Shell has withdrawn from plans to build a petrochemical plant in Iraq's southern Basra region after nearly 10 years, in a blow to Baghdad's aim of driving foreign investment in its energy sector. The major has pulled out following an "in-depth evaluation on the feasibility" of the Nebras complex. Shell will continue to support the project through its Basrah Gas (BGC) joint venture with the Iraqi government and Japan's Mitsubishi. Shell signed an initial agreement in 2015 to develop the project using BGC's associated gas, but it has stalled. Shell has a 49pc stake in the venture estimated at $8bn. BGC will provide ethane feedstock for the complex from its gas processing facilities, with the associated gas coming from the Rumaila, West Qurna 1 and Zubair oil fields.
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US adds pressure on Iran after talks resume: Update
US adds pressure on Iran after talks resume: Update
Recasts, updates with secondary tariff on Iran oil. Washington, 6 February (Argus) — President Donald Trump's administration on Friday announced actions aimed to add economic pressure on Iran after another round of US-Iran nuclear talks concluded in Oman without much progress. An executive order by Trump, released by the White House Friday afternoon, pledges to impose additional tariffs on US imports from countries engaged in business with Iran. The penalty is not automatic and is not set at a specific amount — it could be "for example 25pc", the order states. The US administration will determine whether any country continues to engage in business with Iran after 7 February and will then decide whether to apply the additional tariff, according to the order. US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araqchi met in Muscat, Oman, on Friday and the two governments plan to hold additional meetings at a future date, according to the host country's foreign minister, Badr Albusaidi. Araqchi told Iranian reporters that he held firm to discussing only the nuclear portfolio — rather than also addressing Iran's missile program and other issues raised by the US. Araqchi said that he asserted "the rights that the Iranian people have", which is likely a reference to Tehran's demand to continue to have nuclear enrichment capacity. The US administration is eyeing permanent curbs on Iran's nuclear program. Also on Friday, the US Treasury Department announced sanctions on 14 additional tankers allegedly linked to a network transporting Iranian crude and LPG. Whether the negotiations will avert another round of US strikes against Iran remains to be seen. Diplomats from the two countries last engaged in talks in April-June 2025, before Trump ordered a bombing raid against nuclear facilities in Iran. The new tanker sanctions were announced shortly after the talks concluded in Muscat. The pattern of combining diplomacy and sanctions pressure continues the tactic deployed by Trump's administration during the previous round of US-Iran talks. Friday's sanctions also include 15 entities and individuals allegedly tied to the Iranian oil trade. The one major difference from last year's sanctions approach is a lack of enforcement against China-based entities involved in trading Iranian crude. Iranian crude cargoes mostly are delivered to buyers in China via a network of intermediaries and shadow fleet tankers and involve ship-to-ship transfers in international waters near Malaysia and Indonesia. The US is finding it difficult to fully enforce sanctions against Iranian crude because of Tehran's ability to retaliate, US secretary of state Marco Rubio said on 28 January. Trump, who had ordered a US naval buildup in the Middle East, threatened military strikes against Iran, but also expressed a willingness to negotiate with Tehran. By Haik Gugarats Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Algeria’s Saharan Blend export disruptions to continue
Algeria’s Saharan Blend export disruptions to continue
London, 6 February (Argus) — Algeria's state-owned Sonatrach expects weather-related disruptions to its Saharan Blend crude exports to continue in February, a source at the firm told Argus . Algeria's crude exports — made up entirely of the light sweet Saharan Blend — fell to a multi-year low of 201,000 b/d in January as bad weather delayed loadings, the source said. Argus estimates exports at 476,000 b/d in December. Spot prices for Saharan Blend rose to a $2/bl premium to North Sea Dated in mid-January, when European refiners — particularly in the Mediterranean — were seeking alternatives to light sour CPC Blend. But with Europe approaching spring refinery maintenance and CPC Blend exports picking up again , Saharan Blend has eased by 70¢/bl to a $1.30/bl premium to Dated. The Algerian grade, which trades on a fob basis, is also under pressure from rising freight rates. The cost of shipping an Aframax-sized cargo of Saharan Blend across the Mediterranean and to northwest Europe has averaged around 40pc higher in the second half of January into early February, compared with the first half of January. Sonatrach raised the official February formula price for Saharan Blend to a $2.50/bl premium to Dated, up by $1.50/bl from January and the highest since December 2022. The company typically circulates its retroactive official price after clearing most of its own supplies. By Aydin Calik and Lina Bulyk Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Australia’s Pilbara shuts LNG, iron ore ports on storm
Australia’s Pilbara shuts LNG, iron ore ports on storm
