(TT Newsday, 19.Dec.2019) â Our fuel subsidy gobbles hundreds of millions that could be spent on improving the country and distorts the economy. It is time we scrapped the remaining fuel subsidy and lift the restrictions on fuel retailers that prevent them from importing fuel or setting its price. We […]
Peru Deploys Army To Safeguard Strategic Gas Line
(Argus, 19.Dec.2019) â Peru’s government has deployed army troops to safeguard a jungle stretch of the Camisea natural gas and gas liquids pipelines from potential attacks under a 60-day emergency declaration. The lines are critical to Peru’s LNG and LPG export businesses, which are operating normally. The emergency measure covers […]
Braskem Selects CenturyLink For Global Operations
(Braskem, 18.Dec.2019) â Braskem, the largest thermoplastics resins producer in the Americas and leading producer of biopolymers in the world, selected global technology provider CenturyLink, Inc. to deliver a global SD-WAN network solution to more than 50 of its locations across Latin America, North America, Europe and Asia. This SD-WAN network […]
Pemex’s Emergency Drill At Dos Bocas Terminal
(Energy Analytics Institute, Jared Yamin, 18.Dec.2019) â Mexicoâs state oil company Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) announced plans to conduct an emergency exercise as part of its annual efforts related to emergency prevention and responses. The emergency exercise — to be held Thursday 19 December 19, at 10 a.m. — will involve […]
Petrobras To Pay Shareholder Remuneration
(Petrobras, 18.Dec.2019) â Petrobras announced its Board of Directors, at a meeting held 18 Dec., approved the distribution of anticipated remuneration to shareholders as interest on equity, in the total gross amount of R$ 2,352,827,349.18, corresponding to R$ 0.42 per outstanding preferred share. The payment will be made on February […]
Petrobras Joins Tax Programs
(Petrobras, 18.Dec.2019) â Petrobras, under the scope of its ongoing contingency assessment process, decided to join the Programs for Partial Tax Remission and Interest and Fine Reduction on VAT (ICMS) Debt established by the states of Amazonas, Alagoas, Bahia, Pernambuco, Rio Grande do Sul and Sergipe. The tax debts included […]
Petrobras Seeks Alternatives For Comperj
(Petrobras, 18.Dec.2019) â Petrobras has completed the economic feasibility study regarding the completion of the Comperj refinery construction, together with the Chinese company CNPC and its affiliates, under the agreements to implement the strategic partnership, as disclosed to the market on October 16, 2018. The study showed that the completion […]
PDVSA Completes Termobarrancas Maintenance
(Energy Analytics Institute, Piero Stewart, 18.Dec.2019) â Venezuelaâs state oil company PetrĂłleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) carried out major maintenance at the 100-megawatt turbo combustion generator at the Termobarrancas Electric Generation Plant, located in the Obispos municipality of Barinas state. PDVSA also incorporated the 30-megawatt Santa InĂ©s Plant located in the […]
Minerva Bunkering Acquires CEPSA Panama SA
(Minerva, 17.Dec.2019) â Minerva Bunkering (Pte) Ltd purchased 100% of the share capital of CEPSA Panama SA from CompañĂa Española se PetrĂłleos, S.A for an undisclosed amount. “As one of the shipping industry’s great transit points, Panama is another key location where Minerva can add value to its customer base […]
Bolivia, US Officials Discuss Hydrocarbon Sector
(Energy Analytics Institute, Ian Silverman, 17.Dec.2019) â A delegation accompanying US representative Bruce Williamson meet with Boliviaâs Hydrocarbon Minister VĂctor Hugo Zamora to discuss possibilities that the two countries work together on matters related to the hydrocarbon sector. âSince the US is the largest producer of crude oil in the […]
PDVSA, Partners Produce 500,000 b/d Of Orinoco Crude
(S&P Global Platts, 17.Dec.2019) â Production levels by Venezuelan state-owned PDVSA and its international partners in the Orinoco Belt rose to 500,000 b/d, or 38.5% of its 1.3 million b/d maximum capacity, up from 435,000 b/d November 4, according to a technical report S&P Global Platts saw Tuesday. Highlights: — […]
Petrobras Starts Sergipe Alagoas Basin Binding Phase
(Petrobras, 17.Dec.2019) â Petrobras, following up on the release disclosed on 11/01/2019, started the binding phase referring to the sale of its interest in fifteen onshore exploratory blocks, located in the Sergipe-Alagoas Basin. Qualified parties for this phase will receive a process letter with instructions on the divestment process, including […]
