News

HONG KONG / Reuters CEFC China Energy has been hit by legal action from a creditor, even as the cash-strained conglomerate’s biggest financial backer, China Development Bank (CDB), is attempting to dissuade lenders from taking action, sources said. State-backed China Everbright Bank Co has filed multiple lawsuits against CEFC (Shanghai) International Group Co, a CEFC subsidiary, in a Shanghai court …

LONDON / Reuters The United Nations has blacklisted a North Korean ship for receiving oil in an October transfer that breached UN sanctions, as first revealed by Reuters. Reuters in December reported that Russian tankers had supplied fuel to North Korea, which relies on imported fuel to keep its struggling economy functioning, by transferring cargoes at sea. European security sources …

DAMMAM / WAM The MENA region has committed $345 billion to critical energy projects under execution while an additional $574 billion worth of development is pla- nned over the next five years, bringing total committed and planned investments up to $919 billion to meet growing demand and demographic and urban expansions, according to MENA Energy Investment Outlook, issued by Arab …

Bloomberg Damac Properties Dubai Co. hired banks including Barclays Plc and HSBC Bank Plc for a possible sale of US dollar-denominated Islamic bonds, according to people familiar with the matter. The second-largest listed real estate developer in Dubai is expected to hire more banks to arrange the debt sale, which may happen as soon as this month, said the people, …

Bloomberg America’s most prolific oil field is now its worst market for natural gas. A pipeline shortage that’s leaving gas trapped in West Texas’ Permian Basin means prices for the fuel there are the lowest of any major US hub, wresting that distinction from Appalachia’s Marcellus Shale. Prices for Permian gas, produced alongside oil in the play, have tumbled 32 …

Bloomberg Bahrain, the smallest energy producer in the Persian Gulf, discovered its biggest oil field since it started producing crude in 1932, according to the country’s official news agency. The shale oil and natural gas discovered in a deposit off the island state’s west coast “is understood to dwarf Bahrain’s current reserves,” Bahrain News Agency reported, without giving figures. US …

Bloomberg Crude fell as a sell-off in equity markets signalled a flight from riskier investments. Futures slid as much as 1.9 percent in New York. US stocks declined as China imposed retaliatory tariffs on US goods, the latest move in escalating trade dispute between world’s largest economies. At the same time, supply concerns that prompted hedge funds to increase bullish …

Reuters The Iraqi cabinet approved a plan to raise the nation’s crude oil output capacity to 6.5 million barrels per day by 2022, according to a government statement. Iraqi Oil Minister Jabar al-Luaibi said in January capacity was currently close to 5 million bpd. The country is producing more than 4.4 million bpd in line with an agreement between the …

BAGHDAD / Reuters Iraq plans to award oil and gas exploration and development contracts in 11 new blocks on April 15, oil ministry spokesman Asim Jihad said. Iraq had initially set June 21 as the date to open the bids for the new blocks, located in border areas with Iran and Kuwait, and in offshore Gulf waters. Bidding documents will …

HARVARD / WAM The International Conference on Humanitarian Crises, which was held at Harvard Club of Boston, has hailed the UAE’s pioneering role in humanitarian field. The participants praised HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, for her role …