Energy

  Bloomberg Germany’s ruling coalition agreed on additional measures worth about $16.5 billion to ease the burden on businesses and households from soaring energy costs, including a temporary reduction in fuel prices. Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government will cut the tax on fuel for three months by 30 euro cents ($0.33) for gasoline and 14 cents for diesel, Finance Minister Christian …

  Bloomberg TotalEnergies SE is working on a plan to develop gas discoveries in South Africa with its partners and the government, according to its managing director in the country. The oil major starting in 2019 has made discoveries of gas and condensate — a light liquid hydrocarbon — offshore the most industrialised nation in Africa. After overcoming strong offshore …

Bloomberg The UK government is preparing to step in and temporarily run Gazprom PJSC’s British retail supply arm as it comes under increasing pressure from companies turning their backs on Russian business over the war in Ukraine. Gazprom Marketing & Trading Retail Ltd is a prime candidate to be taken into the UK’s special administration regime if it fails, to …

Bloomberg Thailand will freeze retail diesel prices and subsidise cooking gas prices for the low-income groups, part of a raft of measures unveiled to provide relief to consumers hit hard by soaring energy prices. Retail diesel prices will be capped at 30 baht ($0.9) a liter till the end of April, PM Prayuth Chan-Ocha told reporters after a cabinet meeting …

Bloomberg European Union leaders may hold off on endorsing intervention in the bloc’s wholesale energy market as member states are divided on the most effective emergency options to curb soaring power and gas prices, exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Instead, at a summit in Brussels, the EU heads of government may agree on immediate actions to replenish depleted natural …

Bloomberg Italy will impose a windfall profit tax of 10% on some energy companies to finance a 4.4 billion-euro ($4.9 billion) package of measures to protect consumers and businesses from soaring prices. The levy will be calculated on the increase in profit that energy companies reported between October 2021 and March 2022, compared with the same period the previous year. …

  Bloomberg Electricite de France (EDF) SA kicked off a deeply discounted rights offering of more than 3.1 billion euros ($3.4 billion), a stopgap measure as the state prepares to overhaul the ailing nuclear power giant. A broader reform of the debt-laden utility is planned by President Emmanuel Macron, who said some EDF assets should be nationalised. The firm, already …

  Bloomberg Italy’s government is set to approve a new set of measures to cushion families and businesses from continuing increases in energy and fuel prices. The new aid won’t require additional borrowing for the time being, Prime Minister Mario Draghi said during a press conference in Rome. The package is set to be approved at a cabinet meeting. Financing …

  Bloomberg TotalEnergies SE has been warned by two UK shareholders that they would divest their stakes if the French company fails to exit its businesses in Russia. The Church of England Pensions Board and the Church Commissioners for England are turning up the heat on the energy major’s Chief Executive Officer Patrick Pouyanne, a sign of the pressure companies …

  Bloomberg Spain plans to set temporary limits on power prices in the coming weeks, in one of the boldest attempts in Europe to stem a surge in energy costs that has forced industries to shut operations and furlough workers. Ecological Transition Minister Teresa Ribera said she is confident the European Council will give the green light to limits at …