GRAINS-Chicago soya beans hover near an 11-week low despite modest recovery
Chicago soybean futures rose on Thursday, but they remained at a low of 11 weeks as favorable weather in the Midwest and selling pressure affected the market. After four consecutive sessions of losses, the most active soybean contract increased 0.05% to $10.00 per bushel. The warm, rainy weather is ideal for corn and soybean crops. The bearish tone was heightened by the selling pressure that preceded the first notice date of the July contracts for soybeans…
Brazil increases biofuels, sees self-sufficiency in gasoline
The Brazilian National Energy Policy Council approved an increase in the amount of biofuels blended into fossil fuels on Wednesday. This move was also hailed by renewable energy lobbyists who had earlier claimed that the blends wouldn't be changed this coming year. Pietro Mendes from the Energy Ministry's Oil and Gas Department announced the changes during a press conference.
EU continues with Russian gas banning proposal despite Hungary and Slovakia's vetoes
Hungary and Slovakia opposed on Monday a planned European Union prohibition on Russian gas imports. However, Brussels is expected Tuesday to propose the legislation, which may pass without their approval. By the end of 2027, the European Commission plans to ban EU imports of Russian gas and LNG. It will announce the legal implementation of the plan announced last month on Tuesday.
World Bank will end nuclear energy ban, but still debate upstream gas
Ajay Banaga, president of the World Bank, said that its board had agreed to lift a ban on financing nuclear energy projects for developing countries. This is part of an effort to meet the growing demand for electricity. Banga sent an email outlining the bank's new energy strategy to its staff following what he described as a constructive meeting with the board. Banga said…
Japan will send a senior official for the Alaska energy conference
Yoji Muto, Japan's Economy, Trade and Industry minister, said on Friday a senior official would attend a conference in Alaska next week, at which the $44 billion Alaska LNG Project is expected to come up for discussion. Muto announced that Takehiko Matsuo will be the Vice-Minister of International Affairs for the Ministry. The conference is scheduled to take place from June 3 to 5, Muto stated.
Polish utility Enea expects to increase its core profit in Q1
Enea, a Polish utility company, posted a 3.4% increase in its core profit for the first quarter of this year on Tuesday night. This was largely due to higher revenues from its distribution division at a time that it is looking to expand its renewables energy offerings. Enea's preliminary estimate of EBITDA was 1.94 billion zlotys (518.2 millions). Enea, Poland’s third largest power utility in terms of market value…
US LNG Exporters Continue New Projects Despite Trade War Uncertainty
Woodside Energy's decision last month to proceed with its Louisiana LNG export facility was the first of over 90 million tonnes of new LNG shipping capacity U.S. companies plan to approve this year despite uncertainty about President Donald Trump's trade war, according to company statements and analysts.The U.S., already the world's largest exporter of the superchilled gas with 91.3 million tonnes of annual capacity…
Minister: Denmark may lift 40-year-old ban on nuclear energy
Denmark may lift a ban on nuclear energy that dates back 40 years to improve its energy security. This is a major policy shift for a country which has prioritized expanding wind and solar energy. In an interview with Danish newspaper Politiken published late Tuesday, Lars Aagaard, the Minister of Climate, Energy and Utilities, said that the Danish government would analyse potential benefits from new nuclear technologies.
RWE has ceased offshore wind activity in the United States
RWE's CEO stated in a speech draft published in advance of the annual general meeting that the company has temporarily halted its offshore wind activities in the United States due to the regulatory uncertainty caused by the Trump administration. Markus Krebber's comments highlight the challenges facing European energy companies on the U.S. Offshore Wind Market, which is a major target of Trump’s energy policy.
NextEra exceeds profit expectations as the power company avoids trade risks
NextEra Energy's CEO stated that the company beat Wall Street expectations on Wednesday regarding rising electricity demand, as it works to navigate around increasing global trade risks. The rising costs brought on by President Donald Trump’s tariff war threaten to slow down a recent surge of electricity demand, and dent plans for expansion by the country’s power companies.
