December 2019

U.S. industrial production and manufacturing production both rebounded 1.1 percent in November after declining in October

Crude oil production from the major US onshore regions is forecast to increase 30,000 b/d month-over-month in December from 9,105 to 9,135 thousand barrels/day, gas production to increase 77 million cubic feet/day from 85,521 to 85,598 million cubic feet/day .

Technology continues to grow in its importance in all industries, including the utility sector. Utilities face special challenges as they try to meet increasing demands from customers, regulators, and a market that’s becoming increasingly diverse.

As with many industries, the expectations for distribution power companies are that they either hold their operating costs flat year over year, or that they reduce their O&M expenditures each year.

While toilets and indoor plumbing are taken for granted in developed countries, in the developing world — India, parts of Africa or Southeast Asia — it’s not a given.

BP and Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) signed a definitive agreement relating to the formation of their new Indian fuels and mobility joint venture. This follows the initial heads of agreement signed in August this year.

South Korea will shut up to 15 coal-fired power plants for a period of three months starting December to curb air pollution, which impacted imports in November.

Kazakhstan’s real gross domestic product (GDP) growth is projected at 4.0% for 2019, before easing to 3.7% in 2020,

Four projects aimed at building up Uzbekistan's technical capacity, human resources, developing nuclear infrastructure, and strengthening nuclear and radiation safety have been approved by the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA's) board of governors. The Central Asian country aims to have two nuclear power reactors in operation by 2030.

Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco) has completed, through its subsidiary Aramco Overseas Company B.V. (AOC), the acquisition of 17% of Hyundai Oilbank from Hyundai Heavy Industries Holdings, for approximately US$1.2 Billion. The completion follows receipt of all necessary regulatory consents and approvals.