Israel resumes limited gas exports despite ongoing conflict; Egypt still waiting
Israel resumed exports of natural gas from its surplus, according to the Energy Ministry on Thursday. This comes nearly a full week after Israel and Iran engaged in an aerial battle. According to a source in the energy ministry, most of the gas exported is flowing into Jordan and "tiny quantities" have reached Egypt only this week. Egyptian fertilizer producers who had to stop operations because of the disruption in gas supply have said they still haven't received any gas, but are expecting it to return next week.
Egypt stops fertilizer production after Israeli gas shortages increase energy strain
Industry sources report that Egyptian fertilizer producers had to stop operations Friday because of a decline in natural gas imported from Israel. After Israel's attacks on Iranian nuclear and missile facilities, they said that major Israeli gasfields had halted operations. Egypt's Petroleum Ministry announced that an emergency plan had been implemented to prioritise gas allocations and cut supply to certain industries. The ministry reported that power stations are using fuel oil at maximum levels and switching to diesel is being done to protect the stability and load of the gas grid.
Egypt In Talks to Buy LNG Cargoes Amidst Energy Crunch
Egypt is in talks with energy firms and trading houses to buy 40-60 cargoes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) amid a worsening energy crunch ahead of peak summer demand, three sources aware of the matter told Reuters.The country faces spending up to $3 billion at current prices to secure the LNG, squeezing government coffers already under strain to keep the lights on amid falling gas production and a cost of living crisis.President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Wednesday directed the government to "preemptively take whatever needs necessary to ensure stable electricity flow…
Sources say Egypt is in talks with suppliers to purchase 40-60 LNG cargoes during this year due to the energy crisis.
Three sources familiar with the matter said that Egypt is in discussions with international energy companies and trading houses about buying 40-60 cargoes (LNG) of liquefied gas to ensure emergency fuel imports ahead of summer peak demand amid an worsening energy crisis. According to the latest available data from the Joint Organisations Data Initiative, Egypt's gas production fell by 39% in February to its lowest level in 9 years. It was 3.3 billion cubic meters. The most populous Arab nation has been a net gas importer since early 2024.
Egypt's fertiliser manufacturers cut production as gas supplies are reduced
Two of Egypt's biggest fertiliser producers announced on Wednesday that they received an official notification about a two week reduction in the natural gas supply at their plants. This triggered a drop in production. Both Abu Qir Fertilizers and Chemical Industries and Misr Fertilizers Production stated in their stock exchange statements that the expected production to fall by 30% over the period. Egypt is facing a growing gas shortage ahead of summer peak season. The government is scrambling to secure more gas and fuel oil to meet the surge in demand.
WGC-QatarEnergy CEO: Chemical industry is growing rapidly, says WGC
QatarEnergy, according to its chief executive Saad Al-Kaabi, plans to double its global capacity for plastics and raw materials as the company sees a big growth in chemical industries. He told the World Gas Conference that the state-owned company anticipates starting production on its U.S. Ethane Cracker Project in the first quarter 2027. According to the website of the U.S. firm, this joint venture project with Chevron Phillips Chemical was expected to start operations in 2026.
World's First Commercial-Scale E-Methanol Plant Opens in Denmark
The world's first commercial-scale e-methanol plant began operations in Denmark on Tuesday, with shipping giant Maersk set to buy part of the production as a low-emission fuel for its fleet of container ships.The shipping sector is under pressure to find new sources of fuel after a majority of countries gave their backing to measures to help meet the International Maritime Organization's targets towards eliminating carbon emissions by 2050.So far zero-emission shipping fuels…
Afreximbank, an oil and gas investor, has allocated $3 billion to support local refineries
A senior executive revealed that the African Export-Import Bank, (Afreximbank), which is a major investor in oil-and-gas projects, had set aside $3 billion for financing the purchase of refined goods within Africa, as part of plans to increase refining capacities. Bank and analysts say that Africa exports 80% of its crude oils and 45% of its natural gas, making it heavily dependent on imported refined products. The energy landscape in sub-Saharan Africa is characterized by aging refineries and a lack of storage infrastructure.
TotalEnergies warns that indirect emissions may increase as the company aims to sell gas
TotalEnergies, a French energy company, said in its sustainability report on Thursday that plans to sell more gas in the coming years would increase indirect CO2 emissions. TotalEnergies said that global emissions will also fall as a result of its clients moving away from dirty fuels. In 2024, the French oil giant emitted 376 millions metric tons CO2-equivalent. Of this, 342 million tons was indirect emissions so-called Scope 3, which comes from clients burning fuels purchased. This is a slight decrease from the 386 tons CO2-equivalent that was produced in 2023.
