Canada's Minister of International Trade says that the EU and CPTPP have agreed to move forward with a "historic" digital deal.
Canada's Trade Minister said that the European Union and parties to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement of Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) agreed to move forward on Friday with a "historical" digital trade deal between the two trading blocs. Maninder Sidhu is Canada's Minister for International Trade. On Friday, the EU and CPTPP parties - which includes 12 countries including Japan, Britain, Canada Mexico…
Former Glencore employees plead guilty to UK Bribery Charges Ahead of 2027 Trial
Four former Glencore oil traders pleaded not guilt in a London Court on Monday to bribery allegations relating to the Swiss commodity trading company's operations in West Africa. Their trial is scheduled for 2027. Martin Wakefield has pleaded not guilt to three charges of conspiring with Glencore to make corrupt payments between 2007 and 2014 to government officials in Nigeria and Cameroon, and Ivory Coast.
US sanctions threaten to disrupt Lukoil's international assets
The sale of Lukoil's overseas assets to Swiss commodity traders Gunvor has been blocked by Washington, which is a result of U.S. sanctions. Lukoil has a global footprint that includes upstream oil and natural gas projects, refineries, and fuel distribution networks in Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East. The company produces a half-million barrels of crude oil per day, 0.5% of the global oil production, outside of Russia in countries like Iraq, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan.
Oil industry sources claim that Central Africa's new FX Initiative falls short of its target.
Two oil industry sources said that six Central African nations who were expecting to receive billions in foreign exchange from funds set aside for environmental restoration by oil companies may actually see less than 500 million dollars by the April 30 deadline. Bank of Central African States, the central bank of Cameroon and Gabon, Equatorial Guinea Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Chad, Gabon and Chad, introduced rules in 2018 governing these funds that are mostly held by foreign banks.
US lawmakers block IMF Central Africa Support over Oil Fund Dispute
U.S. legislators have introduced legislation to block International Monetary Fund assistance for certain Central African countries in order to protect billions of dollars oil companies are required by law set aside for environmental restoration. The bill highlights the standoff between foreign investment on one hand and Central African monetary authority on the other, who are trying to tighten capital controls in extractive industries so as to replenish depleted reserves. The bill, introduced by U.S.
US lawmakers block IMF Central Africa Support over Oil Fund Dispute
U.S. legislators have introduced legislation to block the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) assistance for certain Central African countries. This is in order to protect billions of dollars which oil companies are required by law set aside for environmental restoration. The bill highlights the standoff between foreign investment on one hand, and Central African monetary authority trying to tighten capital controls on extractive industry to shore up depleted reserve on the other.
The UK will try Glencore's former head of oil in 2027 on charges of bribery
In 2027, Glencore's former oil head Alex Beard will be tried in London on charges of bribery along with five other former employees of the Swiss commodity trading company. Beard was not asked to enter his plea during a short hearing on Wednesday at London's Southwark Crown Court. He had indicated in his first court appearance that he would plead not-guilty. The 57-year old is accused of two counts of conspiracy…
Arbitration awards Kosmos Energy Senegal LNG project to BP, as the sole purchaser
Kosmos Energy announced on Tuesday that a Paris arbitrator ruled in favor of BP, preventing Kosmos to sell liquefied gas from the Greater Tortue project off Senegal and Mauritania. LNG is a key part of BP's energy transition strategy. Energy major BP has established a significant LNG pipeline across the globe, including Sub-Saharan Africa. Nigeria, Angola Cameroon, and Equatorial Guinea are already shipping significant volumes.
Glencore's former head of oil is charged with bribery in a UK court
Alex Beard, former Glencore head of oil, appeared before a London court Tuesday to answer bribery allegations relating to Glencore's operations in Africa. Beard's lawyer told the London Westminster Magistrates' Court that he will plead guilty. The 57-year old is accused of two counts of conspiracy for corrupt payments made to officials of government-owned oil companies and government officials in Nigeria from 2010 to 2014 and in Cameroon, between 2007 and 2008.
