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Marine fuel supply squeeze eases as the market adjusts to prolonged Hormuz disruption
Industry sources told the APPEC industry meeting on Thursday that the market has been able to work around the earlier'supply shocks'. In a panel at the conference, Rishi Nyati said, "We do not see any problems with sourcing bunkers today and putting them on board." Nyati said that there is currently no shortage of marine fuel or bunkers in the major shipping hubs, as opposed to March and April. However, he added that refuelling prices have risen. According to data from the market, as of this week outright prices for mainstay VLSFO fuel oil, in Singapore, which is the world's biggest bunkering hub?are more than 60% higher than pre-war levels. Prices have been volatile for the last six months, after the U.S. & Israel attacked Iran late in February. Prices have risen since March, but they are now lower than the record highs. Max Tay is Asia's heavy product trading manager at Repsol. Tay, in a panel discussion on the same topic, said: "There are disruptions of supply out of the Strait of Hormuz. But there are alternative sources of supply we can obtain." Tay explained that the challenge is the inability to secure blending stocks for marine fuels which meet certain specifications?for specific buyers and markets. Tay estimates that the bunker activity in the port of Fujairah, the United Arab Emirates, which is another major ship-refuelling hub has returned to approximately 40% of its pre-war level, while bunkering at Singapore has remained steady since the start of the war. Emarat's Nyati informed the panel that despite the tensions, some oil is still being transported through the Strait of Hormuz. "Hormuz?is not closed. "There are between 10 and 15 transits both ways," said Nyati. He was referring to the daily transits by cargo vessels through the Omani Corridor on the southern side. He said, "There's oil flowing."
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Maguire, Where global LNG and gas infrastructure is growing
The fossil fuel industry is seeing its most significant growth in the LNG and natural gas sectors, as demand for coal and oil has been stifled by electrification and efficiency gains. Gas is increasingly being used by governments and utilities to meet the growing electricity demand, and provide reliable power along with expanding renewable energy sources. This has triggered a global investment wave in pipelines, LNG export and import infrastructure, and gas-fired generators. Eight key charts are shown below that illustrate the regions and countries driving this growth. Power Play Global Energy Monitor data shows that Asia dominates global gas-fired generation capacity, both in use and under construction. Asia's 950,000 megawatts of operational capacity is comparable to?about 735, 000 MW in the Americas and exceeds approximately 366,000 MW throughout Europe. Asia is building an additional 140,000 megawatts (MW) or more, which is three times as much as any other region. The U.S., with its 562,000 MW of gas-fired capacity, has the highest operating capacity, while China is the country with the most capacity in construction. THE PIPELINE PIPELINE Gas pipelines in the Americas are currently more than 490,000 km long (304,471 mi). This total is more than the 281,000 km of pipes in Asia and 262,680 km in Europe. Asia has the largest pipeline capacity currently under construction with 56,000 km. China is the country with the most pipelines, having built nearly 22,000 km, followed by India, which has built nearly 15,000 km. The Footprint for LNG Export The U.S. has the biggest LNG export capacity and is the top producer of gas in the world. However, Asia, with its extensive export infrastructure that stretches from the Middle East to Southeast Asia, ranks first. GEM data indicates that the U.S. has also built up the largest LNG export capacity, currently at around 100 million tons per year. LNG Import Growth Asia is the top LNG-importing country in the world. It dominates the landscape of the existing import infrastructure and the capacity that's under construction. Japan is the country with the most established import infrastructure. It has 242 millions tons of import capacity per year. China, with 97 millions tons of import capacity in construction, has the largest lead. Once built, energy infrastructure is likely to last. Natural gas is a dominant energy source in the world. The vast number of gas-fired power plants, pipeline networks, and LNG facilities that are already operational or under construction suggest this. You like this column? Open Interest (ROI) is your new essential source of global financial commentary. Follow ROI on LinkedIn, X. Listen to the Morning Bid podcast daily on Apple, Spotify or the app. Subscribe to the Morning Bid podcast and hear journalists discussing the latest news in finance and markets 7 days a weeks.