Nigeria’s Refining Revolution is Reshaping West Africa’s Energy Landscape
The launch of the Dangote Refinery near the Port of Lagos presents an exciting opportunity to transform the energy and shipping markets in West Africa. And it stands to boost Nigeria’s role as an influential player in the global oil industry, fostering economic growth and regional development.Nigeria’s standing in the global energy landscape is getting a boost with domestic refining capacity expanding in 2025. The Dangote Refinery near Lagos presents a transformative opportunity…
Exports of crude oil by Mexico's Pemex rose 33% from January to February
The crude oil exports of the Mexican state energy company Pemex increased 33% from January to February, recovering from the drop in the previous month but still being down 25% when compared with February 2024. Pemex published data late Tuesday showing that crude exports reached 709,793 barrels a day (bpd) in February. About 60%, or 428 357 bpd of these exports went to the United States. The majority of this was the Maya heavy crude blend. Crude exports fell by 44% in January compared to the same period last year, reaching their lowest level for decades.
Russians warned not to panic about a 'gas cloud" in a city near a plant that was struck by Ukraine
The Governor of Russia's Astrakhan Region told its residents to not panic after the main city was covered in a natural gas cloud on Wednesday. Its main city is located near a large gas chemical complex which was attacked this week by Ukrainian drones. The gas smelled by the public was caused by the restart of production at a plant in the south of the city of Astrakhan. Astrakhan has about 475,000 residents. "Dear Citizens, this morning, the city was covered with a cloud that smelled like natural gas. It is produced after processing, and it has a distinct smell," he wrote in Telegram.
New England grid oil-fired electricity surges 10-fold during cold weather
New England's electricity grid relied heavily on oil-fired generators during a cold snap in January, with a surge of more than 10 times the previous year. New England's electric grid produces more greenhouse gases when power plants use more fuel oil. This is in contrast to times when cleaner fuels were more common. Gas is the dominant fuel in New England, but generators often switch to alternative fuels when gas prices rise or supplies become scarce. According to EPA statistics…
Mexico's crude and condensate production in December drops by 12% compared to the previous year
The Mexican state-owned oil company Pemex announced on Tuesday that its liquid hydrocarbons production in December fell 12% compared to a year ago, its lowest level of the year. It also missed its government target for the third consecutive month. In December, crude and condensate output averaged 1,62 million barrels per days (bpd), down from its previous record high of 1.65 million bpd. The government has set a target of 1.8m bpd. Crude oil production fell 13% to 1.35 million barrels per day in December, the lowest in over 40 years.
The US sanctions against Russia have caused a spike in global diesel prices
Analysts and LSEG data indicate that global diesel prices and refinery margins increased following the latest round U.S. sanctions against Russia's oil market on the expectation of tightening supplies. On Jan. 10, the United States imposed their toughest sanctions yet against Russian producers and tanks to reduce the revenue of the No. 2 oil exporter in world. The United States used the revenue of Russia's No. 2 oil exporter to fund its war in Ukraine. Many of the newly targeted vessels, which are part of a shadow fleet, were used to transport oil to India and China.
NW Europe Fuel oil Imports at 3-year High
A rush to replenish scarce supply of high-sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) pushed Northwest European imports of residual fuel oil to their highest in three years in November, analysts told Reuters.The Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp (ARA) area, Europe's main trading and refining hub, received around 450,000 barrels per day (bpd) of all types of fuel oil in November, the highest monthly volume since November 2021.That compared with an average of 332,000 bpd over January-October this year…
In 2025, the global diesel price will be supported by refinery closures
Analysts and traders said that the global diesel market would likely see a price boost in 2025 due to the closing of around 1% of the refining capacity. This will offset the current weakness of the market and the structural downward pressure caused by the shift towards cleaner fuels. Markets end 2024 in a shaky state, despite the peak season demand. Margins in key energy hubs around the world, such as Singapore, Northwest Europe, and the Gulf of the United States, have fallen from November's high levels, due to the return of some refineries after maintenance shutdowns.
Germany's chemical lobby calls for regulatory reform and growth agenda
VCI, the industry lobby group in Germany, said that to achieve climate neutrality while remaining competitive and improving its performance it is necessary for regulation changes. VCI, which published two of its own studies, said that the crises in the last few years had left a mark on the balance sheet of chemical and pharmaceutical firms. Boston Consulting Group, in a study on the mood of the industry, found that nearly three-quarters of respondents are not likely to invest in new sites and plants in Germany.
EIA: Harvest season will boost US demand for distillate fuel oil in autumn
The U.S. Energy Information Administration stated on Friday that the consumption of distillate fuel oil is expected to rise in autumn, as diesel-powered equipment is used for harvesting and transporting crops. EIA stated that the EIA has found that the harvest peaks in mid-October, and continues through November. This coincides with the beginning of winter heating season, which also drives demand for distillate fuel oil. The weak demand for diesel in the United States has led to a sharp decline in refiners' margins.
Egypt reduces renewable energy targets to 40% by 2040, but keeps natural gas as the main focus
The Egyptian government has revised the renewable energy goal for 2040 from 58% to 40%, said Petroleum Minister Karim Badayi on Sunday. He also stressed that natural gas would remain an important part of Egypt's energy mix in years to come. Egypt committed to increasing renewable energy production by 42% to its energy mix before hosting the COP27 summit in 2022. Later, this target was advanced to 2030. Then-Electricity minister Mohamed Shaker announced in June 2024 an ambitious plan for this to reach 58% by the year 2040. This target has now been abandoned.
