Congo cancels the licensing round for 27 oil block
According to a Monday statement on the hydrocarbons minister's X Twitter account, the Democratic Republic of Congo has canceled a licensing round originally launched in 2020 to tap the nation's potential for oil and gas. The statement of October 11 listed multiple reasons for cancellation. These included late submissions, inappropriate and irregular offers, as well as a lack competition. Aime Sakombi Molindo, hydrocarbons minister, said: "Given what I have just stated, I feel compelled to announce the cancellation of this process." He said that the process will be restarted shortly, but did not give a timeline.
China increases coal mining to provide winter power: Kemp
China's coal production has reached record levels, and its imports have also risen. However, the surge in power generated by solar farms and hydro dams has reduced thermal generation. The reliability of electricity is dependent on coal-fired power generation, especially during the winter when solar and hydro output are lower and the system relies more heavily on fossil fuel. Even though wind and solar power have been deployed in record numbers, coal is still the most common source of electricity generation, with winter months seeing a rise to over 75%.
China increases coal mining to provide winter power: Kemp
China's coal production has reached record levels, and its imports have also risen. However, the surge in power generated by solar farms and hydro dams has reduced thermal generation. The reliability of electricity is dependent on coal-fired power generation, especially during the winter when solar and hydro output are lower and the system relies more heavily on fossil fuels. Even though wind and solar power have been deployed in record numbers, coal is still the most common source of electricity generation, with winter months seeing a rise to over 75%.
Kemp: Oil bears focus attention on low demand and planned production boost
Investors remain resolutely pessimistic about the future of petroleum prices, despite growing confidence that the U.S. Federal Reserve is going to cut interest rates in order to stimulate consumer spending and business investment. Fund managers sold oil futures and option last week after the rally to cover shorts the previous week quickly lost momentum. In the seven-day period ending August 20, hedge funds and other money mangers sold equivalent to 48 million barrels of oil in six important futures and option contracts.
Kemp: Oil bears focus attention on low demand and planned production boost
Investors remain resolutely pessimistic about the future of petroleum prices, despite growing confidence that the U.S. Federal Reserve is going to cut interest rates in order to stimulate consumer spending and business investment. Fund managers sold oil futures and option last week after the rally to cover shorts the previous week quickly lost momentum. In the seven-day period ending August 20, hedge funds and other money managers sold equivalent to 48 million barrels of oil in six important futures and option contracts.
Kemp: Oil bears become cautious as financial markets ease.
Investors reduced their short positions on petroleum after the other financial markets stabilized following an abrupt plunge earlier in this month. Crude prices also found support above $75 a barrel. Over the course of the week ending August 13, hedge funds and other money mangers purchased the equivalent amount of 74,000,000 barrels on the six most important contracts for petroleum futures and option contracts. The majority of purchases were made to buy back existing bearish short positions (+19 million barrels), rather than create new bullish long positions (-55 millions). Fund managers purchased U.S.
The European gas surplus is almost gone: Kemp
The record European gas surplus that was inherited in winter 2023/24 is now largely gone, thanks to a very small accumulation of stocks so far this summer 2024.Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE) data shows that inventories in the European Union and United Kingdom are up just 336 Terawatt Hours (TWh).The accumulation is the lowest since 2012, and compares to a 10-year average of 443 TWh (Aggregated Gas Storage Inventory", GIE. August 14).On Aug. 12, stocks were still 170 tWh (+20% or +1.46 standard errors) above the average for the past 10 years…
Kemp: Oil investors reduce positions to a record low amid financial meltdown.
Investors reduced their positions in petroleum to the lowest levels for at least 10 years early last week as part of a general retreat from risk amid growing concerns about a global slowdown. Over the course of the week ending August 6, hedge funds and other money mangers sold 110 million barrels equivalent in six important contracts for petroleum futures and options. In each of the last five weeks, fund managers were net sellers. Their combined position has decreased by 372 million barrels from the beginning of July. By August 6, the combined position was down to 152 millions barrels.
Kemp: Oil investors reduce positions to record lows amid financial meltdown.
Investors reduced their positions in petroleum to the lowest levels for at least 10 years early last week as part of a general retreat from risk amid growing concerns about a global slowdown. Over the course of the week ending August 6, hedge funds and other money managers sold 110 million barrels equivalent in six important contracts for petroleum futures and options. In each of the last five weeks, fund managers were net sellers. Their combined position has decreased by 372 million barrels from the beginning of July. By August 6, the combined position was down to 152 millions barrels.
Kemp: Oil traders focus on economy, not dwindling stock.
The oil prices have fallen in recent weeks, as traders focus their attention on a potential slowdown of the major economies. At the end of the month of June, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's (OECD) advanced economies had 2,761,000,000 barrels of crude and refined product in their commercial stocks. The stocks were 120 million barrels below the seasonal average of the past ten years (-4%, or -7.71 standard deviations), and the deficit was now 74 million barrels higher than the previous end-of-March (-3%, or -4.47 standard deviations). According to the Short-Term Energy Outlook, prepared by the U.S.
