Hydraulic fracturing – or fracking – has been at the center of controversies about contaminating water sources and causing earthquakes.
Global clean energy investment was $53.6 billion in the first quarter of 2017, down 17 per cent from the same period in 2016.
Crude oil inventories are near record high levels and are rising on a year-on-year basis. Gasoline and ultra-low-sulfur diesel inventories are increasing to a lesser extent. Inventories of all three remain near seasonally-adjusted record highs. However, the pace of this increase – even though still growing – is slowing rapidly, and this is, on balance, welcome news for energy producers and those who have financial exposure to them. It’s a sign that energy supply and demand are moving more closely into alignment.
OEF REVIEW:For years now, China’s been lavishly courting friends across the developing world. Commodity-dependent countries get cheap financing for development; China gains diplomatic clout and a bargain on those commodities. Both sides win – that is, until they don’t. The perils of this strategy are quickly becoming apparent. In recent years, changes of government in countries such as Myanmar and Sri Lanka have led to questions about deals signed with China under previous administrations. Now, Venezuela’s slow-motion meltdown is exposing just how terrible these deals can be for both borrowers and for China.
OEF REVIEW:The AIIB and NDB are both headquartered in China and there is a strong relationship between these two institutions. Within the infrastructure space, there is such a huge funding gap that all of these institutions can work together. All of us contribute to filling that funding gap. What sets the AIIB and NDB apart is that we are focused on the five BRICS countries, while the AIIB is focused on Asia, so we have a geographical difference. But for big regional projects in Asia, we very much welcome the opportunity to partner with the AIIB to co-finance some projects. Rather than setting up a rival institution, we consider the NDB as being complementary to the existing financial architecture…
OEF REVIEW: The EIA Financial Review covers the following points in graphical form: Geographical distribution of oil and gas companies globally, Oil and natural gas production, Operating cash flow, Capital expenditure, Cash balances, Debt refinancing, Net hedging assets, Profitability, Debt-Equity ratios, Financial leverage, Cash flow and investment.
The OPEC Reference Basket fell to average $45.46 a barrel in August. This was mostly attributed to sell-offs amid enduring oversupply and Chinese economic turbulence. Demand for OPEC crude is estimated at 29.3 million barrels per day in 2015, up 0.4 million barrels per day from the previous year.
Second-quarter 2015 financial statements from U.S. companies with onshore oil operations suggest continued financial strain for some companies. Some have turned to capital markets financing and have also reduced capital expenditures.
