Friday, March 13, 2026

Georgia News

BP to perform maintenance on Central Azeri Platform in August

BP's regional president for Azerbaijan and Georgia, as well as Turkey, Giovanni Cristofoli, said that the company plans to perform scheduled'maintenance on the Central Azeri -platform in August 2026. He added that the shutdown would only affect the gas infrastructure of the platform, and oil production would continue. He added that maintenance usually lasts for 19 days. The shorter outage is possible because of the new technologies. BP is the largest foreign investor and operator in Azerbaijan’s oil and natural gas sector. The ?company operates Azerbaijan's largest oil and gas projects…

US provides historic $26.5 billion loan to Southern Co subsidiaries

The?U.S. The Energy Department announced on Wednesday that it has provided a loan of $26.54 billion to'subsidiaries' of Southern Co in order to improve grid reliability. This is the largest loan ever offered by its loan office. According to the Energy Department, this financing will allow power customers in Georgia & Alabama to save more than $7 billion. Southern announced last year that it would freeze power bill increases for three years. Negotiations over loans made the company's decision possible, according to the?department. The Trump administration changed the name of the loan office to Energy Dominance Financing.

Azerbaijan BTC Pipeline Exports Fall 8.9% in January

Credit: Adobe Stock/KatrinaQQ

Azerbaijan’s oil exports via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline fell to 2.112 million metric tons in January 2026, down 8.9% from a year earlier, as supplies were affected by tainted oil, Azerbaijani data showed.The BTC pipeline, which runs through Georgia to Turkey, is used to export oil from the Azeri, Chirag and Guneshli oilfields, which are operated by BP.Azerbaijan’s total oil transit amounted to 2.731 million tons in January 2026, with 77.3% shipped via the BTC pipeline, according to the country’s statistics committee.Transit oil volumes from other countries, including Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, transported via BTC fell to 363,600 tons in January 2026 from 392,600 tons in sam

The US LNG production was cut in January by the winter freeze; imports from Trinidad filled the gap.

LSEG's preliminary data shows that exports of liquefied gas from the U.S. in January fell to 11.3 million metric tons, down from December’s record of 11.5 MT. A winter freeze in late-January shut some plants while lowering output at others. On January 26, gas flows into U.S. liquefied natural gas plants reached a record low. Freeport LNG, the country's third largest LNG exporter, was partially offline during the freezing. Kinder Morgan's Elba Island plant in Georgia, which stopped taking in feedgas in the week before the freeze, imported LNG from Trinidad and Tobago. In the U.S., spot gas prices rose to record highs during the last week in January.

Prices for gas in Europe go up after US winter storm restricts LNG exports

The Dutch and British wholesale prices of gas rose slightly Tuesday morning, as the freezing weather in America continued to?curb liquefied gas exports. A winter storm in the U.S. has left more than 548, 000 homes and businesses without power. The storm is set to be the most expensive severe weather event since wildfires that ravaged the Los Angeles area in early 2025. LSEG data shows that the benchmark European gas contract (the front-month Dutch contract) at the TTF Hub reached its highest level in April of last year on Sunday, but fell below it on Tuesday morning, at 39.85 Euros per megawatt hour or $13.87/mmBtu by 1010 a.m. GMT.

Prices of EUROPE Gas are slightly higher as US cold continues a curb on LNG

The wholesale gas prices in the Netherlands and Britain rose slightly Tuesday morning, as freezing temperatures in the United States continue to limit liquefied natural gas exports. By 0931 GMT the benchmark Dutch front-month contract was 0.60 euros higher, or $14.02/mmBtu at the TTF Hub. On Monday, the price of oil reached its highest level since April of last year. The British day-ahead contract rose 3.70 pence, to 105 pence a therm. Meanwhile, the front-month contract increased by 0.22 pence, to 103.60 cents therm. The U.S. Gas Market could continue to be of concern, as the supply disruptions affect LNG exports. U.S.

