Oil prices were little changed on Thursday as investors grappled with falling stockpiles in the US, rising output from Russia and worries about a potential global recession. Brent crude futures climbed 10c, or 0.1%, to $93.75 a barrel by 3.47am GMT. US crude futures gained 10c, or 0.1%, to $88.21 …
Read More »Japan Utilities Get Contract Offer from New Russian Operator of Sakhalin-2
Japanese gas and electric utilities with long-term contracts to buy liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Sakhalin-2 project in Russia have received a new contract offer from the newly-formed Russian operator, some companies said on Wednesday. The Russian entity was registered on Aug. 5 to replace the project operator Sakhalin …
Read More »Europe Gas Takes a Breather from Rally as Storage Fills up
Natural gas in Europe rose again, extending a rally as a scorching summer boosts demand while supplies from Russia remain limited. Benchmark futures jumped as much as 4.7%, reversing earlier declines. Energy market concerns are deepening as the hot and dry weather boosts gas consumption for cooling. It’s also drying …
Read More »Hydropower in China Struggles amid Worst Heatwave in Decades
The southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan is baking in the worst heatwave in six decades, with hydropower generation from the Yangtze River falling and factories closing to ease the pressure on the grids. The heatwave is reducing water levels on the Yangtze River to the lowest on record for this …
Read More »Iraq is Planning to Increase Crude Oil Production
Iraq is planning to increase its crude oil production to phased targets of 5 to 8 million barrels per day (bpd) over time, according to the first vice president of the Iraq National Oil Company (INOC), Hamid Younis, last week. The director general of the Iraq Oil Exploration Company (IOEC), …
Read More »Europe’s Power Prices Surge to New Record
Year-ahead electricity prices continue to soar in Europe, with German power prices, the European benchmark, jumping to over $508 (500 euro) per megawatt-hour on Tuesday amid low Russian gas supply and a heatwave constraining supply and output from other fuel sources. Over the past year, German power prices have soared …
Read More »Europe Says ‘No’ to VAT Exemption on German Gas Levy
Europe is hoping the new gas levy Germany is introducing for all gas consumers not have “unintended consequences”. It is hoped that this new tax will allow the country to offset the rising cost of gas imports caused by the reduced Russian gas flows through Nord Stream 1 pipeline. Germany …
Read More »Norway Hits Export Record amid Soaring Gas Prices
Norway’s exports reached a record in July, driven mainly by natural gas prices that have soared since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Scandinavian country’s statistics agency on Monday said Norwegian exports reached 229 billion kroner (US$24 billion) last month, 0.4 per cent higher than the previous record set in March …
Read More »Crude Oil Boosted by US Demand Revival Data
Crude oil futures gained on Wednesday morning as industry data in the US showed more-than-expected decline in inventories last week. At 10.30 am on Wednesday, October Brent oil futures were at $92.92, up 0.5 per cent, and September crude oil futures on WTI were at $87.39, up by 0.85 per …
Read More »Russian Gas Flows to Europe have Remained Steady
According to operator data, gas flows from Russia to Europe through some major pipelines remained steady, although low, on Tuesday. Physical flows through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline from Russia to Germany were 14,604,119 kilowatt hours per hour (kWh/h) from 7:00 to 8:00 CET, consistent with levels reported on Monday …
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