Russia & CIS

US Probes 30 Ship Managers for Suspected Russia Oil Sanctions Violations

The U.S. Treasury Department has sent notices to ship management companies requesting information about 100 vessels it suspects of violating Western sanctions on Russian oil, according to a source who has seen the documents.

US Collaborating with Allies on Sanctions for Russian Arctic LNG Project

The U.S. is working closely with partner countries over sanctions on a Russian LNG project in the Arctic as a January deadline looms on a wind-down of transactions with the plant, a State Department spokesperson said on Wednesday.

Saudi Arabia, Russia to Continue Additional Voluntary Oil Cuts

Top oil exporters Saudi Arabia and Russia confirmed on Sunday they would continue with their additional voluntary oil output cuts until the end of the year as concerns over demand and economic growth continue to weigh on crude markets.

New U.S. Sanctions Take Aim at Russia's Arctic LNG Project Amid Ukraine Conflict

The latest sanctions target a major entity involved in the development, operation and ownership of a massive project in Siberia known as Arctic-2 LNG, the State Department said in a statement. The project expected to ship chilled natural gas, known as LNG to global markets.

Gazprom Delivers Second LNG Shipment to China, Taking Suez Canal

Russia's Gazprom on Thursday delivered a second shipment of LNG to China, sending it via the Suez Canal rather than the northern sea route taken by the previous cargo, according to LSEG data.

Russia's Weaker Hand Undermines Case for Power of Siberia 2 Gas Pipeline to China

Russia is counting on a planned new pipeline to China as it seeks to make up for lost gas sales in Europe, but industry insiders see major risks around the project and question whether it will justify the huge costs.

Industry Insiders See Major Risks Associated With Potential Russia-China Natural Gas Pipeline

Russia is counting on a planned new pipeline to China as it seeks to make up for lost gas sales in Europe, but industry insiders see major risks around the project and question whether it will justify the huge costs.

Three Baltic Gas Pipeline, Telecom Cable Incidents Are Related, Estonia Says

Finland on Friday said it had raised its risk assessment for gas supply security because of the damage to the Balticconnector Finland-Estonia pipeline, which operator Gasgrid has said could be out of commission until April or longer.

Construction of Mongolian Part of Russian Gas Pipeline to China May Start in Early 2024

Construction of the Mongolian portion of Russia's planned new Power of Siberia-2 gas pipeline to China may start in the first quarter or first half of 2024, TASS news agency quoted Russian Deputy Prime Minister Viktoria Abramchenko as saying on Tuesday.

Russia’s Gazprom Working on Infrastructure Design for Far Eastern Gas Pipeline to China

Russian energy giant Gazprom said on Thursday that it was working on the design of infrastructure for a gas pipeline from the Sakhalin region in Russia's Far East to China.

Global News October 2023

Latest industry developments from around the world!

Venezuela May Redirect Oil Exports Away from China as U.S. Eases Sanctions

Exemptions to sanctions on Venezuelan oil exports that the U.S. is mulling should not result in a large crude production surge in the OPEC country, instead taking barrels away from its current main destination China, experts said.

New Gas Pipeline Stretching 808 Miles to Murmansk Confirmed by Novatek

(P&GJ) — Novatek, the Russian energy giant, has officially announced its project to construct an extensive 808-mile (1,300-km) gas pipeline reaching Murmansk, Russia. The pipeline project is expected to be able to transport 40 billion cubic meters of gas annually.

Putin Optimistic About Progress on Power of Siberia 2 Gas Pipeline to China

Russian President Vladimir Putin told his Mongolian counterpart Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh on Tuesday that he believed the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline project to bring Russian gas to China via Mongolia would move ahead at a "good pace."

Orlen Takes Over Polish Segment of Yamal Gas Pipeline, Reducing Gazprom Stake

Orlen is taking over the Polish section of the Yamal gas pipeline, the state-controlled refiner said on Tuesday, meaning Russia's Gazprom will no longer have a stake.

Russia Begins Gas Supplies to Uzbekistan via Kazakhstan

Russia on Saturday started supplying natural gas to Uzbekistan via Kazakhstan, marking the occasion with ceremonies in Moscow and elsewhere attended by the presidents of the three countries and shown on state TV.

RWE CEO Warns of Gas Supply Risks in Germany

Germany must speed up construction of gas import infrastructure to avoid supply squeezes, the CEO of the country's largest utility told news outlet WirtschaftsWoche, adding the risk of soaring energy prices had not been fully contained.

Global News September 2023

Latest industry developments from around the world!

Moldova Will No Longer Buy Gas from Russia's Gazprom

Much of Moldova will no longer buy gas from Russian energy giant Gazprom, Moldovan Energy Minister Victor Parlicov said on Monday, referring to parts of the country that capital Chisinau controlled and not breakaway areas.

Oil Pipeline Rupture in Western Ukraine Injures Nine, Triggers Fire

An oil pipeline ruptured in western Ukraine on Saturday, injuring nine people, including four children, and triggering a large fire, the regional governor said.

Russian Oil Producers Send CPC Blend to UAE, Open New Export Route

Russian oil producers supplied their first cargoes of CPC Blend crude to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in August and September, four traders told Reuters, opening up a new export route as Moscow looks to find new customers and skirt Western sanctions.

Sources: Sinopec Buys Over 30 LNG Cargoes for Winter Demand, Trading

China's Sinopec Corp has bought more than 30 cargoes of LNG via a tender for October 2023 to the end of 2024 to cover Chinese winter demand and boost the supply pool for trading, traders said.

Former CFO of Russian Natural Gas Firm Novatek Sentenced to 7 Years in US Prison

A former deputy chief of Russian natural gas producer Novatek was sentenced on Thursday to seven years and two months in a U.S. prison for a scheme to hide millions of dollars of income in undisclosed Swiss bank accounts and submitting a false filing.

Japan's Mitsui to Comply with Arctic LNG 2-Related U.S. Sanctions

Japan's Mitsui said on Saturday it is committed to complying with restrictions in the wake of fresh U.S. sanctions related to Russia's Arctic LNG 2 liquefied natural gas project in which it holds a stake.

Sources: Disagreements Delay Russian Gas Hub Plans in Turkey

Russia's push to create a "gas hub" in Turkey to replace lost sales to Europe is facing delays because of disagreements over who should be in charge of it, two sources familiar with the project told Reuters.

Gazprom Delivers Its First LNG Cargo to China Via Arctic

Russian energy giant Gazprom delivered its first cargo of LNG via the Arctic Northern Sea Route to China on Thursday, according to LSEG data, a month after it started the delivery.

Russia's Gazprom to Launch Two Amur Gas Processing Lines in 2024

Gazprom, Russia's largest natural gas company, plans to launch two more processing lines at the Amur gas processing plant early next year, Vitaly Markelov, deputy head of the company told the Russian TASS news agency on Monday.

Russia Finalizing Power of Siberia-2 Gas Pipeline Route to China, Novak Says

Russia is finalizing the route of the China-bound Power of Siberia-2 gas pipeline, which is intended to traverse Mongolia, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak wrote in the energy ministry's in-house magazine, published on Wednesday.

EU Has No Immediate Plans to Ban Russian LNG, Says Spain's Ribera

The European Union has no short-term plan to ban Russian LNG despite soaring imports to the bloc, Spain's energy minister said, citing fears of another price spike.

Vitol CEO: Bunker Fuel Market to Convert to LNG in Next 10 Years

The global bunker fuel market is expected to convert substantially to LNG over the next 10 years, said Russell Hardy, chief executive of the world's largest independent oil trader, Vitol.