Oil industry sources claim that Central Africa's new FX Initiative falls short of its target.
Two oil industry sources said that six Central African nations who were expecting to receive billions in foreign exchange from funds set aside for environmental restoration by oil companies may actually see less than 500 million dollars by the April 30 deadline. Bank of Central African States, the central bank of Cameroon and Gabon, Equatorial Guinea Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Chad, Gabon and Chad, introduced rules in 2018 governing these funds that are mostly held by foreign banks. The funds in…
Oil advocate withdraws nomination for US Land Bureau
Senator Mike Lee announced at a Senate Hearing on Thursday that oil industry lobbyist Kathleen Sgamma had withdrawn her nomination for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. Sgamma was scheduled to appear before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on Thursday morning to discuss her nomination. Lee announced the news at the beginning of the hearing. Sgamma issued a subsequent statement via Lee's office, which did not provide a reason as to why she resigned. Sgamma stated, "It is an honor that President Trump nominated me as the Director of the Bureau of Land Management.
Trump exempts oil imports from his sweeping tariffs
The White House announced on Wednesday that imports of refined products, oil and gas were exempted by President Donald Trump from his new sweeping tariffs. The exemption is a welcome relief for the U.S. Oil Industry, which was concerned that new taxes could disrupt flow and increase costs of everything from Canadian crude oil to Midwest refineries and European cargoes to the Eastern Seaboard. Trump announced on Wednesday that he will impose a baseline 10% tariff on all imports into the United States, and higher duties on the country's largest trading partners. This is a continuation of the trade war he started upon his return to office.
Nigeria namess ex-Shell executive as head of state oil company NNPC
The Nigerian presidency announced on Wednesday that Bola Ahmed Tinubu had appointed Bayo Ojulari as head of the state-owned oil company NNPC Ltd. This is in response to the country's desire to increase oil production and revitalize its refinery capacity. Tinubu, who in his first year as president devalued the naira twice and ended costly subsidies, has now shifted his attention to overhauling state oil company to maximize its contribution to revenue. In a press release, Bayo Onanuga, the presidential spokesperson, said that Mele Kyari is replaced by Ojulari, and this appointment takes effect immediately.
Texas oil and gas upstream jobs increase in February, says industry group
The Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association, or TIPRO, announced on Friday that upstream oil companies increased hiring in February. This is the second consecutive month of growth. Hiring in upstream, which includes drilling and producing oil activities, can be an indicator of how the oil and gas sector is doing. More drilling could be expected if companies hire more staff. TIPRO represents more than 3,000 independent producers in Texas. The Permian Basin is home to some of the most prolific crude oil production in the United States…
Vucic: Serbia will lose access to oil imports when the deadline for sanctions looms.
Serbia may lose access to essential oil imports as of Friday, after discussions to stop the imposition by the United States of sanctions on its sole oil refinery failed. President Aleksandar Vucic stated this in an interview published. The waiver of sanctions expires at midnight. If it is not extended, NIS, which is owned by Russia's Gazprom and Gazprom in majority, may face a reduction in crude oil supply. NIS is the sole oil refinery in Serbia, with a capacity of 4.8 millions tons per year. This facility covers most of Serbia's energy requirements.
Nigeria’s Refining Revolution is Reshaping West Africa’s Energy Landscape
The launch of the Dangote Refinery near the Port of Lagos presents an exciting opportunity to transform the energy and shipping markets in West Africa. And it stands to boost Nigeria’s role as an influential player in the global oil industry, fostering economic growth and regional development.Nigeria’s standing in the global energy landscape is getting a boost with domestic refining capacity expanding in 2025. The Dangote Refinery near Lagos presents a transformative opportunity for Nigeria’s economy and is expected to reshape global tanker routes and trade flows.The country has long been a leading exporter of crude oil…
Shell plans to deliver gas from Venezuela to Trinidad by 2026, according to sources
Shell Plc aims to start producing natural gas in Venezuela's Dragon field and export it to Trinidad and Tobago, an hour earlier than the initial 2027 start date. The project demonstrates the industry's hope that sanctions against Venezuela will remain in place despite recent tighter enforcement. The people stated that the partners intend to begin survey work in January and decide to drill three wells. They will also need to renew their U.S. licence later this year. U.S. sanctions are aimed at virtually the entire Venezuelan gas and oil industry which is controlled and owned by PDVSA, the state-owned company.
Russell: OPEC and IEA are focused on China's oil demand but it is the crude imports that matter.
What is more important to the crude oil market? Which is more important: the growth forecasts by major agencies of Chinese oil demand or the actual weakness of imports? The International Energy Agency (IEA), as well as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, (OPEC), both talk about the demand for oil when they forecast the future of the oil industry in China, the largest crude importer of the world. It is a practice that has been around for a while and is not challenged by the market. There is a disconnect in the fact that China's oil exports are actually declining.
Russell: OPEC and IEA are focused on China's oil demand but it is the crude imports that matter.
What is more important to the crude oil market? Which is more important: the growth forecasts by major agencies of Chinese oil demand or the actual weakness of imports? The International Energy Agency (IEA), as well as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, (OPEC), both talk about the demand for oil when they forecast the future of the oil industry in China, the largest crude importer of the world. It is a practice that has been around for a while and is not challenged by the market. There is a disconnect in the fact that China's oil exports are actually declining.
