Germany imported 20.0% more gas in the first half of 2019 than a year earlier and its import bill rose by 14.8%, official data showed.

Gazprom’s share was around the average of the past three years, edging down by 1% from the previous year to 32%. But it was the first year-on-year drop since 2014-2015, when it was hit by low gas demand in Europe.

Norway's the Government Pension Fund Global returned 3.0 percent, or 256 billion kroner, in the second quarter of 2019.

Preliminary production figures for July 2019 show an average daily production of 1 799 000 barrels of oil, NGL and condensate, which is an increase of 402 000 barrels per day compared to June.

Iberdrola will receive 1.63 billion pounds ($2 billion) for the 40% stake

"Russian imports are expected to rise month on month in August," it said. "A significant amount of ESP sales for August delivery for both northwest Europe and Central and Eastern Europe is expected to counteract the effect of reduced contractual nominations."

Russian gas sales on Gazprom Export's Electronic Sales Platform (ESP) rebounded above 100 million cu m in Thursday's auction, continuing a trend of steady strong sales on the platform this month.

The 1,230-km (765-mile) Nord Stream 2 pipeline, now under construction, has come under fire from the United States and several eastern European, Nordic and Baltic countries, which say the conduit will increase Europe’s reliance on Russian gas.

Turkey has made continuous efforts to protect its sovereign rights and the rights of Turkish Cypriots in the Eastern Mediterranean region, where it has been drilling in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which was registered with the United Nations in 2004.

German solar generated a record 46 TWh in 2018, covering 8% of electricity demand.

The bill would sanction vessels that lay Russian energy export pipelines at least 100 feet below sea level.

Royal Dutch Shell plc (Shell), through its affiliate Shell Overseas Holdings Limited, has completed the sale of its shares in Shell Olie-og Gasudvinding Danmark B.V. (SOGU), holding a 36.8% non-operating interest in the Danish Underground Consortium (DUC), to Norwegian Energy Company ASA (Noreco) for a consideration amount of $1.9 billion.

Shell Offshore Inc. (Shell), a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell plc, has completed the sale of 22.45% non-operated interest in the Caesar-Tonga asset in the US Gulf of Mexico to Equinor Gulf of Mexico LLC (Equinor), a subsidiary of Equinor ASA, subject to approval of the lease assignments by the regulator. The total cash consideration was $965 million.

The new rules cast doubt over the commercial operation of Nord Stream 2, which argues that it has been unfairly targeted by fast-tracked legislation to stall the project.

Russia has said it wants to cut substantially its gas flows to Europe via West-leaning Ukraine by doubling the capacity of the existing Nord Stream trunk via the Baltic Sea and laying gas pipes to Turkey and onwards through the Black Sea.