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Venezuelan vote ends in opposition leader's exile

  • Market: Crude oil, Natural gas, Oil products
  • 09/09/24

Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez landed in Spain on Sunday after an arrest warrant accused him of terrorism as President Nicolas Maduro continues to crack down on dissent despite international condemnation.

Gonzalez fled to Spain after several days of shuttling between foreign embassies in Caracas "to save his liberty, integrity and life," Maria Corina Machado, Gonzalez's ally and the key opposition figure blocked by Maduro from running in the election, said on social media.

"My departure from Caracas was surrounded by episodes of pressure, coercion and threats in order to not allow me to leave," Gonzalez said in an audio post to his followers. "I am confident that in the near future we will continue the struggle to achieve freedom and recover democracy in Venezuela."

The US and other countries have not recognized official election results from 28 July and backed the opposition coalition's claim that Gonzalez likely was the winner. But Washington has refrained from taking any action, including enforcing an even stricter regime of oil and other sanctions, to force Maduro to cede power.

"The United States strongly condemns Maduro's decision to use repression and intimidation to cling to power by brute force rather than acknowledge his defeat at the polls," secretary of state Antony Blinken said.

Gonzalez's departure highlighted pessimism over the possibility of a negotiated departure for Maduro, who claims that he won a third term.

"Today is a sad day for democracy," EU foreign affairs representative Josep Borrell said, saying that removing Gonzalez from Venezuela was the only solution for now.

Oil minister and vice-president Delcy Rodriguez confirmed Gonzalez's departure late on 7 September, labeling Gonzalez an "opposition citizen" who was granted safe passage after requesting political asylum.

In the days after the election, 23 demonstrators and one national guard member were killed, according to figures from the Organization of American States. Maduro boasted of arresting 2,500 "terrorists", but human rights non-governmental organizations say the detainees are demonstrators, election workers, politicians and journalists. According to the human-rights group Foro Penal, more than 1,700 are still in jail.


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15/01/25

Inpex wins Norwegian offshore exploration licences

Inpex wins Norwegian offshore exploration licences

Tokyo, 15 January (Argus) — Japanese upstream firm Inpex has won eight oil and gas exploration permits offshore Norway, expanding its operations in the country, Inpex said today. Inpex was awarded exploration licences PL1263, PL318D, PL1264, PL1257, and PL636D located between the northern North Sea and the southern Norwegian Sea, along with PL 1276, PL1274 and PL1194C in the northern Norwegian Sea through its local subsidiary Inpex Idemitsu Norge (IIN). The successful bid was part of the awards in the pre-defined areas (APA) 2024 licensing round . IIN secured five licenses in the 2023 APA round . The APA rounds are held every year and focus on mature areas of the Norwegian continental shelf. The aim is to facilitate the discovery and production of remaining oil and gas resources in these areas before existing infrastructure is shut down. In the latest round, 33 of the licences are in the North Sea, 19 in the Norwegian Sea and one in the Barents Sea. The latest licences will contribute to expanding its Norwegian business portfolio, Inpex said, given the potential of jointly developing the new assets with existing assets in the surrounding area. The company has continued stable production at the Snorre and Fram oil fields in the northern North Sea. The Japanese firm aims to strengthen its upstream business as part of its long-term strategy, while it invests in renewable energy such as green ammonia. By Yusuke Maekawa Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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IEA warns of supply squeeze from Russia, Iran sanctions


15/01/25
News
15/01/25

IEA warns of supply squeeze from Russia, Iran sanctions

London, 15 January (Argus) — The IEA sees a slightly tighter oil market this year than it previously forecast and said new US sanctions on Russia and Iran could further squeeze balances. The outgoing administration of US President Joe Biden announced additional sanctions on Russia's energy exports earlier this month, and moved to tighten sanctions on Iran's oil exports in December. "We maintain our supply forecasts for both countries until the full impact of sanctions becomes more apparent, but the new measures could result in a tightening of crude and product balances," the IEA said today in its latest monthly Oil Market Report (OMR). But the effect of incoming US President Donald Trump on Russian and Iranian supply remains a key variable. As things stand, the IEA projects a 720,000 b/d supply surplus this year — showing a well cushioned oil market. This is around 230,000 b/d less than its previous forecast. For 2024, the IEA's balances show a small supply surplus of 20,000 b/d. The Paris-based agency sees global oil supply growing by 1.8mn b/d to 104.7mn b/d in 2025, compared to growth of 1.9mn b/d in its December report. Almost all of the 2025 growth — 1.5mn b/d — will come from non-Opec+ countries such as US, Brazil, Guyana, Canada and Argentina. The IEA continues to assume all current Opec+ cuts will remain in place this year, although the alliance plans to start increasing output from April. The IEA said global oil supply grew by 650,000 b/d in 2024. The agency sees global oil demand growing by 1.05mn b/d, down by 30,000 b/d from its December forecast. This should see oil demand reach 104.0mn b/d, with most of the gains driven by "a gradually improving economic outlook for developed economies, while lower oil prices will also incentivise consumption." China, which has long driven global oil demand growth but whose economy is now slowing, will add 220,000 b/d in 2025, compared with 180,000 b/d in 2024 and 1.35mn b/d in 2023. But the IEA revised up its oil demand growth estimates for 2024 by 90,000 b/d to 940,000 b/d. This was mostly due to better-than-expected growth in the fourth quarter, which at 1.5mn b/d was highest since the same period in 2023 and 260,000 b/d above than its previous forecast. This increase was mostly due to lower fuel prices, colder weather and abundant petrochemical feedstocks, the IEA said. The IEA said global observed oil stocks increased by 12.2mn bl in November, with higher crude stocks on land and water offsetting refined product draws. It said preliminary data show a further stock build in December. By Aydin Calik Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Colonial shuts Line 1 due to Georgia spill: Update


