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[waldron] 15/10/2021 17:39

Engie-led team signs new documents for Gulf of Suez II wind farm

Published 15 October 2021 Last Updated 15 Oct 2021 14:32


James Hebert



An Engie-led consortium has signed a second set of project documents for the $560 million, 500MW Gulf of Suez II wind farm in Ras Ghareb with the EETC

[grupo guitarlumber] 15/10/2021 10:05

[France] ENGIE (ENGI)

Real-time Quote. Real-time Euronext Paris - 10/15 11:03:00 am

11.442 EUR -0.88%

[waldron] 13/10/2021 17:59

French energy company Spie climbed 8.5% after withdrawing from a race to buy utility company Engie’s services unit.

[waldron] 13/10/2021 11:57

Engie, Currenta sign PPA for 50 GWh of wind energy in Germany
Image by Engie Deutschland.

October 13 (Renewables Now) - French energy group Engie SA (EPA:ENGI) has agreed to supply 50 GWh of electricity from its wind parks in Germany to Leverkusen-based chemical park operator Currenta GmbH & Co. OHG within 16 months under a power purchase agreement (PPA).

The electricity will come from three wind parks in Germany, ensuring their operation after the expiry of the feed-in tariffs under the EEG, Engie said on Tuesday.

Currenta will use the green electricity from the region to supply its own e-charging stations and the charging infrastructure of its customers. The agreed amount would be enough for an electric car to go around the world 9,000 times.

The agreement is in line with Currenta's sustainability strategy. The chemical park operator already uses electrode boilers for flexible heat production along with its gas-fired combined heat and power systems, thus supporting the expansion of renewables in the region, said Hans-Joerg Preisigke, head of Energy Policy at Currenta.

Currenta operates three chemical parks in the cities of Leverkusen, Dormagen and Krefeld which are home to more than 70 industrial companies.

[waldron] 13/10/2021 06:55

NEXT DIVIDEND MID MAY 2022 APPROX

[gibbs1] 11/10/2021 09:04

Engie delivers energy savings worth $23.8m in GCC
KUWAIT, 2 hours, 5 minutes ago
Engie Solutions, an international leader in sustainable energy solutions, has delivered energy savings worth an estimated $23.8 million to its GCC-based clients since 2014, it has announced.

The company said that it had helped business and industry in the region reduce their electricity demand by a combined 190 gigawatt-hours (GWh), displacing an estimated 101,242 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, the equivalent of removing more than 22,000 cars from the roads.

Meanwhile, with Kuwait pledging to reduce its residential and industrial power demand by 10%, while increasing the share of renewables in its power mix to 15% by 2030, Yassine Lafhail, General Manager of Engie Solutions Kuwait, said the company is committed to helping the country realise its Vision 2035 sustainable development strategy. Mitigating Kuwait’s high per-capita power consumption is key, he added.

“Ventilation, air-conditioning and lighting systems account for around 85% of the energy consumed by buildings at the height of summer in Kuwait, and as much as 60% of the construction sector’s total energy consumption. However, installing energy-efficient systems requires significant investment,” Lafhail said.

“One way to help organisations transition to lower-carbon operating models is to provide turnkey solutions that cater to their specific needs, build in the necessary financing, and invest on their behalf.”

Engie Solutions currently manages more than 200 projects across the GCC, spanning 500 million square metres in total. In Kuwait, the company has recently delivered integrated facilities management and energy efficiency projects for Taiba Hospital, Azzour North Power Plant and the Plot 40 shopping complex, in addition to delivering projects for several five-star hotels and one of the region’s largest banks.

Engie Solutions Kuwait was the first energy solutions specialist in the country to launch an energy management team dedicated to both retrofitting existing infrastructure and designing new energy efficiency systems – paid for with the savings they generate.

One of these projects was the Green Mosques pilot project delivered in partnership with the National Technology Enterprises Company (NTEC), and inaugurated by the undersecretaries of the Ministry of Awqaf and the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewables. The project reduced the energy consumption of the three mosques by a third.

Lafhail said the company is actively raising awareness of the business case for greater investment in building energy efficiency, through regular workshops in partnership with the Ministry of Electricity and Water, training in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth, and various local CSR initiatives.

Digitalisation will be a crucial driver of energy efficiency in the future, enabling hydrocarbons-dependent countries such as Kuwait to diversify their economies in the future.

