Category

International

Article, Energy, Government and Politics, International

Trump’s take on oil, OPEC? N.D. speech may offer details

May 22, 2016

As is the case with most of his policy stands, Donald Trump has spoken only generally about how he thinks Washington should treat energy production in the U.S., expressing strong support for the oil, natural gas and coal industries, and promising to cut funding for what he sees as excessive regulation. But this week in North Dakota, the presumptive Republican nominee for president may reveal more about his views on promoting domestic energy, and perhaps take another shot at Saudi Arabia, the leader of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). (Read more)

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by Bill Loveless
Article, Economy / Finance, Energy, Government and Politics, International

Venezuela turmoil may alter region’s energy landscape

May 1, 2016

With Venezuela on the brink of economic collapse and oil prices low, Caribbean and Central American countries have an opportunity to cut their reliance on Caracas for oil and switch to low-carbon alternatives. The turmoil in Venezuela is only worsening, with President Nicolás Maduro having just reduced his country’s workweek to two days in the midst of an energy crisis. It comes as officials from Caribbean and Central American nations prepare to attend an energy summit in Washington where expanding international cooperation and improving energy security in the region will top the agenda. Vice President Joe Biden will preside over the May 3-4 meeting. (Read more)

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by Bill Loveless
Article, Economy / Finance, Government and Politics, International

It’s back to normal for oil after Doha distraction

April 18, 2016

The world oil market can return to normal, at least the normal that has characterized it for the last couple of years, now that a hyped-up meeting of major oil producers has ended without striking a deal to freeze production and bolster prices. The mere hint that Saudi Arabia, Russia and other major oil producers would follow through on a commitment to limit oil output to January levels had contributed substantially to a 50% rebound in prices for the commodity since February, when the goal was announced. But even as delegates from the producing nations arrived in Doha over the weekend, expectations were widespread that the unusual meeting would end in stalemate, as it did on Sunday. (Read more)

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by Bill Loveless
Article, Climate, Corporations, Energy, International

Wind power prospects get a Norwegian nudge

March 8, 2016

It’s a tiny investment for a global oil and natural gas company, but one that nevertheless reflects big changes underway in U.S. energy markets: The Norwegian producer Statoil announced this week that it would provide $3 million to a Brooklyn-based company that installs small wind turbines on farms and other rural properties in the U.S. For Statoil, the investment in United Wind is the first from a new $200 million venture capital account set up to support “attractive and ambitious companies in renewable energy,” ones that could help Statoil expand its own clean-energy push. (Read more)

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by Bill Loveless
Energy, Government and Politics, International, Podcast

Columbia Energy Exchange podcast: Outlook for Russian oil, gas

February 11, 2016

On this episode of Columbia Energy Exchange, Tatiana Mitrova, Head of the Oil and Gas Department at The Energy Research Institute in the Russian Academy of Sciences, discussed Russia’s energy outlook with host Bill Loveless. Their conversation touched on topics ranging from the impact of the oil price drop on Russia’s budget and investment strategy, to the role of sanctions in the domestic economy, to the response of Gazprom to changing global natural gas markets, among others. (Listen Here)

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by Bill Loveless
Article, Defense, Energy, Government and Politics, International

After Paris, new worries over electrical grid attack

November 22, 2015

The potential for a devastating attack on the U.S. electricity grid remains high on the minds of utility and government leaders, especially in light of the deadly terrorist actions in Paris on Nov. 13. Just days after the carnage in the French capital, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) conducted a massive exercise simulating coordinated assaults on the grid in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, one that involved cyber and physical attacks that left millions of people without electricity for an extended period of time. (Read more)

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by Bill Loveless
Article, Government and Politics, International, Utilities and Providers

U.S., Cuba eye offshore drilling possibilities

October 26, 2015

HAVANA — The thaw in U.S.-Cuba relations is raising prospects for new business opportunities for American companies in the island nation, among them energy. That was evident this past week in Havana, where more than 120 people from the U.S., Cuba and other countries gathered for a cutting-edge conference on offshore oil development. (Read more)

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by Bill Loveless