Energy Taqa’s capex rises 60% amid new projects Capital expenditure of Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (Taqa) rose by nearly two-thirds to more than AED9 billion ($2.5 billion) in 2024 due to the construction of new projects in the UAE. The spend was primarily focused on the Mirfa 2 and Shuweihat 4 reverse osmosis desalination projects, the company said in a filing to […] February 13, 2025
Oil & Gas Trans-Sahara gas pipeline project back on the table A multi-billion dollar trans-Sahara gas pipeline project dating back more than half a century has been revived after a meeting between the oil ministers of Algeria, Nigeria and Niger. The ministers held talks in the Algerian capital, Algiers, on Tuesday to discuss the resurrection of the Trans-Sahara Gas Pipeline. This involves the construction of a […] February 13, 2025
Oil & Gas Iraq-Turkmenistan gas deal unlikely to happen A gas supply agreement signed by Iraq and Turkmenistan in 2023 may never begin because of challenges with transiting the gas through neighbouring Iran, Iraqi analysts say. The deal was for nearly 20 million cubic metres of natural gas per day to supply Iraq’s power facilities, but Iraq and Turkmenistan do not share a border. […] February 13, 2025
Analysis Energy Oman advances liquefied hydrogen export project While countries in the Gulf have big ambitions for hydrogen projects, they are still trying to work out how to export it. Oman, however, is advancing plans to establish what it says is the world’s first commercial scale liquid hydrogen “corridor” to export to Europe green hydrogen produced domestically. Usually, producers think about transforming it […] February 13, 2025
Oil & Gas Opec sticks to growth forecasts despite Trump policies Opec on Wednesday stuck to its forecast for relatively strong growth in global oil demand in 2025, saying air and road travel would support consumption and potential trade tariffs were not expected to impact economic growth. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, in a monthly report, said world oil demand will rise by 1.45 […] February 13, 2025
Oil & Gas Marine fuel sales in Fujairah revive on Red Sea diversions Global marine fuel sales jumped in 2024 after attacks by Yemen’s Houthis starting in late 2023 prompted most shipping companies to divert vessels around southern Africa rather than through the Red Sea, according to data and analysts. Singapore bunker volumes logged fresh highs of 54.92 million tonnes in 2024, or about 955,000 barrels per day (bpd), while […] February 13, 2025
Energy Kuwait plans new power projects to avert supply gap Kuwait is planning a series of new power projects to avert an electricity supply crisis during the hot summer months when demand peaks, the Opec member’s minister of electricity, water and renewable energy has said. Minister Mahmoud Abdulaziz Mahmoud Bushehri, quoted by the Kuwaiti daily Alseyassah on Tuesday, said power consumption next summer will surpass […] February 12, 2025
Energy NMDC Group to pay $191m dividend as revenue rises The board of Abu Dhabi’s NMDC Group has recommended paying a cash dividend of AED701 million ($191 million) after revenues surged 57 percent year on year to AED 26 billion in 2024, according to UAE state-owned Wam news agency. The payout is subject to shareholders’ approval. If approved, the group’s dividend yield will reach 13 […] February 12, 2025
Economy Iraq risks higher budget deficit after oil sales fall short Iraq’s budget deficit could be higher than forecast after the Opec member reported $92 billion in oil exports — less than expected — for the first 11 months of last of year. In June its parliament approved 2024 spending of around $163 billion, with revenue forecast at nearly $123 billion. This left a budget deficit […] February 11, 2025
Exclusive Energy Adnoc Distribution to spend billions on M&A deals Adnoc Distribution, the UAE’s largest fuel and convenience retailer, is looking to deploy $2 billion in potential mergers and acquisitions in the Middle East and beyond, a senior executive has told AGBI. Athmane Benzerroug, Adnoc Distribution’s chief strategy, transformation & sustainability officer, said on Tuesday that with a free cash flow of more than $700 […] February 11, 2025
Oil & Gas Adnoc to sign LNG deal with India’s BPCL State-run Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) will supply 2.5 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to India’s Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) under a new five-year deal, sources with knowledge of the matter have said. Indian’s state refiner will receive 40 cargos of LNG under the five-year contract with supplies beginning in April. In […] February 11, 2025
