Sources say that Tesla's former China plant head will join renewable energy company Envision
Two sources with knowledge of the situation said that Tesla's former China Plant Manager is expected to join Chinese renewable energy company Envision. One source said that Song Gang, who announced Wednesday his departure from Tesla, will be taking on supply chain management duties for Envision. Envision and Song didn't immediately respond to separate comments. Tesla did not reply to a question about Song's departure. Envision, headquartered in Shanghai, is the largest wind turbine company in the world. It also has research centers in Denmark, the U.S. and Germany.
Galp, a Portuguese company, plans to produce biofuels by 2026
Galp Energia, a Portuguese oil refiner and producer, announced on Thursday that it expects to produce biojet fuel and biodiesel from waste at an industrial scale unit being built in its Sines refinery by 2026. Galp and Mitsui, a Japanese company, entered into a joint venture last year to invest 400 millions euros ($415million) in a plant that will produce 270,000 tons of hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO). The green hydrogen generated by the electrolyser powered either by solar or wind energy will be used to convert waste materials such as used cooking oil into biojet fuel and renewable biodiesel.
Hungary: US exemption of gas payments from Russia Gazprombank sanctioned
In a video on social media, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Peter Szijjarto stated that the United States had granted exemptions for gas payments from the sanctions they imposed against Russia's Gazprombank. The U.S. implemented sanctions against Gazprombank in November, creating a barrier for European gas buyers. Gazprombank was used by buyers to pay for their purchases. Hungary, which relies primarily on Russian oil, gas and other energy sources, requested an exemption from the U.S. These countries, including Turkey and Slovakia, are seeking clarifications and alternatives to pay for the U.S. Gazprombank sanctions.
Sweden's North frets about financial risks as the green boom stumbles
Sweden's local governments, frightened by Northvolt's struggle for survival and its potential impact on taxpayers, have asked the central government to increase financial support for Sweden's transition towards green industry. Last month, Europe's leading electric vehicle battery manufacturer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the United States with $5.8 billion of debts. The EU's energy transformation is failing, and shockwaves were sent through Skelleftea, northern Sweden, where its Northvolt Ett plant is located. Sweden is leading Europe in its efforts to switch from fossil fuel based industries to nonpolluting energy.
US LNG Rises 2% on LNG Plant Volume Data
U.S. natural gas futures climbed about 2% on Wednesday on rising flows to the nation's liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plants and expectations utilities pulled more gas out of storage than usual to heat homes and businesses during extreme cold for a second week in a row last week.Analysts, however, projected rising output and forecasts for mild weather and low heating demand through the start of the new year should keep storage withdrawals smaller than normal in coming weeks. There was currently about 4% more gas in storage than usual for this time of year.
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. TotalEnergies French oil giant Total Energies has sold half of its shares in the UK's West Burton Energy Gas Power Plant to Epuki. Vallourec French steel tube maker Vallourec has announced that it will sell a significant majority of the production facility in Dusseldorf-Rath to CTP, for 155 millions euros. The transaction should close by the end of 2024. EssilorLuxottica Ray-Ban manufacturer EssilorLuxottica announced that it had signed an agreement with Italy's Espansione Group to purchase the company.
BHP and Rio Tinto will build a low-carbon iron plant in Western Australia
BHP Australia and Rio Tinto Australia will develop together a pilot plant for producing low-carbon iron using Pilbara ore as part of their efforts to accelerate decarbonisation within the steel industry. The companies announced this in a statement released on Tuesday. The facility will produce molten steel using direct reduced iron technology (DRI), and renewable energy in an electric melting furnace (ESF). It could have a production of up to 40,000 tons per year. BlueScope Steel will develop the facility in Western Australia's Kwinana Industrial Hub.
Phillips 66 sells stake in Texas pipeline to $865 million
Phillips 66 announced on Monday that it will sell its 25% stake of the Gulf Coast Express pipeline, located in Texas, to an ArcLight Capital Partners affiliate for $865 millions. This puts the U.S. refiner in a position to surpass its asset sale goal. Phillips 66, despite a decline in refinery profits, has chosen to maintain stable payouts for investors by reducing costs and setting a target of $3 billion via non-core assets sales. Before Monday's announcement, the company had already sold fuel stations, pipelines and a share in a joint venture retailing in Switzerland to raise $2.7billion.
Venture Global says it has produced the first LNG at its Plaquemines plant.
Venture Global LNG produced its first LNG (liquefied natural gases) on Friday at its Plaquemines facility in Louisiana. The first U.S. plant to produce super-chilled natural gas in two years, Cheniere Energy Corpus Christi's midscale expansion project has been beaten to the market. Venture Global said that it had built two of its fastest greenfield LNG plants to go from financial approval to first LNG production. Plaquemines, when completed, will be the largest LNG plant in the world. It will also help the United States remain the world's leading exporter of super-chilled fuel.
Sources say that Russia's Novatek employs lobbyists in order to improve relations with the US.
Two sources familiar with the situation said that Novatek, Russia's largest producer of liquefied gas, is working with lobbyists to try and rebuild U.S. relationships after Washington imposed sanctions against its mammoth Arctic LNG 2 Project. After the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the relationship between the United States and Russia reached a post Cold War low. President Joe Biden’s administration imposed sanctions on hundreds entities and individuals who supported the war effort. Novatek's Arctic LNG 2 was to be the largest LNG plant in Russia. Some Russians are cautiously optimistic about the return of U.S.
