China’s interest in acquiring an abandoned stake in a Russian liquefied natural gas export project is providing further justification for Japan to continue its joint venture with Gazprom PJSC. “If Japan leaves a project, then a third party can acquire it,” Trade Minister Koichi Hagiuda said in Tokyo on Friday. …
Read More »The Netherlands Plans to End Russian Oil and Gas Purchases by the End of 2022
The Netherlands has a plan to end all purchases of Russian crude oil and natural gas by the end of the year, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte told journalists at a weekly press conference on Friday. The Netherlands is one of the European countries that has increased the amount of …
Read More »Russia’s War has Sparked a Coal Renaissance
Despite lots of talk about renewable energy acceleration, coal continues to dominate some markets. China is steadily increasing its coal output, while Indonesia looks to export to new European buyers. And while lots of countries are imposing sanctions on Russian coal, India is now backing up its cheap Russian oil …
Read More »Exxon Mobil may Completely Withdraw from Russia by 24 June
Exxon Mobil Corp is considering a complete withdrawal from Russia by 24 June, two sources familiar with the plans told Reuters on Thursday (21 April), following the US oil major’s earlier decision to exit all operations in the country. Exxon Mobil has not provided a timetable for the withdrawal but …
Read More »European Gas Extends Gains amid Lower Norwegian, Russian Flows
Natural gas prices in Europe extended gains as Norwegian flows plunged further amid planned works, while Russian shipments remained low. Benchmark futures gained as much as 5.2%, advancing for a third day. Supplies from Norway are set to slump to the lowest levels in more than three months with seasonal …
Read More »Germany Rejects Putin Demand for Ruble Payments for Gas Exports
Companies buying Russian natural gas should not have to set up ruble accounts to pay for it, German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said, pushing back against a demand made last month by Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Contracts are contracts,” Lindner said Wednesday in an interview with Bloomberg Television in Washington. …
Read More »Shell Starts Withdrawing Staff from Russia as Part of Exit Strategy
Shell has started to withdraw staff from its joint ventures with Russia’s Gazprom as it moves forward with plans to exit investments in response to the war in Ukraine. Dozens of Shell employees on temporary assignment at the Sakhalin-2 liquefied natural gas export project in Russia were removed over the …
Read More »Russian Crude Shipments Shrink 25% in Just One Week
Seaborne flows of Russian crude oil declined by a quarter in the seven days to April 15. Volumes heading to Asia from ports on the Black Sea, Baltic and Arctic coasts plunged to the lowest in two months. A total of 30 tankers loaded about 21.8 million barrels from Russian …
Read More »Putin, Saudi Prince Vow to Continue OPEC+ Cooperation
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed this weekend their countries’ cooperation in the OPEC+ oil production pact in their second telephone call since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Russia is a key partner to OPEC’s largest producer and de facto leader, Saudi Arabia, in the …
Read More »Oil Prices Rise on Supply Concerns as Ukraine Crisis Deepens
Oil prices rose on Monday as concerns grew about tighter global supply, with the deepening crisis in Ukraine raising the prospect of heavier sanctions by the West on top exporter Russia. Brent futures were up US$1.50, or 1.3 per cent, at US$113.20 a barrel at 12.30am GMT, and US West …
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