Russia has resumed construction of the politically-charged Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Germany, laying pipes after a one-year hiatus prompted by U.S. sanctions, the pipeline operator said on Friday. The pipeline, which Washington says compromises European energy security, has become a flashpoint in relations between Russia and the West …
Read More »China Looks to Boost Shale Gas Development
China is looking to attract investments in shale gas developments by easing restrictions on foreign entities and subsidizing costs in a bid to boost its natural gas production while its demand continues to grow. China has shale gas reserves but the geology to extract those resources is challenging, so it …
Read More »COVID-19 Drove an 11% Drop in U.S. Energy Sector’s CO2 Emissions
In 2020, CO2 emissions from the U.S. energy sector could be 11% lower than in 2019, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) data through August and EIA estimates for September through December. According to values published in EIA’s December Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), EIA expects CO2 emissions in 2020 …
Read More »EU to Approve Sanctions over Turkish Gas Drilling
European Union leaders are set to agree sanctions on Turkish individuals on Thursday over a energy exploration dispute with Greece and Cyprus, but will postpone any harsher steps until March, according to a new draft summit statement. Shying away from a threat made in October to consider wider economic measures, …
Read More »Oil Jumps on COVID-19 Vaccine Roll-Out and Approval
Oil advanced on Thursday as Britain starts vaccinating its residents and United states approval of the vaccine. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose 25 cents, or 0.6%, to $45.77 a barrel at 05:00 GMT, while Brent crude futures climbed 22 cents, or 0.5%, to $49.08 a barrel. Prices …
Read More »Greece Becomes most Important Hub for Alternative Gas in Southeast Europe
As the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) became operational last month, a Greek official stated that his country had become the most important hub for gas from sources other than Russia in Southeastern Europe, also thanks to its LNG terminals. Kostis Hatzidakis, Greece’s minister of environment and energy, hailed the start of …
Read More »Russia Braces for Permanent Decline in Oil Demand
Russia has signaled it may be starting to prepare for a permanent decline in crude oil demand over the long term, even after the devastating effects of the coronavirus pandemic are over. “The peak of consumption may have already passed,” Deputy Finance Minister Vladimir Kolychev told Bloomberg in an interview. …
Read More »Rouhani: No Talks Needed for Reviving JCPOA
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says returning to the nuclear deal commitments does not need negotiations but determination. Speaking at a cabinet session on Wednesday, Rouhani pointed to the need for the JCPOA signatories to meet their obligations under the deal. “Our returning to the commitments does not take time, it …
Read More »Japan Greenhouse Gas Emissions Fall in FY2019 for 6th Straight Year
Japan’s greenhouse gas emissions fell in fiscal 2019 for the sixth straight year to reach their lowest level since comparable data became available in fiscal 1990, partly due to the impact of the U.S.-China trade dispute, the Environment Ministry said Tuesday. The equivalent of 1,213 million tons of carbon dioxide …
Read More »China Bails Out Iraq with Long-Term, Upfront Cash Deal for Oil
Iraq is poised to sign a multibillion-dollar contract with China ZhenHua Oil Co., a bailout from Beijing for the cash-strapped government which will receive money upfront in exchange for long-term oil supplies. The deal is the latest example of China, via state-controlled trading companies and banks, lending to struggling oil …
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