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☆ An Austrian former minister who controversially danced with Putin at her wedding flew to Russia with her ponies on a military plane, says report
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Austria's former foreign minister Karin Kneissl has moved to St. Petersburg to manage a think tank. A Russian military plane flew her and her ponies to Russia. She said she had decided to move to Russia to run a think tank at St. Petersburg University, reported Russia's state-owned Tass news agency. I decided to move to St. Petersburg for this work." AdvertisementAdvertisementKneissl said on social media that she took a Russian military plane to St. Petersburg along with her possessions — and ponies — as due to sanctions against Syria there were no commercial flights or DHL.

Persons: Karin Kneissl, Putin, Vladimir Putin, Kneissl Organizations: Service, Russian, Petersburg University, Tass, Gorki, Austrian Freedom Party, BBC, DHL, Guardian, Kneissl Locations: St, Petersburg, Russian, Russia, Wall, Silicon, Austrian, St . Petersburg, Syria, Austria, France, Lebanon

The quarterly production dropped 2.2% to 3.9 million barrels per day, Rosneft said, adding that its first-half sales reached 3.9 trillion roubles ($41 billion), down by more than a quarter from the previous year due to weaker oil prices. Still, revenue in the reported quarter increased 12.1% to 2 trillion roubles. Profits for global oil majors this year have dropped by about half from a bumper 2022, when Russia's actions in Ukraine sent oil and gas prices soaring. Russia divested its oil sales away from Europe to Asia and other global regions after the West imposed sanctions, including an embargo on Russia sea-borne oil purchases, over Moscow's actions in Ukraine. Rosneft's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) in the January-June period declined 5.1% to 1.4 trillion roubles.

Persons: Sechin, Rosneft, Igor Sechin, Vladimir Putin, Vladimir Soldatkin, Jacqueline Wong, Sherry Jacob, Phillips Organizations: OPEC, Gazprom, of, Petroleum, Kremlin, Thomson Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Europe, Asia, India, China

☆ A $700 million superyacht linked to Putin was seized in Italy last year. It's being treated to a refurb while it waits, and authorities won't say who's paying for it.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Scheherazade, a $700 million superyacht linked to Russian President Putin, is being refitted in Italy. Italy seized the yacht in 2022 following sweeping sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine war. A $700 million superyacht reportedly linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin is sitting in an Italian port and being refitted on the unnamed owner's dime, the Financial Times reported Sunday. US authorities believe the superyacht could belong to Putin, The New York Times reported in March last year. Other Russian oligarch-linked yachts that have been seized include the $81 million Alfa Nero and the $48 million Phi.

Persons: Putin, Vladimir Putin, It's, Eduard Khudainatov, Alexei Navalny, Nero Organizations: Russia, Financial Times, Marina di, Sea Group, Bloomberg, The New York Times, Kremlin, Phi, Italian Sea Group Locations: Italy, Ukraine, Marina, Milan, Russian

☆ Moscow says it shot down Ukrainian missile over Russian city, arrested oil refinery bomber
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/7] View of a damaged building near the site of the blast in the center of Taganrog, Russia July 28, 2023. Telegram channel of Vasily Golubev, Governor of the Rostov region/Handout via REUTERSJuly 28 (Reuters) - The Russian military said on Friday it had shot down a Ukrainian missile over the southern Russian city of Taganrog and that fragments of the missile had injured civilians and damaged buildings. There was no immediate reaction from Ukraine, which rarely comments on attacks inside Russia or on Russian-controlled territory. Separately, an explosion was reported to have hit an oil refinery in the Russian city of Samara. Member of parliament Alexander Khinshtein said the explosion at the refinery owned by Rosneft (ROSN.MM) appeared to have been caused by a bomb.

Persons: Vasily Golubev, Alexander Khinshtein, Felix Light, Mark Trevelyan, Andrew Osborn Organizations: REUTERS, Rosneft, TASS, Energy, Thomson Locations: Taganrog, Russia, Rostov, Russian, Ukrainian, Ukraine, Russia's Rostov, Samara

There is no suggestion the trades break sanctions, although they may make it difficult for sanctions enforcement agencies in Europe and the United States to track Russian oil transactions and prices. The new trading network and practices raise financial risks for Russian oil companies dealing with unknown entities with limited credit history. "We recognise that (sanctions on Russia are) going to change the shape and structure of the Russian oil markets," the official told reporters. In May, Russian seaborne oil supplies to India, which was a rare buyer of Russian oil before the war, reached a record of 1.95 million bpd while China imported 2.29 million bpd. A source with one major Russian oil company said his company was prepared to deal with higher credit risks from buyers for the sake of having stable and rising oil exports.

