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Maguire: Europe's electricity costs fall as the gas heating season ends
Europe's businesses and households are beginning to enjoy a break from high energy costs as regional electricity prices have fallen sharply since their peak in 2025. The wholesale spot power price across continental Europe has more than halved from its two-year peak in early 2025. This is due to the sharp decline in regional natural gas prices, which have fallen by a third in just one year. The expansion of regional clean energy sources, particularly solar farms, has also helped to push down power costs. This should cushion Europe's utilities after a costly start to the year. GASSED OFF Due to a sharply reduced output from wind farms, European utilities will be forced to increase gas-fired electricity production in January and March 2025 by the highest level in three years. Ember data shows that the cumulative output of wind farms in the first quarter 2025 was 15% lower than the same period in 2024 because the wind speed at the turbine level was below normal. In Europe, wind power typically accounts for 15% of the total electricity supply. Regional utilities were forced to compensate this drop in clean energy by increasing output from natural-gas plants. The total gas-fired electric supply from January to March was 332 Terawatt Hours (TWh). This was 7% higher than the same period in 2024, and was the highest level since 2022. In the first quarter of 2025, natural gas will account for nearly 26% of Europe's electricity production mix. This is up from 24% in the previous quarter. The higher dependence on gas during Europe's peak winter heating season also helped to push regional natural gas prices up by about 20%, reaching two-year highs in the first eight weeks of 2025. Gas was the main source of energy for European utilities in that time period. Power suppliers had to pay for gas and then pass some of those costs on to the consumers through higher energy bills. The higher electricity bills put additional strain on European households and businesses, who were already struggling with a weak economy and the renewed tariff turmoil from President Donald Trump's new administration. BRIGHTER OUTLOOK The European gas-fired utility power production will drop sharply now that winter is over. Gas-fired electricity production in Europe has dropped by 25% over the last three years between March and Juni, as heating demand slowed and solar farm output peaked. The regional gas price could be further reduced by 2025 if the same reduction is made in gas production. This would also help to reduce the costs for power producers in this region. Gas-fired power generation will drop to its lowest levels this year, but utilities and storage operators should replenish their stockpiles in advance of winter. The total volume of purchases of gas is expected to be significantly lower than what was seen in the first quarter of this year. This will help to keep regional power prices on the decline and limit any upward momentum in gas prices. Low Points According to LSEG, the average wholesale peak electricity price in Germany - Europe’s largest economy and energy consumer - has been around 72 euros per Megawatt Hour so far in April. This is a significant reduction from the peak of 144 euros that was reached in February. In the Netherlands and Poland, power costs have fallen by similar amounts. In Spain, they are now more than 80% lower than their peak in February. Italy's power costs, which are often the highest in Europe, have dropped by a third since their peak in 2025. Over the next month, we can expect to see some additional weakness in power prices as solar power production reaches its annual peak. This will flood regional power grids and power plants with excess electricity. The month of May 2024 marked the lowest wholesale power prices for France, Germany, the Netherlands and Poland. Prices will likely reach their lowest point around this time again in 2019. If power prices were to drop to their lows from last May, the price in Germany could fall by an additional 20%. The current average power price is below the 2024 average. This suggests that there may not be much room for further declines, especially if firms have to incur extra costs in this year due to gas stock rebuilding or grid upgrades. The fact that energy costs are now significantly below their peak in early 2025 should give consumers some relief from the high bills seen this winter. These are the opinions of the author who is a market analyst at.
