(S&P Global, 14.Dec.2023) — Analysts at S&P Global Commodity Insights, an independent provider of information, data, analysis, benchmark prices and workflow solutions for the commodities, energy and energy transition markets, today released their latest 2024 energy outlook. OVERVIEW After years of turbulence, global markets are still striving to find sustainable […]
Tag: COVID-19
Global Economic Growth Slows Amid Gloomy Outlook
(IMF, 26.Jul.2022) — The global economy, still reeling from the pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, is facing an increasingly gloomy and uncertain outlook. Many of the downside risks flagged in our April World Economic Outlook have begun to materialize. Higher-than-expected inflation, especially in the United States and major European […]
World Bank: Global Growth to Slow Through 2023
(World Bank, 11.Jan.2022) — Following a strong rebound in 2021, the global economy is entering a pronounced slowdown amid fresh threats from COVID-19 variants and a rise in inflation, debt, and income inequality that could endanger the recovery in emerging and developing economies, according to the World Bank’s latest Global Economic […]
CNOOC’s Production Hits Record High
(CNOOC Limited, 25.Mar.2021) — CNOOC Limited announced its 2020 annual results for the year ended 31 December 2020. In 2020, CNOOC Limited strengthened confidence, focused on its own development, proactively responded to the sharp drop in international oil prices and the impact of COVID-19 epidemic, and built up a strict […]
Mexico Plans To Help Pemex But Limit Covid Spending
(Bloomberg, 17.Feb.2021) — Mexico is preparing a significant tax break for its state-owned oil firm while the constitution blocks it from taking on debt to increase social spending during the pandemic, Finance Minister Arturo Herrera said in an interview. Lowering the state’s demands on Pemex, its biggest taxpayer, could help […]
IMF: World Economic Outlook Update
(IMF, 31.Jan.2021) — The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects policy support and vaccines for Covid-19 to lift economic activity worldwide. Policy Support and Vaccines Expected to Lift Activity Although recent vaccine approvals have raised hopes of a turnaround in the pandemic later this year, renewed waves and new variants of […]
FMC Updates 4Q:20 Outlook, Highlights Brazil, Argentina
(FMC, 19.Jan.2021) — FMC Corporation it is reducing its fourth quarter 2020 outlook. The company is proceeding through its quarterly close, and based on preliminary results expects fourth quarter revenue of approximately $1.15bn as compared with prior guidance of $1.23bn to $1.29bn, and fourth quarter adjusted EBITDA in the range […]
Global Witness Withdraws Guyana Report
(Global Witness, 11.Jan.2021) — The climate emergency is the greatest threat facing the world. If we are to prevent its worst impacts we all must act now. For Global Witness this has meant redirecting our efforts to fighting the main drivers of the climate crisis: deforestation, the extraction and burning […]
Petrobras Reports Record Production In 2020
(Petrobras, 7.Jan.2021) — Petrobras registered records in its 2020 annual oil production and total annual production (oil and gas) of, respectively, 2.28 million barrels per day (bpd) of oil and 2.84 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (boed). The previous records occurred in 2015 and were 2.23 million bpd […]
Eurasia Group Publishes Top Risks For 2021
(Eurasia Group, 4.Jan.2021) — As we begin 2021, the United States is the most powerful, politically divided, and economically unequal of the world’s industrial democracies. China is America’s strongest competitor, a state capitalist, authoritarian, and techno-surveillance state that is increasingly mistrusted by most G20 countries. Germany and Japan are much […]
Perenco To Compensate Workers In Quarantine
(Trinidad and Tobago Newsday, 26.Dec.2020) — Perenco TT Ltd has assured that it has and will continues to fulfil its contractual obligations to its workforce, and that all personnel will be compensated for their quarantine periods. A press release from the company on Christmas Day stated, “Perenco remains fully committed […]
Citgo Plans Q4 2021 Overhaul At Corpus Christi Refinery
(Reuters, 21.Dec.2020) — Citgo Petroleum Corp plans an overhaul at its 167,500 barrel-per-day (bpd) Corpus Christi, Texas, refinery in the fourth quarter of 2021, the company said on Monday. The fourth-quarter 2021 turnaround could be rescheduled, Citgo said. Sources told Reuters on Friday that Citgo was postponing planned maintenance scheduled […]
Gov’t Worked With Exxon For Maximum Production
