(Energy Analytics Institute, 19.Oct.2020) — Faced with globalization and the scientific and technological revolution of the last quarter of a century, countries highly dependent on oil as the main source of income, such as Venezuela, must not only rethink rationally and effectively how to use the gigantic income derived from […]
Tag: Brazil
Luis Acre Restores Bolivia To Socialist Party Rule
(Argus, 19.Oct.2020) — Gas-rich Bolivia’s socialist party swept yesterday’s elections and will return to power by year’s end, but with a more pragmatic leader at its helm. Former finance minister Luis Arce won more than 50pc of the vote in two exit polls, topping his nearest rival, former president Carlos […]
Venezuela Economy To Shrink 25% In 2020: IMF
(Energy Analytics Institute, 13.Oct.2020) — Venezuela, home to the world’s largest oil reserves and sizable natural gas and mineral deposits, is expected to be the worst performing economy in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region with its gross domestic product (GDP) projected to contract 25% in 2020, according to […]
Ecopetrol Briefs: 3Q Earnings, Capex For 2020
(Energy Analytics Institute, 24.Sep.2020) — Colombia oil and gas briefs on Ecopetrol’s capital expenditures for 2020 and the company’s plans to report financial results for the third quarter of 2020. Heard: Ecopetrol Plans To Announce 3Q:20 Financial Results Colombia’s state oil company Ecopetrol plans to release financial and operating results […]
Total Resigns Operator Role In Foz Do Amazonas Basin
(Total, 7.Sep.2020) — Total notified its partners on 19 August 2020 about its resignation from its role of operator for five exploration blocks, located in the Foz do Amazonas Basin, 120 kilometers offshore Brazil. These exploration blocks are referenced as FZA-M-57, FZA-M-86, FZA-M-88, FZA-M-125 and FZA-M-127. Total has informed the […]
Argentine Court Rejects Ecuadorian Judgment Against Chevron
(Chevron, 31.Jul.2020) — Argentina’s highest court unanimously rejected the plaintiffs’ final bid to enforce a fraudulent $9.5 billion Ecuadorian judgment against Chevron Corporation. This is the latest in a string of legal victories in Chevron’s global defense against the Ecuadorian judgment—found by U.S. courts to be the product of fraud, […]
Cargill’s Progress Against Critical Sustainability Goals
(Cargill, 2.Jun.2020) — At Cargill, sustainability is written into the company’s purpose—and woven into core operations including investment priorities, organizational structure and resource allocation. The company recently outlined progress against sustainability goals in critical supply chains including aqua nutrition, cocoa and chocolate, palm, soy, ocean transportation and beef. With a […]
Coronavirus Amplifies LatAm Sovereigns’ Pressures
(Fitch, 18.May.2020) — LatAm sovereigns’ weak public finances make them particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus crisis, Fitch Ratings says, by limiting both their counter-cyclical policy flexibility and their ability to support post-crisis economic recoveries. The pronounced negative ratings pressures in the region stem largely from these pre-existing fiscal issues. LatAm […]
Global LNG Demand Resilient Amid COVID-19
(IHSMarkit, 30.Apr.2020) — The COVID19 pandemic has led to lockdowns across the globe and severe downgrades for short-term macroeconomic indicators. A major re-evaluation is needed for the supply and demand of each traded commodity and LNG is no exception. It is clear that natural gas demand will be negatively affected, […]
Saudi OSPs For Oil Exports Bode Well For Asian Refiners
(WoodMac, 16.Apr.2020) — On 13 April, Saudi Arabia announced the Official Selling Prices (OSPs) for its May crude oil exports. The new OSPs speak volumes about Saudi Arabia’s crude export strategy after agreeing to cut production in the OPEC+ deal on 10 April 2020. Wood Mackenzie research director Sushant Gupta […]
US$210bn Of New Spend In Firing Line
(WoodMac, 2.Apr.2020) — The oil price crash has hit the upstream sector hard. Deep cuts are being made across the board, but it will have a dramatic impact on the industry’s project pipeline. Global natural resources consultancy Wood Mackenzie believes almost all pre-FID projects will be deferred. Of the 50+ […]
