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Trump energy orders to target development snags

  • Spanish Market: Crude oil, Natural gas
  • 09/04/19

President Donald Trump is set to release two directives designed to ease state restrictions on energy projects and avoid "unnecessary red tape" that delays oil and gas production.

The two executive orders, which Trump is set to announce tomorrow at an engineering training facility near Houston, will attempt to streamline permitting and encourage investment, a White House official said.

The new initiative could help address growing industry concern that permitting delays for pipelines serving Marcellus shale gas producers and the Permian basin have become a key bottleneck to Trump's push to expand oil and gas production.

Details from the executive orders have not been disclosed. But industry officials anticipate it could try to limit the circumstances under which states can use "section 401" water permits to block pipeline construction. The White House official said the order will allow families and businesses in "states with energy restrictions" to access affordable energy, reduce regulations and also help energy companies avoid "unnecessary red tape."

Industry officials hope the order restricts states from blocking pipelines for reasons they contend have little to do with protecting water quality. Dan Eberhart, the chief executive of US oilfield service company Canary, said the strategy of blocking pipelines has forced energy commodities to compete for space on rail and public roads, raising energy prices and increasing truck traffic. Other industry officials echoed those remarks.

"I hope what the administration is trying to do here is bring some rationality back to this, respecting states' rights to weigh in at some level, but the states also have to respect the federal process," Natural Gas Supply Association president Dena Wiggins said.

EPA administrator Andrew Wheeler, asked about the executive order yesterday, said the agency could "maybe help with permitting" and also provide technical assistance to permit applicants and states. Speaking generally about all environmental permits, Wheeler said EPA and states need to provide more certainty to the public by reaching timely permit decisions.

"We collectively owe it to all [permit applicants] to give them an up or down decision," Wheeler told a group of environmental regulators yesterday at a conference near Washington, DC, held by the Environmental Council of the States.


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22/01/25

Syria issues first post-Assad oil tenders

Syria issues first post-Assad oil tenders

Dubai, 22 January (Argus) — The new administration in Syria has issued its first tenders to buy crude and refined products since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in December, as acute fuel shortages continue to cause lengthy blackouts in the country. Tenders seeking 3mn bl of light crude for the 140,000 Banias refinery and 1.2mn bl of heavy crude for the 110,100 b/d Homs refinery close for bidding on 27 January. They have a 10pc flexibility either way on the volumes. The Banias refinery is undergoing maintenance at several of its production units after being taken offline last month because of a lack of crude feedstock. Syria's new administration has also issued its first import tender for refined products — 80,000t of 90 Ron gasoline, 100,000t of 10ppm sulphur gasoil and 100,000t of fuel oil — commencing as soon as possible for delivery over a 30-day period. Offers must be delivered by hand to the oil ministry in Damascus by 14:30 local time on 27 January. A tender seeking 66,000t of LPG has been issued as well. A previous tender for 20,000t of LPG was awarded at mid-teen $/t premiums to fob Lavera west Mediterranean prices. Before Assad was toppled, Syria relied heavily on Iran for its oil supplies, as international sanctions imposed in the wake of the 2011 civil war left the country critically short of feedstock for its refineries. Iran's crude exports to Syria averaged around 55,000 b/d in January-November 2024 and around 80,000 b/d in 2023, according to trade analytics firm Kpler. Iran was also sending around 10,000-20,000 b/d of oil products to Syria in recent years, according to consultancy FGE. But Tehran has halted crude deliveries to Syria since the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham took control last month , leaving the new transitional government under pressure to find alternative suppliers. Government-to-government deals are a potential option. "Recent political developments have indicated that Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey could play a role in solving Syria's crude and refined products shortage," FGE analyst Palash Jain said. Saudi Arabia is willing to help for a limited period, but discussions remain in a preliminary phase and are light on details, a source with knowledge of the matter told Argus . Riyadh is waiting to hear more from the Syrians on their energy needs and requirements, the source added. The latest tenders come just two weeks after the US waived sanctions that had previously prohibited energy trade with Syria. The waiver, issued on 6 January, is valid until 7 July. By Rithika Krishna and Bachar Halabi Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

