Energy Voice – Out Loud

Wind work, pipe plans and cat naps

Scotwind will see billions of pounds invested into Scotland’s offshore wind supply sector, although, for Hamish, the news came just as he was trying to have lunch. Sharing some of Hamish’s disappointment, were unions. Trade officials expressed concern about future jobs, given that the majority of the investment still seems likely to go overseas.  
Worley won work this week on a major cross-border pipeline, which would run from Nigeria to Morocco. The plan faces a number of challenges, perhaps most notably around who would provide the big pots of cash needed to build the thing.  
And finally, Allister puts the cat among the podcast pigeons by bringing us up to speed with the curious case of the one-eyed cat on the Buzzard platform. Now safely onshore, Dexter has returned home to the house he left five years ago, a perfect end to a perfect tail.  
 
About Energy Voice
Energy Voice investigates and reports on what matters in global energy, helping sector leaders understand the geopolitical and economic factors underpinning current events, and giving them a view on what’s coming over the horizon. Each year, 3.4m professionals use Energy Voice as a trusted source of breaking news and insight.
For more information on how you can speak to those professionals across multiple platforms to build your brand and generate actionable business leads, visit energyvoice.com/content-services.
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Saipem 7000, Venus and Graff, and Murlach

There’s near capsizes, deep wells and new fields in this weeks’ edition of Energy Voice Out Loud.  A lifting malfunction left the Saipem 7000 crane vessel in dangerous waters last week as amateur photographers rushed to capture the tilting vessel. And there could be implications for Scotland’s largest offshore wind farm too.  In Namibia, production dates have been set for big finds, courtesy of Shell and TotalEnergies.  And BP could soon feel the wrath of NGOs once more after it revealed plans to kick on with the Murlach oil and gas field in the North Sea.  
 
About Energy Voice
Energy Voice investigates and reports on what matters in global energy, helping sector leaders understand the geopolitical and economic factors underpinning current events, and giving them a view on what’s coming over the horizon. Each year, 3.4m professionals use Energy Voice as a trusted source of breaking news and insight.
For more information on how you can speak to those professionals across multiple platforms to build your brand and generate actionable business leads, visit energyvoice.com/content-services.
For a 30 day free trial subscription to the Energy Voice website and app, visit energyvoice.com/subscriptions.

Superglue, Cluff and disgust

Between gluing themselves to government buildings, invading Shell’s headquarters and disrupting petrol supplies at the pumps… it’s been a busy week for environmental organisers. We discuss the role of activists in achieving net zero, and whether some of the asks meet the reality of getting there.  
Offshore wind jobs is back on the news agenda as more work blows east to Lamprell, leaving uncomfortable realities for Scotland as ScotWind projects draw closer to fruition.  
And North Sea veteran Algy Cluff is hoping to help Invictus Energy “Get On With It” on a long-neglected gas prospect in Zimbabwe.  
 
About Energy Voice
Energy Voice investigates and reports on what matters in global energy, helping sector leaders understand the geopolitical and economic factors underpinning current events, and giving them a view on what’s coming over the horizon. Each year, 3.4m professionals use Energy Voice as a trusted source of breaking news and insight.
For more information on how you can speak to those professionals across multiple platforms to build your brand and generate actionable business leads, visit energyvoice.com/content-services.
For a 30 day free trial subscription to the Energy Voice website and app, visit energyvoice.com/subscriptions.

Bigger, Faster, Better 04 – UK vs Finland on heat networks

To achieve net zero, we’re going to need to talk about – and tackle – domestic heating. One of the best ways to cut carbon in this area is district heating, providing warmth from a central point and distributing this around a neighbourhood. Costs are fairly high but a government push, perhaps involving some degree of bundling for distributors, offers a way forward. 
The UK is only at the start of its district heating steps, but Finland relies on this technology for around half its heating stock. Expansion for both countries must come with the right mix of decarbonised heat, though. 
Tackling these questions in the fourth episode of Bigger Faster Better, Charles Robson, partner at the series’ sponsor Womble Bond Dickinson, and Annukka Saari, a senior specialist from Finland’s department of energy, get together to drill into the big heating question. 
 
