Transportation








Asia

North America

Natural Gas Pipeline

The biggest oil and gas deals since the turn of the century

Chevron, the U.S. oil major, completed its acquisition of Hess for $53 billion on Friday after it had been negotiating with Hess. The triumphant In a landmark court battle, Exxon Mobil's larger rival won access to the largest oil discovery of recent decades. Chevron’s acquisition of Hess gives the company a 30 percent stake in Guyana’s Stabroek Block. This is one of the largest deals in the oil industry. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has increased its scrutiny of mergers and acquisitions, especially in the shale oil industry. This includes deals involving Exxon Mobil, Diamondback Energy Occidental Petroleum, and Expand...

Ground Freight

Mexican truck drivers learn English to comply with the new US language regulations

Mexican truck drivers from the border city Ciudad Juarez are studying English to comply with a President Donald Trump executive order that requires commercial drivers to be proficient in English. To meet U.S. standards, 50 truck drivers hauling goods between Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, and El Paso in Texas attend four to eight hours a week of English classes organized by their employers, Fletes Sotelo. Manuel Sotelo said that classes began six weeks ago and the goal was to have all drivers of the company know basic English. Sotelo also serves as the president of Ciudad Juarez's transport association. Jose Murguia...

Transport Infrastructure

US Transport chief on California high speed rail: "We have to stop it"

U.S. Transportation secretary Sean Duffy is confident that the administration will win any lawsuits challenging the department's decisions to rescind the $4 billion of U.S. Government funding for California's High-Speed Rail Project. "I wish that it had gone to California. We supported the California project but it will cost more than $130 billion, and there is no funding plan or timeline for completion. Duffy told reporters in front of the department's HQ that "we have to pull out the plug". California High-Speed Rail System (California High-Speed Rail System) is a two-phase 800-mile (1,287-km) system that will connect San Francisco with...

Transportation

The US will give higher reviews to solar and wind energy projects

The Trump administration announced on Thursday that the Office of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum will review decisions related to solar energy and wind energy installations on federal lands to stop what they claim has been preferential treatments for renewable energy sources. This increased scrutiny aligns with the pledge of President Donald Trump to reverse the climate change and clean energy policies of his predecessor Joe Biden. The Interior Department stated that the additional reviews will apply to leases, rights-of way, construction and operation plans, and other project permits. The majority of solar and wind power plants are built on private...

Transportation

Freeport LNG Export Plant in Texas is on track to reach full power, LSEG Data shows

Freeport LNG, a U.S. liquefied gas company, had planned to receive more natural gas at its Texas export plant on Thursday. This was two days after the closure of one of three liquefaction train trains. Freeport informed Texas environmental regulators that on Wednesday, the plant experienced an emissions event following a liquefaction-train 2 shutdown Tuesday night because of a problem with a system compressor. Freeport LNG officials were not available to comment immediately on Thursday. Freeport LNG is one of the most closely monitored LNG export facilities in the world because its start-up and shutdown often causes price swings on...

Transportation

Kinder Morgan, a pipeline operator, posts higher profits in the second quarter.

Kinder Morgan reported a 24% increase in its second-quarter profits on Wednesday. This was largely due to higher volumes of gas being transported through the company's pipelines. Kinder Morgan, for example, is betting on an increase in demand for LNG from LNG export installations as well as electricity for AI operations and cryptocurrency mining. In 2024 the United States will be the world's largest LNG exporter. Exports are expected to grow even more as new terminals become operational after President Donald Trump lifted the pause on new permits. Richard Kinder, Executive Chairman, said: "Our company's future is bright, with historic...

Transportation

Canada's First Nations challenge constitutional legislation

The Canadian First Nations have launched a constitutional challenge against laws recently passed that would expedite approval of infrastructure projects such as mines and oil pipes. They claim the measures violate government obligations towards Indigenous people. According to a Monday notice filed at Ontario Superior Court, the two new laws - one in Ontario and the other federally - "represent a clearly and present danger to Applicant First Nations’ self determination rights" and violate government obligations to reconcile Indigenous peoples. Nine First Nations are involved in the case, and they are spread across Ontario. They include Alderville First Nation and...

Transportation

Farmers criticize US renewable energy transmission project

U.S. Farmers on Tuesday attacked a project which received a loan guarantee of up to $4.9 billion from the former president Joe Biden's Administration to transmit electricity generated by wind and solar farms from the Midwest to urban areas. Grain Belt express transmission project, backed by Invenergy, would send power from Kansas to Midwest and East cities. Invenergy claims that the second-longest line in U.S. History would serve as a "national energy security backbone", connecting four grid areas, including the PJM Interconnection (the largest U.S. Grid), which covers states ranging from Illinois to New Jersey. The project may also help...

Transportation

Nine First Nations in Canada challenge the constitutionality of major projects legislation

Nine First Nations are challenging the constitutionality of a recently passed law that aims to accelerate major projects. They claim it violates the constitutional obligations of government to First Nations. According to an application filed at the Ontario Superior Court, the two new laws are "a clear and present threat to the self-determination of the Applicant First Nations" and violates the obligation for the government to reconcile with First Nations. Alderville First Nation was represented by Apitipi Anicinapek Nation. Aroland First Nation included Attawapiskat First Nation. Fort Albany First Nation included Ginoogaming First Nation. The law passed by the federal...