Winter storm increases demand for power in US data centers Alley

The largest U.S. power grid saw its prices rise sharply Sunday, as the demand for energy in a region that has?the largest concentration of data centers in the world? exceeded forecasts in the midst of a deep freeze gripping the majority half the nation. Dominion Energy territory in Virginia saw real-time wholesale prices of $1,800 for a?MWh as early as Sunday morning, up from $200 on Saturday. Virginia is home to the largest cluster of data centres in the world. These centers are used for artificial intelligence, and the rising demand and price of electricity in large swaths across the nation.

The Black Sea Infrastructure is at risk, according to the Romanian National Defence Strategy

A draft national defence strategy released on Wednesday said that Romania must strengthen its ties with allies along the Black Sea to protect energy projects, which will make Romania the largest gas producer of the European Union in 2027. In the past two years, the EU and NATO member state has been repeatedly violated by Russian drones. Mines have also been spotted in the Black Sea along key trade and energy routes. Bulgaria, Romania and Georgia, along with Turkey and Ukraine, share the Black Sea, which is vital for grain, oil, and oil-based products.

Plug Power will unlock $275 Million in data center power market

Plug Power said it expects to generate over $275 million through monetizing assets and releasing restricted funds, while reducing maintenance costs. The hydrogen fuel cell manufacturer is shifting its focus to high-return opportunities, and the rapidly growing data center market. The shares of the company rose over 10% during premarket trading. The company signed an non-binding letter to intent to monetize their electricity rights in New York, as well as another U.S. city. They also agreed to work with a data center developer who is expanding across the nation.

Qcells furloughs 1000 workers in US solar factories because of stalled shipments

Qcells, a U.S. subsidiary of Hanwha of Korea, has announced that it will lay off 1,000 workers from its Georgia plants because U.S. Customs officials are routinely delaying shipments of parts it needs. The company announced the news months after it said that some of its shipments had been held at U.S. port under a law which will be in effect by 2021 and ban imports from China’s Xinjiang due to concerns over forced labor. Qcells is investing $2.5 billion in a complete U.S. supply chain for solar panels to compete with China. The company imports panels assembled from cells manufactured in Malaysia and South Korea. The company is also increasing its U.S.

Urals Crude Differentials Steady; Russia Ships Oil to New Georgia Refinery

© Adobe Stock/Pavel Ignatov

Urals crude differentials were steady again on Tuesday, while Russia has supplied a first oil cargo to the newly built Kulevi oil refinery in Georgia this month, according to LSEG ship-tracking data and industry sources.According to LSEG and a trader, the tanker Kayseri delivered 105,340 metric tons of Siberian Light oil grade from the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiisk to the Kulevi Oil Terminal on October 6.Hungarian oil and gas company MOL was gradually restarting units at its Danube refinery following a late Monday fire at one of the plant's crude units.PLATTS WINDOWNo bids or offers were reported in the Platts window on Tuesday for Urals, Azeri BTC or CPC Blend crude.NEWSK

The United States has experienced a number of deadly industrial accidents this century

Officials said that multiple people died in an explosion at a military explosives facility in Tennessee on Friday. They also reported the absence of 19 other people. Here are some of the most notable industrial explosions that have occurred in the United States during this century. An explosion on the 23rd of March 2005 at a BP Refinery in Texas City in Texas City left 15 workers dead and 180 others injured. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board reported that a series of explosions took place during the restarting a hydrocarbon-isomerization unit. The report stated that the explosions happened when a distillation unit was flooded with hydrocarbons, and then over-pressurized.

Solar groups sue Trump Administration over cancellation of $7 billion in grants

On Monday, a group of labor unions as well as nonprofits and solar companies filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its cancellation of an $7 billion grant program from Biden's era that was intended to increase solar energy in low-income areas. The complaint filed in federal courts in Rhode Island alleges that U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and its administrator Lee Zeldin broke the law by rescinding grants granted in 2024 to sixty nonprofit groups, tribals, and states. The plaintiffs include the Rhode Island AFL-CIO and the nonprofits Rhode Island Center for Justice and Solar United Neighbors.

