Regions
Gas Projects in the U.S. Face Increasing Opposition in 2021
As 2021 began, a few projects in the United States quickly faced delays and challenges to their progress.
Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery considers solar to help meet power needs
The Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend refinery is seeking bids for the construction of a large-scale solar development on the company’s property in Rosemount, Minnesota, to help meet the refinery’s electrical power needs and lower its energy costs. The 30-megawatt solar development would be among the largest of its kind in the nation where all the power is generated and consumed by a single business. The company has requested bids from select solar companies that specialize in building commercial-scale solar farms and integrating them within established operations. A decision on whether to proceed with the project is expected by mid-year 2021.
LyondellBasell and Sinopec Finalize JV for PO/SM Plant in China
LyondellBasell announced on the 26th of January that it has signed an agreement with Sinopec of China for the formation of a 50:50 joint venture for the specific purpose of installing a propylene oxide (PO) and styrene monomer (SM) project in China's domestic market. Plans for this operation actually began back in late 2019.
Data is king, integration is queen
Harnessing the power of data science and real-time intelligence offers a powerful single view of the market Few people know that data intelligence firm Kpler’s journey actually started in 2014, when the founders were told by an LNG trader: “I receive many proposals for ship-tracking software, but I don’t care about the ships. I care about cargoes into them, their volumes and the commercial information related to them”.
Air Liquide inaugurates the world's largest low-carbon hydrogen membrane-based production unit in Canada
Air Liquide has completed the construction of the world's largest PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) electrolyzer. Supplied with renewable energy, this unit is now producing up to 8.2 tonnes per day of low-carbon hydrogen in Bécancour, Québec. With this large-scale investment, the Group confirms its long-term commitment to the hydrogen energy markets and its ambition to be a major player in the supply of low-carbon hydrogen.
Biden Issues Order to Block Keystone XL Pipeline
U.S. President Joe Biden revoked a necessary permit needed to construct the disputed Keystone XL Pipeline, foreshadowing a victory for U.S. landowners, Native American tribes and environmentalists in a lengthy battle spanning nearly twelve years.
Pipe-laying Vessel Started Work in Danish Waters for Nord Stream 2
MOSCOW (Reuters) — A pipe-laying vessel has started work in Danish waters ahead of the resumption of construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, the consortium behind the project said on Sunday, amid pressure from the United States and European Union to halt it.
Canada’s Connacher Oil and Gas Announces Pipeline Project
Connacher Oil and Gas expects to have a 18,000 barrel per day oil pipeline from its Great Divide oil sands leases near Fort McMurray, Alberta, completed by the second half of 2022.
Scotland's future is offshore
The Crown Estate Scotland launched ScotWind, a round of seabed leasing for offshore wind. The 10GW first cycle was opened following the publication of the Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy by Marine Scotland, which outlines the areas most suitable for development. This will enable regis..
Blow for Oregon's export hopes
The last remaining planned LNG export plant on the US West coast was dealt another blow by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), potentially delaying the project even further. Pembina’s 2-train, 7.8m t/y Jordan Cove Energy Project, located on the North Spit of Coos Bay in Oregon, planned..
BPCL Places Polyol Plant in Kochi on Hold
According to recent reports, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) has placed a planned polyol production plant on hold at the Kochi facilities in Kerala. The company has been undergoing a privatization process and has ceased progress on this plan until it is settled.
New Pipelines Needed to Bring Appalachia Shales Natural Gas to Gulf Coast LNG Facilities, Study Shows
The Appalachia Basin, made up of the Marcellus formations and the Utica Shale, accounted for more than 40% of the natural gas produced in the U.S. in 2020.
Private Refinery in Louisiana Expected to Restart in February
Calcasieu Refining of Louisiana recently announced that it plans to restart its idled Calcasieu refinery in early February 2021. Production had been shut in since mid-2020.
Additional Petrochemical Investments in Burghausen Refinery
OMV, the integrated, international oil, gas and petrochemicals company headquartered in Vienna, is expanding and modernizing its cracker units and petrochemical cold section at its Burghausen Refinery in Germany. The measures aim to increase the site’s ethylene and propylene production capacity. Following the planned turnaround of the refinery, the upgraded units are expected to go live in the third quarter of 2022, whereby the initial groundwork is already underway.
Refinery Closures Continue as Imports Grow in Australia
BP’s Kwinana oil refinery, the largest in Australia with a capacity for 146,000 barrels per day, is expected to shut in its production this year, resulting in a reduction of over one-fifth of the country’s fuel production ability. Once production is shut in, BP plans to convert the facility into an import terminal for a country growing increasingly reliant upon imported fuel.
