LNG imports increased by 49% from Russia in August, while US supplies decreased.
The preliminary data from Wednesday showed that Japan's imports of liquefied gas (LNG), from Russia, increased by 49% to 0.59 millions metric tons in August, while supplies from the U.S. decreased by 41% to a total of 0.38 million ton, compared to last year. The data revealed that the total LNG imports by Japan, which is the second largest super-cooled gas purchaser in the world after China, were up 1% on an annual basis to 5.7 millions tons. An industry source said that the increase in Russian volumes was not due to demand but rather to the timing of cargo arriving compared to last year.
Malaysia won't stop South China Sea exploration, despite China protests says PM
Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia's Prime Minister, said that the country would not stop oil and gas exploration on the South China Sea in spite of Beijing's claims that Malaysia had infringed on its territory. Anwar, who is currently in Russia on an official visit, stated that Malaysia's exploration was within its own territory, and it wasn't meant to be provocative towards China. Anwar stated in a Vladivostok televised news conference that "we will of course have to operate within our waters in order to secure an economic advantage.
Britain announces that the Trans-Pacific Trade Agreement will come into effect by December 15
The British Government announced on Thursday that its agreement to join Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership will enter into effect by December 15th this year, after receiving the final ratification needed. CPTPP, or the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, is a free-trade agreement signed in 2018 by 11 countries: Australia, Brunei (Burma), Canada, Chile, Japan Malaysia, Mexico New Zealand, Peru Singapore, Vietnam. The UK is the sole European member of CPTPP, and it was the first country to join the agreement since its creation.
Chinese Seismic Vessel Returns to Waters off Vietnam Amid Virus 'Distraction' Charges
A Chinese ship embroiled in a standoff with Vietnamese vessels last year has returned to waters near Vietnam as the United States accused China of pushing its presence in the South China Sea while other claimants are pre-occupied with the coronavirus.Vietnamese vessels last year spent months shadowing the Chinese Haiyang Dizhi 8 survey vessel in resource-rich waters that are a potential global flashpoint as the United States challenges China's sweeping maritime claims.On Tuesday, the ship, which is used for offshore seismic surveys…
Asia LNG Spot Prices Drop to Multi-year Low
Asian liquefied natural gas (LNG) spot prices dropped to multi-year lows on Tuesday with at least one cargo being sold into Northeast Asia below the psychological barrier of $4 per million British thermal units (mmBtu).Gas prices are tumbling globally as new projects sanctioned when prices were higher ramp up output just as economic growth slows. A milder than usual winter in North Asia is also curbing demand.Low spot prices will particularly hit companies which purchase LNG through long-term contracts, selling on to end-users at market prices, traders said.
Southeast Asia Bullish on OFS Market
Offshore project sanctions in Southeast Asia could lift greenfield investments in the oilfield services market by nearly 70 percent in 2020, said Rystad Energy.According to Norwegian energy research firm, the growth will be driven by a handful of new mega-projects across Malaysia, Myanmar and Vietnam, according to the latest tally of project commitments in Southeast Asia by the Norwegian energy research and consulting firm.New final investment decisions (FIDs) in 2021 are expected to sound the starting gun for big contract awards in Vietnam…
Petronas Completes 3rd LNG Break Bulking STS Transfer
Petronas LNG Ltd (PLL), a subsidiary of Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas), has completed its second liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo through its break bulking ship-to-ship (STS) transfer to two buyers.The LNG break-bulking STS transfer took place in Brunei Bay, Sabah, Malaysia. It is the first for Petronas in expanding its customer base by providing solutions to two buyers, said the national oil and gas company.According to a report in Bernama, the delivering vessel, Seri Bijaksana, transferred 80,000 m3 of LNG to LNG vessel…
China, Philippines: 'Bigger Step' Possible Offshore
Chinese President Xi Jinping said China and the Philippines could take a "bigger step" in the joint development of oil and gas resources in the South China Sea if they can "properly" handle their dispute over sovereignty.Xi made the remarks on Thursday in a meeting in Beijing with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who has positioned himself as a friend of Beijing but has come under growing pressure at home to push back against China's maritime assertiveness.The visit comes amid a recent rise in tension on multiple fronts, with Chinese vessels challenging energy assets and sea boundaries of Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippi
BSP Contracts AqualisBraemar
