VLCC Rates Spike as US Sanctions Bite
Supertanker freight rates jumped after the U.S. expanded sanctions on Russia's oil industry, sending traders rushing to book vessels to ship supply from other countries to China and India, shipbrokers and traders said.Chinese and Indian refiners are seeking alternative fuel supplies as they adapt to severe new U.S. sanctions on Russian producers and tankers designed to curb the world No. 2 oil exporter's revenue due to its war in Ukraine.Many of the newly-targeted vessels, part of a so-called shadow fleet that seeks to avoid Western restrictions…
Guyana exports 225 crude cargoes by 2024
Guyana will export 225 cargoes in crude oil by 2024, said its energy minister on Tuesday. A consortium led the U.S. giant Exxon Mobil has been ramping up its production and updating its facilities. Last year, Latin America's new oil producer became the fifth largest crude oil exporter in the region, after Brazil, Mexico and Venezuela. It was also identified as a major contributor to the global growth of oil supplies. Minister Vickram Bharrat announced that detailed figures about output and exports would be released this week. He said that the government will ship 28 cargoes from the crude oil produced by Exxon in 2024.
Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister, says that Moscow is in touch with Serbia about ownership of NIS oil company
Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, said that Moscow had been in touch with "Serbian Friends" regarding the fate of Serbian Oil Company NIS. Belgrade is concerned about U.S. sanction because Russia's Gazprom owns a majority stake. The Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic announced on Friday that, following the new U.S. sanction against Russia's oil industry, Gazprom will have 45 days to sell its ownership in NIS. Vucic said that he met with the Russian ambassador in Serbia on Tuesday to discuss "the effects of U.S. Sanctions against Russian Companies" to his NIS.
USDoI: ANWR Drilling Auction Yields no Bids
The U.S. Interior Department said on Wednesday that a congressionally mandated oil and gas drilling lease auction in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge received no bids from energy companies.The outgoing administration billed the outcome as proof the 19 million-acre refuge, home to species including polar bears and Porcupine caribou, should remain off-limits to fossil fuel development, even as President-elect Donald Trump seeks to encourage expanded drilling there.The U.S. was scheduled to hold a federal auction for some 400…
Indonesia restricts the export of palm residue and used cooking oil to domestic users
Indonesia has tightened its export restrictions on used cooking oil, palm oil residues and palm oil waste to supply the domestic cooking oil industry and biodiesel. The government announced this in a new regulatory on Wednesday. It said that the move by the top palm oil producer and exporter in the world aims to achieve a new mandate, starting this year, which calls for mixing 40 percent of palm-oil-based fuels with diesel fuel (called B40), up from 35 percent previously. The Indonesian authorities are looking at ways to restrict UCO exports. However, the extent of this tightening is not yet clear.
Market uncertainty caused by Indonesian B40 palm oil delays
Indonesia is yet to implement the higher blend of biodiesel that was planned for January 1, as industry participants are awaiting technical details of the regulation. This has caused confusion among palm oil dealers. The government pledged that it would mandate a 40% blend of palm oil in biodiesel starting Jan. 1. This is known as B40. It will replace the current 35% blend. The benchmark March palm oil contract on the Bursa Derivatives Market closed at 4,336 Ringgit ($968.72), down 2.5%, amid uncertainty over B40 implementation. It had risen earlier by about 1.8% when it tracked gains for Dalian vegetable oils.
Nigerian regulator: Applicants for oil licenses must demonstrate low carbon emissions
Nigerian applicants for oil licenses and permits will be required to provide evidence of low-carbon emissions and a program of renewable energy starting on Wednesday, before they are approved. This was announced by the head of Nigeria's upstream regulatory agency. Gbenga Kmolafe said that the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission's policy is to meet the country's target of zero net carbon emissions by 2060. The template is called the Upstream Petroleum Decarbonisation Template. Komolafe stated that enforcement would begin on Jan. 1, 2025 and cover all approvals, including divestments, in the upstream industry.
Biden Administration releases LNG export study and urges caution on new permits
Tuesday, the administration of U.S. president Joe Biden released the long-awaited report on the economic impacts and environmental effects of exports of liquefied gas. The results highlighted the need to be cautious when issuing new permits. Biden had in January halted the Department of Energy’s approvals of U.S. exports of LNG to large consumers in Asia and Europe, so that his government could conduct the review. This triggered complaints from the oil industry. The study's findings were summarized by Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm in a letter to reporters.
Climate tech firms receive $80 million for removing carbon from paper mills and sewage plants
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 17 - Google H&M Stripe, and other members of the Climate-focused Frontier Coalition will purchase $80 million in carbon credits from a company that uses oil industry technology to collect emissions at paper mills and another firm that uses rocks to do the exact same thing at sewage treatment plants. While the U.S. president-elect Donald Trump will likely withdraw from an agreement to limit global warming and reduce support for carbon sequestration, companies from sectors such as tech and finance are continuing to back efforts to remove CO2 from the atmosphere.
Gazprom says that high interest rates are a concern for oil service firms
Alexander Dyukov said that the high interest rates in the oil industry could have a negative impact on firms providing support services. This raised "serious concern".According to a recent poll, the Russian central bank will likely increase its key rate this week by 200 basis points, to 23%, due to the high inflation caused by a weaker ruble.Dyukov told reporters that his company is strong enough to withstand high borrowing costs, and plans to increase investments in the next year."As far as the partner companies are concerned, such as oil services, they do not all have a margin of safety." Dyukov stated that this raises grave concerns.
