Politics & Regulation

 Connecting Pipe Sections Above Water (copyright by Nord Stream 2)
Connecting Pipe Sections Above Water (copyright by Nord Stream 2)

Pipe Laying Work On Nord Stream 2 Commences Again In The Baltic

Undeterred by the threat of punitive sanctions if work on Nord Stream 2 resumes, the construction of the last hundred plus meters of the gas pipeline on the seabed of the Baltic picked up again after a one year hiatus.

Pipeline in the mountains (copyright by Shutterstock/BILD LLC)
Pipeline in the mountains (copyright by Shutterstock/BILD LLC)

Growing concern by Canada’s Energy regulator

There is growing concern by Canada’s Energy regulator for the financial viability of two major pipeline projects. The first is the Trans Mountain expansion project and the second concerns construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. The annual Energy Futures report concludes that as Canada adopts stricter climate change policies, there will be less need for new natural gas transport capacity.

Pipeline construction (copyright by AdobeStock/Sergii Ryzhkov )
Pipeline construction (copyright by AdobeStock/Sergii Ryzhkov )

Western Australia gets the go-ahead for the construction of a 580 km pipeline

Western Australia gets the go-ahead for the construction of a 580 km pipeline, costing $460 million, which will connect the Western Perth onshore gas production basin with mining customers in the Midwestern and goldfields regions of Western Australia.

A man in a business suit offers money (copyright by Shutterstock/Oleksandrum)
A man in a business suit offers money (copyright by Shutterstock/Oleksandrum)

AfDB and Uganda grant $1 million to boost East African Crude Oil Pipeline

The African Development Bank and the government of Uganda have signed an agreement to each provide $500,000 of finance for micro, small and medium sized private enterprises along the East African Crude Oil pipeline (ECOP). Grants to local businesses along the route could help them access new market opportunities and help build links with regional, national and international companies.

The Pioneering Spirit during the laying of the pipeline in Swedish waters(Copyright: Axel Schmidt / Nord Stream 2)
The Pioneering Spirit during the laying of the pipeline in Swedish waters(Copyright: Axel Schmidt / Nord Stream 2)

Nord Stream 2: It Appears Reports of Its Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated

Against all odds Nordstream 2, which for the past nearly 12 months looked as if it was literally dead in the water, is scheduled to resume construction on the last 120-km of the disputed pipeline on 5 December.

Bridge with pipelines (copyright by Shutterstock/tcly)
Bridge with pipelines (copyright by Shutterstock/tcly)

Europe's "Last Dictator" Throws Down the Pipeline Gauntlet

Amid sizable and protracted street demonstrations calling for the head of Alexandr Lukashenko, Bylorussia's leader, the last thing Lukaschenko needs is to provoke a spat over increased Druzhba pipeline tariffs with the giant Russian bear to his east.

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Headquarters in Washington, DC (copyright by Shutterstock/Mark Van Scyoc)
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Headquarters in Washington, DC (copyright by Shutterstock/Mark Van Scyoc)

FERC Proposes Guidance on Oil Pipeline Carrier Contracts with Affiliates

America’s energy market regulator, known as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), has issued a suggested policy statement providing guidance for oil and petroleum products pipeline operators, concerning tariff rates and terms of conditions related to affiliate contracts.

Joe Biden on January 07, 2020 (copyright by Shutterstock/Ron Adar)
Joe Biden on January 07, 2020 (copyright by Shutterstock/Ron Adar)

Biden Presidency Imperils Key Oil Pipelines

There is much media speculation that the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden will result in delays or abandonment of new pipeline projects. Pipeline projects will depend less on government’s energy policies and more on the state of the oil and gas industry and market demand.

Enbridge Energy Headquarter (Copyright by Shutterstock/ JHVEPhoto)
Enbridge Energy Headquarter (Copyright by Shutterstock/ JHVEPhoto)

Pipeline company vows to reduce its GHG emissions 35% by 2030, hit zero by 2050

Calgary-based Enbridge, North America’s largest crude oil pipeline operator, has announced plans to drastically cut their greenhouse emissions by 35 percent by 2030 and to reach net zero by the year 2050.

American flag waving with the Capitol Hill (copyright by Adobe Stock/rarrarorro)
American flag waving with the Capitol Hill (copyright by Adobe Stock/rarrarorro)

Nord Stream 2 Sanctions Now Part of US Defense Policy Bill Before Congress

In yet another move by the US government to prevent the 120-km pipe-laying completion of Nord Stream 2 on the floor of the Baltic, sanctions have been included  in the annual U.S. defense policy bill.

Pipes for natural gas pipelines (copyright bv Shutterstock/Pictureguy)
Pipes for natural gas pipelines (copyright bv Shutterstock/Pictureguy)

Colombia updates gas pipeline tariff regime

The Colombian state regulator of electricity, oil and gas markets, known as the Comisión de Regulación de Energía y Gas (CREG), has just published a new set of guidelines as part of its tariff regime update, known as resolution 160 of 2020.

United Arab Emirates and Israel, two flags waving against blue sky (copyright by Shutterstock/Sasha_Strekoza)
United Arab Emirates and Israel, two flags waving against blue sky (copyright by Shutterstock/Sasha_Strekoza)

Israel - UAE Deal to Transport Emirati Oil to Europe Takes Another Step Forward

As reported last month in the PTJ, the Israeli Europe Asia Pipeline Company (EAPC) has been active exploring the possibility of transporting oil from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Europe via a pipeline that connects the Red Sea city of Eilat and the Mediterranean port of Ashkelon.

Saudi Arabia on the map (copyright by Shutterstock/Marcio Jose Bastos Silva)
Saudi Arabia on the map (copyright by Shutterstock/Marcio Jose Bastos Silva)

The Islamic State Calls on Its Followers to Target Oil Pipelines in Saudi Arabia

The Islamic State has long targeted leading officials in the Saudi monarchy for their perceived apostacy. The terrorist organization has placed the Kingdom in its sights once again by calling on its supporters to target oil pipelines and other economic infrastructure for attack.

nagorno-karabakh map (copyright by Shutterstock/Nemanja Cosovic)
nagorno-karabakh map (copyright by Shutterstock/Nemanja Cosovic)

TAP pipeline commissioning unlikely to be disrupted by Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

The end-of-year commissioning of the 10 billion cubic metre (BCM) a year Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) is unlikely to be disrupted by the ongoing clash between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the province of Nagorno-Karabakh.