(DPI, 20.Dec.2020) — The government of Guyana says it welcomes the announcement by US oil and gas company ExxonMobil that it has reached maximum production of 120,000 barrels of oil per day (b/d) – a success to which it has contributed. Minister of Natural Resources Hon. Vickram Bharrat said the […]
Rescheduling Of Work In Corentyne Block, Guyana
(Frontera, 27.Nov.2020) — Frontera Energy Corporation and CGX Energy Inc, the joint venture partners, announce that their constructive and collaborative discussions with the Government of Guyana have been concluded with respect to the Corentyne block with a rescheduling of the Joint Venture’s work commitments regarding its Petroleum Prospecting License for […]
ExxonMobil To Reduce Staff Levels In Canada
(Exxon, 25.Nov.2020) — As part of an ongoing global review to identify cost efficiencies and improve long-term competitiveness, staffing levels will be reduced at ExxonMobil’s Canadian affiliates. It is anticipated that up to 300 positions will be impacted by the end of 2021 across the company’s affiliates in Canada, which […]
Nigeria In Recession, Impacted By COVID-19, Oil
(Reuters, 21.Nov.2020) — Nigeria has slipped into a recession after its gross domestic product contracted for the second consecutive quarter, according to data released on Saturday which showed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and low oil prices. Africa’s biggest economy was last in recession in 2016, its first in […]
ExxonMobil To Reduce US Staff Levels
(Exxon, 30.Oct.2020) — As part of an extensive global review announced earlier this year, the company plans to reduce staffing levels in the United States, primarily at its management offices in Houston, Texas. The company anticipates approximately 1,900 employees will be affected through voluntary and involuntary programs. The workforce reductions […]
Latin America Peers Warily Into US Election Mirror
(Argus, 30.Oct.2020) — The region’s recovery from Covid-19 will depend heavily on who is dictating US policy, writes Patricia Garip. Waves of political chaos that recurrently engulf Latin America were not supposed to wash up on stable US shores. Yet days before the 3 November election, the US is convulsed […]
Simón Bolívar Foundation Rejects Maduro Allegations
(Citgo, 30.Oct.2020) — Given the recent accusations made by representatives of the Nicolás Maduro regime, the Simón Bolívar Foundation, the private non-profit foundation of Citgo Petroleum Corporation, categorically rejects the allegations regarding the Foundation’s activities and its President Ms. Mariela Poleo, for being completely false and unfounded. The Simón Bolívar […]
Petrobras Boosts Production Outlook
(Reuters, 20.Oct.2020) — Brazilian state-run oil company Petrobras said on Tuesday that 2020 production should exceed previously disclosed estimates, as the firm ramps up production at some of its most prolific offshore oilfields. Petroleo Brasileiro SA, as the company is formally known, said it expects to produce roughly 2.84 million […]
OAS Mission In Bolivia To Observe Elections
(OAS, 9.Oct.2020) — The Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) of the Organization of American States (OAS) will begin to arrive in La Paz tomorrow to begin the tasks of observation in the field ahead of the 18 October 2020 election in which the president, vice president, senators and deputies will be […]
Petrobras Reports Record S-10 Diesel Production, Sales
(Petrobras, 7.Oct.2020) — Petrobras reports that in September, for the fourth month in a row, it surpassed the record production of S-10 low sulfur diesel, reaching the 1.89 million m³ mark. Also, in September, Petrobras reached the sales record of the same product when 1.91 million m³ were sold. The […]
IMF OKs $6.5bn Extended Facility For Ecuador
(IMF, 1.Oct.2020) — The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a 27-month extended arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) for Ecuador, with access equivalent to SDR 4.615bn (661% of quota, equivalent of $6.5bn). The Board’s approval allows for an immediate disbursement equivalent to $2bn, available to […]
Investors Pull Plug On Argentina’s Prized Shale Play
(Oilprice.com, 19.Sep.2020) — Much ink has been spilled about the downfall and dubious recovery of the United States shale oil sector. The West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude benchmark’s dramatic rock bottom in April, which saw oil prices plunge to nearly $40 dollars below zero in a jaw-dropping first, a flurry […]
US Secretary Of State Mike Pompeo Arrives In Guyana