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Bangladesh and World Bank Sign $850 Million Deal to Boost Jobs, Trade
The Washington-based lender announced that Bangladesh and the World Bank signed two financing deals worth $850m on Wednesday to improve the South Asian nation's trade capability, create jobs and modernise the social protection system. The majority of the funding (650 million dollars) will be used to support the Bay Terminal Marine Infrastructure Development Project. This project aims to modernise and expand port facilities in Chittagong's southeastern district. The project includes the construction of a 6-km-long (3.7-mile-long) breakwater and access channel that is climate-resilient, which will allow the port to handle larger vessels. The project is expected to reduce turnaround times and lower transportation costs. It will also boost Bangladesh's competitiveness in exports. Officials estimate that improvements to the economy could save around $1,000,000 per day. Bay Terminal will handle approximately 36% of all container traffic in the country, allowing more than a million people to benefit from improved access to regional markets and transport. The project will encourage women to participate in port operations, and help women-led companies explore trade opportunities. Gayle Martin's statement, interim country director of the World Bank for Bangladesh said that in order to remain on a path for sustainable growth, Bangladesh needs to create quality jobs, especially for the 2 million young people who enter the workforce every year. The $200 million remaining will be used to fund the Strengthening social protection for improved resilience, inclusion, and targeting project. This will provide cash and livelihood services for 4.5 million people who are vulnerable. The project will focus on youth, women and persons with disabilities as well as workers in climate-affected regions. The project will create a national database to improve service delivery and targeting. The project will provide micro-credits, entrepreneurship mentoring, and skills training. The World Bank's International Development Association has provided more than 45 billion dollars to Bangladesh since 1971. Reporting by RumaPaul; Editing and proofreading by SonaliPaul
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Chevron's tankers that were chartered to transport Venezuelan crude oil are looking for other work
Sources say that some tankers Chevron chartered this month to transport crude oil from Venezuela to the U.S. are now being sold for spot contracts in other countries after the state company PDVSA cancelled loading permits and ordered them to return the cargoes due to payment uncertainty associated with sanctions. Chevron's marketing for the vessels suggests that it does not expect all of its cargoes to be loaded in one month, even if the dispute with PDVSA is resolved. Agelef Maritime Services was marketing the Tanker Sea Dragon that discharged Venezuelan Boscan heavy oil in Philadelphia. Two sources familiar with this matter confirmed it. Sources confirmed that Chevron's Andromeda was the vessel marketing Andromeda which discharged Venezuelan Hamaca crude earlier this month at Port Arthur. Six more tankers that Chevron chartered in order to transport Venezuelan crude oil to the U.S. as part of winding down its U.S. licence through May 27, are stranded in the Caribbean Sea awaiting directions. Last week, PDVSA ordered the return of two cargoes and cancelled loading permits for others. According to sources and ship tracking data, the Chevron chartered tanker Dubai Attraction was still waiting for customs paperwork in order to return its cargo as of Wednesday. The tanker had loaded some 300,000 barrels Venezuelan Boscan oil early in April. LSEG shipping data revealed that Carina Voyager was near Aruba last week after returning its 500,000 barrel cargo to PDVSA. According to a PDVSA document, the loading window for Sea Jaguar at Venezuela's Jose Terminal, originally scheduled for late April, has been canceled. According to tracking data, the ship hovered around Aruba on Wednesday. Chevron and PDVSA didn't respond to requests for comments. Venezuela Oil Minister Delcy Rodriguez stated in a post on social media that PDVSA maintains its commitments to Chevron, but Chevron has been "victimized" by U.S. sanctions. The data and documents show that other tankers chartered through Vitol are loading and unloading normally in Venezuelan ports. Meanwhile, vessels chartered for India and Maurel & Prom to deliver to Europe have left on time, before the deadline of May 27 to wind up cargoes. Reporting by Arathy S. Somasekhar, Houston. Editing by Franklin Paul & David Gregorio.
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Venezuela exports Blend 22 crude oil ahead of US expiration of licenses
Trading documents revealed that Venezuela will export a new medium blend of crude oil this month. This is part of a strategy to prevent a collapse in its revenue-generating sales of oil once the licenses of the U.S. sanctioned OPEC members expire next month. Washington revoked a few licenses in March that it had issued in the past to partners and customers of Venezuelan state company PDVSA for cargoes of Venezuelan oil bound for Spain Italy India and the U.S. The U.S. Treasury Department has given the companies until May 27, to complete their operations in Venezuela and ship all shipments. PDVSA began preparing for a reorganization of oil production, upgrading and exports after the announcement. This is especially true at the projects run by joint ventures that were affected by the license cancellations. One of these measures is to produce and sell "Blend 22", a new crude grade from the PDVSA Western fields. PDVSA increased its Blend 22 production and storage in recent months to attract customers in Europe, Asia and other regions that are looking for a medium-sour grade to refine. Sources said that the Venezuelan company actively markets the crude oil so it can ship it to other destinations including China once the licenses expire. Documents seen by.com show that the first two Blend 22 export cargoes were delivered by La Salina Port in Western Zulia to France's Maurel & Prom as part of a swap with heavy naphtha, which was delivered by PDVSA to this month. The swap had been authorized by a U.S. licence since last year. Trading house Vitol chartered the vessels to transport crude oil that arrived in Venezuelan water earlier this month. One document shows that the first tanker will carry around 250,000 barrels. The U.S. Treasury revoked the license of Paris-based M&P in late March, with a deadline of May 27 for the completion transactions. PDVSA and M&P have not responded to requests for comments. Vitol was not available for immediate comment. It wasn't immediately clear who would buy the new crude after Vitol. PDVSA is also trying to refine crude oil domestically in order to avoid fuel crises like the ones that caused day-long queues at stations during previous years when U.S. sanctions were being tightened. Venezuelan crude oil and fuel exports increased by about 11% last year to 770,000 barrels a day (bpd), the highest level since Washington imposed energy sanctions in 2019. The U.S. President Donald Trump’s tougher stance against the oil producer will likely stop the increase in exports, if both countries are unable to find solutions for current issues such as migration and democracy. Venezuela declared an economic emergency as a response to U.S. tariffs and sanctions. Officials reject the sanctions and say they are an "economic warfare."
