Natural Gas Utilities








Asia

North America

Natural Gas Utilities

Taiwan's CPC rejects'specifics' US shale-gas acquisition talks

CPC Corp, Taiwan's state owned energy company, said that it was not in negotiations for "specific" shale fields in the United States. However, it did not exclude any potential partners and would make the best decision based on their own evaluations. Three sources with knowledge of the matter said earlier this month that CPC was in early discussions to purchase shale gas producing assets in the United States. The move is part of a plan to secure the supply for natural gas to fuel Taiwan's economic growth. CPC stated in a late Monday statement that the U.S. Shale Gas has...

Crude Oil

Venture Global signs a 20-year contract with Eni to supply LNG

Venture Global and Eni announced on Wednesday that they will provide 2 million metric tonnes of liquefied gas per year to the Italian energy group Eni. Eni has signed its first long-term LNG contract with the United States. In April, Giorgia Melons told Donald Trump that Rome would boost imports of U.S. LNG to improve relations between North America and Italy. In a separate deal, Venture Global announced last month that it would provide an additional 0.75 millions metric tons of LNG per year to Germany's SEFE Energy GmbH. Negotiations are currently underway between the European Union and Washington to...

Natural Gas Utilities

Sources: India's GAIL is in the initial stages of talks with Alaska LNG for a long-term LNG contract

Three industry sources familiar with the matter have confirmed that India's GAIL, the state-owned gas company in India, is in the initial stages of talks to purchase liquefied gas from the proposed Alaskan LNG project. This comes as South Asia expands its capacity for imports. The discussions with Glenfarne developer come at a time when India is working to increase its energy imports to the United States in order to narrow its surplus trade as part of an broader trade deal with Washington, to avoid the impositions of heavy U.S. Tariffs. The sources stated that GAIL's talks are preliminary, as...

Natural Gas Utilities

Prices of EUROPE GAS have fallen by over 10% following the news that Iran and Israel had reached a ceasefire

The wholesale gas price in the Netherlands and Britain fell by more than 10% Tuesday morning, following the news that Iran had agreed to a ceasefire with Israel. This removed the premium for risk the market had built into the market due to potential disruptions of oil and gas supplies. The benchmark Dutch front month contract at the TTF Hub fell by 4.86 euro to 36.38 Euros per Megawatt Hour (MWh), which is $12.38/mmBtu by 0939 GMT. It had traded as low 35.45 Euros/MWh earlier, LSEG's data showed. The British front-month contracts was down 13.72 pennies at 84.85 cents per...

Power Markets

EIA: Data centers will drive US electricity use to new highs by 2025 and '26.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said Tuesday that data centers, which are power-hungry and provide computing power to artificial intelligence and crypto currencies, will drive U.S. electric consumption to new records in 2025 and in 2026. EIA projects that power demand will increase to 4,193 billion Kilowatt Hours (kWh) by 2025, and 4,283 kWh by 2026. This is a significant rise from the record 4,097 kWh of 2024. The United States is expected to increase its electricity consumption for heating and transportation, in addition to data centres. EIA estimates that by 2025, residential customers will consume 1,517 billion kWh...

Fossil Fuels

Prices of European Gases remain stable as a weaker demand offsets Norwegian Supply Cuts

The Dutch and British wholesale prices of gas were not much different on Tuesday morning, as the warmer weather helped to reduce demand and offset a weaker Norwegian supply due to maintenance at Troll gas fields. LSEG data shows that the benchmark Dutch front-month contract was 36.84 euros per Megawatt Hour (MWh) or $12.25/mmBtu at 0818 GMT. This is a decrease of 0.31 euros. The Dutch July contract increased by 0.06 Euros to 36.88 euros/MWh. The British day-ahead contracts rose 0.35 pence, to 87.60p/therm. In a daily research report, LSEG analyst Saku Jusli stated that "demand is slowly decreasing with...

