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Wellesley granted increased more than three times to 58,522 compared to US$15mn last year.
cubic metres in the second quarter from
“Our first-half results reflect the
Norwegian Sea drilling 14,000 cubic metres recorded in April-June deterioration in market conditions
triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic and
2019.
permit LNG bunkering sales reached some 93,712 subsequent decline in oil prices,” said
In the first half of this year, Rotterdam
Ayman Asfari, chief executive.
Wellesley Petroleum has been granted cubic metres, overtaking the entire 2019 Asfari added that the company is
a permit by the Norwegian Petroleum sales of 71,555 cubic metrs. structurally reducing costs and conserving
Directorate to drill an exploration well in the cash.
Norwegian Sea. “Our longer-term strategy has
Well 6204/11-3, the first on licence 829, Anders Opedal to take over transformed Petrofac into a more resilient,
will be drilled from the Borgland Dolphin capital-light business with a strengthened
drilling rig about 65 km north-northeast as Equinor CEO balance sheet and a clear commitment to
of the Peon discovery and about 100 km sustainability.
southwest of Alesund. The rig is currently at Norwegian multinational energy company “I am confident that this strategy and
the shipyard in Kvinesdal. Equinor has named Anders Opedal as its our actions best position Petrofac for the
The area in the license consists of parts of new President and CEO. recovery when it occurs.”
Blocks 6204/7, 8, 10, and 11. Currently Equinor’s Executive Vice- Nicholas Hyett, analyst at Hargreaves
Wellesley Petroleum is operator with 60% President of Technology, Projects and Lansdown, meanwhile, added: “Lower
interest. Partners are Equinor Energy and Drilling, Opedal is set to take over the revenues and profits in the first half were
Petoro AS, each with 20%. reins on November 2 2020 from Eldar pretty inevitable – with the oil price
Sætre, who retires after six years as CEO collapse leading to a slide in the value
and more than 40 years in the company. of Petrofac’s own production assets and
Vopak offers simultaneous significant change as the world needs customers delaying activity thanks to a
“Equinor is entering a phase of
combination of the oil price environment
bunkering in Rotterdam to take more forceful action to combat and coronavirus working restrictions.
climate change,” said Jon Erik Reinhardsen,
“As we would expect there’s slightly
Dutch independent storage tank firm Vopak Chair of Equinor’s Board of Directors. better news from the Engineering &
has started offering simultaneous LNG “The board’s mandate is for Anders Production business – which is more
bunkering service at its Europoort terminal to accelerate our development as a broad exposed to essential maintenance activity
in the port of Rotterdam. energy company and to increase value – where revenues and profits have held
“This eliminates the shifting time and creation for our shareholders through the up well. However, the real challenge for
reduces expenses for LNG-powered vessels energy transition.” Petrofac is keeping new orders ticking
for their bunkering,” Vopak said on August Commenting on his new appointment, over. The order book has shrunk again,
11. Opedal said, “I will use the time until I and commentary around new orders isn’t
Vopak is also a shareholder in the Gate take over to prepare and plan for this great encouraging (with awards delayed into
import terminal in the port which is the company’s future.” next year).”
hub for all Rotterdam LNG bunkering “And I will take the opportunity to
operations. engage and listen, both to the organisation
The port of Rotterdam is a strong and external stakeholders to get their Erdogan says Turkey has
supporter of LNG as a bunker fuel and has valuable perspectives before setting the
developed one of the world’s biggest LNG direction for my leadership for a new resumed energy exploration
fueling chains. time.”
It announced last year in July first in disputed east Med waters
simultaneous operation in Europe with
a vessel owned by CMA CGM’s unit Petrofac says H1 results Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Containerships. said on August 7 that Turkey has restarted
The Containerships Nord bunkered were “inevitably weak” energy exploration work in the eastern
Shell-supplied LNG at the RST terminal Mediterranean. He claimed Greece had not
at Prins Willem Alexanderhaven while Petrofac shares rose on August 11 as kept to pledges regarding such activities in the
transshipping containers at the same time. traders shrugged off expectedly weak region.
The operation paved the way for interim results. NATO members Turkey and Greece
a follow-up by Containerships Polar, The company told investors that trading remain deadlocked over overlapping claims
Nord’s sister ship, and now both vessels and contract awards were materially for hydrocarbon resources. France has
bunker LNG in the same manner while in impacted by coronavirus (COVID-19) and lately moved to lobby the European Union
Rotterdam. the collapse in crude oil prices earlier in to impose sanctions on Ankara for what
Besides new developments, the Dutch the year. Greece, Cyprus and Paris claim is illicit
port recently announced a continued rise It reported a $78mn net loss versus a drilling.
in bunkering sales as more LNG-powered $139mn profit in the comparative period “We have started drilling work again,”
vessels keep on coming to the port. of 2019, and, said it made a business Erdogan told reporters after participating in
The port’s LNG bunkering sales performance net profit of US$2mn Friday prayers at the Hagia Sophia mosque,

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