Romanian Brazi Power Plant resumes operation after being shut down by the state
Romanian energy company OMV Petrom is majority owned by Austrian OMV. Its 860 MW, gas-fired Brazi Power Plant has resumed operation after being forced to close due to water restrictions in the Paltinu Dam, which it relies on. According to the company, Brazi's power plant will soon be operating at full capacity. The plant supplies about 10% of the electricity in the country. The Energy Ministry said that 300 MW had been reconnected with the national grid.
Prices to be affected by Monday's warm and windy weather
The European electricity prices will likely fall dramatically on Monday due to the expected surge in wind power production in Germany. Meanwhile, warmer weather is sending demand down in France. LSEG data shows that the German and French baseload power contracts for Monday were not traded by 1008 GMT on Friday. LSEG data shows that German wind power production is expected to increase by 23.2 gigawatts on Monday to 28.8 GW.
Indonesia reverses its decision to retire Cirebon coal-powered plant early
Indonesia's chief economic minister stated on Friday that it was unlikely to proceed with its plan to retire Cirebon-1 early. However, the country is evaluating other coal-fired power plants to be shut down early. Cirebon was seen as a case study for early retirements of coal-fired plants in developing nations under the Just Energy Transition Partnership, a G7 funded initiative.
Industry head: Colombia will see a jump in renewable energy by 2025, thanks to new players.
Alexandra Hernandez (President of the Colombian Renewable Energy Association, SER Colombia) said that Colombia will end 2025 with 2,685 Megawatts (MW), up 49% compared to 1,800 MW by the end of 2024. This is due to new project commissions as well as some regulatory changes. In the past year, 27 large and medium-sized projects, mainly solar, were completed, as well as three wind projects, and one biomass facility, totaling $2.9 billion in investment.
UK consumers face higher energy bills after regulator approves $37 billion grid upgrade
The British Energy Regulator has approved an investment of 28 billion pounds ($37.33 billion), over the next five-years, to ensure that the energy system is reliable and safe in the future. This is part of a plan to upgrade the energy system which will increase consumer bills by 108 pounds per year. The investment exceeds the provisional estimate of 24 billion pounds made by regulator Ofgem back in July, despite the British Government's promise to lower energy prices.
Reduced wind output increases power prices
The European day-ahead electricity prices rose on Thursday, compared to the previous session. This is because wind generation in the region is expected decrease. Riccardo Paraviero, LSEG analyst, said that the fundamental outlook for Germany has changed again to a tighter one. This is primarily due to the decreasing supply of wind energy. He added that conditions are similar across the rest the region. The French and Dutch residual loads will rise dramatically.
Turkey extends Russia Gas Contracts by an additional year with a view to US Investment
Turkey has finalised an extension of one year to its two gas import contracts that expire with Russia, totalling 22 bcm. It is also considering investing in U.S. production, as part of its efforts to diversify sources of energy. Turkey, Russia's final major gas market in Europe has steadily reduced the proportion of Russian gas in its gas supply mix. It has now fallen below 40%. Both contracts with Gazprom expire this year.
Clean energy companies in India are seeking better weather data, as regulations tighten.
India's clean-energy producers highlighted the lack of weather forecasting models on Wednesday, while the power regulator proposed stricter rules for developers to adhere to their grid commitments. The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission in India, which regulates the power industry, has issued stricter rules for wind and solar energy producers. This is under the Deviation Settlement Mechanism. The draft framework was to be implemented from April 2026.
Maguire: High natural gas prices may lead to a new surge in coal consumption in the US
The benchmark U.S. gas prices will end 2025 the same way they started - with an explosive rally. This is bad news for those who hoped for a further reduction in coal consumption in the U.S. Gas prices in the United States increased by a third between January and March this year due to a harsh winter and strong LNG exports. This led to an increase in coal-fired electricity generation, as utilities reduced costs by burning coal instead of gas.
Maguire: High natural gas prices may lead to a new surge in coal consumption in the US
The benchmark U.S. gas prices will end 2025 the same way they started - with an explosive rally. This is bad news for those who hoped for further reductions in U.S. coal usage. Gas prices in the United States increased by a third between January and March this year due to a harsh winter and strong LNG exports. This led to an increase in coal-fired electricity generation, as utilities reduced costs by burning coal instead of gas.
