Russia & CIS

JPMorgan in Talks to Resume Physical LNG Trading After Decade-Long Hiatus: Report

JPMorgan Chase is in talks to resume trading physical liquefied natural gas (LNG) after more than a decade, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Malaysia’s Oil Exports to China Surge Amid Broader Import Decline

Customs data showed that Malaysia, a key supplier of transshipped oil from sanctioned countries like Iran and Venezuela, shipped 1.49 million barrels per day to China in September, up from 1.77 million bbl/d in August.

MOL Refinery Transition to Non-Russian Crude Delayed to 2026

Hungarian oil group MOL expects its refineries to be able to process both Russian and non-Russian crude oils by the end of 2026, a year later than planned as some adjustment projects have been delayed, a senior MOL executive said.

QatarEnergy Signs 20-Year Naphtha Deal with Shell

QatarEnergy has entered into a long-term naphtha supply agreement with Shell, supplying up to 18 million metric tons of naphtha to the London-listed company over 20 years from next April.

Russia Sues Shell Units Over Energy Projects, Court Documents Reveal

Russia's Prosecutor General has filed a lawsuit against a number of energy major Shell's units, court documents showed on Friday.

Japan Becomes Top Buyer of LNG from Russia's Sakhalin 2

Japan is currently the biggest importer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia's Sakhalin 2 plant accounting for 57.5% of its exports, Interfax news agency quoted a company senior manager as saying on Thursday.

New Energy Tanker Berths at Russia's Arctic LNG 2 Despite U.S. Sanctions

The U.S.-sanctioned LNG tanker New Energy has berthed at Russia's Arctic LNG 2 plant, according to ship-tracking data. Despite Western sanctions over Russia's actions in Ukraine, the Palau-flagged tanker continues operations, including a recent ship-to-ship transfer from the plant.

Global News October 2024

Stay informed with the latest industry news and developments in the midstream sector. From pipeline projects to regulatory updates and company announcements, P&GJ's Global News column brings you the most important insights from around the world.

P&GJ’s Europe 500 Report of Top Pipelines

The following is a list of some of the longest transportation routes on the continent of Europe as of July 2024. This third such report will be broken down into two sections: gas and liquids (oil and products), which will be updated in each of our September issues going forward.

India Refuses LNG Purchases from Sanctioned Russia's Arctic LNG 2 Project

India will not buy liquefied natural gas (LNG) produced from Russia's Arctic LNG 2 project, which is sanctioned by Western countries, Oil Secretary Pankaj Jain said on Friday.

Malaysia Surges to Become China’s No. 2 Crude Oil Supplier After Russia

China's crude oil imports from Malaysia surged 31% in August from a year earlier, making it the country's second-largest supplier after Russia, customs data showed, bucking a broader trend of slowing Chinese imports.

Russia Approves Fuel Pipeline Project in Congo with 90% Stake

Russia has tentatively agreed to the construction of a fuel pipeline in the Republic of Congo, according to a government decree published late on Monday. The pipeline will link the western port of Pointe-Noire to the capital Brazzaville.

Putin Arrives in Mongolia, a Key Link in Russia's Planned Gas Pipeline to China

The Kremlin said on Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had arrived for a state visit in Mongolia, which lies on the route of a planned new gas pipeline connecting Russia and China.

OPEC+ Set to Move Forward with October Output Hike Despite Demand Woes, Sources Say

OPEC+ is set to proceed with a planned oil output hike from October, as Libyan outages and pledged cuts by some members to compensate for overproduction counter the impact of sluggish demand, six sources from the producer group told Reuters.

Russia Defies Sanctions, Moves Forward with Arctic LNG 2 Project: LSEG Data

Russia's largest LNG producer Novatek appears to be preparing a floating storage unit to receive gas as part of its Arctic LNG 2 project, in defiance of sanctions, LSEG ship-tracking data showed on Friday.

