DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

May 29 (Reuters) - United Conservative Party (UCP) leader Danielle Smith's election victory in Canada's main oil-producing province Alberta on Monday is likely to herald further friction with Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, particularly over climate change. The populist premier's win signals a further rightward shift in the traditionally conservative province, and comes despite a series of controversies and gaffes from Smith, 52, since she first became premier in October. In her victory speech, Smith was quick to take aim at Trudeau and what she described as the federal government's "harmful policies". "As premier I cannot under any circumstances allow these contemplated federal policies to be inflicted upon Albertans. In early 2022 she announced plans to run for leadership of the United Conservative Party, which was born in 2017 from a merger of the Progressives Conservatives and Wildrose Party.

☆ Europe's energy market faces 3 key challenges this year, the IEA's chief says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Charmaine Jacob | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Birol warned that the region's energy market still has three main hurdles to overcome this year, however. China's exit from its zero-Covid policy in December has caused energy demand to increase, with the IEA forecasting that global oil demand will increase by more than 2 million barrels per day this year. Birol said a U.S. debt default would cause oil demand and prices to drop, but agreed that such a scenario was unlikely. And I don't see a major risk for the global oil markets. But of course, oil markets are always involved with risks."

☆ Exxon says Guyana insurance dispute could cut revenue $350 million per month
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Kiana Wilburg | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

GEORGETOWN, May 19 (Reuters) - Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N) on Friday said an ongoing dispute with the government of Guyana over oil-spill insurance could halt production at its first offshore platform, cutting revenue by about $350 million per month. A Guyanese court this month found Exxon in breach of insurance obligations for Liza One, its first offshore oil project, and called for additional insurance adequate to protect against a catastrophic oil spill. Exxon and partners in an offshore consortium that has produced all the country's oil to date have $600 million in insurance and up to $19 billion in assets in the country, Exxon officials said at media briefing. Exxon said that if the sides are unable to agree, it could halt output from Lisa One platform and cost about $350 million in lost revenue. Guyana would incur a hit of $80 million to $88 million to earnings from its share of production, according to the country's National Resource Fund's latest quarterly report.

TOKYO, May 16 (Reuters) - Oil prices rose for a second day early on Tuesday, as U.S. plans to purchase oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) lent support while raging wildfires in Canada fuelled supply worries. Brent crude futures rose 31 cents, or 0.4%, to $75.54 a barrel by 0043 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $71.38 a barrel, up 27 cents, or 0.4%. Both benchmarks rose more than 1% on Monday, reversing a 3-session losing streak. The U.S. Department of Energy said on Monday it would buy 3 million barrels of crude oil for the SPR for delivery in August, and asked that offers be submitted by May 31. Oil prices on Tuesday, however, drew support from supply worries stemming from wildfires in Canada.

☆ Oil prices extend gains on U.S. plans to refill reserve, Canada's wildfires
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Oil prices rose for a second day early on Tuesday, as U.S. plans to purchase oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, or SPR, lent support while raging wildfires in Canada fueled supply worries. Brent crude futures rose 31 cents, or 0.4%, to $75.54 a barrel by 0043 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $71.38 a barrel, up 27 cents, or 0.4%. Both benchmarks rose more than 1% on Monday, reversing a 3-session losing streak. The U.S. Department of Energy said on Monday it would buy 3 million barrels of crude oil for the SPR for delivery in August, and asked that offers be submitted by May 31. Oil prices on Tuesday, however, drew support from supply worries stemming from wildfires in Canada.

☆ Russian oil sanctions appear to be working - crude still flows even as Moscow's pulling in less money. But there's more to it than that.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

I spent much of yesterday parsing through pages of data on where Russian oil is heading and how much buyers are paying for barrels. Today we're unpacking two less obvious observations about Russian oil. That said, researchers pointed out that most of the Western companies still facilitating Russian oil shipments don't actually abide by the $60-a-barrel price cap that the EU and G-7 imposed. Ships carrying Russian oil, according to Argus, indeed make a premium for doing what they do, but that premium has shrunk over the last month. In effect, the "sanctions premium" isn't what it was a month ago.

☆ Investor who helps manage the largest sovereign wealth fund discusses strategy and biggest fears
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Jason Gewirtz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The "Government Pension Fund" as it is widely known helps back up Norway's government spending. The fund was started in 1996 after massive offshore energy reserves were discovered off Norway's coast. A big part of the fund's concentration in recent years has been on renewable energy. Right now the Government Pension Fund has a mandate to invest at least two percent of assets in renewable energy. But Tronde, who's fund has stakes in more than 9,000 companies, is not overly concerned about all these threats.