Persons: Russia's, Rosneft, Everest, Coral, Washington, Lukoil, Dmitry Zhdannikov, Nidhi Verma, Timothy Gardner, Laura Sanicola, Simon Webb, Frank Jack Daniel Our Organizations: NEW, Liberian, Reuters, Shell, Group, European Union, Bellatrix Energy, Leopard, Guron, SEA, Coral Energy, Everest Energy, U.S . Treasury, EU, UK, Treasury, UAE dirham, Shipping, Hindustan Petroleum, Gazprom Neft, Covart Energy, Orion Energy, Media, Rosneft, Nidhi, Thomson Locations: Russia, Ukraine MOSCOW, NEW DELHI, Russia's Ust, Hong Kong, India, Moscow, Asia, Ukraine, Refinitiv, Europe, United States, Australia, China, U.S, UAE, Dubai, Visakhapatnam, Surgutneftegaz, Russian, Geneva, Singapore, Rosneft, Venezuela, MOSCOW, LONDON, Washington, New York

☆ Why are so many Western firms staying put in Russia, despite the rising risks?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

London CNN —When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, a slew of Western companies left in protest. Companies now find themselves caught between Western sanctions and public outrage on the one hand, and an increasingly hostile Russian government on the other. The Kremlin is making it more difficult for Western firms to sell their Russian assets — and imposing steep discounts and punitive taxes when they do. Both companies had been finalizing sales to local buyers when President Vladimir Putin signed an order nationalizing their local assets earlier this month. Spurred by sweeping Western sanctions, oil companies, automakers, technology firms, consultancies and banks led the initial wave of departures.

Persons: —, Vladimir Putin, Carlsberg, Maria Shagina, Andrey Rudakov, Konstantin Zavrazhin, Hein Schumacher, Schumacher, ”, ” Procter, Gamble, ” Mondelez, Fortum Oyj, Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, ” Sonnenfeld, — Olesya Dmitracova Organizations: London CNN, Nestlé, Heineken, Companies, Danone, Carlsberg, Breweries, International Institute for Strategic Studies, CNN, Bloomberg, Getty, Yale University, Yale, Unilever, UL, Procter, Gamble, Treasury, Foreign, Control, Carlsberg — Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Lyubuchany, Rosneft, Moscow, Russian

☆ Goldman Sachs expects 'all time high' oil demand to spur large deficits, boosting prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

In this article GSBDGS Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNTOil storage tanks stand at the RN-Tuapsinsky refinery, operated by Rosneft Oil Co., at night in Tuapse, Russia. Andrey Rudakov | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesGoldman Sachs expects record demand in oil markets to drive crude prices higher in the near term. He added that the bank forecasts Brent crude to rise from just above $80 per barrel now to $86 per barrel by year-end. Global benchmark Brent futures traded 0.39% lower at $80.75 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures stood 0.42% at $76.75 per barrel. That metric, which tallies the number of active oil rigs, is used as an indicator of drilling activity and future output.

Persons: Andrey Rudakov, Goldman Sachs, Daan Struyven, CNBC's, Struyven Organizations: Rosneft Oil, Bloomberg, Getty, Brent, U.S, West Texas Locations: Tuapse, Russia

☆ Opinion: In tough times, Russia turns to a Cold War comrade
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Opinion Jeremi Suri | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —After decades of somewhat distant relations, Russia and Cuba are working closely together again — this time, as part of Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine. Cuba's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bruno Rodriguez, and Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, meet in Havana on April 20, in a show of deepening ties between the countries. In addition to deepened connections with Russia, Cuba has allowed China to build a secret espionage facility on the island. Washington will respond to Russian military escalation in Cuba with its own escalating force, as it already has done with the recent deployment of a nuclear submarine. Military escalation around Cuba is a dangerous temptation for Russia and a difficult trap for the US.

