Oil edges down for 2nd session as coronavirus curbs fuel demand

SINGAPORE: Oil prices lost more ground on Thursday, with the market weighed down by a surprise increase in U.S. crude oil reserves as the coronavirus pandemic hits fuel consumption. U.S. crude and distillate inventories rose unexpectedly and fuel demand slipped in the most recent week, the Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday, as a sharp…

Oil steadies as coronavirus demand concerns outweigh weak dollar

NEW YORK: Oil were mostly steady on Thursday as rising US fuel inventories and concerns about the impact of surging coronavirus cases on energy demand offset a weaker dollar, which is usually supportive. Brent futures fell 8 cents, or 0.2%, to $44.21 a barrel by 11:57 a.m. EDT (1557 GMT), while US West Texas Intermediate…

World’s Largest Economies Are Still Spending Big On Oil & Gas

Spending on oil and gas, and coal is still higher among members of G20 than spending on renewable energy, a data update from the Energy Policy Tracker has revealed. Across the group, since the start of the pandemic, governments had pledged at least $160.95 billion in fossil fuel investments, versus $123.75 billion in renewable energy…

Venezuela opposition to probe possible resale of oil by Cuba

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido’s U.S. envoy pledged on Thursday to investigate the possibility that Cuba is reselling oil and fuel the South American country ships to its political ally under favorable terms. Carlos Vecchio, whom Guaido named his ambassador to Washington after being recognized as Venezuela’s rightful president by dozens of countries, said President…

Greece Warns Turkey Over Oil, Gas Research Mission

Greece has warned it will do “whatever is necessary” to defend its sovereign rights in response to plans by neighbor Turkey to proceed with an oil-and-gas research mission south of Greek islands in the Eastern Mediterranean. The dispute over seabed mineral rights has led to increased navy deployments by both NATO members in the region,…

Work on capping Assam gas well fire resumes day after explosion

Work on plugging the natural gas well in Assam’s Baghjan where a fire has been raging since June 9, resumed on Thursday, a day after three foreign experts suffered burn injuries at the site following an explosion. The experts from a Singapore-based firm suffered minor burn injuries on Wednesday while removing the tubing head spool…

Petronet plans to cancel 10-year LNG import tender

NEW DELHI/SINGAPORE: India’s top gas importer Petronet LNG is set to cancel its offer to buy an annual 1 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for 10 years, two sources said, as signing long-term contracts are not attractive in the current scenario. India is scouting for cheap gas for price-sensitive consumers as Prime Minister…

Government likely to extend deadline for BPCL bidding for third time

The government is likely to extend the deadline for bidding for the privatisation of Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL) for the third time in a row, from the current date of July 31. According to sources, the extension of the timelines for expression of interest (EoI) may well be until international airline services are back in…

India’s crude processing extends recovery in June

India’s crude oil processing gathered pace in June, rising 10.9 percent from May to 4.29 million barrels per day, as further easing of coronavirus-led curbs lifted fuel demand. Indian refiners’ crude processing posted its biggest drop in at least nearly two decades in April but rebounded to 3.87 million barrels per day (bpd) in May,…

Govt invites suggestions for inclusion of hydrogen-CNG as automative fuel

New Delhi: In another step towards promoting green fuel, the government on Thursday said it has invited suggestions from stakeholders for inclusion of hydrogen-enriched CNG as an automative fuel. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued a draft notification seeking comments and suggestions from the public and all stakeholders for amendment to the…