Aug 2020

The July/August 2020 issue of Petroleum Economist is out now!

Somali Petroleum Authority board has been approved by the Mogadishu government ahead of licensing round

Colin Bryce continues his oil markets story, taking in the last 20 years up to the present day

A ramp-up in long-term contract requirements leaves operator with reduced volumes to sell

A lobby group for exports foresees a bright future despite a long history of setbacks

The ability to store and transport energy as hydrogen means that far more locations in the North Sea and elsewhere become viable for wind generation

Community voting is now open across the three categories for the awards, which champion inclusion and diversity by celebrating remarkable women and men in the LNG industry

Community voting is now open across the three categories for the awards, which champion inclusion and diversity by celebrating remarkable women and men in the LNG industry

Facing the challenge of a domestic economic crisis, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hopes that successful military interventions in the surrounding region will foster nationalist solidarity

National Oil Corporation reports its lowest production since the blockade started in January as external forces gear up for clash over Sirte basin oilfields

One of the more regressive fiscal regimes and a generally challenging environment are not enough to dampen United Oil & Gas’ enthusiasm for the Western Desert.

The cash-strapped Saudi NOC is looking to replicate the recent divestment success of its Emirati counterpart Adnoc

Hefty financial losses and a depressed oil market fail to sway Brazilian NOC from pursuing ambitious upstream strategy

Ex-Tullow man thinks that doom and gloom about the global upstream business is overdone

The independent’s CEO was making oil discoveries in the Gulf of Sinai in the 1970s. Now he is back in the region

The European Commission's transition plans, along with rising coal-to-gas switching, are entrenching gas in the EU energy mix

Calmer political waters should help turn the country into a global exploration hotspot

The sultanate’s drawn-out bid round is ending in a whimper as breakout gas contracting discussions take priority

Newly appointed Somali Petroleum Authority chairman and CEO Ibrahim Ali Hussein speaks to Petroleum Economist about his hopes for the Somali oil and gas industry

The expanding role of LNG and a new round of gas exploration appear set to alleviate the country’s energy supply problem

The expanding role of LNG and a new round of gas exploration appear set to alleviate the country’s energy supply problem

Tidal power facilities offer a clean and renewable energy but have struggled to attract the investment to finance substantial capex. The development of movable structures may mean this will change

Tidal power facilities offer a clean and renewable energy but have struggled to attract the investment to finance substantial capex. The development of movable structures may mean this will change

Adding battery storage to solar projects alleviates intermittency and curtailment issues but brings contractual and financing issues

Adding battery storage to solar projects alleviates intermittency and curtailment issues but brings contractual and financing issues

Artificial intelligence will have a wide-reaching impact on the entire energy sector and determine the speed and direction of the transition, according to Hypergiant founder and CEO Ben Lamm

Artificial intelligence will have a wide-reaching impact on the entire energy sector and determine the speed and direction of the transition, according to Hypergiant founder and CEO Ben Lamm

In pursuit of alternatives to oil and gas production, certain developing countries are turning to the exploration and development of volcanically active hotspots

In pursuit of alternatives to oil and gas production, certain developing countries are turning to the exploration and development of volcanically active hotspots

In pursuit of alternatives to oil and gas production, certain developing countries are turning to the exploration and development of volcanically active hotspots

The sector’s biggest companies staunched some of their losses across the second quarter, but the results still made for depressing reading

Greece and Bulgaria plan dashes for gas to fuel cleaner energy futures

The Russian oil firm has added more reserves to its ambitious Vostok Oil project

The company’s new strategy to retain and draw shareholders aims to shake up the shale growth model

The resource-poor nation’s search for a reliable alternative to the long-delayed recommissioning of nuclear power plants continues

Presidents Trump and Xi’s compact on rebalancing may be the next domino to fall

LNG imports are a first step. Exports and bunkering may come next

Mounting pressure from Democratic Party to tackle climate change threatens future of the sector

The Kenney administration seems to be ignoring any warning signs on future demand growth

Studies on the possible route may be under way, but if the project materialises at all, it is unlikely to be on an ambitious schedule

China is intensifying its pressure on Hanoi to halt IOCs’ offshore drilling activities. Some have already withdrawn and others may follow

Crumbling revenues heighten concerns over looming debt maturities and the firm’s ability to avoid becoming another high-profile casualty

The received wisdom that gas would be the region’s main growth fuel for generation is being challenged

The major was attracted first by Noble’s gas assets. This could be promising for breaking the deadlock on the rocky road to monetising the region’s finds

Ankara extends timeframes of controversial activities off the Greek and Cypriot coasts, upping the chances of military confrontation

Opposition politicians and media sniff blood over an economic revival strategy driven by natural gas, rather than renewables

A Democratic victory could spell an end to hostilities with the Islamic Republic of Iran and send a jolt through the global oil market

Changes forced by Covid-19 may mean the global energy mix has permanently shifted in favour of lower-carbon fuels—if governments decide to support the progress, says Engie's Laurent Nery

Europe’s largest bunkering port is reaping the rewards of exponential growth in LNG fuelling

Europe’s largest bunkering port is reaping the rewards of exponential growth in LNG fuelling

The transfer of major infrastructure assets away from the country’s NOCs to the newly created PipeChina should reinvigorate the upstream sector

The new rules on sulphur content of shipping fuels came into force this year. This article revisits 2018 predictions to see what turned out as expected and what surprised

Attention-grabbing renewable projects continue to be developed across the Middle East, but lower oil prices, Covid-19 and capex cuts may hold back progress

Attention-grabbing renewable projects continue to be developed across the Middle East, but lower oil prices, Covid-19 and capex cuts may hold back progress

Challenges to refiners are myriad. Another boost in Mid-East Gulf capacity brings more complexity

Sechin confirms drilling has restarted in the Russian Arctic shelf, despite high costs and ongoing sanctions

A scarcity of investment options is compounding the rapid exodus of international firms

Unmanageable debt and a shortage of work is wreaking havoc on company finances. Bruising maturities starting from next year could signal even more pain

The German presidency of the EU Council aims for a recovery fuelled by renewables, but there is disagreement among member states over key climate targets

The German presidency of the EU Council aims for a recovery fuelled by renewables, but there is disagreement among member states over key climate targets

High investor demand, especially for energy transition bonds, set to be further boosted by introduction of German 'twin bunds'

High investor demand, especially for energy transition bonds, set to be further boosted by introduction of German 'twin bunds'