Engie Solutions is investing heavily in artificial intelligence and other digital solutions to improve the performance, reliability and measurement of its energy solutions, Lafhail added.

“Advances in AI, blockchain and the Internet of Things can unlock substantial additional savings for clients, for example by helping them to predict precisely when and where building maintenance is needed. At Engie Solutions, we have been actively developing these solutions to help safeguard the long-term value of our clients’ assets, in Kuwait and countries across the region.”-- TradeArabia News Service

[waldron] 10/10/2021 16:04

Europe Desperately Needs To Diversify Its Energy Supply
By Stuart Burns - Oct 10, 2021, 10:00 AM CDT

Rising energy prices have fueled inflation that was already being stoked by commodity price increase and supply chain problems for much of this year.
Thermal coal prices have risen to record levels, threatening to impact GDP growth in China and India as a result of electricity rationing.
Europe’s energy markets are particularly exposed to supply disruptions despite supposedly being highly integrated.

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We have written twice over the last week concerning the energy crunch, first in China and then in India.

Thermal coal prices have risen to record levels, threatening to impact GDP growth as a result of electricity rationing.

The Financial Times observes that China has suffered a triple whammy of emissions restrictions on power generation, a shortage of coal, and price caps on electricity that mean demand is unaffected as input costs have risen. India, which relies heavily on coal for its thermal power plant, is facing tight supplies and record prices. Nationally, it has only four days of stocks left.
Europe energy costs on the rise

But energy — whether it is in the form of coal, natural gas or oil — is a global commodity. Both Europe and the U.S. find themselves with their own set of challenges, more skewed to the tight natural gas market and rising global oil prices.

The U.K. is not alone but is possibly the most acutely exposed to Europe’s reliance on imported natural gas, particularly from Russia.

U.S. gas contracts for November delivery surged nearly 40% this week to hit £4 per therm (having started 2021 below 50p).

But a surprise announcement by Vladimir Putin yesterday saying Russia was prepared to increase supplies to stabilize prices prompted a sharp sell-off, sending the price down to £2.87.

Whether it stays there will depend in large part on whether Russia can honor that commitment in the months ahead. Russian state gas supplier Gazprom has come under intense criticism for deliberately shipping to no more than its minimal contractual obligations this year. The reality is Russia’s own inventory levels are also depleted after a harsh winter.

Related: WTI Oil Price Breaks $80 For The First Time Since 2014

It is probably fair to say Europe’s energy markets are particularly exposed to supply disruptions despite supposedly being highly integrated.

Many large industrial consumers have complained that the E.U.’s Green Deal to make the bloc climate neutral by 2050 will only push up energy prices further. In turn, that could ultimately lead to social unrest. For example, high energy prices resulted in the French “gilets jaunes,” or yellow vests, demonstrations in 2018-2019.
Inflation, energy cost impacts

Rising energy prices have fueled inflation that was already being stoked by commodity price increase and supply chain problems for much of this year. Rising energy costs and inflation have been contributing factors in the August fall in German industrial orders. Orders fell 7.7%, a far sharper fall then economists had expected.

Meanwhile, rising energy costs have prompted the closure of large energy consumers across Europe, such as ammonia and fertilizer production. Meanwhile, in the U.S., oil prices this week hit the highest level in seven years after OPEC+ decided to maintain current production levels, which will see a planned increase of just 400,000 barrels a day from November.

U.S. administrators have talked about release from the strategic petroleum reserve and even limits or a ban on U.S. exports of crude oil to limit domestic oil price rises. The average price of gas at the pump has reached $3.19 a gallon, the highest in seven years.

The U.S. economy does not appear to be unduly hindered by the price rises yet. The private sector added a higher-than-expected 568,000 jobs in September, the biggest rise in three months. However, with midterm elections next year, high gas prices will not go down well with voters.
Looking ahead

Buyers of European components may expect to see some inflation in prices this year and next. Cost increases are coming, not just from metal prices but energy, wage costs and continuing logistics delays in Europe.

It is to be hoped the continent copes through this winter and cost increases do not derail the recovery. While manufacturers have been riding a wave of unprecedented demand recovery, it should not be mistaken as unstoppable.

A number of factors are converging to push up costs while potentially dampening demand. That makes a toxic mix for a still-fragile recovery.