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Morocco expresses interest in LNG terminal
Morocco, in an effort to diversify the energy sector that is heavily dependent on coal, made the first steps toward the location of a terminal for liquefied gas near the Mediterranean City of Nador. The Moroccan energy industry has expressed interest in the LNG terminal. Morocco is also pushing forward with a plan to increase renewable energy from 45% of installed capacity now to 52% by 2030. In a press release, the ministry announced that the terminal would be connected to an existing pipeline linking Morocco with Spain, as well as to industrial zones in Mohammedia, and Kenitra in the northwest of the country. According to estimates by the ministry, Morocco's gas demand is expected to grow to 8 billion cubic meters in 2027. It currently stands at 1 billion cubic metres. In addition, the statement said that the new infrastructure would also be connected to a project in development that aims at connecting Morocco to Nigerian natural gas fields. According to the energy ministry's responses sent to, the pipeline between Morocco and Nigeria, which was agreed in 2016, will cover 6800 km including 5100 km of offshore, and cost 25 billion dollars. The same source stated that Morocco and Nigeria were preparing to set up a special-purpose company which would look at the technical and legal aspects. It said that the project, which is backed by the West African grouping ECOWAS has completed the feasibility study and Front End Engineering stages (FEED). First phases of the project will connect Morocco with gas fields off Senegal, Mauritania and Ghana as well as Ivory Coast to Ghana. According to the ministry, the second phase will connect Nigeria with Ghana and the final phase will link Ivory Coast with Senegal. (Reporting and editing by David Gregorio; Ahmed Eljechtimi)
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Mexico exports its first ULSD shipment from Olmeca Refinery amid infrastructure problems
According to data from tanker tracking and a reliable source, Mexico exported its first cargo of ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD), reprocessed at the new Olmeca Refinery, in early April. The infrastructure needed to transport this much-needed motor gasoline across the country was not yet ready. A source familiar with operations at the Madero refinery said that the Olmeca refinery received high-sulfur unfinished diesel from Tamaulipas, to convert it into ULSD. However, its own production remains marginal. Mexico is one of the world's largest crude oil producers, but it imports hundreds and thousands of barrels every day due to Pemex, its state-owned energy company struggling to convert heavy crudes it pumps into fuels. Olmeca was Pemex's seventh refinery, located in Mexico. It has a processing capacity of 340,000 barrels of oil per day. The facility is designed to help the country become energy independent. LSEG data revealed that the tanker Torm Singapore, flying the Danish flag, loaded about 300,000 barrels ULSD at Dos Bocas in early April, on a single buoy moored off of port. The vessel discharged the first parcel a few days later in Port Canaveral, Florida. A second parcel was then delivered to Yabucoa, Puerto Rico. According to LSEG's data, which has been compiled since the beginning of 2024, this was Mexico's very first shipment from Dos Bocas. According to data, a second tanker with the Italy flag, Valleblu, also loaded ULSD in Dos Bocas late last week, but it hasn't left yet. It was not possible to determine if Pemex will export more from Olmeca after the two cargoes. PMI Comercio Internacional (the commercial arm of Pemex) did not respond immediately to a comment request. Olmeca has so far produced petroleum coke and unfinished fuels, as is typical for refineries that are in the start-up phase. Last year, it was revealed that its first export was to India. One source stated that the diesel was exported because the refinery did not have enough pipelines and rail routes for large volumes to be transported domestically. They also said there were insufficient fuel trucks to distribute the diesel throughout the rest of the nation. A document that was shared with highlighted the fact that the construction of the refinery would be expensive and time-consuming. Pemex distributes small quantities of diesel from Olmeca's refinery via fuel trucks. It would have taken at least 1,300 fuel trucks to transport the same volume as what was exported. Former Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador inaugurated in July 2022 a part of the refinery infrastructure in Tabasco. He hailed it as vital to the energy independence for the country. The delay in completing the refinery has cost more than doubled, reaching $16,8 billion. It will now be up to Claudia Sheinbaum to finish the project. (Reporting from Marianna Pararaga and Stefanie Eschenbacher, Mexico City. Additional reporting by Ana Isabel Martinez in Mexico City. Editing by Mark Porter.)
