Russia & CIS
Russian Firm Asks Venezuela to Match Chevron Oil-for-Debt Deal
A Russian oil firm is asking Venezuela's state-run company PDVSA for permission to take control of exports from their joint ventures to revive cash flow from the five companies, which have been hard-hit by U.S. sanctions, two people involved in the talks said.
Russia’s Novatek Seeks Gas Export Rights for Future LNG Plant
Novatek announced plans earlier this month to build the Murmansk LNG plant, which will have an annual capacity of 20.4 million tonnes per year. The first line at the plant could start operations in 2027.
Russia's Novatek Has Developed Its Own LNG-Producing Technology
Russian company Novatek said on Tuesday it has developed its own technology to produce large-scale volumes of LNG, a key step in boosting LNG production and raising Russia's global share in the fuel market.
First Discounted Russian Crude Oil Cargo Arrives in Karachi
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday said the first cargo of discounted Russian crude oil arranged under a new deal struck between Islamabad and Moscow had arrived in Karachi.
Explainer: Black Sea Grain Deal Could Hinge on Ammonia Pipeline
The pipeline used by Russia to pump up to 2.5 million tonnes of ammonia annually for global export to Ukraine's Pivdennyi port on the Black Sea from Togliatti on the Volga River in western Russia has been shut down since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
US Had Intelligence of Ukrainian Plan to Attack Nord Stream Pipeline - Washington Post
The United States had intelligence of a detailed Ukrainian plan to attack the Nord Stream pipeline three months before it was bombed, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday, citing leaked information posted online.
China Prioritizing Turkmenistan Over Russia in Next Big Pipeline Project
China is accelerating the building of a long-delayed Central Asian pipeline to source gas from Turkmenistan even as Russia pushes its own new Siberian connection, as Beijing juggles its energy security needs with diplomatic priorities.
Finland's Gasum Terminates Gazprom Pipeline Gas Contract
Gasum has terminated a contract to buy natural gas from Gazprom Export via pipelines from Russia. Gazprom ceased pipeline-based natural gas deliveries to Gasum in May 2022 in a dispute over payments, and the two sides had been in talks to resolve the matter.
Russia's Transneft Says Druzhba Pipeline 'Attacked' Near Ukraine Border
Russia's oil pipeline operator Transneft said on Wednesday that a filling point on the Europe-bound Druzhba pipeline in a Russian region bordering Ukraine had been attacked, the TASS news agency reported, citing the company.
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.
Russia Looks to Companies Beyond Gazprom to Supply Gas to China
Russia is considering supplying natural gas to China by a 2,600-km (1,620-mile) pipeline from companies other than Kremlin-controlled Gazprom, which currently has the monopoly for Russian pipeline gas exports, an Energy Ministry official said on Tuesday.
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.
US Warns Companies Over Russian Oil Price Cap Evasion Via ESPO Pipeline
The U.S. Treasury published a warning to U.S. companies on Monday of possible evasions of the Russian oil price cap exported through the Eastern Siberia Pacific Ocean (ESPO) pipeline and ports in eastern Russia.
Natural Gas Producer Novatek Expected to Win Big from Shell's Sakhalin-2 Stake
Russian natural gas producer Novatek has scooped a lucrative deal with its purchase of Shell's stake in the Sakhalin-2 energy project, analysts said on Thursday.
US Plans to Refill Strategic Reserve If Advantageous to Taxpayers This Year
The Biden administration plans to refill the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve soon and hopes to refill it at lower oil prices if it's advantageous to taxpayers during the rest of the year, U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said on Wednesday.
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.
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!
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.
Diplomat: Russia May Demand Compensation for Nord Stream Pipeline Blasts
Moscow may seek compensation for the damage to the Nord Stream gas pipelines from two explosions last September, but the future of the projects is unclear, according to a Russian diplomat cited by the news agency RIA Novosti.
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.
Spain Asks Gas Importers to Wean Themselves Off Russian LNG
The Spanish government has asked LNG buyers to refrain from signing new contracts for Russian gas once existing contracts have expired, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Friday.
Kazakhstan's KMG Starts Shipping Oil Via Caspian Sea to BTC Pipeline
Kazakhstan's state Kazmunaigaz (KMG) has started shipping oil to the BTC (Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan) pipeline in Azerbaijan, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters, as it seeks alternatives to exporting via Russian ports.
Russia Hopes to Seal Power of Siberia 2 Deal with China This Year
Moscow is eyeing the 2,600 km (1,620 mile) pipeline — which would have a capacity of 50 Bcm of gas per year — as a way to replace lost exports to Europe.
Explainer: Does China Need More Russian Gas Via the Power-of-Siberia 2 Pipeline?
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping met in Moscow for two days of talks which ended Tuesday, during which they discussed a major new infrastructure project, Power-of-Siberia 2, to deliver gas to China via Mongolia.
China Strengthened Energy Ties With Russia Through Oil and Gas Purchases in 2022
Putin, Xi and the president of Mongolia held talks in September 2022 on a proposed new Power of Siberia 2 pipeline capable of delivering 50 bcm of gas per year from Russia to China via Mongolia. Moscow put forward the idea many years ago, but it has gained urgency as Russia turns to China to replace Europe as its major gas customer.
Romania’s Transgaz to Build $529 Million Gas Pipeline for Black Sea Gas
The gas pipeline is meant to bring offshore Black Sea gas to the national grid once two gas producers make a final investment decision, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca said on Thursday.
Mongolia to Decide on Gas Pipeline Route After Russia-China Cost Agreement
Mongolia will make a decision on which part of its territory will be used to construct the Russia-China gas pipeline once its neighbors reach an agreement on costs, the country's prime minister said.
Nord Stream Owners Discuss Pipeline Repairs, Says E.ON
Shareholders of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline operator are discussing how to seal and empty the damaged gas pipeline to halt corrosion from sea water, said the chief financial officer of E.ON, one of the owners.
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- U.S. Appeals Court Blocks Kinder Morgan’s Tennessee Pipeline Permits
- Malaysia’s Oil Exports to China Surge Amid Broader Import Decline
- U.S. LNG Export Growth Faces Uncertainty as Trump’s Tariff Proposal Looms, Analysts Say
- Marathon Oil to Lay Off Over 500 Texas Workers Ahead of ConocoPhillips Merger
- Valero Considers All Options, Including Sale, for California Refineries Amid Regulatory Pressure
