(WoodMac, 2.Jun.2020) — The global liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry is about to face its first seasonal demand contraction since 2012, with demand in summer 2020 expected to fall 2.7% or 3 million tonnes (Mt) year-on-year, says Wood Mackenzie. Lockdown measures and negative economic outlook stemming from the coronavirus pandemic […]
Category: Asia
Asia energy
Gastech To Host Virtual Conference In 2020
(Energy Analytics Institute, Jared Yamin, 30.May.2020) — Gastech 2020 will now take place virtually, from 7-11 September 2020, with strategic and technical conference content streamed online, enabling the natural gas, LNG and energy industries opportunity to engage with a series of interactive conference sessions, as it adapts and responds to […]
BP Licenses PTA technology To Dongying Weilian
(BP, 28.May.2020) — Weilian Chemical is a subsidiary of Dongying United Petrochemical Co., Ltd, one of the leading manufacturers and distributors of petroleum and petrochemical products in China. Weilian Chemical intends to build a 2.5 million tonnes per annum PTA production unit at the Dongying Port Economic Development Zone in […]
Petrofac Secures Iraq Extension With Basra
(Petrofac, 28.May2020) — Petrofac’s Engineering & Production Services division (EPS) has secured a further six-month contract extension with Basra Oil Company (BOC) for its long-standing Iraq Crude Oil Export Expansion Project (ICOEEP). The confirmation of the contract extension is recognition of Petrofac’s successful seven-and-a-half-year track record of safe and efficient […]
NOCs To Slash Exploration Budgets
(WoodMac, 20.May.2020) — National oil companies (NOCs) globally are estimated to cut exploration budgets by over a quarter on average in 2020, says Wood Mackenzie. The analysis is based on announcements and tracking well plans of 11 top spending NOC explorers, including three Chinese NOCs, PTTEP, PETRONAS, ONGC, Qatar Petroleum, […]
Bangladesh To Double Fossil Imports In A Decade
(WoodMac, 14.May.2020) — Bangladesh is expected to double its fossil fuel imports to 32 million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe) between 2020 and 2030, says Wood Mackenzie. While growing working age population, urbanisation and rising income levels continue to spur domestic demand, it is electrification needs in the power, export-driven […]
CNOOC Ltd Announces Key Ops Statistics For Q1 2020
(CNOOC, 29.Apr.2020) — CNOOC Limited announced its key operational statistics for the first quarter of 2020. The Company achieved a total net production of 131.5 million barrels of oil equivalent (“BOE”) for the first quarter of 2020, representing an increase of 9.5% year-over-year (“YoY”). Production from China increased by 9.7% […]
JinkoSolar Files 2019 Annual Report On Form 20-F
(JinkoSolar, 27.Apr.2020) — JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. announced that the Company filed its annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2019 with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 24 April 2020. The Company’s annual report on Form 20-F contains its audited consolidated financial statements and […]
Noble Releases Fleet Contract Update
(Noble, 9.Apr.2020) — Noble Corporation plc announced that its report of drilling rig status and contract information has been updated as of 9 April 2020. The report, titled “Fleet Status Report,” can be found on the company’s Website www.noblecorp.com, under the “Investor Relations” section of the Website. In addition, the […]
Triple Whammy: Oil Crash, Covid-19, LNG Oversupply
(WoodMac, 1.Apr.2020) — In its latest short-term gas and LNG outlook report, Wood Mackenzie weighs the risks coronavirus, sustained low oil prices and LNG oversupply pose to the sector this year. Wood Mackenzie research director Robert Sims said: “While the collapse of LNG prices towards US production break-evens was foreseeable, […]
COP’s Exploration Strategy From Norway To Argentina
(ConocoPhillips, 30.Mar.2020) — ConocoPhillips’ exploration strategy emphasized flexibility and discovering new barrels accretive to its existing portfolio. The company’s 2019 exploration focused on select business units: Alaska, Lower 48, Canada, Norway and Malaysia — where existing infrastructure and experience can be leveraged. In addition to these focus areas, ConocoPhillips concentrates […]
Which Supply Is Most At Risk Of Shut-in?