West Texas Intermediate U.S. crude fell 33 cents, also 0.4%, to $80.53 a barrel. In Europe, European Central Bank officials are also wary of inflation and suggesting interest rates must keep rising. Meanwhile, the economy of top crude oil importer China grew by a faster-than-expected 4.5% in the first quarter, while the country's oil refinery throughput rose to record levels in March, data showed. ,Adding more pressure on oil benchmarks is Asian refiners continuing to seize Russian crude in April. India and China have snapped up the vast majority of Russian oil so far in April at prices above the Western price cap of $60 per barrel, according to traders and Reuters calculations.

April 19 (Reuters) - Oil drifted lower on Wednesday as the market weighed potential interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve that could slow growth and dampen oil consumption, offsetting falling U.S. inventories and strong Chinese economic data. The U.S. Federal Reserve likely has one more interest rate rise in store to fight inflation, Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic said on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the economy of top crude oil importer China grew by a faster-than-expected 4.5% in the first quarter, while the country's oil refinery throughput rose to record levels in March, data showed. ,Adding more pressure on the oil benchmarks is that Asian refiners continues to seize Russian crude in April. India and China have snapped up the vast majority of Russian oil so far in April at prices above the Western price cap of $60 per barrel, according to traders and Reuters calculations.

☆ Oil prices edge higher on falling US inventories, China data
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Laila Kearney | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 19 (Reuters) - Oil prices rose in early Asian trade on Wednesday as U.S. crude inventories were seen falling and on strong Chinese economic data, signalling strengthening fuel demand. Keeping prices from moving higher were concerns that potential increases in U.S. interest rates could dampen growth in the top oil-consuming country. Prices got a lift from an industry report showing that U.S. crude stocks fell by about 2.68 million barrels in the week ended April 14, according to market sources citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Tuesday. Gasoline inventories fell by about 1.02 million barrels, while distillate stocks fell by about 1.9 million barrels, according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to media. Meanwhile, the economy of top crude oil importer China grew by a faster-than-expected 4.5% in the first quarter, while the country's oil refinery throughput rose to record levels in March, data showed.

☆ Oil prices edge higher on falling U.S. inventories, China data
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

An oil pumpjack operates in the Inglewood Oil Field on January 28, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. Oil prices rose in early Asian trade on Wednesday as U.S. crude inventories were seen falling and on strong Chinese economic data, signaling strengthening fuel demand. Keeping prices from moving higher were concerns that potential increases in U.S. interest rates could dampen growth in the top oil-consuming country. Gasoline inventories fell by about 1.02 million barrels, while distillate stocks fell by about 1.9 million barrels, according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to media. Meanwhile, the economy of top crude oil importer China grew by a faster-than-expected 4.5% in the first quarter, while the country's oil refinery throughput rose to record levels in March, data showed.

OTTAWA, March 30 (Reuters) - Canada's province of Alberta - the heart of the country's oil and gas industry - is expected to offer more support for carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) projects now that the federal government has its incentives in place, the federal natural resources minister told Reuters on Thursday. This week, Canada's federal budget expanded eligibility for CCUS investment tax credits over the next five years, by adding C$520 million to the C$2.6 billion program laid out in last year's budget. Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said he has had many conversations with the Alberta government on CCUS, including one earlier this week, and he hopes to see some of the major CCUS projects launched by end-year. In an interview with Reuters in January, Trudeau urged Alberta to contribute to CCUS. ($1 = 1.3526 Canadian dollars)Reporting by Steve Scherer and Nia Williams Editing by Marguerita ChoyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Oil spills and near misses: more ghost tankers ship sanctioned fuel
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Jonathan Saul | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

REUTERS/Ronen ZvulunSummary Risk of accidents in focus as 'shadow' fleet growsStirs fears of oil spills, decades after Exxon ValdezHundreds of ships carry oil from sanctioned nationsMany ship certifiers and insurers have pulled servicesLONDON, March 23 (Reuters) - An oil tanker runs aground off eastern China, leaking fuel into the water. Many leading certification providers and engine makers that approve seaworthiness and safety have withdrawn their services from ships carrying oil from sanctioned Iran, Russia and Venezuela, as have a host of insurers, meaning there's less oversight of vessels carrying the flammable cargoes. Reuters was unable to independently verify the numbers regarding the size and growth of the shadow fleet. The U.S. Treasury didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on ships carrying sanctioned oil. SHIP-TO-SHIP TRANSFERSAround 774 tankers out of 2,296 in the overall global crude oil fleet are 15 years old or more, according to data provider VesselsValue.

