(EnergyAsia, November 16, 2019, Saturday) — Ministers from 11 member countries in a Central Asia group have endorsed a long-term strategy to improve the region’s energy security as part of a bigger goal to boost its investment potential and economic outlook….
BRUNEI: China’s Hengyi Petrochemical starts up Asia’s newest refinery-petrochemical complex
(EnergyAsia, November 7, 2019, Thursday) — China’s Hengyi Petrochemical Co Ltd said it has started commercial operations at its joint-venture integrated oil-petrochemical complex in the Southeast Asian state of Brunei….
AUSTRALIA: Stockpile debate gains urgency on drone attacks on Saudi oil plants
(EnergyAsia, November 4, 2019, Monday) — As one of the world’s leading energy producers and exporters, Australia has been among a handful of lucky countries seemingly untouched by the threat of global oil supply disruptions….
CHINA: Energy security outlook weakens as economic growth slumps to 27-year low
(EnergyAsia, October 28, 2019, Monday) — “The Chinese nation cannot be stopped”, China’s President Xi Jinping declared in a nationalistic speech on October 1 to mark the 70th anniversary of his country’s national day….
INDIA: Oil and gas imports from the US set to rise amid stronger bilateral ties
(EnergyAsia, October 21, 2019, Monday) — India’s appetite for US oil and gas is set to grow as New Delhi’s search for energy security adds to the strengthening of bilateral ties between the two countries….
CHINA: Superpower ambition faces energy, water supply constraints
(EnergyAsia, October 16, 2019, Wednesday) — In its drive to become the world’s leading superpower (1), China has set its sights on developing and controlling artificial intelligence, 5G networks and robotics. But a confluence of recent events warns that China likely faces its most pressing challenges in the less glamorous business of securing oil, gas…
CHINA: Canada’s breakthrough LNG deal
(EnergyAsia, August 13, 2019, Tuesday) — British Columbia (BC)’s emerging liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry may have just shone a small light into the long dark tunnel enveloping the bilateral relations between Canada and China….
ASIA: Singapore expected to remain region’s main oil pricing and trading hub, says Platts editor
(EnergyAsia, June 21, 2019, Friday) — Singapore will likely remain Asia’s main oil trading hub despite a growing challenge from countries in the region as they expand their domestic storage and refining investments, according to an industry analyst….
PHILIPPINES: Work on strategic oil stockpile likely to proceed slowly
(EnergyAsia, June 18 2019, Tuesday) — It’s been over a year since the Philippines government announced its latest intention to establish a strategic petroleum reserves (SPR) to help the country cope with volatile prices and the possibility of future supply disruptions….
MALAYSIA: Government backs large offshore oil storage project to compete against Singapore
(EnergyAsia, June 16, 2019, Sunday) — Malaysia is stepping up its oil storage investment programme to compete against Singapore for the role of trading and logistics hub in Southeast Asia….
AUSTRALIA: Government report defends lack of urgency in oil stockbuilding
(EnergyAsia, June 10 2019, Monday) — Australia is in no hurry to build up its liquid fuels stockpile nor does it see the need to expand the country’s inadequate oil refining capacity despite nagging worries of a supply shock if imports are disrupted….
SINGAPORE: Shell expands crude oil storage capacity by 1.3 million barrels
(EnergyAsia, June 7 2019, Friday) — Royal Dutch Shell has expanded its crude oil storage capacity in Singapore by more than 5% to 25.82 million barrels with the addition of two new tanks….
INDIA: Talks with Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi for refinery, storage deals continue at snail’s pace
(EnergyAsia, June 3 2019, Monday) — India’s hopes of securing multi-billion-dollar investments in downstream oil refinery and storage projects from Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi remain stuck in slow-traffic negotiations….
AUSTRALIA: Fossil fuels industry boosted by re-election of Scott Morrison as prime minister
(EnergyAsia, May 29, 2019, Wednesday) — Australia’s fossil fuels industry heaved a collective sigh of relief following the surprise re-election of the climate skeptic and political conservative Scott Morrison as prime minister in the country’s recently concluded general election….
INDIA: Booming economy trumped oil concerns under Modi government’s first term
(EnergyAsia, May 28, 2019, Tuesday) — In his first term as India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi delivered a booming economy and fuelled nationalistic pride….
CHINA: Oil demand growth underestimated by IEA and other agencies, says analyst
(EnergyAsia, May 26, 2019, Sunday) — Oil prices will find support from China for the rest of 2019 if analyst Laban Yu is proved correct that the country’s oil demand growth is much stronger than estimated by the world’s leading energy agencies….
ASIA: Rising US oil exports helping to calm region’s nerves, but for how long?
(EnergyAsia, May 24, 2019, Friday) — Underpinned by Asia’s continuing strong energy appetite, US crude exports surged to a record two million b/d last year from 1.2 million b/d in 2017….
ASIA: Rising US crude exports to partly replace loss of Iran, Venezuela supplies
(EnergyAsia, May 6 2019, Monday) — The United States’s emergence as a leading global crude oil exporter in 2019 will partly help Asia cope with the loss of supply from Iran and Venezuela, two analysts said….
ASIA: Refiners under pressure from “unfavorable” industry fundamentals, says Moody’s
(EnergyAsia, May 2, 2019, Thursday) — Asia’s oil refiners will have to live off meager earnings for the rest of the year due to weak market conditions carried over from 2018, said Moody’s Investor Service….
SOUTH KOREA: Saudi Aramco strengthens grip on North Asian oil market with new refinery stake
(EnergyAsia, April 29 2019, Monday) — Saudi Arabia has taken a firmer grip on the oil markets in northern Asia with the purchase of a share in a second refining company in South Korea….
INDIA: Saudi oil investment within sight, but doubts linger
(EnergyAsia, April 22, 2019, Monday) — Perhaps the biggest litmus test of whether India is truly open for business is whether it will finally secure Saudi Arabia’s investment for its downstream oil sector….
INDIA: International oil companies eye fast-growing fuel market
(EnergyAsia, April 15, 2019, Monday) — Having overtaken China as the world’s fastest growing major economy since 2015, India has also become a huge fuel guzzler….
INDIA: Oil prices holding steady as Modi favoured to win second term as Prime Minister
(EnergyAsia, April 12, 2019, Friday) — The oil markets are once again trading in Narendra Modi’s favour as he bids to win a second term as India’s Prime Minister in the country’s current general election….
SOUTHEAST ASIA: Region’s oil products deficit projected to remain at 1.5 million b/d
(EnergyAsia, April 3, 2019, Wednesday) — Southeast Asia’s oil products deficit will remain substantial at around 1.5 million b/d despite an expected rapid increase in its refining capacity in the coming years….
SINGAPORE: ExxonMobil invests in “multi-billion-dollar expansion” of plant to produce high-value lube base stocks and distillates
(EnergyAsia, April 2, 2019, Tuesday) — US major ExxonMobil has announced a “multi-billion-dollar expansion” of its manufacturing complex in Singapore to produce 20,000 b/d of group 2 lube base stocks and 48,000 b/d of low-sulphur marine fuels….