According to Russia's spy agency, Serbia sold ammunition via Bulgaria and Czech Republic to Ukraine
Russia accused Serbia of selling artillery to Ukraine via Eastern Europe through intermediaries, the second time in a week that it has made such an accusation against its traditional Balkan allie. The Russian Foreign Intelligence Agency, SVR, posted a statement on its website in which it said that two Serbian companies had sold rockets or mortar shells to multiple rocket launchers, as well as components for these rockets, via two companies located in the Czech Republic and Bulgaria. Both Bulgaria and Czech Republic are members of NATO and the European Union and provide weapons and ammunition to Ukraine. Serbian officials did not immediately comment.
Hungary's Orban calls on EU to lift Russian energy ban amid US/Iran conflict
Hungarian Prime Minster Viktor Orban urged on Sunday the European Union not to impose a ban on Russian Energy due to the expected increase in energy prices after the US bombings of Iran. The European Commission proposed on Tuesday a legally-binding ban on EU imports from Russia of gas and liquefied gas by 2027. Legal measures were used to ensure that EU members Hungary, and Slovakia could not block the plan. The proposals outline how the EU plans to put into law its pledge to end decades-old relations with Europe's former number one gas supplier following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Japan returns to long term LNG deals on AI boom and national energy plan
The liquefied gas industry in Japan is once again in the spotlight, as artificial intelligence booms and rising costs of cleaner energy drive the appetite for long-term LNG contracts. Japan, which is the second largest LNG importer in the world, has secured long-term deals with Qatar, and other buyers are also securing such agreements. Japan's LNG exports have been falling for over a decade, as the nuclear power plants that were idled following the Fukushima catastrophe began to operate again and renewable energy sources increased. The AI boom will require enormous power consumption from data centres.
Tokyo Gas does not expect any direct impact from the conflict between Israel and Iran on LNG purchases by Tokyo Gas
Tokyo Gas, Japan's largest city gas supplier, said that the conflict between Israel and Iran has no impact on its LNG procurement. Nobuhiro Sugawara, Senior Managing Executive Officer, said on the sidelines the Japan Energy Summit that "since we do not import LNG from Qatar and UAE, our LNG acquisition is not directly affected" at this time. He said that the situation was being monitored with great interest, and noted that the rising tensions in the Middle East may cause LNG prices to rise and disrupt the global supply. On Wednesday, the conflict entered its sixth day with fears that it could expand. U.S.
The EU's plans to ban Russian gas
The European Commission proposed Tuesday legally binding measures to end the European Union's imports from Russia of gas and liquefied gas by the end 2027. This would put an end to decades-old energy relationships with Europe's ex-top gas supplier. The details of the proposals are below. They still require approval by EU countries and the European Parliament. The ban will be implemented in phases. The EU will first ban imports of Russian gas and LNG under any new deals signed by the end this year. From June 17, 2026 the EU will ban imports of short-term contracts for contracts signed prior to June 17, 2025.
Edison Confident In Venture Global LNG Arbitration
The chief executive of Italian utility Edison said on Thursday he was confident of a positive outcome in arbitration involving U.S. liquefied natural gas supplier Venture Global, expected by the end of the year.Edison is one of several European energy companies, including Shell, BP and Galp, that have filed arbitration claims saying Venture Global deliberately failed to fulfil its supply contracts, dragging its feet when commissioning one of its plants so it could profit from higher spot prices.Commissioning, or making sure a new plant's systems are functioning as intended…
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.
Documents show that Eni, an Italian company, delivered Russian gas to Turkey in the last year.
Eni supplied gas to Turkey last year, according to documents published on the Italian energy company's website on Monday. This confirms that the company is still dealing with Russian gas, despite the suspension of supplies within Europe. Documents show that in a response to a written question from an Eni shareholder, ahead of the AGM scheduled for Wednesday, the company stated that Algeria would be the largest gas supplier to the group by 2024. Norway and Russia were the next two biggest suppliers. According to Eni's written response, Russian gas accounted 12% of its total gas supplies.
TurkStream gas pipeline may slow down EU-Russia decoupling
May 7 - While the European Commission has announced a revised plan to wean Europe off Russian energy completely by 2027, some parts of Europe have taken the opposite approach. The TurkStream pipeline is not only still operating, but has expanded its gas supply. Since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, Russian gas exports have dropped dramatically. They went from more than 155 billion cubic meters (bcm), in 2021, to less than 40 bcm by 2024. In the same time period, Russian LNG exports to the EU almost doubled, reaching around 25 bcm. France, Belgium Spain and the Netherlands bought over 90% of these volumes.
Norway Parliament orders restart of frontier oil and Gas Exploration Licensing
The Norwegian Parliament on Tuesday directed the Labour Minority Government to launch a round of new oil and gas exploration licenses in frontier areas, setting the stage towards increased oil drilling. Norway is now Europe's biggest natural gas supplier following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, 2022. It provides about 30% of all gas imported to the European Union. The Centre Party, who quit the government last January, backed the motion, which was originally brought forward by the Conservatives. On the request of the Centre Party…
Equinor Q1 profits rise more than expected
Equinor announced a higher than expected increase in its first quarter profit on Wednesday. This was boosted by an increase in European gas prices compared to the same period last year. Equinor's poll of 20 analysts predicted that the Norwegian oil and gas company would earn $8.51 billion in January-March, but it actually increased to $8.65 from $7.53. Equinor has maintained its projections that oil and gas production will increase by 4% in this year's compared to the previous year. It also kept its forecast of capital expenditures for 2025 at $13 billion.