Syrian president, Chevron discuss cooperation in oil, gas exploration, state news agency says
The Syrian state news agency reported on Tuesday that President Ahmed al-Sharaa of Syria met with representatives from U.S. oil giant Chevron and Syrian Petroleum Company in order to discuss the cooperation between the two companies for oil and gas exploration on Syrian shores. The state-run news agency didn't provide any further details about the discussions. Chevron didn't immediately respond to an inquiry for comment.
Saudi Finance Ministry says Aramco Jafurah Gas Plant has begun production
Saudi Finance Ministry announced on Tuesday that the first phase of Aramco’s Jafurah Gas Plant is completed and production with a capacity 450 million cubic foot per day has started. The ministry included the achievement in its budget statement for 2026. Jafurah could be the largest shale-gas project outside of the U.S. It is expected to achieve sustainable production levels of 2 billion cubic foot per day by 2030.
Tetra is considering a magnesium project in Arkansas with Pentagon-backed Magrathea
Tetra Technologies said on Tuesday that it may form a joint-venture with the Pentagon-backed startup Magrathea in order to build America's first magnesium refinery, and increase domestic supplies of this metal. U.S. Magnesium, a privately owned company, closed its Utah operation in 2022 due to environmental concerns. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, China produces 95% of all magnesium in the world.
Prices spike on demand and supply decreases
The European power price rose sharply on Tuesday, thanks to a combination of lower forecasts for wind and solar energy generation and higher consumption as temperatures in the region declined. Demand is slightly higher. In a research note on the day ahead, LSEG said that wind supply was dropping. It also added that thermal power was more available. LSEG data shows that the French baseload day-ahead traded at 91 Euros ($105.68 per megawatt hour) at 855 GMT…
Merafe starts layoffs after proposal for electricity tariff fails to save South African Smelters
Merafe Resources announced on Tuesday that its chrome joint venture, with Glencore, has started formally laying workers off after a proposal for an electricity tariff failed to ensure the viability of two South African ferrochromesmelters. According to Glencore's estimates, South Africa has approximately 80% the known world chrome ore reserves. This makes the country a major player in the global ferrochrome industry.
India's November electricity output drops due to weak cooling demand and slower industrial activity
India's electricity output dropped for the second consecutive month in November, as a milder weather pattern and a slower pace of industrial activity kept demand for electricity low. Calculations based on data daily from the federal grid regulator Grid India showed that total electricity production in November decreased about 1% compared to last year, after a 6% drop in October.
EUROPE GAS - European benchmark gas hits new intraday low of 18 months on milder outlook
As the milder weather has lowered demand for heating, and as markets await any progress in U.S. led Russia-Ukraine talks, the European benchmark contract reached its lowest intraday price in over 18 months on Sunday morning. LSEG data shows that the benchmark Dutch front-month contract was at its lowest intraday price since May 15, 2024, at 28.05 Euro per megawatt hour or $9.55/mmBtu. The Dutch February electricity price fell by 0.53 euros to 28.22 Euro/MWh.
Spot prices increase on lower wind output
The European spot electricity prices rose on Tuesday as the wind generation output is expected to decline in France and Germany. LSEG data shows that the German baseload day-ahead power price at 0943 GMT was 102.50 Euros ($119.09 per megawatt-hour), up 9.7% on Friday's closing price for Monday delivery. Data showed that the equivalent French price for Monday delivery was 82.25 Euros/MWh. This is a 5.4% increase from the Friday price.
Kurdish Prime Minister says Iraq's Khor Mor gas field will restart production in hours
Masrour barzani, the Iraqi Kurdish prime minister, said that the region of Kurdistan in Iraq had agreed to restart production at the Khor Mor field within hours, to restore electricity. This was announced on Saturday after the field suffered an attack. Khor Mor, the largest gas field in Kurdistan, supplies power to the region. Dana Gas, the joint field operator, announced on Thursday that a rocket struck a tank of gas late Wednesday night…
China is preparing for a record-breaking winter in terms of power and gas consumption.
An official of the National Development and Reform Commission said that the peak demand for electricity in China and the peak gas consumption will both be at their highest levels ever recorded this winter. The winter and summer are the peak seasons for electricity demand due to heating and cooling. Shanghai's grid experienced record demand this summer as temperatures spiked. The…