Moldova names new Energy Minister
Dorin Dzungietu, a gas industry expert from Moldova, was appointed as the country's new Energy Minister by President Maia Sandu on Wednesday morning. He was sworn into office at the Presidential Office. Junghietu replaced Viktor Parlicov who was fired in December after failing to prepare for a possible stoppage of gas supplies for Moldova's separatist Transdniestria due to Ukraine refusing to extend their transit agreement with Russia. Sandu stated that "we must increase energy security in our state to ensure that Moldovans are not blackmailed" by others.
Experts say that Russia is struggling to meet its LNG targets
Experts said that due to the international sanctions, Russia's LNG exports will probably not reach 67 million tons by 2030. This is far below its target of 100 million tons. Russia is focusing on developing LNG that can be transported by sea tankers as its gas exports from pipelines to Europe are down due to the conflict in Ukraine. It has also struggled to increase LNG to China. The company plans to increase its market share to the fifth position on the global LNG markets by 2030-2035. Alexei Gromov, from the Institute for Energy and Finance Foundation in Moscow…
EU May Need 350 additional LNG Cargoes
Helge Haugane, head of Equinor's gas and power trading, told Bloomberg News that the European Union could need up to 350 additional cargoes this year of liquefied gas (LNG).Haugane stated that in the worst case scenario, European reserves of gas could only be 30% full at the end winter. He added that it will be crucial to attract cargoes over the summer for the storage to be refilled, and this could be expensive and require regulatory interventions.Equinor replied to a comment request by saying that it had nothing to add to what Bloomberg News had reported.Anders Opedal…
Bloomberg News reports that Equinor believes EU may require 350 additional LNG cargoes in order to replenish reserves.
Helge Haugane, head of Equinor's gas and power trading, told Bloomberg News that the European Union could need up to 350 additional cargoes this year of liquefied gas (LNG). Haugane stated that in the worst case scenario, European reserves of gas could only be 30% full at the end winter. He added that it will be crucial to attract cargoes over the summer for the storage to be refilled, and this could be expensive and require regulatory interventions. Equinor didn't immediately respond to our request for a comment. Anders Opedal, CEO of the company, said that Europe needed to attract around 230 LNG cargoes more than last year.
Equinor Q4 profit beats forecast, raises 2030 oil output target
Equinor reported slightly higher profits than expected for the final quarter in 2024. It also increased its oil and natural gas production forecast, and scaled back plans to expand renewable energy capacity. Equinor's poll of 24 analysts predicted that the Norwegian oil and gas company would earn $7.90 billion in adjusted earnings for October-December, down from $8.56 million a year ago. Equinor released a statement that said "the expected (oil-and-gas) production in 2030 is around 2.2 millions barrels of oil equal per day.
Gas funded by the EU brings light back to a separatist region in Moldova
On Monday, authorities in Moldova's separatist Transdniestria began heating apartments during winter conditions after a month-long power cut. The European Union funded the resumption of natural gas flows. Transdniestria - which separated from Moldova after the Soviet Union ended - relied on Russian Gas passing through Ukraine. But Kyiv refused a transit agreement beyond the new year, claiming it funded Moscow's almost three-year old invasion. The first 3 million cubic meters (mcms) of natural gases were shipped by Moldovan energy firm Moldovagaz to the Russian-backed separatist region on Saturday.
Data shows that Russia's LNG exports in January fell by 5%.
LSEG's preliminary data on Monday showed that Russia's LNG exports in January were down 5% compared to a year ago, at 2.75 million metric tonnes. Exports of LNG were down by 10% compared to December. Due to U.S. sanctions over the conflict in Ukraine, Russia has been unable to increase LNG exports. The new Arctic LNG 2 facility has effectively been frozen due to the Western sanctions. The data show that Russia's exports of LNG to Europe have fallen 17.6% on an annual basis and 22% since December, to 1.4 millions tons. Novatek's Yamal plant reduced exports by 5.6% on an annual basis in January, to 1.7 millions tons.
Moldova will ship the first 3 mcm gas to breakaway regions on Saturday, says company
A Moldovan official in the industry said that the country will be sending 3 million cubic meters (mcms) of gas on Saturday to its separatist Transdniestria. This is the first fuel delivery to the region since the end of December, when the gas transit through Ukraine ceased. The morning delivery is to be made to the Transdniestrian Gas System, which already has a gas shortage to maintain pressure. Vadim Ceban, CEO of Moldovagaz, said that the contract between Tiraspoltransgaz and Moldovagaz stipulates that this amount of gas will be provided to Tiraspoltransgaz as a debt due by March 1, 2025. Since Jan.
Data shows that Russia's gas exported via TurkStream reached a record high in January.
The TurkStream pipeline has allowed Russia to export natural gas via Ukraine at a record-breaking rate of 50 million cubic meters (mcms) per day in this month, according to preliminary calculations released on Friday. After a transit agreement between Moscow and Kyiv that had been in place for five years expired on January 1, the only way to get Russian gas into Europe is through Turkey. The data of the European Gas Transmission Group Entsog revealed that Russian gas exports through TurkStream jumped 26.8% in one year. They now stand at 50.6 mcm/day, up from 39.9mcm/day in January 2024.
Moldovan PM: EU has provided 30 million euros for Transdniestria gas supply
Moldovan Prime Minster Dorin Recean announced on Monday that the European Union would provide 30 million euro ($31.5million) for the purchase and transportation of natural gas into Transdniestria - the region which has broken away from Moldova. Since January 1, when Russia's Gazprom stopped gas exports into the region citing a Moldovan debt that Chisinau doesn't recognize as valid, Gazprom has left tens of thousands without winter heating or gas. Recean stated that the EU will immediately provide financial assistance of 30 million Euros for the purchase the necessary amount natural gas.
