Author: Rigs & Barge World

Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said on 18 April that Ankara may seek to extend a gas import contract with Iran, which is due to expire in July, although formal negotiations have yet to begin. The agreement allows for delivery of up to 9.6bcm annually but Iranian supplies have been irregular due to rising domestic demand, particularly during winter. Iran exported a record 9.43bcm in 2021 but volumes fell to 5.41bcm in 2023. Last year, Turkey imported 7.81bcm from Iran, equating to 13.5% of its total imports. Turkey relies heavily on pipeline imports from Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran, though it…

Egypt has put three blocks on offer in the Gulf of Suez as part of the Open Blocks Licensing Program (OBLP) initiative, providing interested parties with the chance to bid for previously held acreage outside a typical official bid round. The North Shadwan-1, North Shadwan-2 and North Shadwan-3, which hold combined estimated reserves of 55mn barrels, are located offshore at the southern entrance of the Gulf of Suez. The region has witnessed somewhat of a renaissance of late with oil output rising to a seven year high of 131,000 b/d for February (MEES, 17 April). (CONTINUED – 124 WORDS) Read…

Demand for rooftop solar systems across Europe has risen sharply following the outbreak of the war in Iran, as households increasingly seek protection from escalating power costs driven by severe global energy market disruptions, Reuters reported. The conflict has triggered significant increases in oil, natural gas, and electricity prices, with European gas benchmarks spiking by over 30%, briefly exceeding $50 per megawatt-hour (MWh), placing immense financial pressure on both consumers and businesses while accelerating the shift toward stable energy alternatives. Solar energy has emerged as a key beneficiary of this trend. Industry sources indicate that homeowner demand has more than…

Karim Badawi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, confirmed that the petroleum sector is executing an ambitious five-year plan to increase production by upgrading and expanding existing infrastructure, according to a statement by the Ministry. The strategy aims to rapidly integrate targeted increases in reserves and production into the national grid, preventing bottlenecks and optimizing additional potential. Primarily, these efforts focus on reducing the national import bill, meeting domestic market requirements, and supporting the expansion of value-added industries. The announcement was made during the General Assembly of Agiba Petroleum Company, a joint venture (JV) company between Eni’s subsidiary IEOC Production…

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly convened the Supreme Council of Energy today to review the status of electricity, petroleum products, and natural gas supplies, according to a statement by the cabinet. During the session, the Council affirmed its commitment to securing energy requirements for national and industrial projects, ensuring operational sustainability while maximizing productive capacities. This strategic coordination is designed to bolster economic growth and accelerate the localization of domestic industry amidst prevailing regional and international challenges. Attended by Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi and Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, the session focused on securing…

Russia will reroute crude oil volumes originating from Kazakhstan that had been destined for Germany through the Druzhba pipeline to alternative export channels beginning May 1, Reuters reported, citing the Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak. Novak explained that the shift was based on available logistical options and had been coordinated with Kazakhstan. He also downplayed the impact on Europe, noting that Germany has already reduced its reliance on Russian oil imports. The development follows a Reuters report on Tuesday indicating that flows of Kazakh oil to Germany via the Druzhba pipeline would cease at the start of May. Kazakhstan’s…

QatarEnergy has celebrated the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) export cargo from the Golden Pass LNG project in Sabine Pass, Texas, marking a key milestone toward full commercial and export operations. The inaugural cargo was safely loaded onto the Al-Qaiyyah LNG carrier, a 174,000 cubic meter vessel recently built in South Korea. The shipment represents a significant step in advancing the project’s operations, as Golden Pass LNG moves closer to full-scale production and exports. The project forms part of QatarEnergy’s broader strategy to expand its global LNG footprint and meet growing international demand for reliable energy supplies. Golden Pass LNG…

Oman’s energy ministry has announced a new bid round comprising five exploration blocks as part of its renewed push to attract international investment in its upstream. Four of the blocks were created by splitting up two larger blocks relinquished by IOCs. The first block to have been broken up is Block 12, which was relinquished by TotalEnergies (80%op) and Thailand’s state firm PTTEP (20%) last year (MEES, 13 June 2025). The block has been split in two, with the southern portion now known as Block 16 (see map). Likewise, Block 42 has also been divided in two after Shell (50%op)…

The General Authority for the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE), in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), announced the launch of Egypt’s National Clean Hydrogen Program. This initiative is designed to advance Egypt’s transition toward a competitive, low-carbon economy anchored by green hydrogen production and export. The program will facilitate activities designed to enhance Egypt’s readiness for green hydrogen investments. These activities include conducting pre-feasibility and feasibility studies for priority projects, providing technical advisory for policy development, and strengthening institutional capacities. Furthermore, the program will support the establishment of a Green Hydrogen Center of Excellence at the…

On 13 April, Omani upstream firm Masar Petroleum (previously Hydrocarbon Finder) announced a “landmark” discovery in Block 7 (see map). According to the firm a successful exploration well has validated “the concept of the Hasriah Ridge, a geological trend 5km wide and 30km long mapped across Block 7.” It says the Ridge has a prospective resource base of 100-380mn barrels and it expects to begin producing from the discovery by year end, setting the stage for rapid development by the end of 2028. A 3D seismic campaign is planned alongside further exploration and appraisal work. Production from the block averaged…