Orban: Hungary is in talks with Ukraine about Russian gas deliveries via Hungary
Viktor Orban, the Prime Minister of Hungary, said that Hungary was in talks with Russia, Ukraine and other countries to keep open gas deliveries via Ukraine, even though it imports Russian gas via Turkstream. The pipeline via Ukraine is one of the main Russian gas routes into Europe. However, it will close at the end this year because Kyiv doesn't want to extend the five-year transit deal that brings gas to Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Orban said in a press briefing: "We're now trying to pull off the trick...
SOCAR sources: Russia and Ukraine cannot agree on gas deal mediated by Azerbaijan
Azeri SOCAR, a leading energy company in Azerbaijan, said on Friday that Moscow and Kyiv failed to reach an agreement on the deal brokered by Azerbaijan for Russian gas to be exported to Europe via Ukraine. Azerbaijan was asked by the European Union and Ukraine to facilitate talks with Russia regarding a gas-transit deal due to expire this year. On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that there was no chance of a new agreement with Kyiv for the transit of Russian gas to Europe through Ukraine.
Prices rise on increased demand for electricity and uncertainty about Russian flows
Dutch and British wholesale prices for gas rose on Friday, as a result of a surge in demand from power plants and a decrease in wind speed. There is also uncertainty over Russian gas supplies to Europe due to the imminent end of the Ukraine transit agreement. The benchmark contract for the Dutch TTF hub rose by 0.30 euros to 43.58 euro per megawatt-hour (MWh), which is $13.68/mmBtu by 0955 GMT. Meanwhile, the contract for the next day was up 0.75 euros at 43.40 euro/MWh. The day-ahead contract in Britain was 1.2 p higher, at 107.60 pence per therm.
Germany waives gas storage fees outside of the country starting Jan. 1, 2025
The German lower house of Parliament passed on Friday a change in energy law that will waive the domestic market storage fee at border points and virtual trading centers, effective Jan. 1, 2025. This will free foreign consumers from a costly element of price. Parliament approved the law change based on its incompatibility with European energy solidarité and to help south-western neighbors diversify their gas supply away from Russian gas. The levy that Trading Hub Europe (THE) charges domestic gas consumers will increase by 20%…
US pressures EU to align LNG methane regulations
A letter obtained by showed that U.S. officials redoubled their efforts to convince EU counterparts that shipments of liquefied gas meeting current U.S. regulations on methane would automatically meet the new European standards for gas imports. On December 17, the administration of President Joe Biden sent a second email to Ditte J. Jorgensen (EU Director-General for Energy) to increase support for their case that US Environmental Protection Agency…
Putin is clear: there will be no Ukraine Gas Transit Deal
Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, said that it is now clear that no new gas transit agreement will be signed with Kyiv for Russian gas to be sent through Ukraine to Europe. However, Russia will survive. As the EU attempts to reduce its dependency on Moscow, Russia has lost nearly all its European clients. Before the Ukraine War, Russia was Europe's largest single natural gas supplier. The Nord Stream gas pipeline, which was destroyed in 2022, cut off a major artery of Russian gas exports.
Sinopec, a top refiner, claims that China's oil demand will peak in 2027.
Sinopec, the state-owned refinery, said that China's oil demand will peak in 2027. This is due to a decline in diesel and gasoline consumption, which has slowed down global oil markets. Sinopec stated that the peak oil demand in 2027 will not exceed 800 million metric tonnes, or 16 millions barrels of crude oil per day. Sinopec predicted peak China oil demand at 800 million tonnes around 2026-2030. The energy sector in China faces new uncertainty by 2025…
Prices of EUROPE GAS are bound by range as stable supply caps gains
The Dutch and British wholesale gasoline prices were mostly range bound on Thursday morning, despite the colder weather. The benchmark contract for the Dutch TTF hub rose by 0.18 euros to 41.45 euro per megawatt-hour (MWh) at 0920 GMT. Meanwhile, the contract for February was up by 0.13 euro and now stands at 41.38 euro/MWh. The day-ahead contract in Britain was 0.80 pence more expensive at 100.00 pence a therm. The temperature in North-West Europe is forecast to be around 3 degrees Celsius below average on the day ahead…
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.
