Analysis Renewable Energy Austerity threatens Egypt’s green energy progress Sprawling over 37 sq km of desert north of Egyptian city of Aswan, the Benban Solar Park is one of the largest photovoltaic power plants in the world. Made up of 41 individual solar plants, the park’s investors boast it can be seen from space. Launched in 2018 and now at 1.8 gigawatt capacity, in […]
Analysis Oil & Gas With or without foreign help, Libya’s 2m-barrel goal looks tough Libya is hoping to double its crude oil production over the next three to five years, but analysts have warned that a lack of investment and the political crisis that has led to the country having two rival governments are jeopardising those plans. The country’s National Oil Corporation (LNOC) announced in June that it would […]
Opinion Oil & Gas Abu Dhabi bets big on LNG Adnoc will soon have access to about 21m tonnes of liquefied natural gas a year
Analysis Renewable Energy Saudi summons energy to unearth geothermal potential A Saudi Arabian university has completed drilling a research well as the kingdom steps up efforts to harness its geothermal potential – which industry experts estimate could free up to 1 million barrels of oil a day for export. The 400m deep observation well was drilled by a team from King Abdullah University of Science […]
Analysis Oil & Gas Gulf oil producers anticipate peak in Chinese demand In any discussion of the outlook for oil prices, Chinese demand always features largely. For the Gulf this is particularly crucial. China is the main off-taker of Saudi, Iraqi, Omani, UAE and Kuwaiti crudes. At the weekend, Opec+ again committed to rolling over oil supply cuts to support crude prices but analysts say its efforts […]
Renewable Energy Masdar buys stake in Spanish utilities company Endesa The UAE’s state-owned clean energy company Masdar has agreed to acquire a minority stake in Spanish electric utility business Endesa to partner for 2.5 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy assets in Spain. Under the agreement, subject to regulatory approval, Masdar will invest nearly $890 million to acquire a 49.99 percent stake in Endesa, with an […] July 26, 2024
Analysis Renewable Energy Kuwait playing catch-up with ambitious green energy plans Kuwait, Opec’s fifth-largest oil producer but long a laggard in the energy transition, is taking steps to catch up with its neighbouring Gulf states and ease reliance on falling oil revenues. State-owned Kuwait Oil Company last week mandated KBR, the US oilfield services company, to develop a master plan to produce 17 gigawatts (GW) of […] July 26, 2024
Renewable Energy Abu Dhabi seeks developers for greenfield power storage project State-owned Emirates Water and Electricity Company has requested proposals from 27 qualified companies and consortiums to develop a greenfield 400-megawatt battery energy storage system project in Abu Dhabi. The request for proposals is being issued to bidders who passed the qualification process following the expression of interest in April 2024. A total of 93 companies […] July 26, 2024
Oil & Gas Opec quotas force Iraq, Russia and Kazakhstan oil cuts Opec+ members that have failed to comply with output cuts, including Iraq, Russia and Kazakhstan, have agreed to reduce their production in the coming months to compensate for breaking agreed quotas. The combined overproduction from the three members totalled 2.3 million barrels per day (bpd) during the first half of the year, according to an […] July 25, 2024
Oil & Gas Israel to develop more natural gas exports UK oil and gas company Energean has agreed the $1.2 billion development of the Katlan offshore gas field in Israel, with output set to start in the first half of 2027. The production will underpin Energean’s existing gas sales agreements with Israeli clients and target international markets. Katlan – owned and operated by Energean – […] July 24, 2024
Energy Adnoc and Borouge explore chemicals complex in China The UAE’s oil giant Adnoc and Borouge, one of its Abu Dhabi-listed subsidiaries, is exploring the potential of developing a speciality thermoplastics complex in China. A consortium, which includes Adnoc, Borouge and Borealis, signed a project collaboration agreement with China’s Wanhua Chemical and Wanrong New Materials (Fujian), a wholly owned subsidiary of Wanhua Chemical. Borealis […] July 24, 2024
Oil & Gas Analysts optimistic on oil but the price stays steady Global hedge funds and money managers have become increasingly optimistic about the short term outlook for oil prices in recent months, despite the oil price remaining flat at around $80 a barrel. The net length held by hedge funds and other money managers in WTI (West Texas Intermediate) futures and options has risen to its […] July 23, 2024
Oil & Gas Aramco to make $2bn gas expansion at Jafurah Saudi Aramco is planning to build three new gas compression plants at the Jafurah field for $2.2 billion as part of its strategic gas program expansion. The world’s largest oil producer has signed a letter of intent with a joint venture owned 60 percent by Spanish contractor Técnicas Reunidas and 40 percent by China’s state-owned Sinopec. The deal […] July 23, 2024
