Speak to a specialist

Register and we will customize a solution that meets your exact needs. When you speak to one of our experts, you may be qualified to sample our industry-leading products on a no-cost basis.

You can unsubscribe from these updates at any time. We manage your personal data in accordance with our privacy policy.
Generic Hero BannerGeneric Hero Banner
Latest market news

Equinor and partners to electrify Troll West

  • Market: Crude oil, Natural gas
  • 23/04/21

Norway's state-controlled Equinor and its partners have decided to invest in electrification of Troll West, part of one of the largest oil and gas fields in the Norwegian North Sea.

Partial electrification of the Troll B platform, and full electrification of Troll C, will mean that the platforms' power demand will be met from shore. It will enable the two gas export compressors on Troll C, which are driven by gas turbines, to be replaced by electric motors.

The project will reduce CO2 and NOx emissions at a cost of around 7.9bn Norwegian kroner ($1bn). It will receive NKr520mn from the Norwegian NOx fund.

"Troll B will be partially electrified in the first quarter of 2024, and Troll C will be fully electrified by the second quarter of 2026," Equinor said. The Troll A platform, which came online in 1996, was the first electrified installation offshore Norway.

Equinor last year received government consent for 10 more years of production at Troll B, with a view to developing gas production. Today it said that "oil production at Troll is in the tail end phase, whereas only half of the gas resources have been produced".

Equinor operates Troll with a 30.6pc stake. State-owned Petoro holds a 56pc interest, Shell 8.1pc, Total 3.7pc and US upstream firm ConocoPhillips 1.6pc.

"Continued electrification of oil and gas fields using power from shore is important if Equinor is to keep its pledge of a 40pc emission cut by 2030," the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) said.

Equinor, Shell and Total are among the oil and gas firms that have announced their intentions to become net-zero companies by 2050. They have pledged to cut emissions in the coming years and decades through investing in clean energy solutions, but also through developing lower-emissions and cheaper oil and gas resources.

Equinor will present its updated energy transition strategy in June. In February, the company confirmed its earlier guidance that it expects its oil and gas production to grow by about 3pc/yr in 2020–26 "based on current forecasts". The firm is also a leading offshore wind developer.

By Konstantin Rozhnov

Sharelinkedin-sharetwitter-sharefacebook-shareemail-share

Related news posts

Argus illuminates the markets by putting a lens on the areas that matter most to you. The market news and commentary we publish reveals vital insights that enable you to make stronger, well-informed decisions. Explore a selection of news stories related to this one.

