REUTERS - Brent spot crude oil futures dropped 30 cents, or 0.4 percent, to $73.91 a barrel by 0435 GMT, adding to a 1.8 percent loss in the previous session. U.S. crude futures were down 38 cents, or 0.6 percent, at $68.38 a barrel, having dropped nearly 2 percent on Tuesday.

МИНЭНЕРГО РОССИИ - По итогам голосования представителей Национальных комитетов стран членов Мирового энергетического совета Российская Федерация получила право на проведения 25-го Мирового энергетического конгресса, который пройдет в Санкт-Петербурге в период с 11 по 15 июня 2022 года. Заявку на право проведения 25-го Мирового энергетического конгресса подавали также Национальные комитеты США и Португалии.

U.S. EIA - U.S. energy expenditures declined for the fifth consecutive year, reaching $1.0 trillion in 2016, a 9% decrease in real terms from 2015. Adjusted for inflation, total energy expenditures in 2016 were the lowest since 2003. Expressed as a percent of gross domestic product (GDP), total energy expenditures were 5.6% in 2016, the lowest since at least 1970.

SHANA - Iran exported an average of 2.3 million barrels per day of crude oil to Asian and European countries during the four months. This is while exports for last calendar year's corresponding period stood at 2.115 mbd.

U.S. BEA - The U.S. direct investment abroad position, or cumulative level of investment, increased $427.3 billion to $6,013.3 billion at the end of 2017 from $5,586.0 billion at the end of 2016, the foreign direct investment in the United States position increased $260.4 billion to $4,025.5 billion at the end of 2017 from $3,765.1 billion at the end of 2016.

PLATTS - EDF maintained its annual French nuclear output target of 395 TWh and reported further progress in the regulator-requested Creusot review of its entire nuclear fleet with 34 reactors now cleared and 48 files submitted to the ASN by July 30.

WNN - "The vision of Saudi Arabia 2030 considers nuclear energy as an important source to support stability and sustainable growth," Al Sultan said. "Deployment of nuclear energy aims for peaceful purposes, in a safe, secure and sustainable manner consistent with highest standards and best practices. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has requested the INIR mission to support this goal. It was a valuable tool to pinpoint areas of improvement and ensure that the required infrastructures are in place before signing the contract for building the first nuclear power plant in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."

BP - BP’s profit for the second quarter and half year was $2,799 million and $5,268 million respectively, compared with $144 million and $1,593 million for the same periods in 2017.

PLATTS - Germany has added over 2 GW of new solar capacity over the past year as the rebound for the sector accelerates and annual additions are on track for the strongest growth since 2013, the latest monthly data from the federal grid regulator showed

PEMEX - Pemex achieved total sales for 254 billion pesos in the second quarter of 2018, a figure 36% higher than the result obtained during the same quarter of the previous year. Operating yields were 120 billion pesos, a growth almost 37% greater than the second quarter of 2017. Operation, management, distribution and sales costs remained stable and aligned with the current austerity and expenditure policies.