Australia shares are dragged down by mining and bank stocks; local job data is in focus
Investors remained cautious as they awaited the local jobs data, which is due on Thursday. This will be a crucial metric for gauging the central bank’s timeline to cut rates. S&P/ASX 200 Index fell 0.3% at 8372.1 points as of 1124 GMT. The benchmark index fell by 0.4% on Monday. Investors in Australia will assess local jobs data scheduled to be released on Thursday to gain additional insight into the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA's) monetary policies timeline. The central bank maintained the cash rate at 4.35%, but lowered its hawkish position on Tuesday.
French and Benelux stocks: Factors to watch
Here are some company news and stories that could impact the markets in France and Benelux or even individual stocks. Documents dated Monday show that funds managed by Brazilian investment firm BTG Pactual were granted preliminary approval Friday by the country's antitrust regulatory body to purchase the hotel operations in Brazil of AccorInvest for 1.7 billion reais (300 million dollars). FDJ stated that it would retain 98.60% Kindred following the extension of the public tender offer.
Mozambique's election is likely to be tense, with the ruling party winning.
Mozambique will vote on Wednesday, in a highly charged general election that is likely to result in victory for the ruling Frelimo party, which has governed this Southern African nation since its founding in 1975. Four candidates are in the running to replace President Filipe Nyusi who is leaving office after two terms. Daniel Chapo is the favourite, a 47-year-old lawyer who is a popular choice among businessmen and seen as a new face for the party. He is up against Venancio Montdlane…
Mozambique's election winner faces financial strain
The economy of Mozambique will be impacted by the worsening cyclones and insecurity as well as delays to gas projects, high debt levels, and delayed gas projects. Daniel Chapo, the candidate of the ruling party, is currently the frontrunner. However, there are also three other candidates who want to succeed Felipe Nyusi in the role of president for the nation. Mozambique is under pressure to adopt fiscal discipline due to rising borrowing costs, especially as it has run out of options for refinancing its debt. Its debt is almost as large as its annual GDP.
The front-runner for Mozambique president is likely to continue keeping Rwandans on the job of protecting gas sites
Analysts say that the ruling party candidate for this month's election, who is almost guaranteed to win, will continue to rely on Rwanda's army and European money in order to secure the region's vast gas fields, which are plagued by islamist violence. Daniel Chapo (47), an ex-highschool teacher, will be overseeing the construction of two LNG projects that are currently halted due to insecurity in the northern Cabo Delgado Province. In order to achieve this, he will need to heavily rely on the Rwandan military…
TotalEnergies CEO to meet Mozambique President to advance project in the country
TotalEnergies' CEO Patrick Pouyanne announced that he would be traveling to Mozambique in the latter part of this month to discuss the planned Mozambique Liquefied Natural Gas project with the new president. Pouyanne stated that there has been recent "progress in security". On Oct. 9, Mozambicans are voting in presidential and legislative polls that will almost certainly extend the Frelimo Party's 50-year reign of power. The party is fighting a longstanding Islamist insurgency at one of Africa's biggest gas fields.
What are the main issues in Mozambique's elections?
Next week, Mozambicans are voting in legislative and presidential elections. It is almost certain that the Frelimo Party will extend its half-century in power. The party has been fighting a longstanding Islamist insurgency within one of Africa's biggest gas fields. Daniel Chapo is the candidate of the ruling party and a former law professor. He will replace Filipe Nyusi, who was previously a radio announcer. Here are the key issues that face one of the poorest countries in the world and its 34 million citizens as they head to elections.
TotalEnergies denies knowing about alleged torture and killings at Mozambique Liquefied Natural Gas site
PARIS, September 26 - French oil giant TotalEnergies responded to a report in the media by saying that it was unaware of the torture and killings allegedly committed on site of the future Mozambique Liquefied Natural Gas plant. Politico reported earlier Thursday that Mozambican soldiers working out of this site, which has not been completed, had rounded up 180 to 250 local men and locked them inside shipping containers. They then tortured them and killed the majority of them from July through September 2021.
Exxon Mobil Continues to Ramp Up LNG Portfolio
Exxon Mobil is ahead of schedule with its plan to double the size of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) portfolio to 40 million tons per annum (mtpa) by 2030 and will focus on selling its own gas rather than trading that of third parties, said Peter Clarke, Exxon Mobil SVP for global LNG.Exxon is revamping its LNG trading strategy amid growing production of the fuel and as part of a wider corporate reorganization that began in 2022. Unlike other majors, Exxon plans to mainly trade its own gas, said Clarke.
