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Oil & Gas

Financial Times - April 17

These are the most popular stories from the Financial Times. These stories have not been verified and we cannot vouch their accuracy. Headlines Gerry Cardinale’s RedBird evaluates takeover of UK’s Telegraph newspaper Trump administration stops Equinor’s $5 billion New York energy project British Steel's Chinese Owner says UK Government must "respect" its rights - Lyft buys European taxi app FreeNow in 175 mln euros deal View the full article RedBird Capital Partners, a company owned by Gerry Cardinale, is preparing plans to acquire The Telegraph to end the two-year-long sale of this British newspaper group. The U.S. has stopped a...

Fossil Fuels

Industry faces headwinds as EU anticipates record-breaking renewable energy capacity by 2025

The European Commission projected that the European Union would install a record-breaking amount of renewable energy this year. However, some sectors warned that government funding could hinder this growth. According to projections from the Commission, EU countries will add 89 gigawatts in renewable energy capacity by 2025. This includes 70GW solar and 19GW wind. These projections are based upon industry data. This would be an annual record for both solar and wind. In 2024, the EU will have installed new wind and solar capacity of 12.9GW. The EU needs to accelerate the roll-out renewable energy to achieve its climate goals...

Oil & Gas

Equinor creates new unit to capitalize on the soaring demand for power

Equinor, a Norwegian company, announced on Thursday that it is merging its renewables division with its gas to power plants and energy storage assets in order to increase its electricity business. Equinor said that the move was a response to a surge in demand for energy, fuelled by artificial intelligence, the growth of data centres and the green shift. The vast majority of Equinor's income still comes from oil and natural gas. In a press release, CEO Anders Opedal stated that by combining renewable energy with flexible power offerings we could strengthen our competitiveness in the market and create value....

Oil & Gas

Financial Times – March 31,

These are the most popular stories from the Financial Times. These stories have not been verified and we cannot vouch their accuracy. Headlines Volvo Cars brings former boss back to provide a'steady' hand Trump threatens to impose secondary tariffs on Russian Oil if there is no agreement on Ukraine Isar declares launch of rocket a success, despite first-time failure to reach orbit Task force urges to eliminate oil and gas windfall taxes before 2030 View the full article Volvo Cars has appointed Hakan Samuelsson as its new chief executive after warning last month of a potentially challenging 2025. Donald Trump,...

Carbon Emissions

Shell, Equinor and TotalEnergies invest $714 Million in Carbon Storage Expansion

Shell, Equinor, and TotalEnergies announced on Thursday that they would invest 7.5 billion Norwegian crowns (713.66 million dollars) in expanding their flagship project for carbon storage in western Norway. This follows a recent customer agreement. They said that the decision was made after the partners signed an agreement for a 15-year period with Stockholm Exergi, to store and transport 900,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually at the Northern Lights facility. Shell stated in a press release that the expansion will more than triple CO2 injection capability at the site to 5 million tonnes annually, which is equivalent to 10% of...

Oil & Gas

Chinese Premier warns of "rising instabilities" at key business conference

At a Beijing business forum on Sunday, Chinese Premier Li Qiang called for countries to expand their markets in order to combat the "rising uncertainty and instability" as China prepares to face further U.S. trade tariffs. State media reported that Li said, "In an increasingly fragmented and uncertain world, with rising instabilities and uncertainties, it's more important for countries to open their markets and enterprise... to resist challenges and risks." He was speaking to dozens of visiting U.S. Republican senator Steve Daines and dozens other foreign CEOs at the China Development Forum. Sources previously said that foreign CEOs, including Tim...

Oil Exploration

Saudi Aramco-backed Cognite taps India in AI expansion bet

Cognite, a Saudi Aramco-backed software company for industrial applications in Bengaluru in southern India, opened its AI service center on Wednesday and announced that it was exploring possible contracts with the top conglomerates of the country. The company declined to give further details, but said that it had signed agreements with two major automobile companies and a large industrial-cement company. Hakon Bjerke, chief strategy officer at Cognite, said that the company is "betting on India" and investing millions of dollars in India. Cognite produces software to help companies improve the safety and operation of industrial installations such as oil and...

