Nuclear roadblock to EU's new renewable energy target
On Monday, pro-nuclear countries expressed their opposition to the European Union's plans for a renewable energy goal. They said they would not support a goal which excluded atomic energy. Nuclear power is a controversial energy source that has caused political disagreements among the 27 EU member states. These disputes have delayed recent…
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…
Chugoku Elec restarts Shimane nuclear reactor for the first time in thirteen years
The company Chugoku Electric Power said that on Saturday, Japan's Chugoku Electric Power restarted Shimane Nuclear Power Station in western Japan. It had been shut down since 2011, shortly after the Fukushima nuclear meltdown. The 820 plant's megawatt No. The restart of the No. 2 reactor in Japan, which was closed down in January 2012. This brings Japan's total number of operational reactors up to 14.
US AI Task Force co-chair requests FERC support for co-located Data Centers - Letter
According to a Dec. 5 letter, a co-chair of Congressional Artificial Intelligence Task Force in the U.S. urged federal energy regulators to support the creation of data centers that are directly connected to power stations, citing national safety and competition to dominate global AI. U.S. Congressman Jay Obernolte stated that the Federal…
Alberta, Canada's oil province, will clean up 5% of its inactive wells by 2023
A regulatory report on Thursday said that the number of inactive gas and oil wells in Alberta, Canada’s largest fossil fuel producing province, dropped 5% from 2022 to 2023, indicating progress in reclamation and decommissioning work. Alberta has 79,000 inactive wells compared to 83,000 in 2012. Inactive wells are no longer producing oil or gas, and must be permanently plugged.
More wind and lower demand causes spot prices to fall
European power prices fell on Thursday, as the main German market was expected to have more wind energy and demand in the area had slowed down ahead of the weekend. LSEG data shows that German baseload power for the day ahead was 17.1% lower at 87 Euros ($91.69), while still remaining at multiple-week highs. The French equivalent contract…
EDF will extend the operational life of four British nuclear reactors
EDF said it would extend the lives of four British nuclear power plants and invest 1,34 billion pounds in the British fleet between 2025 and 2027. This will boost the energy security of the country and its efforts to achieve its climate goals. Britain's goal is to decarbonise the electricity sector by 2030, and reduce its dependence on…
Chernyshov, CEO of Naftogaz Ukraine, appointed as deputy PM for new ministry
The Ukrainian parliament approved Oleksiy Cernyshov, the CEO of state-owned oil and gas company Naftogaz as deputy premier to head a newly created ministry for national unification as the third anniversary of Ukraine's full-scale war against Russia approaches. Chernyshov is a 47-year-old man who has been leading Naftogaz since 2022. He was also the minister for regional development from 2020 to 2022.
Philippines communities challenge dash for fossil gas
The government claims that LNG is an alternative to coal, and the capacity to generate it is required to meet the energy demands of Luzon Island, which is also home to Manila, the capital city, located 110 km (68 mi) north. Many people in Santa Clara, an area adjacent to the port's terminal, claim that respiratory illness has increased dramatically, even among children as young five years old.
ENTEK wins $1.3 billion US Loan for EV Battery Plant
The U.S. Department of Energy's loans office said on Friday it has finalized a loan of $1.3 billion to ENTEK Lithium Separators to finance a plant in Indiana for making lithium-ion battery separators used mostly in electric vehicles.WHY IT'S IMPORTANTThe Loan Programs Office is racing to finalize billions of dollars in loans to companies…
Germany pushes 17-billion-euro gas power plan despite election uncertainty
According to sources in the government, Germany's Economy Minister pushed forward on Friday legislation that would provide billions of Euros to build gas-powered plants. However, the chances of this plan being approved by the parliament were slim. Robert Habeck, who was previously the head of the Economy and Energy Ministry, has been given…
Japan's JERA will restart coal-biomass combustion at Taketoyo by 2027
JERA, Japan's largest power generator, announced on Friday that it will restart coal and biofuel co-firing in its Taketoyo Thermal Power Station in central Japan by the end of the fiscal year starting April 2026. This follows a fire. Taketoyo is one of the largest power plants in Japan, with a capacity of 1,070 Megawatts. On Jan. 31 a fire broke out in the station…
Sources say that Whiting refinery, a BP facility in Indiana, is delaying its return to service.
Industry sources say that the return to service for BP Whiting Indiana refinery is delayed. BP began the planned turnaround activity for its refinery that produces 435,000 barrels per day in late September. In early November, the refinery restarted units that were involved in the turnaround. Sources claim that at least two units are experiencing startup delays.
Sunshine Oilsands operations halted by Canadian regulator
Sunshine Oilsands has been ordered by a Canadian regulator to suspend all operations in the oil sands area of northern Alberta, including its wells, pipelines and facilities, due to a continuous failure to comply with environmental and safety regulations. The Alberta Energy Regulator's (AER) order of Nov. 14, also required Sunshine Oilsands to post a C$6…
China's coal production in October rose 4.6% on an annual basis
China's coal production rose by 4.6% from a month earlier in October, according to data released on Friday. The increase was due to the recovery of production from safety-related restrictions a year before. National Bureau of Statistics data showed that the world's biggest coal producer, China, mined 411.8 millions metric tons of coal last month.
Sources say that GE Vernova's investigation found that the offshore wind turbine plant at Quebec was not operating to standards.
Sources familiar with the situation said that GE Vernova’s offshore wind turbine production plant in Quebec has terminated or suspended several employees after a company probe found they had taken shortcuts when it came to quality control. GE Vernova began the investigation at its factory in Gaspe in Quebec, after one of their 107 meter…
Inpex: Ichthys LNG Train 1 will resume full-scale operation in December
Inpex Corp, the operator of Australia's Ichthys LNG, said that Train 1 will resume full-scale operation at the start of December. This follows a reduction in its operating rate for inspections. In order to maintain safety, the Inpex spokesperson said that "Ichthys LNG Train 1" is currently operating at a slightly lower production level in order to inspect heat exchangers.
Wall Street welcomes Trump's comeback, but with trepidation
Wall Street executives praised the prospect of business friendly regulations and a flurry of deals, as they analysed the implications of Donald Trump’s reelection. However, some were uneasy over his unpredictable nature. Executives from banks and private equity firms said that Trump's return will likely ease some of the regulatory pressures that existed under Biden's administration.
US Extends Protections for CITGO to March 2025
The U.S. Treasury Department on Thursday extended a license protecting Venezuela-owned Citgo Petroleum from bondholders to March 2025, a key decision amid a seven-year-long legal case in which the refiner's parent might be auctioned to pay creditors.Citgo's parent, PDV Holding, was found liable by the court for Venezuela's debts from asset expropriations and debt defaults.
Hurricane Rafael has caused a shutdown of 17% of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico Oil Production
The U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement announced on Wednesday that Hurricane Rafael had shut down approximately 17% of crude production and 7% of gas output in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. The Bureau reported that energy producers have shut down 304,418 barrels of oil per day and 131,000,000 cubic feet of gas production from Gulf waters. According to the latest U.S.
