US Businesses brace themselves for more pain when Trump imposes reciprocal tariffs
The U.S. president Donald Trump announced on Wednesday a number of reciprocal duties on trading partners, the latest of a long list of duties that have been imposed by him since he returned to the White House in early this year. From April 5, the U.S. is imposing a baseline 10% tariff on all imports into the country and will be increasing duties for several of its largest trading partners. Levies may be especially damaging to U.S. firms in sectors that have already been hit with duties. Following U.S. Trump announced last week that he would impose 25% tariffs on imports of all automobiles and auto parts from outside the United States.
Japan's Terra Drone will boost collaboration with Saudi Aramco in inspections
Terra Drone, a Japanese startup that uses drones to inspect and survey energy infrastructure, has announced it is increasing its cooperation with Saudi Arabian state-owned Aramco in order to inspect oil and natural gas facilities. Terra Drone, a Japanese company, has signed an agreement with Aramco that will allow it to test its drones in Saudi Arabia. This is expected to begin later this year or early next. Terra Drone stated that the actual operation of the inspections will begin in 2027. Terra Drone's contract with Aramco would be its largest ever in terms of drone inspections at oil and gas installations.
Trinidad: Key gas project in Venezuela is not slowing down, despite US pressure
Trinidad Prime Minister Stuart Young stated on Thursday that companies planning an offshore gas project between Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago have "not slowed down" their work despite increased pressure from the United States on Venezuela and uncertainty regarding the extension of the license for the project. After talks with U.S. Young, who spoke to South American and Caribbean nations this week, said that the "landscape" is changing. He was referring the recent announcement by Washington of secondary tariffs for importers of Venezuelan gas and oil.
TotalEnergies warns that indirect emissions may increase as the company aims to sell gas
TotalEnergies, a French energy company, said in its sustainability report on Thursday that plans to sell more gas in the coming years would increase indirect CO2 emissions. TotalEnergies said that global emissions will also fall as a result of its clients moving away from dirty fuels. In 2024, the French oil giant emitted 376 millions metric tons CO2-equivalent. Of this, 342 million tons was indirect emissions so-called Scope 3, which comes from clients burning fuels purchased. This is a slight decrease from the 386 tons CO2-equivalent that was produced in 2023.
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…
Glencore refinery in South Africa invests in cleaner fuels
Astron Energy, an affiliate of the global commodity trader Glencore will invest up six billion rands ($328 million) in order to install new equipment, and to become compliant with South Africa’s cleaner fuel specification before a 2027 deadline. Astron officials have said that the foundations for a Gasoline Hydrotreating Process, which will reduce petrol to Euro 5 specifications has already been laid in the 100,000 barrels a day crude oil refinery near Cape Town. The Clean Fuels II regulation in South Africa, which stipulated that the sulphur content in petrol and diesel must be reduced to 10 parts-per-million (ppm)…
European investors warn that the clock is ticking on AI adoption
European companies who are investing heavily in generative artificial intelligence must start showing results by the end of next year or investors will lose patience. AI-exposed shares have been downdrafted with the broader equity market in recent weeks, as fears of recession rise. This has added to the pressure on the sector, which was already under strain in January when the launch low-cost Chinese AI DeepSeek sparked a tech sale. Many investors are optimistic about Gen-AI and its potential to boost profits and productivity. However…
Tax tussles between Indian and foreign companies
In India, foreign companies often face difficulties due to the high tax demands on large M&A deals or accusations by the government of duty evasion. This can lead to lengthy litigation. The following are the most important tax disputes that have occurred in the past and present involving foreign companies. In January, the South Korean giant Samsung Electronics was ordered to pay back taxes and penalties of $601 million for avoiding tariffs on imports of key telecom equipment. Samsung is one of India's largest consumer electronics and smartphone companies. The amount demanded represents a significant chunk of its net profit last year of $955 millions.
Laos signs clean energy agreement worth $1.45 billion with Chinese industrial company
Laos signed a clean energy agreement worth $1.45 billion with a Chinese manufacturer of power plant equipment as it continues its drive to generate and transmit clean electricity. China Western Power Industrial and a Singaporean construction company signed an agreement with Xekong Thermal Power Plant, Laos. The project will design, supply and build a 1,800 megawatt clean energy power plant in southern Laos. This was revealed in a filing on the Sichuan stock exchange by the Sichuan based company. The project will be completed at the beginning of 2020, and the initial designs should be complete by the end this year.
Chinese copper smelters are struggling with margin collapse
Industry insiders say that major copper smelters in China, the world's largest consumer, have started equipment maintenance during March, traditionally peak demand season, to try and stem the losses caused by a worsening shortage of feedstock, which is hurting margins. The fact that plants are being shut down during one of the busiest periods of the year shows how much refiners suffer from the lack of copper concentrate. This problem is compounded by the overcapacity in smelting, which has led to fierce competition and pushed treatment fees well below zero.
Two former Siemens executives to be tried for violating Russia sanctions in Germany
The court announced on Friday that a German court had decided to initiate a criminal case against two former Siemens executives who were accused of violating the sanctions by exporting Siemens gas turbines into Russian-occupied Crimea. Last year, prosecutors in Hamburg, Germany charged four Germans as well as a Swiss-French national with alleged sanctions violation. In a press release, the Hamburg Regional Court announced that it would proceed with the trial of two of the defendants, and dropped the charges against the other three because the investigation found no sufficient grounds for prosecution.