Kemp: Oil traders focus on the economy, not dwindling stock
The oil prices fell in recent weeks, as traders looked past the depletion of global inventories and focused on a future threat that could be posed by the possible slowdown of major economies.At the end of the month of June, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's (OECD) advanced economies had 2,761,000,000 barrels of commercial crude and refined product stocks.The stocks were 120,000,000 barrels below the seasonal average of the past ten years (-4%, or -7.71 standard deviations), and the deficit was now a whopping 74…
test x
Test TweetAt dawn from the gateway to Mars, the launch of Starship’s second flight test pic.twitter.com/ffKnsVKwG4— SpaceX (@SpaceX) December 7, 2023
Oil India's Baghjan Well Catches Fire
An ongoing gas leak at state-run oil and gas explorer Oil India Ltd's Baghjan well in the eastern India state of Assam caught fire on Tuesday, the company said in a statement.Oil India suspended operations at the well in its Baghjan oilfield on May 27 after an uncontrolled gas emission, which has since been ongoing. The company said the fire at the well was being brought under control by experts. There were no casualties from the fire, it said.Oil India has sought help from Singapore-based Alert Disaster Control to contain the blowout.
OPEC, Russia Extend Record Oil Cuts
OPEC, Russia, and allies agreed on Saturday to extend record oil production cuts until the end of July, prolonging a deal that has helped crude prices double in the past two months by withdrawing almost 10% of global supplies from the market.The group, known as OPEC+, also demanded countries such as Nigeria and Iraq, which exceeded production quotas in May and June, compensate with extra cuts in July to September.OPEC+ had initially agreed in April that it would cut supply by 9.7 million barrels per day (bpd) during May-June to prop up prices that collapsed due to the coronavirus crisis.
Iraq to Further Cut Oil Output
Iraq will further cut its oil output and remains committed to the OPEC+ deal, finance minister and acting oil minister Ali Abdul Ameer Allawi said on Twitter.OPEC and its allies such as Russia are due to decide later this month whether to extend record oil cuts they approved in April. Iraq has shown weak compliance with its output reduction targets in May.+(Reporting by Ahmad Ghaddar and Dmitry Zhdannikov; Editing by Jon Boyle)
Nigeria Launches Licensing Round for Marginal Oilfields
Nigeria has launched its first licensing round for marginal oilfields in nearly 20 years, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) said on Monday, despite court rulings last week that barred some of the fields from being auctioned.Marginal fields are smaller oil blocks that are typically developed by indigenous companies. The new licensing round is the first marginal field round since 2002, which the country hopes will boost oil output and bring in much-needed revenues from fees associated with the licenses."A total of 57 fields located on land…
US Crude Futures Plunge to Lowest on Record
U.S. crude oil futures collapsed below $0 on Monday for the first time in history, amid a coronavirus-induced supply glut, ending the day at a stunning minus $37.63 a barrel as desperate traders paid to get rid of oil.Brent crude, the international benchmark, also slumped, but that contract was nowhere near as weak because more storage is available worldwide.While U.S. oil prices are trading in negative territory for the first time ever, it is unclear whether that will trickle down to consumers, who typically…
OPEC, Russia Approve Biggest-Ever Oil Cut to Support Prices
OPEC and allies led by Russia agreed on Sunday to a record cut in output to prop up oil prices amid the coronavirus pandemic in an unprecedented deal with fellow oil nations, including the United States, that could curb global oil supply by 20%. Measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus have destroyed demand for fuel and driven down oil prices, straining budgets of oil producers and hammering the U.S. shale industry, which is more vulnerable to low prices due to its higher costs. The group, known as OPEC+…
Oil, Fishing, Tourism: Alaska Economy Faces Triple Hit from Coronavirus
The U.S. state of Alaska is so far distant from the worst medical ravages of the coronavirus pandemic, but its economy is in critical condition. Alaska is especially vulnerable because it depends on oil, tourism and fisheries – basic industries that are reeling from the global coronavirus pandemic – and the state government gets most of its revenue from investment earnings that have now evaporated."Alaska is experiencing a perfect storm, a most terrible trifecta, the hat trick from hell," said state Senator Natasha von Imhof, co-chair of the Senate Finance Committee, at a hearing Saturday.
Operations Suspended at Ecuador Oilfields Amid Protests
Ecuadoran state-run oil company Petroamazonas EP suspended operations at three oil fields in the Amazon region on Monday, the country's energy ministry said, as protests against austerity measures convulse the country.Taken together, the suspensions could reduce crude output by 59,450 barrels per day (bpd) if not lifted, the ministry said in a statement posted on Twitter. It added that the suspension took place after the fields were "taken" by "individuals not affiliated with the operation," without providing any details."At the moment no staff have been retained…