Persons: Jeremi Suri, Mack Brown, America’s, Vladimir Putin’s, Jeremi Suri Korey Howell, Nikolai Patrushev, Igor Sechin, Rosneft, Sergey Lavrov, —, Manuel Marrero Cruz, Putin, Alvaro Lopéz Miera, Sergei Shoigu, Shoigu, ” Shoigu, ”, Gerardo Peñalver, Bruno Rodriguez, Ramon Espinosa, Miguel Diaz, Canel, Obama, White, Nikita Khrushchev, John F, Kennedy, Khrushchev, Biden, — Khrushchev Organizations: Leadership, Global Affairs, University of Texas, History Department, LBJ School, Democracy, CNN, Russian Security Council, Cuban, Russian, Cuba's, Foreign Affairs, Russian Foreign, Getty Images, year’s, Russian Navy, Caribbean Military, Trump, Biden, Soviets, Pentagon, US, USS, Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, US Navy, West, Washington, Hulton, Getty, White, Republican, Russia, Ukraine, Twitter, Cuban Missile Locations: Austin, Russia, Cuba, Ukraine, Russian, Havana ., — Venezuela, Nicaragua, Moscow, Caribbean, Washington, Havana, Getty Images Cuba, America, China, Lourdes, USS Pasadena, Guantanamo, American, Soviet, West Berlin, Europe, Putin, Florida, Afghanistan, Turkey

☆ Putin ordered 2 Western corporate giants to be seized after Kremlin-friendly businessmen expressed an interest in them: report
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Putin ordered Danone and Carlsberg seized after Kremlin-friendly businessmen expressed interest, per the FT.A Chechen leader and a businessman close to Putin have taken over the companies' assets in Russia. Russia seizing the local operations of Danone and Carlsberg was not the first time the country took control of Western firms. Managers from Rosneft, a state energy company headed by Putin ally Igor Sechin, took over both energy companies. Independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta reported on Thursday, Russian businessmen bought the assets of 110 Western companies "that have fully or partially left Russia" at bargain-bin prices. Danone said in a Sunday statement it was "preparing to take all necessary measures to protect its rights as shareholder."

Persons: Putin, Vladimir Putin, Moscow, Yakub Zakriev, Ramzan Kadyrov —, Taimuraz, Igor Sechin, Ekaterina Kurbangaleeva, Kurbangaleeva, Hassan Malik, Loomis Sayles, Danone, Carlsberg Organizations: Danone, Carlsberg, Kremlin, Observers, Service, Financial Times, Vedomosti, Rosneft, Analysts, Russia's, Independent Russian, Novaya Gazeta, Carnegie Endowment, International, Boston Locations: Russia, Wall, Silicon, Russian, Moscow, Ukraine

☆ Oilfield firm SLB halts all shipments to Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

July 14 (Reuters) - Top oilfield services firm SLB (SLB.N) on Friday said it is halting shipments of products and technology into Russia from all its operations over an expansion of Western sanctions. SLB, the world's largest oil service and equipment provider, was one of the few providers to continue working the country's oil sector following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Curacao-domiciled firm recently had 9,600 employees working for top Russian oil and gas companies such as Gazprom Neft and Rosneft. The changes included barring Russia employees from accessing certain software and messaging systems, and walling off the unit from other operations. U.S. oilfield rivals Halliburton and Baker Hughes sold or put their Russian operations on the block soon after the February, 2022, invasion.

Persons: SLB, walling, Baker Hughes, Gary McWilliams, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Schlumberger, European Union, Canada, Gazprom Neft, Reuters, Russia, Halliburton, Thomson Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Curacao, Paris, Houston, London, The Hague, U.S

☆ Exclusive: Russia sets plans for oil export cuts in August - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Moscow this month pledged to cut exports by 500,000 bpd in August, while Saudi Arabia extended its 1 million bpd output cuts. Russia exports oil and products via the Pacific and a direct pipeline to China as well as its European ports. Three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that Russia had instructed oil companies to reduce supply plans for the next month. Russian offline primary oil refining capacity is seen rising by 40% in August from July, making additional oil export cuts next month even tougher for many. If Russia wants to cut oil exports in August from July, companies may postpone some planned works to autumn months to increase domestic oil consumption, or cut oil production, traders said.

Persons: Alexander Novak, Novak, Igor Sechin, Rosneft, Jan Harvey Organizations: Pacific, Reuters, OPEC, Thomson Locations: Russia, Ukraine, MOSCOW, Moscow, Saudi Arabia, OPEC, Ust, Luga, Baltic, China

☆ Exclusive: India refiners start yuan payments for Russian oil imports -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Nidhi Verma | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

It could not immediately be determined how much Russian oil Indian refiners have bought with yuan, although Indian Oil has paid in yuan for multiple cargoes, sources said. The rise in yuan payments has given a boost to Beijing's efforts to internationalise its currency, with Chinese banks promoting its use specifically for Russian oil trade. Indian refiners have also settled some non-dollar payments for Russian oil in the United Arab Emirates' dirham, sources have said. One private refiner has also been using the same mechanism for payments for Russian oil, one of the sources said. Another state refiner, Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL.NS), is also exploring yuan payment for Russian oil, a separate source said.