Fossil Fuels

Nicolai Tanen is re-elected as CEO of Norway's wealth funds

The central bank announced on Tuesday that Nicolai Tangen had been appointed for a second term to lead Norges Bank Investment Management's massive sovereign wealth fund. Tangen, who was appointed CEO of the sovereign fund in September 2020, for a period of five years, announced in November that he would be seeking a second term, as he believed the job wasn't done. Ida Wolden Bache, Governor of the Central Bank said that "Nicolai Tangen has extensive experience and in-depth knowledge in international investment management." The world's largest sovereign wealth fund of $1.8 trillion invests in foreign bonds, shares, property, and...

Power Markets

Nordics' energy efficient infrastructure is ideal for Microsoft's expansion of data centres

Microsoft's director of AI Infrastructure, who is responsible for the data centres, said that Microsoft will shift its strategy so as to be driven more by power availability than by user demand or supply. The Nordic region, he added, would be a great place to have emission-free capability to support artificial intelligence. Microsoft, which has about 300 data centres around the world and will invest an additional $80 billion in them before the end of the month, is aiming to be carbon-negative by 2030. This means it must find a renewable energy source that emits no emissions to support the...

Power Markets

Scatec CEO: Cheaper solar panels and batteries will expand renewables' role on the power market

Scatec's CEO, who is a developer of renewables, said that cheaper solar power and batteries are increasing the role of these technologies in stabilising the energy system and offering more opportunities to renewables. Scatec, a Norwegian company, builds and owns renewable energy plants. Scatec has 4.2 gigawatts (GW) in operation, another 0.8 GW is under construction and 2 GW are near-term projections. Equinor is its largest shareholder. Scatec CEO Terje Piskog stated in an interview that solar panel prices had dropped by 66% and battery system prices by 58% over the past two years. This dramatic change has made renewable...

Power Markets

Finnish utility Fortum says lower power prices and mild winter dampen Q4 earnings

The Finnish utility Fortum reported on Tuesday that its fourth-quarter operating profit was below analysts' expectations. It cited lower volumes of hydro and nuclear power and weaker prices. Fortum says that the fall in Nordic spot prices was partially offset by the ongoing recovery of Nordic power demand. According to a poll conducted by the company, analysts had expected 280 million euro in operating profit. Fortum CEO Markus Rauramo stated in a press release that the comparable operating profit of the Generation segment decreased due to lower volumes for hydro and nuclear and lower spot and hedge price. Operating profit...

Fossil Fuels

Vestas' Q4 profits beat expectations

Vestas of Denmark, the largest wind turbine manufacturer in the world, announced on Wednesday that its adjusted operating profit was higher than expected for the fourth-quarter, but warned about the uncertainty to come for 2025. The company stated that despite the ongoing geopolitical uncertainty and the trade war, it expects to see increased revenue by 2025 as a result of the completion of its record-high backlog. Vestas' analyst poll revealed that the average forecast was 672 million. The operating profit before special items increased to 759 millions euros from 191 million dollars a year earlier. The company forecasted a 2025...

Environment

Environment

Danish King to visit Greenland as a show of unity amid Trump Interest

The royal palace announced on Wednesday that Denmark's King Frederik would visit Greenland the following week. This is a sign of solidarity for the semi-autonomous Danish territories which U.S. president Donald Trump has said he wants under his control. Greenland and Denmark announced that the Greenland Prime Minister, Jens Frederik Nielsen will visit Denmark on April 26 for talks. Greenland is rich in raw materials, including minerals critical to advance new technologies, and Trump has said the United States needs control of the strategically-located island for reasons of national and international security. Leaders of Denmark and Greenland said only Greenlanders...

Environment

Minority owners demand that oil group Equinor explain discrepancy in climate.

A group of minority shareholders demanded that the board of Norway's Equinor explain how its plan to increase oil and gas production is in line with the Paris Agreement on climate change. Equinor, a 67% state-owned company, has joined Shell and BP this year in pledging higher oil output, while reducing investment in renewables. Minority owners have proposed a resolution that will be voted upon at Equinor’s annual general meeting on May 14. They claim there are "material inconsistencies” between the climate strategy of the company and the expectations expressed by the majority shareholder. The expectations of the Noway government...