☆ Iran says oil exports hit highest level since reimposition of U.S. sanctions - Tasnim
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

DUBAI, March 12 (Reuters) - Iran's oil exports have reached their highest level since the reimposition of U.S. sanctions in 2018, the country's Oil Minister Javad Owji said on Sunday, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. Following the United States' exit from a 2015 nuclear deal and its reimposition of sanctions on Tehran in 2018, Iranian oil exports and revenues have taken a significant hit as few countries - with the notable exception of China - continue to purchase Iranian crude. The oil minister said that 83 million more oil barrels in the current year starting 21st March 2022 were exported compared to the previous Iranian year running March 2021-2022. This represents 190 million more barrels than two years prior according to Owji, who added that gas exports increased by 15% in 2022-23 compared to the previous Iranian year. Brian O'Toole, a former Treasury Department official, said Thursday's action would put a dent in Iran's ability to keep moving oil and get paid for it.

The five-phase project to integrate gas production, storage, pipeline transportation and liquefaction is key for the South American country to monetize its vast reserves and become an exporter on liquefied natural gas (LNG). A delegation of technicians from Petronas traveled to Argentina in February to plan for the project. Drilling rigs could be imported for the upstream portion of the gas project as Argentina struggles to secure specialized equipment, YPF Chief Executive Officer Pablo Iuliano told journalists at the CERAWeek conference in Houston. If the decision is yes, then construction could begin between late 2023 and early 2024,The gas project with Petronas, the oil terminal and a two-phase gas pipeline connecting Vaca Muerta to the country's Northern region are needed to boost the country's oil and gas output and exports. Oil and gas producers expect the government will send draft legislation for promoting LNG production to Congress in the coming weeks, Iuliano said.

☆ Exxon warns of Russia risks to its $2.5 billion Kazakhstan income
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Sabrina Valle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HOUSTON, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N) on Wednesday warned in a securities filing of potential risks to its Kazakhstan oil operations, which provided $2.5 billion in earnings last year. Threats to Kazakhstan oil exports have been in the spotlight since Moscow invaded Ukraine a year ago this week. Exxon and Chevron (CVX.N) are major holders in the Central Asia country's oil production and related export pipeline. Kazakhstan shares a 4,750 mile (7,644 km) border with Russia and its oil exports travel mainly through a Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) line through Russia and lands at a Russian Black Sea export terminal. Any closure of the CPC pipeline or terminal would shut in more than 1% of global oil supply and cost its producers billions of dollars in lost income.

☆ Democrats urge EPA to tighten gas flaring restrictions to curb methane emissions
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Emma Newburger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Congressional Democrats this week urged the Environmental Projection Agency to strengthen its proposal to regulate planet-warming methane gas emissions from the country's oil and gas sector. The letter, led by Sen. Martin Heinrich, N.M. and Rep. Diana DeGette, Colo., and signed by a total of 76 lawmakers, said the agency's proposal needs to tighten restrictions on routine gas flaring, or the process of burning excess natural gas at an oil well. Methane, a key component of natural gas, is 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide when it comes to warming the atmosphere, but it doesn't last as long in the atmosphere before it breaks down. A recent study published in the journal Science suggested that oil field flaring emits nearly five times more methane than previously thought. The process often doesn't completely burn the methane, and in some cases, flares are extinguished and not reignited, causing the methane to release into the atmosphere.

☆ Russia is 'running out of munitions and has lost as much as 50% of its tanks' in Ukraine, senior US official says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Aditi Bharade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia lost some 50% of its tanks in the past year, US Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said. However, data suggests that Russia's economy in 2022 shrunk less than initially forecasted. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo made the assessment at an event Tuesday held by the Council of Foreign Relations think tank in Washington, DC. "Russia is also running out of munitions and has lost as much as 50% of its tanks," he continued, and had to "turn to mothballed Soviet-era weapons." Adeyemo argued that after a year of war, "Russia's economy looks more like Iran and Venezuela's than a member of the G20," referring to two other heavily-sanctioned nations.

☆ Exclusive: Guyana aims to reclaim, offer 20% of Exxon oil block
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Sabrina Valle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The group's contract allows Guyana to reclaim unexplored portions this year, Jagdeo said in an interview from the country's capital. Guyana is pursuing a multi-pronged strategy to lessen the consortium's grip on the country's oil resources, Jagdeo said, and spur new oil production. The decision to reclaim existing Exxon blocks signals urgency to speed development. Guyana also has development areas outside the soon-to-be-auctioned 14 blocks, and is prepared to offer them to "these countries on a bilateral level." The PSA draft will go through public consultation through March 8 and is expected to be finalized before an April 14 auction, Jagdeo said.

