(Mon, 18 Jul 2016) Although the crude oil price decline since 2014 has led to significant reductions in operating cash flow for U.S. oil companies, their immediate financial situations are improving. As oil companies' spending falls and crude oil prices increase, the need for oil companies to find external sources of funding may decline, which could reduce financial strain in the coming quarters.
Chatter has grown increasingly loud about Indian buying interest for seaborne, imported ethanol and there has been a flurry of new players hoping to jump onto the bandwagon.
At the recent Platts Steel Markets Europe conference in Barcelona, Brexit paled in comparison to concerns around the ongoing influence of China on European steel markets.
Most predictions come with a disclaimer that if some rare, high-profile, unforeseen event were to occur, all bets are off. Usually that disclaimer is unwritten. Sometimes it is written.
(Fri, 15 Jul 2016) In 2016, nearly 300 megawatts (MW) of electricity generating capacity is expected to come online from dams that did not previously have electric generating units, commonly referred to as nonpowered dams (NPDs). NPD capacity additions make up 92% of the 320 MW of planned hydroelectric capacity for 2016.
(Thu, 14 Jul 2016) Natural gas-fired electricity generation in the United States is expected to reach a record level this year, providing an average of 3.8 million megawatthours per day in 2016, or 4% higher than in 2015. Based on EIA's latest Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), monthly natural gas-fired generation is expected to reach record highs in July and August, when weather-related demand for air conditioning increases electricity demand.
Jacqueline Holman and Cameron Carswell discuss European utilities importing high ash thermal coal from Mozambique and whether demand is likely to rise in the coming months.
Ross McCracken and Gareth Carpenter discuss developments that might radically alter the economics of CCS as an emergent technology.
(Wed, 13 Jul 2016) In the July edition of the <em>Short-Term Energy Outlook</em> (STEO), EIA forecasts that the U.S. retail price for regular gasoline will average $2.25 per gallon (gal) this summer (March through September). The forecast price for this summer is lower than the 2015 summer average of $2.63/gal, but higher than the forecast from the April 2016 <em>Short-Term Energy and Summer Fuels Outlook</em>. The change in the forecast since April is largely attributable to increases in crude oil prices.
UK steel demand is likely to be hit by the nation’s exit from the EU. Construction and infrastructure development look set to take the brunt of the “Leave” decision.
