Kazakhstan to Divert Kashagan Oil to China After Ukraine Drone Attack
Kazakhstan said on Wednesday it would redirect some oil from its Kashagan field to China and other routes after a Ukrainian drone attack last month on the Caspian Pipeline Consortium's Black Sea terminal in Russia.The decision was announced by the energy ministry after Reuters reported earlier this week that Kazakhstan plans to supply crude to China directly from Kashagan for the first time after the Ukrainian attack damaged the CPC terminal.The CPC…
Russian Syzran Oil Refinery Halted by Ukraine Drone Attack
Russia's Syzran oil refinery on the Volga River halted oil processing on December 5 after being damaged by a Ukrainian drone attack, two industry sources said on Tuesday.Ukraine and Russia have been attacking each other's energy facilities as peace talks have failed to progress.The Ukrainian military said on Friday that it had carried out long-range strikes overnight on an oil refinery in the Russian city of Syzran and the Temryuk port in the Krasnodar region.The sources said the drones hit the plant's CDU-6 crude distillation un
Sources: Russian Syzran oil refinery was halted on December 5, by a drone attack
Two industry sources reported on Tuesday that the Russian Syzran refinery, located on the Volga River, stopped?oil production on December 5, after it was?damaged by an Ukrainian drone attack. As peace talks failed to progress, Ukraine and Russia began attacking each other's nuclear energy plants. The Ukrainian military said that they had carried out long-range attacks overnight on an oil refining plant in the Russian city Syzran, and on the Temryuk Port located in the Krasnodar Region.
Oil Prices Steady with Ukraine Peace Talks, US Interest Rate Decision Looms
Oil prices steadied on Tuesday after falling 2% in the previous session, with investors keeping a close eye on peace talks to end Russia's war in Ukraine, concerns about ample supply and a looming decision on U.S. interest rates.Brent crude futures edged 3 cents higher to $62.52 a barrel at 1317 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude gained 4 cents at $58.92 a barrel.Both contracts fell by more than $1 a barrel on Monday after Iraq restored production at Lukoil's West Qurna 2 oilfield…
Sources say that India's ONGC is moving closer to retaining 20% of the Sakhalin-1 project in Russia.
Three sources familiar with this matter have confirmed that India's Oil and Natural Gas Corp. will pay into Russia’s Sakhalin-1 abandonment fund using the frozen dividends of Indian companies to retain a 20% stake in the Sakhalin-1 project. ONGC Videsh Ltd., the overseas investment arm for India's largest explorer ONGC and other state-run Indian firms, have been unable to repatriate around $800 million of dividends on stakes in Russian assets, according to industry sources.
Turkey Cuts Russian Urals Oil Imports, Turns to Kazakh, Iraqi Supply
Turkey sharply reduced its imports of Russia's flagship Urals crude oil in November, shipping data from energy consultancy Kpler showed, as Western sanctions on Russian energy suppliers tightened and Turkish refineries shifted to alternative grades.Shipments of Urals to Turkey fell by 100,000 barrels per day from October levels, with total imports dropping to around 200,000 bpd last month, data from Kpler and LSEG showed.Turkey…
Japan: Energy security is important when it comes to energy from abroad, including Sakhalin-1.
Japan's Industry Ministry said on Thursday that securing energy from abroad, including the Sakhalin Project is very important for Japan's security of energy. This was in response to a question about U.S. Sanctions on a major shareholder in the Sakhalin-1 Project. Washington sanctioned Russian oil companies Rosneft, Sakhalin-1's largest shareholder, and Lukoil last month as the latest step to pressure the Kremlin into ending the war in Ukraine. The waiver for the end of operations expired on 21 November.
The central bank of Russia says that the discount on Russian Urals oil prices has increased to 23% by November.
In its latest review, the Russian Central Bank said that the discount between the price of the Urals oil blend and Brent global benchmark has increased by six percentage points to 23% this month. Although the discount is less severe than what was seen in the first wave of Western sanctions, which began in 2022; it still reflects mounting pressure on Russian Oil revenues, which are a vital lifeline for Moscow’s budget. Last month, the United States imposed strict restrictions on Russian oil companies Lukoil & Rosneft.
The central bank of Russia says that the discount on Russian Urals oil prices has increased to 23% by November.
The Russian central bank announced on Thursday that the discount between Brent and Urals, which is Brent's global benchmark oil, has increased by six percentage points to 23% this month. These discounts are less severe than the first wave of Western sanctions that began in 2022 but they still reflect increasing pressure on Russian oil revenue, which is a vital lifeline for Moscow’s budget. Last month, the United States imposed strict restrictions on Russian oil companies Lukoil & Rosneft.
Sources claim that Fedun, the co-founder of Lukoil, has sold his stake to the company.
