(EnergyAsia, March 4 2013, Monday) — Australia’s Hodges Resources said it may acquire metallurgical coal resources in the US to build up its coal portfolio while BHP Billiton is looking to close one of its mines in Queensland state. Hodges Resources said it has signed a binding heads of agreement with Specialty Metallurgical Coal Assets (more…)
AUSTRALIA: ConocoPhillips looking to sell off part of APLNG stake
(EnergyAsia, March 4 2013, Monday) — US upstream company ConocoPhillips is looking to reduce its stakes in the Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG) project in Queensland state as well as its oil sands activities in Canada to focus on developing shale reserves in the US. At last Thursday’s briefing for analysts and investors, CEO Ryan Lance...
COMPANIES: Angolan state firm and Trafigura unit to jointly establish LNG trading company
(EnergyAsia, March 1 2013, Friday) — Angolan state oil and gas firm Sonangol and a company partly owned by Swiss commodities trader Trafigura said they are planning to jointly establish a new company to trade liquefied natural gas (LNG). Sonangol’s trading arm, Sonanci, and DT Group, a joint venture trading firm between Trafigura Pte Ltd (more…)
PHILIPPINES: Foster Wheeler to supply steam generator for coal-fired power plant
(EnergyAsia, March 1 2013, Friday) — Foster Wheeler AG said a subsidiary of its Global Power Group has been awarded a contract to design and supply a circulating fluidised-bed (CFB) steam generator for a coal-fired power plant in the Philippines due to start up in 2015. The contract was awarded by South Korean engineering firm (more…)
SINGAPORE: Rotary Engineering to pay dividend for 2012 despite reporting net loss and sharp revenue drop
(EnergyAsia, March 1 2013, Friday) — Rotary Engineering Limited, a Singapore-based provider of engineering, procurement, construction and maintenance (EPCM) services for the oil, gas and petrochemicals industry, has proposed paying shareholders a final dividend of 0.5 Singapore cent per share despite the company reporting a full-year 2012 net loss and a 16.3% drop in revenue (more…)
JAPAN: INPEX, Diamond Gas tell Canada to hurry up
(EnergyAsia, March 1 2013, Friday) — Two leading Japanese upstream companies looking to expand in Canada have joined other foreign investors in expressing their concerns over hurdles they face to build projects to export oil and gas to Asia. At last month’s inaugural international LNG conference in Vancouver, state-backed INPEX and Mitsubishi Corp’s Diamond Gas...
CHINA: CNOOC to pay US$1.02 billion for 50% stake in US shale developer Chesapeake Energy
(EnergyAsia, February 28 2013, Thursday) — Hours after CNOOC Ltd completed its US$15.1 billion purchase of Canada’s Nexen, another Chinese state Sinopec said it had agreed to pay more than US$1 billion for a 50% stake in US-based Cheaspeake Energy which is developing oil-rich shale fields in Texas, Colorado and Wyoming states. The swoop will (more…)
MARKETS: OPEC boosts forecast for 2013 oil demand to 89.68 million b/d
(EnergyAsia, February 28 2013, Thursday) — Bowing to further evidence of a near-term global economic recovery, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) raised its forecast for 2013 world oil demand growth to 840,000 b/d after holding it unchanged at under 800,000 b/d the three previous months. In its February report, OPEC said it expects (more…)
COMPANY: ExxonMobil to name chiefs of production, and gas and power marketing subsidiaries
(EnergyAsia, February 28 2013, Thursday) — Exxon Mobil Corporation said its board is expected to appoint Tom Walters as president of ExxonMobil Production Company and Rob Franklin as president of ExxonMobil Gas & Power Marketing Company from March 1. Mr Walters, the president of ExxonMobil Gas & Power Marketing Company and a vice president of (more…)
ASIA: IEA backs consuming nations’ call for change to LNG pricing system, cites Singapore’s potential role
(EnergyAsia, February 28 2013, Thursday) — To the delight of Asia’s energy-importing countries paying the world’s highest fuel prices, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has thrown its considerable weight behind the region’s growing call for reforms to pricing of the international natural gas trade. In a report, “Developing a Natural Gas Trading Hub in Asia”,...
CHINA: CNOOC Limited completes acquisition of Canada’s Nexen Inc
(EnergyAsia, February 27 2013, Wednesday) — Seven months after launching its troubled takeover bid, Chinese state-owned CNOOC Limited said it has completed the US$15.1 billion acquisition of Canada’s upstream company Nexen Inc. Operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of CNOOC Limited, Nexen will continue to be led by CEO, Kevin Reinhart, who has been with (more…)
AUSTRALIA: Caltex recovers from 2011 loss to report A$57 million profit for 2012
(EnergyAsia, February 27 2013, Wednesday) — Caltex Australia has returned to profitability reporting a A$57 million net gain last year to reverse the huge A$714 million loss for 2011. (US$1=A$0.97). The country’s largest downstream company said its performance was helped by increased production at its two refineries and higher sales of gasoline, diesel and jet (more…)
IRAN: Oil products storage terminal starts up in Kerman city
(EnergyAsia, February 27 2013, Wednesday) — Iran has started up a new oil products storage terminal in the southeastern city of Kerman. The National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company, a subsidiary of state NIOC, invested more than US$50 million to develop the 350,000-cubic metre terminal to store gasoline, jet fuel, kerosene and diesel. According to...
