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BERLIN – Despite a stabilisation of oil and gas prices in the wake of Russia’s full-bore invasion of Ukraine, Germans remain hesitant to turn up their heating. The energy crisis persists in their minds, a new report finds, and on the political agenda.

It’s been almost three years since government officials encouraged citizens to reduce their oil and gas consumption amid Russia’s war on Ukraine.

From the utilities’ point of view, the cautionary rhetoric worked a little too well. Nearly 60% of Germans are sticking to their cost-saving efforts, according to a survey commissioned by Sweden-based energy group Vattenfall.

Data by German authority Federal Network Agency indicates that, in 2024, households’ and small shops’ gas consumption remained below the average level of the pre-crisis years 2018-2021, when energy poverty was less of a concern to Germans.

Overall, nearly three of four respondents polled by Vattenfall over 65 said they had become more mindful of their own energy consumption habits since 2022 – compared with less then half of the younger generation between 18 and 35 stating the same.

With the budget-minded elderly accounting for 40% of eligible voters in Germany, all major political parties have added affordable energy policies to their programs ahead of the national election next month.

While the Social Democrats suggest “social leasing” of heat pumps – i.e.,  a rental model for lower-income households – the Green Party proposes state contributions of up to 70% for fossil-free heating installation. Meanwhile, populist party BSW would like Germany to negotiate a reactivation of the Nord Stream pipeline from Russia, and the liberal Free Democrats want to get rid of energy taxes altogether.

Overall, Germany just experienced its hottest year on record – which, coupled with oil and gas prices subsiding from the highs of the energy crisis, helped households lower their energy bills. Prices came down by 12% for gas and 8% for heating oil over the course of 2024, German comparison portal Verivox found.

Verivox energy spokesperson Thorsten Storck said the level of prices is still high, considering that gas used to be 6 cents per kWh before the crisis and is now around 11 cents.

Costs are unlikely to come down much further, however, when one considers other drivers – such as the carbon emission tax Germany charges landlords of buildings with fossil-fuel heating.

While there is legislation to prevent landlords from passing these costs onto tenants at a full rate, a social compensation bonus for lower-income households has so far failed to materialise.

As more than half of German inhabitants live in rented accommodations, and the country’s buildings are mostly heated with oil and gas and largely not modernised in terms of energy efficiency, the majority of Germans will continue to face substantial heating bills.

Three of four respondents polled by Vattenfall said they worried about whether they would be able to afford the high cost of Germany going green – which would entail paying for the installment of heat pump or district heating, or increasingly higher fees on fossil-fueled heating.

“Many people in this country notice that the energy transition is not for free,“ said Robert Zurawski, CFO of the German company.

(AB/mk)

Source: Euractiv.com

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NNPC said the groundbreaking ceremony for the mini LNG plants will be held in Ajaokuta, Kogi state, on January 30.

The five small-scale liquefaction, storage, and distribution projects are Prime LNG, NGML/Gasnexus LNG, Bua LNG, Highland LNG, and LNG Arete.

NNPC said these five strategically located plants will deliver “affordable” energy to businesses and industries across Nigeria.

The projects will drive industrial growth, attract investments, and create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, the firm claims.

NNPC did not reveal further information int the announcement, but it provided further details to local media.

According to the reports, NNPC Prime LNG is jointly owned by NNPC Trading (90 percent) and Silver Peaks (10 percent), while the NNPC Gas Marketing (NGML)/Gasnexus LNG project involves the phased construction of a 20 mmscfd LNG plant with the first phase including the construction of 7.5 mmscfd plant.

Natural gas will be supplied via the existing Oben-Ajaokuta pipeline. The supplies will be liquefied, transported via trucks, and regasified at each customer location for use.

Moreover, the Bua LNG project, a joint venture between NGML and BUA Industries, includes the construction of a plant with a capacity of 700 tons per day, and these supplies will be transported and regasified at BUA’s Sokoto cement plant.

Highland LNG will provide natural gas to industrial and commercial customers not connected to Nigeria’s pipeline network and support off-grid power generation, while LNG Arete, a Nigerian firm, aims to provide LNG as an alternative energy source.

NNPC has a 49 percent stake in Nigeria LNG, the operator of the six-train 22 mtpa facility on Bonny Island.

