Russia's Oil Tsar: Trump's actions to defend US Producers are 'fitting.'
Igor Sechin is the president of Rosneft - Russia's biggest oil producer. He said on Saturday that he agreed with Donald Trump's plans to protect domestic energy producers. He said at a Qatar conference that Trump's election campaign promises included "fitting" measures to protect domestic energy producers, the market, and other economic factors. Some Russians are cautiously optimistic about Trump's return on Jan. 20, while others believe that another U.S. President will not make much of a difference.
US soyoil prices jump as China reduces export incentives for biofuel feedstocks competing with US soyoil
U.S. Soyoil Futures rose 2% on the Friday after China announced it would reduce export incentives for certain products, including used cooking oils. Used cooking oil is a low-cost source of feedstock that U.S. Biofuels Makers use instead domestically produced soybean oil. China's Finance Ministry said that it will reduce or cancel export-tax refunds beginning next month. This includes some refined oil products, which traders have said include used cooking oil (UCO). This announcement is the latest wildcard in the U.S.
Oil Dips 2% as Hurricane Fears Ease
Oil prices fell more than 2% on Friday as traders grew less fearful of prolonged supply disruptions from a hurricane in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, while China's latest economic-stimulus packages failed to impress some oil traders.U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures CLc1 led the decline, down 2.8%, or $2.01, at 70.35 per barrel by 1:32 p.m. ET (1832 GMT) . Global benchmark Brent crude futures LCOc1 fell 2.3%, or $1.77, to $73.86 per barrel.Energy producers shut in more than 22% of oil output in the U.S.
Statkraft reports net loss due to currency weakness and lower power prices
Statkraft, a Norwegian state-owned energy company and one of Europe's largest renewable energy producers, reported Thursday a net loss in the third quarter, primarily due to a lower Norwegian currency against euro, as well as lower electricity prices and output. The group reported a net loss for the quarter of July-September of 225 millions Norwegian crowns ($20.41million), down from 4,47 billion Norwegian crowns a year ago. Statkraft recorded a negative exchange rate effect of 2,64 billion crowns compared to a positive level of 1,64 billion crowns a year ago.
Hurricane Rafael has caused a shutdown of 17% of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico Oil Production
The U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement announced on Wednesday that Hurricane Rafael had shut down approximately 17% of crude production and 7% of gas output in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. The Bureau reported that energy producers have shut down 304,418 barrels of oil per day and 131,000,000 cubic feet of gas production from Gulf waters. According to the latest U.S. National Hurricane Center advisory, Rafael, a hurricane of Category 3, was located approximately 70 miles (110 kilometers) south of Havana, Cuba.
Canada's renewable fuel projects are hit by a surge in US imports
Canadian renewable fuel producers will see lower returns from new facilities as a result of a slump in British Columbia’s low-carbon fuel standard (LCFS). This trend is expected to continue amid an influx of US exports. The weakness in British Columbia's LCFS Credit Market reflects the growing pains of the international biofuels sector, where many regulators are clamping down on imports in order to protect their nascent national markets from an oversupply. Low-carbon fuels cost more to produce than gasoline or diesel based on petroleum.
Bloomberg News: Transocean and Seadrill in merger talks
Bloomberg News reported Wednesday that offshore drilling provider Transocean was in merger talks with Seadrill Ltd. The report came from people who were familiar with the situation. It said that the companies are currently discussing the possible structure of a merger. Bloomberg reported that a final decision had not yet been made, and the companies may choose to remain independently. Seadrill or Transocean didn't immediately respond to comments. Transocean shares listed in the U.S. rose by 4.1% following the bell, while Seadrill grew by 10.3%.
MARA, a cryptominer, taps the power generated by U.S. Shale Patch in a new pilot program
MARA Holdings Inc. has announced that it is now producing electricity in the U.S. Shale Patch as part of a program pilot to power 25 megawatts for its mining operations using excess natural gas. The company said that the move was made in response to the intensifying competition between Big Tech AI data centers for electricity, which has caused the crypto industry to change its business strategy and either market AI or find a way around the power battle. Fred Thiel, Chief Executive Officer of MARA, said: "The AI guys will pay any price to meet their energy demand.
EU limits Chinese participation in hydrogen auctions by changing the rules
In a bid to reduce the EU's dependence on China for its renewable energy supply, new terms published by the European Union on Friday revealed that it had made changes to its rules regarding auctions of hydrogen grants. China is a major player in the solar and electric vehicle industries, and it has also become more competitive with European wind energy producers. The European Commission has taken steps to prevent a systemic dependence on Beijing through new rules, investigations, and possible tariffs for Chinese EVs.
Sources say that Citizen Energy, a producer of shale oil and gas, will buy Validus in a deal worth more than $2 billion.