Exxon Mobil Wins Three Exploration Blocks Offshore Argentina
(Reuters, 16.Apr.2019) — U.S. oil major Exxon Mobil Corp said on Tuesday its unit and an affiliate of Qatar Petroleum had won three exploration blocks offshore Argentina. The three blocks will add about 2.6 million net acres to Exxon’s existing holdings in Argentina, the company said. The blocks are located […]
Guyana Oil Output Could Surpass Venezuela, Mexico: WoodMac
(JWN, Deborah Jaremko, 5.Dec.2018) — Thanks to ExxonMobil’s run of success in oil exploration offshore Guyana, the country is on a path to becoming a Latin American powerhouse, Wood Mackenzie said on Tuesday. The supermajor announced its tenth Guyana discovery this week, increasing the discovered recoverable resource in its Stabroek […]
Ecopetrol Eyes Investments Of $3.5-$4 Billion In 2019
(Ecopetrol, 27.Nov.2018) — Ecopetrol S.A. reported that in 2019 the Ecopetrol Business Group (GEE) expects to invest between $3.5 and $4billion, up 16% to 33% over the projected 2018 figure. The plan approved by the Board of Directors aims to ensure the company’s strategy of growth and consolidation, with efficient, […]
BP, Pan American Eye Exporting Argentina Shale Gas As LNG Via Chile
(S&P Global Platts, 15.Nov.2018) — Pan American Energy, the second-biggest oil producer and third for gas in Argentina, is working with BP on potentially exporting LNG out of Chile, a project that could prove faster to get Vaca Muerta shale gas to market than building a liquefaction facility in Argentina. […]
Venezuela, Mexico Divert Crude To U.S. As Canadian Barrels Get Stuck
(Reuters, Marianna Parraga, Collin Eaton, 26.Oct.2018) — Cash-strapped state-run oil companies in Mexico and Venezuela have begun diverting crude historically processed for domestic use and sending it to U.S. refiners now facing transportation constraints to secure similar grades from Canada, data shows. The situation reflects an unusual set of events, […]
Mexico And Brazil’s Crude Politics
(Foreign Policy, Lisa Viscidi, .16.Oct.2018) — A potential return to resource nationalism could set both countries back. Until this year, resource nationalism—when a government asserts its control over a country’s natural resources—seemed to be on the wane in Latin America. With oil prices low, state oil companies were struggling, and […]
Bolivia’s Oil Revenue To Reach $2.2 Billion
(Xinhua, 14.Oct.2018) — Bolivia’s oil revenue this year is estimated to reach 2.2 billion U.S. dollars as it “will be able to fulfill” contracts with its southern American partners, Minister of Hydrocarbons and Energy Luis Alberto Sanchez said Saturday. “The income to the country is guaranteed,” Sanchez said. “We should […]
Mexico Plans To Enforce Odebrecht Fines Via Seizure -Official
(Reuters, 12.Oct.2018) — Mexico plans to enforce fines imposed on Odebrecht over corruption allegations by confiscating some $30 million owed by state oil company Pemex to the Brazilian firm, a top official at the public administration ministry said. Christian Ramirez, coordinator-general of the public administration ministry (SFP), told Reuters on […]
Guyana May be the Next Big Beast in Global Oil
(The National, Robin Mills, 8.Oct.2018) — One of the few major new conventional oil provinces discovered this century could see the country emerge as the top per capita producer. Who will be the world’s largest oil producing country per person in the 2020s? Kuwait perhaps, with 3 million barrels per […]
Venezuela Faces Fresh Blow With Ship-Fuel Rules Threatening Exports
(Bloomberg, 27.Sep.2018) — New rules forcing ships to use cleaner marine fuels may deal yet another blow to cash-strapped Petroleos de Venezuela SA, an exporter of high-sulfur fuel oil. From Jan. 1, 2020, vessels will have to switch to less-polluting bunker fuel or be fitted with equipment to curb emissions, […]
Ecopetrol: Fracking Likely In Colombia, Business Prospects Are Positive
(Seeking Alpha, Dylan Quintilone, 14.Sep.2018) — Ecopetrol SA is a Colombian oil and gas company with headquarters in Bogotá, Colombia. The company is listed by Forbes as the 300th largest enterprise by profits and is the second oil company in South America behind Petrobras from Brazil. Ecopetrol’s operations are divided […]