By Stuart Burns via AG Metal Miner

More Top Reads from Oilprice.com:

[waldron] 06/10/2021 21:12

Source: ENGIE | 14 hours ago
ENGIE Energy Access empowers 6.5 Million Africans with Clean Energy via smart integration of Mini-grids and new Solar Home System brand

1.3 million people connected to decentralized power; Across 9 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa; Impacting 6.5 million lives

PARIS, France, October 6, 2021/APO Group/ --

ENGIE Energy Access (EEA) (www.ENGIE-Africa.com) is delighted to announce that within 1 year of integrating its decentralized energy businesses, it has considerably expanded its customer base and is now delivering safe and reliable solar energy to 6.5 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa.

EEA has acquired approximately 200,000 new customers across its 9 markets of operation in Africa throughout 2021, despite the challenges that COVID-19 created – bringing its customer base to more than 1.3 million. Key 2021 milestones achieved to date include a growth in customers in Uganda to 600,000, Zambia to 250,000, Benin to 150,000, and Mozambique to 50,000.

In April 2021, EEA began gradually rolling out its new solar home system (SHS) customer brand, MySol, replacing the Fenix Power and Mobisol brands. With MySol, EEA offers the widest range of PAYGo SHS throughout Africa and caters to all kinds of customers, from off-grid families lighting up with clean energy for the first time, to entrepreneurs running businesses of all sizes.

We have widened our approach from inclusiveness, to dedicating more efforts into productive usage

EEA has equipped 13 villages with its ENGIE PowerCorner mini-grids to date, comprising 3,000 households and 200 businesses. In the past year, it has successfully strengthened the mini-grid pipeline, securing over 180 additional projects – including 60 mini-grids approved in Zambia and 11 more in Benin. EEA is focused on continuing to build out the pipeline with 3 mini-grids under construction in Benin, Nigeria and Uganda, and more pilots on the way.

“I am pleased with the excellent results we have achieved within the first year of integrating our decentralized energy solutions companies. We have strengthened synergies between our solar home system and mini-grid businesses by decreasing costs, gaining in operational efficiencies and relying on strong digital tools, such as our PAYGo platform,” said Gillian-Alexandre Huart, CEO of ENGIE Energy Access.

“We have widened our approach from inclusiveness, to dedicating more efforts into productive usage. We are now at a stage where we provide a full range of complementary solutions: strong SHS offerings and a continuously expanding mini-grid business that is instrumental to reaching higher tier capacities and offering higher tier services. I am confident that we are well on track to impacting 20 million lives by 2025.”

Achieving access to larger funding will be key to EEA meeting its ambitious mission of impacting 20 million lives by 2025. EEA reached its first million customers in part due to the support of partners such as the European Union, and the Swedish and US governments.

Universal electrification is the seventh of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that the global community has committed to achieve by 2030. ENGIE is confident that universal access to energy is achievable in the foreseeable future, through smart investments in a combination of national grid extension, solar home systems and mini-grids.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of ENGIE.

ENGIE Energy Access empowers 6.5 Million Africans with Clean Energy via smart integration of Mini-grids and new Solar Home System brand (1)



ENGIE Energy Access press contact:
[e-mail]

About ENGIE Energy Access:

ENGIE Energy Access is one of the leading Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGo) and mini-grids solutions providers in Africa, with a mission to deliver affordable, reliable and sustainable energy solutions and life-changing services with exceptional customer experience. The company is a result of the integration of Fenix International, ENGIE Mobisol and ENGIE PowerCorner. It develops innovative, off-grid solar solutions for homes, public services and businesses, enabling customers and distribution partners access to clean, affordable energy. The PAYGo solar home systems are financed through installments from $0.19 per day and the mini-grids foster economic development by enabling electrical productive use and triggering business opportunities for entrepreneurs in rural communities. With over 1,700 employees, operations in 9 countries across Africa (Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia), over 1.3 million customers and 6.5 million lives impacted so far, ENGIE Energy Access aims to remain the leading clean energy company, serving millions of customers across Africa by 2025. For more, please visit

[waldron] 05/10/2021 16:15

John Harrington

16:11 Tue 05 Oct 2021

Gas prices continue to soar as increased demands drains inventories

Natural gas is trading above US$215 per barrel of oil equivalent
gas tank

Wholesale gas prices are going through the roof as a result of increased demand from economies getting back on their feet after the pandemic.

