(EnergyAsia, January 27 2015, Tuesday) — The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) has raised its forecasts for both global oil demand and supply growth for 2015 in its January report compared with the previous month.

It has also sharply slashed its forecast for crude prices with North Sea Brent to average $58 per barrel in 2015 and US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) to trade at US$54 to $55. In December, the agency had called for Brent to average US$68 per barrel in 2015, down US$15 from its November forecast, while WTI would trade at an average US$63 instead of US$78.

(EnergyAsia, January 23 2015, Friday) — The oil-exporting countries in the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan (MENAP) and the Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA) regions will lose an estimated total of US$300 billion in export revenues this year as a result of the oil price collapse, said the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

(EnergyAsia, January 20 2015, Tuesday) — Helped by expected weak prices in 2015, the world’s import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) will reach a record of more than 250 million tons for the first time, said Australia’s Department of Industry.

(EnergyAsia, January 14 2015, Wednesday) — India should take advantage of the collapse in global oil prices by expanding its storage capacity and securing deals to stockpile crude for producing countries, said local industry officials.

(EnergyAsia, January 12 2014, Monday) — With Brent crude prices plunging to a near six-year low below US$50 a barrel, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) may have to lower its earlier forecast for Iraq’s oil-dependent economy to grow by two percent this year. An IMF team which met Iraqi Minister of Finance Hoshyar Zebari and (more…)

(EnergyAsia, January 8 2015, Thursday) — The collapse of oil prices has injected new political, economic, financial and social risks into an already uncertain global environment grappling with heightened geopolitical conflicts and economic uncertainties, said the International Energy Agency (IEA) and oil companies.

(EnergyAsia, January 6 2015, Tuesday) — As if China needed any encouragement, the near 50% collapse in oil prices since June has greatly aided its crude stockpiling and import programme with desperate suppliers lining up to unload their cargoes at huge discounts.

(EnergyAsia, December 31 2014, Wednesday) — The Middle East will deal another blow to the world’s crumbling oil markets next year as it starts up giant refineries to boost net exports of products by nearly one million b/d, compared with less than 400,000 b/d last year.

(EnergyAsia, December 31 2014, Wednesday) — The Middle East will deal another blow to the world’s crumbling oil markets next year as it starts up giant refineries to boost net exports of products by nearly one million b/d, compared with less than 400,000 b/d last year.

(EnergyAsia, December 30 2014, Tuesday) — As if China needed any encouragement, the near 50% collapse in oil prices since June has greatly aided its crude stockpiling and import programme with desperate suppliers lining up to unload their cargoes at huge discounts.

(EnergyAsia, December 29 2014, Monday) — Along with weaker oil prices, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) has reduced its forecasts for both global oil demand and supply for 2015 in its December report compared with the previous month.

The agency expects the world to consume 92.32 million b/d in 2015, down from its November forecast of 92.50 million b/d, and to produce 92.75 million b/d instead of 92.91 million b/d.

(EnergyAsia, December 26 2014, Friday) — Indonesia’s two-month-old government has enlisted international energy firms to help state-owned Pertamina expand and upgrade its refining and oil storage facilities to support the country’s long-term economic growth.

(EnergyAsia, December 24 2014, Wednesday) — Papua New Guinea (PNG)’s economy faces downside risks despite the launch of a new income stream from liquefied natural gas exports (LNG) from last May, said the International Monetary Fund (IMF).