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China’s oil output to scale new heights
New discoveries and stabilisation of legacy fields’ output have helped China reverse the decline and be a top-five producer in recent years
India to help Asia spearhead global refining
Shifting demand patterns leaves most populous nation primed to become downstream leader as China and the West retreat
US, Russia and China circle the Arctic
The strategic importance of vast untapped oil and gas reserves and key shipping routes has come in from the cold
Saudi Arabia and Russia pull OPEC+ in different directions
The two oil heavyweights’ diverging fiscal considerations are straining unity within the group
Cheap gas key to unlocking new markets
Weaning poorer regions off coal means gas needs to be abundant and competitive longer term
Do not underplay China’s long-term gas growth narrative
A subdued market amid global trade tensions is just an aberration in gas’ upward trajectory
China’s critical gas position
China will play a huge role in driving gas demand, with its Qatar partnership crucial to this growth amid global structural challenges
OPEC++, the sequel, has arrived
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Gas may be bridge fuel for centuries
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China’s pragmatic coal-to-gas strategy
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IMO 2020 Covid-19 Saudi Arabia Singapore China
Ahmed Mehdi
27 August 2020
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Middle East expansion further clouds global refining picture

Challenges to refiners are myriad. Another boost in Mid-East Gulf capacity brings more complexity

Refining has always held the potential to be a challenging aspect of the oil industry. But the Covid-19 crisis has put the sector firmly in the spotlight, accelerating some existing trends and ushering in new ones. Global oil demand is expected to fall by 8.5mn bl/d this year. Product balances have been upended; peak oil demand anxieties have sharpened; investments have been curtailed and balance sheets have been weakened. And some integrated oil majors have accelerated portfolio adjustments to prepare for the ­energy ­transition. To make matters worse, net refining capacity additions in the Middle East show no sign of slowing. The region is expected to add just under 2mn bl/d of new capacit

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