The benchmark Dutch TTF gas future contract (for November) was up 25% on Tuesday at US$120.63 per megawatt-hour, up more than 250% during 2021. UK gas for November delivery is currently trading at US$286 a therm, compared to around US$100 towards the end of July.

As a result of increased demand, stockpiles in Europe are running low, particularly in the UK, and producers are struggling to replenish supplies; some power plants have switched from using natural gas to oil to produce energy as a result of supply constraints.

Natural gas is trading above US$215 per barrel of oil equivalent; oil – the real stuff (specifically Brent crude for December delivery) is trading at US$82.91 a barrel.

“Surging gas and power prices have also been felt outside Europe with hot weather-related demand not being met by a similar response from producers. Add to this the worst quarter for wind power generation in years, and the pressure on traditional fuels such as gas and even coal has been elevated,” said Ole Hansen, the head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank.

“As a result, we are heading into the northern hemisphere winter with stock levels, both in the US and especially in Europe, well below the average seen in recent years. If not arrested by a milder than normal winter or increased flows, either from LNG [liquefied natural gas] or from Russia through the soon-to-open Nord Stream 2 pipeline, a bleak—and expensive—winter could await Europe’s consumers and energy-heavy industries,” Hansen warned.

Proactiveinvestors

[waldron] 05/10/2021 15:36

Nord Stream 2 AG Appeals Against Court Decision Not to Exempt Pipeline From EU Gas Directive

5 hours ago (Updated: 5 hours ago)

05.10.2021

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Nord Stream 2 AG has appealed against the Dusseldorf court decision not to exempt the Nord Stream 2 pipeline from the European Union’s gas directive, the operator said on Tuesday.

"We confirm that Nord Stream 2, in compliance with the deadlines, filed an appeal against the decision of the Supreme Regional Court of Dusseldorf of 25 August 2021 to the Federal Supreme Court of Germany," the pipeline’s operator company said.

Nord Stream 2 is a joint venture of Gazprom, Royal Dutch Shell, OMV, Engie, Uniper, and Wintershall. The project is designed to carry natural gas from Russia to Germany beneath the Baltic Sea. On 10 September, Russia's Gazprom announced that the construction of the pipeline was completed.

The pipeline is expected to supply up to 1.9 trillion cubic feet of gas per year from Russia to Germany.

The United States has opposed the project, promoting its liquefied natural gas in Europe. In July, Berlin and Washington struck a deal to pave the way for the completion of the pipeline, without the threat of US sanctions.

[sarkasm] 04/10/2021 16:44

Engie, partners cut ribbon on 20.3-MWp PV park in Ile-de-France


October 4 (Renewables Now) - French energy group Engie SA (EPA:ENGI) and its partners on Monday inaugurated a 20.3-MWp photovoltaic (PV) solar farm, described as the largest in the Paris-centred Ile-de-France region.

Engie built the facility together with the Intercommunal Syndicate for Gas and Electricity in Ile-de-France (SIGEIF) and the town of Marcoussis, located in the southern suburbs of Paris.

Featuring more than 58,000 panels, the solar farm is situated on a site covered with backfill from the construction of the LGV Atlantique high-speed rail line. It is expected to generate 21,000 MWh a year, equivalent to the annual power demand of a town of 10,000 people, according to the announcement.

The project, a winner in a call for tenders by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition, represented an investment of EUR 18.8 million (USD 21.8m) co-financed through a special purpose vehicle with participation of SIGEIF (20%), Engie (60%) and citizen crowdfunding (20%).

“ENGIE, the leading developer of renewable energy in France with 75% renewables in its energy mix, is the leader in solar power in France, with the 1.3 GW that we are building and operating today,” said Engie chief executive Catherine MacGregor.

Engie has 7.9 GW of renewables capacity in France, including 1.3 GW solar, 2.7 GW wind and 3.9 GW hydropower.

The inauguration was attended by the Minister for the Ecological Transition, Barbara Pompili.

(EUR 1 = USD 1.160)

[sarkasm] 04/10/2021 16:40

First string of Nord Stream 2 is being filled with gas

Source : 112 Ukraine

The string will be gradually filled with gas to reach the volume and pressure necessary for further technical testing

19:04, 4 October 2021

Nord Stream 2

The procedure has started with the gas pack of the first string of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline on October 4 as Nord-stream2 reported.

