Lower hydrocarbon prices have adversely impacted macroeconomic performance. Growth has slowed despite still resilient non-hydrocarbon activity. Real GDP growth of 2.7 percent is estimated for 2016. Inflation remained low despite subsidy cuts, averaging about 2.7 percent in 2016.

Specifically, a plan to boost wind and solar energy capacity in coming years was likely to bring in $13 billion in investment, Procaccini said. There also is potential for $30 billion in mining investments to help Argentina catch up to neighboring Chile, and efforts to cut labor costs will help attract investment in oil and gas.

“Consistent with its robust performance in recent years, once again economic growth in Kenya was solid in 2016, coming in at an estimated 5.9%—a five-year high. This has been supported by a stable macroeconomic environment, low oil prices, earlier favorable harvest, rebound in tourism, strong remittance inflows, and an ambitious public investment drive,” said Diarietou Gaye, World Bank Country Director for Kenya. “Nonetheless, Kenya is currently facing headwinds that are likely to dampen GDP growth in 2017.”

Nigeria, South Africa, and Angola, the continent’s largest economies, are seeing a rebound from the sharp slowdown in 2016, but the recovery has been slow due to insufficient adjustment to low commodity prices and policy uncertainty. Furthermore, several oil exporters in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) are facing economic difficulties.

West Texas Intermediate for May delivery rose as much as 38 cents to $52.62 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange and was at $52.38 at 12:21 p.m. in Hong Kong, on course for its highest close since March 7. Total volume traded was about 2 percent above the 100-day average. The contract gained 54 cents to $52.24 on Friday. Brent for June settlement climbed as much as 28 cents, or 0.5 percent, to $55.52 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. Prices increased 35 cents to $55.24 on Friday. The global benchmark crude was at a premium of $2.55 to June WTI.

Министр экономического развития Российской Федерации Максим Орешкин отметил, что за первый квартал рост нефтегазовых доходов в бюджете составил более 50%. «Нефтегазовые доходы остаются основой бюджета. С точки зрения развития экономики в 2016 год мы вошли на позитивном тренде: потребление электроэнергии устойчиво растет, на 2% в год, это свидетельствует о том, что экономика движется вперед», - подчеркнул Максим Орешкин.

Максим Орешкин: В топливно-энергетическом комплексе в ближайшие годы преград для экономического роста не будет

Iran’s crude oil export to India for the fiscal year 2016-2017 increased to 540,000 barrels per day showing a three-fold rise in comparison with the preceding year.

Ukraine's transit of Russian oil for exports to Europe in March rose 42% year on year to 1.25 million mt, state oil shipper UkrTransNafta said

API announced today that estimated total wells drilled and completed in the first quarter of 2017 saw an increase of 35 percent compared to the first quarter of 2016. This is a drastic improvement from 2016 levels which saw a 59 percent decrease in total wells drilled and completed from the previous year.

U.S. Rig Count is up 396 rigs from last year's count of 443, with oil rigs up 318, gas rigs up 76, and miscellaneous rigs up 2. Canadian Rig Count is up 91 rigs from last year's count of 41, with oil rigs up 34 and gas rigs up 57.

China was the top foreign buyer of US crude in February, according to data that show the growing interdependence of the world’s big energy-consuming nations at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions.

One of the most important events in the energy field was held in Moscow. The name of the Global Energy Prize laureate was announced during the international press conference. In 2017 the prestigious award goes to Michael Graetzel (Switzerland) “for transcendent merits in development of low cost and efficient solar cells, known as “Graetzel cells”, aimed to creation of cost-efficient, large-scale engineering solutions for power generation”. He will receive a golden medal and RUB 39 million (approximately $ 693 000).

Speaking to reporters following a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, the official described India as one of Iran's good customers, but stressed that New Delhi cutting its oil purchase from Iran would not cause any trouble for Tehran as the country has more demand for its oil than can produce.

Ukraine has been urged to finalise gas sector reforms by Janez Kopac, director of Energy Community that regroups EU and non-EU states in Europe.