News Archive: Policy & Regulation

Russia to subsidise purchase of NGVs

Markets | 19 March 2015 12:22 GMT

Regional governments in Russia will be given RUB 3 billion ($498 million) in subsidies from the federal budget this year to acquire NGVs, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said.

UK cuts taxes for North Sea drilling

Upstream | 19 March 2015 12:20 GMT

The UK government announced its annual budget on Wednesday, which included favourable measures for the North Sea drilling industry.

Ghana petroleum bill unlikely before next year

A Tullow rig off the Ghanaian coast. The company’s operations could be delayed by a maritime dispute. (Tullow Oil)

Upstream | 19 March 2015 11:18 GMT

Ghana’s continental shelf extension has been approved, meaning it can offer more ultra-deep offshore acreage. But a maritime dispute with Ivory Coast could delay its plans.

India to cut wellhead gas price by 10%

Upstream | 18 March 2015 12:59 GMT

India’s domestic wellhead gas price is expected to be cut by 10% on 1 April, to $5.02/MMBtu.

Maputo’s auction open to corruption and delay – CIP

The blocks on offer in Mozambique’s fifth licensing round.

Upstream | 18 March 2015 12:30 GMT

Mozambique’s fifth licensing round – which was scheduled to close in April – looks likely to be delayed as vital new petroleum regulation is still pending.

UK shale climate-friendlier than LNG imports

A domestic shale industry would allow the UK greater control over regulating and monitoring emissions. (Cuadrilla)

Environment | 18 March 2015 10:27 GMT

Environmental concerns are holding unconventional gas back in the UK, but from a climate-change perspective it could be cleaner than relying on LNG.

Netherlands allocates €18 bln for offshore wind

Environment | 18 March 2015 10:07 GMT

The Dutch government has earmarked up to €18 billion ($19.1 billion) in subsidies for offshore wind development between 2015 and 2019.

Tanzania's gas bill delayed

Upstream | 17 March 2015 13:09 GMT

Tanzania’s proposed gas bill will not be debated in parliament’s next session after it was withdrawn by the House Business Committee, an opposition MP tweeted on Tuesday.

Texas LNG submits FERC application for exports to Mexico

Upstream | 17 March 2015 12:05 GMT

Texas LNG has submitted its pre-filing letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to export LNG to Mexico.

India urged to link domestic gas prices to world markets by 2017

Markets | 17 March 2015 11:57 GMT

A government-appointed committee in India has urged New Delhi to ensure that domestic gas prices are fully linked to international markets by 2017.

Tanzania could fast-track gas legislation

Upstream | 17 March 2015 11:55 GMT

Tanzania’s proposed Natural Gas Bill is among six pieces of emergency legislation expected to be debated in parliament in March, and could be passed within a month.

How to spur CCS development in Europe

Jonas Helseth, director of Bellona Europa and leader of the foundation’s work on CCS. (Bellona Europa)

Environment | 17 March 2015 10:24 GMT

Europe is falling behind on CCS development. Bellona Europa’s Director Jonas Helseth tells Interfax how to spur investment in the technology.

Waters still muddy for Alaskan offshore drilling

Imperial Oil, ExxonMobil, BP and Shell all hold leases off the northern coast of Alaska.

Environment | 16 March 2015 13:35 GMT

A regulatory mess is not the only problem facing supermajors hoping to explore offshore in the frozen north of the United States.

Annova LNG planning Texan liquefaction plant

Upstream | 13 March 2015 13:34 GMT

Annova LNG has submitted a pre-filing letter with the United States Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to construct a liquefaction plant on the Texas Brownsville Ship Channel.

Japan’s ‘third arrow’ will split utilities

Tepco has suffered with nuclear plant shutdowns and multi-billion dollar losses in recent years. (Tepco)

Upstream | 13 March 2015 12:32 GMT

Japan’s three-pronged approach to energy market reform is making progress with the approval of bills to unbundle the country’s transmission and distribution networks.

East Timor ready to buy Sunrise stake to keep it onshore

Approximately 20% of the Greater Sunrise fields lie in a joint development area between East Timor and Australia.

Upstream | 13 March 2015 11:24 GMT

The Timorese government has offered to buy Woodside Energy’s stake in the Greater Sunrise fields to make sure an LNG plant is built onshore.

Pacific NorthWest environmental review on hold again

Environment | 12 March 2015 12:58 GMT

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency has paused its review of the Petronas-operated Pacific NorthWest LNG project for a second time.

EU countries fall behind 2020 renewables targets

The UK's Llyn and Inner Dowsing wind farm. Along with France and the Netherlands, the UK is likely to fall short of its 2020 renewable targets. (Centrica)

Environment | 12 March 2015 10:53 GMT

The UK, France and the Netherlands are still a long way from meeting their 2020 renewables obligations, and it is unclear if new national subsidy regimes will spur enough investment.

Australia should ‘proceed with caution’ on fracking regulation – Abbott

Environment | 11 March 2015 14:03 GMT

Australia’s state and territorial governments should decide how to regulate unconventional gas production, and should “proceed with caution”, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Wednesday.

Russia seeking to reduce equipment imports

Upstream | 11 March 2015 13:51 GMT

The Russian Energy Ministry has set a target to reduce the proportion of imported equipment in the country’s oil and gas sector from 60% to 43%.