Transportation

Trump's threat of sanctions looms on Russian oil exports towards China, India and Turkey

U.S. president Donald Trump has threatened to impose sanctions on buyers of Russian products unless Russia agrees to a peace agreement over the conflict in Ukraine. This could complicate Moscow's oil exports to China, India, and Turkey. RUSSIA'S GRADES AND PORTS OF OIL According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), Russia's revenues from crude oil and petroleum products sales in June fell by nearly 14% compared to a year ago, to $13.57 Billion. The IEA reported that Russia's crude production remained stable last month at 9.2 millions barrels per daily (bpd), and crude loadings stayed at 4.68million bpd. The IEA...

Transportation

The Arizona Department of Transportation says that Tesla has requested certification for its robotaxi service in Arizona.

The Arizona Department of Transportation said that Tesla contacted the state late last month about starting a certification process to create an autonomous vehicle ride sharing service. A decision is expected to be made by the end this month. Arizona's Department of Transportation stated in an email that "They have expressed interest to operate within the Phoenix Metro Area." Tesla has asked to operate and test both with and without drivers, the Arizona Department of Transportation said. Tesla last month Roll out a small trial It offers a robotaxi service to a small area in Austin, Texas. There are a...

Transportation

Trump says wind and solar are bad for the grid. Texas proves otherwise

Donald Trump claims the rapid adoption of solar power and wind energy has caused U.S. electricity to be unstable and expensive. This is why he wants to stop most subsidies for renewable energies. According to price and regulatory data, the grid in Texas that has the most renewable energy is more reliable and the electricity prices are lower than the national average. Some grids, which rely on fossil fuel generation for a large part of their power, have faced reliability problems and soared prices. According to its reliability assessment of June 6, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, the main...

Europe

Transportation

Greek-managed ships divert Russian oil to Africa in order to avoid Red Sea Attacks

Three oil traders and LSEG data indicate that several Greek-managed oil tankers are increasingly avoiding using the Red Sea to transport Russian oil to Asia, choosing instead the longer route through Africa due to the escalating threat of Houthi attacks. Rerouting comes after a deadly drone attack and speedboat attack on a Greek-operated, Liberian flagged bulk carrier, off Yemen earlier this month, in which four seafarers were killed. In July, the Houthi group, which is backed by Iran and has a fleet of speedboats under its control in Yemen, sank a second vessel. This ended a short period of calm....

Transport Infrastructure

Russia convicts many for anti-Israel riots in Dagestan Airport two years ago

The Investigative Committee of Russia announced on Friday that 135 Russians were sentenced to long prison terms in connection with an anti-Israel mass protest held in October 2023 in the predominantly Muslim Dagestan Region. In the North Caucasus, hundreds of anti-Israel demonstrators stormed the airport of Makhachkala where a plane just arrived from Tel Aviv. The unrest was caused by Israel's conflict with the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Investigators have said that they have collected evidence against 142 individuals and finished investigations into the involvement of 139. Investigators have put the three others on Russia's most wanted list. They are...

Transportation

Oil prices increase after EU sanctions against Russia

As investors considered new European Union sanctions on Russia, crude oil futures increased and gasoil futures reached a 17-month peak. Brent crude futures rose 73 cents or 1.05% to $70.25 per barrel at 1151 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate Crude Futures rose 83 cents or 1.23% to $68.37. Brent crude futures premium for low-sulphur gasoline The spread was at its highest level since February 2024, with a $3.50 increase to $27.27. This represents an almost 15% increase. The EU has agreed on an 18th package of sanctions against Russia for its war in Ukraine. This includes measures to deal further...

Western Europe

North Asia

Transportation

Armenia and Azerbaijan have substantive talks but no major breakthrough

Their governments reported that the leaders of Armenian and Azerbaijan had substantive talks on Thursday in Abu Dhabi, which amounted to their most serious direct discussions yet in an effort to end nearly four decades of conflict. In March, the two sides announced that they had reached an agreement on a draft of a peace accord. However, progress has been slow and sporadic since then. The first official meeting between the Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev and Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan in the capital city of the United Arab Emirates was the first since the leaders approved the draft. The...

Passenger Ground & Sea Transportation

Russian President Vladimir Putin dismisses transport minister Starovoit

According to a decree issued by the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, his transport minister was fired on Monday. Roman Starovoit had been in his position for just over a month. Starovoit was abruptly dismissed without explanation. After almost five years of serving as the governor of Russia's west Kursk region, he was appointed Transport Minister in May 2024. Few months after leaving this role, Ukrainian forces spilled across the border to Kursk when Kyiv launched their The biggest incursion Since the beginning of the war, in 2022. Vitaly Savelyev was Starovoit’s predecessor in the role of transport minister. He became...

Transportation

The June Russian Urals oil supply to SOCAR's STAR Refinery in Turkey reached a record high.