Petrobras Announces E&P Asset Binding Phase
(Petrobras, 17.Dec.2019) â Petrobras, following up on the release disclosed on 11/01/2019, announces that it has started the binding phase referring to the sale of its interest in fifteen onshore exploratory blocks, located in the Sergipe-Alagoas Basin. Qualified parties for this phase will receive a process letter with instructions on […]
Atlas Says Fourth Brazilian Plant In Operation
(Atlas, 17.Dec.2019) â Atlas Renewable Energy, a leader in clean energy across Latin America, announces that its fourth project in Brazil, SertĂŁo Solar Barreiras Complex, is fully operational. The plant has an installed capacity of 117MWp (megawatts peak) and will generate an estimated 275 GWh yearly. Located in Barreiras, state […]
Damages Awarded To Perenco For FET Breach In Ecuador
(Institutional Institute for Sustainable Development, 17.Dec.2019) â A long-standing tribunal under the FranceâEcuador BIT has issued its final award on compensation. The award orders Ecuador to compensate oil and gas investor Perenco Ecuador Limited (Perenco) almost USD 449 million for Ecuadorâs imposition of a 99 per cent windfall profit tax […]
Sinopec, EIG Deliver Bid For Petrobras Refinery
(Reuters, 17.Dec.2019) â China’s Sinopec and U.S.-based EIG Global Energy Partners have delivered non-binding offers to buy Brazilian refinery REGAP from state-run oil firm Petrobras, three people with knowledge of the matter said. With a processing capacity of 150,000 barrels per day, REGAP is the fifth-largest refinery of eight up […]
YPFB Fundamental For Bolivia Gas Supply
(Energy Analytics Institute, Ian Silverman, 17.Dec.2019) â Boliviaâs Hydrocarbon Minister VĂctor Hugo Zamora said the new team at state oil company YPFB will be fundamental in negotiations related to expansion of a natural gas supply contract addendum with Brazilâs state controlled Petrobras that will allow Bolivia to continue exporting gas […]
YPFB President To Provide Company Update
(Energy Analytics Institute, Ian Silverman, 17.Dec.2019) â YPFB President Herland Javier Soliz Montenegro announced plans to provide an update on the status of companyâs entire production chain within three months. In an official statement 17 Dec. from YPFB, Soliz said the state oil company continues to operation and guarantee mainly […]
Zamora Says âYPFB In Good Healthâ
(Energy Analytics Institute, Ian Silverman, 17.Dec.2019) â Boliviaâs Hydrocarbon Minister Victor Hugo Zamora announced that the countryâs state oil company YPFB was a healthy company. “YPFB is in good health,” Zamora announced 17 Dec. in an official ministry statement. *** © Energy Analytics Institute (EAI)
Ecopetrol To Pay $1.1bn Extraordinary Dividend
(Energy Analytics Institute, Piero Stewart, 16.Dec.2019) â Colombiaâs state oil company Ecopetrol announced plans to pay a $1.1 billion extraordinary dividend in December. The dividend of $89 Colombian pesos per share will be paid to the Bogota-based company’s 41.1 billion shareholders, Ecopetrol announced 16 Dec. in an official statement. The […]
Touchstone Reports Onshore Oil Find At Cascadura
(Touchstone, 16.Dec.2019) â Touchstone Exploration Inc. has made a significant crude oil discovery with the Cascadura-1ST1 well on the Ortoire exploration block, onshore in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. HIGHLIGHTS — Cascadura-1ST1 cased hole wireline logs indicated significant prospective oil pay totaling 1,037 feet from 1,374 feet of gross […]
Trafigura Awarded Premium Diesel Deal In Ecuador
(Energy Analytics Institute, Piero Stewart, 16.Dec.2019) â EP PetroEcuador awarded Trafigura Pte. Ltd. a contract to import of 3,360,000 barrels +/- 2% of Premium Diesel. The fuel will be imported in 14 shipments of 280,000 barrels +/- 2%, each, and the initial shipment will arrive between 22-24 December 2019, EP […]
Quality Testing Guyanaâs First 3 MMbbls
(Demerara Waves, Denis Chabrol, 16.Dec.2019) â The Ministry of the Presidencyâs Department of Energy denied breaching the procurement process for sale of Guyanaâs first three million barrels of oil aimed at what officials say is the removal of impurities and setting of standard for Guyana to get the best price […]
Petrobras Prepays $5bn CDB Loan
(Petrobras, 16.Dec.2019) â 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, […]
Petrobras Starts Pelotas Basin Disclosure Stage
(Petrobras, 16.Dec.2019) â Petrobras started the opportunity disclosure stage (teaser), referring to the sale of its interest in the concession BM-P2, located in the Pelotas Basin, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Petrobras and Total are partners in this concession, and each has a 50% stake, with Petrobras […]
