REUTERS - Global gas demand would increase by 1.6 percent a year to 2040 and would be 45 percent higher by then than today,

REUTERS - China has overtaken Japan to become the world’s top importer of natural gas, as Beijing’s crackdown on pollution boosts its demand for the more environmentally friendly fuel, while the restart of nuclear reactors in Japan reduces its LNG imports.

U.S. EIA - Crude oil production from the major US onshore regions is forecast to increase 113,000 b/d month-over-month in December from 7,831 to 7,944 thousand barrels/day , gas production to increase 1,038 million cubic feet/day from 74,041 to 75,079 million cubic feet/day .

WNN - world electricity generation increases from 25,679 TWh in 2017 to 30,253 TWh in 2025 and to 40,443 TWh in 2040. Global nuclear generation increases from 2637 TWh in 2017 to 3726 TWh in 2040, when it will account for around 9% of total electricity production, down from the current level of about 10.5%. Fossil fuels remain the major source for electricity generation under this scenario, but their share falls from around two-thirds today to under 50% by 2040.

WNN - The search for solutions to climate change must include discussion of nuclear power, Scott Foster, director of the Sustainable Energy Division of UNECE, told

WNN - in 2017 the average total generating cost - which includes capital, fuel and operating costs - for nuclear energy was USD33.50 per megawatt-hour (MWh).

LUKOIL - For the first nine months of 2018 LUKOIL Group's average hydrocarbon production excluding West Qurna-2 project was 2,301 thousand boe per day, which is 3.7% higher year-on-year.

REUTERS - Front-month Brent crude futures LCOc1, a benchmark for global oil prices, were at $71.59 per barrel at 0749 GMT, up 2 percent from their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose 1.6 percent to $61.15 per barrel.

OPEC - In advance of the scheduled meetings in December 2018, the JMMC directed the JTC to continue closely monitoring oil market conditions and further refine the scenario analysis based on updated data, with regard to options on new 2019 production adjustments, which may require new strategies to balance the market.

МИНЭНЕРГО РОССИИ - «Российско-саудовские отношения обладают солидными перспективами в сфере энергетики. Нами рассматриваются ряд масштабных совместных проектов, которые выведут российско-саудовское сотрудничество на принципиально новый уровень», - отметил российской министр.

CNBC - "In the 2020's we are going to have a clear physical shortage of oil because nobody is allowed to fully invest in future oil production," Michele Della Vigna, Head of EMEA Natural Resources Research at Goldman Sachs told CNBC Friday.

BHGE - U.S. Rig Count is up 14 rigs from last week to 1,081, with oil rigs up 12 to 886 and gas rigs up 2 to 195. Canada Rig Count is down 2 rigs from last week to 196, with oil rigs down 4 to 117 and gas rigs up 2 to 79.

IMF - Mexico's growth is expected to accelerate modestly in the near term, reaching 2.1 percent in 2018 and 2.3 percent in 2019. Private consumption remains the main driver of activity, supported by manufacturing exports. Private investment strengthened somewhat in recent quarters but continues to be held back by uncertainty, including, until recently, about Mexico’s future trade relationship with the United States.

REUTERS - Brent dropped $1.52 to a low of $69.13 before recovering to around $69.60 by 1135 GMT, down 4.5 percent for the week and approaching 16 percent this quarter. U.S. light crude CLc1 fell to an eight-month low below $60 a barrel, hitting a trough of $59.28, down $1.39 and off more than 20 percent since early October. That puts the U.S. contract officially in “bear market” territory, borrowing a definition commonly used in stock markets.

PLATTS - Saudi Arabia pumped 10.67 million b/d in the month, its most in the 30-year history of the Platts OPEC survey, while key ally the UAE also set an all-time high at 3.17 million b/d. Libya produced its most since June 2013 at 1.10 million b/d.