Minister: Russia welcomes foreign investments in geological exploration
Alexander Kozlov, Minister for Natural Resources and Ecology in Russia, said that the country would be happy to welcome foreign investors who wish to participate in its geological surveys. After the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine, in February 2022, Russia experienced a mass exodus. Moscow has tried to strengthen cooperation with nations who did not support the sanctions in relation to the conflict such as energy-consuming China and India.
US CFTC fines energy traders
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission ordered TOTSA TotalEnergies Trading SA on August 27 to pay a fine of $48 million for alleged gasoline price manipulation. Ian McGinley, CFTC Director of Enforcement, said that the CFTC had "guarded the integrity of the market in numerous cases during the past 20 years" by detecting these benchmark-related scheme and prosecuting them. The U.S. regulator has fined several companies for what they call oil and gas market malpractice. Here are some examples.
India's ONGC wants US approval for two projects in Venezuela
Rajarshi Gupta, the managing director of ONGC Videsh Ltd in India, said that the company is looking for U.S. permission to run two projects to increase production in Venezuela. Gupta said that ONGC wants to obtain a license similar to the one granted to U.S. oil giant Chevron for operating oil fields in Venezuela. "We have requested a license to allow us to run our two projects. The approval will allow us to operate our two projects using U.S. entities and dollars.
Iranian Oil Exports End 2022 at a High, Despite No Nuclear Deal
Iranian oil exports hit new highs in the last two months of 2022 and are making a strong start to 2023 despite U.S. sanctions, according to companies that track the flows, on higher shipments to China and Venezuela.Tehran's oil exports have been limited since former U.S. President Donald Trump in 2018 exited a 2015 nuclear accord and reimposed sanctions aimed at curbing oil exports and the associated revenue to Iran's government.Exports have risen during the term of his successor President Joe Biden…
Russia's Medvedev Says Oil Could Hit Up to $400 a Barrel if Japanese Proposal Adopted
Russia's former president Dmitry Medvedev said on Tuesday a reported proposal from Japan to cap the price of Russian oil at around half its current level would lead to significantly less oil on the market and could push prices above $300-$400 a barrel.Commenting on the proposal, which was reportedly put forward by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Medvedev said Japan "would have neither oil nor gas from Russia, as well as…
Offshore Wind Market Set to Accelerate in North America
While many challenges remain to deliver the full promise of U.S. offshore wind, so too do opportunities. Robert Galinski, DNV’s Offshore Wind Director, Americas discusses the pace and direction of the U.S. offshore wind market from the perspective of class.While Robert Galinski has served as DNV’s Offshore Wind Director, Americas, for just about one year, he is well-versed and long-tenured in the offshore wind sector in Europe and the U.S.
Fire at Rosneft's Far East Refinery Contained
A fire at a secondary unit at an oil refinery owned by Rosneft in Russia's far eastern city of Komsomolsk-on-Amur has been contained, a spokesman for the refinery said on Tuesday.The blaze has not caused any injuries and the incident would not have an impact on production plans, he said.The Komsomolsk refinery processed 7.23 million tonnes of oil in 2019. It produced 567,000 tonnes of gasoline, 1.91 million tonnes of diesel, 2.04 million tonnes of marine fuel, and 1.34 million tonnes of heavy petroleum fuel.
Global Crude Market Finds Support From China Demand
China, the global oil market's lifeline this year, has stepped up purchases from exporters like Russia, the United States and Angola in recent weeks, while buyers elsewhere pare orders as coronavirus infections surge and fresh lockdowns are put in place.China, the world's largest importer of crude, is the only major buyer expected to see increased oil demand this year as the pandemic destroyed consumption globally.With China's imports expected to reach 12 million barrels per day (bpd) next year…
Record Oil Output Cuts Fail to Make Waves in Coronavirus-hit Market
The minimal impact on oil prices from a global deal for record output cuts showed that oil producers have a mountain to climb if they are to restore market balance as the coronavirus shreds demand and sends stockpiles soaring, industry watchers said.After several days of discussions, oil producing and consuming countries aim to remove nearly 20 million barrels per day (bpd) or 20% of global supply from the market, Saudi…
India to Buy Russian Crude Oil
Russian oil and gas giant Rosneft has signed a contract with India’s largest fuel retailer Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) for supply of 2 million tonne (MT) crude oil to India by end 2020.The Moscow-headquartered integrated energy company said in a press release that the oil will be shipped to the refiner via the port of Novorossiysk.The signing took place during the visit of the Chief Executive Officer of Rosneft Igor Sechin to New Delhi.