About Energy Voice
Energy Voice investigates and reports on what matters in global energy, helping sector leaders understand the geopolitical and economic factors underpinning current events, and giving them a view on what’s coming over the horizon. Each year, 3.4m professionals use Energy Voice as a trusted source of breaking news and insight.
For more information on how you can speak to those professionals across multiple platforms to build your brand and generate actionable business leads, visit energyvoice.com/content-services.
For a 30 day free trial subscription to the Energy Voice website and app, visit energyvoice.com/subscriptions.

Strategy, supplies and sales

The UK has published its new energy strategy. While its timing gave little thought to Allister’s attempts to stop work before midnight, it has given some much-needed succour to North Sea developers. Among those taking increased heart is Ithaca Energy which, the next day, announced its move to buy Siccar Point, the owner of environmentalists’ bane – and perennial podcast favourite – Cambo.  
Europe is going to need more gas if it is to keep the pressure up on Russia. An appealing option would be Africa, home of substantial gas reserves. However, after so many net zero pledges, is there enough commercial support to develop these resources? There is a price to be paid for not developing affordable gas and that is likely to be coal.  
Similar challenges are facing the new crop of LNG importers in Southeast Asia. Once held up as the future of LNG demand, countries such as Vietnam have been caught wrong footed by price volatility. The best response to high global responses will be local supply – a lesson for all.  
 
About Energy Voice
Energy Voice investigates and reports on what matters in global energy, helping sector leaders understand the geopolitical and economic factors underpinning current events, and giving them a view on what’s coming over the horizon. Each year, 3.4m professionals use Energy Voice as a trusted source of breaking news and insight.
For more information on how you can speak to those professionals across multiple platforms to build your brand and generate actionable business leads, visit energyvoice.com/content-services.
For a 30 day free trial subscription to the Energy Voice website and app, visit energyvoice.com/subscriptions.

New nuclear, new LNG, new oil?

With Allister otherwise occupied, Ed takes the reigns for this week’s episode and is joined by Damon and Hamish to explore energy projects old and new across the globe.   
Energy security is the phrase of the moment, and in Japan and South Korea, it is no different. Nuclear is making a comeback in both countries - whether it can trump LNG is another matter. Sticking on LNG, construction on Tellurian’s major facility in Louisiana has got underway. It comes at an apt time, with European countries looking to ease their energy woes; Ed tells all.  
Finally, it wouldn’t be an EV podcast without some mention of Cambo. The licenses for the scheme have been extended, given Siccar Point more time to decide its next move.  
 
About Energy Voice
Energy Voice investigates and reports on what matters in global energy, helping sector leaders understand the geopolitical and economic factors underpinning current events, and giving them a view on what’s coming over the horizon. Each year, 3.4m professionals use Energy Voice as a trusted source of breaking news and insight.
For more information on how you can speak to those professionals across multiple platforms to build your brand and generate actionable business leads, visit energyvoice.com/content-services.
For a 30 day free trial subscription to the Energy Voice website and app, visit energyvoice.com/subscriptions.

Cambo, Jackdaw back in vogue, windfall relief and LNG demand

Just when you thought you could hear the death knell... Jackdaw and Cambo are back in vogue this week, along with high impact exploration in the North Sea, courtesy of Shell. 
The Chancellor's mini budget had no reference to any windfall tax (perhaps unsurprisingly given ministers  *repeatedly* saying it's a bad call while visiting Aberdeen in the last week).   
And Germany is rushing to get LNG up and running as it seeks to rapidly wean itself off Russian supply. LNG will likely be there to support it, but what of the price? 
 
About Energy Voice
Energy Voice investigates and reports on what matters in global energy, helping sector leaders understand the geopolitical and economic factors underpinning current events, and giving them a view on what’s coming over the horizon. Each year, 3.4m professionals use Energy Voice as a trusted source of breaking news and insight.
For more information on how you can speak to those professionals across multiple platforms to build your brand and generate actionable business leads, visit energyvoice.com/content-services.
For a 30 day free trial subscription to the Energy Voice website and app, visit energyvoice.com/subscriptions.