Climate Change

Greenland names first Arctic ambassador and pledges sustainable development

Greenland named its first Arctic Ambassador on Friday. It pledged to promote sustainable development for indigenous peoples and to advance green energy for polar communities, as it prepares to preside the Arctic Council. The two-year chairship comes at a moment when U.S. president Donald Trump is trying to assert control over a semi-autonomous Danish Island and when the competition between world powers over the Arctic region has heated up. Global warming could make it easier to access the fossil fuels and mineral deposits that lie beneath the Arctic's land and seabed. The United States sees the Arctic region as vital...

Mining

Mineral Resources

Mineral Resources

Volvo Cars will cut costs by $1.9 billion as earnings fall

Volvo Cars, a Swedish automaker, announced cost reductions of 18 billion Swedish crowns (1.8 billion dollars) on Tuesday after its operating profit dropped sharply amid the difficult automotive market conditions. The operating profit of the company, owned by China's Geely in majority, was 1.9 billion Swedish Crowns from January to March, compared with 4.7 billion crowns the previous year. The company announced that the cost reductions, which are part of its new "cost-and-cash action plan", include layoffs, and a greater decrease in investment than previously expected. It also said it had withdrawn the financial guidance for the following two years....

Mineral Resources

Greenland and Denmark affirm their alliance amid Trump's desire for US control

After talks in Copenhagen, Greenland's and Denmark's leaders agreed to intensify their relationship in response to the desire of U.S. president Donald Trump to take control of a strategically located Arctic Island. Greenland’s new prime minister Jens-Frederik Nielson landed in Copenhagen on Saturday, for a 3-day visit. The trip was a show of unity between Denmark and the island rich in minerals, which is a semiautonomous Danish territory. Nielsen, at a press conference held with Danish Prime Minister Mette Fredericksen, said: "We're in a foreign-policy situation that means we need to work together." Nielsen's visit comes after months of tension...

Mineral Resources

Trelleborg adjusts prices and production in order to offset the 'limited' impact of tariffs

Trelleborg, a Swedish industrial group, said that it sees only a small direct impact of the U.S. tariffs. It expects to manage this through production adjustments and increased prices. Trelleborg will tackle tariff challenges by optimising and localising production, managing prices and ensuring flexibility in global operations. In a recent earnings report, the company said that indirect effects, such as disruptions in supply chains and higher costs of raw materials, could still have a negative impact on business. According to LSEG, the adjusted operating profit before amortization rose to 1,62 billion Swedish Crowns ($169 millions) in the third quarter, which...

Mineral Resources

EU Commission chief discusses U.S. Tariff response with automakers, steel and pharmaceutical leaders

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, held a conference call on Monday with representatives from the metals sector. She then spoke to the automotive industry to discuss ways to respond to U.S. Tariffs. The calls were to gather data to inform future countermeasures, beyond Brussels' response to Washington's tariffs on steel. This will be voted upon later this week. On Tuesday, a call will be held with the European Pharmaceuticals Industry. On Monday, European and Asian stocks and oil prices plunged on fears that U.S. president Donald Trump's tariffs could increase prices, weaken the demand and even...

Mineral Resources

EU Commission chief discusses U.S. Tariff response with auto executives, steel executives and pharmaceutical executives

Sources and a letter indicated that Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, spoke with representatives from the metals sector on Monday. She then addressed the automotive industry to discuss ways to respond to U.S. Tariffs. The calls were held to gather more information to strategise future trade countermeasures, beyond Brussels' forthcoming response to Washington's steel duties that have been announced previously and which will be voted upon later this week. Tuesday is set for a third call with representatives of the European pharmaceuticals sector. Investors feared that the tariffs Trump announced last weekend could lead to higher...

