Russia & CIS

Russian Pipeline Gas Exports to Europe Down 56% in 2023

Natural gas supplies to Europe by Russian energy giant Gazprom were down 55.6% to 28.3 billion cubic meters (Bcm) in 2023, Reuters calculations showed on Tuesday.

Global News January 2024

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Projects December 2023

Western Midstream Partners closed its previously announced acquisition of Meritage Midstream Services II. The sale was funded with cash on hand and WES’s recent $600 million investment grade senior notes issuance.

Russian Oil Output to Hold Steady or Increase in 2024, Defying Earlier Sanctions Impact

Oil output in Russia, the third largest producer in the world after the United States and Saudi Arabia, is expected to be steady or even to increase next year as Moscow has largely overcome Western sanctions, analysts said.

Foreign Shareholders Freeze Participation in Russia's Arctic LNG 2

Foreign shareholders suspended participation in the Arctic LNG 2 project due to sanctions, renouncing their responsibilities for financing and for offtake contracts for the new Russian LNG plant, the daily Kommersant reported on Monday.

Russia Plans to Cut Seaborne Oil Exports by 100,000-200,000 bpd in January

Russia plans to cut oil exports from its sea ports in January by 100,000-200,000 barrels per day (bpd) from December levels amid increased throughput at its refineries, three industry sources familiar with export plans told Reuters.

China Seeks Exemption from U.S. Sanctions on Russian LNG Plant

China's state oil majors CNPC and CNOOC have both asked the U.S. government for exemptions from sanctions on a new Russian LNG export plant, a Beijing-based industry official with direct knowledge of the matter said.

Lack of Arctic Tankers Puts Russia's LNG Development Dreams on Ice

Russia is hoping its shipments of liquefied natural gas (LNG) will offset a sharp fall in pipeline gas exports to Europe, but a shortage of gas tankers and sanctions hold back its plans, analysts and industry sources said.

Germany's $55 Billion Gas Deal with Norway Ends Russian Dependency

Germany's decision to make Norway its biggest gas supplier, culminating in a deal this week that will cover a major chunk of its industrial needs, means it has replaced the formerly dominant Russia with another equally dominant supplier.

Russia's Novatek Issues Force Majeure Notices Over Arctic LNG 2 Project

Novatek, Russia's largest producer of LNG, has sent force majeure notifications to some of its clients over future supplies from its Arctic LNG 2 project, four industry sources told Reuters on Thursday.

Harbour Energy Strikes $11.2 Billion Deal for Wintershall Dea Assets

Britain's Harbour Energy on Thursday agreed to acquire Wintershall Dea's non-Russian oil and gas assets in a $11.2 billion share and cash deal with BASF and LetterOne that creates one of the world's largest independent producers.

Beijing Eyes Broader Energy Collaboration with Russia, Discusses Power of Siberia 2 Gas Pipeline

Beijing intends to expand energy cooperation with Russia along all stages of production, and Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui said that both countries were in active discussions about Russia's planned Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline.

Putin Directs Removal of Wintershall Dea, OMV Stakes in Russian Arctic Gas Projects

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered that Wintershall Dea and OMV be stripped of multibillion-dollar stakes in gas extraction projects in Russia's Arctic.

Looking Back at the Biggest Pipeline Stories of 2023

(P&GJ) – In this final issue of P&GJ for 2023, the staff – with more than a little help from our readers – takes a look back at the sometimes chaotic year in midstream that was 2023.

Russia Eyes Additional Oil Export Cuts of About 50,000 bpd in December

Russia said on Sunday it would deepen oil export cuts in December by potentially 50,000 barrels per day or more, earlier than promised, as the world's biggest exporters try to support the global oil price.

Serbia Launches Gas Pipeline Interconnector with Bulgaria, Diversifying Supplies

Serbia on Sunday completed the interconnector to a pipeline in Bulgaria, which would allow the Balkan country to diversify its gas supplies and reduce its dependence on Russia.

Italy's Saipem Completes Exit from Russia's Arctic-2 LNG Project

Italian energy engineering and construction group Saipem is no longer involved in Arctic-2 LNG, a massive Russian project to build an LNG production site in the Arctic, which was targeted by U.S. sanctions last month.

Revenues of Russia's Top Oil and Gas Producers Fall 41% in First 9 Months of 2023

The revenues of Russia's largest oil and natural gas producers dropped by 41% in the first nine months of the year, the central bank said in its financial stability review, as export volumes and prices declined.

Global News December 2023

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Kyiv Proposes Reversing Trans-Balkan Gas Pipeline Flows Through Ukraine

Ukraine's state gas transit operator on Wednesday proposed reversing gas flows through the Trans-Balkan pipeline, which would allow gas to be pumped from the Balkans to Central and Eastern European countries through Ukraine.

Oil Exporters Seek Alternative Routes as Black Sea Storm Continues to Suspend Loadings

Russian and Kazakh producers are seeking to redirect oil flows to other destinations, in particular to Russia's Baltic ports, but such opportunities are limited due to high demand.

Ukraine Suggests Reversing Trans-Balkan Gas Pipeline Flows to Meet Demand

Ukraine's state gas transit operator on Wednesday proposed reversing gas flows through the Trans-Balkan pipeline, which would allow gas to be pumped from the Balkans to Central and Eastern European countries through Ukraine.

Gas Condensate Exports from Russia's Yamal LNG Rise 16% In Jan-Nov

Exports of gas condensate, a kind of light oil, from Russia's Yamal LNG field were up by 15.8% year-on-year in January-November at 880,000 metric tons, according to LSEG ship-tracking data and traders.

Russian Black Sea Oil Exports Delayed Due to Heavy Storms

Russia's oil and oil product exports from the Novorossiysk Black Sea terminal are being restricted as bad weather has caused significant delays to loadings, two sources familiar with the port's operations said on Monday.

Greek Shippers Exit Russian Oil Trade as U.S. Tightens Price Cap Scrutiny

Three major Greek shipping firms have stopped transporting Russian oil in recent weeks in order to avoid U.S. sanctions now being imposed on some shipping firms carrying Russian oil, four traders told Reuters and shipping data showed.

CEZ Books 2 Bcm Capacity at German LNG Terminal

Czech majority state-owned utility CEZ has agreed to book 2 billion cubic meters (Bcm) of annual capacity at the Stade LNG terminal in Germany from 2027, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on Thursday.

Tankers Newly Sanctioned by US Supplied Russian Oil to India

Three oil tankers, newly sanctioned by Washington, regularly shipped Sokol crude from Russia's Far East to Indian Oil Corp., the country's top refiner, in recent months, according to ship tracking data from LSEG, Kpler and trade sources.

CEZ Abandons Planned Polish LNG Terminal Capacity Over Disputed Conditions

Majority state-owned Czech utility CEZ has shelved a plan to secure capacity for LNG at a new Polish terminal because it was unhappy with the conditions offered, two sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

Russian Pipeline Gas Exports to Europe Drop 6.7% in November

Average daily natural gas supplies to Europe by Russian energy giant Gazprom were down 6.7% in the first half of November from their October levels, Reuters calculations show.

Global News November 2023

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