Energy Gas flaring to end in next five years, says Iraq Iraq has confirmed it will halt all gas flaring activities in the next five years. Investment is being made through several projects in the southern region of Basra, where production capacities have been increased, the state-run Iraqi News Agency reported, quoting the assistant director general for technical affairs for the Southern Gas Company, Majid Al-Shawaf. […] July 22, 2024
Banking & Finance BlackRock-led investors to refinance Aramco Pipelines stake Investors in Saudi Aramco’s gas pipeline network, led by BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, are planning to issue $3 billion in bonds to refinance a loan that backed their purchase of a stake in the network. The consortium of investors took a $13.4 billion bridge loan in 2021 to acquire a 49 percent stake […] July 19, 2024
Oil & Gas QatarEnergies buys into Suriname oil expansion The state-owned giant QatarEnergy has signed a deal with US oil company Chevron to acquire a 20 percent interest in a production-sharing contract for an offshore concession in the South American country of Suriname. Chevron will keep a 40 percent interest in Surname’s block 5, as will Paradise Oil, an affiliate of Suriname’s national oil […] July 19, 2024
Analysis Energy Middle East needs stronger policies to expand carbon capture A lack of firm policy, regulatory frameworks and funding is limiting carbon capture capacity development in the Middle East and Africa, according to an industry expert. Carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) involves separating out the carbon dioxide created in industrial processes, then treating it and using in other processes or storing it. Globally CCUS […] July 19, 2024
Finance Masdar taps green debt market to finance expansion Masdar, the UAE’s state-backed clean energy company, has raised $1 billion through its second green bond issuance, made up of dual tranches of $500 million each. The bonds are part of a larger programme to raise up to $3 billion to fund its renewables projects. The bonds, of five and 10 years, met strong appetite […] July 18, 2024
Energy Acwa Power gets Chinese partner for Uzbek green projects The Saudi renewable energy company Acwa Power has divested a 35 percent stake in two subsidiaries to a state-backed power grid contractor in China for SAR596 million ($159 million). Acwa Power signed sale and purchase agreements for the stake in Acwa Power Bash Wind Project Holding and Acwa Power Uzbekistan Wind Project Holding to China […] July 18, 2024
Opinion Renewable Energy Oman is on a steady path to a hydrogen-powered future The sultanate is off to a roaring start – now it needs to stay on course July 17, 2024
Economy IMF lowers Saudi growth forecast over oil output cuts The International Monetary Fund has lowered its forecast for economic growth in Saudi Arabia by almost an entire percentage point, as cuts in oil production continue to weigh heavily on the kingdom’s economy. In its World Economic Outlook Update, the IMF reduced its forecast for Saudi GDP growth to 1.7 percent for this year, down […] July 17, 2024
Energy Saudi Aramco bolsters blue hydrogen portfolio Saudi Aramco has acquired a 50 percent stake in Jubail-based Blue Hydrogen Industrial Gases Company (BHIG), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Air Products Qudra. No financial details were disclosed. The transaction, subject to standard closing conditions, includes options for the oil giant to offtake hydrogen and nitrogen. The remaining 50 percent will be owned by APQ, […] July 17, 2024
Renewable Energy PIF ties up with China to meet renewable energy targets Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is swiftly moving towards localising renewable energy components to achieve its 2030 targets. The Renewable Energy Localization Company (RELC), a unit of the sovereign fund, has signed three joint venture agreements with Chinese companies to support the kingdom’s clean energy needs. RELC works to build partnerships between global manufacturers […] July 17, 2024
Oil & Gas Italy’s Saipem awarded Aramco contracts worth $500m Saipem, an Italian oil services company, has been awarded contracts for two offshore projects worth $500 million from Saudi Aramco as part of its existing long-term agreement with the Saudi oil giant. The first project’s work scope involves engineering, procurement, construction and installation of a crude trunkline for the Abu Safa field. The second project involves […] July 16, 2024
Energy Adnoc Gas awards $550m Northern Emirates pipeline contract Adnoc Gas has awarded a $550 million engineering procurement and construction contract for the next phase of Estidama, its natural gas pipeline network project. It has also transferred the ownership of Estidama, worth $2.4 billion, to its parent company, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. The contract, awarded to NMDC Energy of Abu Dhabi and Galfar […] July 15, 2024