Venture Global Louisiana Plaquemines LNG Plant "on track"
U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) company Venture Global LNG's Plaquemines export plant under construction in Louisiana was on track to pull in enough natural gas on Friday to produce first LNG, according to data from financial group LSEG and energy analysts.Plaquemines was on track to pull in about 0.16 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) of pipeline gas on Friday, up from 0.10 bcfd on Thursday and an average of 0.04 bcfd during the prior seven days, according to LSEG data.Analysts have said that once feedgas to the plant hits around 0.15 bcfd or higher…
Moldova declares a state of emergency when the risk of Russian gas being cut off looms
The Moldovan parliament voted on Friday morning to declare a state of national emergency lasting 60 days, starting Dec. 16, due to the expected interruption of Russian gas supply on Jan. After Prime Minister Dorin Recean's request for approval, 56 members of the 101-seat chamber approved the measure just after midnight. He said that the vote was to stop "gas blackmail" by Moscow. Declaring an emergency allows the government respond quickly and reduce energy exports. Ukraine has announced that it will not be extending its transit contract with Russian Gas giant Gazprom. The contract expires December 31.
Eastern Canadian provinces replace controversial Churchill Falls Hydropower deal
On Thursday, the Canadian province Newfoundland and Labrador signed a Memorandum of Understanding with its neighboring Quebec to create a deal for hydroelectric generation in Labrador. This agreement is expected to generate revenue of approximately C$200 billion (US$140.97 billion). The agreement will replace the contentious 1969 contract for the export of power from Upper Churchill Falls Hydroelectric Facility in Labrador, which has been the source of bitter tensions between the two provinces over the past decades. The majority of revenue from the Churchill Falls plant has always been sent to Quebec.
In 2025, the global diesel price will be supported by refinery closures
Analysts and traders said that the global diesel market would likely see a price boost in 2025 due to the closing of around 1% of the refining capacity. This will offset the current weakness of the market and the structural downward pressure caused by the shift towards cleaner fuels. Markets end 2024 in a shaky state, despite the peak season demand. Margins in key energy hubs around the world, such as Singapore, Northwest Europe, and the Gulf of the United States, have fallen from November's high levels, due to the return of some refineries after maintenance shutdowns.
Indonesia's plans for renewable energy may endanger forests
Indonesia, which is heavily dependent on coal for electricity, needs to move away from fossil fuels. It aims to generate 75 gigawatts from renewable sources over the next fifteen years. This compares with the 13 gigawatts it produces today. This push will be based on the use of biofuels that burn cleaner, i.e. organic material converted into liquid fuel. The government claims that biofuels will reduce Indonesia's dependence on costly fuel imports and greenhouse gases, while increasing palm oil production. This will in turn spur economic growth.
Woodside's North West Shelf Project Extension approved by Western Australia
Woodside Energy, Australia's largest oil and gas producer in terms of market value, announced on Thursday that the state of Western Australia had granted Woodside Energy approval to extend the project life of its North West Shelf LNG (liquefied Natural Gas) until 2070. You can also find out more about the decision-making process by clicking here. Woodside announced Thursday that the approval marks the end to a six-year waiting period and restarts the federal approval process for environmental protection, which was halted because of pending appeals.
US Energy Department: Two LNG reviews must be waited for by regulator
The U.S. Department of Energy announced on Tuesday that it will not be able to finish its reviews of two proposed liquefied gas export terminals planned for Louisiana until an independent regulatory agency completes their environmental assessments of these projects. The Department of Energy said that it must wait until the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has completed its work to review applications for exports of LNG from terminals to nations with whom the United States does not have a free trade agreement before it can evaluate the applications.
Phillips 66 and NextEra team up to power California refinerys with solar energy
The refiner announced on Tuesday that Phillips 66 would power its Rodeo refinery with a solar facility operated and owned by NextEra Energy. In a press statement, Phillips 66 said that the solar plant will be constructed on 88 acres of land (36 hectares), adjacent to the renewable fuels facility located in the San Francisco Bay Area. The solar plant will be composed of over 70,000 modules that will produce around 60,000 Megawatt Hours of electricity per year. The refinery said that the solar plant will help to reduce its grid power consumption by half…
USDoE: LNG Reviews must await EIA's
The U.S. Department of Energy announced on Tuesday that it will not be able to finish reviews of two projects for liquefied gas in Louisiana until a regulatory agency independent of the Department has completed its environmental assessments.The DOE stated that it must wait until the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has completed its work to review export applications to countries where the U.S. doesn't have free-trade agreements. Venture Global LNG’s CP2 facility, which is a 20 million ton facility per year, and Commonwealth LNG’s planned 9.5 million tons per annum facility are the two projects.
Equinor, BP and TotalEnergies invest in Britain's carbon-capture projects
They announced on Tuesday that Equinor, BP, and TotalEnergies have made the final investment decisions for two of Britain's first projects to capture and store carbon in the north. The Northern Endurance Partnership Project, which is a joint venture between the three companies, will store carbon dioxide permanently for an initial amount of 4 million tonnes per year. Equinor holds 45% of NEP. BP has 45%, and TotalEnergies 10%. Equinor, BP and BP are also partners on the Net Zero Teeside Power Project. This project is a 742 megawatts (MW), gas-fired plant with carbon capture. BP owns 75% of this project and Equinor 25%.