Russia's Floating Power Plant Plugged In
Russia’s state-owned nuclear company Rosatom said its floating nuclear power plant has been connected to the grid and has commenced electricity production for the first time in a remote region of Russia.The floating power unit (FPU) Akademik Lomonosov has been connected to the grid, generating electricity for the first time in the isolated Chaun-Bilibino network in Pevek, Chukotka, Russia’s Far East. This happened after the Russian regulator Rostekhnadzor issued an operations permit…
Exceptional Growth in LNG Trade, Says Awilco
The exceptional growth in LNG trade recorded in the first half of the 2019 continued in Q3, says Awilco LNG Group, the Norwegian based fully integrated pure play LNG transportation provider.According to Fearnleys LNG total LNG trade is up about 13 % in the first nine months of the year vs last year. In line with normal seasonal patterns gas prices inched upwards in Q3 but remained historically low due to increased production…
COLI, GRS Form Japanese Offshore Team
Germany's offshore broker Global Renewables Shipbrokers (GRS) has formed a strategic partnership with break bulk and project cargo consultancy COLI Schiffahrt & Transport to target the offshore renewables market in Japan.The aim of the cooperation is to provide fast and first-class project development of offshore wind farm projects in Japan.“With COLI a competent and experienced partner in the field of break bulk and project cargo – especially between Europe and Far East – is by our side…
OP/ED: Offshore Wind
Set to Soar, Taking Offshore Support Industry With it.Offshore energy development is opening a new front in the United States -- the Atlantic seaboard, with strong winds, a shallow continental shelf and a proximity to dense population centers is driving strong interest in offshore wind development. The offshore oil and gas supply chain stands to benefit in a big way from billions in coming investment. In fact, it is already playing a role.
Rosneft Starts Far East LSFO Bunkering
RN Bunker, the bunkering subsidiary of Russia's Rosneft Oil Company, said it has begun to refuel ships with 0.5% sulfur limit marine fuel at the Far East region.The RMLS 40, a marine fuel that has advanced environmental properties, is in full compliance with the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL).The first 200 tons of the new fuel was supplied to a bulk carrier in Nakhodka waters.
Novatek Signs LNG Pact with Chukotka
Russia's largest independent natural gas producer Novatek has signed a cooperation agreement with the Government of the Chukotka autonomous area, situated in the Russian Far East.As per the agreement, Novatek will consider supply LNG for use in power generation, and as fuel for transport and mining operations."The Russian Federation fully supports the development of the Northern Sea Route as a yearly navigational route connecting the Asian Pacific and European markets.
U.S. LPG Exports Grow by 22%: Dorian LPG
U.S. liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) exports have grown year-over-year by 22% to 22.5 million tons year-to-date (YTD) and Middle East exports have grown on the same basis 3.5% to 22.6 million tons, said Dorian LPG.For the first time, U.S. and Middle East volumes were equal, said the owner and operator of modern very large gas carriers (VLGCs)."Our expectation is that the U.S. exports will grow faster than those from the Middle East. U.S.
Sibur and Sinopec Link on Amur JV
Russian petrochemicals giant Sibur has signed several agreements with Chinese state-owned conglomerate China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec).One deal relates to Sinopec’s potential participation in Sibur’s previously announced Amur Gas Chemicals Complex (AGCC) in Russia’s Far East.Sinopec, Chinese oil and gas enterprise based in Beijing, which bought a 10% stake in Sibur in December 2015, is expected to take a 40% share in the joint venture…
U.S. LPG Gas Exports Up in Q1
North American liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) export capacity is forecast to grow considerably over the next two years, said Dorian LPG.According to the LPG shipping company, bolstered by additional volumes out of Marcus Hook in the northeast U.S. due to the startup of the Mariner East 2 pipeline, U.S. exports reached their highest levels for the first calendar quarter of 2019 in January with over 3 million metric tons of LPG exported during the month.However, significant reductions in U.S.
LNG Shipping Demand Flat in Q1 209
Global liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipping demand in Q1 209 was essentially flat compared to Q1 2018 and coupled with a 10 % growth in the fleet since Q1 2018 rates suffered, said Awilco LNG Group.A relatively warm winter in the Far East and high storage levels in China and South Korea resulted in muted gas buying interest in the quarter and the downward gas price pressure seen in Q4 2018 continued throughout Q1 2019…
