April 13, 2021

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission opens bidding for 50 exploration blocks across strategic zones to revitalise upstream investment.
La Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission ouvre la compétition pour 50 blocs d’exploration, répartis sur plusieurs zones stratégiques, afin de relancer les investissements dans l’amont pétrolier.

Serbia forced to shut down its only refinery after US sanctions

Serbia's only refinery, operated by NIS, has suspended production due to a shortage of crude oil, a direct consequence of US sanctions imposed on its majority Russian shareholder.
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Axess Group has signed a memorandum of understanding with ARO Drilling to deliver asset integrity management services across its fleet, integrating digital technologies to optimise operations.
Crude prices increased, driven by rising tensions between the United States and Venezuela and drone attacks targeting Russian oil infrastructure in the Black Sea.

Tullow Oil cuts board size and seeks to refinance $1.8 bn debt

Amid persistent financial losses, Tullow Oil restructures its governance and accelerates efforts to reduce over $1.8 billion in debt while refocusing operations on Ghana.
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South African state utility Eskom expects a second consecutive year of profit, supported by tariff increases, lower debt levels and improved operations.
The Iraqi government is inviting US oil companies to bid for control of the giant West Qurna 2 field, previously operated by Russian group Lukoil, now under US sanctions.

Two tankers targeted in the Black Sea, Ankara warns over maritime security

Two tankers under the Gambian flag were attacked in the Black Sea near Turkish shores, prompting a firm response from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on growing risks to regional energy transport.
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The British producer continues to downsize its North Sea operations, citing an uncompetitive tax regime and a strategic shift towards jurisdictions offering greater regulatory stability.
Dangote Refinery says it can fully meet Nigeria’s petrol demand from December, while requesting regulatory, fiscal and logistical support to ensure delivery.

Equans launches new entity for industries with complex processes

Equans Process Solutions brings together its expertise to support highly technical industrial sectors with an integrated offer covering the entire project lifecycle in France and abroad.
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BP reactivated the Olympic pipeline, critical to fuel supply in the U.S. Northwest, after a leak that led to a complete shutdown and emergency declarations in Oregon and Washington state.
Zenith Energy centres its strategy on a $572.65mn ICSID claim against Tunisia, an Italian solar portfolio and uranium permits, amid financial strain and reliance on capital markets.

Kamoa-Kakula mine in DRC targets 347 MW in electricity demand by 2028

Ivanhoe Mines expects a 67% increase in electricity consumption at its copper mine in DRC, supported by new hydroelectric, solar and imported supply sources.
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President Donald Trump confirmed direct contact with Nicolas Maduro as tensions escalate, with Caracas denouncing a planned US operation targeting its oil resources.
Zenith Energy claims Tunisian authorities carried out the unauthorised sale of stored crude oil, escalating a longstanding commercial dispute over its Robbana and El Bibane concessions.

TotalEnergies sells 40% of two Nigerian licences to Chevron in strategic deal

TotalEnergies restructures its stake in offshore licences PPL 2000 and PPL 2001 by bringing in Chevron at 40%, while retaining operatorship, as part of a broader refocus of its deepwater portfolio in Nigeria.
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Aker Solutions has signed a six-year frame agreement with ConocoPhillips for maintenance and modification services on the Eldfisk and Ekofisk offshore fields, with an option to extend for another six years.
Q ENERGY France and the Association of Rural Mayors of France have entered a strategic partnership to develop local electrification and support France's energy sovereignty through rural territories.
Nigeria’s Dangote refinery selects US-based Honeywell to supply technology that will double its crude processing capacity and expand its petrochemical output.
Iraq secures production by bypassing US sanctions through local payments, energy-for-energy swaps, and targeted suspension of financial flows to Lukoil to protect West Qurna-2 exports.

NU E Power finalises acquisition of 500 MW in assets and appoints new CEO

NU E Power Corp. completed the purchase of 500 MW in energy assets from ACT Mid Market Ltd. and appointed Broderick Gunning as Chief Executive Officer, marking a new strategic phase for the company.
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Restarting Olympic Pipeline’s 16-inch line does not restore full supply to Oregon and Seattle-Tacoma airport, both still exposed to logistical risks and regional price tensions.
Faced with tightened sanctions from the United States and European Union, Indian refiners are drastically reducing their purchases of Russian crude from December, according to industry sources.

BB Energy restructures Houston operations and cuts oil trading staff

Commodities trader BB Energy has cut over a dozen jobs in Houston and will shift some administrative roles to Europe as part of a strategic reorganisation.
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Serbia’s only refinery, operated by NIS, may be forced to halt production this week, weakened by US sanctions targeting its Russian shareholders.
Ferrari has entered into an agreement with Shell for the supply of 650 GWh of renewable electricity until 2034, covering nearly half of the energy needs of its Maranello site.

Iberdrola reshapes its portfolio to become a leader in transatlantic regulated networks

By divesting assets in Mexico, France and Eastern Europe, Iberdrola reduces exposure to non-strategic markets to strengthen its positions in regulated networks in the United Kingdom, the United States and Brazil, following a targeted capital reallocation strategy.
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Iberdrola offers to buy the remaining 16.2% of Neoenergia for 32.5 BRL per share, valuing the transaction at approximately €1.03bn to simplify its Brazilian subsidiary’s structure.
Paratus Energy Services collected $38mn via its subsidiary Fontis Energy for overdue invoices in Mexico, supported by a public fund aimed at stabilising supplier payments.

CrossBoundary Energy raises $200mn with Standard Bank and MIGA guarantee for industrial projects in Africa

CrossBoundary Energy secures a $200mn multi-project debt facility, backed by Standard Bank and a $495mn MIGA guarantee, to supply solar and storage solutions for industrial and mining clients across up to 20 African countries.
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Glencore's attributable production in Cameroon dropped by 31% over nine months, adding pressure on public revenues as Yaoundé revises its oil and budget forecasts amid field maturity and targeted investment shifts.
Mercuria finalises an Asian syndicated loan refinancing with a 35% increase from 2024, consolidating its strategic position in the region.

Contrarian strategies outperform hedge fund tracking on Brent market

The profitability of speculative positioning strategies on Brent is declining, while contrarian approaches targeting extreme sentiment levels are proving more effective, marking a significant regime shift in oil trading.
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Sixty Fortune 100 companies are attending COP30, illustrating a growing disconnect between federal US policy and corporate strategies facing international climate regulations.
Tanmiah Food Company signed three memorandums of understanding to reduce its emissions and launched the region’s first poultry facility cooled by geothermal energy, in alignment with Saudi Arabia’s industrial ambitions.

Subsea7 reports 27% increase in adjusted EBITDA in third quarter

Subsea7 posted higher operating profit and a record order backlog, supported by long-term contracts in the Subsea and Renewables segments.
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Adnoc signed multiple agreements with Chinese groups during CIIE, expanding commercial exchange and industrial cooperation with Beijing in oil, gas and petrochemical materials.
Cenovus Energy completed a $2.6bn cross-border bond issuance and plans to repurchase over $1.7bn in maturing notes as part of active debt management.