Three sources and data show that Leonid Fedun sold his $7 billion stake in Lukoil. This marked the end of a 30-year journey which made Lukoil an international force, but saw it recently shrinking rapidly under sanctions. Lukoil, which had avoided Western sanctions for months over Russia's invasion in Ukraine, was severely hit by Western sanctions and now is selling its foreign assets. Analysts have long suggested that the company could be a target for Rosneft - a state-controlled competitor…
Oil Prices Fall as Ukraine Signals Support for Peace Deal
Oil prices fell over 2% on Tuesday after Ukraine hinted that an intense diplomatic push by the U.S. administration to end Russia's war against it could be yielding fruit.An end to the war in Ukraine could pave the way for the unwinding of Western sanctions against Moscow's energy trade, potentially adding more supply at a time when prices have been battered by expectations of a glut next year.Brent crude futures fell $1.45, or 2.3%, to $61.92 a barrel by 11:19 a.m. ET (1619 GMT), while U.S.
Russian Urals Discounts in India Triple Since August as US Sanctions Hit
Discounts for Russian flagship Urals crude in Indian ports have tripled since August against dated Brent as U.S. sanctions drive key buyers away from Moscow-supplied oil, three sources involved in the trade said.The United States last month imposed its toughest sanctions yet on Russia’s energy sector, targeting oil majors Lukoil and Rosneft. Friday marks the deadline for companies to wind down all dealings with the two producers.Urals crude has been a mainstay feedstock for Indian refiners since 2023…
Lukoil Trading Arm Falls Apart Under US Sanctions
U.S. sanctions are dismantling what remains of Lukoil's Litasco, once Russia's biggest oil trader and a rival to top Swiss houses and oil majors, five sources told Reuters.The measures, which also target state-owned Rosneft, took effect on Friday as Washington seeks to choke off Moscow’s ability to fund its war in Ukraine. They have thrown Lukoil’s global operations into limbo, from oilfields in the Middle East to fuel pumps and refineries across Europe.Cut off from the global financial system…
Venezuela extends oil joint ventures with Russia for 15 years
According to a TV broadcast of a session, the Venezuelan National Assembly approved on Thursday a 15-year renewal of joint ventures that are operated by the state company PDVSA in conjunction with a unit from Roszarubezhneft of Russia. The two oilfields are located in Venezuela's western region. Before approving the extension, lawmakers said that the partnerships could continue to operate the Boqueron oilfield and Perija through 2041. The goal is to produce 91 million barrels of crude or 16,600 barrels a day.
Officials say Iraq is discussing a six-month waiver for US Lukoil sanctions.
Three Iraqi energy officials said on Monday that the Iraqi government was considering a request for a six-month waiver of sanctions from the U.S. Treasury Department to allow Lukoil more time to dispose of its stake in West Qurna-2, a giant oilfield. Lukoil declared force majeure in the field last week. This is the most significant fallout of the sanctions imposed by the U.S. Treasury Department on Russian oil giants Lukoil, and Rosneft, last month, as part President Donald Trump’s efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine.
Russia's Lukoil talks to potential foreign buyers about its assets
Lukoil, Russia's second largest oil producer, said it was in talks on Friday with potential buyers for its foreign assets after sanctions were imposed by the UK and US last month and a deal made with Gunvor Trading House collapsed. The specific deal would be announced once the final agreements had been reached and all regulatory approvals obtained. The company wants to maintain the operation of assets even after they are sold and transferred to new owners.
GERB leader: Bulgaria could receive a six-month delay in US sanctions
Local media reported that Boyko Borissov of the GERB, the leader of the coalition's leading party, could have secured a six-month delay of U.S. sanction against Lukoil oil refinery. Last month, the U.S. Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control imposed sanctions against Lukoil, and Rosneft, Russia's largest oil companies. This increased pressure on Russian president Vladimir Putin to stop Moscow's war with Ukraine, and threatened their sprawling operations throughout Europe. The U.S.
Almost a Third of Russian Seaborne Oil Export Potential is Stuck in Tankers
Around 1.4 million barrels per day of Russian oil, or almost a third of the country's seaborne exporting potential, remain in tankers as unloading slows due to U.S. sanctions against Rosneft and Lukoil, JPMorgan said on Thursday.The U.S.
Inpex Japan raises its annual profit forecast due to lower costs
Inpex, Japan's largest oil and gas exploration company, raised its net profit forecast by 5% for the year on Thursday. Lower-than-expected expenses offset a reduced shipment of its Ichthys project in Australia because of maintenance. The company expects a net profit of $3.65 billion in 2025. This is up from the August forecast of $3.65 billion. It also exceeds analysts' estimates of 370.9 billion yen, according to an LSEG survey.
The Bulgarian Parliament overturns the presidential veto regarding Lukoil refinery Takeover
The Bulgarian Parliament overruled the veto of the president on Thursday on legislation that would allow the government to sell Lukoil’s oil refinery to protect the asset from impending U.S. sanctions. Last month, the U.S. Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control, along with Britain, imposed sanctions on Lukoil, and Rosneft - Russia's largest oil companies - to increase pressure on Russian president Vladimir Putin and threaten their operations in Europe.