Sydney, 6 February (Argus) — Australian port authority Pilbara Ports will clear all berths at the Ports of Ashburton, Cape Preston West, Dampier, and Varanus Island by 4pm local time (8am GMT) on 6 February, while Port Hedland will be closed by 9.30pm local time, it said today. Pilbara Ports will move ships out of the ports, which handle LNG and iron ore exports, because of the fast-developing Tropical Low 21U storm, it added. The port authority moved the export hubs into Cyclone Alert 2 earlier this week, market participants told Argus on 5 February. Tropical Low 21U is currently hovering off the coast of Western Australia's (WA) Kimberley region, according to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM). It is likely to develop into a cyclone by 8am local time on 7 February, as it moves south towards WA's iron ore-rich Pilbara region, BoM forecasts show. The weather system may pass close to Dampier early on 8 February. Producers shipped 1.4mn t of LNG out of Dampier port in December, down by 12pc on the year, and 15mn t of iron ore , up by 9pc on the year. Pilbara Ports' other export hubs handled 52mn t of iron ore in December. WA ports have faced weather disruptions before. Four cyclones lashed Pilbara in January-February 2025, pushing down producer BHP and Rio Tinto's WA iron ore sales in the first quarter of 2025. Cyclone Sean flooded a railcar dumper at Rio Tinto's East Intercourse Island (EEI) facility at Dampier on 20 January 2025, halting loadings at the site until early March. But Rio Tinto continued to move ore out of other WA facilities over that period. By Avinash Govind Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
E15 'council' convenes without Dem. lawmakers
E15 'council' convenes without Dem. lawmakers
New York, 5 February (Argus) — A council of Republican lawmakers tasked with negotiating major changes to US fuel policy held its first meeting Tuesday evening, leaving out Democrats that had pushed for a seat at the table. The US House of Representatives last month punted on a proposal that would have allowed year-round sales of gasoline with up to 15pc ethanol (E15) and restricted how many refiners can win hardship exemptions from annual biofuel mandates. Instead, lawmakers tasked a new "rural domestic energy council" with developing policy recommendations by 15 February in the hopes that Congress will weigh legislation by 25 February. The full council met for the first time Tuesday evening, four people familiar with the matter said. The task force includes more than 20 House Republicans with a range of views on biofuel policy, but no Democrats, two of the people said. The office of House speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana), who was in charge of appointing council members, did not respond to Argus' requests for comment. "My Democratic colleagues and I have been clear about the need for Democratic voices on this council — a concern leadership has so far failed to address," representative Nikki Budzinski (D-Illinois) said. "I will continue to press for real, bipartisan action that our growers deserve." Proposals to expand E15 have historically drawn bipartisan support, particularly from Midwestern lawmakers keen to help the region's farmers. Democrats could still support legislation that includes an E15 deal even if left out of negotiations this month. But some lobbyists close to the debate privately doubt that the council will reach any substantial compromise, especially after the earlier E15 proposal drew strong opposition from mid-sized oil refiners that want to maintain their ability to avoid the costly biofuel quotas. The council includes members from states with those refineries, including Gabe Evans' district (R-Colorado), where a Suncor refining complex is located, while CVR Energy and HF Sinclair have units in council co-chair Stephanie Bice's state (R-Oklahoma). Some Republican US senators that have long wanted deeper reforms to the biofuel mandate program are also skeptical of the earlier proposal, complicating any deal's chance of passage. "The federal government should not force Americans to put ethanol in their gas tanks," senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) said. "It is not good for the economy, the environment or car engines. We should not subsidize the corn industry at the expense of hardworking American families." The latest E15 proposal was developed partly by the American Petroleum Institute — an influential lobby within the Republican Party — and has won the support of larger oil refiners like Valero. Farmers' and fuel groups that support the earlier bill have urged the council to focus narrowly on improving it, rather than considering more divisive fuel market issues too. President Donald Trump, who has backed the biofuel industry with a proposal last year for record-high blend mandates, has made clear that he would sign legislation expanding E15 access. He said in an Iowa speech last month that he was optimistic Congress could strike a deal. It is unclear when the council, which includes a number of farm-state biofuel supporters too, plans to meet again. The large majority of gasoline in the US is sold as a 10pc ethanol blend. Farm advocates have pushed for over a decade to loosen summertime smog rules that forbid sales of higher blends in much of the country without emergency waivers . By Cole Martin Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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