Bigger, Faster, Better 03 – UK vs Denmark on offshore wind

Wind might be a curse if you’re having a picnic, but it promises to be a mainstay of the UK and Denmark’s shift to net zero. Technology has become mature, reducing that risk. The next hurdle, though, will be demand. Can the players ensure that the power gets to where it’s needed at the right time?
What’s not in short supply is industry interest. Big Oil is transforming into Big Energy and offshore wind is going to play a major part in that. In this episode of Bigger Faster Better, Anthony Alderman of paid partners Womble Bond Dickinson and Ulrik Stridbæk of Ørsted get together to talk about how the UK and Denmark measure up.
The sector has proved its commerciality, but it is clear that government intervention will continue to play a major role in setting the terms for this maturing sector.
 
About Energy Voice
Energy Voice investigates and reports on what matters in global energy, helping sector leaders understand the geopolitical and economic factors underpinning current events, and giving them a view on what’s coming over the horizon. Each year, 3.4m professionals use Energy Voice as a trusted source of breaking news and insight.
For more information on how you can speak to those professionals across multiple platforms to build your brand and generate actionable business leads, visit energyvoice.com/content-services.
For a 30 day free trial subscription to the Energy Voice website and app, visit energyvoice.com/subscriptions.

Boris Johnson’s cognitive dissonance, Myanmar exits, and South African LNG deals

This week we explore the different exit routes pursued by Chevron and TotalEnergies in Myanmar following a brutal military coup last year. Significantly, the Energy Voice team ask whether the withdrawal processes underway in Myanmar can offer a glimpse into the divestment strategies of other big Western oil companies in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine. 
Elsewhere, Andrew makes his debut on the pod and casts the spotlight on the UK’s efforts to boost energy security after Boris Johnson hosts oil and gas CEOs to discuss boosting supply from the North Sea. The team also ponders the Prime Minister’s cognitive dissonance as he jets around authoritarian regimes in the Middle East to shore up oil supplies. 
And last, but by no means least, Ed, walks us through how miners in South Africa are cleaning up their act by moving towards LNG in their operations to replace coal-fired power, which dominates the country’s energy mix.  
 
About Energy Voice
Energy Voice investigates and reports on what matters in global energy, helping sector leaders understand the geopolitical and economic factors underpinning current events, and giving them a view on what’s coming over the horizon. Each year, 3.4m professionals use Energy Voice as a trusted source of breaking news and insight.
For more information on how you can speak to those professionals across multiple platforms to build your brand and generate actionable business leads, visit energyvoice.com/content-services.
For a 30 day free trial subscription to the Energy Voice website and app, visit energyvoice.com/subscriptions.

Staying in, looking out and eyeing more

Western companies have fled Russia in droves, following the invasion of Ukraine. Japanese companies, though, are staying put, Damon explains this week, saying energy security concerns and a desire for governmental direction has staved off such departures. 
The European Union is trying to come to terms with the energy security challenge. On the one hand, it needs gas – at least in the short term. On the other, relations with Russia have become increasingly frosty, if not frostbitten. North Africa looks like it could play a role, but it is clear that an unwillingness to opt for long-term LNG contracts is coming back to bite the EU on its regasification terminals.  
Finally, at home, PM Boris Johnson has been talking a good game about more North Sea oil and gas production. This will go down well in the highways and byways of Aberdeen, but will do nothing for the next 12 months of high prices and resulting human misery.
 
About Energy Voice
Energy Voice investigates and reports on what matters in global energy, helping sector leaders understand the geopolitical and economic factors underpinning current events, and giving them a view on what’s coming over the horizon. Each year, 3.4m professionals use Energy Voice as a trusted source of breaking news and insight.
For more information on how you can speak to those professionals across multiple platforms to build your brand and generate actionable business leads, visit energyvoice.com/content-services.
For a 30 day free trial subscription to the Energy Voice website and app, visit energyvoice.com/subscriptions.