(WoodMac, 27.Mar.2020) — The coronavirus pandemic is reducing oil demand. The OPEC+ production restraint agreement fell apart on 6 March and Saudi Arabia is rapidly increasing supply. The result: Brent crude has plunged to less than US$30/bbl. This will have a significant impact on currently producing fields and future supply. […]
CNOOC: Production And Reserves Hit Record
(CNOOC, 25.Mar.2020 — CNOOC Limited announced its 2019 annual results for the year ended December 31, 2019. In 2019, CNOOC Limited has achieved remarkable results, with multiple operating indicators reached a record level since its listing. Total net oil and gas production of the Company amounted to 506.5 million barrels […]
Fuel Trickling Into Venezuela, Oil Loading
(Argus, 24.Mar.2020) — Some gasoline is trickling into Venezuela, while a few crude cargoes are still getting out, but the volumes and revenue are dwarfed by the US-sanctioned country’s dire need for fuel and revenue to check the galloping coronavirus. According to shipping sources inside and outside Venezuela, current port […]
China’s Oil Reserves To Reach 1.15bn Barrels In 2020
(WoodMac, 23.Mar.2020) — Wood Mackenzie’s latest analysis reveals that China’s crude stock (including strategic and commercial petroleum reserves) could reach 1.15 billion barrels in 2020, equivalent to 83 days of oil demand. Wood Mackenzie senior consultant Lei Sun said: “Major crude oil importers such as China have been known to […]
China “Teapot” Refiners Crank Up Run Rates
(Reuters, 11.Mar.2020) — China’s independent oil refiners are cranking up production as local governments begin to relax strict measures to contain the coronavirus and fuel demand begins to recover. A sharp plunge in crude oil markets triggered by the erupting Saudi-Russia price war has also boosted profit margins. Also known […]
Ecopetrol Restricts Travel To Asia And Europe
(Reuters, 2.Mar.2020) — Colombia’s state-run oil company Ecopetrol SA placed restrictions on business travel to all Asian and European countries on Monday in response to the coronavirus outbreak, its chief executive told Reuters. The company is closely monitoring the effects of the virus on crude demand, Chief Executive Felipe Bayon […]
Coronavirus’ Greatest Upstream Impact: On Prices
(WoodMac, 27.Feb.2020) — The upstream oil and gas sector’s biggest commercial fear from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic is its impact on demand and prices. Only a small proportion of global supply comes from the worst-affected regions. Manufacturing shutdowns and shipping bottlenecks are causing project delays. Vessels and other large components […]
Trina’s Module Global Shipments Exceed 10 GW
(Trina Solar, 24.Feb.2020) — Trina Solar Co., Ltd.’s global PV module shipments passed a new milestone in 2019, topping 10 GW for the year. According to the 2019 module shipment ranking released by PV InfoLink, Trina Solar ranked among the top three and maintained its global leadership in the category. […]
MODEC Inks Deal By Equinor For FPSO For Brazil Field
(Modec, 30.Jan.2020) — Modec Inc. has signed a Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA) with Equinor Brasil Energia Ltda, a subsidiary of Equinor ASA, to supply a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel for the Bacalhau (formerly Carcará) field offshore Brazil. Modec was awarded a Pre-Front End Engineering Design (Pre-FEED) […]
MODEC Moves On With FPSO Charter For Marlim Field
(MODEC, 30.Jan.2020) — MODEC, Inc. (“MODEC,” head office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Yuji Kozai), Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (“Mitsui,” head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Tatsuo Yasunaga), Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (“MOL,” head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Junichiro Ikeda) and Marubeni Corporation (“Marubeni,” head office: Chuo-ku, […]
Venezuela Oil Exports Accelerate
(Argus, 16.Jan.2020) — Venezuela kicked off the new year with at least 730,000 b/d of crude exports, led by several India-bound cargoes, according to local and international shipping data obtained by Argus. In the first half of January, a half dozen tankers loaded at state-owned PdV’s Jose terminal, most recently […]
China Scaling Back Economic Support For Maduro: Envoy
(Reuters, 15.Jan.2020) — The Trump administration’s envoy on Venezuela said China appears to be scaling back economic support for President Nicolas Maduro, and Beijing acknowledged a diminishing role largely due to U.S. sanctions against the OPEC nation. As China’s economic activities have declined, Maduro and his socialist government are becoming […]
Abrams Sees China Scaling Back Support For Maduro
(Reuters, 15.Jan.2020) — The Trump administration’s envoy on Venezuela said China appears to be scaling back economic support for President Nicolas Maduro, and Beijing acknowledged a diminishing role largely due to U.S. sanctions against the OPEC nation. As China’s economic activities have declined, Maduro and his socialist government are becoming […]
