Europe

Germany, Austria, Italy Urge EU to Back Hydrogen Projects

Austria, Germany and Italy have pressed the European Union to support a cluster of infrastructure projects to transport green hydrogen imported from North Africa, as part of efforts to build a market in Europe for the low-carbon fuel.

Denmark, Sweden Sign Solidarity Agreement on Gas Supply

Denmark and Sweden have signed an agreement on mutual support in case of gas shortages, the energy authorities of the two countries said on Monday.

Snam CEO: Italy New LNG Terminal to Be Operational at End of May

The expansion is part of the Italian government's strategy for replacing Russian gas with alternative supplies.

US LNG Exports Go Full Steam Ahead, Sales to Latin America Rise

U.S. producers of LNG exported at top capacity in April for a second consecutive month, with over two-thirds of shipments bound for Europe and rising volumes to Latin America, data showed on Monday.

Global News May 2023

Latest industry developments.

Editor’s Notebook: Nord Stream Questions Grow Murkier

(P&GJ) — While the investigation into who deliberately blew up Nord Stream continues, the operator of the previously functional first line appears to be taking a serious look at how it will seal and empty the pipeline before more damage occurs.

Norway Plans to Nationalize Gas Pipelines When Concessions Expire

Norway plans to nationalize most of its gas pipeline network when many existing concessions expire in 2028, the oil and energy ministry said on Friday, to tighten control over key infrastructure.

Explainer: Can Joint Gas Buying Boost Europe's Energy Security?

The European Union opened a scheme this week for companies to jointly buy gas, aiming to secure supplies ahead of winter and avoid a repeat of last year's record-high energy prices.

Naftogaz Held Talks with Exxon, Chevron, Halliburton About Energy Projects in Ukraine -FT

Naftogaz has held talks with Exxon Mobil, Halliburton and Chevron about projects in Ukraine as the country looks to lure back foreign investment to its energy sector, the Financial Times reported on Friday. Naftogaz hopes to sign a contract with Halliburton that would help increase production to a target of 13.5 Bcm this year.

Dutch Government Confirms Plan to Halt Gas Production in Groningen

The Dutch government said on Tuesday that it will invest $24.24 billion in the earthquake-stricken Groningen region while confirming plans to halt gas production there no later than 2024.

Energy Firms in Germany Join Up for Sea-to-Inland Hydrogen Route

Germany wants to build 10 gigawatts of green hydrogen capacity, made from solar and wind power, by 2030 and import massive volumes from overseas to help industries such as steelmaking or cement replace millions of tonnes of heavily carbon polluting "grey" hydrogen made with gas.

Italy's Eni, Snam Offer Slovakia Gas Supply and Storage

Italy's energy group Eni and gas grid operator Snam on Thursday signed two agreements with Slovakia's biggest energy provider SPP for the supply and storage of gas and LNG.

Spain's Tecnicas Reunidas, FCC to Build LNG Terminal Worth $1.1 Billion in Germany

Spanish companies Tecnicas Reunidas and FCC and Turkey's ENKA have won a contract to build an LNG regasification terminal in Germany worth about $1.09 billion, Tecnicas Reunidas said.

Norway Parliament Asks for CCS Alternative to Decarbonize Major LNG Plant

Norway's parliament on Tuesday told the government to consider an alternative way to cut carbon emissions at Western Europe's largest LNG plant, but stopped short of outright halting a controversial plan to use power from land.

Gazprom Says Europe Set to Struggle Refilling Gas Storage for Next Winter

It will be very difficult for Europe to refill its gas storage to last year's levels after the continent ended the winter heating season with relatively low stockpiles, Russian natural gas giant Gazprom said on Tuesday.

Shell Restarts Pierce Field Operations in UK North Sea

Shell Plc said on Tuesday it had restarted operations at the Pierce field in the UK Central North Sea, following an upgrade to allow gas to be produced at the location after years of it producing only oil.

Security of Supply Concerns Prompt Arctic Barents Sea Gas Pipeline Rethink in Norway

Building a pipeline to transport gas produced in the Arctic Barents Sea could be worth re-examining due to an increased focus on supply security and Norway exporting more of its gas to Europe, gas infrastructure operator Gassco said on Monday.

Caspian Pipeline Consortium Halts Oil Loadings in Planned Shutdown

The Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), which handles 1% of global oil flows, has stopped oil loadings through its single mooring points (SPM) since April 10 because of a planned shutdown, it said on Wednesday.

Poland Sets Exclusion Zone Around Swinoujscie LNG Terminal

Poland will introduce a temporary 200-meter exclusion zone around its Swinoujscie LNG terminal on Thursday, the interior minister said on Wednesday, citing concerns about Russian espionage.

Hungary Agrees on Option for More Russian Gas Shipments, Oil Transit Fees

Hungary's foreign minister said on Tuesday that Russian energy giant Gazprom would maintain an option to supply additional gas to Hungary this year on top of the shipments agreed under a long-term deal.

G7 Climate Ministers Drop Language on Growing LNG Demand in Draft

Climate ministers of the Group of Seven countries have backtracked for now on earlier language touting growing future demand for LNG, instead noting there may be "considerable uncertainty" for consumption.

Rare Shipments of Forties Crude Head to East Coast Refiners

U.S. and Canadian refiners have turned to North Sea "Forties" crude oil for the first time in seven years in the latest sign of changing global oil flows from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Global News April 2023

US LNG exports hit record as Freeport production returns, Granholm says refilling US strategic petroleum reserve could take years, EU Nations seek legal option to stop Russian LNG imports, Oil firms halt or cut output in Iraqi Kurdistan, and more!

Iraq to Ask Turkey to Restart Northern Oil Exports After Initial KRG Deal

Iraq's federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) have reached an initial agreement to restart northern oil exports this week, a KRG spokesman said on Sunday, and Baghdad will write to Turkey to request a resumption in pipeline flows.

Uganda Approves Construction of 898-Mile Crude Pipeline

Uganda approves construction of 898-mile crude pipeline, Biden backs scaled-back ConocoPhillips Alaska oil project, construction of 106-mile gas pipeline to Serbia underway, Coastal GasLink pipeline costs expected to top $10 billion and more.

Finland's Floating LNG Terminal to Receive First Commercial Cargo

Finland is set to receive the first commercial delivery of LNG to the Inkoo floating terminal set up to replace Russian gas supply after the start of the war in Ukraine.

EU Countries Seek Legal Option to Stop Russian LNG Imports

European Union countries agreed on Tuesday to seek a legal option to stop Russian companies sending LNG to EU nations by preventing Russian firms from booking infrastructure capacity.

MOL Group Receives 617,000 Barrels of Crude Via the Adria Pipeline

(P&GJ) — MOL Group said this shipment constitutes well-to-wheel integration of its value chain as it will process and sell petroleum products refined at one of its own refineries using crude oil produced at a field it co-owns.

Portugal to Launch Europe's First Auction for Piped Hydrogen

Portugal will launch a pioneering auction in the second half of this year for rights to sell hydrogen for injection into the national gas grid, which some see as a key step in kickstarting Europe’s fledgling hydrogen market.

Kremlin: Important to Identify Object Found Next to Nord Stream Pipeline

The Kremlin on Friday said it was important to identify an object discovered next to one of the Nord Stream pipelines and said the ongoing investigation into blasts that struck the pipelines last September must be conducted with full transparency.