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Chevron's tankers that were chartered to transport Venezuelan crude oil are looking for other work
Sources say that some tankers Chevron chartered in order to transport crude oil from Venezuela to the United States last month are being sold for spot contracts on other markets after the state company PDVSA cancelled loading permits and ordered them to return the cargoes due to payment uncertainty resulting from sanctions. Chevron's marketing for the vessels suggests that it does not expect all of its cargoes to be loaded in one month, even if the dispute with PDVSA is resolved. Agelef Maritime Services was marketing the Tanker Sea Dragon that discharged Venezuelan Boscan heavy oil in Philadelphia. Two sources familiar with this matter confirmed it. Sources confirmed that Chevron's Andromeda was the vessel marketing Andromeda which discharged Venezuelan Hamaca crude earlier this month at Port Arthur. Six more tankers that Chevron chartered in order to transport Venezuelan crude oil to the U.S. as part of winding down its U.S. licence through May 27, are stranded in the Caribbean Sea awaiting directions. Last week, PDVSA ordered the return of two cargoes and cancelled loading permits for others. According to sources and ship tracking data, the Chevron chartered tanker Dubai Attraction was still waiting for customs paperwork in order to return its cargo as of Wednesday. The tanker had loaded some 300,000 barrels Venezuelan Boscan oil early April. LSEG shipping data revealed that Carina Voyager was near Aruba last week after returning the 500,000 barrels of cargo to PDVSA. According to a PDVSA document, the loading window for Sea Jaguar at Venezuela's Jose Terminal, originally scheduled for late April, has been canceled. According to tracking data, the ship hovered around Aruba on Wednesday. PDVSA and Chevron have not responded to our requests for comment. The data and documents show that other tankers chartered through Vitol are loading and unloading normally in Venezuelan ports. Meanwhile, vessels chartered for India and Maurel & Prom to deliver to Europe have left on time, before the deadline of May 27 to wind up cargoes. Reporting by Arathy S. Somasekhar, Houston; Editing and proofreading by Franklin Paul
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Sources say that oil loadings in Russia's western ports are expected to increase by 5-10% this May.
Sources in the trade and industry said that oil exports from Russia's western port are expected to increase this month due to lower crude production at Russian oil plants. However, the OPEC+ production limits may only have a small impact on Moscow’s export plans. The port of Primorsk may increase its daily loadings to an average of 2.0-2.1 million barrels next month, up from the 1.9 million barrels planned for April. Calculations showed that this is an increase of 5-10% per day. On account of low margins, refinery runs could fall by 80,000 to 100,000 barrels per a day. The impact of a stronger rouble, and lower damper payment is negative. Oil prices for domestic oil plants are also falling, but at a slower pace," said an industry source. According to calculations based upon data from industry sources and despite the extension of stoppages, Russia's primary oil refining offline capacity is expected to remain unchanged from April, at approximately 3.0 million metric tons. The higher OPEC+ oil output quotas could have a limited impact on Moscow's May export plans, as Russia would compensate to a great extent for a planned rise. Eight OPEC+ nations agreed to accelerate their plan to phase-out oil production cuts by increasing output 411,000 barrels a day in May. The Russian oil production quota rose to 9,083 million bpd in May, and its updated plan from OPEC required it to compensate 85,000 bpd for oil overproduction. According to OPEC, Russia's crude output fell to 8,963 million barrels a day in March, from 8,973 million bpd a month earlier. Jan Harvey (Reporting and Editing)
US considers plan to stop Iranian oil ships at sea
Sources familiar with the situation have confirmed that the Trump administration is considering stopping and inspecting Iranian oil tankers on the high seas as part of an international agreement aimed at preventing the spread of weapons.