The string will be packed with gas gradually to reach the volume and pressure necessary for further technical testing.


Besides, the pre-commissioning activities were held to assure the pipeline integrity, including the inspection inside the pipe with the use of the special diagnostic tools, as well as external visual and tools’ check.

As it was reported earlier, the construction of the Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline was completely finished as of the morning of September 10.


Meanwhile, at the opening of the gas market on October 1, the gas price in Europe reached 100 euros per megawatt/h, or 1,197 U.S. dollars per 1,000 cubic meters.

A group of over 40 MEPs is demanding that the European Commission urgently investigate Gazprom's manipulation and blackmail.

[sarkasm] 04/10/2021 16:39

First string of Nord Stream 2 is being filled with gas

Source : 112 Ukraine

The string will be gradually filled with gas to reach the volume and pressure necessary for further technical testing

19:04, 4 October 2021

Nord Stream 2

The procedure has started with the gas pack of the first string of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline on October 4 as Nord-stream2 reported.

The string will be packed with gas gradually to reach the volume and pressure necessary for further technical testing.


Besides, the pre-commissioning activities were held to assure the pipeline integrity, including the inspection inside the pipe with the use of the special diagnostic tools, as well as external visual and tools’ check.

As it was reported earlier, the construction of the Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline was completely finished as of the morning of September 10.


Meanwhile, at the opening of the gas market on October 1, the gas price in Europe reached 100 euros per megawatt/h, or 1,197 U.S. dollars per 1,000 cubic meters.

A group of over 40 MEPs is demanding that the European Commission urgently investigate Gazprom's manipulation and blackmail.

[waldron] 03/10/2021 11:34

gxgxx
3 Oct '21 - 10:29 - 3289 of 3289
0 0 0
The global energy crisis is intensifying, hammering the shares of companies that consume a lot of power and sending the stocks of those that produce it soaring.

Economic recovery from the pandemic has boosted demand for gas and coal but their supplies have not been able to keep up. With the northern hemisphere winter on the horizon and China -- the world’s biggest electricity user -- ordering state-owned energy firms to secure supplies at all costs, investors are in a race to pick the winners and losers.

A key measure of international energy producers, led by names including Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. and ConocoPhillips, has rallied almost 10% over the past month. Utilities stocks have gone into reverse, wiping out this year’s gains, with materials companies joining them among the biggest laggards on the MSCI World Index.

“The energy crisis can exist for the next several years. I think a super cycle in energy has started and will continue for several years," said Sumeet Rohra, a fund manager at Smartsun Capital Pte. in Singapore. “Energy stocks are very well poised to generate big returns."

China’s factory sector contracted in September for the first time since the pandemic began, thanks to power cuts that have affected regions making up more than two-thirds of the nation’s gross domestic product. The energy crunch has also reportedly halted production at suppliers of global tech giants such as Apple Inc. and Tesla Inc.

Meanwhile, European inventories of natural gas are running low as economies come out of the pandemic lockdown and the White House has expressed concern about the jump in oil prices.

Here is a guide to how the crisis is playing out in equities market:

Energy Producers

Companies that produce gas, oil and coal are set to continue benefiting as winter approaches and demand rises.

Royal Dutch Shell Plc, TotalEnergies SE, Eni SpA, and BP Plc are among big European names that may rally further. In Asia, traders have their eyes on companies including Woodside Petroleum Ltd., Petronas Gas Bhd., Inpex Corp., Oil and Natural Gas Corp. and Reliance Industries Ltd.

“It is not just about a short term supply-demand imbalance," said Gary Dugan, chief executive officer of the Global CIO Office. “The energy crunch is very concerning as it leads to the worst case scenario for markets -- that of stagflation," he said, referring to a situation in which economic growth stalls while inflation and unemployment rise.

If the current tightness in the gas market endures into next year, then Total could see 2022 earnings boosted by 18% and Eni by 12%, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. analysts including Lilia Peytavin wrote in a note last week.

Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Talon Custer said U.S. exporters of liquefied natural gas, such as Cheniere Energy Inc. and Sempra Energy, appear well positioned in an LNG market that should stay extremely tight through the winter.

Exxon Mobil Corp. said on Sept. 30 that elevated gas prices will boost its third quarter profit by about $700 million.

