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 …
Read More »Oil Inches Higher as Vaccine Hopes Outweigh Build in U.S. Stockpiles
Oil prices inched higher on Wednesday, paring earlier losses, as positive news on COVID-19 vaccines lifted investor hopes for a recovery in fuel demand, outweighing concerns over an unexpected jump in U.S. oil inventories last week. Brent crude futures rose 11 cents, or 0.2%, to $48.95 a barrel by 0746 …
Read More »Pandemic Slows Energy Efficiency Race
Energy efficiency is expected to record this year its weakest progress in a decade, creating additional challenges to the world achieving international climate goals, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in a new report. Plunging investments and the economic crisis have markedly slowed the progress in energy efficiency this year, …
Read More »Total Seeks to Sell Its Stake in the Kurdistan Oil Field
French supermajor Total is in talks to sell its 18% stake in an oil field in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, with which it could raise around $ 500 million, Bloomberg reported, citing sources familiar with the matter. Total is working with Jefferies Group on the potential sale of its stake …
Read More »UAE Eases Oil Supply Cuts to Asia after OPEC+ Compromise Deal
The United Arab Emirates will provide Asian oil buyers with a little more crude next month after OPEC+ reached a compromise deal on cuts. While OPEC’s third-largest producer will still reduce supply to Asia in January, the curbs won’t be as deep as this month in percentage terms. Abu Dhabi …
Read More »China Races to Achieve the Holy Grail of Energy Markets
China is on a quest for world domination. Beijing has been making assertive moves into global energy markets for a while now, stepping into energy market power vacuums in largely untapped markets around the world. Chinese president Xi Jinping has made major inroads with his ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, …
Read More »BP Prepares to Boost Middle East Oil Production
BP has said it will invest heavily in Middle Eastern oil and natural-gas fields going into 2021. Despite pledging its transition to renewable energy, the company has highlighted its interest in Middle East oil and gas. At present, BP currently operates the world’s third largest oil field in Iraq, Rumalia, …
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