IMF: AI's economic benefits will likely outweigh its emissions costs
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said that the benefits of artificial intelligence would boost global production by 0.5% per year between 2025-2030, and outweigh the rising costs associated with the carbon emissions from the data centres required to run AI models. The IMF released a report at its annual spring meetings in Washington that noted the fact that these output gains were not shared equally around the globe.
Brazil prepares a new oil auction amid trade war threats to budget, sources claim
Four people with knowledge of the situation said that Brazil is planning to auction off stakes in offshore oil fields this year as a way to increase revenue. The plan has gained momentum amid declining oil prices and increasing global trade uncertainty. Two sources who spoke under condition of anonymity said that the auction would involve smaller and uncontracted portions of the Tupi, Mero, and Atapu pre-salt fields.
Data shows that global coal power capacity is expected to increase in 2024.
Global Energy Monitor, a U.S.-based think tank, reported on Thursday that the world's coal power fleet increased by 18,8 gigawatts, its smallest increase in over two decades. However, new additions to China and India continue to offset closures in other countries. GEM's annual report on coal plant tracking said that despite a record-breaking surge in renewables last year…
Shell warns that Australia's gas reservations plan could worsen shortages
Shell warned Tuesday that Australia's proposal to force more gas from export onto the domestic market would end up discouraging investment and worsening shortages. Energy has become a major issue in the campaign ahead of Australia's general election on May 3. The conservative Liberal-National Coalition pledged to lower power bills and avoid a shortage on the East Coast through a reservation scheme.
Brazil Ministry says that tests have confirmed the increase of ethanol in gasoline to 30%.
In Brazil, the gasoline contains 27% anhydrous alcohol. The demand for ethanol would be increased in Brazil if the proportion was raised to 30%, also known as E30. "With E30, we will be independent of gasoline imports for the first time since 2010," said Minister of Mines and Energy Alexandre Silveira during a presentation highlighting the test results. Silveira said that following the positive test results…
UAE's ADNOC CEO pledges US gas investment
ADNOC's international investment arm will begin investing in U.S. Natural Gas in the next few months, according to ADNOC CEO Sultan Al Jaber. The UAE is a part of OPEC+ and is one of the top oil producers in the world. ADNOC’s wholly owned international investment arm XRG, which has assets of about $80 billion, reported last week that the UAE is considering options for a XRG IPO.
UAE's ADNOC CEO pledges US gas investment
ADNOC's investment arm will begin investing in U.S. Natural Gas in the next few months, according to ADNOC CEO Sultan Al Jaber. The UAE is a part of OPEC+ and one of world's largest oil producers. ADNOC’s fully-owned investment unit XRG, which has assets worth about $80 billion, reported last week that the UAE is considering options for a XRG IPO. He told the largest gathering…
CERAWEEK - IEA chief sees investment needed in existing oil and gas fields
Fatih Birol said that the International Energy Agency in Paris, which is headed by Fatih Birol himself, has a responsibility to invest in oil and natural gas fields for the sake of global energy security. After years of pressure from fossil-fuel advocates, the pro-drilling campaign was relaunched. He said, "I would like to be clear... that there will be a requirement for investment.
CERAWEEK - Australia's Santos will increase investment in the US due to pro energy policy - CEO
Kevin Gallagher, CEO of Santos Australia, said that the company will increase its investments in the United States due to the energy-friendly policies of President Donald Trump and his administration. Trump wants to maximize the domestic oil and natural gas production, and has reverted many of Joe Biden's policies that were meant to encourage a shift to a low-carbon economy.
CERAWEEK - Chevron CEO calls for sustainable, not extreme US Energy Policy Swings
Mike Wirth, the CEO of Chevron, said that he would prefer to see a more stable energy policy in the United States than a swing from extreme to extreme. The first weeks of Donald Trump's second term in office were marked by a rapid revamp of government, and the reversal many of the policies on energy of the previous administration. Most of these policy changes were made by executive order, rather than legislation.
