BLOOMBERG - Natural gas will probably emerge as the main fossil fuel “winner” as it balances renewables in power generation and is used as a substitute for oil in petrochemicals. Long-term gas demand is set to increase by 15 percent, or by 750 billion cubic meters, compared to business as usual,

BLOOMBERG - The fund shocked markets around the world in November when it asked for permission to divest oil and gas companies to reduce financial risk, arguing Norway as a whole is already heavily exposed to oil as western Europe’s biggest petroleum producer. At the time of the proposal, the fund held about $40 billion of shares in oil giants such as Exxon Mobil Corp. and Royal Dutch Shell Plc.

AOG - The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has unveiled plans to invest $45bn alongside partners, over the next five years, to become a leading global downstream player.

PENEWS - Blackstone Group LP is planning a first close this quarter on more than half of the roughly $4.5 billion it seeks for its third energy fund, according to a person familiar with the matter. The New York firm is raising the pool three years after it sealed $4.5 billion for its previous energy fund, people said.

AOG - Shell Gas & Power Developments has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Oman’s government to cover proposed energy development projects in Oman. The agreement covers upstream gas exploration and development, gas-to-liquids (GTL), liquefied natural gas (LNG) and renewable energies.

AOG - Bahrain, recently announced that it had unearthed around 80 billion barrels of unconventional oil and up to 20 trillion cubic feet of tight gas off its west coast. The discovery could potentially transform the island state’s reserves which currently total well under 200 million barrels.

REUTERS - Uzbekistan plans to join an $8 billion project to build a natural gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to India, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said on Monday, although it was unclear whether Tashkent might eventually ship gas through it.

REUTERS - Egypt aims for foreign investment in the oil and gas sector to reach about $10 billion in the 2018/19 fiscal year that begins in July, Petroleum Minister Tarek El Molla said

ENI - Eni will invest €7 billion in Italy over the next four years, including €1 billion in green activities

AOG - Kuwait plans to invest $113bn over the next five years to enhance oil exploration and production activities both inside and outside the country

WBG - South Asia has regained its lead as the fastest growing region in the world, supported by recovery in India. With the right mix of policies and reforms, growth is expected to accelerate to 6.9 percent in 2018 and 7.1 percent next year.

WBG - Investments in infrastructure and education, skills, and health, are not only key to sustaining high growth but will also ensure that poor and vulnerable families have access to better job opportunities. Delivering inclusive economic growth through good jobs remains the country’s most pressing challenge, according to the World Bank.

PLATTS - India's state-run refiners and Saudi Aramco signed an agreement Wednesday to jointly build an integrated refinery and petrochemical complex on India's west coast at a cost of $44 billion, Saudi energy minister Khalid al-Falih said.

МИНЭНЕРГО РОССИИ - «Своевременно приняты налоговые меры стимулировании добычи позволил нам освоить, новые удаленные регионы, шельф, существенно нараститьдобычу ТРИЗов т.е. те категории запасов, которые раньше были экономически нерентабельны. В этот период мы сделали большой шаг в сторону реализации нашего СПГ потенциала. СПГ. Существенно обновили и расширили наши инфраструктурные возможности. Объем ежегодных инвестиций в нефтегазовый сектор вырос более чем в 2 раза за последние 6 лет. Продолжилась газификация страны, развивается рынок газомоторного топлива», - сообщил Александр Новак.

REUTERS - Norway’s $1 trillion sovereign wealth fund should be allowed to invest in unlisted renewable projects such as solar parks and wind farms, the ruling Conservative party voted on Saturday.