Persons: IOC's, Rosneft, Nidhi Verma, Tony Munroe, Tom Hogue Organizations: U.S, Indian Oil Corp, Reliance Industries Ltd, Nayara Energy, HPCL Mittal Energy Ltd, Oil, Gazprom Neft, Reuters, United Arab, State Bank of India, NS Bora, Sun Ship Management, European Union, IOC, ICICI Bank, Bank of China, Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd, Thomson Locations: DELHI, Russia, Moscow, Ukraine, India, China, Saudi Arabia, Indian, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, United Kingdom, Bank, Rosneft, ICICI

SummarySummary Companies Russia to cut oil exports 500,000 bpd in AugustRussia's Novak announces cut just after Saudis extend their cutOil prices rise 1.6% on Saudi and Russian announcementsPutin spoke to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on June 27MOSCOW, July 3 (Reuters) - Russia will cut oil exports by 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) in August, President Vladimir Putin's point man on oil said on Monday, as Moscow seeks to nudge up global oil prices in concert with Saudia Arabia. Novak's spokeswoman declined to say whether Russian oil output would decline by the same amount as its exports. It has already pledged to reduce its output by 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 9.5 million bpd from March until year-end. Russia is the world's second largest oil exporter after Saudi Arabia, whose crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, spoke to Putin on June 27. Sechin said some OPEC+ countries were exporting as much as 90% of their output, whereas Russia puts only half of its production onto the global market.

Persons: Russia's Novak, Putin, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Vladimir Putin's, Brent, Alexander Novak, Novak's, Mohammed bin Salman, Igor Sechin, Sechin, Guy Faulconbridge, Kevin Liffey Organizations: Saudia, Thomson Locations: Saudi, MOSCOW, Russia, Moscow, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Russian Urals

Roszarubezhneft's five joint ventures now must rely on PDVSA-designated intermediaries that take a large share of the revenues for their services, the people said. The joint ventures are owed about $3.2 billion from sales handled by PDVSA, one of the people said. Roszarubezhneft, Russia's oil ministry, PDVSA and Venezuela's oil and foreign affairs ministries did not reply to requests for comment. It also could help PDVSA make progress toward its goal of raising Venezuela's oil output by 40% this year. Oil production at the five joint ventures has dwindled as U.S. sanctions have hampered investment and maintenance work, and deterred many buyers of Venezuelan crude.

Persons: PDVSA's Jose Antonio, Carlos Garcia Rawlins, PDVSA, Rosneft, Nicolas Maduro's, Roszarubezhneft, Alexandra Ulmer, Marianna Parraga, Vivian Sequera, Daniel Flynn Organizations: REUTERS, Chevron, PDVSA, Reuters, Washington, U.S . Treasury, National Security, State Department, Nicolas Maduro's United Socialist Party, Assembly, Thomson Locations: PDVSA's, Anzoategui, Caracas, Moscow, Venezuela, U.S, Russia, Ukraine, Roszarubezhneft, Venezuela's, Rosneft

How India Profits From Its Neutrality in the Ukraine War The Gulf of Kutch in India is home to the world’s largest oil refinery. After Russia invaded Ukraine, tankers laden with Russian oil are an increasingly common sight along this inlet of northwestern India. China and India are buying so much Russian oil now that Moscow is selling more crude than it was before it invaded Ukraine. Russian crude shipments in the Gulf of Kutch this year Total barrels shipped between through May 2023. In December, S. Jaishankar, India’s foreign minister, was asked in Parliament about India’s decision to buy Russian crude.