Trump has pledged to reinstate a "maximum-pressure" campaign in order to isolate Iran from global economics and reduce its oil exports down to zero. This is to prevent the country from obtaining nuclear weapons.
Trump imposed two new waves of sanctions on Iran in the first few weeks of his second term, focusing on companies and a shadow fleet of old oil tankers without Western insurance that transport crude from sanctioned nations.
These moves are largely in line with limited measures taken during the administration of former President Joe Biden, when Iran was able to increase oil exports by establishing complex smuggling network.
According to six anonymous sources, Trump officials are looking for ways to allow allied countries such as Australia and New Zealand to inspect and stop ships that pass through choke points like the Malacca Strait and other sea routes in Asia.
This would cause a delay in the delivery of crude oil to refiners. Sources said that it could expose those involved in the facilitation of the trade to sanctions and reputational damage.
One of the sources stated that "you don't need to sink ships or imprison people to get the chilling effect" that the risk is not worth it.
"The delay in delivery... creates uncertainty within that illicit trade network."
The administration was investigating whether inspections could be carried out at sea under the Proliferation Security Initiative, launched in 2003 to prevent the trafficking in weapons of mass destruction.
This initiative was driven by the United States and has been signed up to date by more than 100 governments.
One source said that this mechanism could allow foreign governments to target Iran’s oil shipments on Washington’s request. This would effectively delay deliveries and hit supply chains Tehran depends upon for revenue.
Two sources confirmed that the National Security Council (which formulates policies at the White House) was considering possible inspections on the sea.
Washington has not yet contacted any of the signatories of the Proliferation Security Initiative in order to gauge their willingness to work with the proposal.
John Bolton was the U.S.'s lead negotiator when the initiative was created. He said: "It would be completely justified" to use this initiative to reduce Iran oil exports. He said that oil sales were "clearly crucial" to raising revenue for Iran's government to support its terrorism and proliferation activities.
The White House National Security Council has not responded to any requests for comments.
The Iranian oil and foreign ministers did not reply to separate requests for comments.
Masoud Pezeshkian, the Iranian president, told Iran's Parliament on March 2, that Trump had "once again signed an executive order sanctioning many our ships at sea and leaving them unsure about how to deload their oil or gas cargo". He was referring the latest round of Trump sanctions.
POTENTIAL BLOWBACK
Iran has retaliated against previous attempts to seize Iranian crude oil cargoes.
Biden, the U.S. Vice President at that time, tried to intercept at least two cargoes containing Iranian oil. Iran seized foreign ships, including one chartered Chevron Corp. This caused crude prices to rise.
Ben Cahill, energy analyst at Center for Energy and Environmental Systems at University of Texas, says that the current low oil prices give Trump more options for blocking Iranian oil flow, including sanctions against tanker companies and seizing ships.
"I think that if the price of a barrel stays below $75, then I believe that the White House will have more leeway to consider sanctions which would impact, you know, Iran's supply and other countries. Cahill stated that it would be harder to achieve this goal in an environment where the price of a barrel is $92.
He said that aggressive U.S. actions could reduce Iran's exports to 750,000 barrels a day in the short-term. However, as the sanctions remain in place for longer, they become less effective, since Iran and buyers will find ways around the restrictions.
The rapid resumption in oil exports by Iraq's semiautonomous Kurdistan would offset any drop in Iranian exports. The White House has been putting pressure on Iraq for the Kurdish oil to resume exports or face sanctions along with Iran.
According to estimates by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, despite U.S. sanction in recent years, Tehran’s oil exports generated $53 billion and $54 billion a previous year, mainly through trade with China.
Iran's vital revenue comes from oil exports to China. Russia, which is also facing restrictions on oil sales and wider Western sanctions, is focusing on shipping oil to China and India.
In recent months, Finland and other Nordic nations have warned of the dangers that ships can pose when sailing near their shores. They also warn of the potential environmental hazards they could cause if an oil spill occurs.
Although European countries have discussed the inspection of ships carrying Russian oil that are suspected to be without valid insurance, there has been little action taken. Reporting by Jonathan Saul, Jarrett Renshaw, Timothy Gardner, Parisa Hafezi, and David Gregorio in Dubai. Editing by Richard Valdmanis, David Gregorio, and Richard Valdmanis.
(source: Reuters)