JERA and Saibu Gas work together to use the expanded Japanese LNG terminal
They announced on Tuesday that JERA, Japan’s largest buyer of liquefied gas, will work with Saibu Gas Holdings to use the Hibiki LNG Terminal. This collaboration is intended to improve domestic fuel supply and expand their global business. Saibu Gas is a Japanese city gas supplier based on the southern island of Kyushu. In November last year, they decided to expand the capacity at their terminal. This included the construction of a 3rd LNG storage tank, with a 230,000-kilolitre capacity. JERA, Japan’s largest power generator, has been granted access to the new tank.
EU to publish plan in May to stop Russian gas and oil imports
After twice postponing the plan, the European Commission announced on Monday that it will unveil a more comprehensive strategy for phasing out Russian gas and oil imports in January. In response to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the EU has committed to stop using Russian fossil fuels before 2027. However, the Commission has not yet published its "roadmap" on how to achieve this. The plan was originally due last month. An agenda published Monday revealed that the Commission would now publish its roadmap on 6 May. EU sources said that the delays could be due to the uncertainty surrounding President Donald Trump's tariff plans.
Osaka Gas' president claims that it has no immediate requirement for additional US LNG.
Osaka Gas' president stated on Wednesday that the company does not need to purchase more liquefied gas from the United States as it already has enough to last until the middle of next decade. U.S. president Donald Trump pushes energy sales to Asian allies, while threatening tariffs on trade. This is reviving Alaska LNG's stagnated LNG ambitions. Last month, Shigeru Ishiba, the Japanese Prime Minister, and Donald Trump discussed a 20 million ton per year Alaska LNG Project, which would ship gas via a 1,300 km pipeline (800 miles) worth $44 billion and send it to Japan. South Korea, and Taiwan.
Japan Gas Industry Head: Higher US LNG Imports Must be Mutually Beneficial
The head of Japan's Gas Industry Group said that higher imports of U.S. Liquefied Natural Gas would improve Japan's energy security and supply stability. However, they must be pursued on a mutually-beneficial basis for both parties. U.S. president Donald Trump pushes energy sales to Asian allies, while threatening tariffs on trade. This is reviving Alaska LNG's stagnated LNG ambitions. Last month, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba met with Trump and discussed the 20-million-tons-per-year Alaska LNG project, which is meant to transport gas from Alaska's remote north via a $44 billion 1…
Investor leading climate talks with Equinor says it's time to sell out
One of the asset management companies that is co-leading the climate talks with Equinor, on behalf of over 600 investors, has said that it sold its shares because the board of the oil giant failed to align their strategy with the global goal of limiting the effects of global warming. Sarasin & Partners, a British firm, helped to lead discussions with Equinor as part of Climate Action 100+, whose members encourage the largest listed corporations in the world to reduce their emissions. In a letter dated March 14, the company was told that it failed to align its strategies with the Paris Agreement…
Osaka Gas predicts that domestic thermal power will reach 3.2 GW in 2026
Osaka Gas is Japan's second largest city gas supplier. It said that its thermal power generation capacity in Japan will reach 3.2 gigawatts (3.2 gigawatts) by 2026, with the planned start-up of two 600 megawatt gas-fired units in Himeji. The current thermal capacity of the company is 2 GW. The utility announced Thursday that the first 600-MW unit at its Himeji Power Station will be launched in January 2026. The second unit will follow in May 2026. Osaka Gas, along with its three partners including the Development Bank of Japan announced earlier this month plans to construct the No.3 622,6-MW gas-fired unit in Himeji.
Ministers and executives say that if sanctions are eased, Europe will avoid Russian energy.
Ministers and executives at a Houston conference said that European buyers will not return to Russia's Energy Sector if the sanctions are lifted. The bloc has diversified its power mix by using renewable energy and alternative suppliers of gas. According to a joint U.S. and Ukrainian statement released on Tuesday, Ukraine agreed to accept the U.S. proposal of an immediate 30-day truce in order to restore a lasting peace following Russia's invasion. Last week, it was reported that the U.S. Government is looking at ways to ease sanctions…
Tokyo Gas sells US shale-gas stake to Shizuoka Gas at $130 million
Tokyo Gas, Japan’s largest city gas supplier, has announced that it will sell Shizuoka Gas its 25% stake in the Eagle Ford shale project in South Texas for $130m as part of an asset portfolio review in order to improve efficiency. Tokyo Gas, in a press release, said that the move would allow it to concentrate on its U.S. division, TG Natural Resources. This unit has assets in north Louisiana and east Texas. Shizuoka Gas stated in a separate press release that this deal marked its first acquisition of a U.S. based business, and entry into upstream natural gas. Shizuoka Gas's shale-gas production is estimated to be 400,000 metric tonnes per year of LNG equivalent.
European energy industry urges EU to not cap gas prices
The European Union's gas and trading industries are urging it not to cap the gas price, while Brussels is looking for ways to protect businesses and consumers from rising energy prices. The European Commission has been preparing a set of measures that will be presented on 26 February to help improve the competitiveness of industries and lower energy prices. The cold weather and the depletion of gas storage tanks boosted this week's benchmark European gas price to a 2-year high of €58 per megawatt-hour (MWh). This has increased concerns over the higher energy costs European firms pay compared to their competitors in the U.S. or China.