Energy Dewa’s 2024 revenue hits $8bn on rising demand Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa), which trades on the Dubai Financial Market, said revenue hit an all-time high of AED31 billion ($8 billion), rising 6 percent annually, thanks to growing demand for electricity, water and cooling. As a result, net profit jumped 6 percent year on year to AED16 billion. Clean power accounted for […] February 11, 2025
Oil & Gas Pakistan weighs revising terms of Qatar LNG deal Pakistan’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) pact with Qatar allows for either party to initiate renegotiation talks next year but no decision has been taken on whether to do this, Pakistan’s petroleum minister told Reuters. Musadik Malik was clarifying comments made to a parliamentary committee on energy, as reported in local newspaper The News, which had […] February 10, 2025
Oil & Gas Iraq to stop taking Iranian gas by 2028 Iraq will phase out gas imports from neighboring Iran within three years because of persistent supply disruptions. It will instead increasingly rely on more domestic production to fuel its power stations, and electricity from other neighbours including Saudi Arabia and Jordan. Mohammed Al-Sudani, the Iraqi prime minister, said Iraq’s decision to end Iranian imports in […] February 7, 2025
Oil & Gas Adnoc Gas dividend unchanged despite record profit Adnoc Gas, which is traded on the Abu Dhabi stock exchange, left its 2024 fiscal-year dividend commitment unchanged, despite record profits. The gas-processing company, which is majority owned by national hydrocarbon producer Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), said it confirms its commitment to a 2024 dividend payout of $3.41 billion, of which $1.71 billion […] February 6, 2025
Oil & Gas Opec oil cuts push Oman’s revenue down $1.7bn Oman’s adherence to Opec+ voluntary oil production cuts resulted in revenue from the sector falling by an average of $4.6 million a day last year. The country’s average daily crude oil production fell 5.4 percent in 2024 to 992,600 barrels per day (bpd), figures from the National Center of Statistical Information show. The average price […] February 6, 2025
Opinion Trade US trade bravado hides a cautious stance on China Presidents Trump and Xi are going through the motions February 6, 2025
Renewable Energy Al Maktoum Solar Park expands for Dubai’s 2050 energy goals Dubai is working on the sixth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park – the largest single-site solar park in the world – as it works toward its 2050 energy diversity target. The emirate launched the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy in November 2015, with the aim of producing 75 percent of its […] February 6, 2025
Oil & Gas Aramco raises prices as demand from Asia grows Saudi Aramco, the world’s leading oil exporter, has sharply increased crude prices for March shipments to buyers in Asia. Demand from China and India is rising as US sanctions disrupt Russian supply. Aramco raised the official selling price for flagship Arab Light crude by $2.40 to $3.90 per barrel above the Oman/Dubai benchmark average, Saudi […] February 6, 2025
Economy EU’s $323m grant to support Turkey’s green transition The European Union (EU) will provide a $322.8 million grant to Turkey to bolster the country’s green and digital transformation drive. The European bloc has provided over €780 million ($810 million) to support Turkey’s green transformation, Jurgis Vilcinskas, deputy head of mission of the EU delegation to Turkey, told the state-run Anadolu Agency. The grant […] February 6, 2025
Oil & Gas Algeria and Egypt lead Arab LNG export decline Total Arab exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) fell last year, led by drops in Algeria and Egypt. Algeria was doing maintenance work on gas facilities and Egypt was diverting gas to meet domestic summer demand. Arab exports of the gas declined by 3 percent from 112 million tonnes in 2023 to 108.6 million tonnes […] February 5, 2025
Oil & Gas Oman invites bids for 3 onshore oil and gas blocks Oman’s energy ministry has invited investors to bid for three oil and gas concessions. The onshore concessions – Block 36, Block 43A and Block 66 – are close to the sites of previous successful explorations. Scotiabank has been listed as the point of contact for potential investors. The concessions will bring in much needed revenue […] February 5, 2025