US trade deficit with Canada is no 'subsidy': TD Bank


21/01/25
21/01/25

US trade deficit with Canada is no 'subsidy': TD Bank

Calgary, 21 January (Argus) — The US' trade deficit with Canada is largely a result of America's thirst for energy and should not be confused with a "subsidy", according to one of Canada's largest banks today. "With respect to (US president Donald) Trump's assertion that the US subsidizes Canada to the tune of US$200bn per year, it's unclear where this number is derived," TD Economics said today in its Setting the Record Straight on Canada-US Trade report. "In any event, rather than a subsidy, the US trade deficit is a by-product of US economic outperformance relative to other countries. "The bulk of the US trade deficit with Canada is owing to energy," the bank said. "Outside of that, the scales tip into America's favour." The US is on track to record a trade deficit with Canada of roughly C$65bn ($45bn) in 2024, but that would flip to a C$60bn surplus for the US if energy were removed from the equation, said the bank. About 80pc of Canada's 5mn b/d of crude production is consumed by refineries in the US, with many in the Midcontinent having no practical alternative. US gasoline prices would move higher by 30-70¢/USGif the 25pc tariffs that Trump has threatened were applied to Canada's oil, TD Bank projects. But even with energy included, the US' deficit with Canada only represents 4pc of the US' overall trade deficit, meaning "reducing imports from Canada would barely move the needle," according to TD. The two highly-integrated countries exchange about C$3.6bn of goods and services each day, only slightly less than daily US-Mexico trade, the bank said. North American trade disparities have been thrust into the spotlight with Trump threatening tariffs against both of its neighbours. Trump opted not to impose any tariffs immediately when he took office on Monday, as previously threatened, instead pushing potential action against Canada and Mexico to 1 February. Trump said Monday he would immediately begin an "overhaul" of the US trade system to protect domestic workers and to start to "tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens". Mexican crude could help fill the void left by a reduction in Canadian crude flows, but that would exacerbate the trade deficit that the US has with that country, TD said. Mexico accounts for 20pc of the US' overall trade deficit — five times that of Canada — while China makes up the largest slice of the total US trade deficit, at 30pc, according to TD Bank, which cited official US Census data. The report also highlighted that Canada is the single-largest market for American goods, with at least 34 states selling more to Canada than to any other foreign country. By Brett Holmes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Texas, Louisiana ports closed by winter storm: Update


21/01/25
21/01/25

Texas, Louisiana ports closed by winter storm: Update

Updates status of operations at Port Houston facilities. Houston, 21 January (Argus) — Ports in Texas and Louisiana remained closed to shipping traffic Tuesday afternoon due to a winter storm, a shipping agent said. Marine pilots suspended boardings at the Texas ports of Houston, Galveston, Texas City and Freeport late on 20 January. Traffic also was halted at the Sabine-Neches Waterway on the Texas-Louisiana border, which offers access to terminals and refineries in Port Arthur and Beaumont, Texas, as well as Cheniere's Sabine Pass liquefied natural gas terminal. Pilots also halted traffic at the Louisiana port of Lake Charles late on 20 January. Port Houston facilities, which include eight public terminals on the Houston Ship Channel, will remain closed through Wednesday, according to statement from port officials. Vessel operations may resume at container terminals on Wednesday evening, the statement said. By Tray Swanson Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Major NOLA terminals closed for winter storm


21/01/25
21/01/25

Major NOLA terminals closed for winter storm

Houston, 21 January (Argus) — The port of New Orleans remains closed on Tuesday afternoon due to US Gulf coast snow storms, causing terminals to shut or declare force majeures. Port officials cut off water supplies to port facilities beginning 19 January because of freezing temperatures, significant snowfall and high winds forecast by the National Weather Service (NWS). Operations are expected to be down at least for the rest of today. Host's United Bulk Terminal location at Nola declared force majeure on 20 January because of an expected 3-6 inches of snowfall. The port of Lake Charles in Louisiana also closed on 20 January and the Sabine-Neches Waterway on the Texas-Louisiana border was closed on 21 January. Associated Terminals at Nola closed its doors early on 21 January due to the storm. The company said vessels will be discharged once weather conditions improve and personnel are able to return to the site, but did not give a specific date. Major barge line ARTco, the transportation arm of ADM, shut down operations as well and is anticipated to return to 22 January if weather permits. CGB Barge has also halted operations in New Orleans and is waiting for conditions to improve before resuming work. Arctic conditions are anticipated at the port through Thursday, according to the NWS. Travel will be hazardous due to the snow, ice and wind chill of up to 20mph. By Meghan Yoyotte Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Trump to declare energy 'emergency': Update 2