Pollution

Venture Global's CP2 project is recommended for approval by US regulators

According to a document filed by the government on Friday, U.S. federal regulatory agencies recommended that Venture Global's proposed CP2 liquefied gas export project be approved. If built, CP2 would be the largest LNG export facility to ever exist in the United States and will help the U.S. remain the largest LNG exporter in the world. Venture Global had already received approval for the construction of the 28 million tonnes/annum plant. However, a recent court ruling forced them to perform an additional air quality review. Documents from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission show that the study concluded the project could...

Oil & Gas Refining

LSEG data indicates that Freeport LNG export facility in Texas is on schedule to end its outage by Wed.

According to data provided by financial firm LSEG, the U.S. liquefied gas (LNG), Freeport LNG, export plant in Texas is on track to receive more natural gas after closing on Tuesday. This indicates that the plant has recovered from an outage. Freeport LNG officials were not available to comment immediately. Freeport reported to Texas environmental regulators on Tuesday night that the three liquefaction train at the export facility had been shut down Tuesday morning because of an interruption in the power supply. Freeport has been shut down by power problems in the past. Freeport is more vulnerable to power outages...

Energy Markets

EIA: US natgas production and demand will reach record highs by 2025

The U.S. Energy Information Administration's (EIA) Short-Term Energy Outlook, published on Tuesday, predicted that both the U.S. Natural Gas output and demand would reach record levels in 2025. EIA projects that dry gas production will increase from 103.2 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd), in 2024, to 104.9 bcfd, in 2025, and to 106.4 bcfd by 2026. This compares to a record-breaking 103.6 bcfd for 2023. The agency also predicted that domestic gas consumption will rise from 90.5 bcfd, a record in 2024, to 91.3 bcfd by 2025 and then ease back to 90.7% bcfd by 2026. The EIA's May...

Natural Gas Utilities

Duke Energy's electricity rates beat quarterly estimates

Duke Energy beat Wall Street's expectations on Tuesday for revenue and profit in the first quarter, thanks to higher electricity prices, increased retail sales, and a colder Winter. U.S. utilities are arguing for higher electricity bills, as the power consumption surges due to the growth of AI data centers and increased manufacturing in the United States. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the U.S. power demand is expected to reach record levels in 2025 and in 2026. This will be largely due to the expansion of Big Tech's data centers. After years of stagnation, the U.S. Nuclear industry...

Natural Gas Utilities

Duke Energy's electricity rates beat quarterly estimates

Duke Energy beat Wall Street's expectations on Tuesday for revenue and profit in the first quarter, thanks to higher electricity prices, increased retail sales, and a colder Winter. U.S. utilities are arguing for higher electricity bills, as the power consumption surges due to the growth of AI data centers and increased manufacturing in the United States. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the U.S. power demand is expected to reach record levels in 2025 and 26. After years of stagnation, the U.S. nuclear sector has also become popular as businesses look for cleaner energy to power data centers. The...

Natural Gas Utilities

Eversource Energy first-quarter profits rise on higher electricity prices

Eversource Energy announced a higher first-quarter profit Thursday as it benefited from increased electricity rates. Rate case proceedings are used by regulated utilities to increase power prices. They base their appeals on the investments they have made or expenses they have incurred when delivering their services. Eversource's quarterly earnings in its electric distribution segment increased 12.1% from the previous year to $188.4 millions, while its electric transmission segment earned $199.4million, an increase of 12.8%. Eversource Energy provides electricity and natural gas for approximately 4 million customers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Eversource Energy, which has ceased its involvement in...

Europe

Fossil Fuels

EU envoys close to agreement on lower Russian crude oil price cap

Four EU sources told reporters that after a meeting on Sunday, EU envoys were on the verge to agree on an 18th package against Russia in response to its full-scale invasion into Ukraine. The sanctions would include a lower cap on Russian crude oil prices. Sources said that all elements of the package have been agreed upon, but one member state has still a technical reservation about the new cap. Sources - who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss confidential discussions - stated that they expected to reach a complete agreement on Monday ahead of the foreign...

Power Markets

The Financial Times reports that Britain's Centrica will take a 15% stake in the Sizewell C nuclear plant.

