Connect with us

Oil & Energy

Brent Oil Rises Above $106

Published

on

Brent crude was above 106
dollar a barrel last Thursday as global economic growth worries hurt demand.
The oil market has mostly escaped the recent selloff in risky assets, which was sparked by emerging markets turmoil and a mixed picture on global economic growth.
“Commodities have largely been unaffected by the emerging market turmoil so far.
Industrial metals are to be affected, while the energy market is getting support from the fact that the global economy presumably is back on the right track,” said Mark Keenan.
Keenan is head of commodities research in Asia at Societe Generale.
Brent crude was trading two cents higher at 106.27 dollars per barrel, having settled up 47 cents the session before.
U.S. crude rose 14 cents to 97.64 dollars a barrel, after closing up 19 cents.
The benchmark was supported as severe snow and ice storms in the Northeastern states boosted demand for heating fuels.
U.S. stocks of distillates fell 2.4 million barrels last week – more than expected.
Inventories of the fuels on the East Coast declined to their lowest level since April 2003 due to the continued cold spell, government data showed.
“While distillate stocks normally draw at this time of the year, since the start of the year they have done so at a greater-than-normal rate and from a particularly low base level,” Harry Tchilinguirian, said in a note.
Tchilinguirian is head of commodity markets at BNP Paribas.
Still, the country-wide drop in distillates should more be attributed to a rise in exports and a weekly decline in production than to cold weather, Tchilinguirian said.
Demand for jet fuel, however, could be hit with 2,880 flights cancelled on Wednesday throughout the U.S.
Oil markets were also supported by a pickup in the U.S. services sector in January, with steady strength in private-sector hiring.
Crude stocks at Cushing fell 1.6 million barrels to 40.3 million barrels last week, reflecting the start-up last month of TransCanada Corp’s 700,000 barrel-per-day Gulf Coast pipeline.
It had been expected to ease a glut at the Oklahoma storage hub.
Support for U.S. crude narrowed the gap to the international benchmark to 8.63 dollars per barrel on Thursday.
The spread touched 7.94 dollars per barrel on Wednesday, the narrowest since Oct. 10, before closing at 8.87 dollars per barrel.
The narrowing gap comes as many investors have pulled out of heavy speculation in the spread.
“We have seen a clear step back from the speculative community, including hedge funds, simply because they lost so much money on trading the spread.
“As a result, the spread is now more driven by fundamental factors, and this will keep volatility in the spread lower,” said Keenan, who expects the spread to narrow further.
“When you see a big increase in bets on either side of the current price, which usually suggests that the market will stay range bound.”

Continue Reading

Oil & Energy

Nigeria Loses More Crude Oil Than Some OPEC Members – Nwoko

Published

on

Nigeria’s losses due to crude oil theft has been said to be more significant than those of some other members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries(OPEC).
The Chairman, Senate Ad- hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft, Senator Ned Nwoko, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.
Nwoko noted with dismay the detrimental impact of the issue, which, he said include economic damage, environmental destruction, and its impact on host communities.
According to him, the theft was not only weakening the Naira, but also depriving the nation of vital revenue needed for infrastructure, healthcare, education and social development.
The Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District described the scale of the theft as staggering, with reports indicating losses of over 200,000 barrels per day.
Nwoko disclosed that the ad hoc committee on Crude Oil Theft, which he chairs, recently had a two-day public hearing on the rampant theft of crude oil through illegal bunkering, pipeline vandalism, and the systemic gaps in the regulation and surveillance of the nation’s petroleum resources.
According to him, the public hearing was a pivotal step in addressing one of the most pressing challenges facing the nation.
‘’Nigeria loses billions of dollars annually to crude oil theft. This is severely undermining our economy, weakening the Naira and depriving the nation of vital revenue needed for infrastructure, healthcare, education, and social development.
‘’The scale of this theft is staggering, with reports indicating losses of over 200,000 barrels per day more than some OPEC member nations produce.
‘’This criminal enterprise fuels corruption, funds illegal activities and devastates our environment through spills and pollution.
‘’The public hearing was not just another talk shop; it was a decisive platform to uncover the root causes of crude oil theft, bunkering and pipeline vandalism.
‘’It was a platform to evaluate the effectiveness of existing surveillance, monitoring, and enforcement mechanisms; Identify regulatory and legislative gaps that enable these crimes to thrive.
‘’It was also to engage stakeholders, security agencies, host communities, oil companies, regulators, and experts to proffer actionable solutions; and strengthen legal frameworks to ensure stricter penalties and more efficient prosecution of offenders”, he said.
Nwoko noted that Nigeria’s survival depended