News
17/12/25

Australia coal, Fe prices to fall; LNG up: Treasury

Australia coal, Fe prices to fall; LNG up: Treasury

Sydney, 17 December (Argus) — Australian iron ore, coking coal, and thermal coal prices are expected to decline by the end of December 2026, while LNG prices may rise from current levels, according to Treasury forecasts released on 17 December. Australian commodity prices are expected to return to long-run fundamental levels, Treasury said in its Mid-Year Fiscal and Economic Outlook for the 2025-26 financial year ending 30 June. Thermal Coal Australia's thermal coal prices have been supported by ex-China demand since Treasury released its July 2025-June 2026 budget on 25 March, Treasury said. But it does not expect this trend to continue. Treasury forecasts Australian thermal coal spot prices will fall to $70/t on a fob basis by the end of December 2026, down from current levels. Argus ' Australian NAR 6,000 kcal/kg fob Newcastle price was last assessed at $108.46/t on 16 December, up from $95.62/t on 25 March. Australian thermal coal exports to China fell 11pc on the year in January-October ( see table ), while shipments to Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, and Malaysia rose, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show. Steelmaking Inputs Chinese economic policy support has lifted iron ore and metallurgical coal prices since March, Treasury said. But it expects Australian iron ore and coking coal spot prices to fall to $60/t and $140/t fob, respectively, by the end of 2026. Argus ' metallurgical coal premium hard low-volatile fob Australia price was last assessed at $215.10/t on 16 December, while its iron ore fines 61pc Fe (ICX) fob Australia netback price was last assessed at $90.55/t. Treasury also expects mining investment to remain unchanged over the next two years, largely because of the iron ore and coking coal sectors. Iron ore producers may invest in projects to maintain production, but coking coal producers are expected to run down their capital stock, Treasury said. Producers are looking to sell or finance around six Queensland coking coal mines, a market participant told Argus on 2 December. Petroleum LNG prices have declined since March because of China's shift toward non-Australian gas, Treasury said. Australian LNG spot prices are expected to reach $10/mm Btu by the end of December 2026, according to Treasury forecasts. Argus ' Gladstone fob price — an LNG netback indicator — was last assessed at $9.01/mm Btu on 16 December, down from $12.90/mm Btu on 25 March. China plans to prioritise pipeline and domestic gas over LNG imports in the coming years, PetroChina International's global head of LNG Yaoyu Zhang said on 4 December. Treasury also expects global oil prices to hover around $66/bl over the next four years, down from its March estimate of $81/bl. Australia's government will raise less revenue from its petroleum resource rent tax than previously expected because of the downgrade, the agency added. The tax is forecast to generate A$1.5bn in 2025-26, down from the earlier estimate of A$1.95bn. By Avinash Govind Treasury Commodity Forecasts (Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook) $ Commodity Argus Price (most recent)* Forecasted Price* Change (%) Coking Coal 215.1/t 140/t -35.0 Thermal Coal 95.62/t 70/t -26.8 Iron Ore 90.55/t 60/t -33.7 LNG 9.01/mm Btu 10/mm Btu 11.0 * Argus' Australian NAR 6,000 kcal/kg fob Newcastle; metallurgical coal premium hard low-volatile fob Australia; Argus' Gladstone fob; Iron ore fines 61pc Fe (ICX) fob Australia netback * fob Australia basis, at end of December 2026 Argus, Commonwealth of Australia Australian thermal coal exports mn t Market Jan - Oct '25 Jan - Oct '24 YTD Change (%) China 53 60 -11 India 2.9 3.4 -16 Japan 59 59 0.5 South Korea 11 9.7 12 Vietnam 13 9.6 37 Malaysia 5.9 5.4 11 Australian Bureau of Statistics Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Find out more
News

US to blockade Venezuela oil flows: Trump

17/12/25
News
17/12/25

US to blockade Venezuela oil flows: Trump

Washington, 16 December (Argus) — US president Donald Trump dramatically escalated the conflict with Venezuela Tuesday night by declaring a blockade of most Venezuelan seaborne oil shipments. Trump, in a social media post, also demanded — without providing any credible explanation — that Venezuela return "all of the Oil, Land, and other Assets that they previously stole from us." Venezuelan oil flows to Cuba already have stopped and cargoes to other destinations were grinding to a halt, following the 10 December seizure of a Cuba-bound Venezuelan oil tanker by the US Coast Guard. "I am ordering A TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela," Trump said. The tanker seized by the US was previously sanctioned for alleged involvement in transporting Iranian oil. More than 30 tankers could be within the reach of US naval forces positioned near Venezuela if Washington decides to continue seizing ships on its sanctions list. It is not clear what Trump meant by claiming that Caracas "stole" US-owned oil, land or assets, especially his reference to "land". Venezuela during the rule of former president Hugo Chavez nationalized assets of US and other western companies. The government of President Nicolas Maduro also faces claims of expropriation of mining and other western assets, and it has defaulted on sovereign debt obligations. All in all, almost $60bn worth of claims have been advanced against Caracas and state-owned PdV in US courts and international tribunals. A US federal court ordered the sale of PdV-owned US refiner Citgo to partially satisfy those claims. Trump's post concluded a day that featured his senior national security advisers briefing US lawmakers on the US military operations near Venezuela, without mentioning a possible escalation that likely requires congressional approval. The US has stationed a large naval force in the waters near Venezuela since early September as part of an effort ostensibly aimed at stopping waterborne drug shipments. The US Navy has reported having destroyed 25 boats allegedly carrying drugs near the coasts of Venezuela and Colombia since early September, killing 98 crew members. The most recent strikes, destroying three boats, took place on Monday. US lawmakers briefed by defense secretary Pete Hegseth and secretary of state Marco Rubio earlier on Tuesday said they were left wondering about the ultimate objectives of the US military operation. By Haik Gugarats Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