Two former Siemens executives to be tried for violating Russia sanctions in Germany
The court announced on Friday that a German court had decided to initiate a criminal case against two former Siemens executives who were accused of violating the sanctions by helping to export Siemens gas turbines into Russian-occupied Crimea. Last year, prosecutors in Hamburg, Germany charged four Germans as well as a Swiss-French national with alleged sanctions violation. In a press release, the Hamburg Regional Court announced that it would proceed with the trial of two of the defendants, and dropped the charges against the other three because the investigation found no sufficient grounds for prosecution.
State media report that US and Vietnamese firms have signed a deal on energy and minerals.
State media and one of these firms reported on Friday that Vietnamese and American firms had signed a number of deals on minerals and energy during the visit to the United States of Vietnam's Trade Minister. State-owned PetroVietnam Power said that Vietnamese firms are in discussions with U.S. companies to buy American crude and LNG. The company is a party to one of these deals, and executives from the firm will accompany the minister to the United States. Vietnamese Trade Minister Nguyenhong Dien is currently in the United States for trade talks.
Boeing, Apple and GE will join US business delegation to Vietnam next week list shows
A list of participants, including Boeing, Apple, and other top U.S. companies in tech, defence, and energy, will be joining a large mission to Vietnam, next week. This could be a sign of confidence, as Vietnam tries to avoid U.S. tariffs on trade. The US-ASEAN Business Council is an advocacy group that organizes the annual mission. This year, Vietnam is reviewing its tariffs on U.S. products, including liquefied gas, agricultural and high-tech goods, while U.S. president Donald Trump has threatened to impose additional tariffs on trading partner countries. The organizers have announced that executives from over 60 large U.S.
Experts say that Trump's tariffs against steel and aluminum will increase costs for US energy companies
The proposed U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs will increase costs for U.S. Oilfield Services companies that rely on this metal for their operations. Oilfield service firms like ChampionX and Patterson UTI are the backbone for the North American oil and natural gas industry. They provide essential equipment and services to drill, produce and maintain. Steel is the lifeblood of these industries - drilling platforms, pipelines and refineries, compressors and storage tanks, offshore platforms, and offshore platforms. On Tuesday, Donald Trump doubled tariffs on Canadian aluminum and steel imports from 50% to 100%.
Bloggers claim that Russian special forces attacked Ukrainian forces at Kursk via a gas pipeline
Pro-Russian bloggers claimed that Russian special forces snuck miles through a large gas pipeline near Sudzha to try to surprise Ukrainian troops as part of a massive offensive to eject Ukrainian soldier from the western Russian region Kursk. In August of last year, thousands of Ukrainian soldiers took over about 1,300 sq km of Russia's Kursk Region in an effort to gain bargaining power in future negotiations as well as to force Russia to withdraw its military forces from eastern Ukraine. In its daily report on the situation at Kursk…
Bloggers say that Russia used a gas pipeline to surprise Ukrainian troops in Kursk.
Pro-Russian bloggers reported that Russia stormed the town of Sudzha Sunday, after special forces surprised Ukrainian units with a gas pipe as part of a massive offensive to eject Ukrainian troops from the western Russian region Kursk. In August of last year, thousands of Ukrainian soldiers took over about 1,300 sq km of Russia's Kursk Region in an effort to gain bargaining power in future negotiations as well as to force Russia to withdraw its military forces from eastern Ukraine. Yuri Podolyaka is a pro-Russian blogger who was born in Ukraine.
LNG producer Venture Global raises Plaquemines project cost forecast by $2 billion
Venture Global announced on Thursday that it expects its Plaquemines LNG Plant in Louisiana project costs to be about $2 billion more than its previous estimate due to inflation and various other factors. The LNG producer now expects that the plant will cost between $23.3 and $23.8 billion. Previously, it was expected to be in a price range between $21 billion and $22 billion. The company paid $19.8 billion as of December 31. Venture Global stated that costs for completing the project could increase due to factors like inflation and tariff.
BP and Mauritania claim leak found at gas project offshore West Africa
The British company BP and the Mauritania Environment Ministry announced on Wednesday that a gas leak had been detected in a well at the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim Gas Project operated by BP off the coasts of Senegal and Mauritania. BP stated that the impact of the leak on the environment was expected to be minimal and the incident will not disrupt production. The first gas was produced by the project, developed by BP in partnership with Kosmos Energy of the United States. In a press release, the Mauritania Environment Ministry said that it "conducted in-depth investigations in order to effectively manage the current situation and avoid any environmental impact"…
Equinor Norway LNG plant will be off-line March 10-14
According to a Friday regulatory filing, Equinor will shut down its Hammerfest LNG Terminal from March 10 through March 14 to perform "corrective maintenance". This will reduce the daily production capacity from 18.4 millions cubic metres to zero. The Hammerfest plant (also known as Melkoeya LNG) has the ability to deliver approximately 6.5 billion cubic meters of gas each year. This is enough to provide about 6.5 millions European homes and accounts for about 5% of Norwegian gas exports. Equinor spokesperson stated in an email that the production had to stop at Europe's biggest liquefied gas export facility to deal with an urgent technical issue.