Besides NNPC, other partners are Shell (25.6 percent), TotalEnergies (15 percent), and Eni (10.4 percent).

Nigeria LNG is also adding the seventh production unit at the Bonny Island plant.

The NLNG Train 7 project consists of the construction of one complete LNG train and one additional liquefaction unit. The project also includes other associated utilities and infrastructures.

The new unit will add around 8 mtpa of capacity to the Bonny Island facility for a total of about 30 mtpa.

Last year, NNPC said it was also in talks with investors to revive two LNG export projects, Brass and Olokola.

In addition to onshore projects, NNPC is also working on FLNG projects.

NNPC and Golar LNG are working on a floating LNG project offshore Nigeria’s Niger Delta, while NNPC also has a 20 percent stake in UTM Offshore, which is developing Nigeria’s first FLNG project.

Source: Lngprime.com

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Romanian Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja announced plans to submit a detailed report to the government on the negative impact of the European Union’s Green Deal policy on Romania’s energy sector.

Inspired by US President Donald Trump, Burduja (PNL/EPP) revealed a shift in Romania’s energy strategy, moving from the Green Deal to what he calls the “Smart Deal.”

Burduja criticised the EU’s environmental policies, arguing that while they may be well-intentioned, they “risk making our European economies victims of bureaucratisation and decisions divorced from economic realities”.

He explained that Romania has the potential to become a regional leader in energy production but is being held back by “stifling bureaucracy and a Green Deal that ignores the realities on the ground”.

As some EPP leaders have said, “a solid debate” is needed on how and whether the EU will continue the Green Deal in the coming years, as the Union risks losing its “last chance” to rebuild the European economy “on solid foundations”, he added.

In the specific case of Romania, Burduja argued that coal-fired power plants should not be phased out before viable alternatives are fully operational. In the short and medium term, he suggested gas-fired power plants as a bridge, with nuclear power plants as the ultimate long-term solution.

Since 2024, he has signalled his intention to apply to the European Commission for an extension to the closure of coal-fired power stations.

Burduja emphasised that ensuring the country’s energy security is crucial, particularly in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine, where Russian attacks have severely damaged energy infrastructure and caused supply problems in neighbouring Moldova.

“Europeans deserve to pay less for energy, and this can only be achieved through massive energy production,” said Burduja.

“Affordable energy means cheaper goods and services, a better quality of life, higher-paying jobs, and improved European competitiveness,” he added.

Romanian Green MEP Nicolae Ștefănuță argued that “the question is not whether we can afford the green transition, but whether we can afford not to do it”. Speaking to Euractiv Romania, Ștefănuță said that Romanian authorities should take responsibility for delays and the lack of a clear energy transition strategy, rather than blaming the Green Deal.

Rejecting coal as a viable solution, Ștefănuță posed some rhetorical questions: “Do we want an economy reliant on finite, polluting resources, or do we want to invest in clean and sustainable solutions? Do we want people to suffer from pollution, with respiratory diseases becoming more prevalent in our crowded cities?”

He pointed out that Romania and Europe are already committed to phasing out coal-fired power plants, which have no future. “The future lies in renewable energy – solar and wind. Romania has the potential to lead in these areas, but we must invest in the future, not cling to the past,” Ștefănuță told Euractiv.

He concluded that the Green Deal is a solution for Europe’s energy security, enabling Romania to strengthen its strategic role and reduce its dependence on external energy sources by investing in renewable energy.

Burduja’s criticism of the Green Deal reflects a wider debate across the EU.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has pledged to push for a review of the Green Deal, criticising its “ideological approach” and warning that it risks triggering deindustrialisation.

Karol Nawrocki, the Polish presidential candidate backed by PiS (ECR), has promised to hold a national referendum on the Green Deal if he wins the election on 18 May.

(Cătălina Mihai | Euractiv.ro)

Source: Euractiv.com

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The exchange welcomed Venture Global to the NYSE community in a social media post on Friday.

Shares of Venture Global closed on the first day of trading below their initial public offering (IPO) price of $25 per share.

Venture Global’s shares closed at $24, 4 percent below the IPO price.

The company announced on Thursday the pricing of its IPO of 70 million shares of its Class A common stock, par value $0.01 at a public offering price of $25 per share.

Venture Global raised $1.75 billion in its IPO.

