Latest news with #energyproducers
E&E News
4 days ago
- Business
- E&E News
13 House Republicans urge Senate to save green credits
Thirteen House Republicans are urging Senate leaders to 'substantially and strategically' improve clean energy tax credit provisions in the House-passed megabill. Led by Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-Va.), the lawmakers said they remain 'deeply concerned by several provisions' that would aggressively phase down incentives from the Democrats' 2022 climate law and add strict new supply chain requirements. Such steps could jeopardize billions of dollars in investments and thousands of jobs, companies and trade groups have said. The letter Friday from Kiggans and Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Juan Ciscomani of Arizona and Andrew Garbarino of New York, among others, comes as Senate negotiators work on their version of the GOP's tax cut, energy and border spending budget package. Advertisement 'We believe the Senate now has a critical opportunity to restore common sense and deliver a truly pro-energy growth final bill that protects taxpayers while also unleashing the potential of U.S. energy producers, manufacturers, and workers,' the House lawmakers wrote.
Zawya
5 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Harnessing Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Make Energy Poverty History: African Energy Week (AEW) 2025 to Explore Role of Digitization and Data
With over 600 million people living without access to electricity and 900 million living without access to clean cooking solutions, Africa is faced with a dilemma: how to scale-up energy capacity while reducing project timelines. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and collaboration with global partners have emerged as key solutions to addressing this dilemma, offering energy producers the chance to modernize infrastructure, accelerate energy development and create more resilient energy systems across the continent. A panel discussion at the African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies conference – taking place September 29 to October 3, 2025 – will explore the impact AI solutions are playing in Africa. The session will delve into challenges faced by African countries, including data gaps, limited local expertise and regulatory barriers, while offering insights into how context-aware AI can make technology affordable and accessible. Participating speakers include representatives from S&P Global Commodity Insights and Microsoft Energy and Resources. The conversation will explore how technology can bridge the energy divide – paving the way for a more energy-secure, innovation-driven Africa. AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit for more information about this exciting event. With the demand for electricity projected to more than triple in Africa by 2040, AI stands to play an instrumental role in optimizing energy production. Across traditional grid networks, AI can be leveraged to enhance the efficiency of energy systems, improve resource management while minimizing energy losses. AI also enables predictive maintenance, allowing utilities to identify equipment failures ahead of time. In addition to preventing unwarranted shutdowns, predictive maintenance significantly reduces costs. The Kenya Power and Lighting Company, for example, is utilizing AI-powered solutions and machine learning to detect power theft, optimize load distribution and manage power outages. This has resulted in a 30% reduction in energy losses. In June 2025, the company launched an Expression of Interest, inviting international firms to partner on the implementation of world-class IT solutions to further improve grid management, technology infrastructure and digitization. In South Africa, the state-utility Eskom is leveraging AI to monitor the national grid. Through the application of big data and AI in energy management, the utility seeks to optimize systems and cut unnecessary electricity use. Beyond grid management, AI is being utilized to expand energy access. Approximately 33% of Africa's population lives in rural or remote areas, and with the continent relying heavily on traditional grid systems, this has resulted in significant disparity with regards to equitable energy access. Through AI, Africa stands to address this challenge. AI-powered microgrids, for example, are playing a major part in providing access to electricity for underserved communities. Offering an alternative to grid-connected power, microgrids are context-specific, allowing access to power without the need for large-scale transmission networks. Recent projects highlight a growing commitment by international firms to expand microgrids in Africa. The Zambia Ruida Mining Microgrid Power Project was commissioned in 2025, representing the continent's largest single-unit microgrid for mining operations. SANY Silicon Energy launched Africa's largest single-unit hybrid microgrid for mining projects in South Africa in 2025, while PowerGen Renewable Energy is partnering with international investors to deploy over 120 MW of off-grid energy systems across the continent. Meanwhile, AI creates significant opportunities to propel a just energy transition in Africa, supporting renewable energy integration across grid networks. Through the deployment of smart grids and AI technology, utilities can balance fossil fuel generation with renewable integration, allowing African countries to utilize a variety of generation sources. Countries like Zimbabwe are actively integrating renewable energy into the national grid, seeking to diversify its power mix by incorporating both coal and renewable energy. Approximately 75MW of net-metered solar was added to the grid in February 2025, with goals to incorporate 2,100 MW of renewable energy by 2030. AI-powered technology and smart meters enable seamless integration, while addressing challenges associated with renewable energy intermittency. Stepping into this picture, the AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025 panel discussion will bring together experts to discuss the opportunities and challenges for AI deployment in African energy. 'Addressing energy poverty in Africa requires innovative solutions. AI is not a foreign concept: it's a powerful local opportunity. By building AI tools that are rooted in African data, culture and needs, we can create a smarter energy ecosystem that works for all Africans,' NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
Forbes
23-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Energy Markets Confront Era Of Weakening Oil Consumption
