REUTERS - The head of Ukraine’s Naftogaz said on Thursday EU-mediated talks over future Russian gas transit via the country to Europe must include Gazprom and must be based on firm commitments.

REUTERS - Brent crude futures LCOc1 were at $78.63 per barrel at 0534 GMT, down 16 cents from their last close, and more than 2.2 percent below the $80.50 multi-year high they reached on May 17. Brent broke through $80 for the first time in more than three years earlier in May. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $70.60 a barrel, down 11 cents from their last settlement.

BAKER HUGHES A GE - U.S. Rig Count is up 13 rigs from last week to 1,059, with oil rigs up 15 to 859, gas rigs down 2 to 198, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at 2. Canada Rig Count is down 2 rigs from last week to 81, with oil rigs down 3 to 35 and gas rigs up 1 to 46.

GAZPROM - It seems that putting renewables ahead of everything else doesn’t accomplish anything in today’s world. And striving for a total decarbonization of the global economy is downright quixotic. One should understand that fossil fuels will continue to play an essential role in the next 20 years.

Выступление Алексея Миллера на Петербургском международном экономическом форуме

Speech by Alexey Miller on St. Petersburg International Economic Forum

PLATTS - "With Saudi Arabia stressing the need for more capex to meet future oil demand and replace the natural decline from aging fields, and thus presumably a higher price to incentivize investment, supply cuts, in one form or another, may be extended to 2019," the note said.

PLATTS - Novak also confirmed that Russia would like to lift production ceilings under the OPEC-led output cut deal in which Russia agreed to gradually cut 300,000 b/d. The deal, in place since January 2017, has 24 OPEC and non-OPEC countries jointly cutting a combined 1.8 million b/d.

PLATTS - "At end of the day as important as Russia and Saudi Arabia are in terms of the largest countries, we have to be sensitive to views of all countries and will be consulting with all of them," Falih told a key energy session at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.

PLATTS - China's state-run oil trader Unipec has purchased around 16 million barrels of US crude oil for loading in June, marking the biggest volume ever to be lifted in a month by the company, informed sources said

МИНЭНЕРГО - Глава Минэнерго России отметил, что цена на нефть сегодня близка к 80 долларам, а год назад она была 51,5 долларов. «Год назад мы наблюдали только начало балансировки рынка, сегодня мы вышли на позитивные изменения по сравнению с прошлым годом. Сделка ОПЕК+ показала положительный результат. Цели, которые ставились, достигаются», - сообщил Александр Новак.

МИНЭНЕРГО - «В целом, все согласны, что нужно этот вопрос очень серьезно обсудить на Министерской встрече, которая состоится в июне в Вене. Там будут предложены различные варианты. Но, скорее всего, это будет плавное сокращение. Наша задача – и не дестабилизировать рынок нефти, и не перегреть его», - сказал Александр Новак

BLOOMBERG - The agreement between Gazprom PJSC and the European Commission gives gas buyers more flexibility in handling imports and greater leverage to push for lower prices. That’s likely to make flows from Russia more attractive than alternatives such as expensive new links to fields at Europe’s southeast corner or tanker shipments of liquefied natural gas.

REUTERS - Brent crude futures LCOc1 stood at $75.35 a barrel at 0913 GMT, down $1.09 from the previous close and after touching a three-week low of $74.49 earlier in the session. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $66.69, down $1.19, after hitting a six-week low of $65.80.

EIA - Financial Review of the Global Oil and Natural Gas Industry: 2017 - Brent crude oil daily average prices were $54.75 per barrel in 2017—21% higher than 2016 levels - Excluding proved reserve acquisitions, upstream costs incurred increased from 2016 levels but remained lower than 2008–15 levels - Proved reserves additions in 2017 approached the highest levels in the 2008–17 period - Finding plus lifting costs fell to $29 dollars per barrel of oil equivalent in 2017, the lowest level in the 2008–17 period - The energy companies reduced debt in 2017, the first year in the 2008–17 period - Refiners with global refining assets reduced distillation capacity for the eighth consecutive year

LUKOIL - Profit attributable to PJSC "LUKOIL" shareholders was RUB 109.1 bln, up 75.0% year-on-year. Profit growth was mainly driven by significant negative non-cash foreign exchange effect in the first quarter of 2017. Excluding this factor, profit attributable to PJSC "LUKOIL" shareholders increased by 13.5%.

ROSATOM - ROSATOM and French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission signed the strategic document on French-Russian partnership in the peaceful uses of atomic energy.

Novak Saudi Russia Oil Policy Shift OPEC

МИНЭНЕРГО РОССИИ - «Я думаю, что мы найдем общее согласие, общий компромисс. Все страны заинтересованы в стабильной ситуации на рынке. Никто не заинтересован в том, чтобы создавать перегрев на рынке», - отметил Министр.

IMF - We expect growth to stay strong this year and next—at 3.9 percent. This is being driven by stronger investment and a rebound in trade. Once again, the momentum is broad-based, encompassing the United States, Europe, Japan, China, Russia, and many other emerging market and developing countries.