ASIA: Canada must seize opportunity to export oil and gas to emerging markets, says former Cabinet minister Prentice
(EnergyAsia, February 27 2013, Wednesday) — Canada must capitalise on its numerous advantages to develop an industry exporting oil and gas to the fast-growing markets of Asia and reduce its traditional dependence on the US, said former Cabinet minister Jim Prentice. In making this call yet again at a liquefied natural gas (LNG) conference in (more…)
MARKETS: EIA projects world oil demand growth to accelerate in 2013 and 2014
(EnergyAsia, February 27 2013, Wednesday) — The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) has revised upwards its forecast for world oil demand growth for 2013 and 2014, reflecting improving economic conditions. In its February short-term energy outlook report, the agency said it expects world oil consumption, led by developing Asia, to rise by 1.18% to 90.21...
INDIA: Indian Oil Corp reports 34% rise in net profit for Oct-Dec 2012 quarter, but losses surged for the year
(EnergyAsia, February 26 2013, Tuesday) — Citing increased production, sales of oil products and government compensation, state-owned Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) said its net profit for the October-December 2012 quarter rose 33.9% to 33,319.6 million rupees. (US$1=55 rupees). India’s main refining and marketing company said government compensation amounting to 134,750 million rupee enabled it to (more…)
CHINA: Overseas oil production to double by 2015, predicts IEA
(EnergyAsia, February 26 2013, Tuesday) — China will double its overseas 2011 oil production to three million b/d by 2015, thanks to its relentless drive to invest in oil and gas assets in producing countries, said the International Energy Agency (IEA). By then, China’s overseas production place it in the world’s top 10 oil producers...
MARKETS: Drewry predicts oil tanker overcapacity to “gradually ease” from next year
(EnergyAsia, February 26 2013, Tuesday) — The global oil tanker market could begin a slow recovery next year as the current glut eases up, predicts UK-based Drewry Maritime Research. For 2013, the shipping intelligence firm said the industry faces “another tough year” as tanker owners continue to struggle under the pressure of overcapacity. A predicted (more…)
JAPAN: Saudi Arabia agrees to guarantee stable oil supply, says minister Motegi
(EnergyAsia, February 26 2013, Tuesday) — Energy-short Japan is convinced that Saudi Arabia will remain a reliable and stable supplier of crude oil in the event of production disruptions and emergencies, said Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Toshimitsu Motegi following his recent visit to the kingdom and Abu Dhabi. Japan is calling on old favours...
CONFERENCE: Canada’s first international LNG event to be held in Vancouver Feb 25 and 26
(EnergyAsia, February 25 2013, Monday) — Canada’s first international conference focused on the rapidly expanding liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry will be held in Vancouver city in British Columbia province today and tomorrow. British Columbia Premier Christy Clark will open the event at the Vancouver Convention Centre attended by global investors, domestic and international traders, (more…)
RUSSIA: Gazprom to proceed with Vladivostok LNG project
(EnergyAsia, February 25 2013, Monday) — Prodded by Russian President Vladimir Putin, state gas monopoly Gazprom said it has made a final investment decision to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) project on the Pacific Coast targeting export to Asia. The company said it will build an export terminal along Perevoznaya Bay on the Lomonosov...
AUSTRALIA: Kogas appoints advisers to sell stake in Gladstone LNG project
(EnergyAsia, February 25 2013, Monday) — State utility Korea Gas Corp (Kogas) said it has appointed Samsung Securities Co and Rothschild to advise on the potential sale of its stake in the Gladstone liquefied natural gas (GLNG) project in Australia’s Queensland state. Kogas is looking to make a profit on the A$665 million that it (more…)
JAPAN: Government to offer one trillion yen in loan guarantees for LNG investments
(EnergyAsia, February 25 2013, Monday) — Stunned by the country’s rising energy import bill, the Japanese government will soon offer one trillion yen in loan guarantees to back investments in liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects. Industry minister Toshimitsu Motegi announced the plan last week as Japan’s economy continues to struggle under the weight of an...
ASIA: Wood Mackenzie tells LNG suppliers to focus on Southeast Asia instead of India
(EnergyAsia, February 22 2013, Friday) — Focus on Southeast Asia’s smaller but faster growing economies, and move India to the back row. That’s the advice energy consultant Wood Mackenzie is giving liquefied natural gas (LNG) suppliers as it predicts the combined market of Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore offers far better returns. By 2025, Southeast (more…)
AUSTRALIA: Estimated cost of APLNG project raised 7.4% to A$24.7 billion
(EnergyAsia, February 22 2013, Friday) — The estimated cost of yet another proposed export-oriented liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Australia has been raised. Due to increased community consultations and worries over water contamination, operator Origin Energy Limited said it and its partners now estimate it would cost A$24.7 billion to build the Australia Pacific...