GeoPark Announces New Jauke Gas Field Discovery in Chile
(GeoPark, 20.Aug.2018) — GeoPark Limited announced the successful drilling and testing of the Jauke 1 exploration well in the Fell block (GeoPark operated, 100% WI) in Chile. “This discovery illustrates the hydrocarbon-generating capacity of GeoPark’s unique Latin American multi-country platform,” said GeoPark Chief Executive Officer James F. Park. GeoPark drilled […]
Ecopetrol Names New Corporate VP of Finance
(Ecopetrol, 8.Aug.2018) – Ecopetrol S.A. announced appointment of Jaime Caballero Uribe as the new Corporate Vice President of Finance (Chief Financial Officer). The appointment is effective as of August 7, 2018. Mr. Caballero has more than 20 years of experience with companies in the oil and gas sector, both in […]
Trafigura Seeks to End Ricardo Eliçabe Conflict
(Energy Analytics Institute, Ian Silverman, 28.Jul.2018) – Negotiations continue to advance to overcome a labor related conflict at the Ricardo Eliçabe refinery in BahĂa Blanca. The refinery, acquired last May by the Dutch group Trafigura, has been paralyzed for almost two months, reported the daily newspaper Clarin. The labor conflict […]
EIA Beta Interactive Data Analysis
(Energy Analytics Institute, Ian Silverman, 26.Jul.2018) – Beta data from the EIA provide users with an interactive way to analyze multiple petroleum data. According to the most recent beta crude oil reserve data provided by the US-based Energy Information Administration, two countries in the Latin American region make the list […]
Venezuela Oil Exports to China Slump
(Reuters, 17.Jun.2018) – Reuters) – China’s imports of Venezuelan crude oil could sink to their lowest in nearly eight years in July as the OPEC producer struggles with shrinking output and mounting logistics issues, according to people familiar with the matter and shipping data. State-controlled PetroChina expects June loadings from […]
North America’s Energy Future on Trial in Mexico
(Brookings, Carlos Pascual, David G. Victor, and Rafael Fernandez de Castro, 5.Jun.2018) – On July 1, Mexicans head to the polls to select their next president. While it has become fashionable to wall Mexican matters away from American politics, in reality the Mexican election could transform the North American community. […]
Mexico’s Vista Oil & Gas Signs Onshore JV With Jaguar
(Reuters, 23.May.2018) – Mexican energy investment firm Vista Oil & Gas will tie up with Jaguar Exploracion y Produccion on three onshore projects, the company said on Tuesday, acquiring 50 percent stakes with an initial payment of nearly $27.5 million. Vista will pay Monterrey-based Jaguar a further $10 million to […]
Bolivia, Denmark Invest $193.9 Mln in Santa Cruz Projects
(Energy Analytics Institute, Ian Silverman, 30.Apr.2018) – Bolivia and Denmark plan to invest $193.9 million on wind complexes in Warnes, San Julián and El Dorado in Bolivia’s Santa Cruz department. Bolivia and Denmark will front $66.8 million and $24 million, respectively, of the total investment. The difference or $103.1 million […]
Mexico’s Gasoline Price Lowest in LAC Region
(Energy Analytics Institute, Fidencio Casillas, 16.Jan.2017) – The average gasoline price in Mexico, the largest Spanish speaking country in the Americas, is still the lowest amongst select countries in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region. Mexico’s average gasoline price of 15.9 Mexican pesos per liter remains the lowest among […]
YPFB to Sign Contracts with YPF and Petrobras
(Energy Analytics Institute, Jared Yamin, 7.Jun.2016) – YPFB plans to sign exploration contracts with its Argentine and Brazilian counterparts in July. YPFB will sign exploration agreements with its Argentine counterpart YPF for the Charagua, AbapĂł and Yuchan areas and agreements with its Brazilian counterpart Petrobras for the San Telmo and […]
Petrobras Pays Fine in USA
(Petrobras, 20.Aug.2015) – Regarding media reports on the payment of a fine to U.S. authorities, Petrobras states there is nothing ongoing regarding any payment of a fine to close civil and criminal investigations into the violation of anticorruption legislation in the U.S. Nor has there been any decision by U.S. […]
Petrobras Updates on NY Lawsuit