Total Advances Two Deepwater GOM Projects
(Total, 16.Dec.2019) â Total announces the final investment decision (FID) to develop the Anchor oil field. Additionally, front-end engineering and design (FEED) has begun for the North Platte discovery. Both projects are located in the deepwater U.S. Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Louisiana. FID for Anchor Project Total […]
Soliz Named As YPFBâs New President
(Energy Analytics Institute, Ian Silverman, 16.Dec.2019) â Petroleum engineer Herland Javier Soliz Montenegro was named the new president of Boliviaâs state oil company YPFB, replacing engineer JosĂ© Luis Rivero. Soliz will take over efforts to guarantee the normal supply of natural gas to Boliviaâs domestic market and consolidate exports to […]
Guyana Seeks Buyers For Govt’s Oil Output Share
(Reuters, 15.Dec.2019) â Guyana has invited companies interested in purchasing the first three deliveries of the governmentâs share of the countryâs looming oil production to present bids this week, the government said in a statement on Sunday. The government will later seek proposals from companies interested in a longer-term contract […]
BNDES Evaluates Sale Of Its Petrobras Shares
(Petrobras, 13.Dec.2019) â Petrobras received correspondence from Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento EconĂŽmico e Social (BNDES), in which it communicates the intention to evaluate the sale up to the totality of common shares issued by Petrobras in its ownership, through a secondary public offering of shares with broad distribution efforts in […]
Traders Flock To Burgeoning Petrostate Guyana
(Bloomberg, Lucia Kassai, 13.Dec.2019) â Oil traders are packing their bags for a trip to the worldâs newest petrostate — a place they know remarkably little about. At least half a dozen traders from Houston, Geneva and London are set to alight in tropical Guyana this weekend to bid on […]
Esteban Kiper Appointed GM At CAMMESA
(Energy Analytics Institute, Aaron Simonsky, 12.Dec.2019) â Mr. Esteban Kiper was appointed as General Manager of the Electric Market Management Company or CAMMESA, during an ordinary assembly chaired by Argentinaâs Energy Secretariat Sergio Lanziani. “I am a representative of the provinces and I invite all actors in the electricity sector […]
Transocean Announces Award For Development Driller III
(Transocean, 12.Dec.2019) â Transocean Ltd. announced the semisubmersible Development Driller III has been awarded a one year contract off the coast of Trinidad and Tobago. The contract is expected to commence in the second quarter 2020 and will contribute approximately $91 million dollars of contract backlog, excluding mobilization reimbursement. ***
S&P Ups Petrobras’ Global Scale Outlook
(Petrobras, 12.Dec.2019) â Petrobras said rating agency S&P Global Ratings (S&P) raised the company’s global scale outlook from stable to positive, and maintained its corporate debt rating at “BB-“. Yesterday, the agency revised the outlook on its long-term rating on Brazil to positive, reflecting prospects for an upgrade in the […]
S&P Releases 2020 Energy Outlook
(S&P Global Platts, 11.Dec.2019) â Analysts at S&P Global Platts, the leading independent provider of information, analysis and benchmark prices for the commodities and energy markets, today released their 2020 outlook. The outlook presumes continued high geopolitical risks to oil supply, a slight recovery in oil demand driven by IMO […]
Petrobras’ Teaser For TAG Stake Divestment
(Petrobras, 11.Dec.2019) â Petrobras started the opportunity disclosure stage (teaser), relating to the sale of its remaining stake (10%) in Transportadora Associada de GĂĄs S.A. (TAG). The teaser, which contains key information about the opportunity, as well as the eligibility criteria for selection of potential participants, is available on the […]
Petrobras On TOR Amendment
(Petrobras, 11.Dec.2019) â Petrobras following up on the release dated November 1, 2019, informs that, in alignment with its cash management strategy and in accordance with the provisions of the Amendment Term to the Transfer of Rights Agreement, paid to the Federal Government the amount of R$ 34.420 billion (thirty-four […]
PDVSA Perks Include Yoga And Guitar Lessons
(Bloomberg, Peter Millard and Fabiola Zerpa, 11.Dec.2019) â Workers are starving, equipment is crumbling and output is languishing near record lows at Venezuelaâs state oil producer. Yet yoga, guitar and dance lessons continue. Petroleos de Venezuela SAâs cultural arm is offering those classes to all employees along with workshops on […]
