A rare tour of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve
The world’s largest emergency stockpile of crude oil is quickly falling apart.
Total U.S. electricity sales projected to grow slowly as electricity intensity declines
(Wed, 15 Jun 2016) Electricity sales, as projected in the U.S. Energy Information Administration's most recent Annual Energy Outlook (AEO2016) Reference case, increase in each sector through 2040. In 2015, 3.7 trillion kilowatthours (kWh) of electricity were sold, and total electricity sales are projected to rise 0.7% annually through the projection period. The residential sector currently purchases the most electricity, with a 38% share of total electricity sales in 2015.
OPEC Revenues Fact Sheet
(Tue, 14 Jun 2016) For 2015, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) earned about $404 billion in net oil export revenues (unadjusted for inflation). This represents a 46% decline from the $753 billion earned in 2014, mainly as a result of a precipitous fall in average annual crude oil prices during the year, and to a lesser extent to decreases in the level of OPEC net oil exports. This revenue total was the lowest earnings for OPEC since 2010.
India Country Analysis Brief
(Tue, 14 Jun 2016) India was the third largest global energy consumer behind China and the United States in 2013. Despite having notable fossil fuel resources, India has become increasingly dependent on energy imports to meet its growing demand. As India?s population grows and its economy develops, the country will require more access to energy infrastructure, electricity, and fuel supply from various sources.
First new U.S. nuclear reactor in almost two decades set to begin operating
(Tue, 14 Jun 2016) The Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA) Watts Bar Unit 2 was connected to the power grid on June 3, becoming the first nuclear power plant to come online since 1996, when Watts Bar Unit 1 started operations. Watts Bar Unit 2 is undergoing final testing, producing electricity at incremental levels of power, as TVA prepares to start commercial operation later this summer. The new reactor is designed to add 1,150 megawatts (MW) of electricity generating capacity to southeastern Tennessee.
Natural gas flaring in North Dakota has declined sharply since 2014
(Mon, 13 Jun 2016) The volume of North Dakota's natural gas production that is flared has fallen sharply in both absolute and percentage terms since 2014. In March 2016, 10% of North Dakota's total natural gas production was flared, less than one-third of the January 2014 flaring rate, which was at 36%. Flaring rates and volumes have significantly decreased as North Dakota's total natural gas production has continued to grow, setting a monthly total natural gas production record of 1.71 billion cubic feet per day in March 2016.
EU court ruling on ethanol duties creates question for both US, European markets
Following The EU's decision to invalidate a country-wide antidumping duty for ethanol imports from the US, we discuss what the ruling, how the markets are reacting, and what could happen in the near future.
Qatari LNG deliveries to Europe down; volumes to Mideast, S Asia rise
Desmond Wong on Europe having seen a slow down in deliveries of Qatari LNG, with increased volumes heading into the Middle East and South Asia.
Demand steady for China's alumina, but growing supply limits price rise
Alumina prices in China have been on the rise since February--a complete reversal from last year when prices were crashing. Where could prices be headed in H2?
Quarterly coal production lowest since the early 1980s
(Fri, 10 Jun 2016) Coal production in the first three months of 2016 was 173 million short tons (MMst), the lowest quarterly level in the United States since a major coal strike in the second quarter of 1981. Among the supply regions, coal production from the Powder River Basin in Montana and Wyoming declined the most in tonnage and percentage since the previous quarter.