(Petrobras, 25.Jun.2015) – Petrobras announced that on 25.Jun.2015, a hearing was held before the federal court in New York regarding the motion to dismiss presented by Petrobras in the class action lawsuit in which the company is a defendant. The purpose of the motion to dismiss is for the federal […]
Gran Tierra Announces Full 1Q:15 Results
(Gran Tierra Energy Inc., 6.May.2015) – Gran Tierra Energy Inc. announced its financial and operating results for the quarter ended 31.Mar.2015. All dollar amounts are in U.S.A. dollars unless otherwise indicated. Earlier this year, Gran Tierra announced significant changes to the company’s leadership, strategic direction and cost structure. Gran Tierra’s […]
Moody’s Confirms Petrobras Argentina Notes
(Moody’s, 28.Apr.2015) – Moody’s Latin America Agente de CalificaciĂłn de Riesgo confirmed the Ba2/Aaa.ar global scale rating and national scale rating on Petrobras Argentina S.A.’s (Petrobras Argentina) $300 million in guaranteed Series S notes (CUSIP 71646JAB5). The rating action reflects Moody’s Investors Service’s rating action on 27.Apr.2015 of confirming Petrobras’ […]
Petrobras Reports Sale of Assets in Argentina
(Petrobras, 31.Mar.2015) – The Board of Directors of Petrobras Argentina (PESA) approved the sale of all of its assets in the Austral Basin (province of Santa Cruz) to Compañia General de Combustibles S.A. (CGC) for $101 million. PESA assets involved in the deal include 26 onshore exploration and production concessions, […]
Argentina Seeks to Import 200MW from Bolivia
(Energy Analytics Institute, Ian Silverman, 24.Mar.2015) – Argentina is considering importing 200 megawatts of energy from Bolivia in 2015, announced Bolivia’s President Evo Morales. The official also announced Brazil was also requesting more energy, without providing details, reported the daily newspaper La RazĂłn. “Perhaps this year we are going to […]
Petrobras Reports on Appointment of Plaintiff
(Petrobras, 6.Mar.2015) – Petrobras announces that on March 4, 2015, the presiding judge appointed Universities Superannuation Scheme, Ltd. as the lead plaintiff in the Class Action filed against Petrobras in the New York federal court. A conference call between the presiding judge, Petrobras and the lead plaintiff will take place […]
Perenco to Buy Petrobras Assets in Colombia
(Energy Analytics Institute, Ian Silverman, 29.Oct.2013) – Petrobras plans to sell its interest in onshore blocks and two pipelines to France’s Perenco for $380 million to focus more attention on projects in Brazil, reported the daily newspaper El Espectador The deal includes interest in: 11 onshore blocks that are producing […]
PDVSA Incorporates New Tankers into Fleet
(Energy Analytics Institute, Ian Silverman, 25.Oct.2013) – PDVSA President Rafael Ramirez speaks to reporters in Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela about introduction of news tankers into fleet. Highlights of the discussion follow: PDVSA incorporates VLCC Ayacucho and Suezmax Rio Arauca tankers, both built in China, into its fleet. The new PDVSA […]
Rafael Ramirez Speech in Puerto La Cruz
(Energy Analytics Institute, Piero Stewart, 4.Oct.2013) – Venezuela’s Oil Minister President Rafael Ramirez spoke with journalist in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela. What follows are excerpts from the discussion. Rafael Ramirez on the economic sector: Ramirez: We have bonds that we are using to bring in food stuffs to guarantee supply […]
Q&A with Arthur Little’s Rodolfo Guzman
(Energy Analytics Institute, Pietro D. Pitts, 24.Sep.2013) – Arthur D. Little Partner Rodolfo Guzman spoke with Energy Analytics Institute in a brief interview from Houston, Texas. What follows are excerpts from the brief interview. Regarding PDVSA’s potential departure from Abreu e Lima refinery project in Pernambuco, Brazil: EAI: It appears […]
Bolivia’s Nationalization of Oil and Gas
(Council on Foreign Relations, Carin Zissis, 12.May.2006) — In a region seen as turning leftward, forging alliances would seem a natural course of events. But Bolivian President Evo Morales’ decision to nationalize the oil and gas industry is exposing tensions, causing experts to say there is more diffusion than alliance-building […]