Gascade Converts Pipelines for Alternative Marine Fuels
German gas grid operator Gascade on Thursday said it has converted a 400 km (249 miles) high-pressure pipeline to transport low-carbon hydrogen southwards from the Baltic Sea as part of a European core network to ship alternatives to fossil fuel.New hydrogen pipelines, or conversions of existing ones, will serve to help meet European Union goals of net zero emissions by 2050, with the Ukraine war also sharpening the focus on energy security in the bloc…
Sembcorp, the Singaporean energy giant, has taken over Alinta Energy for $4.3 billion.
Sembcorp Industries announced on Thursday that its unit would?acquire?Alinta Energy at a cost of A$6.5 billion (4.32 billion dollars), making it one of the biggest overseas expansions in the history for the Singaporean firm. Alinta Energy was acquired by Chow Tai Fook Enterprises. The energy company now controls one of Australia’s largest integrated gas and power retailers with 1.1 million customers, and 3.4 gigawatts in energy generation capacity, including gas, coal, and solar. Chow Tai Fook is the investment arm for Hong Kong billionaire Henry Cheng.
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, which accounts for 1% of global crude supply and includes Russian, Kazakh and U.S.
Kyiv reports that Russia has hit the gas transport system of Ukraine's Odesa Region.
A senior Ukrainian official reported on Wednesday that Russian drones had 'hit the gas transport system' in Ukraine’s southern Odesa Region. This area contains several pipelines bringing U.S. Liquefied Natural Gas to Ukraine from Greece. Mykola Kolysnyk, the deputy minister of energy, refused to say what had happened. The Ukrainian gas transit operator reported that planned volumes for the Transbalkan route, also known as the Transbalkan Gas Transit Route, were mostly unchanged.
Prices rise dramatically on lower wind volume
The European spot electricity prices rose on Wednesday due to forecasts of lower wind power generation, which overrode?effects from slightly higher solar power and nuclear power output. In a research note for the day ahead, LSEG analyst Xiulan said that "the signal?is bullish" for Germany. He added that France is also affected by this wind downturn. According to LSEG data, the price of French baseload electricity for delivery on Thursday was 17.4% higher than at 1000 GMT at 75.2 Euros ($87.53 per megawatt-hour (MWh).
TotalEnergies consolidates its position in Namibia with the Galp asset exchange
TotalEnergies cemented its position in Namibia by agreeing on an asset exchange with Portugal's Galp, which makes the French company the operator for the Mopane exploration. Galp will receive a 10% stake in Total's PEL56 license, which holds the Venus discovery. It will also get a 9.4% share in the PEL91 license. The three licenses are all next to one another. Total will cover half of Galp’s exploration and appraisal costs on Mopane. However, Galp must pay back this amount from future cash flows from the field.
Australia is preparing to review its gas market, which could affect LNG exports
Australia will soon issue a review of the gas market that could limit exports from its east coast. Three operators, led by Shell and Santos, send cargoes to Asia. They said that the review, which they expect Canberra to release this week, may 'include a plan for LNG exporters to prioritize local supply in the populous east, the main source of domestic demand. Tony Wood, energy analyst at Melbourne's Grattan Institute, said that the government is trying to solve a difficult problem.
India's low battery storage bids are raising concerns about project viability
Industry experts and analysts fear that the record-low bids to build battery energy storage system in India could make some projects economically unviable, or even dangerous. This would hinder efforts towards renewable power. Battery projects are critical to India's goal to double its renewable energy capacity by 2030 to 500 gigawatts, while the grid operator reduces excess power. India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA), an industry group, says that India has contracted out 83 gigawatt hours (GWh) worth of battery storage since 2021.
Kinder Morgan anticipates higher profits in 2026 due to strong natural gas demand
Kinder Morgan, a pipeline operator, said that it expected a growth in profit for '2026 compared to the 2025 forecast - due to strong natural gas demand. In after-market trading, shares of the company rose 1% to $27.57. The demand for natural gases has been boosted by the increase in LNG exports, and an increase in power consumption in data centers devoted to artificial intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrency. Kinder Morgan has signed long-term contracts to transport 8 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day to LNG facilities. It expects to deliver 12 bcfd in 2028.
Congo miners urge urgent talks on clearing cobalt export backlog
Congo's mining industry has called on the government to hold urgent discussions in order to clarify the new rules for cobalt export. They also said that legal ambiguities, compliance obstacles and delays could cause global battery supply chains to be disrupted. After a month-long ban on cobalt exports, the Democratic Republic of Congo launched a quota system on 16 October. The regime allocated 18,125 metric tonnes for the fourth quarter, and capped annual exports to 96,600 metric tons starting in 2026.
