Episode 410: Bulgarian energy developments in doubt as country gears for elections

Eloise Radley, Energy Market Reporter, and Ignacio Sotolongo, Senior Editor at ICIS, sit down to discuss how geopolitics has impacted US oil production in recent years and how things could change if we see a new administration in November.

Deputy Crude Editor Cecilia Barreiro and Energy Market Reporter Eloise Radley sit down with Market Editors, Nazif Nazmul and Shruti Salwan to discuss how we can tackle the transport sector in a transitioning world. Are sustainable fuels the answer to decarbonising transportation? Or is there a lack of support in Europe? Join us as we address the current use of biofuels and Sustainable Aviation fuel in Europe, policy and challenges. 

Crude prices rose above $90/bbl for the first time this year last week,  after Saudi Arabia and Russia announced they will extend voluntary oil production cuts until the end of the year. Worries of tight supply could continue to drive oil prices higher, with some market participants even suggesting $100/bbl crude by the end of 2023. In this podcast, ICIS crude oil experts outline three things which could intensify an oil supply deficit in Q4. 

As European countries are looking to wean themselves off Russian gas imports, buyers have been looking for opportunities elsewhere, including in the Caspian region. A number of central and eastern European countries have expressed interest in buying gas from Azerbaijan but Italian buyers who are already off-taking volumes would like to increase imports. However, does Azerbaijan have enough resources to supply central, southern and eastern Europe? If not, will CEE countries compete with Italy over limited supplies? Italy and CEE senior gas market reporters Camilla Vitanza and Luka Dimitrov tell Aura Sabadus about the constraints and the options that are available. 

Corporate governance rules at Ukraine’s energy state owned enterprises (SOEs) have been critical to market reforms and to helping the country secure a long-term gas transit contract with Russia. As Ukraine is preparing to receive billions of euros for the reconstruction of its war-torn energy sector, consolidating corporate governance rules are even more important as a guarantee against possible corrupt practices. However, in this interview with ICIS’ senior journalist Aura Sabadus, Dr Andriy Boytsun, a corporate governance expert, explains that safeguards have been eroded even as pressures to tighten up the independence of companies such as Naftogaz, GTSOU or Ukrenergo are growing. 

In this episode, ICIS power editor Laura Mendes and Sakshi Chandra, UN Energy Engagement Analyst, for Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) to discuss the 24/7 carbon-free energy concept and its role in the energy transition.

ICIS Director of Energy Analytics, Matteo Mazzoni and Matthew Jones, Lead Analyst, discuss the key takeaways of the electricity market design reform proposals.

SINGAPORE (ICIS) - Over 5.3m tonnes of Japanese long-term LNG contracts are up for expiry in 2023 at a time when last year's largest buyer plans to reduce LNG procurement and boost nuclear and renewable power generation.How will Japan’s energy strategy influence the Asia Pacific LNG market?ICIS senior market reporter Yun Xie talks with Yuriy Humber, founder of Japan NRG and ICIS senior LNG Analyst, Joachim Moxon.

ICIS Director of Energy Analytics Matteo Mazzoni and Lead Analyst Matthew Jones discuss: what are the European Commission trying to achieve, current situation of PPAs, role of CfDs, main positions of the member states on key issues and what the outcome is likely to be.

In 2022, when Gazprom stopped supplies to Bulgaria, the country switched at short notice from nearly full dependence on Russian gas to complete diversification. It commissioned a new interconnector with Greece, tapped LNG imports and ramped up off-takes of Caspian gas. More recently it signed a deal for access to Turkey’s infrastructure, which could open up a new supply route to southeast Europe.  However, Luka Dimitrov, senior energy journalist focusing on southeast Europe tells regional gas market specialist Aura Sabadus that the political instability combined with a number of controversial measures taken in recent weeks raise concerns about the future of Bulgaria’s energy sector and that of the entire region.