Mineral Resources

Pandora's annual U.S. Tariff Impact is $178 Mln

Danish jeweller Pandora estimated on Thursday that the total impact of U.S. Tariffs on its company would be around 1.2 billion Danish Crowns ($178.34 millions) per year. This is before any mitigation actions taken by the company. Pandora's shares fell 12% to a low of 15 months on Thursday after U.S. president Donald Trump raised duties on imports of goods from many countries. This included a 37% duty on Thailand where the company has two factories that produce most of its charms bracelets and other jewelry. Pandora's biggest market, the U.S.A., which accounted for 31% in revenue last year, estimated...

Mineral Resources

New York Times Business News - March 31, 2019

These are the most popular stories from the New York Times' business pages. These stories have not been verified and we cannot vouch their accuracy. If he believes that Moscow is blocking the efforts of President Donald Trump to end the conflict in Ukraine, he will impose secondary duties of 25 to 50 percent on Russian oil buyers. Nearly 40 countries, including China and Russia, have voiced their opposition to the plan of The Metals Company, a Canadian miner, to begin seabed mining on the Pacific Ocean. The company applied for exploration permits and permits to the U.S. Department of...

Mineral Resources

Who won Greenland’s parliamentary election?

Greenland's business-friendly opposition party, Demokraatit The Tuesday Parliament Election The debates about self-rule were dominated by the pledge of U.S. president Donald Trump to seize control of Greenland. Greenland was formally incorporated into the Kingdom of Denmark as a territory in 1953. Copenhagen controlled foreign affairs, defence, and monetary policies. In 2009, the island was granted the right to full independence by a referendum. However, it has not done so. WHAT WERE RESULTS OF THE VOTING? Around 40,500 of Greenland’s 57,000 residents were eligible to cast their vote. A little over 28600 people voted. Inatsisartut is the Greenland parliament. There...

Mineral Resources

Scania, a Northvolt shareholder, has secured an additional supply of battery cells

Scania, the Swedish truck maker and shareholder of Northvolt, a struggling battery manufacturer, announced on Monday that it had acquired an alternative supply for battery cells in an effort to diversify their supply chain. Northvolt, once regarded as Europe's top contender for the electric vehicle battery leader, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November last year and is now seeking to raise money and restructure their debt. Scania stepped up to help Northvolt run its flagship factory in northern Sweden, in order to improve quality and production at the electric car battery manufacturer. Scania, owned by Traton, and its...

Climate Change

Inuit pride fuels Greenland independence spirit after Trump interest

In a small workshop in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, goldsmith Nadja Kreutzmann polishes stones and metals mined on this vast island rich in minerals. Her jewellery is decorated with Inuit symbols for life and survival. Indigenous identity in Greenland is resurging ahead of the March 11 general elections called by U.S. president Donald Trump after he said he wanted Greenland to be his. Trump's interest in Greenland has shaken up the status quo. This, coupled with growing Inuit pride has led to some locals viewing the vote as an historic opportunity to free Greenland of Danish influence. Greenland is...

Mineral Resources

Aluminium producer Norsk Hydro lags profit forecast in 4th quarter

Norsk Hydro, a Norwegian aluminium manufacturer, missed its fourth quarter profit expectation on Friday. Higher costs and weaker downstream demand were only partially offset by high alumina and aluminum prices and positive exchange rates. The adjusted earnings before taxes, depreciation, and amortization more than doubled in the fourth quarter of 2024 to 7,70 billion Norwegian crowns (690.5 million dollars). However, this was below analysts' expectations of 8,28 billion crowns. The 25% tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on steel and aluminum are increasing U.S. prices, exposing the production gap at home and creating a possible cost increase for producers of...

Mineral Resources

The license holder claims that the repeal of Greenland's uranium ban could bring back a massive rare earth project.

After the election next month, the mining company who owns the license to Greenland’s Kvanefjeld Deposit is hopeful that the new government will lift the ban on uranium mines. This could lead to the revival of one of the largest rare earth projects in the world. Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed renewed interest in the acquisition of this strategically important Arctic Island. Daniel Mamadou, CEO of Energy Transition Minerals (the Kvanefjeld license holder), said in response to Trump's remarks: "I believe it puts everything related minerals back on track." According to Mamadou, Kvanefjeld ranks among the top three...