Oil prices settled little changed on Friday as markets weighed Chinese demand and interest rate-cut expectations after data showed cooling US inflation. Brent crude futures closed up 6 cents, or 0.08%, at $72.94 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose 8 cents, or 0.12%, at $69.46 per barrel. …
Read More »Europe still Clings to Russia Gas with Record LNG Flow this Year
The European Union boosted imports of Russian liquefied natural gas against the backdrop of deepening tensions over pipeline supplies that flow through Ukraine. The bloc purchased a record amount of Russian LNG this year, according to ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg. Among top byers, France has already hit its highest-ever …
Read More »Romanian Steel Industry Feels the Pinch of Economic Slowdown
Difficult market conditions have prompted Romanian steel industry leader ArcelorMittal Hunedoara to reduce production until year’s end. According to a notice provided to the Bucharest Stock Exchange, the longs producer’s board of directors decided to reduce production from December 9-31 and pay 75% of salaries to employees impacted by the …
Read More »Europe’s Green Energy Transition Faces Unexpected Hurdles
Energy prices across Europe fell below zero for a record number of hours in 2024. An accelerated buildout of large-scale wind and solar farms has flooded European grids at peak production hours, causing surplus energy to be sold at a loss at increasingly frequent increments, for a grand total of …
Read More »EU Ready to Discuss Closer Energy Ties with US under Trump
The European Union is prepared to discuss with U.S. President-elect Trump boosting economic ties, including in the energy sector, an EU spokesperson told Reuters on Friday, hours after Trump threatened to impose “tariffs all the way” on the bloc if it doesn’t buy large volumes of American oil and gas. …
Read More »Renewables Growth won’t Go away under Trump
The rise of data centers and their quest for renewable energy to power AI technology will boost the growth of renewables even under President Donald Trump, the Americas head of Japan’s biggest bank, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, told Reuters. “The new administration will be more constructive on fossil fuels, but …
Read More »Russia’s Gazprom Makes First LNG Delivery to Italy amid Shifting European Energy Landscape
In a significant development for European energy markets, Russian energy giant Gazprom has completed its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) delivery to Italy from its Baltic Sea-based LNG Portovaya facility. The shipment, carried by vessel Cool Rover, arrived at Italy’s FSRU Toscana terminal in Livorno, Reuters reported citing LSEG data. …
Read More »Slovakia may Take Measures against Ukraine over Gas Transit
Slovakia may consider reciprocal measures against Ukraine if it doesn’t allow the transit of gas from Russia to Europe. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said he was taken aback by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s refusal to allow flows after the two leaders spoke at a summit in Brussels. Zelenskiy said …
Read More »China’s Coal Imports from Australia Rise to Highest Level since April 2020
China’s coal imports from Australia rose to their highest in more than four years in November, customs data showed on Friday, as shipments continue to recover from an unofficial ban on Australian coal that was lifted in January 2023. Australian coal imports were 9.3 million metric tons in November, according …
Read More »U.S. Grants Turkey Exemption from Sanctions on Gazprombank
The United States has exempted Turkey from sanctions on Russia’s Gazprombank so that it can continue to pay for gas imports, the Turkish energy minister told Bloomberg. Washington sanctioned dozens of Russian banks in November, including Gazprombank, which since March 2022 had been the only bank countries could use to …
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