Oil Falls on Demand Worries, Market Awaits Fed Advice
Oil prices eased about 1% to a one-week low on Tuesday on demand worries following the release of negative economic news from Germany and China, while investors remained cautious ahead of a U.S. Federal Reserve decision on interest rates.Brent futures fell 90 cents, or 1.2%, to $73.01 a barrel by 1:36 p.m. EST (1836 GMT), while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude slipped 86 cents, or 1.2%, to $69.85. That puts both crude benchmarks on track for their lowest closes since Dec.
Prices for European gas rise as renewed Russian focus on gas is renewed
The Dutch and British wholesale gas price rose on Tuesday afternoon due to renewed concerns about Russian gas supplies to Europe starting in January. By 1505 GMT the benchmark front-month contract for the Dutch TTF hub had risen 1.87 euros to 41.83 euros/MWh, or $12.87/mmbtu. This was a continuation of the gains made in the morning. It fell to 39.10 euros/MWh intraday on Monday, its lowest since November 6. The front-month contract in Britain firmed up by 3.85 pence, to 104 pence/therm.
Japan aims to reach 40-50% of its power needs from renewable sources by 2040
According to a draft version of the revised basic energy policy of Japan, it wants nuclear power to make up 20% of its mix of electricity by 2040, while renewable energy will account for 50%. This is part of a push to promote clean energy and meet rising demand. Japan's basic energy plans, as the second largest importer of natural gas liquefied in the world and a major buyer of Middle Eastern oil are attracting global attention from producers of oil, gas, and coal. The draft energy policy does specify how coal, oil and gas will be divided up.
Treasury: US sanctions against North Korea and Russia include new sanctions
New sanctions imposed by the United States on Monday targeted Pyongyang’s financial activities as well as its military support for Moscow, according to the Treasury Department. The sanctions list North Korean generals, banks and officials, as well as Russian oil companies. They are the latest U.S. measures aimed at disrupting North Korea’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine. Treasury Department released a statement naming Golden Triangle Bank and Korea Mandal Credit Bank as the North Korean banks that were targeted.
Sources say that the US study is likely to refrain from concluding that LNG exports are not in the public interest.
Two industry sources familiar with the matter said that the administration of President Joe Biden will release a report on Tuesday regarding the export of liquefied gas. The study is not expected to conclude that the trade does not serve the public's interest. Biden halted in January the Department of Energy’s approvals of U.S. LNG imports to major consumers in Asia, Europe and the Middle East in order to allow his administration to study the economic and environmental impacts of this booming industry.
President says US is considering sanctions against a Serbian oil company majority owned by Russians
Aleksandar Vucic, president of Serbia, said that the United States would introduce financial sanctions in the next few days against Serbia's NIS oil company, which is owned in majority by Russia's Gazprom and Gazprom. Vucic, a reporter for Informer TV, said: "We received confirmation that the U.S. He said that the UK and European Union will likely follow the U.S. by introducing sanctions. This means that oil shipments via a pipeline coming from Croatia will be halted. Vucic stated that they are still awaiting an official document with all the details.
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.
Oil rises by 1% in a 3-week period as sanctions on Russia and Iran increase
The price of oil rose by about 1% on Friday to a record high for three weeks, as a result of expectations that additional sanctions against Russia and Iran would tighten up supplies. Lower interest rates in Europe or the U.S. may also boost the demand for fuel. . U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI), which is a blend of oil from Texas and Louisiana, rose by 79 cents or 1.1% at $70.81. Both crudes were heading for their highest closings since November 22. Brent was on track for a gain of 4% and WTI, a gain of 5%.
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.
EUROPE GAS: Prices firm for cold weather, low winds and Norway outages
Dutch and British wholesale prices for gas were slightly higher on Wednesday morning, as a cold snap and low winds supported demand while unplanned outages reduced some Norwegian supply. At 0911 GMT, the benchmark front-month contract for the Dutch TTF hub had increased by 0.15 euros to 45.70 Euro per megawatt hour or MWh (or $14.08/mmbtu). The Dutch day-ahead contracts was up 0.30 euros at 45.80 Euro/MWh. The day-ahead contract in Britain gained 0.55 pence, to 113.25 cents per therm.