SHI Demos SENSE IV, Its Own Natural Gas Liquefaction Process
Samsung Heavy Industries announced on November 18 that it successfully held a demonstration ceremony at the Geoje shipyard for "SENSE IV (SAMSUNG Enhanced Nitrogen Split Exapnsion IV)", SHI's in-house natural gas liquefaction system.The demonstration, which began on November 16, was attended by several major LNG producers and classification societies.The natural gas liquefaction system, called "An LNG plant on the sea," is one of the main processes of FLNG (Floating Liquefied Natural Gas)…
Total Secures $14.4 Bln Funding for Mozambique LNG
French energy major Total has secured $14.4 billion funding for its Mozambique liquefied natural gas project in Mozambique, two sources said on Wednesday.A source with knowledge of the matter said Total has reached a financing agreement with a group that includes around 20 lenders for the first phase of senior debt funding of $14.4 billion. The source did not specify the name of the banks involved in the financial arrangement.Total declined to comment. Bloomberg…
EXIM Bank Amends Mozambique LNG Loan. Earmarks $1.8B for Offshore Work
The U.S. EXIM Bank has amended its previously approved September 2019 direct loan supporting U.S. exports for the development and construction of the Total-operated LNG project located on the Afungi Peninsula in northern Mozambique.The original scope of the $4.7 billion loan for the project has been amended from exclusively the onshore portion of the LNG plant and related facilities to also allocate an estimated $1.8 billion to support the project’s offshore production.
Mozambique Army, Islamist Insurgents Battle Near Gas projects
Mozambican troops battled Islamist insurgents in a town in a northern town on Monday close to billion-dollar gas projects being developed by ExxonMobil and Total, police said.The General Commander of Mozambique's police, Bernardino Rafael, said the insurgents attacked Mocimboa da Praia and its army barracks before dawn on Monday, wounding dozens of people.Mocimboa da Praia is about 350 km (220 miles) by road from the city of Pemba in Mozambique's northernmost province of Cabo Delgado and is just south of the Afungi peninsula…
Oxy Slashing Jobs 'Significantly'
Occidental Petroleum Corp said on Wednesday it would begin dismissing workers in a new cost-cutting move following its $38 billion acquisition of Anadarko Petroleum.The company has already "significantly" cut staff through a voluntary program, spokeswoman Melissa Schoeb said in an email. She did not respond to requests for information about the number of employees to be cut or any potential charge to earnings.The combined company had about 16,000 workers when it merged.Occidental has been selling assets and cutting costs since it outbid Chevron Corp last year for Anadarko…
Ocean LNG Leads in Contracted Capacity
Ocean LNG has dominated in terms of long-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) import volumes for contracts signed by key purchasing companies for the year 2019, with almost 47% of the global contracted capacity.According to a report by GlobalData, Ocean LNG signed the biggest long-term LNG contract for 2019 with Golden Pass Products. According to the contract, Golden Pass Products will supply Ocean LNG with 15.6 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LNG for a period of 20 years…
Sapura Energy Secures New Order
Malaysian oil and gas services firm Sapura Energy has secured several new contracts and contract extensions for its engineering and construction (E&C) as well as drilling segments.The contracts, valued at approximately RM615 million (USD 148 million), brings the total order book year-to-date to RM15.1 billion, which will increase work volume and utilization of assets.Building on its long-term relationship, Sapura Fabrication Sdn Bhd has won a contract from Hess Exploration and Production Malaysia B.V under the PETRONAS frame agreement…
US Signs Highest LNG Export Contract
US signed highest volume of global long-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) export contracts in 2019, accounting for around a 67% of global share. Abundant shale gas production in the US has enabled the country to export natural gas as LNG. to global markets. According to GlobalData, the US has signed five long-term contracts in 2019 for the export of 22.3 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LNG. Of these, the contract signed between Golden Pass Products and Ocean…
Oil Majors to Raise $27Bln in Selling Spree
Global giants of the oil and gas industry – the so-called supermajors – are looking to sell assets that could fetch a total of $27.5 billion, according to Rystad Energy’s latest assessment.These companies are actively shedding mature assets on a massive scale in a bid to finance higher-yielding investments elsewhere, with the added benefit of pleasing shareholders who are calling for stricter capital discipline.“The expected transactions mean some of the majors are poised to exit certain regions…
Rebooting What’s Possible in India’s Gas Market
‘To lose patience is to lose the battle’ -Mahatma GandhiIndia is something of a conundrum for global LNG players. I recently returned from a week in Delhi, just as the capital was making headlines for one of the worst episodes of air pollution, while the country’s energy mix remains dominated by cheap domestic coal. At the same time, gas price sensitivity continues to stymie investment and contracting negotiations. Progress has been made with LNG import terminals but delays to pipeline infrastructure and convoluted gas allocation policies frustrate demand growth.
Mozambique LNG Project Moves Ahead
With a second Final Investment Decision (FID) in just 2 years, Mozambique has officially positioned itself as a key player in the global gas and LNG market for years to come.The latest FID on the US$20 billion Mozambique LNG project, makes it the largest sanction ever in sub-Saharan Africa oil and gas.Described by His Excellency President Nyusi as “one of the most important and transformational projects in the country’s history”, Mozambique LNG is set to be a game-changer for this East African nation of 31 million people.According to Wood Mac…