African LNG to Attract $103Bln in 2019
With greenfield investments in Nigeria, Egypt, Mozambique and elsewhere reaching nearly $103 billion this year, it is clear that liquefaction is viewed as the most profitable strategy for realizing Africa’s gas potential, said Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF).Africa is an exciting frontier in the global natural gas sector. The continent holds 7.1 percent of proven global gas reserves and is expected to…
FLNG Innovations Boost Gas Industry Growth
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) technologies, such as floating LNG (FLNG) innovations, driven by its shorter construction lead times and lower capital investment costs, are increasingly becoming a viable option for increased gas deployments.FLNG helps mitigate siting constraints that shore-based infrastructure may face, pointed out the Kansas City-based engineering firm Black & Veatch.The provider of engineering…
First US FLNG Project Moving Ahead
Plans to construct a U.S. floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) vessel in China, which may also provide funding and buy part of its output, are moving ahead despite trade tension between the countries, an executive at one of the partners said on Thursday.The Delfin LNG project will be the first of its kind for the United States, which has only onshore liquefaction facilities, and will produce up to 13 million metric tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LNG for export.Delfin could export to China…
GasLog: LNG Demand Grew 9% in 2018
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is expected to have increased by 9%, from 288 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) in 2017 to 313 mtpa in 2018, said GasLog.The Monaco-based owner, operator and manager of LNG carriers said in a stock exchange announcement that China’s LNG imports increased by approximately 16 mtpa, or 41%, to 54 mtpa in 2018, driven mainly by continued coal-to-gas switching in the industrial, commercial and residential sectors.South Korea…
LNG Investment Set to Grow
Following years in the pricing doldrums, LNG is hot again, with business prospects for floating production and regasification looking strong through 2023. We talk to Jim McCaul of International Maritime Associates (IMA) for his insights, as he is fresh off of a 12-month stint investigating the market in depth."We wanted to take a fresh look at the market, to identify opportunities both in the production and regassification of LNG" is how McCaul…
LNG Report: Floating Liquefaction & Regasification
International Maritime Associates has completed a 12-month study of the global market for floating gas liquefaction plants and floating LNG regasification terminals. The 150+ page study, published by World Energy Reports, is the most detailed analysis yet made of this growing business sector. Project Success EvaluationThe IMA study is the first professional effort to systematically look at the universe of…
IMA Completes 12-month Study of the Floating Liquefaction and Regasification Market
International Maritime Associates has just completed a 12-month study of the global market for floating gas liquefaction plants and floating LNG regasification terminals. The 150+ page study, published by World Energy Reports, is the most detailed analysis yet made of this growing business sector.Project Success EvaluationThe IMA study is the first professional effort to systematically look at the universe…
Golar LNG says New Cameroon LNG Project in Full Swing
Golar LNG said on Thursday its pioneering floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) project in Cameroon had achieved 100 percent of commercial uptime, following commissioning earlier this year, and was due to offload its sixth cargo soon.The Hilli Episeyo FLNG is the first of its a kind -- an LNG producing vessel converted from an ageing tanker. The start of commercial operations, after producing its first cargo in May, brings Cameroon into a small group of nations exporting LNG.Reporting by Sabina Zawadzki
Keppel Wins FPSO, FSRU Contracts
In Brazil, Keppel FELS Brasil Ltda (Keppel FELS Brasil) has been engaged by MODEC Offshore Production Systems (Singapore) Pte Ltd., part of the MODEC, Inc. group, to undertake the topside module fabrication and integration of the FPSO Carioca MV30, a Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel (FPSO). This is the sixth FPSO collaboration between Keppel FELS Brasil and MODEC.In Singapore, Keppel Shipyard…
Start of Golar's FLNG in Cameroon May Draw More Africa Clients
Golar LNG said on Monday it had started production at its floating LNG (FLNG) platform in Cameroon, the world's second working example of the nascent technology and a milestone likely to boost its Fortuna project in Equatorial Guinea. As the cost of land-based LNG plants more than tripled in the decade to 2013, Golar pioneered the conversion of ageing LNG tankers into giant refrigerators capable of chilling gas into its liquid form at minus 162 Celsius.
World's Second Floating LNG Project Starts Production in Cameroon
Norwegian shipping firm Golar LNG on Monday said liquefied natural gas (LNG) production had started at its floating LNG production platform in Cameroon, the world's second working example of the nascent technology. The trading arm of Russia's Gazprom has purchased the entire 1.2 million tonne per annum output from Golar's FLNG platform, the Hilli Episeyo, for eight years. The deal was agreed in late 2015 between Golar…