CERAWEEK - Venezuela's opposition drafts an energy reform to increase foreign pressure on Maduro
According to sources, the Venezuelan opposition has developed a proposal that allows international companies to participate in energy reforms. This is a bid to gain support from Big Oil, and President Donald Trump’s administration. This month, Trump's administration canceled an important license for U.S. Oil Major Chevron to work in Venezuela citing President Nicolas Maduro’s lack of electoral Reforms. The opposition leaders took advantage of the situation to increase pressure on Maduro. The proposed changes to Venezuela's hydrocarbon laws are more attractive than previous plans put forward by the opposition, including in recent years.
Venezuela's opposition drafts an energy reform in order to increase foreign pressure on Maduro
According to sources, and according to a summary seen by the. Opposition leaders see the re-election Donald Trump as a chance to increase pressure on President Nicolas Maduro. This month, Trump's administration canceled an important license for U.S. Oil Major Chevron in Venezuela, citing the lack of electoral reforms by President Nicolas Maduro. The reform of Venezuela's hydrocarbon laws may appeal to oil companies from around the world, including those based in the United States. The plan includes shrinking PDVSA, while also offering foreign companies Venezuelan oil and natural gas fields and refineries as well as midstream assets.
UAE's ADNOC CEO pledges US gas investment
ADNOC's international investment arm will begin investing in U.S. Natural Gas in the next few months, according to ADNOC CEO Sultan Al Jaber. The UAE is a part of OPEC+ and is one of the top oil producers in the world. ADNOC’s wholly owned international investment arm XRG, which has assets of about $80 billion, reported last week that the UAE is considering options for a XRG IPO. He told the largest gathering of energy executives ever held in Houston that "it is time to make the energy industry great again." This was a nod to the slogan Make America Great Again of U.S. president Donald Trump.
UAE's ADNOC CEO pledges US gas investment
ADNOC's investment arm will begin investing in U.S. Natural Gas in the next few months, according to ADNOC CEO Sultan Al Jaber. The UAE is a part of OPEC+ and one of world's largest oil producers. ADNOC’s fully-owned investment unit XRG, which has assets worth about $80 billion, reported last week that the UAE is considering options for a XRG IPO. He told the largest gathering of energy executives ever held in Houston that "it is time to make the energy industry great again." This was a nod to the slogan Make America Great Again of U.S. president Donald Trump.
CERAWEEK - IEA chief sees investment needed in existing oil and gas fields
Fatih Birol said that the International Energy Agency in Paris, which is headed by Fatih Birol himself, has a responsibility to invest in oil and natural gas fields for the sake of global energy security. After years of pressure from fossil-fuel advocates, the pro-drilling campaign was relaunched. He said, "I would like to be clear... that there will be a requirement for investment. This is especially true to combat the decline of the existing fields." At the CERAWeek conference on energy in Houston. He said that there was a "need for upstream oil and gas investments".
Frontera says Guyana oil license remains valid amid government cancellation notice
Frontera Energy, a Canadian oil company, said Monday that its exploration license for the Corentyne Block off the coasts of Guyana is still valid. It's evaluating all legal options in order to assert its rights. Guyanese authorities gave Frontera Energy and CGX, the joint license holders, a 30 day cancellation notice for not meeting contract obligations. The Corentyne Block was seen as an important effort to diversify Guyana’s oil industry. It is currently dominated by Exxon Mobil and a consortium. Frontera Energy and CGX Energy…
Trump's tariffs threaten Canada's oil and natural gas drillers
Canada's oilfield services and drilling sector has already begun to show signs of slowing down due to the threatened tariffs by U.S. president Donald Trump. This has sparked fears that a rebound in this industry could be halted if these levies are implemented. The Canadian drilling industry lost thousands of jobs between 2014 and 2020 as a result of low oil prices, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Industry representatives say that activity has increased since 2020. However, Trump's threat of imposing a 10% tariff for the 4 million barrels a day (bpd), or Canadian crude imported to the U.S., could change this.
Officials from the palm oil industry say that rising biodiesel mandate will dent Indonesian palm oil exports in 2025.
A senior industry official stated on Wednesday that Indonesian palm oil exports in 2025 are likely to fall 7.3% from the previous year to 27,35 million metric tonnes despite increased production. The world's largest producer of edible oil is increasing biodiesel production. Fadhil Hazan, the head of the Trade and Promotion Division at the Indonesian Palm Oil Association said that the country's crude oil production will likely rise to 50,000,000 metric tons by 2025, from 48,16,000,000 metric tons one year earlier. He said that the trend of export surpluses will continue to decrease as biodiesel mandates increase.
Trinidad seeks extension of Shell's gas project for Venezuela
Sources close to the preparations have said that Trinidad and Tobago intends to ask U.S. president Donald Trump's government to extend a licence for Shell and Trinidad’s National Gas Company in order to develop a major gas project in Venezuela. Early 2023, the U.S. license for Venezuela was granted as an exception to Washington's sanction against Venezuela. The license allowed NGC and Shell move ahead with planning and preparations for the Dragon natural-gas project, off Venezuela's coastline. This project is aimed at supplying LNG to Trinidad starting around 2027.
Guyana will soon sign a oil deal with TotalEnergies led group
Energy Minister Vickram Bharrat said that Guyana is expecting to sign a production-sharing agreement soon with a French consortium led by TotalEnergies, which will allow the country to explore an off-shore area. Guyana, the fastest-growing oil producing country in the world, is on track to produce 940,000 barrels of crude oil per day this coming year. This is nearly 1% more than last year's output. All of Guyana's crude oil is produced by a consortium led the U.S. company Exxon Mobil. TotalEnergies, a consortium led by Exxon Mobil, won the block at an auction held in 2023. The government has been trying to diversify this sector.