Oil Slips as U.S. Gasoline Stocks Surprise
Oil prices edged lower on Wednesday as a large, surprise build in U.S. gasoline stocks outweighed easing supply concerns from a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah.Brent crude futures fell 12 cents, or 0.2%, to $723.69 a barrel by 10:40 a.m. ET (1540 GMT) and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 eased 15 cents, or 0.2%, to $68.64.U.S. gasoline stocks rose by 3.3 million barrels in the week to 212.2 million barrels, the Energy Information Administration said, compared with analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 46,000-barrel draw.Crude stocks fell by 1.8 million barrels in the week ended Nov.
US energy lobby groups cautious about Trump tariffs
The U.S. oil industry said that they are concerned about President-elect Donald Trump’s threats to impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico and the United States, stating that such policies may affect consumers, industries and security. Trump, who will take office on January 20, has promised to impose a tariff of 25% on imports coming from Canada and Mexico. These are two of America's largest trading partners. He said he would do this until these countries crack down on drugs - particularly fentanyl - and migrants at the border. This move appears to be in violation with a free trade agreement.
Chris Wright, CEO of the oil industry, is appointed Energy Secretary by Trump
Donald Trump, the President-elect, announced on Saturday that Chris Wright, an oil and gas executive who is a staunch supporter of fossil fuels, will be his choice to lead the Department of Energy. Wright is the founder of Liberty Energy in Denver, a firm that provides oilfield services. He will likely support Trump's plans to increase oil and gas production and seek ways to increase electricity generation, which is on the rise for the first decade. He will also probably share Trump's opposition against global cooperation in fighting climate change.
US oil industry calls on Trump to abandon Biden's climate policies
The U.S. Oil and Gas Industry on Tuesday called for President-elect Donald Trump's revocation of many policies implemented by President Joe Biden to combat climate change. They said the measures threatened jobs, consumer choices and energy security. The American Petroleum Institute, the nation's largest oil and gas trade association, has urged the incoming Trump administration to remove vehicle emission standards designed to encourage the auto industry to make more electric vehicles. It also urged Trump to lift…
US oil industry calls on Trump to abandon Biden's climate policies
The U.S. Oil and Gas Industry on Tuesday called for President-elect Donald Trump's revocation of many policies proposed by President Joe Biden to combat climate change. They said the measures threatened jobs, consumer choices and energy security. The American Petroleum Institute, the nation's largest oil and gas trade association, has urged the incoming Trump administration to remove vehicle emission standards designed to encourage the auto industry to make more electric vehicles. It also urged Trump to lift the pause on export licenses for liquefied gas facilities…
Industry says that the US dependence on Canadian oil should discourage Trump tariffs
Canada's oil industry doesn't expect tariffs to be included in the protectionist measures proposed by Donald Trump, U.S. president-elect. This is because U.S. refineries depend on Canadian barrels. Some Canadian oil industry players saw Trump's victory as a positive, which would encourage energy investment in North America. It could also boost the value of U.S. dollar that Canadian producers get for their crude. Some however, said that any increase in U.S. production of oil and gas could put Canadian exports into competition with other countries.
Chevron exceeds expectations for quarterly profits on the back of higher oil production
Chevron Corp. beat Wall Street expectations for the third quarter profit on Friday. However, its earnings dropped from a previous year. Chevron Corp, which has had its proposed $53 billion takeover of Hess delayed by Exxon Mobil Ltd and CNOOC Ltd due to their challenge, reported a profit adjusted of $4.53 billion. This compares to $5.72 million a year earlier. The shares rose by 2.6% ahead of normal trading hours. The oil industry has seen profits fall this year as a result of lower crude prices and a weaker growth in fuel demand. Oil futures for the quarter ending Sept. 30, averaged 17% less than the previous quarter.
Drill, baby, drill in Argentina's Vaca Muerta shale lands!
Argentina's new, market-friendly government, and concerns about oil supplies from the Middle East, and elsewhere, are driving a boom in drilling and production in the Patagonian South, which is home to the giant Vaca Muerta shale, Spanish for "Dead Cow". In the flat, arid terrain, the production of shale oil and gas is surging. Fracking wells have been drilled in record numbers, and pipelines have been built to transport gas to the capital Buenos Aires – and beyond once LNG plants are operational. A huge blue billboard…
GAPKI reports that Indonesian palm oil exports in August were up 15% year-on-year.
GAPKI, Indonesia's largest palm oil industry association, said Tuesday that the country's palm oils stock will remain around 2.5 million metric tonnes at end-2024. This is after production was affected last year by dry weather. GAPKI data show that palm oil exports from the world's biggest producer rose by 15% in August compared to a year ago, to 2,38 million metric tonnes. This lowered its end-August stock of palm oil to 2,45 million tons down from 2.51 millions tons a month before. GAPKI data shows that this was the lowest stockpile of Indonesian rice since March 2019. GAPKI Secretary General M.
Palm gains from better export estimates and expectations of low output
After two sessions of declines, Malaysian palm oil futures eked out a slight gain on Monday, backed by increased export estimates and expected seasonal palm production decreases. The benchmark contract for palm oil delivery in January on the Bursa Derivatives exchange gained 49 ringgit or 1.15% to 4,304 Ringgit ($1,001.16), a metric tonne, during the lunch break. The contract dropped 1.3% over the last two sessions. Palm prices are responding to better export estimates, and the expectation of a weaker production in the next few weeks, in line with seasonal weakness.