21/01/25
21/01/25

Trump to declare energy 'emergency': Update 2

Updates with details throughout Washington, 20 January (Argus) — President Donald Trump today signed an executive order declaring a "national energy emergency" and said he plans to impose 25pc tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico on 1 February. Returning to the White House for a second term, Trump signed a series of executive orders on energy and trade that he said will restore "common sense" to US policy. His orders aim to expedite permitting of energy infrastructure, tackle inflation, roll back climate programs put in place under former president Joe Biden and pursue a "drill, baby, drill" energy policy. In declaring a national energy emergency, Trump's order contends the Biden administration left a "precariously inadequate and intermittent energy supply, and an increasingly unreliable grid" that required swift action. Trump also froze all federal regulations, placed a temporary hold on hiring non-military federal workers, rescinded 78 Biden executive actions and memoranda and began rolling back Biden's climate legacy. "I'm immediately withdrawing from the unfair, one-sided Paris climate accord rip-off," Trump said at a rally held after his second inaugural ceremony. Trump's declaration of an "energy emergency" could bolster the legal rationale for some of energy policies and plans to expedite permitting. Trump also said he plans to end the "Green New Deal" — a reference to climate programs enacted under Biden — and revoke an "electric vehicle mandate" he said is threatening the US auto manufacturing sector. Trump also vowed to begin an "overhaul" of the US trade system to protect domestic workers and reiterated his support for tariffs, which he sees as a way to raise government revenue and support domestic manufacturing. "Tariffs are going to make us rich as hell," Trump said. They are "going to bring our country's businesses back that left us". While Trump is reiterating his threat to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico, oil industry officials have warned such a move could disrupt the nearly 4mn b/d of crude the US imports from Canada. Trump stopped short of promised to erect tariffs on all US imports, saying: "We're not ready for that." On foreign policy, Trump said the US would "reclaim its rightful place" as the most powerful country in the world and reiterated plans to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. Trump also promised still-unspecified actions to take control of the US-built Panama Canal in response to what he says has been unfair treatment of US ships, a claim that Panamanian president Jose Raul Mulino has rejected. "We gave it to Panama, and we're taking it back," Trump said during his second inaugural address. Trump signed an order to ease drilling restrictions in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, while also prioritizing the development of the proposed 20mn t/yr Alaska LNG export terminal. Trump also said he wants to refill the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), which is at 55pc of its capacity with 394mn bl of crude in storage, "right to the top". Refilling the SPR would require the US Congress to appropriate $32bn at current prices, to offset the costs of canceling 100mn bl of upcoming mandatory crude sales and buying about 300mn bl of crude. Trump signed an order to rescind a series of climate-related orders Biden had issued, measures the new administration says places "undue burdens" on energy production. And he imposed a temporary moratorium on leasing acreage in federal waters for wind projects. "We're not going to do the wind thing," Trump said. That drew an outcry from offshore wind advocacy group Turn Forward, whose executive director Hillary Bright said an emergency should require unleashing "all necessary sources of American energy — including offshore wind". During his campaign, Trump promised to cut the price of energy by 50pc within 12 months of taking office. But with regular grade gasoline averaging close to $3/USG and Henry Hub natural gas prices less $4/mmBtu this month, such a dramatic cut in prices would be difficult to achieve without causing major disruptions to industry. Environmentalists and Democratic-led states are also preparing to file lawsuits challenging Trump's deregulatory actions, a strategy they used during his first term with mixed success. Trump was sworn in in a relatively small ceremony inside the US Capitol, after calling off a more traditional, outdoor inauguration because of temperatures that were hovering around 23° F. Among those in attendance was Telsa chief executive Elon Musk, who spent more than $250mn to help elect Trump and is chairing a cost-cutting advisory panel. After being sworn in, Trump formally nominated his cabinet members, leaving it up to the Republican-controlled US Senate to hold confirmation votes. Trump also named Republicans to lead 15 independent agencies. Trump named Mark Christie as chairman of the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; Mark Uyeda as acting chair of the US Securities and Exchange Commission; and Patrick Fuchs as chair of the US Surface Transportation Board. Caroline Pham became acting chairman of the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission through a vote of its members. By Chris Knight Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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