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Kazakhstan’s pivot towards China

16 December 2022

History of Kazakh-Russian relations is long and troubled. Implications of Moscow’s decision to go to war in Ukraine mean the latest chapter threatens to generate some insoluble tensions.

bneGREEN: Bulgaria’s capital bans old cars from traffic-clogged city centre

15 December 2022

Bulgaria tackles EU's worst air pollution with ban on cars registered before 1996.

Uzbekistan: Gas official arrested as government tries to account for shortages

15 December 2022

While households are struggling to deal with a heating crisis, some private enterprises have been able to receive steady supplies of gas.

"I am proud of you" – Zelenskiy congratulates air defence for preventing latest attack on energy facilities

14 December 2022

Explosions thundered in Kyiv on the morning of December 14 as Russia launched another wave of drone strikes.

LatAmOil: Stabroek partner to buy $750mn in carbon credits from Guyana

14 December 2022

US-based Hess, a minority shareholder in the offshore Stabroek block, has signed an agreement with the government of Guyana on the purchase of 37.5mn carbon credits between 2022 and 2032.

DMEA: TNP, Forcados restarts bring Nigerian oil output up to 1.6mn bpd

14 December 2022

Nigeria has pushed crude oil production up to 1.6mn barrels per day thanks to the re-opening of the Forcados terminal and the partial resumption of shipments through the Trans-Niger Pipeline (TNP).

AfrOil: BW Energy preparing for 3D study of Kudu field

14 December 2022

BW Energy (Norway) says it will conduct a 3D seismic survey of the Kudu natural gas field offshore Namibia in order to identify additional exploration targets and attract a new investment partner.

Analysts say Turkmenistan told US diplomats ‘it’s not interested’ in Caspian gas-to-Europe connector project, wants major pipeline

13 December 2022

Ashgabat said to be signalling that “it won’t get out of bed for anything less”.

Novatek says Arctic LNG-2 remains on track for 2023 launch

13 December 2022

The first train at Novatek’s 20mn tpy Arctic LNG-2 project is still on track to start up in December next year, while the second and third trains should come online in 2024 and 2026 as initially planned, according to a project director.

Iran, China at odds in disputed islands row following Xi visit to Saudi Arabia

12 December 2022

Anger in Tehran palpable, but Iranians tread carefully by stopping short of stating that Chinese ambassador was “summoned”.

Gas crunch emerging in East as Kazakhstan fails to meet China’s import requests

10 December 2022

Try as it might, Beijing is unable to lock in Kazakh gas flows. Russian shipments via Uzbekistan might eventually be the answer.

CENUSA: Moldova chooses lesser evil and restores energy dependence on Russia-controlled Transnistria

9 December 2022

The current energy crisis has been the biggest challenge for Moldova since the beginning of the Russian aggression against Ukraine. It has had to swallow bitter medicine and make itself once more dependent on Russian power shared with Transnistria.

Uzbekistan rejects Putin’s proposed ‘gas union’

9 December 2022

Tashkent’s coolness towards scheme that would also involve Kazakhstan will be seen as another sign of growing fissure between Russia and Central Asia. Kremlin claims pact would have no political strings.

NorthAmOil: Los Angeles bans new oil wells, to close existing wells

8 December 2022

Los Angeles city councillors have voted unanimously to ban existing oil wells within city boundaries immediately, and to phase out existing ones within 20 years.