CNOOC Reveals 2020 Business Strategy, Plan
(CNOOC, 13.Jan.2020) — CNOOC Limited announced its business strategy and development plan for the year 2020. The company’s targeted net production for 2020 is 520 million to 530 million barrels of oil equivalent (BOE), of which, production from China and overseas accounts for approximately 64% and 36%, respectively. The company’s […]
Asia Pacific Gas, LNG: 6 Themes To Watch In 2020
(WoodMac, 13.Jan.2020) — Wood Mackenzie has identified six themes that will impact Asia Pacific’s gas and LNG markets in 2020. Asian LNG spot prices to fall further In 2019, the global LNG market relied heavily on Europe to absorb excess supply. Surging new LNG production from US and Australian projects […]
Asia Eyes LatAm For Heavy Crude Amid Supply Risk
(S&P Global Platts, 8.Jan.2020) — Some Asian importers of Iraqi crude oil may scout for more heavy sour crude from Central and South America in the first quarter, as ongoing missile strikes in Iraq has put regular flow of Basrah crude to the Far East at some risk. Asian refiners […]
US Cuts Venezuelan Flows Plans For China, Rosneft
(S&P Global Platts, 24.Dec.2019) — US sanctions on PDVSA shut down roughly 500,000 b/d of crude flows from Venezuela to Gulf Coast refineries within a matter of weeks after being imposed in January, and helped cut the South American nation’s oil production roughly in half before the end of the […]
CNOOC Says Liza Field Offshore Starts Production
(CNOOC, 20.Dec.2019) — CNOOC Limited announced 20 Dec. that Liza field offshore Guyana has safely commenced production ahead of schedule. Liza Phase 1 development project is located in the Stabroek block offshore Guyana and has one FPSO and 17 subsea wells. It is expected to reach its peak production of […]
Asia Pacific Upstream – 5 Themes To Watch In 2020
(WoodMac, 19.Dec.2019) — Wood Mackenzie has identified five themes related to project sanctions, exploration, M&A, energy transition and IMO 2020 that will impact Asia Pacific’s upstream industry in 2020. Australia leads in bumper year for Asia Pacific FIDs Asia Pacific is expected to see a boost in major project sanctions […]
Petrobras Prepays $5bn CDB Loan
(Petrobras, 16.Dec.2019) — Petrobras, following up on the press release disclosed on August 14, 2019, prepaid a $5 billion loan with China Development Bank (CDB), due in 2027. This prepayment will lead to the termination of the obligation to preferentially supply, under market conditions and for the term of financing, […]
S&P Releases 2020 Energy Outlook
(S&P Global Platts, 11.Dec.2019) — Analysts at S&P Global Platts, the leading independent provider of information, analysis and benchmark prices for the commodities and energy markets, today released their 2020 outlook. The outlook presumes continued high geopolitical risks to oil supply, a slight recovery in oil demand driven by IMO […]
Commercial Operation Starts at Freeport LNG Project in Texas
(Osaka Gas, 10.Dec.2019) — Osaka Gas USA announced that the Freeport LNG Project in Texas, the United States, has started commercial operation for its first liquefaction train on 8 December 2019. Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. and JERA Co., Inc. participate in the project through FLNG Liquefaction, LLC (“FLIQ1”). FLIQ1 made […]
JinkoSolar Supplies 300MW Tiger Modules In China
(JinkoSolar, 29.Nov.2019) — JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. supplied 300MW of its high energy density Tiger panels for an ultra-high voltage demonstration plant in Qinghai Province, China. The Qinghai Ultra High Voltage Demonstration Plant is the first ground mounted utility project in the world to install JinkoSolar’s Tiger panels which have […]
Venezuela Offers Suppliers Payment In Yuan
(Reuters, Mayela Armas, Corina Pons, 28.Nov.2019) — Venezuela’s government and its oil company PDVSA have offered to pay suppliers and contractors into accounts in China using the yuan currency, five people familiar with the matter said. The move made in recent months is the latest example of how Caracas has […]
Venezuela-linked Sanctions Put Floor Under Oil Spreads
(S&P Global Platts, 27.Nov.2019) — The benchmark Dubai crude futures market structure moved higher in mid-morning trade in Asia Wednesday as new sanctions imposed on a Cuban company over its links to Venezuelan oil tradingput the focus back on the global supply shortage of medium and heavy high sulfur crudes. […]
Ecuador Inaugurates Galapagos Photovoltaic Plant
(Energy Analytics Institute, Piero Stewart, 21.Nov.2019) — An energy storage system comprised of batteries of 2.2 megawatt hours was inaugurated on 21 Nov. 2019 on the island of San Cristobal, province of Galapagos. Construction of the new 1-megawatt photovoltaic power plant will cost an estimated $5.8 million, Ecuador’s Ministry of […]