The Financial Times, citing sources familiar with the talks, reported that British Gas' owner Centrica was set to acquire a 15% stake at the Sizewell C nuclear plant in southeast England. The report stated that all sides were eager to make a final decision about the project's investment before the British Parliament recess, which begins on July 21. Could not confirm immediately the report. The government announced earlier this month that it would invest an additional 14.2 billion pounds (19.25 billion dollars) in the construction of the Sizewell C Nuclear Plant, bringing its total investment to 17.8 billion pounds. Britain...

Energy Markets

EU envoys are expecting to resolve the blockage of new Russia sanctions by this week

The European Union said that they expected to reach an agreement during a summit of the EU this week regarding an 18th package against Russia. Slovakia and Hungary use it as a bargaining tool for concessions about Russian energy. The European Commission proposed the package to encourage Russia to negotiate with Ukraine a ceasefire after EU leaders demanded "massive sanction" in May. The package aims to target more of Russia's revenues from energy by listing its banks and destroying its shadow tanker fleet. Hungary and Slovakia announced on Monday that they will not support new sanctions unless the proposal to...

Western Europe

North Asia

Fossil Fuels

Fico, the Prime Minister of Slovakia, says that Slovakia will allow new EU sanctions against Russia to be approved on Friday.

Robert Fico, the Prime Minister of Slovakia, said that Slovakia would stop blocking approval of the 18th set of sanctions by the European Union against Russia this Friday. Fico said that the Slovakia has achieved all it can at this stage, after repeatedly blocking the EU approval of sanctions to demand guarantees for damages it fears will result from a separate EU Plan to stop all gas imports to Russia by 2028. Fico stated in a Facebook video that it would be counterproductive at this point to continue blocking the 18th package of sanctions tomorrow. EU diplomats have confirmed that...

Energy Markets

Letter shows EU offers Slovakia assurances about Russian gas withdrawal

A letter obtained by revealed that the European Commission would work to address Slovakia’s concerns about the EU’s plan to phase-out Russian gas imports. This comes as Brussels tries to reach an agreement on new EU sanctions towards Russia. The Slovakian government has blocked the latest EU sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, until it is satisfied that the EU's separate proposal to phase-out imports of Russian Gas by January 1, 2020 has been addressed. Slovakia claims that stopping Russian gas production could lead to shortages, an increase in transit fees and prices, as well as damage claims...

Fossil Fuels

First visit by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to Ukraine

Aleksandar Vucic, Serbia's populist president and a friend of Moscow, visited Odesa in Ukraine on Wednesday for a regional conference. It was the first visit to the country by the leader during his 12-year tenure. Vucic’s office released a statement saying that he will travel to Ukraine to attend the Ukraine-Southeastern Europe Summit at the Black Sea Port of Odesa. This week, Odesa was the target of a Russian drone attack and missiles. The summit was expected to bring together senior politicians from 12 nations in Southeastern Europe. Gazprom, Gazprom NEFt and Gazprom are the majority owners of the only...

Fossil Fuels

OMV Chief Stern will not run for a second term

The company announced on Tuesday that Alfred Stern, Chief Executive Officer of Austrian oil-and-gas group OMV, has decided to not run for reelection when his current term expires on August 31, 2026. Stern is CEO of the Vienna-based firm since September 2021. He previously ran the Borealis division, and tried to steer it away from fossil fuels toward sustainable fuels and chemical. In March, he oversaw the merging of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company with OMV's Polyolefin business, creating Borouge International, a chemical powerhouse with a $60 Billion enterprise value. The merger should be completed in the first quarter 2026....

Oil & Gas

Snakes and ladders in a potential Ukrainian peace deal

What are the possible contours of a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine? SECURITY GUARANTEE Ukraine, which has been subjected to a full scale invasion in 2022, and witnessed Russia annex Crimea, needs security guarantees from major powers, primarily the United States. The Budapest Memorandum of 1994, in which the U.S., Russia and Britain agreed to refrain from using force against Ukraine and respect Ukrainian sovereignty was not enough for the Ukrainian government. The powers agreed to take the matter to the United Nations Security Council in the event of an attack on Ukraine. Sources involved in the talks say...

