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Worsening Energy Crisis is a Major Opportunity for Investors

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Oil

The global energy crisis will continue to deepen and should act as an alarm call now about the decent long-term future rewards in sustainable investments, says the CEO of a leading global financial giant.

The analysis from Nigel Green, CEO and founder of deVere Group, one of the world’s largest independent financial advisory, asset management and fintech organisations, comes amid a flurry of international energy concerns.

On Monday, the European Union agreed to forge ahead with a partial ban on Russian oil. The action forbids the purchase of crude oil and petroleum products from Russia delivered to member states by sea.

It follows news that six million households face power blackouts over winter due to Russian threats that it will cut the EU’s gas supply, with the UK Government now drawing up plans for rationed electricity.

Elsewhere, U.S. oil inventories are already 14% below their five-year average; China – the world’s number two economy – has been battling its most severe energy crisis in a decade; and in South Africa, amongst other countries, there continues to be widespread rolling blackouts as supply falls behind demand.

Mr Green says: “The global energy crisis is only set to deepen. It’s not going away any time soon.

“The crunch was started by the world economy rebounding from the pandemic faster than was anticipated, bringing to the fore supply and infrastructure issues.

“But the rebound’s impact isn’t the only reason for the international energy crisis we’re currently experiencing.

“Nor is the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, which is slashing supply globally.

“Intrinsic demand is also surging due to a 1% rise per year in global population growth, plus the increase in wealth and consumption of the growing global middle class.”

However, what is now a big headache for households and policymakers is also an opportunity for investors.

“The energy crisis should serve as a catalyst for the energy transition.

“The current situation around the world must be dealt with in the short-term; but it has brought into sharp focus that rather than staying with fossil fuels, the longer-term answer to this and future energy crunches is to accelerate investment into sustainable projects that deliver cleaner power.

“Investors, keen to get ahead of the curve as well as earn profits with purpose, will be more keenly seeking out the opportunities as the world scrabbles to mitigate the environmental, economic and social fallout of the current situation – a situation which is likely to be a constant risk moving forward.

“They will be moving quickly to have an early advantage, foreseeing the undeniable value, necessity and rewards of sustainable investing.”

deVere highlighted its own commitment to back environmental, social and governance (ESG) values last year by being one of 18 founding signatories of a UN-backed Net Zero initiative, alongside the world’s two largest credit rating agencies, six major audit networks, three leading index providers, and two global stock exchanges.

The international alliance of powerhouse global finance companies will help accelerate the transition to a net zero financial system.

Nigel Green concludes: “The worsening global energy crisis is a defining issue of our time, and it represents a key opportunity for investors seeking to build long-term wealth with a purpose.”

Is the CEO/Founder of Investors King Limited. A proven foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Businessinsider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and many more. He has over two decades of experience in global financial markets.

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Nigeria Targets $5bn Investments in Oil and Gas Sector, Says Government

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Crude Oil - Investors King

Nigeria is setting its sights on attracting $5 billion worth of investments in its oil and gas sector, according to statements made by government officials during an oil and gas sector retreat in Abuja.

During the retreat organized by the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, explained the importance of ramping up crude oil production and creating an environment conducive to attracting investments.

He highlighted the need to work closely with agencies like the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to achieve these goals.

Lokpobiri acknowledged the challenges posed by issues such as insecurity and pipeline vandalism but expressed confidence in the government’s ability to tackle them effectively.

He stressed the necessity of a globally competitive regulatory framework to encourage investment in the sector.

The minister’s remarks were echoed by Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, who spoke at the 2024 Strategic Women in Energy, Oil, and Gas Leadership Summit.

Kyari stressed the critical role of energy in driving economic growth and development and explained that Nigeria still faces challenges in providing stable electricity to its citizens.

Kyari outlined NNPCL’s vision for the future, which includes increasing crude oil production, expanding refining capacity, and growing the company’s retail network.

He highlighted the importance of leveraging Nigeria’s vast gas resources and optimizing dividend payouts to shareholders.

Overall, the government’s commitment to attracting $5 billion in investments reflects its determination to revitalize the oil and gas sector and drive economic growth in Nigeria.

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Nigeria’s Rig Count Surges by 23% in February 2024

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Oil

In February 2024, Nigeria’s oil and gas exploration activities surged with rig count increasing by 23% compared to the previous year.

The rig count, a crucial index measuring upstream activities, climbed to 16 rigs from the 11 rigs recorded during the same period in 2023.

This leap in exploration activities comes as a positive development for Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, indicating growing momentum and investor confidence in the industry.

Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), attributed this sustained surge to the positive impact of the recently enacted Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

The PIA, with its provisions for institutional governance, efficient administration, and attractive fiscal regimes, has created a conducive environment for investment and operations in the country’s oil and gas sector.

Despite the remarkable increase in exploration activities, Nigeria’s crude oil production for the month declined to 1.32 million barrels per day (mbpd), compared to January’s output of 1.46 mbpd.

This decrease highlights the challenges faced by the Nigerian oil industry, including infrastructure constraints, security issues in oil-producing regions, and operational disruptions.

To further enhance exploration efforts, Komolafe announced a strategic partnership with TGS-Petrodata to acquire approximately 56,000 square kilometers of 3D Seismic Gravity data, focusing on the Niger Delta deep and Ultra Deep Offshore regions.

This initiative aims to mitigate risks associated with exploration in challenging environments, with investors financing the project and resulting revenues to be shared between the government and TGS.

Looking ahead, Komolafe expressed optimism about sustained growth in oil exploration activities throughout 2024, with plans for an upcoming oil licensing round, a critical step in implementing the nation’s PIA and driving further advancements in the oil and gas sector.

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NNPC Faces Mounting Subsidy Burden as Oil Prices Skyrocket

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Petrol - Investors King

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is facing an increasingly daunting subsidy burden as oil prices continue to surge.

Investigation has revealed that escalating crude oil prices pose a significant challenge to Africa’s largest oil producer, placing immense pressure on the government’s finances and the state-owned NNPC.

Brent, the benchmark for Nigeria’s crude oil, has skyrocketed from an average of $77 in January to as high as $86 per barrel.

While this surge in oil prices could potentially boost funding for Nigeria’s 2024 budget, which is anchored on a benchmark of $77.96 per barrel, the country’s inability to meet production quotas hampers its capacity to capitalize on the revenue influx from oil sales.

One of the primary consequences of soaring oil prices is the ballooning petrol subsidy burden borne by the NNPC.

Despite the government’s imposition of a cap on petrol retail prices, the widening gap between the landing cost and the pump price necessitates substantial subsidies to sustain consumer affordability.

Charles Akinbobola, a Lagos-based energy analyst, elucidated that the combination of a higher exchange rate, elevated oil prices, and static petrol retail prices compounds the subsidy dilemma for Nigeria.

With the country’s limited refining capacity mandating the importation of all petroleum products, the subsidy burden further intensifies, straining NNPC’s resources.

The opacity surrounding the subsidy program, coupled with reports of NNPC’s utilization of Nigeria LNG dividends to fund petrol subsidies, raises concerns about transparency and accountability.

Faith Akinnagbe, an energy lawyer, emphasizes the urgency of disclosing NNPC’s subsidy expenditures to ensure public accountability and oversight.

As Nigeria grapples with the repercussions of surging oil prices, the NNPC faces an uphill battle in managing its burgeoning subsidy obligations amidst fiscal constraints and economic uncertainties.

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