JCC-indexed LNG Contracts Could Lose $15bn
(WoodMac, 21.Nov.2019) — Wood Mackenzie’s latest report reveals that LNG sellers with contracts linked to JCC (Japan Crude Cocktail) could lose some US$15 billion in unearned revenues. This is a result of the IMO 2020 regulation limiting sulphur content of marine fuels to up to 0.5%, which directly affects the […]
Venezuela Using Invisible Oil Tankers To Skirt Sanctions
(Oilprice.com, Irina Slav, 16.Nov.2019) — U.S. sanctions on Venezuela have been squeezing the life out of its economy in an attempt to remove the government of Nicolas Maduro from power, but so far those sanctions haven’t been entirely successful. The reason: Venezuela is still exporting oil. So far in November, […]
Rosneft Head Sechin Attends BRICS Summit In Brazil
(Rosneft, 15.Nov.2019) — During the visit of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin to the BRICS summit in Brazil, the Chief Executive Officer of PJSC Rosneft Oil Company Igor Sechin as part of the Russian delegation took part in a number of bilateral meetings with the leaders of […]
LAC On Brink Of Massive Solar Power Growth
(IRENA, 12.Nov.2019) — Latin America and the Caribbean could grow their installed solar capacity by a factor of 40 by 2050, a new report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) shows. Annual investments exceeding seven billion would see the region’s solar PV capacity rise from 7 gigawatts (GW) today, […]
Rosneft Grapples With Unsold Venezuelan Oil
(Michelle Wiese Bockmann, 12.Nov.2019) — Rosneft’s trading arm is vital to Venezuelan crude sales as Chinese refiners shun direct purchases since the US administration tightened sanctions in August. Instead Venezuela to China shipments arrive via Malaysia, through ship-to-ship transfers undertaken from Rosneft-controlled tankers CRUDE exports from Venezuela have dwindled to […]
Brazil’s Pre-salt Encore Flops
(Argus, 7.Nov.2019) — Brazil’s pre-salt auction today mirrored the lackluster results from yesterday’s much-hyped Transfer of Rights offer, raising questions about bonus pricing, the appeal of the country’s production-sharing terms and state-controlled Petrobras’ first-right mandate. Petrobras teamed up with a Chinese partner to take just one of the five exploration […]
Petrobras Buys Aram Block In 6th PSC Bid Round
(Petrobras, 7.Nov.2019) — Petrobras reports that the consortium in which will be the operator, holding 80% of work interest, in partnership with CNODC Brasil PetrĂłleo e Gás Ltda. has acquired one offshore block in the 6th bidding round under the Production Sharing Contract (PSC), held today by the National Agency […]
Brazil Tender Disappoints
(Reuters, Gram Slattery, Marta Nogueira, Marianna Parraga, 6.Nov.2019) — Brazil’s biggest-ever oil auction frustrated expectations on Wednesday, as high prices and the dominant role of state-run oil company Petrobras scared off global oil majors. Petroleo Brasileiro SA, as the Brazilian firm is also known, and Chinese state firms CNOOC and […]
TOR Record R$70bn Bonuses
(ANP, 6.Nov.2019) — The Transfer of Rights Surplus Bidding Round, held today (November 6) by ANP, had two of the four areas on offer acquired (BĂşzios and Itapu), generating R$ 69.96 billion in signature bonus. This amount is a record and represents a value higher than the sum of all […]
Petrobras Takes Prize In Brazil’s TOR Round
(WoodMac, 6.Nov.2019) — Brazil’s largest-ever auction of oil licences – the Transfer of Rights round – saw state-controlled Petrobras walk away with the biggest prizes, the BĂşzios and Itapu blocks. Luiz Hayum, from Wood Mackenzie’s Latin America upstream research team, said: “As we anticipated, BĂşzios and Itapu were the stars […]
Brazil Targets Greek Tanker For Spill
(Argus, 1.Nov.2019) — Brazil is targeting a Greek-flagged tanker as the source of a catastrophic oil spill that has spread across the northeastern coast. Federal police say the Suezmax Bouboulina docked in Venezuela on 15 July before heading to Singapore with a stop in South Africa. Brazilians authorities have previously […]
Buenavista Renewables Closes Debt Financing
(Buenavista Renewables, 29.Oct.2019) — Buenavista Renewables (BVR) and Micronesia Renewable Energy (MRE) have closed a US$4.3 million loan with Bank of Guam for the construction of the Latte Stone Solar 2 (LSS2) portfolio of distributed generation PV solar facilities on Guam. LSS2 is the second phase of the multi-phase Latte […]
Chevron Venezuela’s Exit To Aid Putin’s Russia
(S&P Global Platts, Brian Scheid and Rosemary Griffin, 17.Oct.2019) — Chevron is pushing back against the Trump administration’s plans to let the company’s Venezuela sanctions waiver expire, arguing such a move could ultimately drive oil production up, bolstering both the Maduro regime and Russia’s standing in the global market. “It’d […]