Monday, December 23, 2024

Interfax News

SOCAR sources: Russia and Ukraine cannot agree on gas deal mediated by Azerbaijan

Azeri SOCAR, a leading energy company in Azerbaijan, said on Friday that Moscow and Kyiv failed to reach an agreement on the deal brokered by Azerbaijan for Russian gas to be exported to Europe via Ukraine. Azerbaijan was asked by the European Union and Ukraine to facilitate talks with Russia regarding a gas-transit deal due to expire this year. On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that there was no chance of a new agreement with Kyiv for the transit of Russian gas to Europe through Ukraine. Ukraine, which has been fighting Russia's invasion in Europe since February 2022 said that it would not renew a contract…

Russia's oil production in 2024 is expected to decline from 518-521 million T

Interfax news agency reported that Deputy Prime minister Alexander Novak said on Thursday that Russia will produce between 518-521 millions metric tons of oil (10.36-10.42million barrels per day). This amount is also expected in 2025. In September, he had predicted a production of 515-521 millions tons. In 2023, Russia produced 529,6 million tons of gas condensate, despite a reduction in supply due to an agreement with other OPEC+ members. Novak said that Russia also expects to increase its natural gas production by 2024-2025, thanks to increased exports to China.

Russia, Pakistan Mull Energy Exploration JV

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Russia and Pakistan discussed cooperation on oil and gas offshore exploration and refining at intergovernmental meetings this week in Moscow, the Interfax news agency reported, citing Russia's deputy energy minister.Talks also covered the prospect of Russia supplying Pakistan with crude oil and grains, according to the report."Yesterday we received a rather interesting proposal from Pakistan in the area of offshore oil and gas exploration, increasing oil recovery at mature fields, and in oil refining," the deputy minister said."We export food and agricultural products, (and) expect the resumption of grain supplies.

Ifx: Russian Energy Minister says lifting the gasoline export ban is possible

Interfax reported that Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev stated on Wednesday the ministry believes it is possible to lift restrictions regarding gasoline exports due to fuel prices being stable. According to RIA, the Ministry sent its proposals regarding gasoline export restrictions to the Government. The minister said, "We will lift export restrictions now because the prices are stable and the situation on market is stable. In August, Russia extended the gasoline export restriction until the end the year. In 2023, the top three gasoline producers in Russia will be Lukoil NORSI in Nizhny Novgorod, Rosneft and Gazprom's Omsk. Ryazan refinery.

Ifx: Japan is the top buyer of LNG from Sakhalin 2 in Russia

Interfax reported that a senior manager of the Sakhalin 2 plant in Russia said on Thursday that Japan was currently the largest importer of LNG from Russia, accounting for 57.5% its exports. Since the beginning of Russia's conflict with Ukraine, Japan has decreased its imports from Russia but kept stakes on several fossil fuels projects in Russia. Interfax reported that the chief of marketing for Sakhalin 2 company, Leonid Alexandrov, said China accounted 26.3% of LNG supplied by Sakhalin 2, followed by South Korea with 16.2%. He did not give a specific timeframe. Japan cut its LNG purchases by 11 percent last year, to 6.1 millions metric tons.

Russian Oil Production up 5%; Seaborne Exports up 9.5%

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Russia's oil production rose almost 5% in the first half of June compared with May, the Interfax news agency reported on Tuesday, citing a source familiar with the output statistics.Average daily oil production, including condensate, was 1.46 million tonnes in the first 13 days of June, 68,000 tonnes more than May levels, the news agency reported.Russian oil companies, led by Rosneft ROSN.MM, were expected to re-open wells in June which they had shut due to Western sanctions as the companies bank on a pick-up in seasonal demand and sustained Asian buying, Reuters sources said previously.

Fire Breaks Out at Lukoil-Owned Ukhta Oil Refinery

A blaze ripped through the small-scale Ukhta oil refinery, controlled by Russian oil major Lukoil, the emergency ministry said on Thursday.It said the fire hit a diesel processing unit and that one man had been injured. Lukoil declined any immediate comment.Video footage posted on social media purported to show a huge ball of fire over the refinery. The ministry said the fire has spread through 1,000 square metres.Interfax news agency, citing an unnamed source, said staff had been evacuated from the plant.The refinery processed around 2 million tonnes of oil in January to November.

Two Dead in Russian Oilfield Fire

(Photo: Novatek)

Two people have been killed and one injured in a fire in an elevator at Russia's Novatek northern oil and gas field, news agencies reported on Saturday citing emergency ministry officials.The fire broke out at East-Tarkosalinskoye field, Novatek's most mature oil and gas field, in Yamal Nenets region, the Interfax news agency said.The blaze had been put out, it said.Novatek did not reply to a request for comment, the emergency ministry office in the region did not respond to phone calls.(Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by Robert Birsel)

Russia Says Nord Stream 2 Will Be Ready in Months

(Photo: Gazprom)

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Monday that the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline would be completed in a matter of months and U.S. sanctions imposed on the project last week would not be "catastrophic".Russia's new gas transit deal with Ukraine would also mollify the impact on Russian gas supplies of U.S. sanctions introduced on the pipeline project, he said.Last week a major contractor suspended work on the Nord Stream 2 project, which is led by Russia's Gazprom, due to U.S. sanctions introduced by U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday.Around 160 km (100 miles) of the gas pipeline…