Oman Shell launched the 25-megawatt Qabas solar plant
Oman Shell launched the 25-megawatt Qabas solar plant, helping the port and freezone in Sohar to become more sustainable and demonstrating the commercial benefits of solar power for industrial purposes. Owned by Shell, Sohar Solar Qabas is the company’s first utility scale, photovoltaic (PV) solar project in the Middle East and in Oman.
Canada Urges Biden Not to Cancel Keystone XL on First Day
TORONTO (AP) — Top officials in Canada want a chance to make the case for a long-disputed oil pipeline to be built amid reports President-elect Joe Biden will cancel Keystone XL on his first day.
Total announces the acquisition of a 20% minority interest in Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) from Adani Group
Total announces the acquisition of a 20% minority interest in Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) from Adani Group. The transaction marks the deepening partnership between the Adani Group – India’s leading infrastructure platform - and Total, in the transition and green energy fields in India. The investment in AGEL is another step in the strategic alliance between Adani Group and Total, which covers investments in LNG terminals, gas utility business, and renewable assets across India. This is in line with the commitment of both Adani and Total to be leading participants in the sustainable economy of the future and help India in its quest for development of renewable energy.
Continued Midstream Infrastructure Development Expected After Market Rebound
The INGAA Foundation released its report North American Midstream Infrastructure – A Near Term Update Through 2025, which shows the oil and gas markets should rebound and lead to further midstream infrastructure development.
Tellurian Hopes to Start Driftwood LNG Construction as Demand Picks Up
Tellurian executive chairman Charif Souki recently spoke on the progress around the company’s Driftwood LNG export project in Louisiana. He stated that “I hope that we will be in construction this summer,” and that “There is a strong need for additional liquefaction capacity and we’re probably the project that is the closest to starting construction.”
Prelude FLNG finally returns
LNG cargoes have resumed from Shell’s floating LNG (FLNG) facility, offshore Western Australia.
Equinor goes large
Equinor announced that it had been selected to provide New York State with offshore wind power in one of the largest renewable energy procurements in US history.
UAE leads the way in solar power in the Middle East
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is pushing ahead with its transition to alternative fuels. According to a report from Deloitte the key drivers for the growth of the UAE solar sector are large scale government sponsored solar energy projects and a strong sovereign credit rating offering low risk for Independent Power Producers (IPPs) with Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). This is evident in the scale of projects that have already been completed or under construction
Double E Pipeline Gets FERC Approvals
Summit Midstream Partners announced that Double E Pipeline received its Notice to Proceed with construction, as well as approval of its Implementation Plan, from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
UAE Energy Minister believes oil demand could recover by the end of 2021
According to recent reports, United Arab Emirates Energy Minister Suhail al-Mazrouei has commented on a potentially updated timeline for a return to form for global oil demand. He believes that global demand will make a somewhat optimistic return to pre-pandemic level by the end of 2021 or early 2022.
Total and Engie Partner to Develop France's Largest Site for the Production of Green Hydrogen from 100% Renewable Electricity
otal and Engie have signed a cooperation agreement to design, develop, build and operate the Masshylia project, France's largest renewable hydrogen production site at Châteauneuf-les-Martigues in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur South region.
Duke Energy Renewables Acquires Pflugerville Solar Project
Duke Energy Renewables, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, is expanding its solar energy portfolio by acquiring the 144-megawatt (MWac) Pflugerville Solar project from Recurrent Energy, a wholly owned subsidiary of Canadian Solar Inc. The project is under construction in Travis County, Texas, and is expected to achieve commercial operation in mid-2021. The energy generated from the Pflugerville Solar project will be sold to Austin Energy under a 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA).
Wood secures $120 million contract for ethylene expansion in China
Wood has secured a contract valued at over $120 million with Sinopec Hainan Refining and Chemical Limited Company (Sinopec) to provide engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services to expand its refinery development in the Hainan Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in South China.
Energy minister pushes to diversify energy sources with 'hydrogen-ready' gas pipelines
After the EU turned down funding for natural gas energy infrastructure to focus on clean-hydrogen networks, Malta’s application for a proposed pipeline from Malta to Sicily was denied.
Mixed messages in Mozambique
Total only has a skeleton staff remaining at its LNG construction site in Afungi after evacuating most workers amid the worsening security situation in the Cabo Delgado province.