Venezuela crude flows slow, Cuba feels sting

16/12/25
News
16/12/25

Venezuela crude flows slow, Cuba feels sting

Caracas, 16 December (Argus) — Venezuelan oil flows to Cuba have stopped for now and cargoes to other destinations are grinding to a halt, sources tell Argus, as US pressure on Caracas continues to build. With the exception of crude cargoes chartered by Chevron and a few other foreign oil majors working with state oil firm PdV, very little crude tanker traffic is moving out of Venezuela's main ports, according to industry and government sources. The US seizure of a crude cargo earlier this month and US threats to strike targets in the country are leading some shippers to divert ships heading to pick up Venezuelan crude. Operational problems caused by a cyberattack on PdV systems over the weekend are also impeding cargo loadings. Since late September the US has stationed a large naval force in the waters near Venezuela as part of an effort ostensibly aimed at stopping waterborne drug shipments. Overall crude exports from Venezuela since the start of the operation are not significantly different from the same period a year ago — exports from the country averaged 785,000 b/d from 15 September-15 December, compared to 792,000 b/d during that same period in 2024, according to oil analytics firm Vortexa. But since the start of December the volumes have dropped more significantly, with only seven cargoes and average volumes of 258,000 b/d, versus 17 cargoes and 1.08mn b/d of flow in the first half of December 2024. Of those seven cargoes that have left Venezuela so far this month, four are on their way to the US, one is destined to Malaysia, another to China and another to Cuba, according to Vortexa, although the final destinations may change. Following the US tanker seizure, market participants said they have adopted a "wait-and-see" approach that may be contributing to an overall slowdown in charterers in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. Rates for 2mn bl very large crude carriers (VLCCs) loading out of the US Gulf coast fell on Monday, though levels remain near three-year highs and firmly above the lows reached months prior during the summer months. Asian buyers of Venezuelan crude are unlikely to see a curtailment in flows immediately, according to market sources, since Venezuela exported a relatively steady volume of crude in early fall that has yet to be offloaded. Among the reasons for the overhang is that refiners in the Chinese refining hub of Shandong did not get their import quotas until late November. Cuba, which relies heavily on Venezuela for crude, has been the first to feel the pinch in constrained flows. Cuban premier Miguel Diaz-Canel said this week the disruption of crude supplies from Venezuela — including from the ship seized by the US earlier this month that appeared to be en route to Cuba — is creating a dire economic situation on the island. Dolores Dobarro, a former oil vice minister, told Argus that some China-bound tankers laden with Venezuelan oil previously made quick stops in Cuba to offload some crude volumes, but that traffic has largely stopped following the US seizure operation on 10 December. By Carlos Camacho, Joao Scheller and David Haydon Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

