Engie continues to invest in Middle East renewables, as the momentum in US and Europe slows
Engie has reached the 'financial close on a 1.5 Gigawatt solar park, its largest in the world, said the French utility on Monday. The company is stepping up projects in the Middle East, a fast-growing market, amid a slowdown of renewable energy in the U.S. The Khazna Park is set to start commercial operations in the year 2028. It will provide electricity for 160,000 homes throughout the United Arab Emirates, under a 30-year agreement with Emirates Water and Electricity Company.
Sources: Devon Energy and Coterra Energy, two US shale producers, are in merger talks.
People familiar with the matter have confirmed that Devon Energy and Coterra Energy were exploring the possibility of merging, which could result in one of the biggest independent shale producers in the United States. The U.S. oil market is still under pressure from the?near term global oil glut, and Venezuela's increased supply in the coming years. Sources said that the two companies were in early stage talks about a merger. They cautioned, however, that a deal was not guaranteed.
Sources say that Repsol, Maurel & Prom are applying to the US for licenses to export Venezuelan crude oil.
Five industry sources have confirmed that several?European oil companies, including Spain's Repsol, France's Maurel & Prom and France's Repsol, have applied to the United States for licenses or authorizations in order to export Venezuelan oil. Two sources confirmed that the terms requested are similar to the ones Washington granted in the past, which allowed companies to import and export Venezuelan crude oil to their refineries, as well as to other customers. Fuel was also supplied to Venezuela via a debt recovery mechanism.
UAE's ADNOC weighs Venezuela gas investment, Bloomberg News reports
Bloomberg News, citing sources familiar with the situation, reported that the?state oil company of Abu Dhabi, ADNOC, is considering entering Venezuela's energy industry. It could also seek a partnership to participate in Venezuela's gas projects with?another? international producer. Could not verify the report immediately. XRG, ADNOC’s international investment arm, set up?inlate 2024, declined comment. Bloomberg stated that ADNOC was interested in investing, but it would be dependent on the legal and financial structure of any investment.
After merger probe, UK watchdog orders Aramark divest Entier
The British Competition Watchdog ordered Aramark, a U.S. food services provider, to sell the offshore catering company Entier on Thursday. It ruled that this acquisition would harm competition in North Sea oil and natural gas platforms. After a?in-depth examination, the Competition and Markets Authority stated that the deal combined two of the only three major offshore caterers and facilities managers in the UK Continental Shelf. The company said that the merger completed by January 2025 could limit customer choice…
Viaro Energy's purchase of Shell and Exxon UK gas assets fails
Shell and Exxon Mobil halted the sale of natural-gas assets in Britain's Southern North Sea to a British oil producer, Viaro Energy. Shell announced this in a Wednesday statement. Shell stated that the conditions required to close the deal were not met because of changes in market and commercial conditions. Shell said that the parties had agreed on a'sale,' which would involve one of the largest,?longest-producing gas portfolios in the UK Continental Shelf. The sale was to take place by July 2024.
Power prices rise due to higher carbon costs and fuel costs
The European power price curve rose on Tuesday as a result of higher carbon contract prices and firmer gas prices. Analysts at Engie EnergyScan stated that the effects of the price increase were most noticeable in the German front-month baseload contract. The contract for German baseload power at the month-ahead level was up 2.7% at Euros per megawatt at 1002 GMT on Tuesday, and 10.2% over the past week. Early trade in Europe's benchmark contract for gas?touched its highest level in 10 weeks…
TotalEnergies receives new exploration permit off the coast of Lebanon
TotalEnergies, a French oil company, said Friday that it had 'obtained approval from the government for a new permit to explore offshore Lebanon. Total, who owns 35% of the operating stake, will start 3D seismic surveys in Block 8? with partners Eni (35%), and QatarEnergy 30%. In late 2022 the French company began searching for?natural gases in Lebanon, after the landmark agreement between the government and Israel to establish a maritime border in the Mediterranean Sea. Initial exploration on an adjacent block proved disappointing.
French spot is a clear winner over surging wind power
European prompt electricity prices fell on Friday as more sunshine and gusty winds were predicted and nuclear'supply increased amid icy weather conditions. Winter weather in Europe is severe, disrupting air, rail and road traffic, as well as some business operations. According to LSEG Research, Germany's residual loads will decrease in the days ahead, resulting in a lower demand for thermal plants. LSEG data show that French day-ahead basisload was 70 euros per megawatt at 0925 GMT. This is down 36.8% compared to the close.
Japan's Osaka Gas begins unit at new 1,25-GW gas fired power plant in Himeji
Osaka Gas said that it had started commercial operations at its new 1,25-gigawatt, gas-fired power station in Himeji, Western Japan, on Jan. The company that also provides electricity said the plant consists of two 622.6 megawatt units. The No.2 unit is expected to start operations in May. According to a statement from the company, this facility uses natural gas as fuel and a high-efficiency gas-turbine combined-cycle system for power generation.
