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Japan Leads in LNG Imports in 2016

Japan Leads in LNG Imports in 2016

Japan imported the most LNG globally in 2016 with 83.3 million tonnes per year, according to latest report of the International Gas Union (IGU) on Monday. The report noted that for the third consecutive year, global LNG trade set a new record, reaching 258 million tonnes

EU Opens Probe Into German Electricity Capacity Reserve Plans

EU Opens Probe Into German Electricity Capacity Reserve Plans

The European Commission said it has opened an in-depth investigation to assess whether German plans to set up an electricity capacity reserve comply with EU state aid rules. The Commission said on April 7 that has concerns that the measure may distort competition and favour power plant operators over demand response operators

Hungarian Group MOL Takes Over Romanian Firm from its Own Subsidiary

Hungarian Group MOL Takes Over Romanian Firm from its Own Subsidiary

Hungarian energy group MOL will take direct control of Romanian company MOL Retail Comert, the former ENI Romania, from two of its subsidiaries registered in the Netherlands. MOL will transfer almost EUR 32 million in the accounts of the two Dutch subsidiaries as part of the deal

Cyprus, Greece, Israel and Italy Sign Joint Declaration on Eastmed Pipeline Project

Cyprus, Greece, Israel and Italy Sign Joint Declaration on Eastmed Pipeline Project

Cyprus, Greece, Israel and Italy agreed Monday, April 3, to reinforce their cooperation, forming a quadri-lateral working group with the aim to monitor and support the development of the EastMed Pipeline Project and to identify terms of a necessary intergovernmental agreement to expedite project realization

MEPs Call for Strict Rules for Palm Oil Entering the EU Market

MEPs Call for Strict Rules for Palm Oil Entering the EU Market

On April 4, Members of the European Parliament passed a resolution, calling for the European Union to introduce a single certification scheme for palm oil entering the EU market and phase out the use of vegetable oils that drive deforestation by 2020. The resolution, which was approved by 640 votes to 18, with 28 abstentions, strives to counter the impact of unsustainable palm oil production, such as deforestation and habitat degradation, particularly in South-East Asia, MEPs said

The Serious Challenges Which Confront Refineries in SE Europe Were Hotly Debated at IENE’s Latest Conference in Thessaloniki

The Serious Challenges Which Confront Refineries in SE Europe Were Hotly Debated at IENE’s Latest Conference in Thessaloniki

More than 100 delegates gathered for a one and a half day highly focused conference in Thessaloniki, convened by the Institute of Energy for SE Europe (IENE) on March 30-31, which dealt with the current issues faced by refineries and oil marketing companies in the region. Twenty speakers and panelists for 12 different countries actively participated in the five sessions which formed this unique event which was fully backed by Hellenic Petroleum S.A., the region’s petroleum market leader

Solar Outpaces Wind for New Power Capacity

Solar Outpaces Wind for New Power Capacity

Global renewable energy generation capacity increased by 161 gigawatts (GW) in 2016, making the strongest year ever for new capacity additions, data from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) showed on March 30. Renewable Energy Capacity Statistics 2017 estimates that by the end of last year the world’s renewable generation capacity reached 2,006 GW, with solar energy showing particularly strong growth

EU Eyes East Mediterranean Gas Supplies

EU Eyes East Mediterranean Gas Supplies

European Union Climate Action and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete will travel to Tel Aviv on April 3 to discuss the potential of gas from the eastern Mediterranean region for Europe with the Energy Ministers from Israel, Greece, Cyprus and Italy

Repsol to Farm into Energean’s Ioannina and Aitoloakarnania Blocks

Repsol to Farm into Energean’s Ioannina and Aitoloakarnania Blocks

Greece’s Energean Oil & Gas announced on March 31 that it has agreed to farm out a 60% interest in its Ioannina and Aitoloakarnania blocks, onshore Western Greece, to Spain’s Repsol. Repsol will also become the Operator for both blocks

Enel to Invest 329 Mln Euro in Romania in 2017-2018

Enel to Invest 329 Mln Euro in Romania in 2017-2018

Italian utility company Enel said on Friday that it plans to invest 329 million euro ($356 million) in Romania in the period 2017-2018. Enel plans to invest 151 million euro in 2017, mainly in its distribution operations, while next year it plans to put in 178 million euro in network upgrades, the company said in a press release

China, S. Arabia Ink Strategic Cooperation Agreement

China, S. Arabia Ink Strategic Cooperation Agreement

China Petrochemical Corporation, Sinopec Group and Saudi Arabia Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) inked a strategic agreement on March 16, which the Chinese company announced on Monday

China’s LNG Imports Continue to Rise

China’s LNG Imports Continue to Rise

China, world’s largest energy consumer and the third-biggest LNG importer, boosted its imports of the chilled fuel in February by 28.5 percent year-on-year

EU Sees Transport Investment Opportunities in Bulgaria

EU Sees Transport Investment Opportunities in Bulgaria

European Union Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc will discuss transport investment in the Balkan country on March 23-24, during a conference in Sofia, which brings together public and private institutions involved in transport financing and planning