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Rollin’ on the river — or not, for global biofuels
The essential role rivers play in the transportation of biofuels across Europe and the United States becomes only too apparent when water levels hit extreme highs or lows as they have done this year....
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Keeping the hope for more offshore power afloat with wind turbines
The evolution of floating wind turbines mirrors almost exactly that of offshore oil exploration and production structures. Norwegian oil company Statoil’s decision to build the first floating wind farm...
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A re-rollers’ steel market on scrap, DRI costs
Rolling semi-finished steels into bars used for construction is the healthiest steelmaking option available right now, looking at margins. The Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean region has, like...
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US natural gas is high, low, and looking to 2016
If I had to sum up the US natural gas industry of 2015 in four words, they would be: high production, low prices. This year has indeed been a year that some people — such as consumers — will want to...
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The dying embers of Britain’s blast furnaces
Blast furnaces across the UK are under threat as the steel industry bounces from one crisis meeting to another. And, as the last flames in the furnaces flicker in the headwinds, commentators are...
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Despite holding steady, North Dakota braces for oil supply crash
When North Dakota oil production broke above 1 million b/d for the first time in April 2014, many expected that the 2 million b/d threshold would be breached in relatively short order. With WTI spot...
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The world is flat … at least for global ethylene producers while oil prices...
On Jan. 20, WTI and Dated Brent closed at $26.54/b and 25.96/b, respectively, the lowest we have seen oil prices since 2003. Since then we have seen prices rise and hover around the $30/b level. Unlike...
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Sanctions failed to take a bite out of Russia’s oil patch: Fuel for Thought
International sanctions against Russia introduced in 2014 turned out not to be the bogeyman they first seemed to be, and could in fact have played a key role in helping the Russian oil sector to not...
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The Bakken oil production decline officially begins
For months, analysts have said that reports of the death of the Bakken oil boom have been greatly exaggerated. Despite the historic collapse in oil prices and North Dakota’s rig count falling to levels...
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Pemex’s balance sheet calls out for investors in oil, gas and power sectors
Pemex, Mexico’s state oil company, is hoping that an infusion of capital from private equity firms and other foreign investors will help it stave off a pressing liquidity crunch. Pemex, which is going...
View ArticleThe stars align to support US steelmakers
Real demand is still flat and US steelmakers appear to be facing a “perfect storm” — a good one, this time. Whether it’s Adam Smith’s “invisible hand” or some kind of global steel zeitgeist, things are...
View ArticleThe US’ Jones Act gets a new fight and a new argument
A nearly century-old US shipping law that has broad, bipartisan support in Congress faces a new opposition effort aimed at lessening costs to East Coast refiners. US Representative Mike Pompeo, a...
View ArticleAquisition set to increase Alaska’s jet fuel buying, but still outpaced by...
The last decade of consolidation in the US airline industry has created some of the world’s largest airlines but the most recent move, the purchase of Virgin America by Alaska Air Group, makes a...
View ArticleQatar’s OPEC MAX meeting and the oil price rout that wasn’t
There was much gnashing of teeth as Qatar’s grand meeting of oil producers failed to reach agreement April 17 to freeze production at January levels. Commentators predicted a collapse in oil prices and...
View ArticleBarreling down the highway to hell, straight to Steel City
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump may be more likely to become the Prince of Promises than the President of the United States. But in the run-up to Tuesday’s Pennsylvania’s primary...
View ArticleUranium industry focuses on costs as supply glut continues
Uranium miners and traders are suffering from oversupply, low prices, lack of liquidity and low demand from utilities, and have little to no expectation of improving market conditions in the short- to...
View ArticleClosed loop: The disruption of electricity and fuel distribution
The new range of electric cars are priced in the $35,000-$40,000 bracket. Solar PV and home energy storage costs are falling fast. A green, closed loop of self-generation and consumption is on offer...
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The multifaceted metamorphosis ahead for Mexico’s energy markets
The Mexico energy market has been a hot topic ever since late 2013 when the government decided to liberalize the energy sector, opening it up to foreign investment. The reform provides an unprecedented...
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Inside Nippon Steel’s Kashima plant: Do you want to know a secret?
“No photos!” a pouncing PR person tut-tutted. Yoko was more amused than bemused as she holstered her smartphone once more. Colleague Yoko Manabe and I were part of a Japanese media group touring the...
View ArticleRecovery of US coal industry is more than a fairytale
Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock — perhaps buried by mountainous utility stockpiles — you’ve probably heard the US thermal coal market is struggling. Demand is down. Production has plummeted....
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