OPEC, Other Stakeholders May Adjust Output Quotas

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Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Wednesday the forthcoming meeting of OPEC and other large oil producers may discuss adjusting oil output quotas at a next-month meeting, local news agencies reported."We don't rule out discussing various issues," Novak was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency when asked if the OPEC+ meeting would discuss lower production quotas for Russia. (Reporting by Maxim Rodionov and Vladimir Soldatkin

Russia: Arctic Offshore Oil Feasible at $130/bbl

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The head of Russia's Rosnedra subsoil agency said on Tuesday that the development of the Pobeda (Victory) offshore Arctic oilfield in the Kara Sea is feasible only at oil prices of $130 to $140 per barrel, Interfax news agency reported.Rosneft, the world's top listed oil firm by output, drilled a first exploration well in 2014 in the Kara Sea, which is part of the Arctic Ocean, with a rig provided by U.S. partner Exxon Mobil Corp.Exxon Mobil has pulled out from the project due to U.S. sanctions imposed over Moscow's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula in 2014 and its support for pro-Russian armed separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Nord Stream 2 Launch Facing Delays

© Nord Stream 2 / Axel Schmidt

Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project to Germany may launch in 2020, rather than the end of 2019, due to delays in obtaining permits from Denmark, Interfax news agency on Friday quoted Nord Stream 2 AG as saying.The Russian-led company has two pending route applications with Danish authorities, the first of which was submitted more than two years ago, but it was asked in March to assess a third route option in Danish waters.Nord Stream 2 was quoted by Interfax as saying that the launch date could be pushed back to 2020 if…

Oil Falls Near 2% as U.S.-China Trade War Intensifies

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Oil prices slipped nearly 2 percent on Tuesday, on track to fall to their lowest levels in over a month as renewed doubts over U.S.-China trade talks stoked concerns over global growth and demand even though U.S. sanctions on Iran and Venezuela tightened supply and helped stem losses.Brent futures were down $1.36, or 1.9 percent, at $69.88 a barrel by 10:39 a.m. EDT (1439 GMT), while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was down $1.14, or 1.8 percent, at $61.11 per barrel.If the futures close at their current levels, it would be the lowest settle for Brent since April 4 and WTI since March 29.U.S.

Fire Breaks Out on Gas Pipeline in Russia's Urals Region

A fire broke out on a major gas pipeline in the Urals region of Russia, Interfax news agency reported on Monday, citing an unnamed source in the emergency services.Gazprom, which operates the pipeline via Gazprom Transgaz Yugorsk, said in a statement there were no casualties as a result of the fire and the company was using alternative routes to transport gas.It also said that it was preparing to do repairs. (Reuters, Reporting by Maria Tsvetkova and Vladimir Soldatkin. Editing by Jane Merriman)

Gazprom Names Burmistrova as Deputy CEO

Elena Burmistrova (Photo: Gazprom)

Russian natural gas giant Gazprom has appointed Elena Burmistrova, the head of Gazprom Export, to the post of deputy chief executive, Interfax news agency cited sources as saying on Monday.Oleg Aksyutin, already a board member, was also named as a deputy chief executive, Interfax said. Aksyutin and Burmistrova join at least five other deputy CEOs at Gazprom.(Reporting by Oksana Kobzeva; Writing by Tom Balmforth; Editing by Jan Harvey)

Oil Steady, Supported by OPEC Cuts

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Record U.S. output, exports offset some of OPEC's cuts.Oil prices were broadly steady on Friday as surging U.S. supply and concerns of a global economic slowdown were offset by falling OPEC output.International Brent crude futures were at $66.39 per barrel at 1231 GMT, up 8 cents from Thursday's settlement.U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures were at $57.38 per barrel, up 16 cents."Oil prices are finely balanced in today's trading session," senior Interfax Energy analyst Abhishek Kumar said.The 14-member Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries pumped 30.68 million barrels per day (bpd) in February…

Oil Up On Saudi and OPEC Cuts

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Oil prices gained nearly 3 percent on Tuesday, supported by OPEC-led production cuts, which Saudi Arabia said it would surpass by more than half a million barrels per day (bpd), and by U.S. sanctions against Iran and Venezuela.Brent crude futures were up $1.65, or 2.7 percent, at $63.16 a barrel by 1445 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures also gained 2.7 percent, rising by $1.40 to $53.81.Markets are tightening because of voluntary production cuts from Jan. 1, led by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia…

Russia Ready to Discuss Cooperation with BP

(Photo: Rosneft)

President Vladimir Putin has proposed discussions on further cooperation with Russia to BP chief executive Robert Dudley, including on projects by Rosneft, Interfax quoted the Kremlin as saying on Thursday.BP holds a 19.75 stake in Rosneft, Russia's largest oil producer.(Reporting by Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber Editing by Alexandra Hudson)

Russia's Novatek Sees LNG from U.S. as its Threat

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Leonid Mikhelson, the head of Russia's Novatek said on Friday that liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States as its chief threat, Interfax news agency reported.He said, according to Interfax, that LNG production in the U.S. enjoys cheap financing, while LNG production in Russia has a competitive edge thanks to its low production costs.Qatar is the world's biggest LNG producer.Energy companies are flooding Europe with U.S.

Gazprom Neft Considering Arctic LNG Production

Novoport field (Photo: Gazprom Neft)

Gazprom Neft, the oil arm of Russian gas giant Gazprom, is studying the possibility of its own liquefied natural gas (LNG) production in the Arctic as it tries to monetize its vast natural gas reserves.The discussions follow the successful launch of the Arctic-based Yamal LNG plant, controlled by Novatek, in December 2017.