May, 2020

• 24 May

  Oil pares weekly gain amid doubts over China growth

  

  Bloomberg Oil fell, paring a weekly gain, as investors weighed improving supply fundamentals against doubts surrounding China’s economic growth. Futures in New York slid 2% but notched a 13% increase for the week. Major producers continue to scale back production. US explorers laid down another 21 oil rigs, bringing the total to the lowest since 2009. Beijing abandoned its economic …

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• 24 May

  China urges big banks to boost manufacturing loans

  

  Bloomberg China’s banking regulator is asking big banks to maintain annual growth of at least 5% in outstanding loans to the manufacturing sector, the Shanghai Securities News reported on Saturday. By the end of 2020, the ratio of mid-to-long term loans to the sector should rise by 1 percentage point compared to the start of the year, the newspaper reported, …

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• 24 May

  UN chief salutes global prayer for humanity

  NEW YORK / WAM UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has saluted the efforts of the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity for the 14 May Global Prayer for Humanity, “as inspired by the interfaith leadership of His Holiness Pope Francis, the Grand Imam of Al Azhar Sheikh Ahmed Al Tayeb, and many others.” In a statement following a virtual meeting with the …

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• 24 May

  India plans to start 200 more trains from June 1

  

  Bloomberg Indian Railways will start 200 additional trains from June 1 to ferry passengers as the nation gradually eases coronavirus lockdown restrictions. Tickets will be sold online and through physical booking windows, Vinod Kumar Yadav, Chairman of the Railway Board, said in a televised address to reporters. Passengers will be screened at the stations and only those without symptoms will …

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• 24 May

  Putin orders support for Russia’s oil industry amid Opec, allies cuts

  

  Bloomberg Russian President Vladimir Putin gave his government until June 15 to come up with a plan to support the country’s oil industry while output is slashed under an agreement among the world’s main producers. Putin ordered ministers to work out “special rates” that pipeline operator Transneft PJSC and Russian Railways JSC will charge for transporting crude and petroleum products …

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• 24 May

  Key UK pension fund urges Total to clamp down on CO2

  

  Bloomberg The UK’s biggest pension fund by membership said it will back a climate resolution asking for France’s Total SA to adopt a tougher stance on climate change at its annual shareholder meeting next week. The resolution was brought by 11 European asset managers last month, in another example of investors pressuring Big Oil to tackle environmental challenges. Since then, …

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• 24 May

  BP scales back management amid reorganisation

  

  Bloomberg When BP Plc announced its plans to tackle its carbon emissions in February, it overshadowed another big change: Getting rid of the traditional Big Oil corporate structure split between refining and production. Those changes are now pressing ahead as Chief Executive Officer Bernard Looney, in a memo sent to staff on May 14, said his new leadership team have …

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• 24 May

  Venezuelans lack gas to cook over shortage

  

  Bloomberg Venezuelans forced to queue for days to fill up their cars with gasoline are now facing a growing shortage of propane to cook after a processing plant caught fire and distribution is being rationed. The Jose petrochemical complex that supplies propane used by about 90% of Venezuelans to cook has slowed production since a fire and a pipeline leakage, …

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• 24 May

  Profits from ‘fuels’ trail behind oil’s recovery

  

  Bloomberg Returns from turning oil into fuels are lagging behind crude’s jump, signalling that prices are still vulnerable and demand may not be recovering fast enough to justify the rally. Crude futures have soared 73% in May, rebounding from their historic crash below zero just over a month ago, helped by production cuts across the globe after the coronavirus crisis …

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• 23 May

  Built by oil’s riches, Houston goes all-in on solar power

  

  Bloomberg The oil and natural gas capital of the world is going all-in on solar power. Houston will begin a new five-year contact in July with NRG Energy Inc to power all of its city-owned properties, from fire stations to airports, with renewable energy. The move means the nation’s fourth-largest city will reach its goal of 100% renewable power five …

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