US to develop AI on Energy Department Lands
On Thursday, the administration of Donald Trump announced that it had identified 16 sites in the U.S. Department of Energy where data centers and energy plants to support artificial intelligence could be built. The rapid growth of AI has led to a boom in the demand for power in the United States, which is unprecedented in 20 years.
French and Benelux stocks: Factors to watch
Here are some company news and stories that could impact the markets in France and Benelux or even individual stocks. Alstom, a French train manufacturer, announced on Tuesday that it had received 2.4 million euro ($1.08m) in public funding as part of the France 2030 plan to speed up the development of an intelligent train safety platform.
Gas giants claim that Australia's opposition plan to reserve supplies may worsen the shortage
Gas giants around the world said that a proposal made by Australia's coalition of opposition to force producers to divert more gas from exports into the domestic market in an attempt to win votes would discourage investment and not solve the looming gas shortages. The conservative Liberal-National Coalition has pledged to lower power bills by implementing a gas reservations scheme.
Shell warns that Australia's gas reservations plan could worsen shortages
Shell warned Tuesday that Australia's proposal to force more gas from export onto the domestic market would end up discouraging investment and worsening shortages. Energy has become a major issue in the campaign ahead of Australia's general election on May 3. The conservative Liberal-National Coalition pledged to lower power bills and avoid a shortage on the East Coast through a reservation scheme.
Sources say that the White House is considering an executive order to speed up deep-sea mines.
Two sources who are directly involved in the White House's deliberations say that they are considering an executive order which would expedite permits for deep sea mining in international waters. This would allow mining companies to bypass a United Nations review process. The order, if signed, would be the latest effort by U.S.
Xinhua reports that China's CNOOC has discovered a 100 million-ton oilfield on the South China Sea.
Xinhua reported Monday that the China National Offshore Oil Corporation has discovered an oilfield with reserves of more than 100 million tonnes in the South China Sea. Huizhou's 19-6 oilfield, recently discovered, is not located in an area of the South China Sea that has been contested. It lies within China’s Exclusive Economic Zone which extends for 200 nautical mile or 370 kilometers from its coast.
Alaska Governor briefs Trump on Asia Gas Push as Tariffs Bite
Alaska's Governor said that he would brief U.S. president Donald Trump's Administration after returning from Japan in the next week about progress made to secure Asian support for a project to develop natural gas, which has been part of a larger discussion on tariffs and trade. Governor Mike Dunleavy and the leaders of the state-run Alaska Gasline Development Corporation and Glenfarne Group visited Taiwan…
Sources claim that Indian state firms are interested in SQM’s lithium projects in Australia.
Four sources have confirmed that four Indian state firms were in discussions with Chilean mining company SQM about acquiring a 20% stake of its two projects in Australia. The deal would cost $600 million. This is New Delhi's largest effort to secure supplies for the metal used in EV batteries. Sources said that Khanij Bidesh India Ltd…
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.
Can Trump's drive for critical minerals pass the test of copper? Andy Home
The executive order issued by U.S. president Donald Trump on increasing domestic mineral production is designed to cut through the mine permit maze in the United States. According to S&P Global, it takes on average nearly 29 years to bring a new mine from discovery to production. This is the second longest lead time in the entire world, after Zambia. The U.S.
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…
Osaka Gas' president claims that it has no immediate requirement for additional US LNG.
Osaka Gas' president stated on Wednesday that the company does not need to purchase more liquefied gas from the United States as it already has enough to last until the middle of next decade. U.S. president Donald Trump pushes energy sales to Asian allies, while threatening tariffs on trade. This is reviving Alaska LNG's stagnated LNG ambitions.
UAE renewables firm Masdar weighs possible IPO, sources say
Three people familiar with the situation have confirmed that Masdar, Abu Dhabi's state owned renewables company, is considering a public offering. Two sources said that the company was considering a dual listing, one in New York and another in Abu Dhabi, to raise funds for renewable projects. A third person confirmed that Masdar had held informal discussions with banks.
Vingroup Vietnam plans LNG and renewable energy ventures
Vingroup, Vietnam's largest conglomerate, announced on Tuesday that it is looking to develop renewable energy sources and liquefied gas power plants. This would be the company's first ventures in the energy sector. The state-run newspaper VietnamNet reported, citing documents the company had submitted to the Government, that the company wanted to be added to a revised national power development plan.
Polish Cabinet approves liberalisation in wind farm regulations
Polish authorities approved on Friday a draft law that eases the rules for building onshore wind farms. This is a major step towards delivering on a promise made at 2023's election to increase power production using renewable energy sources. The new rules must be approved by the parliament. They reduce the distance between planned installations…
Shell plans to deliver gas from Venezuela to Trinidad by 2026, according to sources
Shell Plc aims to start producing natural gas in Venezuela's Dragon field and export it to Trinidad and Tobago, an hour earlier than the initial 2027 start date. The project demonstrates the industry's hope that sanctions against Venezuela will remain in place despite recent tighter enforcement. The people stated that the partners intend to begin survey work in January and decide to drill three wells.
Trump hosts top US oil executives as trade wars threaten
Donald Trump, the U.S. president, will be hosting top oil executives in the White House this Wednesday to discuss plans for boosting domestic energy production amid falling crude prices and trade wars. This will be Trump's first meeting with oil and gas executives since he returned to the White House in January for his second term.
Sources: Masdar, the UAE's solar energy company, is in negotiations with Endesa for a $200 million deal.
According to a document and two sources who are familiar with the matter, Masdar Abu Dhabi Renewable Energy Company and Endesa Spanish Power Utility are close to a deal in which Masdar would pay approximately $200 million for a 49% stake in Endesa's solar portfolio. The agreement for the approximately 450 megawatts portfolio would build on the partnership that already exists between the two companies…
Brazil Ministry says that tests have confirmed the increase of ethanol in gasoline to 30%.
In Brazil, the gasoline contains 27% anhydrous alcohol. The demand for ethanol would be increased in Brazil if the proportion was raised to 30%, also known as E30. "With E30, we will be independent of gasoline imports for the first time since 2010," said Minister of Mines and Energy Alexandre Silveira during a presentation highlighting the test results.
China's energy administration reports that China's power consumption in January-February was up 1.3% compared to the previous year.
The National Energy Administration (NEA), which released data on Tuesday, showed that China's electricity consumption increased by a sluggish 1,3% during the first two month of the year due to an unseasonably mild winter. However, the growth rate rose to 9% in late February. According to NEA data, February's power consumption was 743.7 kWh and for the entire two-month period it was 1.56 trillion kWh.
