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EUROPE GAS-Benchmark European gas at 10-month intraday high on geopolitical risks

Dutch and British wholesale gas rates hit a more than 10month intraday high up on Thursday as the Middle East conflict and reports that North Korean troops were ready to help Russia in Ukraine kept traders on edge.

The benchmark front-month contract at the Dutch TTF gas hub struck 42.57 euros per megawatt hour at 0945 GMT, its greatest intraday level given that Dec. 1, LSEG data revealed.

Geopolitical risk premium is a main factor behind the rise, one trading source stated.

The cost is still much lower than the August 2022 all-time high of 306.00 EUR/MWh, when rates surged due to Russia's. invasion of Ukraine and a drop in Russian pipeline gas supply.

On Wednesday, the U.S. stated that for the very first time it had. seen evidence that North Korea had actually sent out 3,000 soldiers to Russia. for possible deployment in Ukraine, a move that might mark a. substantial escalation in Russia's war against its neighbour.

In the Middle East, an exchange of heavy fire in between Israel. and Hezbollah heightened supply concerns as Israeli strikes likewise. hit the Syrian capital Damascus early on Thursday, Syrian state. media reported.

The modification of tone in diplomacy in the Middle East might. have included some danger premium to oil and gas now the main focus. has actually shifted towards humanitarian aid rather of reaching a. ceasefire anytime quickly, stated Klaas Dozeman, market analyst at. Creation Product Intelligence.

More volatility might be ahead, however a correction can not be. eliminated barring any major advancements, he included.

Dozeman said LNG supply appears to be a bit behind last. October, meaning that any increased demand could cause gas. storage withdrawals sooner than last year.

Storage sites are currently 95.3% complete, European gas. facilities data revealed.

In the British market, the day-ahead agreement. was up 3.85 cent at 105.35 pence per therm, while the. front-month agreement gained 2.22 cent to 105.97. p/therm, both at the greatest intraday level since early. December.

British gas-for-power demand is anticipated to increase by 32. million cubic meters each day to 68 mcm/d, mostly due to a. decline in wind power, LSEG analyst Ulrich Weber said.

Peak wind power generation in Britain is anticipated at 15.7. gigawatts on Thursday and 7.8 GW on Friday, Elexon information revealed.

In the European carbon market, the standard. contract was up 1.23 euros at 66.12 euros a metric ton.

(source: Reuters)