US House clears hurdle to pass permitting bill

16/12/25
News
16/12/25

US House clears hurdle to pass permitting bill

Washington, 16 December (Argus) — Republicans in the US House of Representatives have overcome an initial obstacle to passing a marquee permitting overhaul bill after committing to vote on key amendments that would strip out potential benefits for offshore wind. Republicans in the House voted 215-209 in a vote on Tuesday to approve a rule that will dictate the terms of debate for votes later this week on the SPEED Act, which has become the focus of bipartisan efforts to fast-track the permitting process for pipelines, electric transmission lines, railroads and other infrastructure. A group of far-right conservatives initially voted against the rule, but most reversed course during the vote in exchange for revisions that have yet to be made public. The Tuesday vote was one of the last remaining hurdles to House passage of the SPEED Act, which is expected to pick up some Democratic votes when it comes up for a final vote later this week. The House majority typically is responsible for putting up all the votes for a rule, meaning it would only take a few Republicans to block bill debate. Republicans were uncertain they would have enough votes for the rule, as far-right conservatives such as US representative Andy Harris (R-Maryland) and others were lobbying for changes. On Monday, US representative August Pfluger (R-Texas) urged attendees of a conference to put as "much effort as you possibly can" into persuading wavering Republicans to support the permitting bill. Pfluger is the chair of the Republican Study Commission, a caucus that represents a majority of House Republicans. "Go talk to them and let them know how important this is," Pfluger said during an event organized by the think tank the Conservative Coalition for Climate Solutions. Ahead of the vote, an industry coalition on Tuesday released a joint letter offering "strong support" for the bill. Among the signatories were the American Petroleum Institute, the US Chamber of Commerce, the Association of American Railroads and the US LNG Association. President Donald Trump has yet to take an explicit position on the SPEED Act, but administration officials are optimistic permitting legislation could be enacted. "I think we are at a time where the chance of a real permitting reform bill is higher maybe than it's ever been," US energy secretary Chris Wright said at the event on Monday. The SPEED Act would focus on the implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), a decades-old law that requires federal agencies to prepare environmental reviews of infrastructure projects. Pipeline companies and renewable energy developers alike blame the law for costly delays, both because of the time it takes for agencies to issue reviews and then the risks that permits will be thrown out because of lawsuits. The bill would narrow the scope of environmental reviews, aligning with a unanimous US Supreme Court ruling this summer. But the bill's most significant changes would make permits more durable. Even if a court found a NEPA review was flawed, the bill would keep permits intact during further analysis. And in a last-minute change, the bill would offer more permit "certainty" by limiting the government's ability to rescind prior approvals. That could protect pipeline permits such as the now-canceled Keystone XL pipeline, while also stopping Trump from halting more offshore wind projects. But the permit certainty language drew concern from far-right conservatives who oppose offshore wind. House Republicans in response agreed to vote on an amendment sponsored by Harris and others that would remove the "permit certainty" changes. Two other amendment votes also backed by Harris would stop expedited permitting treatment in the SPEED Act for offshore wind or any project that Trump has sought to block. Passage of those amendments could cost some Democratic support for the bill. Even if the bill passes, it is expected to be subject to major changes in the US Senate to attract enough support from Democrats to prevent a filibuster. Senate Democrats are hoping to insert language that would prevent what they describe as a "solar ban" being enforced by the Trump administration. By Chris Knight Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

News

Workers at Australia’s Pluto LNG set to strike

16/12/25
News
16/12/25

Workers at Australia’s Pluto LNG set to strike

Adelaide, 16 December (Argus) — Staff working for project contractor Bechtel building the 5mn t/yr second train at Australia's 4.9mn t/yr Pluto LNG terminal are set to strike from next month. The Offshore Alliance (OA) workers' union have provided notice to Bechtel and action starts at 6am local time on 5 January 2026, a union spokesman said on 16 December. Bechtel continues to engage constructively with its employees on the Pluto train 2 enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA), a spokeswoman said, adding that work onsite continues safely, and Bechtel remain focused on the successful completion of the project Hundreds of union members represented by the OA voted to authorise protected industrial action via ballots published by the Fair Work Commission on 4 December allowing an unlimited number of stoppages at the site from 30 minutes to 24 hours in length. But a new vote on the EBA is planned to take place on 20 December, which could see the industrial action cancelled. The present EBA covering Bechtel's workers expires on 19 December, Argus understands. Australian independent Woodside Energy is the operator of the Pluto project, which is planning to produce 8mn t/yr of LNG from its Scarborough gas field offshore Western Australia later next year. A Woodside spokesman told Argus the industrial dispute is a matter for Bechtel, its workforce and its unions. Train 2 is due to come on line in the second half of 2026, Woodside has said, while train 1 modifications will be completed by early 2027 ahead of that facility processing an eventual 3mn t/yr of Scarborough's drier gas . By Tom Major Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Related Products

Argus North American Long-Term Electricity Forward Curves

Argus North American Long-Term Electricity Forward Curves

Independent market valuation tool to support investment and trading decisions on North American Electricity markets
Find out more

Argus North American Long-Term Electricity Forward Curves

Argus North American Long-Term Electricity Forward Curves

Independent market valuation tool to support investment and trading decisions on North American Electricity markets
Find out more

Argus Refinery Gate Values: A crucial piece of the crude supply chain puzzle

Unlock the true value of your crude or choose the best crude for your refinery
Find out more

Unlock the True Value of Crude with Argus Refinery Gate Values (RGVs)

Make smarter decisions across the crude supply chain - from production to refining
Find out more

Argus Asia Crack Spread Forward Curves

Independent market valuation tool to support investment and trading decisions across Asia’s oil markets.
Find out more
Generic Hero Banner

Business intelligence reports

Get concise, trustworthy and unbiased analysis of the latest trends and developments in oil and energy markets. These reports are specially created for decision makers who don’t have time to track markets day-by-day, minute-by-minute.

Learn more