Oil & natural gas company Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sdn Bhd (BSP) has awarded AqualisBraemar a frame agreement to conduct rig inspection services for the operator.The agreement is valid for three years with an option to extend the contract for additional periods of three times one year, said the Norway-based global company that provides, through its subsidiaries and associates, consultancy services to the energy, marine and insurance sectors.Oslo-listed AqualisBraemar – a result of the recent unification between Aqualis Offshore and Braemar Technical Services – will provide rig inspection services…
Transition to a Hydrogen Future Has Begun
There is a growing international consensus that clean hydrogen will play a key role in the world’s transition to a sustainable energy future, said Noé van Hulst, who chairs the High-Level Advisory Panel for the International Energy Agency (IEA)’s forthcoming hydrogen study.Hulst, the Hydrogen Envoy for the Ministry of Economic Affairs & Climate Policy, The Netherlands, said that it is crucial to help reduce carbon emissions from industry and heavy transport, and also to provide long-term energy storage…
Petrofac Secures Brunei Contract
Oilfield services provider Petrofac and its partner Serikandi Oilfield and Services Sdn Bhd, have secured a multi-annual Engineering Design Services contract to support Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP) and Brunei LNG (BLNG) in Brunei.Petrofac and partner Serikandi will provide engineering across all phases of the asset lifecycle for the entire portfolio of onshore and offshore assets for BSP and BLNG. All engineering and design work will be undertaken in Brunei, with the team located at offices in Kuala Belait.Mani Rajapathy…
ASEAN Adopts Oil Spill Contingency Plan
International Maritime Organization (IMO) technical assistance and institutional support has been instrumental in the recent adoption of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Oil Spill Contingency Plan.IMO said that the plan was adopted by the 24th ASEAN Transport Ministers Meeting, held in Bangkok, Thailand (8 November). The Regional Oil Spill Contingency Plan provides for a mechanism whereby ASEAN Member States can request and provide mutual support in response to any oil spills.It also ensures a common understanding and effective integration between affected and assisting ASEAN Member States…
Newbuild Kreuz Challenger Mobilized for Brunei Shell Contract
Subsea services company Kreuz Subsea has mobilized the recently delivered newbuild dive support vessel, Kreuz Challenger, as part of its seven-year contract with Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sdn. Bhd. (BSP).The contract, which runs until 2022, includes supporting BSP with inspection, repair and maintenance services to be carried out on offshore oil and gas structures in Negara Brunei Darussalam's territorial waters.Typically located in water depths of up to 80 meters, these include drilling platforms, production stations…
Philippines Eyes Exploration Deal with China in S.China Sea
The Philippines is looking to seal a pact with China within a few months to jointly explore for oil and gas in a part of the busy South China Sea waterway claimed by both countries, a Philippine official said on Monday. In February, the two countries agreed to set up a special panel to work out how to jointly explore for offshore oil and gas in areas both sides claim, without needing to address the touchy issue of sovereignty. "We're trying to see if we can achieve an agreement, hopefully within the next couple of months…
China Says to Have "Prudent" Oil Exploration with Philippines
China will prudently advance cooperation with the Philippines on joint oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea, China's top diplomat State Councillor Wang Yi said on Wednesday after meeting his Philippine counterpart. Any potential deals between Manila and Beijing on energy exploration in the disputed waterway should be agreed with a company and not the Chinese government, a senior Philippine official said earlier this month. China claims most of the South China Sea, a key trade route and home to areas that are believed to hold large quantities of oil and natural gas.
Philippines, China Mull South China Sea Energy Cooperation
The Philippines on Friday identified two areas in South China Sea where joint exploration for oil and gas may be undertaken with China, including one in territory that both sides have argued over for years. The two countries have agreed to set up a special panel to work out how they can jointly explore in part of the hotly contested waters without having to address the issue of sovereignty, something experts say would be extremely complex. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's spokesman, Harry Roque, said the areas being considered were sites covered by service contracts 57 and 72…
Sir Bob Reid Joins Belltree Board
Sir Bob Reid is to take up a new role as nonexecutive director of Belltree, a specialist oil and gas consultancy based in Edinburgh. The former chair and chief executive of Shell UK will advise and support Belltree with its continued growth into international markets. During his 36-year tenure at Shell, he spent much of his time overseas including posts in Brunei, Nigeria, Borneo, Thailand, Eastern Europe and Australia. Reid is also a former chair of the British Railways Board, Sears, London Electricity, ICE Futures Europe and its associated Clearing House, ICE Clear Europe.