For most of the past century, energy producers could count on steady oil demand growth. From industrial development in China to population booms in emerging markets, the global appetite for oil kept expanding like clockwork. There were occasional exceptions, like the 2008-2009 recession and the demand slump from COVID-19, but global oil demand has increased at an average rate of about 1.2 million barrels per day (bpd) for nearly 60 years. Global Oil Consumption 1965-2023. Robert Rapier But a recent forecast from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) suggests that the world may be entering a new phase—one where oil demand grows at a significantly slower pace. This predicted change isn't the result of a single trend. Instead, it reflects a confluence of global forces—some structural, some temporary—that are reshaping how and where oil is used. For energy producers, investors, and policymakers, understanding what's behind this slowdown is critical to navigating the years ahead. According to the EIA's most recent outlook, global oil consumption will rise by less than one million barrels per day in both 2025 and 2026. While any increase may sound like good news to the oil industry, that figure marks a significant drop from the historical average. It's not that oil is going away anytime soon. But the days of strong, year-over-year demand growth—once seen as inevitable—may soon give way to something more measured, and in some cases, more uncertain. At the heart of this slowdown is the global economy itself. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) now expects global GDP to grow just 2.8% in both 2025 and 2026. That's far from recession territory, but it's a reminder that we're operating in a world with tighter credit, more protectionism, and less global growth than in previous decades. Much of the drag is coming from Asia, a region that has long been the engine of oil demand growth. In January, the EIA projected that Asia would contribute an additional 700,000 barrels per day to global demand in 2025. By May, that figure had been cut to 500,000 barrels per day. That may not sound like much, but in a market where supply and demand are often separated by razor-thin margins, the impact on oil prices could be significant. The weaker outlook in Asia is a story of shifting priorities and lingering problems. In China, the property sector—a major source of industrial demand—is still mired in debt and overcapacity issues. With construction activity down, demand for diesel, fuel oil, and other fuels has taken a hit. In India, oil consumption is still growing, but the pace is slowing. Government incentives for solar and wind power are beginning to chip away at growth rates that once looked unstoppable. India's pivot toward a more diversified energy mix is strategic, and it means that oil may no longer be a primary option for new energy demand. Finally, supply chains are shifting. The COVID-19 pandemic led many companies to diversify manufacturing and logistics operations, which has reduced the sheer volume of goods crossing the Pacific Ocean. Less shipping translates into less bunker fuel demand, which is another factor tempering growth. Geopolitics isn't helping either. The U.S. imposed a new round of tariffs in April 2025, sparking retaliatory measures and injecting fresh uncertainty into global trade. Early shipping data shows a measurable drop in container ship departures from major Asian ports—a likely reflection of cooling trade volumes. That drop-off ripples across the energy markets. Fewer ships mean fewer trucks picking up cargo, fewer planes moving goods, and less industrial activity overall. It's a stark reminder of how quickly policy decisions can impact oil demand—even before those impacts show up in earnings reports or refinery throughput numbers. For U.S. shale producers, slowing demand growth presents a familiar challenge: how to balance production with price. If supply keeps rising while demand growth cools, something has to give—and that something is usually price. Unless producers respond with discipline, we could see another cycle of oversupply and depressed oil prices. OPEC+ faces a similar dilemma. The cartel's ability to manage prices depends on its ability to anticipate demand—and respond in kind. With demand growth weaker than expected, production cuts may be back on the table. Refiners, particularly those with significant exposure to Asian markets, may also face narrower margins. If crude intake remains high but demand for refined products flattens, profitability will suffer. For investors, the story isn't all negative. Slower oil demand growth is a headwind, but it's not a disaster. Energy companies that have diversified into natural gas, petrochemicals, or renewable energy may be better positioned to weather the shift. It's also a good time to revisit how you assess oil companies. Earnings, cash flow, and debt management are always important—but so is strategic outlook. Companies that acknowledge the shifting landscape and adjust their capital allocation accordingly are likely to outperform those that stick to the 'drill, baby, drill' mindset. Despite the slowdown, oil isn't going away. Sectors like aviation, shipping, and petrochemicals still rely heavily on oil-based products, and that's unlikely to change in the near term. But the era of near-automatic demand growth may be coming to an end. What replaces it is a more balanced, nuanced market—one where efficiency, innovation, and adaptability carry more weight than sheer volume. For an industry long built on the assumption of constant growth, that's a profound shift. But it may also signal a transition to a more sustainable, diversified, and more resilient global energy system.
CBC
12-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Alberta government freezes industrial carbon price, citing impact of U.S. tariffs
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her government is freezing its industrial carbon price effective immediately at $95 per tonne of emissions. Smith told reporters Monday the move is critical to keep industry competitive and defend jobs as Canada navigates a tariff fight with the United States. "With the change in government south of the border, it is essential that we have a reasonable carbon pricing system, not one that will price our industries out of global markets," she said. "We are providing certainty, stability and economic relief to the businesses that contribute so much to all of Canada. And we are supporting the energy producers whose expertise and innovation are quite literally shaping the world's energy future." According to a news release, tariffs being imposed by the U.S. are "increasing costs, disrupting supply chains and creating uncertainty for industry." The price had been set to rise to $110 per tonne in 2026 and was to continue increasing to $170 per tonne by 2030. Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz said going over $100 a tonne would make the province "wildly uncompetitive." She said the freeze, which is indefinite, doesn't mean Alberta is giving up on its emission reduction goals. "We are absolutely a leader when it comes to energy and resource development, but also when it comes to emissions reduction," Schulz said.