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Saudi Arabia says there is no danger following the Khamis Muhait alert amid clashes between Houthis and Houthis
Saudi civil defence authorities issued a 'all-clear' on Thursday following an emergency alert that was declared in the southwestern province of Khamis Muhait for a fourth time within 24 hours as clashes erupted with Yemeni Houthis backed by Iran. Civil defence officials said shortly after the alert that the danger was over. The Saudi-led coalition said that at least 73 people were wounded in four southern Saudi towns, including Khamis Mushait in recent Houthi strikes on the world's biggest?oil exporter. The militant 'group' said that it had attacked an airbase at Khamis Mushait, and oil infrastructures in nearby cities. This was one of the largest attacks against Saudi Arabia since the U.S./Israeli war in Iran. The 'coalition' said that the Houthis had continued their 'attacks? on national assets and infrastructure Wednesday. Saudi Arabia and the Houthis have been fighting for months. This has raised fears that a wider conflict will return after years of war were largely stopped by a truce brokered by the U.N. in 2022.
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Wall Street Journal, September 10,
These are the most popular?stories from the Wall Street Journal. ? The accuracy of these stories has not been verified by the site. Jim Farley, Ford Motor's Chief Executive, strongly denied claims by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy claiming that the automaker is becoming overly dependent on Chinese companies. This was despite its tie-ups with car manufacturers overseas and a Michigan battery plant. Philip Morris International has expanded its Zyn line of nicotine pouches and the number that it offers in a single can. Pipeline company Energy?Transfer will be the first major firm to move its primary listing to the Texas Stock Exchange from the New York Stock Exchange. Swarmer, a firm backed by Erik Prince, is buying Ratel Robotics in a deal valued up to $224m. - 'Inspire Brands' named Dunkin’ President Scott Murphy interim CEO, while longtime CEO Paul Brown is on a medical leave. The Canadian International Trade Tribunal has said that imported canned vegetables, mainly from the U.S., have caused serious financial strains for domestic food processors. It recommends the government to impose import limitations in order to assist the sector.
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NTSB: Pilot in Miami cargo accident pressed forward with landing despite NTSB warnings
The National Transportation Safety Board reported that the pilot of an Amazon Prime Air cargo aircraft that crashed in Miami on Sunday warned they were flying 'too fast' just over a moment before touching down on the 'runway overran by the plane. The pilot continued to make comments about the plane's speed as automated warnings were sounded. The other pilot, however, did not provide a clear response verbally, according to a cockpit voice recording that was detailed in a Wednesday investigative update. However, it did not identify who the speakers were as either the captain or the first officer. The 32-year old Boeing 767 operated Miami-based 21 Air overran runway by about 1,300 feet (396 meters) and crashed into two vehicles that were on the ground. Five people died, while another five were injured. According to the NTSB, the NTSB released information that stated, "sink-rate sink-rate" was heard twice in the cockpit as the aircraft descended 400 feet at one point in only four seconds. Then, five?warnings were given about "too-low terrain." Why did they keep using the same approach? Anthony Brickhouse is an aerospace safety consultant. "They were aware of several signs that their approach wasn't stable, but continued to fly instead of going around." The NTSB reported that 15 seconds after landing, one pilot called for an abort and increased the throttles to a level "consistent with go-around thrust". Flightradar24 data based on NTSB initial disclosures shows that the plane was approaching the end of runway, but it was still traveling at 120 knots. The NTSB reported that four seconds after the sounds, the throttles had been reduced to idle and the sounds were similar to a plane leaving the runway's paved surfaces. The board stated on Tuesday that there is no evidence in the data recorded to suggest that the speed brakes or reverse thrusters were used to slow down the plane. 21 Air did not respond to a comment request immediately on the NTSB's information. Experts in safety say that most plane accidents are the result of multiple factors, which need to be investigated thoroughly. Brickhouse, who is a pilot, said that "from what I have seen, there was definitely a breakdown of crew resource management." Brickhouse was referring to the training pilots get to coordinate and communicate clearly in the cockpit. He added that when a pilot ignores cues to something being wrong, "unfortunately bad things happen." "As an investigator, I'm curious to find out what their motivation was, given all the cues that were available. What was the thought process? What was their thought process? NTSB investigators interviewed the captain and first officer for most of the day on Wednesday before releasing the details from the cockpit recorder. The Amazon cargo aircraft was on its third day flight, arriving from San Juan in Puerto Rico. The plane had?flew from Cincinnati to Miami, and then from Miami to?San Juan on Sunday morning before it crashed at 1:53?p.m. EDT (1753 GMT). The NTSB announced on Tuesday that the captain, 55, has 7,145 flight hours and received his 767 type rating in May. Meanwhile, the first officer, 35, has 2,655 flight and received his 767 type rating in April 2025.