(DPI, 17.Sep.2020) — The arrival of United States (US) Secretary of State, Mr. Michael Pompeo on these shores today marks an historic development in the relationship between Guyana and the US. Mr. Pompeo was greeted by US Ambassador to Guyana, Mrs. Sarah-Ann Lynch and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International […]
US Secretary Of State To Reach Guyana Soon
(DPI, 17.Sep.2020) — The United States Secretary of State Mr. Michael Pompeo is set to arrive this evening and will be the highest-ranking sitting government official to visit Guyana since its Independence in 1966. The Secretary of State is said to be embarking on a South American tour aimed at […]
Ecopetrol Aims To Drill 100 Permian Wells By YE:21
(Reuters, 14.Sep.2020) — Colombian oil company Ecopetrol SA aims to drill a total 100 wells by end-2021 in the Permian Basin of West Texas as global oil prices recover, Chief Executive Felipe Bayon said on Monday. Global oil prices plunged to decade lows, with U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) dropping […]
PPSA Sale Plan Stokes Oil Contract Debate
(Argus, 12.Aug.2020) — The Brazilian government’s plan to sell state-owned pre-salt marketing company PPSA has stalled amid congressional foot-dragging over a change in pre-salt contract terms. Addressing reporters late yesterday, influential economy minister Paulo Guedes confirmed that the delay in selling the firm contributed to the departure of secretary Salim […]
Colombian Oil Major Reports Surprise Profits
(Oilprice.com, 12.Aug.202) — The March 2020 oil price crash and COVID-19 pandemic has hit the global energy sector hard. In response oil companies are slashing capital spending, driving down costs and shuttering uneconomic operations. The key goals being to preserve cash flow, shore-up balance sheets, protect dividend payments and retain […]
Saudi Arabia Turns Off America’s Oil Taps Again
(Bloomberg, 9.Aug.2020) — The strategy worked wonders in 2017. It will be more challenging this time around unless the pandemic eases its grip on oil demand. For the second time in three years, Saudi Arabia is slashing the volume of crude it’s sending to America in an attempt to force down […]
Trump Hits Wall With Bid To Place Ally At LatAm Bank
(Bloomberg, 7.Aug.2020) — Mexico called for delaying the election of a new chief for a key Latin American development bank amid controversy caused by U.S. President Donald Trump’s push to have a close ally at the helm of the institution. Mexico’s finance ministry announced Friday its support for a postponement […]
Investors Want To Know: Colombia’s Negative Outlook
(Fitch Ratings, 22.Jul.2020) — Colombia’s sovereign metrics have deteriorated further since its April downgrade to ‘BBB-‘, underpinning the range of downside risks reflected in the country’s Negative Rating Outlook, says Fitch Ratings. The growth outlook and debt trajectory are particularly key for the rating, with growth facing significant downside risks […]
Petronas New Energy Teams Up with Nefin Group
(Petronas, 20.Jul.2020) — Following the launch of its first solar rooftop solution, M+ by Petronas last year, Petronas New Energy is now set to grow in the domestic renewable energy space with its first commercial customer, Tesco Stores (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (Tesco). In delivering its commitment to Tesco, Petronas New […]
Siemens To Establish Mobile Working As “New Normal”
(Siemens, 16.Jul.2020) — Siemens will establish mobile working as a core component of its “new normal” and will make it a permanent standard, both during the global pandemic and beyond. The company’s Managing Board has now approved implementation of a corresponding model. The aim is to enable employees worldwide to […]
MERNNR Extends Offers For El Aromo And Villonaco
(Energy Analytics Institute, 10.Jul.2020) — René Ortiz, the head of Ecuador’s Ministry of Energy and Non-Renewable Natural Resources (MERNNR) extended terms for the delivery of technical and economic offers — within the public selection processes for the concession for the El Aromo photovoltaic projects (200 megawatts) located in the province […]
Renewables Key To LatAm Economic Recovery
(Reve, 8.Jul.2020) — The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE) will boost ties to put the renewables driven energy transformation at the heart of Latin America and the Caribbean’s economic recovery following the COVID-19 outbreak. The efforts build on an existing Memorandum of Understanding […]
Petrobras To Cut Over 20% Of Workforce
(Reuters, 1.Jul.2020) — Some 10,000 employees of Brazil’s Petrobras, or 22% of its workforce, have accepted voluntary buyouts, Chief Executive Roberto Castello Branco said on Wednesday, as the state-run oil company intensifies its quest to slim down and refocus on core businesses. In a webinar hosted by Brazilian newspaper Valor […]