Glencore purchases majority stake in Dutch fuel firm FincoEnergies
LONDON, December 22 - Global commodities traders and miners Glencore have?agreed? to purchase a majority stake of Dutch fuel supplier FincoEnergies, for an undisclosed amount, the Dutch company announced on Monday. Industry sources claim that Glencore will expand its presence in the fuel markets of Northwest Europe with this deal. Finco is one of the major players in the Dutch wholesale fuel market, as well as in the biofuels and low carbon fuel sectors in the region.
Afreximbank and Heirs Energies sign a $750 million financing agreement to boost Nigeria's gas and oil output
The African Export-Import Bank and Heirs Energies Ltd signed a $750 million financing agreement on Monday to fund the 'field development program' in Nigeria and strengthen the capital structure of the energy firm. Afreximbank arranged a dual-tranche senior secured, reserve-based loan facility that will support Heirs Energies in its growth strategy, as it seeks to increase oil and gas production. Afreximbank was the lead arranger for this deal, as well as facility agent and security agent.
Egypt claims gas deal with Israel as'strictly business'
Egypt said Thursday that the natural gas agreement with 'Israel is a purely commercial arrangement without any political dimension. It was concluded by private energy companies under market rules, with no direct government involvement. Israel approved on Wednesday an export agreement signed in August between Chevron and NewMed and Ratio to provide up to $35 billion worth of gas from the Leviathan Natural Gas Field to Egypt. The agreement comes amid…
In Poland's 2030 climate plan, renewable energy will make up 51-53% of the power mix.
The energy ministry said that Poland aims to have 51%-53% of its electricity mix made up by renewable energy sources by 2030. This is according to a draft version of the national energy and climate plans, which Warsaw will submit to the European Commission. The range of policy scenarios is higher than the 30% Poland announced a year ago, but still slightly lower than the 56% Poland predicted a year ago, as natural gas will now be used to generate more electricity. By 2040, it is projected that the share of renewables will rise to between 65% and 68%.
Japanese companies to gain more control over LNG joint ventures with state-backed groups
The industry ministry announced on Tuesday that Japanese companies would gain more control over JOGMEC-backed liquefied natural gas joint ventures and recover their investments faster as part of measures aimed to strengthen the nation's security in energy. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry told a committee of resource and fuel policy it would encourage Japanese companies to invest in LNG. METI aims at introducing a mechanism that prioritizes…
Intercontinental Exchange sets Dutch gas trading record and aims for longer trading hours
Intercontinental Exchange announced on Monday that it would be extending trading hours and achieving a record trading volume for benchmark European Gas Contracts in 2025. ICE said that it traded a record 103 million contracts in futures and option products for the Dutch Title Transfer Facility in 2025. This was the first time the company had exceeded 100 million contracts. The company also set a record in the TTF 1st Line Financial Futures and JKM LNG futures (Platts), which each surpassed one million traded contracts.
OPEC data show that Russian oil production increased in November.
OPEC data on Thursday showed that Russian oil production increased in November by 10,000 barrels per day, up from October. This was after the OPEC+ group agreed to a moderate increase in output quotas. OPEC+ (which includes the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Russia, and some smaller producers) has increased their?oil production targets by over 2.7 million bpd in this?year. This is equivalent to around 2.5% of the global demand. After years of reductions, the shift in policy is intended to gain market share from rivals like U.S.
Romania extends OMV Petrom Permits; Onshore royalty tax will jump
The coalition government of Romania announced on Wednesday that it had extended exploration and production licenses for energy group OMV "Petrom" (and agreed to increase its onshore royalties by approximately 40%). OMV Petrom is a majority-owned company by Austrian OMV. It supplies a third of Romanian gas, fuels, and electricity. OMV Petrom, in partnership with the state-owned Romgaz, is developing the deepwater project Neptun Deep, located in the Black Sea.
Malaysian palm oil production tops 20 million tons in first time.
The industry regulator said that Malaysian palm oil production will surpass 20 million metric tons for the first year, thanks to more efficient harvesting and improved labour availability, as well as output from "maturing plantations". The record production of palm oil in Malaysia, the second largest exporter in the world, is expected to increase inventories. This could put pressure on Malaysian benchmark futures which are already trading at a low level for five months.
USDA maintains its US soybean export outlook after China resumes sales
In a report released on Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture kept its U.S. soyabean export forecast unchanged. Sales to China had resumed following a months-long boycott by Washington. USDA estimated soybean exports for the 2025/26 crop season, which ends on August 31, at 1.635 trillion bushels. The USDA also reported that ending stocks were unchanged from a month ago at 290,000,000 bushels. China, the world's largest soy -importer, has resumed purchasing U.S. soybeans after a meeting in late October between Presidents Xi Jinping & Donald Trump.