Bolivia’s VPACF Gets New VP
(Energy Analytics Institute, Ian Silverman, 10.Dec.2019) â Forestry Engineer Marcelo Ayala Torrez was named the new Vice President of Bolivia’s Contract and Control Administration (VPACF by its Spanish acronym). Ayala graduated from the Juan Misael Saracho University, and also holds a master’s degree in environmental studies obtained from the Gabriel […]
Ecopetrol Tapped For Emergency $1bn
(Forbes, Dylan Baddour, 10.Dec.2019) â As protesters continue to push demands in Colombia, the government here has asked its oil company, Ecopetrol S.A., for a billion-dollar dividend to cover its commitments. The combination of planned tax cuts for corporations, plus new tax cuts and for low income earners offered to […]
Pemex Reserve Discovery Boosts Mexico’s Oil Ambitions
(S&P Global Platts, 10.Dec.2019) â Pemex’s largest hydrocarbon reserve discovery in 30 years is boosting the Mexican government’s confidence that the troubled state-run enterprise can reverse a more than decade-long decline in crude oil production. An analysis of initial production results and seismic data from the onshore Quesqui field led […]
Talos Announces GOM Acquisition
(Talos, 10.Dec.2019) â Talos Energy Inc. entered into a series of definitive agreements to acquire a broad portfolio of U.S. Gulf of Mexico producing assets, exploration prospects and acreage from affiliates of ILX Holdings, Castex Energy and Venari Resources for $640 million as of the effective date. Specifically, Talos has […]
Barkindo Says US Sanctions On Venezuela Unhealthy
(Energy Analytics Institute, Piero Stewart, 10.Dec.2019) â OPEC Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo assured that unilateral sanctions imposed on member countries of the organization are unhealthy for the efficient functioning of the oil market. âThe oil that Venezuela produces and exports belongs to the entire world. As a large oil producing […]
EOG Resources Declares Quarterly Dividend
(EOG, 10.Dec.2019) â The Board of Directors of EOG Resources, Inc. declared a dividend of $0.2875 per share on EOG’s Common Stock, payable 31 January 2020, to stockholders of record as of 17 January 2020. The indicated annual rate is $1.15. ***
Argentina’s Shale Boom Hits New Milestone
(Oilprice.com, Irina Slav, 10.Dec.2019) â YPF, the Argentine state energy company, has drilled the longest horizontal oil well lateral, at 3,890 meters, or more than 12,700 feet, in the Vaca Muerta shale play, S&P Global Platts reports, citing a source close to the company. The record-breaking lateralâthe horizontal part of […]
Venezuela Oil Output Rises
(Reuters, 10.Dec.2019) â Venezuelaâs crude output in November jumped more than 20% from the prior month to the highest level since the United States tightened sanctions on state oil company PDVSA in August, two people with knowledge of PDVSA data said this week. November output averaged between 926,000 barrels-per-day (bpd) […]
Commercial Operation Starts at Freeport LNG Project in Texas
(Osaka Gas, 10.Dec.2019) â 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 (âFLIQ1â). FLIQ1 made […]
Venezuela Releases âCitgo 6â
(Chron.com, Sergio Chapa, 9.Dec.2019) â Six executives of Houston refiner Citgo are out of a Venezuelan prison, according to a late Monday report by Reuters. After spending two years in prison on corruption charges, Jose Luis Zambrano, Alirio Zambrano, Jorge Toledo, Tomeu Vadell, Gustavo Cardenas and Jose Pereira are said […]
Petrobras Sales Fields In Rio Grande Do Norte
(Petrobras, 9.Dec.2019) â Petrobras, following up on the release disclosed on 04/25/2019, reports that it has completed today the sale of its entire stake in 34 onshore production fields located in the Potiguar Basin, in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, to Potiguar E&P S.A., a subsidiary of PetrorecĂŽncavo […]
Petrobras To Lease LNG Regasification Terminal
(Petrobras, 9.Dec.2019) â Petrobras, in accordance with the commitments made through the Agreement, signed with the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE), on July 8, 2019, informs that it is starting the process of leasing the LNG Regasification Terminal of Bahia (TR-BA), at Salvador/BA, and its integrated pipeline. Thus, the […]
Petrobras To Lease Out LNG Terminal
(Argus, 9.Dec.2019) â Brazilian state-controlled Petrobras has started pre-qualifying bidders for a long-term lease of its 20mn mÂł/d Bahia LNG import terminal and associated pipeline, opening the company’s lock on Brazil’s LNG imports. Petrobras said the planned terminal lease aligns with its July 2019 agreement with anti-trust regulator Cade to […]