☆ China rebound is the biggest unknown facing oil markets, IEA chief says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The International Energy Agency's executive director said Friday that the biggest uncertainty facing global energy markets is the extent to which China rebounds from its extended closure. Currently, oil markets are "balanced," Fatih Birol told CNBC's Hadley Gamble at the Munich Security Conference. But producers are awaiting signals on forthcoming demand from the world's second largest economy and largest crude oil importer. "For me, the biggest answer to the energy markets in the next months to come is [from] China," Birol said, noting a major drop-off in the country's oil and gas demand during its pandemic lockdowns. Oil deliveries are expected to rise by 1.1 million barrels a day to hit 7.2 million barrels a day over the course of 2023, with total demand reaching a record 101.9 million barrels a day, the IEA noted.

☆ Ex-Gazprom official says decades of the Russian gas giant's work has been 'flushed down the toilet', with export revenues expected to halve this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Ryan Hogg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Gazprom's years of work on exporting Russian gas have been "flushed down the toilet," an ex-official said. An ex-manager at the gas giant bemoaned the impact of the Ukraine war to Reuters after gas prices fell close to two-year lows. "The work of hundreds of people, who for decades built the exporting system, now has been flushed down the toilet," he told Reuters. Russia's gas exports to Europe have fallen significantly thanks in part to sanctions imposed on Moscow after President Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine in late February last year. Energy prices are dipping after a milder winter than expected for Europe, which has successfully built up stocks of oil and gas.

LONDON, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Oil prices dipped in U.S. trading hours on Thursday after the country's oil inventories hit their highest in months and on signs that the Federal Reserve could keep raising interest rates. "Relentlessly rising U.S. commercial inventories and potentially entrenched inflation limit any immediate upside potential," said PVM analyst Tamas Varga. He said recovering Chinese demand and falling inflation were set to support oil prices in the second half of the year. Crude oil stocks in the United States rose last week to their highest since June 2021, helped by higher production, the Energy Information Administration said. read more GLOB/MKTSBut the prospect of stronger demand from China provided some support to oil prices, as the world's second largest oil consumer ended more than three years of stringent zero-COVID policy.

☆ Norway's gigantic sovereign wealth fund loses a record $164 billion, citing 'very unusual' year
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Norway's sovereign wealth fund was established in the 1990s to invest the surplus revenues of the country's oil and gas sector. Norway's sovereign wealth fund on Tuesday reported a record loss of 1.64 trillion Norwegian kroner ($164 billion) for the whole of 2022, citing "very unusual" market conditions. The $1.3 trillion fund was established in the 1990s to invest the surplus revenues of Norway's oil and gas sector. Norway's vast North Sea oil and gas reserves are the bedrock of the fund's wealth. Indeed, the country's skyrocketing fossil fuel revenues amid Russia's war in Ukraine have prompted an impassioned debate about international justice.

Jan 26 (Reuters) - Russia's finance ministry on Thursday proposed scrapping liquidity restrictions for spending on "anti-crisis" investments from its National Wealth Fund (NWF), citing the need to support key sectors amid challenging geopolitical conditions. Russia's fiscally conservative authorities have tended to be cautious in their use of NWF funds. The ministry proposed that the total volume of such investments not exceed 4.25 trillion roubles ($61.24 billion). The NWF is Russia's sovereign wealth fund, built up through years of profits on the country's oil and gas exports. As of Feb. 1 last year, three weeks before Russia sent troops into Ukraine, the total fund stood at $174.9 billion, or 10.2% of projected GDP.

☆ Analysis: Iraqi PM walks diplomatic tightrope in crackdown on dollars smuggled to Iran
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Ahmed Rasheed | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The New York Federal Reserve introduced tighter controls on international dollar transactions by commercial Iraqi banks in November. "Americans are using the dollar transfer rigid restrictions as warning messages to Prime Minister Sudani to stay tuned with the American interests. The new system has slowed down dollar transactions, said Nabil al-Marsoumi, economics professor at Basra University. Meanwhile the price of consumer goods has increased and the Iraqi currency has taken a beating. The Iraqi prime minister replaced the central bank governor after the slide in the dinar, the state news agency said on Monday.

Search resuls for: "country's Oil"

25 mentions found