Solar groups sue Trump Administration over cancellation of $7 billion in grants

On Monday, a group of labor unions as well as nonprofits and solar companies filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over its cancellation of an $7 billion grant program from Biden's era that was intended to increase solar energy in low-income areas. The complaint filed in federal courts in Rhode Island alleges that U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and its administrator Lee Zeldin broke the law by rescinding grants granted in 2024 to nonprofit groups, tribals, and states. The plaintiffs include the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, nonprofits Rhode…

Kazakhstan Resumes Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline Exports After Contamination Issues

© Adobe Stock/Mike Mareen

Kazakhstan resumed oil supplies via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline on September 13, state energy company Kazmunaygaz said on Wednesday.Supplies via the route were suspended last month amid contamination issues.The BTC pipeline, which runs through Georgia to Turkey, is used mainly to export oil from the Azeri, Chirag and Guneshli oilfields, which are operated by BP.The pipeline is also used by Kazakhstan as a way to lessen its dependence on Russia as a main exporting route. More than 80% of Kazakhstan's oil exports are shipped by the Caspian Pipeline…

Georgia Power has received approval for 1,068MW of solar energy projects

Georgia Power, a unit of Southern Co, said that it received approval on Friday from the Georgia Public Service Commission to enter into five new power purchase agreements for solar sites totaling 1,068 Megawatts (MW). The new facilities are part of the Clean and Renewable Energy Subscription 2023 (CARES) program. This allows commercial and industrial clients to subscribe to renewable energies to improve sustainability efforts. Third-party companies will construct and maintain the approved projects. These bidders were selected in the CARES Request for Proposal 2023 (RFP), approved by the Final Order of the 2022 Integrated Resource Plan.

Castleton Oil Traders Geneva team to focus on oil, according to sources

Castleton Commodities International, a trader specializing in energy commodities, has established a team based in Geneva, Switzerland, in the last few weeks, as part of its efforts to expand in oil trading. Two sources familiar with this matter confirmed it on Wednesday. Sources said that the Stamford-based company hired Roberto Rosales as the leader of the Geneva-based team. Rosales previously worked as a senior oil trading at Izzy Eglander’s hedge fund Millennium Management. Sources said that Boyan Shmorhun will join Castleton’s Geneva team. He is a North Sea trader with Gunvor. Sources requested anonymity in order to discuss confidential information. Castleton declined comment.

Maguire: US clean energy capacity grows slower, but wider by 2025

This year, the pace of adding new solar, wind, and battery capacity in the U.S. has slowed down nationally and in some key states, which is hurting sentiment for clean energy. Climate trackers should take heart in the fact that growth has continued outside of Texas and California. According to data collected by the energy data platform Cleanview by mid-2025, combined installations of solar and wind power systems, as well as battery storage, are expected to increase by 7% by 2025 compared to the previous year. This would be the smallest percentage increase in these energy technologies over the past decade.

South Korea automaker shares slip after US trade deal

The shares of South Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia Corp dropped on Thursday, after U.S. president Donald Trump announced that the U.S. would charge a 15% duty on auto imports from South Korea as part of an agreement on trade. The agreement does not reduce auto tariffs to 25% but it does remove the 2,5% advantage that South Korean automakers enjoyed over their Japanese competitors under the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement. Analysts said that the shares may have fallen due to profit-taking, as the news of the tariffs had already been factored into the market.

White House aide: US Energy Loan Office should fund oil and gas

A White House aide stated on Tuesday that the U.S. Energy Department loan office should finance oil and gas infrastructure. Jarrod Agen said, "One of our biggest problems is that the loan program office was used in the past for many of these renewable energy projects" at a Politico Energy conference. Thanks to the legislation that was passed during Joe Biden's term, the Loan Programs Office has grown rapidly and now has hundreds of millions of dollars of loan and guarantee capacity. Agen stated that the administration has changed the priority of LPO. This is to assist in financing emerging energy projects which show promise, but have difficulty obtaining bank loans.