December 2018

IMF - Bolivia's real GDP growth is projected at 4.5 percent in 2018, one of the highest rates in the region. Growth is supported by continued accommodative policies, a second economy-wide wage bonus, and strong agriculture output.

МИНЭНЕРГО РОССИИ - В ходе совещания с членами Государственной комиссии по вопросам развития Арктики Дмитрий Медведев отметил, что в настоящее время доля России на мировом рынке СПГ составляет около 4%, при этом к 2035 году она возрастет до 15-20%. При этом в случае успешной реализации проектов "Ямал СПГ" и "Арктик СПГ 2" только валютные поступления составят около $30 млрд в год, отметил Дмитрий Медведев.

EXXONMOBIL - -ExxonMobil said that it has made a final investment decision to develop the West Barracouta gas field in Bass Strait to bring new gas supplies to the Australian domestic market. The project, located in the VIC/L1 block offshore Victoria, is part of the company’s continuing investment in the Gippsland Basin.

TOTAL - Total has signed an agreement to divest a 4% interest in the Ichthys liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Australia to operating partner INPEX for an overall consideration of 1.6 billion USD. The transaction, which is subject to Australian regulatory approvals, reduces Total’s interest in the asset to 26%.

REUTERS - International Brent crude oil futures LCOc1 were at $60.86 per barrel at 0543 GMT, up 66 cents, or 1.1 percent, from their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures CLc1 were at $52.22 per barrel, up 57 cents, or 1.1 percent.

PLATTS - Russia will cut its liquids output by 50,000-60,000 b/d in January under the latest agreement with OPEC, energy minister Alexander Novak said Tuesday. "The monthly schedule for the output cut has already been [set]... We expect output will be cut by at least 50,000 b/d-60,000 b/d in January," he said, as reported by Prime news agency.

U.S. EIA - EIA expects Brent spot prices will average $61 in 2019 and that West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices will average about $7/b lower than Brent prices next year. NYMEX WTI futures and options contract values for March 2019 delivery that traded during the five-day period ending December 6, 2018, suggest a range of $36/b to $77/b encompasses the market expectation for March WTI prices at the 95% confidence level.

AN - US Energy Secretary Rick Perry said on Tuesday he had discussed his country’s sanctions against Iran with Iraqi energy officials and signalled an intention to step up US private sector investment in Iraq.

PLATTS - The U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote Tuesday on a non-binding resolution expressing opposition to the completion of the 55 Bcm/year Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline from Russia to Germany.

U.S. EIA - EIA projects that U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) export capacity will reach 8.9 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) by the end of 2019, making it the third largest in the world behind Australia and Qatar. Currently, U.S. LNG export capacity stands at 3.6 Bcf/d, and it is expected to end the year at 4.9 Bcf/d as two new liquefaction units (called trains) become operational.