A three-year-high in oil prices also helps Exxon, and should keep others such as Schlumberger Ltd., ConocoPhillips and Halliburton Co. on the radar of traders.

In contrast, gas distributors such as China Gas Holdings Ltd., Hong Kong and China Gas Co., Kunlun Energy Co, and Indraprastha Gas Ltd. may face margin pressure if they are not allowed to pass on rising input costs.

Amid surging prices of coal, key stocks to watch are Arch Resources Inc. and Peabody Energy Corp. in the U.S., Glencore Plc. in Europe, and China Shenhua Energy Co., China Coal Energy Co., Adaro Energy Tbk, Whitehaven Coal Ltd. as well as Coal India Ltd. in Asia.

Materials & Metals

While rising power prices hurt all users, it is particularly acute for energy-intensive materials and metal companies.

In Asia, these stocks include Aluminum Corporation of China Ltd., Baoshan Iron & Steel Co., Angang Steel Co., China National Chemical Engineering Co. and Zhejiang Longsheng Group Co.

European construction material maker Sika AG also fits the mold, as does steelmaker ArcelorMittal and cement producer Holcim Ltd. In the U.S., steel producer Nucor Corp. and paint maker Sherwin-Williams Co. may be focus.

Bank of America Corp. analysts see input-cost headwinds for Indian cement makers such as UltraTech Cement, Shree Cement Ltd. and companies in the paint sector.

Power Utilities

Many government-backed electricity providers are likely to face margin pressure while those that are less regulated or independent have a better chance profiting from higher electricity prices.

Barclays Plc.’s analysts including Peter Crampton expect further strength in power prices to create winners in less heavily regulated northern Europe. They identified Electricite de France, Engie SA, Fortum Oyj and RWE AG. The analysts expect significant earnings-per-share upgrades, particularly for EDF, and raised their 2021 and 2022 estimates by 82% and 61%, respectively.

The most visible signs of stock market distress so far have been in southern Europe’s heavily regulated utilities. Iberdrola SA and Endesa SA shares are both trading at their lowest levels in more than last year.

In Asia, potential losers include Korea Electric Power Co., Tokyo Electric Power Co. and India’s NTPC Ltd. In the U.S., companies such as Southern Co., American Electric Power Co. and Duke Energy Corp. could face pressure.

Green Stocks

Higher energy prices and efforts to cut carbon emissions are also flowing through into the share prices of renewable power and nuclear stocks.

Bloomberg Intelligence’s Laurent Douillet sees large nuclear and hydro electricity companies as potential winners over those that rely on gas and coal.

READ: China’s Energy Crunch Sends Coal Shares Up, Renewable Firms Down

Key stocks to monitor are Europe’s Scatec ASA, Azelio AB and Orsted A/S, North America’s First Solar Inc. and SolarEdge Technologies Inc., and Asia’s LONGi Green Energy Co., Trina Solar Co., Sungrow Power Supply Co. and Adani Green Energy Ltd.

“There hasn’t been a confluence of so many factors happening at the same time in energy and commodity markets since at least the 1980s," said Robert Ryan, chief commodity and energy strategist at BCA Research.

[adrian j boris] 02/10/2021 07:37

money week

Gas prices explode – and oil prices will follow

After gas prices hit new highs, Brent crude oil prices have broken through $80 a barrel for the first time in almost three years.

by: Alex Rankine

1 Oct 2021


The delayed approval of Russia’s Nordstream 2 pipeline to Germany could restore balance to the market



Brent crude oil prices have broken through $80 a barrel for the first time in almost three years. Oil’s rally comes as soaring European gas and coal prices presage a winter energy crisis. In September 2020 “in Europe it cost €119… to buy enough gas to heat the average home for a year”, says The Economist. “Today that figure is €738.”

A cold European spring and a hot Asian summer, combined with a post-pandemic industrial rebound, have kept demand high. Imports of US liquefied natural gas (LNG) on ships will help ease the pressure a little, but global gas markets depend mainly on pipelines and are only “imperfectly linked”.
Denting the global recovery

“Gas storage tanks in Europe are only 72% full ahead of the winter season, compared with the usual 87% at this time of the year”, Warren Patterson of ING tells Pierre Briançon in Barron’s. The global recovery, which was already “weakened by the Delta coronavirus variant, will take another hit”.