Continue Reading

Oil & Energy

Tap Into Offshore Oil, Gas Opportunities, SNEPCO Urges Companies

Published

on

Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd. (SNEPCo) has called on Nigerian companies to position themselves strategically to take full advantage of the growing opportunities in upcoming offshore and shallow water oil and gas projects.
The Managing Director, SNEPCO, Ronald Adams, made the call at the 5th Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF) Conference, held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, last Thursday.
Adams highlighted the major projects, including Bonga Southwest Aparo, Bonga North, and the Bonga Main Life Extension, as key areas where Nigerian businesses can grow their capacity and increase their involvement.
“Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd. (SNEPCo) says Nigerian companies have a lot to benefit if they are prepared to take advantage of more opportunities in its offshore and shallow water oil and gas projects.
“Projects such as Bonga Southwest Aparo, Bonga North and Bonga Main Life Extension could grow Nigerian businesses and improve their expertise if they applied themselves seriously to executing higher value contracts”, Adams stated.
Adams noted that SNEPCo pioneered Nigeria’s deepwater oil exploration with the Bonga development and has since played a key role in growing local industry capacity.
He emphasized that Nigerian businesses could expand in key areas like logistics, drilling, and the construction of vital equipment such as subsea systems, mooring units, and gas processing facilities.
The SNEPCO boss explained that since production began at the Bonga field in 2005, SNEPCo has worked closely with Nigerian contractors to build systems and develop a skilled workforce capable of delivering projects safely, on time, and within budget both in Nigeria and across West Africa.
According to him, this long-term support has enabled local firms to take on key roles in managing the Bonga Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, which reached a major milestone by producing its one-billion barrel of oil on February 3, 2023.

Continue Reading

Oil & Energy

Administrator Assures Community Of Improved Power Supply

Published

on

The Emohua Local Government Area Administrator, Franklin Ajinwo, has pledged to improve electricity distribution in Oduoha Ogbakiri and its environs.
Ajinwo made the pledge recently while playing host in a courtesy visit to the Oduoha Ogbakiri Wezina Council of Chiefs, in his office in Rumuakunde.
He stated that arrangements are underway to enhance available power, reduce frequent outages, and promote steady electricity supply.
The move, he said, was aimed at boosting small and medium-scale businesses in the area.
“The essence of power is not just to have light at night. It’s for those who can use it to enhance their businesses”, he said.
The Administrator, who commended the peaceful nature of Ogbakiri people, urged the Chiefs to continue in promoting peace and stability, saying “meaningful development can only thrive in a peaceful environment”.
He also charged the Chiefs to protect existing infrastructure while promising to address the challenges faced by the community.
Earlier, the Oduoha Ogbakiri Wezina Council of Chiefs, led by HRH Eze Goodluck Mekwa Eleni Ekenta XV, expressed gratitude to the Administrator over his appointment and pledged their support to his administration.
The chiefs highlighted challenges facing the community to include incessant power outage, need for new transformers, and the completion of Community Secondary School, Oduoha.
The visit underscored the community’s expectations from the LGA administration.
With Ajinwo’s assurance of enhancing electricity distribution and promoting development, the people of Oduoha Ogbakiri said they look forward to a brighter future.

By: King Onunwor

Continue Reading

Trending