Apr 2021

The industry's most comprehensive list of current and recent rounds for onshore and offshore licences

The EU is very likely to push ahead with creating a carbon border adjustment mechanism, as soon as compliance with WTO rules can be assured

The EU is very likely to push ahead with creating a carbon border adjustment mechanism, as soon as compliance with WTO rules can be assured

Sustained increases in UK and EU offshore wind power generation mean that making changes to regulation and infrastructure has become a priority

Sustained increases in UK and EU offshore wind power generation mean that making changes to regulation and infrastructure has become a priority

The Chrysaor-Premier combination starts trading in London. But it is keen to expand its horizons

Contributions will be required from many sources—from people taking individual responsibility to the creation of economy-wide partnerships—if we are to achieve a sub-2°C outcome

The April 2021 issue of Petroleum Economist is out now!

Record fall in verified emissions of participating installations was largely in line with expectations

Petrochems titans are working together to electrify a carbon-intensive core process

The group had been widely anticipated to keep the prior agreement in place, but a rapidly agreed deal will see cuts relaxed through the summer

Investment in LNG liquefaction capacity got off to a flying start in 2021 with the North Field East expansion project. How much more can we expect?

The blockage of the Suez Canal by a single vessel highlights how important navigational chokepoints are for the shipping sector and commodities markets

Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative signatories doubled in March to use £16.56tn combined AuM to tackle climate change

Washington reinvents strategy with focus on microchip production and charging stations, rather than traditional ‘roads and bridges’

The UK is set to start its equivalent of the EU ETS on 19 May, but it may take some time for market participants to adjust

Low-carbon ambitions could jeopardise national energy security if drilling moratorium proves permanent

US oil and gas firm to expand partnership with Cemvita Factory to commercialise process

Vale has committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2050—but selling its coal assets to a smaller operator could end up adding to environmental damage

Political reality means moves towards establishing a carbon price or a cap-and-trade system will at least have to wait until after mid-term elections

Floating storage and regasification has reduced entry barriers for aspiring LNG importers. But opening up a new market remains a tricky business

The private equity-backed midstream specialist is bullish about the prospects in its Sage pipeline system catchment area

Sunny and windy conditions combined with low demand over Easter reduced the need for fossil fuels in the energy mix

Elements of Saudi Arabia’s domestic strategy and sudden assertion of leadership stretch credibility, but its plans are indicative of a reluctant embrace of global trends

Standards will help with the construction of new infrastructure and repurposing of old pipelines

Russia is leading the charge to normalise Arctic shipping as the region warms

As in gas, the former Communist country is wary of dependence on its heavyweight eastern neighbour

Good technology and better policies are set to bring clean power from America’s remote regions to city centres

The UK independent presses go on its largest portfolio project after issuing M&A price warning

The high-profile restart of the Damietta facility has ramped up rhetoric and expectations. But it may not be as simple as that

The Southeast Asian nation plans to convert three power plants to run on gas

Downstream divestment programme at risk as federal office scrutinises auction

Ruling by parliamentarian means Biden plan could be passed by a reconciliation bill if needed

NOC reflates its spending and projects grind forward. But no-one should expect miracles

Industry hopes Biden administration will put in place a standalone tax credit for grid storage

Tax changes to incentivise refinery upgraders are bearing fruit

The development will see Ugandan crude exported from the Tanzanian port of Tanga

Renewables expertise must be improved on continent for economies to gain, says panel

Calls to ease bottlenecks as capacity growth lags EU climate goals

Recycling may offer a third way as global lithium industry struggles to ramp up supply to feed growth of electric vehicles

Sharing data will help firms integrate solar, wind and gas offerings

Belated progress on a plethora of renewables schemes signals newfound political will behind clean energy development

Mass electrification of the transport sector will lead to dramatically falling levels of oil demand

Decarbonisation targets are linked to the remuneration of Shell employees

Former businessman has ambitious plans for domestic crude production but faces significant financial, political and ESG constraints

As oil and gas companies respond to the current economic discontinuities, they must choose how to compete as the world transitions to a low-carbon future

Firm will drill first well offshore Timor-Leste in the second half of this year

An accelerating vaccine rollout and robust oil prices encourage consolidation across marginal plays

The North Sea independent is still determined not to overpay for assets

Assessments of firm’s ESG performance does not adequately take into account key technology, says panel

Prices fall in the wake of a tax credit extension but are still up more than 10pc year on year

Canadian company sees Spain as base for European expansion

International lenders distance themselves from Amazonian oil sector under pressure from climate campaigners

Carbon accounting initiative grows amid pressure on institutions to report emissions from investment portfolios

Emissions may not bounce back to levels seen before the Covid-19 pandemic

Transition Economist talks to Bank of America’s Haim Israel about how the world can achieve net zero by 2050—and how the associated ‘megatrends’ will shape society and the global economy

A fresh assault on Palma will at the very least slow planned liquefaction developments

Baghdad is once again looking towards much higher long-term capacity goals

Large-scale, deepwater prospects continue to draw deep-pocketed investors

Buoyed by stronger oil prices and demand recovery, the region has plenty of projects on the roster