Brazil’s IBP Sees COVID-19 Impact Until The End Of 2021
(Reuters, 30.Jun.2020) — Brazil’s oil industry expects a recovery in domestic demand in the next months driven by growing China imports, but the negative effects of COVID-19 are expected to last through the end of 2021, lobbying group IBP said in a note on Tuesday. Consumption could drop by more […]
YPF Issues Force Majeure Notice On Tango FLNG
(Reuters, 26.Jun.2020) — Belgian shipping company Exmar has said that it had received a force majeure notice from Argentine oil company YPF SA under charter and services deals for the Tango floating export project. “YPF claims that effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic both worldwide and in Argentina have hindered […]
Keith Rowley’s Address – Energy, Renewables Event
(Trinidad Prime Minister, 24.Jun.2020) — Prime Minister Dr the Hon Keith Rowley’s Feature Address – Energy Efficiency and Renewables Conference 2020. Ladies and Gentlemen, a very good morning to you all. I am once again honoured to be among such a knowledgeable gathering, even if it has to be in […]
Exxon Reduces Guyana Crude Production
(Tudor Pickering, 16.Jun.2020) — Reports out last night that XOM was forced to reduce output at its Liza Phase 1 project in the Stabroek block offshore Guyana due to an issue with equipment designed to limit excessive flaring by reinjecting produced gas back into the reservoir. In order to comply […]
Petrobras Refineries Near Pre-pandemic Levels
(Reuters, 12.Jun.2020) — Utilization rates at refineries owned by Brazil’s Petrobras are nearing pre-pandemic levels, as lower fuel imports by competitors and resilient international demand for bunker fuel provide a boost, the state-run company told Reuters on Friday. According to public data from last week, refineries owned by Petroleo Brasileiro […]
Exxon Oil Output Falls On Gas Compressor Problem
(Stabroek News, 7.Jun.2020) — Production at Exxon-Mobil’s Liza-1 project in the Stabroek Block, offshore Guyana, has plummeted from 80,000 barrels per day (bpd) to now between 25,000 and 30,000 bpd as compressor problems continue and the company would not increase flaring above about 15 million cubic feet of natural gas […]
Oil Workers In Mexico Plead To Come Home
(The Guardian, 4.Jun.2020) — Dozens of Trinidad and Tobago oilfield workers in Mexico have issued a plea to the government to allow them to return home. The workers issued a statement to the media Wednesday night saying they are currently stranded there. They say that before going to Mexico, they […]
Pemex Continues With Tula Refinery Contingency
(Energy Analytics Institute, 3.Jun.2020) — Pemex’s “Miguel Hidalgo” refinery in Tula carried out preventive measures to mitigate the risks of the Covid-19 pandemic among its work force as well as personnel from contractor companies. Since commencement of contingency efforts, more than 10,000 face masks have been delivered at the entrance […]
Global LNG Demand Faces Seasonal Contraction
(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 […]
Trinidad-Venezuela Ties Omit Natural Gas For Now
(Argus, 29.May.2020) — Trinidad and Tobago declared explicit support for Venezuela’s US-sanctioned government this week, but the political ties will not revive natural gas cooperation in the near term because industrial demand has crumbled. Venezuela’s vast untapped offshore gas deposits and cross-border fields have long been seen as vital to […]
Fitch Affirms Raizen’s IDRs At ‘BBB’; Outlook Negative
(Fitch Ratings, 28.May.2020) — Fitch Ratings has affirmed Raizen Combustiveis S.A.’s and Raizen Energia S.A.’s Long-Term Foreign and Local Currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) at ‘BBB’ and National Long-Term Ratings at ‘AAA(bra)’. Fitch has also affirmed the rating of Raizen Fuels Finance S.A.’s senior unsecured noted due 2027 at ‘BBB’. […]
Covid-19 Crisis Could Crush Brazil’s Oil Boom
(Oilprice.com, 20.May.2020) — The coronavirus is spreading like wildfire in Brazil, and the country’s oil industry could get dragged down with it. “Brazil has the worst COVID growth rate of any G20 country: the pandemic is totally out of control,” Raymond James wrote in a report, explaining its reason for […]
Colombia Eyes Intervention In Oil Pipeline Tariffs
(Reuters, 20.May.2020) — Colombia’s government could make an unprecedented intervention in oil pipeline tariffs, which private producers have criticized as too high, the president of the country’s National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH) said on Wednesday. Private oil companies in the Andean country have been hit hard by falling prices amid a […]