LSEG data and traders reported that Russian Urals oil supplied to Turkey's STAR refining facility, controlled by Azerbaijan SOCAR in June, reached a record high of 800,000 metric tonnes (about 195,000 barallons per day). STAR has a capacity exceeding 200,000 bpd, making it the largest refinery in Turkey. SOCAR and Russia's Lukoil signed a long-term contract in 2023 for oil supplies. Traders said that the STAR refinery receives the majority of its crude oil from Lukoil. SOCAR did not immediately respond to an inquiry for comment. LSEG data shows that Turkey increased its purchases of Urals Oil in June to...

Transportation

Turkey's Urals crude imports will reach a 1-year high in the month of June

LSEG data and two sources stated that the increase in Turkey's Urals crude imports is due to seasonal demand and healthy refinery margins. According to LSEG, the imports of Urals in Turkey will reach 1.64 million metric tonnes in May. This will be the highest level since May 2024 when the country imported 1,76 million tons. The second largest importer of Urals crude oil by sea is Turkey, after India. It has not complied with Western sanctions against Russia, but it does comply with international laws. Data shows that urals prices were below $60 per barrel at Russian ports during...

Transportation

Mitsui OSK CEO: Shipping in Gulf is continuing, and we are closely monitoring the situation

Japan's second-largest shipping company, Mitsui O.S.K. Takeshi Hashimoto, CEO of Lines (MOL), said that the company is continuing to operate as usual in Gulf while closely watching the situation in the area. Hashimoto said on the sidelines the Energy Asia Conference that "we are operating so many container, car carriers, and chemical tankers, so it is very difficult for us reduce or stop the service." He added that although there was no alternative route in the Gulf for shipping, it had been re-routed to the Cape of Good Hope following the attack by the Yemeni Houthis on ships in the...

Transportation

CPC daily oil supply in May is down 6% compared to April

According to industry sources and calculations, the Caspian Pipeline Consortium has reduced daily oil production in May from April by 6% to 5,906 million metric tonnes (1.51 millions barrels per day). CPC, the company that carries over 80% of Kazakh oil exports connects Tengiz in western Kazakhstan, and other fields, with the CPC terminal at Yuzhnaya Ozereyevka in Russia, near Novorossiisk. Sources said that Kazakh exports of oil via CPC dropped to 5.386 millions tons in may from 5.523 in April, while Russian oil supplies via CPC reached 0.52 million tonnes in May compared with 0.57 million in April. The...

Transportation

LSEG and other sources showed that Russia increased its Arctic oil supply to Syria.

According to LSEG and shipping data cited from an industry source, Russia has increased its supplies of oil to Syria. Syria needs it for its refineries. Russia has considered Syria a major gateway for its military and commercial operations in the Middle East. The Kremlin announced in January that Moscow was in negotiations with Syria's newly islamist-led government to maintain its bases in the west. According to LSEG and a source, a tanker that was hit by U.S. sanction, Mitzel, has loaded 140,000 metric tonnes of Russian oil at the Arctic port Murmansk. It is now heading to Baniyas, which...

Transportation

New German Chancellery Chief calls for stronger Russia sanctions

Thorsten Frei is the chief of staff to Germany's new chancellor. He said that Europe must step "outside its comfort zone" in order to consider more severe sanctions against Russia. These could include a ban on uranium or gas, or tapping into frozen Russian assets. The EU and Britain have announced new sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. They are focusing on the "shadow fleet" (oil tankers and financial companies) that has helped Moscow avoid other sanctions. Frei told an interviewer in his new office at the Chancellery that the next round of EU sanction measures, which are...

Transportation

EU plan to phase-out Russian gas by 2027

It said that the European Commission would propose next month legal measures for the EU to gradually phase out its imports of Russian gas, including liquefied gas, by the end 2027. Here are some key details: GAS AND LNG Before the full-scale invasion in 2022, Russia supplied around 45% (or a little more) of all gas consumed by the European Union. This share dropped to 19% in the past year and the EU is determined to eradicate it completely as a result of the war. In plans published Tuesday, the European Commission announced that it will present legal proposals in...

Transportation

Equinor anticipates a tight European summer gas supply

The need to replenish Europe's storages that were two-thirds empty following the winter will keep the market tight, and demand an increase in the supply of liquefied gas, according to Anders Opedal, CEO of Equinor. Equinor is the continent's biggest gas supplier. The European gas storage sites have ended winter heating at their lowest levels since 2022. This is due to the colder weather, lower wind speeds and increased demand for gas. Opedal stated that Europe will need 200-300 additional LNG cargoes than last year. He said that gas storages in Europe are low and that a tighter market is...

Transportation

Kremlin denies that Russia has held gas talks with Europe or US

The Kremlin announced on Thursday that Russia does not hold talks with Europe or America about Russian gas supplied via Ukraine. Since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, in February 2022, and the explosions at the Nord Stream subsea pipelines in the summer of 2016, Russian gas supplies have been cut off to Europe. The gas exports from Russia to Europe via Ukraine have also fallen since the beginning of this year, when the transit agreement expired and Ukraine refused a renewal due to the conflict in Ukraine. Sources with knowledge of the issue told this magazine that as...

Oil Pipeline

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...