Natural Gas Utilities

Vucic, Serbian President, says he still wants to be a part of the EU despite his visit to Moscow

Aleksandar Vucic, the president of Serbia, said that his country is committed to joining the European Union. He also wants to accelerate its application for membership. Vucic visited Russia for a celebration of the 80th Anniversary of World War II Victory on May 8-9. There, he also met with Vladimir Putin, the leader of Russia and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Vucic, who met Antonio Costa, President of the European Council on Tuesday, said that Belgrade wanted to accelerate its European Integration and open more negotiations with the bloc. "The atmosphere in the EU is not great, as I was convinced...

Refined Products

EU abandons idea of sanctions against Russian LNG imports

EU officials say that European officials have given up on pushing for an import ban of Russian liquefied gas in the bloc as part of upcoming packages due to resistance from certain governments and the uncertainty over alternative sources. The Commission instead wants to create a road map that will end the EU's dependence on Russian energy in 2027. The plan will be announced early in May, but there are few details. Officials say that the work on the measures has been slow. The Commission will likely propose a 17th set of sanctions against Russia in June. In January, when...

Mining

Source: US and Ukraine have tense discussions as mineral deal is still elusive

Sources with knowledge in the matter say that U.S. officials and Ukrainian officials met Friday to discuss a U.S. plan to gain access to Ukraine’s mineral wealth. However, they also said the chances of a breakthrough are slim, given the "anti-social" atmosphere at the meeting. Source: The tensions in Washington stemmed from Trump's latest draft proposal which is more expansive than its original version. The source pointed out that the "maximalist draft" submitted by the Trump Administration last month was a sign of the hostile negotiating climate. A spokesperson for the Treasury Department confirmed that discussions were "technical" in nature....

Oil & Gas

Gazprom is looking for workers to work on the vast Ust-Luga Gas Complex

RusKhimAlyans is a subsidiary owned by Gazprom. It has announced job openings for its new complex of gas processing in the Baltic Sea Port of Ust-Luga. This was a signal of confidence that the plant would start operating despite the sanctions. Gazprom has a strategy of shifting its focus from production to processing. The complex will include a gas chemical and processing complex. The plant is designed to be able to process 45 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year, as well as 13 million metric tonnes of liquefied gas. It can also produce 3.6 million tones of ethane,...

Energy Markets

Denmark to permit conservation work on harmed Nord Stream 2 pipeline

Denmark's energy agency on Tuesday said it had actually approved Nord Stream 2 AG, a system of Russia's. Gazprom, consent to carry out preservation deal with. the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea, which was. harmed in a series of blasts in 2022. The upkeep work is necessary to decrease ecological. and security threats coming from the pipeline being filled with. seawater and staying gas, the agency stated in a. declaration. The work intends to protect the damaged pipeline by. installing customised plugs at each of the open pipeline ends to. avoid even more gas blow-out and...

Oil Exploration

Chevron interested in Greek hydrocarbon expedition, states energy ministry

U.S. oil manufacturer Chevron has actually revealed an interest in exploring for hydrocarbons in Greece, southwest of the Peloponnese peninsula and as much as the west of the island of Crete, the Greek energy ministry stated on Monday. The ministry added in a statement that it would release a. decision this week on the precise area of exploration and would. launch an international tender soon. It is a very essential advancement, part of our nationwide. method for energy self-reliance and lowering energy expenses, the. ministry said. Chevron did not immediately respond to an ask for comment. The existing research study...

Natural Gas Utilities

OMV sees favorable Q4 incomes impact of $215 mln from Gazprom arbitration

Austrian oil and gas group OMV said on Tuesday it expected a positive impact of around 210 million euros ($ 215.4 million) on its fourthquarter incomes from an arbitral award linked to its German gas supply contract with Gazprom. The Vienna-based company included the favorable net effect would be tape-recorded in the tidy operating outcome of its Gas Marketing && . Power business unit. OMV stated in November it had received an award of more than. 230 million euros from the International Chamber of Commerce in. connection with irregular German gas supplies from Gazprom. Export. In a fourth-quarter trading update,...