According to sources familiar with the situation, Validus Energy, a privately held oil and natural gas producer, has agreed to purchase Citizen Energy, a rival company, for over $2 billion including debt. The U.S. Shale industry has seen a record wave of consolidation. After the COVID, oil prices surged and buyers were eager to secure the best drilling locations. Sources who requested anonymity because the talks are confidential said that Validus won the auction for Tulsa's Citizen Energy.
Southeast Asia is expected to increase coal trade as China nears its peak
Industry officials predict that Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam and Philippines will boost coal consumption and trade in this decade even as China, the top consumer, is approaching its peak demand. In a speech at the Coaltrans Asia Conference, Priyadi, the Chairman of the Indonesian Coal Miners Association, said that the Association expects China and India's coal imports to reach a peak in 2025. This will end the growth in the global seaborne trade volume for the polluting fuel.
Prices for gas in Europe are little changed as supply risks have eased.
The Dutch and British wholesale gasoline prices remained unchanged on Friday as the supply risk eased because of Hurricane Francine's weakening in the United States and amid forecasts of warmer weather. The benchmark contract for Dutch TTF Hub rose by 0.52 euros to 35.78 Euros per Megawatt Hour (MWh) at 1029 GMT. Meanwhile, the contract for November was 0.40 euros higher, at 37.45 Euros/MWh. The day-ahead contract in the British market was 1.50 pence more expensive at 86.75 cents per therm.
Southeast Asia is expected to increase coal trade as China nears its peak
Industry officials predict that Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam and Philippines will boost coal consumption and trade in this decade even as China, the top coal consumer, is approaching its peak demand. In a speech at the Coaltrans Asia Conference, Priyadi, the Chairman of the Indonesian Coal Miners Association, said that the Association expects China and India's coal imports to reach a peak in 2025. This will end the growth in the global seaborne trade volume for the polluting fuel.
China Solar Group and regulator propose reforms in tendering to increase prices
The Chinese industry ministry and the solar sector association are proposing changes to power plant tendering in order to combat falling equipment prices which has led to manufacturers making losses. China's solar panels producers are calling for government intervention to boost prices that have been kept low due to overcapacity, even though China's trading partner have complained about overproduction's effects on their domestic industries. In the proposed plan…
South African private energy producers seek fair deal on output curbs
Industry executives claim that South African private energy producers want compensation for revenue lost due to Eskom's request to limit the electricity supplied to the national grid. Eskom has sent a proposal to South Africa's energy regulator for the introduction of a compensation mechanism to compensate Independent Power Producers (IPPs), who have lost revenue due to curtailment rates up to 10%. Eskom has been asked to curtail power due to a lack of high-voltage power lines and pylons, which have created choke points in its transmission system.
Geothermal Energy: A New Life for Old Offshore Oil Wells?
Old offshore oil wells could be turned into geothermal energy producers under a plan by a new consortium. The group, The Aquarius North Sea Geothermal Consortium, is “actively” working with North Sea operators to see if old wells could be used to generate geothermal energy for existing platforms. But a future goal is greenfield geothermal exploration.Kirsten Pasturel, CEO of ZeGen Energy, says there’s huge potential with some mature oil fields producing over 100…
Brent, WTI Fall as Coronavirus Spreads
Brent fell by 10% on Monday, and U.S. crude to below $30, as emergency rate cuts by the U.S. Federal Reserve and its global counterparts failed to tame markets and China's factory output plunged at the sharpest pace in 30 years amid the spread of coronavirus.Brent crude was down $3.58, or 10.6%, to $30.27 a barrel by 1231 GMT. The front-month price had risen $1 earlier in the session.U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was at $29.24, down $2.49 or 7.8%.To combat the economic fallout of the pandemic…
Oilfield Services Giants Start Year with Asset Sales
Schlumberger, Halliburton Co, and Baker Hughes Co have kicked off the new year by putting units up for sale, as the three largest names in oilfield services seek to reshape their businesses and adjust to falling demand.Oilfield service providers are facing reduced spending by oil and gas producers as investors push for higher shareholder returns rather than more drilling activity. Competition also is forcing service companies to exit less profitable businesses.
Beach Energy to Boost Drilling Spend
Beach Energy, Australia's third-largest independent oil and gas producer, ended the 2019 financial year more cashed up than expected and plans to step up spending on drilling while keeping an eye out for acquisitions, its boss said on Wednesday.Beach paid off debt on its A$1.6 billion ($1.1 billion) acquisition of Lattice Energy within just 18 months, two years earlier than originally planned, with the help of an asset sale and strong cash flow from its expanded portfolio.The company ended the year to June 30 with net cash of A$172 million…
HHLA Support Energy Transition
German logistics and transportation company Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) and its partners began research and development work on the publicly funded FRESH project at its Container Terminal Altenwerder (CTA).FRESH stands for flexibility management and control reserve provision of heavy goods vehicles in the harbour, said the firm which operates three container terminals at the Port of Hamburg: Altenwerder, Burchardkai and Tollerort, as well as cargo handling and transport services by rail…