[waldron] 27/9/2021 09:21

EAD and Engie launch phase II of mangrove rehab project
ABU DHABI, 1 hours, 9 minutes ago
The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), in partnership with the global energy company Engie, has announced the launch of the second phase of the Blue Carbon Environmental and Social Responsibility project.

After a successful pilot launch in 2020, the second phase of the project involves using highly innovative drone planting technology to sow mangrove seeds.

Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of EAD, said: “Mangroves play a critical role in our fight against climate change. These carbon-rich forests that dot the coastline of Abu Dhabi are key to stabilising our environment and preserving the natural habitat of several species. The Blue Carbon project is one of its kind in the region and I am delighted that it has advanced to Phase II, following its very successful pilot launch in 2020. Rebuilding and restoring an ecosystem that resiliently protects our coast will support the sustenance of mankind while consequently combatting climate change.”

Hosted at the EAD Headquarters in Abu Dhabi, the event was attended by the Blue Carbon project team from EAD, Engie, and its partner, Distant Imagery, who are specialists in engineering drone solutions that are based on blue carbon restoration expertise. They have also designed and engineered drone rigging in the UAE.

All attendees collaborated and participated in making seedballs, which help protect the seeds when they are launched from the drone, as well as provide nutrients to ensure proper germination of the seeds when planted in the soil.

The project was initiated last year, in a very successful test pilot where approximately 2000 seeds were planted. Almost one year after the first planting, the success rate is estimated to be 25%, despite the volatile weather conditions of last year. Implementing the learnings from last year, supported by an advanced drop mechanism and methodology, this year, the project team expects a success rate of at least 35%. These are excellent results if compared to the typical mangrove survival rate in nature of 5%.

As part of the second phase of the project, plant seeding will take place earlier in the season, from early September, to ensure they are given an increased chance to stabilise and grow. There will also be a change in seeding time, to ensure seeds are captured with the highest chance of survival.

Ahmed Al Hashmi, Acting Executive Director for Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity at Environment Agency Abu Dhabi, said: “Restoring biodiversity and preserving vulnerable ecosystems is not a choice anymore but a necessity for the survival of humankind, in the wake of climate change. With this in mind, we are glad to be working with Engie on this project. To us, this project is a direct extension to The UAE’s National Blue Carbon Project and The Abu Dhabi Blue Carbon Demonstration Project that was launched in 2012, that focused on mapping the UAE’s carbon sinks extensions and capacities."

Commenting on the project, Florence Fontani, Chief Communications and Sustainability Officer, Engie Africa, Middle East, and Asia (AMEA), said: “Our partnership with EAD and Distant Imagery for this project sets an example to better engage to achieve carbon neutrality and address challenges in preserving coastal and marine ecosystems for human life. At Engie, we are honoured to be part of this project and support the country’s goals towards conserving the rich environmental ecosystem for the generations to come.” -- TradeArabia News Service

[florenceorbis] 25/9/2021 04:15

An Unstoppable Natural Gas Rally

By Editorial Dept - Sep 24, 2021, 1:30 PM CDT


1. Oil Supply Disruptions Set To Ease

- With September seeing crude supply disruptions across continents, the upcoming months should bring most of that idled capacity back, also boosted by the end of field maintenance in Kazakhstan and Canada.

- Russia’s condensate supply was derailed by an August explosion at Gazprom’s condensate treatment plant, whilst Nigerian exports were hindered by oil spills and pipeline attacks.

- Shell, the main producer in the US Gulf of Mexico, indicated that repairing the West Delta-143 platform will take at least several months, shaving off some 250,000 b/d of production over Q4 2021.

- More than 16% of US Gulf of Mexico production is still shut-in, equivalent to almost 300,000 b/d as the pace of restoring output has weakened substantially this week.


2. Gas Prices Continue Their Insane Run

- Europe’s benchmark TTF pricing has netted another all-time high this week, with front-month ICE prices reaching €75 per MWh ($25 per mmBtu) this Monday, before dipping closer to the €70 per MWh threshold.

- In the meantime, spot LNG prices in Asia continued their upward movement, too, surging past $25 per mmBtu this week in unison with Europe.

- Russia’s pipeline gas monopoly Gazprom has still failed to book additional October capacity as it continues to replenish domestic inventories, while landed LNG prices in Europe are more than fourfold their seasonal average.

oilprice.co