Persons: Narendra Modi, Modi, Biden, Ukraine Price, —, Mukesh Ambani, India’s, Copernicus, ” Organizations: New York Times, Western, Ukraine, International Energy Agency, European Union, Argus Media, Jamnagar, Reliance Industries, Nayara Energy, Rosneft, Port, Southeast, Center, Research, Energy, Clean, United Arab Emirates, Modi government’s Locations: India, Ukraine, Kutch, Russia, SynMax, United States, Europe, Moscow, West, India China, China, Kpler, East, Jamnagar, Gujarat State, Russian, Gulf, Pipeline, Panipat, Mundra, Vadinar, Jamnagar Port Vadinar Refinery Jamnagar, Port, Nayara, Southeast Asia, Africa, Finland, Turkey, Singapore, Sikka, Asia Europe

Companies NK Rosneft' PAO FollowJune 19 (Reuters) - Oil prices fell on Monday as questions over China's economy outweighed OPEC+ output cuts and the seventh straight drop in the number of oil and gas rigs operating in the United States. "(China's) economy is navigating through powerful headwinds," said PVM oil analyst Tamas Varga. In recent weeks global road traffic has been declining, said Jorge Leon, Rystad Energy's senior vice president, which may also point to slowing growth and drag on oil prices. Iran's crude exports and oil output have hit record highs in 2023 despite U.S. sanctions, according to consultants, shipping data and a source close to the matter, adding to global supply when other producers are limiting output. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies including Russia this month agreed on a new oil output deal and the group's biggest producer, Saudi Arabia, also pledged to make a deep cut to its output in July.

Persons: Brent, Tamas Varga, Jorge Leon, Rystad Energy's, Leon, Nia Williams, Ahmad Ghaddar, Katya Golubkova, Emily Chow, David Goodman, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: NK Rosneft, West Texas, of, Petroleum, Thomson Locations: United States, U.S, China, Europe, Russia, Saudi Arabia, British Columbia, London, Tokyo, Singapore

☆ Oil falls on China growth uncertainties
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( Ahmad Ghaddar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Companies NK Rosneft' PAO FollowLONDON, June 19 (Reuters) - Oil prices fell on Monday as questions over China's economy outweighed OPEC+ output cuts and the seventh straight drop in the number of oil and gas rigs operating in the United States. Brent crude fell 17 cents, or 0.2%, to $76.44 a barrel by 0944 GMT while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude lost 31 cents, or 0.4%, to $71.47. "(China's) economy is navigating through powerful headwinds," said PVM oil analyst Tamas Varga. The oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, fell by eight to 687 in the week to June 16 for the lowest total since April 2022. , , . Iran's crude exports and oil output have hit record highs in 2023 despite U.S. sanctions, according to consultants, shipping data and a source close to the matter, adding to global supply when other producers are limiting output.

Persons: Brent, Tamas Varga, Ahmad Ghaddar, Katya Golubkova, Emily Chow, David Goodman Organizations: NK Rosneft, West Texas, Reuters, of, Petroleum, Thomson Locations: United States, China, U.S, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tokyo, Singapore

A number of major banks have cut their 2023 gross domestic product growth forecasts for China after May data last week showed the post-COVID recovery in the world's second-largest economy was faltering. The oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, fell by 8 to 687 in the week to June 16, lowest since April 2022. , , . Earlier this month, OPEC+ had agreed on a new oil output deal. The group's biggest producer Saudi Arabia also pledged to make a deep cut to its output in July. Reporting by Katya Golubkova in Tokyo and Emily Chow in Singapore; Editing by Tom HogueOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Brent, Tina Teng, PBOC, Edward Moya, Moya, Igor Sechin, Sechin, Katya Golubkova, Emily Chow, Tom Hogue Organizations: NK Rosneft, U.S, West Texas, People's Bank of China's, CMC Markets, Reuters, of, Petroleum, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, United States, China, U.S, Russia, OPEC, Saudi Arabia, Tokyo, Singapore

OPEC+ accounts for around 40% of global oil production, while Rosneft takes the same share of Russia's oil output. In remarks published later on Rosneft's website from Sechin's speech, he said Saudi Arabia is voluntarily cutting oil production, while also increasing production capacity. He said Saudi Arabia may increase the amount of drilling rigs by at least a quarter in the next two years. Speaking at the forum, Sechin also said it was more difficult for OPEC countries to find common ground due to differences in economic structure and oil production. "In coming years, humanity will face the problem of production capacities and OPEC countries will no longer be able to meet the growing demand," he said.

Persons: Igor Sechin, Vladimir Putin, Sechin, Rosneft, Olesta Astakhova, Vladimir Soldatkin, Louise Heavens, David Holmes Organizations: Russia, Organization of, Petroleum, Thomson Locations: MOSCOW, United States, OPEC, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Saudi

"But the situation is changing and it is possible that a window of opportunity will appear before the end of this year, then we will issue yuan bonds." Russian firms placed bonds worth 1.7 billion yuan ($237.5 million) in May. The bank has issued 140 billion roubles ($1.7 billion) worth of rouble-denominated bonds this year, he said, and would continue to do so at the right price. The head of Sberbank rival VTB last week told Reuters Russia's economy had adapted to sanctions. Sberbank's record first-quarter profit of 357.2 billion roubles featured no one-time revenues, meaning profits should grow as the business does, Skvortsov said.