Interfax reports that Gazprom wants to increase the domestic gas price in Russia.
Interfax reported that Gazprom, the Russian gas giant, was trying to increase prices in order to fund investments. The company's sales abroad have plummeted as European buyers are turning away due to the Ukraine conflict. Gazprom suffered losses of nearly $7 billion in 2023. This was its first loss in over 20 years. The decline in gas sales to Europe, which used to be its primary market, is the reason for this. As part of Moscow’s pivot towards the East, the company has now set its sights on increasing gas exports, particularly to China.
Russia's proposed gas pipeline to Iran
The Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Friday plans to build a pipeline to Iran that will eventually transport up to 55 billion cubic meters (bcms) of gas per year into the West Asian nation. Here are some background details about the cooperation between Iran, Russia and the gas sector. Iran is the second largest gas producer in the world after Russia. However, U.S. sanctions are preventing access to technology as well as slowing down gas exports. In July 2022, the National Iranian Oil Company and Russian energy giant Gazprom agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding worth about $40 billion.
The US sanctions against Russia have caused a spike in global diesel prices
Analysts and LSEG data indicate that global diesel prices and refinery margins increased following the latest round U.S. sanctions against Russia's oil market on the expectation of tightening supplies. On Jan. 10, the United States imposed their toughest sanctions yet against Russian producers and tanks to reduce the revenue of the No. 2 oil exporter in world. The United States used the revenue of Russia's No. 2 oil exporter to fund its war in Ukraine. Many of the newly targeted vessels, which are part of a shadow fleet, were used to transport oil to India and China.
The separatist enclave of Moldova hopes that Russia will soon resume gas supplies
Vadim Krsnoselsky, the leader of Transdniestria, a breakaway region in Moldova, said that it expects to be able to get Russian gas soon, to meet its own needs. This comes after two weeks of crippling power outages. Prime Minister of Moldova's pro European central government, said that Russia is determined to bring a Moscow friendly government into power in the country. He said that Moscow was likely to provide only a small amount of gas to guarantee electricity to both the rebel-held and government-held regions. Since January 1, Russia's Gazprom has suspended gas exports into the region.
The separatist enclave of Moldova hopes that Russia will soon resume gas supplies
Vadim Krsnoselsky, the leader of Transdniestria, a breakaway region in Moldova, said that it expects to be able to get Russian gas soon, to meet its own needs. This comes after two weeks of crippling power outages. Since January 1, when Russia's Gazprom stopped gas exports into the region, Chisinau has refused to recognize the debt Moldova owes Gazprom of $709,000,000 as valid. Moscow has blamed the suspension of gas supply on pro-Western Moldova, and Ukraine. They refused to extend the five-year transit agreement that expired on December 31 because the proceeds were used to fund Russia's invasion.
Leader of Moldova’s separatist region visits Moscow to discuss gas crisis
Transdniestria, the news agency of Transdniestria, reported that on Tuesday the leader of Moldova’s Transdniestria region has traveled to Moscow to hold talks in order to resolve a crisis resulting from the suspension of Russian Gas deliveries. Transdniestria is experiencing widespread power outages since January 1, when Russia's Gazprom stopped gas exports. The company cited an unpaid Moldovan bill of $709 millions that Chisinau doesn't recognize as valid. Moscow has blamed the suspension of gas supply on Moldova and Ukraine.
Sandu, the leader of Moldova's separatist area, has said that he travelled to Moscow in response to the gas crisis.
Transdniestria's leader has been to Moscow after the Russian gas supply via Ukraine was suspended, said the President of Moldova on Tuesday. Transdniestria is experiencing widespread power outages since January 1, when Russia's Gazprom stopped gas exports. The company cited an unpaid Moldovan bill of $709 millions that Chisinau doesn't recognize as valid. Moscow has blamed the suspension of gas supply on Moldova and Ukraine. Both countries refused to renew a five-year transit agreement that expired on December 31 because they believed the proceeds would be used to fund Russia's invasion.
Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister, says that Moscow is in touch with Serbia about ownership of NIS oil company
Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, said that Moscow had been in touch with "Serbian Friends" regarding the fate of Serbian Oil Company NIS. Belgrade is concerned about U.S. sanction because Russia's Gazprom owns a majority stake. The Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic announced on Friday that, following the new U.S. sanction against Russia's oil industry, Gazprom will have 45 days to sell its ownership in NIS. Vucic said that he met with the Russian ambassador in Serbia on Tuesday to discuss "the effects of U.S. Sanctions against Russian Companies" to his NIS.
Data shows that LNG vessels are due to load at sanctioned Russian Terminals and head for Europe and Asia
Shiptracking data revealed on Tuesday that the LNG vessels scheduled to load at two recently sanctioned Russian export facilities are expected to deliver their cargo mainly to Europe, but also to Asia. The U.S. imposed the most extensive sanctions to date on Friday, targeting Russia's oil revenues and gas revenues. This was done to give Kyiv's new team and Donald Trump leverage to negotiate a peace deal in Ukraine. Washington has designated two LNG terminals in Portovaya, Vysotsk, and their operators, Gazprom Portovaya SPG and Cryogas Vysotsk, respectively, for sanctions relating to the LNG industry.
Russia warns that new US energy sanctions could destabilise the global market
The Kremlin announced on Monday that it would take all possible measures to minimize the impact of the latest U.S. sanctions against the Russian energy industry. Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson, said: "It's clear that the United States is going to continue to attempt to undermine our companies through non-competitive means. "At exactly the same time, these decisions will undoubtedly lead to an overall destabilisation of oil and energy markets internationally." We will monitor closely the effects and adjust the work of our businesses to minimize the impact of these illegal decisions. The U.S.
