Author: Erick Parel

Beijing dismisses US shipbuilding probe

Energy News Beat CSSC China’s commerce ministry on Friday dismissed a US investigation targeting China’s shipbuilding, maritime and logistics sectors, describing it as marked by “unilateralism and protectionism”. The US Trade Representative’s (USTR) office on Thursday said it has found China’s targeted dominance of the global shipbuilding, maritime and logistics sectors is “unreasonable” and is […]

Trafigura hails world’s first co-loaded ammonia and propane shipment

Energy News Beat Screenshot Multinational trader Trafigura, in collaboration with CF Industries, the world’s largest producer of ammonia, has completed the world’s first co-loaded ammonia and propane shipment operation of its kind.  In early January, the Green Power medium gas carrier (MGC) completed a single voyage from the US to Europe loaded with ammonia from […]

Greece’s Diligent now a pureplay supramax owner with sale of last handy

Energy News Beat Dry CargoEurope Greek dry bulk owner Diligent Holdings has sold its last handysize and now is focused on just the supramax sector.  Medsea from Lebanon has paid $10m to take the 2007-built, 35,000 dwt Bliss bulk carrier (pictured) leaving Athens-based Diligent with a fleet solely made up of Japanese and Japanese-affiliated supramaxes. Diligent […]

The Fed Needs to Watch Out: Amid Strong Demand from our Drunken Sailors, Retail Sales Surged in Late 2024 and Inflation Caught its Second Wind

Energy News Beat By Wolf Richter for WOLF STREET. Retail sales rose by 0.45% in December from November (+5.5% annualized), and November and October were revised higher – October from +0.46% to +0.56%, and November from +0.69% to +0.77% – and it’s on top of these upwardly revised sales that December sales grew by another 0.45%, all seasonally adjusted. […]

Trump team planning roadmap to ease Russia sanctions – Bloomberg

Energy News Beat The US President-elect’s advisers are reportedly considering easing restrictions on Russian energy depending on how Ukraine peace talks go Advisers to US President-elect Donald Trump are developing a strategy to push Russia-Ukraine peace talks which could involve easing sanctions on Moscow, Bloomberg reported on Thursday, citing sources familiar with Trump’s plans. Last week, incumbent […]

Treasury Pick Scott Bessent Destroys Dems’ Anti-Fossil-Fuel Agenda At Hearing

Energy News Beat Trump’s Treasury nominee Scott Bessent dismantled the Democrats’ talking points against fossil fuels, noting China was in an ‘energy race’ and winning. ​ A confirmation hearing exchange between Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Treasury Secretary Nominee Scott Bessent is highlighting a sharp contrast between Democratic and Republican energy policy. [emphasis, links added] […]

Trump Energy Nominee Heckled At Hearing As Dems Link LA Wildfires To Climate Change

Energy News Beat Chris Wright, Trump’s energy pick, faced questions on climate change, wildfires, and Biden’s green agenda, amid protests and partisan tensions. ​ Lawmakers questioned President-elect Trump’s energy secretary on climate change, the Los Angeles wildfires, and the Biden administration’s green energy agenda during his nomination hearing, which saw disruptions from several climate protesters. […]

Kyiv pushes ahead controversial €600m purchase of Russian ‘junk’ nuclear reactors

Energy News Beat   Reviving a Soviet-era project, the Ukrainian parliament has authorised the purchase of two Russian nuclear reactors from Bulgaria. On Thursday, the energy committee of the Ukrainian parliament voted in favour of a law which ostensibly aims to improve the business environment in the country – but which also contained a last-minute […]

Chinese car giants eyeing abandoned German factories – Reuters

Energy News Beat Localization of production is expected to allow Chinese EV makers to avoid EU import tariffs Chinese officials and car manufacturers could buy German factories that are expected to shut down, and are particularly interested in plants belonging to Volkswagen, according to a source with knowledge of Beijing’s assessment of the situation, as […]

Bulgaria takes steps to secure Balkan Stream pipeline

Energy News Beat   Following the recent alleged attempt by the Ukrainian special services to attack the TurkStream pipeline in Russia, Bulgaria has taken measures to secure Balkan Stream, a continuation of the same pipeline that delivers gas to customers in Europe. Bulgaria has stepped up surveillance and security at sites of its critical energy […]