The demand for US natgas is expected to reach a record high on Tuesday
The U.S. demand for natural gas is expected to hit a record on Tuesday as the extreme cold that has affected much of America puts pressure on power grids, and certain oil and gas operations. Last week, the February natural gas contract reached its highest price since December 30, 2022. The cold weather that accompanied the weekend had the potential to reduce output due to the freezing of gas wells and pipelines. However, it also increased the use of fuel for heating homes and businesses. Prices rose in several hubs on the spot market with the U.S.
Finland: Russia's Baltic oil exports have fallen 10% following EU sanctions
The Finnish Border Guard reported that the Russian oil exports via the Baltic Sea dropped by 10% in the final four months of 2024 as the EU sanctions on Russian oil and gas were implemented. Baltic Sea nations have been put on high alert following disruptions in power cables, gas pipelines, and telecom links since Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine 2022. Some of these disruptions are linked to tanker activities. Finland's Coast Guard is also monitoring the shadow fleet used by Russia to export oil through the Gulf of Finland.
After holiday weekend, US demand for natgas is expected to reach record levels
The U.S. demand for natural gas is expected to hit a record next week, as the extreme cold that has gripped the U.S. this winter will put pressure on power grids again the day following the Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend. This week, gas futures reached two-year highs ahead of the freezing weather. Meanwhile, spot prices in several major hubs around the country have risen to their highest level since January 2024's Martin Luther King holiday weekend. The week before last, gas demand reached its current record high. Next-day prices also soared.
The US sanctions against Russia have caused a spike in global diesel prices
Analysts and LSEG data indicate that global diesel prices and refinery margins increased following the latest round U.S. sanctions against Russia's oil market on the expectation of tightening supplies. On Jan. 10, the United States imposed their toughest sanctions yet against Russian producers and tanks to reduce the revenue of the No. 2 oil exporter in world. The United States used the revenue of Russia's No. 2 oil exporter to fund its war in Ukraine.
Sources say that Trump will end the need to renew some LNG export permits
According to two sources familiar with the plan, Donald Trump, the U.S. president-elect will eliminate the requirement that some LNG producers renew their export permits. Sources said that Trump would likely include this change in his executive order on LNG, which he will issue during his first day of office. Trump, who will take office on Monday has stated that he will issue an executive order on LNG on his first day in office. This would allow…
Leader of Moldova’s separatist region visits Moscow to discuss gas crisis
Transdniestria, the news agency of Transdniestria, reported that on Tuesday the leader of Moldova’s Transdniestria region has traveled to Moscow to hold talks in order to resolve a crisis resulting from the suspension of Russian Gas deliveries. Transdniestria is experiencing widespread power outages since January 1, when Russia's Gazprom stopped gas exports. The company cited an unpaid Moldovan bill of $709 millions that Chisinau doesn't recognize as valid. Moscow has blamed the suspension of gas supply on Moldova and Ukraine.
Sandu, the leader of Moldova's separatist area, has said that he travelled to Moscow in response to the gas crisis.
Transdniestria's leader has been to Moscow after the Russian gas supply via Ukraine was suspended, said the President of Moldova on Tuesday. Transdniestria is experiencing widespread power outages since January 1, when Russia's Gazprom stopped gas exports. The company cited an unpaid Moldovan bill of $709 millions that Chisinau doesn't recognize as valid. Moscow has blamed the suspension of gas supply on Moldova and Ukraine. Both countries refused…
Data shows that LNG vessels are due to load at sanctioned Russian Terminals and head for Europe and Asia
Shiptracking data revealed on Tuesday that the LNG vessels scheduled to load at two recently sanctioned Russian export facilities are expected to deliver their cargo mainly to Europe, but also to Asia. The U.S. imposed the most extensive sanctions to date on Friday, targeting Russia's oil revenues and gas revenues. This was done to give Kyiv's new team and Donald Trump leverage to negotiate a peace deal in Ukraine. Washington has designated two LNG terminals in Portovaya…
Sovcomflot, a Russian airline, says that new U.S. Sanctions create operational difficulties
Sovcomflot - the largest Russian tanker company - said that the new U.S. Sanctions would cause additional operational difficulties. It also accused the West for undermining global merchant shipping. Sovcomflot stated that the company's ships do not form part of a "shadow fleet". The sanctions against Sovcomflot were not based on any violations by the company or legal basis. They were motivated solely by political interests, including those of the United States.
Kinder Morgan will purchase a natgas gathering systems for $640 million
Kinder Morgan, a pipeline operator, said that its Hiland Partners unit has agreed to purchase a natural-gas gathering and processing system from Outrigger Energy II LLC in North Dakota for $640m. As U.S. oil production has increased, the oil and gas sector has seen a consolidation of operators. Persistent problems with permits for new pipelines also have made existing operators valuable. Kinder Morgan purchased NextEra Energy’s South Texas gas pipelines for $1.82 billion in 2023.