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Five dead and more than 80 missing in Philippine ferry fire
The 'Philippine Coast Guard' said that five people died and more than 80 were missing when a ferry caught on fire on Wednesday night off the west Philippine island of Palawan. The PCG reported that 43 people were rescued after a fire broke out aboard the MV June Aster off Coron in Palawan on Wednesday evening. The Coast Guard released footage that showed the flames engulfing the vessel, and the responders placing the bodies into body bags. Coast Guard spokesperson, Commodore Noemie Cayabyab, told DZXL Radio that the vessel's manifest showed 117 passengers as well as 17 crew members. Cayabyab stated that the numbers'may change' as the rescue operation continues. She said that the ferry left Manila from Baseco and was heading to Coron. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of this fire.
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US pipeline operator Kinetik exploring potential sale, sources say
Three sources familiar with this matter confirmed on Wednesday that U.S. pipeline operator Kinetik Holdings was in the 'early stages' of exploring the sale of its company. Sources said that the company was working with advisors on the process. They cautioned, however, that there is no guarantee of a deal. Kinetik is a company that focuses on the transportation of natural gas and crude oil from the Delaware portion of Permian Basin in Texas and New Mexico. According to its website, it has over 4,600 miles of pipelines as well as the associated compression and processing infrastructure. Kinetik?did not?respond immediately to a comment request. Bloomberg News reported earlier on Wednesday that Kinetik was exploring its sale options.
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Enbridge, a Canadian company, will buy Tallgrass Crude Oil for $2.55 billion.
Enbridge announced on Wednesday that it would acquire the crude oil business of Tallgrass Energy, owned by Blackstone. The deal will cost $2.55 billion in cash. Enbridge also plans to expand its U.S.liquids pipeline network through the purchase of a majority stake and other assets. The Canadian pipeline operator stated that the deal will strengthen its presence in U.S. key crude-producing areas, including the Bakken and Powder River basins as well as the Denver-Julesburg Basins. It also creates operational synergies between its existing Express-Platte system. Enbridge, for example, is benefiting from the rising demand for natural gas and utility infrastructure, as well as power supply to data centers. This allows Enbridge to maintain a steady growth despite geopolitical tensions or commodity price volatility. Enbridge will acquire a ?75% interest in the Pony Express Pipeline, a 1,050-mile (1,690-km), 460,000-barrel-per-day (bpd) crude system that links production in the Rockies ?to the Cushing, Oklahoma, storage hub and provides access to about 500,000 ?bpd of refining capacity. The?acquisition is expected to close in 2026 (subject to regulatory approval), and includes a 51 percent stake in the Powder River Gateway Pipeline System, nearly 8,4 million barrels in storage at nine crude terminals that are connected to Pony Express as well as the crude marketing company Stanchion Energy. Enbridge stated that?the acquisition will be accretive in terms of distributable cash flow for each share during the first year after ownership. Its financial guidance for 2026 remains unchanged. The company said that it plans to?partially?fund its acquisition by way of an equity offering in conjunction with the August 26 purchase Salt Creek Midstream?s crude gathering business. Enbridge's C$41 billion (US$29.70billion) secured growth backlog is expected to be financed by an annual average growth capital investment of C$10 billion - C$11 billion. In April, the U.S. In April, President Donald Trump granted?several permits for pipelines, including one to build a new pipeline that will facilitate the transport of crude oil and petroleum between the U.S.
Nigeria warns investors about losing their permits if they invest in flare-gas
Nigeria's oil regulator warned investors developing projects on gas-flaring site that they?risk losing their permits if stalling progress, signaling a tougher push? to halt?routine flaming by 2030.
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission has said that it will review awarded sites after a year and may revoke them if progress is not satisfactory.
NUPRC's Chief Executive Oritsemeyiwa Ekpo said, "One year after a?award?has been awarded, the Commission will conduct an evaluation to determine?whether there have been significant progress."
She added that "where there is not enough progress, the Commission will take the appropriate regulatory actions, including revocation of awards where necessary."
Nigeria has accelerated the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme, an initiative that aims to capture and market gas that would have otherwise been burned at oil production sites. This will reduce emissions while creating economic value.
Eyesan stated that 27 of 43 gas-flaring sites identified as part of the programme have been awarded to investors, with project development underway.
Nigeria has 215 trillion cubic foot of?proven natural gas reserves. This is among the world's largest. Gas is seen as an important transition fuel to power generation and industrial growth.
Eyesan stated that stronger enforcement would ensure that awarded projects?translate?into investments, jobs, and emission reductions instead of remaining dormant.
(source: Reuters)