Oil and gas firms must consider several factors when addressing digital maturity

The pandemic has showcased the importance of reaching digital maturity, and state oil companies are taking notice

New technologies that provide assistance for drivers have proved slow to penetrate the US market

Digitalisation gives oil and gas operators unmatched access to actionable data insights, eliminating previous operational ‘unknowns’

Digitalisation gives oil and gas operators unmatched access to actionable data insights, eliminating previous operational ‘unknowns’

Embracing technological agility is crucial for organisations to move at scale, work remotely and make better-informed operational decisions

Embracing technological agility is crucial for organisations to move at scale, work remotely and make better-informed operational decisions

Emerging markets are driving energy demand back to 2019 levels, with coal offsetting renewables growth

Firm aims to make global operations carbon-neutral by 2030

The North Sea field extends its lifespan through a flip to alternative processing facilities believed to be a UK industry first

The west African nation continues to attract upstream investment despite the global contraction in activity

Historic and real-time fundamentals are not the only information show in town, says software provider Kyos

The NOC will sell its stake in Puma Energy in return for the firm’s Angolan assets

Scheme will undergo further reforms this summer as part of increased EU ambition to reach net zero by 2050

Policy mechanisms at federal level must catch up with those at state level to be effective, says industry

Gathering is an important opportunity to signal US commitment and resolve to sceptical leaders

Affordability, energy justice and societal acceptability matters are moving up the political agenda

Timely delivery of new projects will be vital to avoid shortfalls, AEMO says

Efforts to raise Vaca Muerta production face financial and strike action hurdles

Incremental savings in emissions across the supply chain and in operations add up to significant environmental gains for oil and gas companies

Any hope the Biden administration might seek a compromise on federal land drilling ban looks increasingly forlorn

The county’s negotiating tactics are damaging its reputation among developers

Uncertainty over green status of natural gas in the EU could hamper investment

Lobbying season is underway for on Joe Biden's $2tn jobs plan, with a number of potential tax incentives for hydrogen on the table

Lobbying season is underway for on Joe Biden's $2tn jobs plan, with a number of potential tax incentives for hydrogen on the table

Both the emirate and neighbouring Abu Dhabi are considering the potential of the novel technology

Amman rolls out some old favourites as it hopes to finally gain upstream traction

North American quarterly performance reflects returning production and gives reason for optimism

Generation from the cleanest fossil fuel looks set to struggle to expand in China despite the start of carbon trading

While transparency and data provision have made huge strides, there are still information gaps and quality problems, warns the founder of UK power analysis firm Catalyst Commodities

As technologies approach milestone, they could scale even faster

US sets out bold new emissions commitments ahead of Cop26

As investor sentiment shifts, companies that align with the transition have a significant competitive edge

As investor sentiment shifts, companies that align with the transition have a significant competitive edge

World will need $2tn/yr to electrify new sectors, develop demand-side response and upgrade grids

Clarity on targets and supportive regulations will help set a clear roadmap for industry to decarbonise

The UK-headquartered majors are pursuing strategies that assume the future plays out least favourably for hydrocarbons

Corporate carbon goals and local regulatory regimes will determine whether the region’s deepwater sector can attract renewed interest from investors

The rise of renewables has revolutionised short-term trading. But that will have a feedback loop to the longer-term market

Coal’s long goodbye means Beijing will need to brace for reduced energy security

Former chair of UK Climate Change Committee lays out recommendations for reaching net zero

Questions over company’s ability to differentiate its electrons in a competitive market

Policymakers bet on dramatic fall in cost of storage batteries this decade

The UK-headquartered majors are pursuing strategies that assume the future plays out least favourably for hydrocarbons

Biden administration hopes to fast-track emission restrictions, a popular measure among many large-cap operators

Biden administration hopes to fast-track emission restrictions, a popular measure among many large-cap operators

Sales in the sector are growing fast thanks to strong consumer demand and policy support from governments

US leads the way but China emerges as fastest-growing market by 2030

Norwegian firms makes progress on electrification of offshore operations and Norwegian CCS project

The profits to be made from optimising a portfolio on a close-to-real-time basis have driven a significant shift in the market

Investor uncertainty mounts as approved legislation threatens to return energy sector to state control

Time to ponder the value of its hydrocarbons is a luxury the North African state may no longer have

A purported leak is just the latest potential obstacle to Washington-Tehran rapprochement

Even carbon-intensive production is being swept up in the rush of North Sea deals

Projects face tough global competition for funding, but some lead the pack

Russia's Artic LNG 2 project continues to advance, with the signing of long-term sales and purchase agreements (SPAs) for the entirety of LNG production

Both Repsol and Total will funnel 25pc of 2021 investments towards low carbon ventures

The third edition of ExxonMobil’s signature Power Play awards has been launched—this year with more awards categories and an even more diverse panel of international judges

The third edition of ExxonMobil’s signature Power Play awards has been launched—this year with more awards categories and an even more diverse panel of international judges