Woodside chief steps up call for carbon pricing

Original article by Glenda Korporaal
The Australian – Page: 22 : 4-Apr-19

Woodside Petroleum CEO Peter Coleman has told the LNG 2019 conference in Shanghai that the industry can take a leading role in reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. Amongst other things, he says LNG can replace fuels that generate higher emissions, including in the road transport and shipping industries. Coleman also argued the case for a global price on carbon, but cautioned that policies aimed at reducing carbon emissions will fail if they are regarded as having a negative impact on jobs and prosperity.

CORPORATES
WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED – ASX WPL, BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, SHELL COMPANY OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, CHEVRON CORPORATION, HUDONG-ZHONGHUA SHIPBUILDING (GROUP) COMPANY LIMITED

LNG Asia price slump irks east coast manufacturers

Original article by Angela Macdonald-Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 20 : 28-Mar-19

The Asian spot price of LNG has fallen to a three-year low of around $US4.50 per million British thermal units, which equates to about $6.30 per gigajoule. In contrast, the spot price in Sydney is trading at around $11.25/GJ. Some gas buyers have urged the federal government to intervene by imposing restrictions on Queensland’s LNG exporters, but Resources Minister Matthew Canavan says the best way to put downward pressure on domestic prices is to find new sources of supply.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND SCIENCE, SANTOS LIMITED – ASX STO, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, WESTON ENERGY, INCITEC PIVOT LIMITED – ASX IPL, CLAYPAVE PTY LTD, REMAPAK PTY LTD, WORRELLS SOLVENCY AND FORENSIC ACCOUNTANTS

Miner Forrest makes long march to Norway to protest offshore oil drilling

Original article by Perry Williams
The Australian – Page: 21 & 24 : 22-Mar-19

Australia’s National Offshore Petroleum Safety & Environmental Management Authority has received more than 30,000 submissions regarding a proposed oil drilling program in the Great Australian Bight. Fortescue Metals Group founder Andrew Forrest is amongst those who oppose the drilling plans of Norway-based Equinor, due to the potential environmental impact on the Bight. Forrest’s Minderoo Foundation recently launched the Flourishing Oceans initiative.

CORPORATES
FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, MINDEROO FOUNDATION, EQUINOR, AUSTRALIA. NATIONAL OFFSHORE PETROLEUM SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY, THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY, VALE SA, CHEVRON CORPORATION, BP PLC, FLOURISHING OCEANS, AUSTRALIAN PETROLEUM PRODUCTION AND EXPLORATION ASSOCIATION LIMITED, ACIL ALLEN CONSULTING PTY LTD, WOOD MACKENZIE

Gas supply glut deflates prices for exporters

Original article by Perry Williams
The Australian – Page: 24 : 15-Mar-19

Bernstein analyst Neil Beveridge an increase in global LNG supply in 2019 will put downward pressure on spot prices, which will in turn impact on Australia’s LNG exporters. It is estimated that up to 58 million tonnes of additional LNG production may be approved during 2019, while a final investment decision regarding another 64 million tonnes of supply is slated for 2020.

CORPORATES
BERNSTEIN INVESTMENT RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT, WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED – ASX WPL, OIL SEARCH LIMITED – ASX OSH, TOTAL SA, EXXONMOBIL CORPORATION

WA ditches carbon offset rules

Original article by Paul Garvey
The Australian – Page: 4 : 15-Mar-19

Western Australia’s Environmental Protection Authority has agreed to shelve new guidelines on emissions-intensive projects following intervention by the state government. Premier Mark McGowan stepped in following meetings with representatives of energy producers. The EPA will undertake further consultation regarding its proposed rules on carbon offsetting for new industrial projects. Oil and gas producers had expressed concern that the proposed guidelines would jeopardise a number of new projects in the state.

CORPORATES
WESTERN AUSTRALIA. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AUTHORITY, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED – ASX WPL, SANTOS LIMITED – ASX STO, CHEVRON CORPORATION, ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Carbon offsets threaten projects

Original article by Paul Garvey
The Australian – Page: 17 & 20 : 14-Mar-19

The Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority’s new guidelines on the carbon neutrality of resources projects continue to attract scrutiny. Macquarie Group has warned that the guidelines are likely to result in Woodside Petroleum’s Browse LNG project being delayed, and its modelling suggests that the cost of Browse could blow out by more than $US5bn. Woodside COO Meg O’Neill has told a conference in Perth that the EPA guidelines could jeopardise both the Browse and Scarborough projects, as well as the long-term future of the North West Shelf venture.

CORPORATES
WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED – ASX WPL, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AUTHORITY, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, REPUTEX ENERGY, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF MINES, INDUSTRY REGULATION AND SAFETY, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, ADANI MINING PTY LTD, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, THE CHAMBER OF MINERALS AND ENERGY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED, BP PLC, ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC

US-China trade deal puts pressure on LNG exporters

Original article by Glenda Korporaal
The Australian – Page: 20 : 12-Mar-19

China has sourced about 80 per cent of its LNG imports from Australia, Qatar, Malaysia and Indonesia over the last eight years. However, there is speculation that negotiations for a trade deal with the US could see China agree to significantly increase its LNG imports from the US. Any such deal could have major implications for Australia’s LNG exports to China, while other exports could also be affected if China agrees to ramp up its trade with the US.

CORPORATES
CHINA PETROLEUM AND CHEMICAL CORPORATION, CHENIERE ENERGY INCORPORATED, WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED – ASX WPL, CHEVRON CORPORATION, PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED, CHINA NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Carbon rule threatens WA projects

Original article by Brad Thompson, Angela Macdonald-Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 9 : 8-Mar-19

Western Australia’s Environmental Protection Authority has issued guidelines regarding new emissions-intensive projects. It states that any new or expanded project that emits over 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year should be carbon neutral. The new guidelines potentially jeopardise new LNG projects worth over $45 billion, although EPA chairman Tom Hatton notes that its decisions are not binding on the state government.

CORPORATES
WESTERN AUSTRALIA. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AUTHORITY, WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED – ASX WPL, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY, THE CHAMBER OF MINERALS AND ENERGY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED, THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY

Gas shortage to hit within three years

Original article by Perry Williams
The Australian – Page: 19 & 22 : 27-Feb-19

EnergyQuest has forecast that states on the east coast of Australia will experience a shortage of gas by 2022, and they will have insufficient gas to meet peak demand by 2026. The consultancy has also warned that while Queensland will be able to increase supply to the east coast in the near-term, the state’s own production will begin to decline from 2025. EnergyQuest CEO Graeme Bethune says the expected shortfall means importing LNG is likely to be the best option. The looming gas shortage is also forecast to result in gas prices remaining high over the long-term.

CORPORATES
ENERGYQUEST PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, AUSTRALIAN ENERGY MARKET OPERATOR LIMITED, SANTOS LIMITED – ASX STO, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED

Oil Search says gas output will double in PNG

Original article by Perry Williams
The Australian – Page: 22 : 20-Feb-19

Oil Search has posted a 2018 net profit of $US341.2m, which is 13 per cent higher than previously, with revenue up six per cent to $US1.535bn. A sharp rise in the price of LNG and crude oil during the year helped offset a decline in full-year production due to an earthquake in Papua New Guinea early in the year. Oil Search still aims to double LNG production in PNG by 2024. Shareholders will receive a final dividend of $US0.085 per share, and a full-year payout of $US0.105 a share.

CORPORATES
OIL SEARCH LIMITED – ASX OSH, EXXONMOBIL CORPORATION, TOTAL SA, RBC CAPITAL MARKETS