The company initially planned to offer 50 million of its Class A common stock priced between $40 and $46 each, seeking to raise up to $2.3 billion, while it targeted up to $110.4 billion valuation.

Earlier last week, Venture Global slashed the targeted price range for its IPO.

Based on the outstanding shares listed in the IPO, Venture Global’s market value is about $58 billion.

Last month, Venture Global filed for the IPO. The company also revealed plans to boost its export capacity to 104.4 mtpa via five projects by 2034.

Venture Global’s founders, Robert Pender and Michael Sabel, control Venture Global Partners II, or VG Partners, which is the company’s controlling stockholder.

Prior to this offering, VG Partners owned about 84 percent of all series of Venture Global’s common stock outstanding.

 

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Steven Jones, the founder of the Seafarers Happiness Index, reflects on the frustration about the treatment of seafarers in many ports around the world.

When thinking about seafarers’ happiness, it is tempting to assume their greatest challenges occur far out at sea. However, new insights reveal a different story—seafarers are increasingly speaking out about the troubling treatment they face in ports worldwide.

Ports, the very places meant to offer safe haven, respite and support, are becoming sites of frustration and mistreatment. Issues like abandonment often arise when vessels dock, but smaller indignities accumulate too, creating an environment of tension and needless neglect that takes a heavy toll on seafarers’ morale and well-being.

The latest Seafarers Happiness Index highlights some of the worst experiences, painting an unflattering picture of certain ports. Crews report unwelcoming, even hostile environments, with access to shore leave denied, poor treatment, and essential support systems failing when needed most. Frustration is mounting, as seafarers deal with a mix of petty bureaucracy, ineffective systems, and policies that make life unnecessarily difficult.

One recurring issue is the maddening inefficiency of “port buses” that either fail to turn up or operate on schedules more hopeful than reliable. Seafarers are left waiting endlessly, their much-needed shore leave disrupted by unreliable transport. This inconvenience, which is exacerbated by port gates deliberately kept closed to seafarers, adds to the feeling that their needs are unimportant. Instead of granting easy access to nearby towns, ports often force crews to enter or exit through remote gates, far from civilisation—wasting time, adding costs, and sending a clear message about their value.

Worse still, this lack of support is frequently accompanied by rude, arrogant, and offensive behaviour from port personnel. Seafarers have voiced concern about the sheer disrespect they face at the hands of gate staff. While security is necessary, there is no excuse for the aggression, rudeness, and hostility that some crews encounter, especially when these ports should be places of welcome and assistance.

It is deeply troubling when port authorities, who we might suppose want to help (or at least not hinder seafarers), end up making matters worse. There seems to be a significant disconnect between some ports and the needs of one of their most important stakeholders: seafarers.

A closer look at the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reports of many port operators may hint at the problem. Page after glossy page of graphs, imagery, and lofty commitments, yet rarely is there even a mention of seafarers.

This omission has become the norm. Port’s’ “social” priorities appear to have a seafarer-shaped blind spot. When reporting on stakeholders, seafarers are often overlooked, seemingly considered unimportant to the operation of ports. This disregard seemingly legitimising, certainly explaining, the poor treatment they so frequently receive.

It is not always the port itself that is leading the negative spiral. Often it can be the decisions of customs and immigration authorities. So, we would ask whether ports are doing enough to push back, to explain the problems and to champion crews and to stand up for them? Again, it would seem probably not.

Port personnel—whether on the gates or in the boardrooms—need to take a hard look at how their operations affect seafarers. Some honest self-assessment is needed. Port authorities should take the time to truly experience how their own port functions. Is the gate closest to town unnecessarily closed? Try taking the port bus—observe how sparse the information on schedules is, how dirty the seats are, and how unhelpful the staff may be.

Consider how it feels to be required to wear full PPE just to visit the local shops. What’s the experience like at the gate? How are seafarers treated? Only by stepping into their shoes can we truly understand the challenges they face—and only then can we determine if we are doing enough to make them feel welcomed, valued, and respected.

Until seafarers are recognised as key stakeholders and important port users then it seems problems will persist. The message is clear that ports need to modify their operations to ensure that crews can easily, safely, and respectfully access the services they need. Until that happens, the industry faces a significant, self-inflicted problem, and that is a very depressing reality.

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