Global oil demand could dive by 20% as 3 billion people are in a lockdown because of the coronavirus outbreak, the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) said March 26 as he called on OPEC leader Saudi Arabia to help stabilize oil markets. “Today, 3 billion people in the …
Read More »Saudi Arabia should Call a Truce in Oil Price War
Saudi Arabia’s carefully nurtured reputation for being a reliable oil producer and its aspiration to be seen as a responsible global leader will be in jeopardy if the kingdom continues to pursue its volume war. Pressing on with such a tactic in the midst of the worst global health emergency …
Read More »Shell Lowers 2020 Capex
British oil major Shell joined other companies in the sector in lowering capital expenditure for the current year by about $5 billion and suspended the next tranche of its share buyback plan to weather a hit from the recent oil price crash. The company said it would reduce 2020 cash …
Read More »Total will Cut Spending Due to Low Oil Prices
French oil major Total will freeze recruitment, boost costs savings and halt its share buyback programme due to tumbling oil prices, chief executive Patrick Pouyanne told staff in a video message on Thursday, according to a union official. The group is the latest oil and gas producer to slash investment …
Read More »Oil Demand to Fall more than 10%
Global oil demand could fall by more than 10 percent due to lockdowns spreading across Europe to fight the coronavirus outbreak as well as measures in the US, Vitol, the world’s largest oil trader, said on Friday. But the drop would be much higher if the virus prompts widespread lockdowns …
Read More »Russia Introduces Tax Relief for New Arctic LNG Projects
Russia introduced fresh tax relief on Wednesday for new liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects in the Arctic, focused on those intended to come on stream from 2022, the text of a law signed by President Vladimir Putin showed. The zero-rate extraction tax on natural gas will primarily benefit independent gas …
Read More »Russia to Keep Oil Flowing by Extending Arctic Shifts
Russian oil and gas workers in the Arctic Yamal peninsula could see their shifts extended by months to shield the energy industry and its employees from the spread of coronavirus. The region’s governor recommended in an order published on Tuesday that the shifts of those currently working in the region …
Read More »Mediation between the Two Oil Powerhouses may be Impossible Right Now
Attempts by some OPEC members to mediate between the cartel’s leader, Saudi Arabia, and Russia have failed and this Wednesday’s meeting of an OPEC+ technical committee has been scrapped amid the “full on war” between the friends turned foes, sources told Reuters on Monday. The meeting of the Joint Technical …
Read More »Solar-Rich UAE Is Turning to Nuclear Energy
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is building the world’s largest concentrated solar power plant, capable of generating 700 megawatts. During daylight, solar power will provide cheap electricity, and at night the UAE will use stored solar heat to generate electricity. But at the same time, four nuclear reactors are nearing …
Read More »Spare Capacity in Oil Market Set to Fall as Producers Ramp Up Supply
Global oil spare production capacity could fall in April as Saudi Arabia and the UAE bring more supply to the market following the collapse of output restriction pact. “Global spare capacity will drop by 2-3 million bpd as most of the players with spare capacity will start ramping up their …
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