14/01/25
News
14/01/25

Colonial shuts Line 1 due to Georgia spill: Update

Houston, 14 January (Argus) — Colonial Pipeline's main gasoline bearing line may be closed for more than a day as the company responds to a gasoline spill in Georgia detected on Tuesday. "Colonial has taken Line 1 out of service temporarily while we respond to a potential product release," the company said in a notice. "Normal operations continue on the remainder of the system." The spill occurred in Paulding County, Georgia, about 25 miles southwest of Marietta, Georgia. The company said it had crews on site responding to the incident. The company did not provide information on when the line would restart. Market sources said leak was small but it could take up to two days to resume operations. Line 1 has capacity to carry up to 1.3mn b/d of gasoline from Houston, Texas, to Greensboro, North Carolina. Cash prices for US Gulf coast 87 conventional gasoline in the Gulf coast ended Tuesday's session down by 3.19¢/USG at $2.115/USG, reversing gains from the previous session's 14-week high that was driven by higher blending demand. Liquidity fell during Tuesday's trading session with uncertainty over the length of the pipeline shut-down. The pipeline leak did not affect line space trading on Tuesday, which had already been falling. Values saw their sixth session of losses, shedding 0.25¢/USG day-over-day. A trade was reported at -1.5¢/USG, prior to the notice of the pipeline shut down, with no further trades reported for the remainder of the session. By Hannah Borai Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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New York to propose GHG market rules in 'coming months’


14/01/25
News
14/01/25

New York to propose GHG market rules in 'coming months’

Houston, 14 January (Argus) — Draft rules for New York's carbon market will be ready in the "coming months," governor Kathy Hochul (D) said today. Regulators from the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) "will take steps forward on" establishing a cap-and-invest program and propose new emissions reporting requirements for sources while also creating "a robust investment planning process," Hochul said during her state of the state message. But the governor did not provide a timeline for the process beyond saying the agency's work do this work "over the coming months." Hochul's remarks come after regulators in September delayed plans to begin implementing New York's cap-and-invest program (NYCI) to 2026. At the time, DEC deputy commissioner Jon Binder said that draft regulations would be released "in the next few months." DEC, NYSERDA and Hochul's office each did not respond to requests for comment. Some environmental groups applauded Hochul's remarks, while also expressing concern about the state's next steps. Evergreen Action noted that the timeline for NYCI "appears uncertain" and called on lawmakers to "commit to this program in the 2025 budget." "For New York's economy, environment and legacy, we hope the governor commits to finalizing a cap-and-invest program this year," the group said. State law from 2019 requires New York to achieve a 40pc reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from 1990 levels by 2030 and an 85pc reduction by 2050. A state advisory group in 2022 issued a scoping plan that recommended the creation of an economy-wide carbon market to help the state reach those goals. By Ida Balakrishna Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Canada's tariff response may be ‘unprecedented’: Ford


14/01/25
News
14/01/25

Canada's tariff response may be ‘unprecedented’: Ford

Calgary, 14 January (Argus) — Tariffs threatened by president-elect Donald Trump against Canada will hurt the province of Ontario the most, the premier of the country's most populated province said this week, so all options must be considered should retaliation be required. "We have to use all the tools possible," said Ontario premier Doug Ford in 13 January press conference, less than one week before Trump's inauguration and the potential imposition of 25pc tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico. "We might have to do things that are unprecedented," which could include withholding shipments of minerals, Ford said. Ontario accounts for about 40pc of Canada's gross domestic product (GDP) and is known for its manufacturing, automotive and critical mineral industries. Ford's position runs in contrast to comments made earlier by Alberta premier Danielle Smith that cutting off Canadian energy flows to the US is a non-starter and would not happen . "Well, that's Danielle Smith, she's speaking for Alberta, she's not speaking for the country," Ford said. "I'm speaking for Ontario, that's going to get hurt a lot more. They aren't going to go after the oil, they're coming after Ontario." "I want to ship him more critical minerals, I want to ship him more energy, but make no mistake about it, if they're coming full-tilt at us I won't hesitate to pull out every single tool we have until they can feel the pain," Ford said. "But that's the last thing I want to do." Smith met with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida over the weekend, which was a welcome move by Ford, who said he has been working the phones calling American politicians daily. Even so, Canada's response needs to come from the federal government, which has so far been lacking, in Ford's view. "This is their jurisdiction," said Ford. "They need to come up with a strong plan. They need to be doing everything, every single day to make sure we avoid these tariffs." Premiers will meet with prime minister Justin Trudeau this week to strategize how to deal with potential tariffs. Trudeau said last week he planned to resign amid low polls and party infighting with a new leader to be chosen on 9 March. By Brett Holmes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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