Russia's Tatneft Increases Oil Exports to Slovakia, Hungary Amid Lukoil Sanctions

Russian companies, mainly Tatneft, have boosted oil exports to Slovakia and Hungary to replace supplies lost after Ukraine sanctions halted exports from Moscow-based Lukoil, Kommersant newspaper said on Thursday.

U.S. Sanctions Hit Key Entities in Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 Project

The Arctic LNG 2 project by Russia's Novatek is subject to Western sanctions over Russia's conflict with Ukraine. The project had been due to become Russia's largest LNG plant with eventual output of 19.8 million metric tons per year of LNG from three trains.

Morgan Stanley Cuts 2024 Oil Demand Forecast on China's LNG Truck Growth, Economic Slowdown

Morgan Stanley has lowered its global oil demand growth forecast for 2024, mainly due to China's slower economic growth, increased electric vehicle usage there, and a rise in the number of trucks in China powered by LNG.

Global News August 2024

Latest industry developments from around the world!

Hungary's MOL Nears Final Agreement for Russian Oil Transport Amid Kyiv Ban

Hungary's MOL is in the final stages of talks to set up a scheme to ensure crude oil flows from Russia after Kyiv banned its main partner Lukoil's transport through its pipelines, a Hungarian government official said on Thursday.

Russia's Novatek Postpones Arctic LNG 2 Third Line to 2028

Russian natural gas company Novatek has postponed the start of operations at the third line of the Arctic LNG 2 project to 2028 from 2026, RBC media reported on Thursday.

U.S. Oil Export Growth Slows as Output and Global Demand Wane

U.S. crude oil export gains should plateau in 2024 after years of strong growth, with domestic output expected to increase by the smallest amount since the pandemic at a time when global oil demand remains sluggish.

Fuel Pipeline Explosion at Russian Petrochemical Plant Injures Three

A blast and fire on a fuel pipeline at the Sterlitamak petrochemical plant in Russia's Bashkiria region east of Moscow injured three people, local authorities said on Monday.

Germany Issues Arrest Warrant for Ukrainian in Nord Stream Pipeline Attack, But Suspect Has Fled, Officials Say

Poland received a European arrest warrant issued by Berlin in connection with the 2022 attack on Nord Stream pipelines, but the suspect, a Ukrainian man named as Volodymyr Z, has already left Poland, Polish prosecutors told Reuters.

Russian Court Freezes $1.2 Billion in Linde UK Assets Over Gas Processing Dispute

A Russian court has ordered that assets worth around $1.15 billion of a British subsidiary of German industrial gases company Linde be frozen in a dispute over a gas processing plant, court filings showed on Wednesday.

End of an Era? Russian Gas Flow to Europe via Ukraine in Question

Russia continues to supply gas to Europe through Ukraine, despite the war and shifting energy dynamics. With the transit deal ending in 2024, the future of these gas flows remains uncertain.

Gazprom's Gas Transit Through Ukraine Continues Amid Reported Clashes Near Sudzha

The Ukrainian transit operator said on Wednesday that Russian natural gas continued to transit Ukraine as normal despite reports of clashes near the Russian town of Sudzha where Russian gas flows into Ukraine.

Ukraine Pierces Russian Border Near Major Gas Transmission Hub

Russia said on Wednesday that it was fighting intense battles against Ukrainian forces which had penetrated the Kursk region near a major natural gas transmission hub in one of the largest incursions into Russia since the war began in February 2022.

Hungary's MOL CEO Sees No Need to Wean Off Russian Oil

The head of Hungarian oil and gas giant MOL has said he sees no advantage in Hungary weaning itself off Russian oil supplies and dismissed warnings of fuel shortages in the country as "politics".

U.S. Dominates Global Natural Gas Production and LNG Exports

The U.S. has reinforced its position as the leading global producer of natural gas and LNG exporter, with notable increases in LNG supply and significant reductions in European and Russian gas imports.