Russia & CIS

Global News May 2024

Latest industry developments from around the world!

Slovakia Paves the Way for Gas Imports from Azerbaijan via Ukraine

Slovakia is laying the groundwork to receive gas from Azerbaijan through Ukraine, to further diversify its supplies away from Russia and revive earnings from transit to other countries, Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Monday.

Russia Plans to Pipe 35 Bcm of Gas to China via Kazakhstan, TASS Reports

Russia plans to send some 35 billion cubic meters (Bcm) of natural gas per year to China via Kazakhstan, the TASS news agency reported on Saturday citing Kazakhstan's envoy to Russia, disclosing the potential volumes for the first time.

U.S. Oil Executive Censure Puts Spotlight on Shale-OPEC Meetings

A U.S. regulator's censure of a top U.S. oil executive over private meetings with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) group of oil producers has put a spotlight on dinners attended by dozens of shale executives.

Russia's Gazprom Sees Worst Loss in Decades as European Gas Sales Collapse

Kremlin-owned gas giant Gazprom said on Thursday it plunged to a net loss of $6.9 billion in 2023, its first annual loss in more than 20 years, amid dwindling gas trade with Europe, once its main sales market.

U.S. State Dept. Clears Oil Service Firm SLB of Russia Sanction Violations

The U.S. State Department believes oil services firm SLB has not violated sanctions against Russia and the company has been told what Washington is willing to accept, Assistant Secretary of State Geoffrey Pyatt told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday.

Pipeline Projects Seen as Unlikely to Involve Western-Based Companies

(P&GJ) – Inside China, there are numerous large-scale oil and gas pipeline projects that are being built, are currently in the planning stages or have been proposed. Some of these have huge potential significance, and the situation has certainly caught the attention of Western-based companies, which hope to supply equipment, technology or services to one or more of the projects.

Russian LNG Exports Could Stall Over Next Four Years Amid Sanctions Pressure

Russia's LNG exports could stagnate in the next four years under the two less-rosy of three Economy Ministry scenarios - a sign that Western sanctions might be cramping Moscow's energy plans.

Balticconnector Gas Pipeline Resumes Operations Following Damage

A Baltic Sea gas pipeline that was torn apart last year in an incident still under police investigation has resumed commercial operation as planned after months of repair, operator Gasgrid Finland said on Monday.

Croatia Secures $566 Million to Construct Four New Gas Pipelines

(P&GJ) — Croatia's energy infrastructure is set for a significant upgrade with the signing of a contract worth $566.4 million to construct four gas pipelines by mid-2026. The pipelines will facilitate gas transportation from the Krk LNG terminal to Slovenia, Hungary, and other Southeast European countries.

CNOOC Stockpiles Russian Oil at New Reserve Base in China

State-run China National Offshore Oil Co., one of the country's top importers of Russian oil, has in recent months been pumping shipments of ESPO blend from Russia's Far East into a newly launched reserve base, according to traders and tanker trackers.

EU Parliament Approves Legal Option to Block Russian LNG Imports

The European Parliament voted on Thursday to pass rules allowing European governments to ban Russian LNG imports, by preventing Russian firms from booking gas infrastructure capacity.

White House Considers Ending LNG Export Pause for Ukraine Aid, Sources Say

U.S. officials are open to ending President Joe Biden's pause on approvals of LNG exports to get a Ukraine aid package passed in Congress, but want to wait to see the entire proposal before making any decisions, two White House sources said on Tuesday.

Russia's Arctic LNG 2 Suspends Gas Liquefaction Amid Sanctions, Tanker Shortage

Novatek, Russia's largest producer of LNG, has suspended production at its Arctic LNG 2 project due to sanctions and a shortage of gas tankers, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Tuesday.

Gazprom Utilizes Replacement Vessel for Gas Loadings Amid Ship Repair

Russia's Gazprom is using a replacement vessel for ship-to-ship loadings of LNG from its Portovaya LNG plant on the Baltic Sea while another ship is repaired, LSEG data showed on Monday.

Gazprom Acquires Former Shell Stake in Sakhalin Energy for $1 Billion

Kremlin-controlled energy giant Gazprom has acquired a 27.5% stake, formerly owned by Shell, in Russian LNG producer Sakhalin Energy for around $1 billion, according to a government order.

Editor’s Notebook: Nord Stream’s $20 Billion Question

It has been more than two years since the attack on the Nord Stream pipelines and still nobody knows for sure who were the perpetrators – or if they do, they are not saying so publicly.

Canada Signs Hydrogen Deal with Germany to Counter Russian Energy Dependency

Canada, citing the need to shun Russian energy, on Monday signed an agreement with Germany that it said would accelerate work towards the commercial-scale trade of clean hydrogen fuel.

KazTransOil to Increase Tengizchevroil Oil Exports via BTC Pipeline

Kazakhstan's KazTransOil said on Friday that it plans to increase exports of Tengizchevroil's oil via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline to 140,000 tons in April from 130,000 tons in March.

Ukraine Declines Extension of Russian Gas Transit Deal

Ukraine said on Sunday it does not plan to prolong a five-year deal with Russia's Gazprom on the transit of Russian gas to Europe or to sign another one.

Russia's Gazprom Seeks Over $900 Million in Gas Dispute Damages from Polish Companies

In 2022, Poland terminated its agreement with Russia to receive Russian gas via the Yamal gas pipeline after Warsaw rejected a demand to pay for the fuel in rubles and Moscow responded by cutting off supplies.

Nord Stream Sues Insurers in London Over 2022 Pipeline Explosions

Nord Stream is seeking more than $436 million from its insurers over explosions in 2022 which ruptured pipelines designed to transport Russian gas to Germany, court filings show.

Turkish Oil Terminal Stops Accepting Russian Imports Amid U.S. Sanctions Pressure

One of Turkey's mid-sized Mediterranean oil terminals - the Dortyol terminal - will no longer accept Russian imports after receiving record volumes last year, amid an increase in sanctions pressure by the United States.

Global News March 2024

Latest industry developments from around the world!

Russia to Ban Gasoline Exports for Six Months Starting March 1

Russia on Tuesday ordered a six-month ban on gasoline exports from March 1 to keep prices stable amid rising demand from consumers and farmers and to allow for maintenance of refineries in the world's second largest oil exporter.

Denmark Ends Probe Into 'Deliberate' Nord Stream Pipeline Blasts

Denmark has dropped its investigation into the explosions in 2022 on the Nord Stream pipelines carrying Russian gas to Germany, police said on Monday, becoming the second nation to do so after Sweden closed its own inquiry.

EU Sees No Need to Extend Deal on Russian Gas Transit via Ukraine

The European Union sees no need to extend an agreement to transport Russian gas to Europe via Ukraine, ahead of the contract's planned expiry at the end of the year, the bloc's energy policy chief said on Thursday.

Shell Forecasts 50% Surge in Global LNG Demand by 2040

Global demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) is estimated to rise by more than 50% by 2040, as China and countries in South and Southeast Asia use LNG to support their economic growth, Shell said on Wednesday.

Russia Extends Permit for LNG Supplies to Germany's SEFE Until 2040

The Russian government has extended a permit for its Yamal LNG plant to supply LNG to German nationalized gas importer and trader SEFE until Dec. 31, 2040, according to a government document published on Friday.

Arctic LNG 2's Third Line on Hold, TotalEnergies CEO Says

The third and the last train of the Arctic LNG 2 project in Russia has been put on hold but the second train is likely to be installed, the head of stakeholder TotalEnergies said.