EIA - Imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the 28 countries that make up the European Union (EU-28) averaged 5.1 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in 2017, increasing for the third consecutive year but remaining below their 2011 peak.

FT - That the Nord Stream 2 pipeline will increase Europe’s dependence on Russian natural gas is a geographic and arithmetical fact. But buried in the heated rhetoric — now rising to US sanction threats — over how much that matters, is just how inexpensive it would be for Europe to purchase supply diversity with liquefied natural gas from the US.

МИНЭНЕРГО РОССИИ - Наш товар безальтернативен. Ни американцы, ни катарцы, ни норвежцы, ни африканцы не могут поставить такие объемы за такую низкую цену. Поэтому надо дать возможность нашим партнёрам сходить ко всем трём продавцам, попробовать договориться. Они в итоге все равно к нам вернутся, лишние деньги никто тратить не хочет.

REUTERS - French energy group Total and China’s CNOOC have strengthened their existing partnership in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) sector to increase their output, the companies said on Monday.

PLATTS - Novatek will hold 49% and Fluxys 51% in the joint venture, which plans to build and operate a 300,000-mt-a-year terminal for receiving and unloading mid-scale LNG carriers, keeping LNG in storage, and providing downstream LNG distribution services.

PLATTS - Norwegian natural gas exports to the UK jumped to their highest in six months Wednesday as consistently high UK prices incentivized flows normally only reserved for wintry periods.

WNN - China and Belgium have signed a framework agreement on cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The agreement was one of several accords signed in Brussels yesterday during a meeting between Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel.

NPD - Preliminary production figures for September 2018 show an average daily production of 1 607 000 barrels of oil, NGL and condensate, which is a decrease of 255 000 barrels per day compared to August.

REUTERS - The United States must not determine European energy policy or decide whether Germany buys Russian gas, a top German diplomat said on Tuesday.

BLOOMBERG - The wealth fund’s initial case had focused on limiting Norway’s exposure to a drop in oil prices, given its status as western Europe’s biggest petroleum producer. When the proposal was first made last year, it rocked markets, and drew responses from a number of major investors.

IEA - Switzerland has the lowest carbon-intensity of its energy supply among all IEA countries thanks to a largely carbon-free electricity sector dominated by hydro and nuclear generation. However, with the country’s 2017 decision to gradually phase-out nuclear power, Switzerland faces a considerable energy-sector transition in coming decades.

REUTERS - French utility EDF said on Tuesday that nuclear electricity generation from its reactors in France rose 2.7 percent to 30.1 terrawatt hour (TWh) compared with the same month a year ago, due to lower volume of outages.

REUTERS - The Nord Stream 2 pipeline that will transport Russian gas to Germany will be completed on time even if new sanctions are imposed on Moscow, Russia’s energy minister said.

МИНЭНЕРГО РОССИИ - российско-германское взаимодействие в сфере ТЭК насчитывает почти 100 лет, за годы сотрудничества компании "Юнипер" удалось реализовать множество совместных проектов.

IMF - We project real GDP growth at 4.2 percent in 2018 and 3.5 percent in 2019. Full implementation of the structural reform agenda will further boost growth potential. Headline inflation has increased to 2.6 percent in August and is expected to remain close to the center of the inflation target range of 3 percent over 2018 and 2019.