Separatists pro-Russians in Moldova extend state of emergencies amid gas cuts
Transdniestria, a separatist region in Moldova backed by Moscow and afflicted with an energy shortage after losing its access to Russian gas that has sustained its economy for decades, extended the state of emergency for another month on Friday. Gazprom, a Russian company, suspended its gas exports to Transdniestria at the beginning of January. The reason given was unpaid Moldovan bills totaling $709 million. Moldova denies that debt, and claims Moscow is provoking a crisis in order to undermine the pro-Western government.
In the pro-Russian region of Moldova, thousands are left without gas or heat
Authorities said that more than 51,000 households in Moldova's pro Russian separatist enclave were without gas, and 1,500 apartment blocks had no heating for winter. Moldova and Russia have been trading blame over an escalating crisis. Transdniestria (a breakaway region dominated by Russian speakers along the Ukrainian border) had been receiving Russian gas through Ukraine for decades. It used it to produce electricity that was sold to the rest Moldova and provided 80% of its power.
In the pro-Russian region of Moldova, thousands are left without gas or heat
Authorities said that more than 51,000 households in the pro-Russian separatist region of Moldova were without gas, and 1,500 apartment blocks had no heat for winter. This was after Ukraine refused to renew a transit agreement last week with Russia. Transdniestria (a separatist region dominated by Russian speakers along the Ukrainian border) had been receiving Russian gas through Ukraine for decades. It used it to produce electricity that was sold to the rest Moldova and provided 80% of its power.
After gas cutoff, the breakaway region of Moldova faces prolonged blackouts
Local authorities reported that Saturday saw a longer period of rolling power outages in Transdniestria (the pro-Russian breakaway region of Moldova), which is now without Russian gas because it no longer transits through Ukraine. The flow of Russian gas through Ukraine into central and eastern Europe ceased on New Year's Day, after the transit agreement between the two warring nations expired and Kyiv refused a renewal. Transdniestria is a predominantly…
Officials say that the breakaway region of Moldova will face new power outages on Saturday.
Local authorities have confirmed that power cuts will continue in Transdniestria on Saturday. The region, which is a breakaway Moldovan region, has been left without Russian supplies after Ukraine decided not to renew a contract for Russian transit gas. After the expiration of the transit agreement, Kyiv refused to do business with Moscow. Transdniestrian officials announced that the first rolling blackouts had begun on Friday night. The region that is mainly Russian-speaking…
In 2025, the global diesel price will be supported by refinery closures
Analysts and traders said that the global diesel market would likely see a price boost in 2025 due to the closing of around 1% of the refining capacity. This will offset the current weakness of the market and the structural downward pressure caused by the shift towards cleaner fuels. Markets end 2024 in a shaky state, despite the peak season demand. Margins in key energy hubs around the world, such as Singapore, Northwest Europe, and the Gulf of the United States…
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. ARGAN: French firm Argan published a new outlook on Tuesday and forecasts a net debt ratio of 8x to EBITDA by the end 2025. COLRUYT - The Belgian retailer Colruyt reported on Tuesday a decline in revenue of 5.4 billion euro for the first six months of its fiscal year. It also announced that its subsidiary Jims had acquired the NRG Fitness chain.
Canada opens Pacific trade pact to new members following Taiwan's complaint
Canada's government confirmed that a major Trans-Pacific Trade Pact is still open for other aspirant member countries, including Taiwan, to join. This was after Taipei complained about the lack of a working group that would consider Taiwan's entry. Taiwan's Government expressed its disappointment Friday at the fact that members of Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership had not established a working group in order to discuss membership during a meeting of ministers held in Vancouver.
Blackstone buys pipeline stakes in EQT from EQT at $3.5 billion
Blackstone, an alternative asset manager, said Monday it would purchase minority stakes in certain of EQT's pipelines through a joint-venture for $3.5 billion. The sale will help EQT reduce its debt after it purchased Equitrans Midstream for $14 billion in July. In premarket trading, shares of EQT rose by 3.9%. Blackstone and EQT will form a joint venture worth about $8.8 Billion. This joint venture would include EQT’s ownership interests in the Mountain Valley pipeline and the Hammerhead pipe.
TC Energy expects higher core profit in 2025 on natgas and electricity demand
TC Energy announced on Tuesday that it expects its core profit in 2025 to be between C$10.7 and C$10.9 Billion, higher than the C$9.9 to C$10.1 Billion forecast for 2024. This is due to an increase in demand for electricity and natural gas. In its most recent short-term energy outlook report, the U.S. Energy Information Administration predicted that gas consumption in the United States would reach a new record of 90 billion cubic feet (bcfd), in 2024.
