Shell and Equinor face off against UK North Sea oil, gas projects
Shell and Equinor urged on Tuesday an Scottish court to support Britain's approval of the development two vast North Sea gas and oil fields as environmental activists attempted to block these projects. Shell is fighting Greenpeace's legal challenge at the Court of Session of Edinburgh regarding Britain's approval of the Jackdaw Gas Field in 2022.
Bunge's takeover of Vicentin, a bankrupt soy company, is set back by court decisions in Argentina
A court in Argentina has ruled an agreement between Vicentin, the soymeal giant, and its creditors unconstitutional. This will hinder any attempt to takeover the bankrupt company that is stuck in a long legal battle. The Supreme Court of Santa Fe Province, where Vicentin's headquarters is located, has ruled that the company must negotiate a new deal with its creditors before a proposed acquisition by U.S.
US Supreme Court will not halt EPA power plant emission rule
The U.S. Supreme Court refused on Wednesday to suspend a new federal regulation targeting carbon pollution from coal and gas-fired plants, despite the requests of many states and industry groups. This is another major setback to President Joe Biden’s efforts to fight climate change. The Justices refused emergency requests from West Virginia…
Honduras top court declares self-governing ZEDE zones unconstitutional
The Honduran Supreme Court declared on Friday that the legal basis for special economic zones, also known as ZEDEs (Zones of Economic Development Exempted from Local Laws and Taxes), which attracted foreign investors because of the promise of low taxation and regulations was unconstitutional. Some ZEDEs are operating in Honduras following the concession of 50 years.
Kiewit resolves dispute with Venture Global LNG regarding construction disclosures
The president of Kiewit Energy announced that construction contractor Kiewit settled its lawsuit against Venture Global LNG for disclosing information to Shell about the Calcasieu Pass LNG Plant. Venture Global filed an arbitration complaint against Kiewit on August 2, alleging that it had passed confidential documents to Shell during a dispute regarding the Louisiana LNG plant's commercial production status.
US Court of appeals overturns Biden's tip wage rule
A U.S. court of appeals on Friday overturned a rule that President Joe Biden’s administration had adopted to increase the pay of tipped employees. The court cited a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision which curtailed federal agencies’ ability to issue regulations. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, located in New Orleans, is composed of a three-judge panel.
Venture Global LNG Accuses Kiewit of Sharing Confidential Documents with Shell
Venture Global LNG, a U.S.-based liquefied gas company, sued Kiewit Construction on Friday for allegedly passing confidential documents to Shell Plc.Calcasieu Pass, a plant owned by Venture Global LNG in Louisiana has long been the subject of a dispute involving BP Plc and Shell over the access to LNG produced at the facility.Venture Global filed with the New York State Supreme Court stating that "Kiewit had bee
TC Energy: Order Blocking Keystone XL Pipeline Lifted
TC Energy Corp's long-delayed Keystone XL oil pipeline took a small step forward this week, after a U.S. court overturned an injunction that barred certain work on the project, the company said.The company, which also reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit on Thursday, has been working for more than a decade to build the controversy-ridden 830…
Nigerians Pursue Shell Spill Case in the UK
The Supreme Court in London will hear an appeal by Nigerian farmers and fishermen to pursue claims in England against oil major Shell over oil spills in the Niger Delta, lawyers for the two affected communities said on Wednesday.The decision to hear the appeal re-opens the possibility for British multinationals to be held liable at home for their subsidiaries' actions abroad.
U.S. Court to Decide Who Will Control Citgo
A U.S. court will decide whether a board of directors appointed by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro or one backed by his rival, opposition leader Juan Guaido, runs the eighth-largest U.S. refiner, Citgo Petroleum Corp.A lawsuit filed by Maduro's representatives on Tuesday in Delaware Chancery Court seeks to reassert control over Citgo , along with other U.S.
Norway's Snow Crab Ruling Boosts Oil Claim
A court delivered a painful nip to European Union fishermen on Thursday by tightening Norway's grip on snow crab catches in the Arctic, a ruling that may also let Oslo claw more control of oil and gas from other nations.Fishermen from the European Union must ask permission from Oslo to catch snow crab — whose meat is a delicacy for gourmets from Canada to Japan — in Arctic waters north of Norway…
Norway Supreme Court Hears Snow Crab Case with Implication for Oil
Norway's Supreme Court began hearing arguments on Tuesday on whether EU ships can fish for snow crab off Arctic islands north of Norway without permission from Oslo, a case that could decide who has the right to explore for oil in the region.At stake is whether the snow crab - whose meat is considered a delicacy by gourmets in Japan…
U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Exxon in Climate Change Document Fight
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday cleared the way for the attorney general of Massachusetts to obtain records from Exxon Mobil Corp to probe whether the oil company for decades concealed its knowledge of the role fossil fuels play in climate change.The justices declined to hear Exxon's appeal of a ruling by the top court in Massachusetts holding that Attorney General Maura Healey…
Petrobras Nears Terms Over TAG Pipeline Sale
Brazil’s state-controlled oil company Petróleo Brasileiro could present a new sale and purchase agreement (SPA) before the end of December for the sale of the Transportadora Associada de Gás (TAG) pipeline, after a Brazilian Supreme Court injunction in July stalled the sale.The sale of TAG, which operates natural gas pipelines in Brazil’s north and northeast…
US Allows Williams More Time for NY-Penn. Natgas Pipeline
U.S. energy regulators gave Williams Cos Inc two more years until December 2020 to get the approvals needed to build its long-delayed Constitution natural gas pipeline from Pennsylvania to New York, according to a federal filing made available on Tuesday.Before it can start building the project, Williams still needs water quality certification.
Petrobras Sells Stake in Africa Unit
Brazil's Petroleo Brasileiro SA will sell its 50 percent stake in a Nigerian oil and gas exploration venture to a consortium led by top oil trader Vitol for $1.53 billion, the latest step in the state-controlled oil company's debt reduction drive, according to a securities filing on Wednesday.The other 50 percent stake in Petrobras Oil and Gas BV…
Petrobras, Engie Unlikely to End TAG Talks Before Feb -Engie CEO
Talks between Brazil's Petroleo Brasileiro SA and France's Engie over the latter's acquisition of pipeline company TAG are not expected to end before February or March of next year, the chief executive of Engie's Brazilian unit said in a conference call with analysts.Eduardo Sattamini said even if Petrobras, as the oil company is known…
Petrobras Forms JV with Murphy in Gulf of Mexico
Brazil's state-controlled oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA is forming a joint venture with Murphy Oil Company to explore oil and gas fields in the Gulf of Mexico, the Brazilian company said on Wednesday in a securities filing.According to the filing, Petrobras, as the Brazilian company is known, will have a 20 percent stake in the joint venture, and Murphy will have 80 percent.
International Tribunal Rules in Favor of Chevron in Ecuador Case
Chevron Corp said on Friday an international tribunal ruled in its favor and that Ecuador had violated its obligations under international treaties.The tribunal unanimously held that a $9.5 billion pollution judgment by Ecuador's Supreme Court against Chevron "was procured through fraud, bribery and corruption and was based on claims that had been already settled and released by the Republic of Ecuador years ear
Trump Administration Proposes Rolling Back Obama's Clean Power Plan
The Trump administration on Tuesday proposed replacing the Clean Power Plan, the centerpiece of former President Barack Obama's regulatory efforts to combat climate change.The proposal released by the Environmental Protection Agency is now open for a public comment period. A final EPA rule is expected later this year.The effort to re-write the plan is the latest move by the EPA under President Donald Trump…