Reduced wind output increases power prices
The European day-ahead electricity prices rose on Thursday, compared to the previous session. This is because wind generation in the region is expected decrease. Riccardo Paraviero, LSEG analyst, said that the fundamental outlook for Germany has changed again to a tighter one. This is primarily due to the decreasing supply of wind energy. He added that conditions are similar across the rest the region. The French and Dutch residual loads will rise dramatically.
By the end of this year, Ukraine will import 5 billion cubic meters of gas
Ukraine, which has lost more than half its gas production due to Russian missile attacks, had imported 4.4 billion cubic meters (bcms) by December, and planned to import a further 0.6 bcms by year's end, said state energy company Naftogaz on Wednesday. "Our current rate of import is 26 million cubic meters (mcm), compared to 21 mcm per month. "The increase is due to the growth of imports from Naftogaz as well as private companies," said he. Ukrainian authorities…
Snam Receives EU Backing for Hydrogen Pipeline, CO2 Storage
The European Commission on Monday included in its new priority list for cross-border energy projects two initiatives backed by Italian gas grid operator Snam, making them eligible for EU funding.The commission had already added the projects to a priority list in 2023, but their presence in this year's update makes it likely that they will be included in Snam's updated industrial plan, due to be presented early next year.Snam's projects, part of an EU list of 235, are a hydrogen pipeline linking Algeria, Italy, Austria and Germany dubbed the SoutH2 Corridor, and of
Spot prices increase on lower wind output
The European spot electricity prices rose on Tuesday as the wind generation output is expected to decline in France and Germany. LSEG data shows that the German baseload day-ahead power price at 0943 GMT was 102.50 Euros ($119.09 per megawatt-hour), up 9.7% on Friday's closing price for Monday delivery. Data showed that the equivalent French price for Monday delivery was 82.25 Euros/MWh. This is a 5.4% increase from the Friday price. LSEG data indicated that on the supply side German wind power output was expected to decline by 1.3 gigawatts…
Kurdish Prime Minister says Iraq's Khor Mor gas field will restart production in hours
Masrour barzani, the Iraqi Kurdish prime minister, said that the region of Kurdistan in Iraq had agreed to restart production at the Khor Mor field within hours, to restore electricity. This was announced on Saturday after the field suffered an attack. Khor Mor, the largest gas field in Kurdistan, supplies power to the region. Dana Gas, the joint field operator, announced on Thursday that a rocket struck a tank of gas late Wednesday night, causing a shutdown in production and widespread power outages.
Japan's Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant could restart in January, Jiji reports
Jiji News Agency quoted the director of the Kashiwazaki Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant, Japan's largest nuclear plant. The restart could happen as early as January, pending the consent of regional authorities. Last week, a regional governor in Japan gave his approval for a partial restart at the plant. This is as Japan attempts to revitalize its nuclear sector while reducing fossil fuel imports. Niigata Prefecture Assembly is scheduled to vote on this decision in its regular session starting on December 2. The Unit No.
Energy operator warns of emerging risks to UK gas supply as demand declines slowly
The energy operator in Britain warned on Wednesday of possible shortages during the coldest months. In its first assessment of gas supply security since being established last January, the National Energy System Operator stated that while overall demand for gas will decrease as Britain decarbonises it will be slower at peak times. This could pose a risk if progress in cutting emissions stagnates or if major infrastructure is faulty. The report, which is a look ahead at winters 2030/31…
Ghana wants to take over Springfield oil block as a state-owned company, says ministry
Ghana has begun talks to acquire Springfield Exploration's share in a block offshore that holds an estimated 1,5 billion barrels worth of oil. The energy ministry announced this as Ghana seeks to boost its economy by reversing the decline in production. The ministry announced on Wednesday that it would pursue a state-led acquisition of Springfield's interests in the West Cape Three Points Block 2 via state oil company GNPC. The potential takeover aims to unlock the long-term value of the block and protect Ghana's oil output, the ministry stated.
Sierra Club takes on fossil fuels in the US electricity grid
The Sierra Club announced on Tuesday that it is challenging the decision of a U.S. Federal Energy regulator to expedite connecting fossil fuel power stations to major electrical grids, at the expense renewable energy. The environmental group submitted a petition to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals will review the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)'s decision to allow the Southwest Power Pool to accelerate the interconnection of mostly coal fuel generation. SPP is a 14-state region that stretches from North Dakota all the way to Louisiana.
Ukraine increases gas imports via Transbalkan route amid intensifying Russian strikes
Import data from transit operators shows that Ukraine will dramatically increase its gas imports via southern Transbalkan route, which links it to Greece on Friday in order to replace supplies lost because of Russian attacks. In recent months, drone and missile attacks on Kyiv's infrastructure has forced it to import 4 billion cubic meters of additional gas to cover the gap. Operator data indicated that Ukraine anticipated to import 2,28 million cubic meters of gas via this route on Friday, compared with 1,28 million on Thursday.