Persons: Taras Skvortsov, Skvortsov, VTB, Alexander Marrow, Elena Fabrichnaya, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: Reuters, Monetary Fund, Thomson Locations: Russia, Ukraine MOSCOW, Ukraine

☆ Oil edges up after steep losses ahead of U.S. debt ceiling vote
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Oil storage tanks stand at the RN-Tuapsinsky refinery, operated by Rosneft Oil Co., at night in Tuapse, Russia. Oil prices edged up on Wednesday after steep losses in the prior session, as market participants awaited an expected vote on a bipartisan deal to lift the $31.4 trillion U.S. debt ceiling. Traders were uncertain about whether the group will increase output cuts as a slump in prices weighs on the market. Saudi Arabian Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman last week warned short-sellers betting oil prices would fall to "watch out" in a possible signal that OPEC+ may cut output. However, comments from Russian oil officials and sources, including Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, indicate the world's third-largest oil producer is leaning toward leaving output unchanged.

Persons: Brent's, Kevin McCarthy, hardliner, Abdulaziz bin Salman, Alexander Novak Organizations: Rosneft Oil, Brent, U.S, West Texas, Republican, of, Petroleum, Traders, Saudi Arabian Energy, OPEC, Reuters Locations: Tuapse, Russia, U.S, OPEC, Saudi Arabia

☆ EU will go easy on Indian resale of Russian fuel
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-23 | by ( Shritama Bose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Yet, the risk of an energy inflation resurgence makes a European Union ban on Russian oil reselling a tough call. The war in Ukraine has offered India an opportunity to boost purchases of discounted Russian oil. European imports of oil derivatives jumped to 200,000 barrels per day after the EU banned Russian crude products imports on Feb. 5 from 154,000 barrels previously, according to Kpler data. And New Delhi argues oil products substantially transformed in a third country cannot be subject to EU sanctions. loadingTo avoid an open clash with India, the EU could try to target European companies buying Russian-origin refined oil.

☆ India's Russian oil buying hits record high, slashes Mideast, Africa share
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Nidhi Verma | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Asia's third-largest economy imported about 1.9 million barrels per day (bpd) of Russian oil in April, about 4.4% higher than the previous month, the data showed. Higher imports from Russian raised the share of oil from the C.I.S. India's oil imports from various regionsRussia remained the top oil supplier to India for the sixth-straight month in April, followed by Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Oil imports from Russia also rose as Indian Oil Corp (IOC.NS), the country's top refiner, raised the size of its annual import deal with Rosneft (ROSN.MM). Lower purchases of oil from the Middle East dragged OPEC's share of India oil imports to a record low of 46%, the data showed.

☆ Borrell urges EU to crack down on imports of Indian fuels made with Russian oil -FT
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

India has emerged in the past year as a top buyer of Russian oil following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. Russia's largest oil producer Rosneft (ROSN.MM) and top Indian refiner Indian Oil Corp (IOC.NS) have also signed a term deal to substantially increase and diversify oil grades delivered to India. According to ship-tracking data from Kpler, Reliance Industries (RELI.NS) and Nayara Energy were the key exporters of refined fuels and buyers of Russian oil. However, that has increased to 200,000 bpd after the EU banned Russian oil products imports from Feb. 5 this year, data from Kpler shows. Any mechanism to stem the flow of Russian oil would need to be implemented by the national authorities, Borrell told the FT, suggesting that the EU could target buyers of Indian refined fuels which it believes are derived from Russian crude.

☆ Head of Russia's crime agency suggests nationalising key parts of economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 13 (Reuters) - The head of Russia's federal crime agency on Saturday suggested that key sectors of the economy should be returned to state ownership to support Moscow's war in Ukraine. "Let's go along the path of nationalising the main sectors of our economy." Russia's economy and government coffers rely heavily on production of oil, gas and metals. Gazprom (GAZP.MM), Russia's largest natural gas producer, is already controlled by the state. Its largest oil company, Rosneft (ROSN.MM), is not formally under government control but is headed by Igor Sechin, a long-standing ally of Putin.

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