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NNPC Loses N255.28bn in 11 Months – Punch

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NNPC

The total loss of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation from January to November 2015 has been put at N255.28bn, as against N240.98bn which it recorded from January to October in the same year.

An analysis of the corporation’s financial report for October and November 2015 showed a difference of N14.3bn between the two months.

The oil firm’s latest financial report also showed that the NNPC had made dollar payments totalling $607.8m to the Federal Accounts and Allocation Committee from January to November 2015.

On the naira payments to the Federal Government, the corporation said, “The sum of N933.1bn for domestic crude oil and gas and other receipts was paid to the Federation Account from January to November 2015.”

The report further stated that the country’s refineries operated at zero capacity utilisation in the month of November.

It also stated, “The group operating revenues after subsidy for the months of October and November 2015 were N173.56bn and N155.10bn, respectively. This represents 56.72 per cent and 50.68 per cent, respectively of monthly budget. Similarly, operating expenditures for the same periods were N185.78bn and N169.39bn, respectively, which also represented 69.55 per cent and 63.42 per cent, respectively of budget for the months.

“Operating deficits of N12.22bn and N14.29bn for October and November 2015, respectively were attained as against monthly budgeted surplus of N38.91bn. (The) 59.63 per cent of YTD (year-to-date) NNPC deficit of N255.278bn is mainly accounted for by claimable pipeline repairs/management cost of N95.37bn and crude and product losses of N56.68bn due to vandalised pipelines.”

On the performance of refineries, the report stated that the total crude processed by the three facilities for the month of November 2015 was zero.

The refineries are Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, Port Harcourt Refining Company and Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company.

The NNPC said the total export proceeds of $402.55m were recorded in November, 2015 with proceeds from crude oil export sales amounting to $296.99m or 73.78 per cent of the dollar payment compared with 72.97 per cent contribution in previous month (October, 2015).

It stated that gas export sales and Nigeria Liquified and Natural Gas feedstock amounted to $105.53m, which was 26.22 per cent contribution compared with 18.97 per cent contribution in the prior month of October 2015.

“The remaining $0.03m was attributable to other dollar denominated receipts by the corporation and a total of $607.8m has been paid so far to FAAC in the year 2015 from sales of export oil and gas,” it said.

The national oil firm explained that the downward trend in global oil prices had continued to affect the energy industry worldwide with average crude price of $44.29 per barrel on dated Brent benchmark throughout November, 2015.

Meanwhile, only two of the nation’s refineries in Kaduna and Port Harcourt met the 90-day fast-track ultimatum, which elapsed on Thursday, December 31, 2015.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, had recently given the 90-day ultimatum for the revival of the refineries.

Three of the nation’s four refineries in Warri, Kaduna and Port Harcourt had resumed production of refined petroleum products in July after undergoing rehabilitation, but they were shut down in August, September and October, respectively.

The Kaduna refinery and one of the two plants in Port Harcourt have, however, come back on stream.

The Kaduna refinery, which has a capacity of 110,000 barrels per day, had two weeks ago resumed production, almost four months after it was shut down as a result of lack of crude supply caused by the repair of the pipeline pumping crude to the plant.

The 150,000bpd refinery in Port Harcourt was said to have started production on Sunday, while the 60,000 bpd refinery, the nation’s oldest refinery, remained shut down as of December 31.

The 125,000 bpd Warri refinery, which is a complex refinery with an associated, but now moribund, petrochemical plant designed to produce polypropylene and carbon black, has yet to come back on stream.

The Managing Director, Port Harcourt Refinery Company Limited, Mr. Bafred Enjugu, told our correspondent on Thursday that “we have resumed production since the morning of December 27, 2015.” But no further details were given.

Another source at the Port Harcourt refinery, who confirmed to our correspondent that the plant resumed operation on Sunday, said, “We are streaming area by area. We started with Area 1. We started going to storage of refined products since Sunday. But the old one is not yet up.”

The PHRC MD had last week told our correspondent that the refinery operated until October 13 when they had a blip with their main column, adding that it had been fixed all locally and they were in pre-commissioning mode with start up to follow.

The nation’s refineries in Warri, Kaduna and Port Harcourt have a combined installed capacity of 445,000 barrels per day.

Kachikwu had recently said in the next 24 months, Nigerians would see a positive dramatic turn in the refinery model in the country.

The NNPC had in August cancelled the contract for the delivery of crude oil to the nation’s refineries in Warri, Port Harcourt and Kaduna, due to exorbitant cost and inappropriate process of engagement.

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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Crude Oil

Oil Prices Drop Sharply, Marking Steepest Weekly Decline in Three Months

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Crude Oil - Investors King

Amidst concerns over weak U.S. jobs data and the potential timing of a Federal Reserve interest rate cut, oil prices record its sharpest weekly decline in three months.

Brent crude oil, against which Nigerian oil is priced, settled 71 cents lower to close at $82.96 a barrel.

Similarly, U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell 84 cents, or 1.06% to end the week at $78.11 a barrel.

The primary driver behind this decline was investor apprehension regarding the impact of sustained borrowing costs on the U.S. economy, the world’s foremost oil consumer. These concerns were amplified after the Federal Reserve opted to maintain interest rates at their current levels this week.

Throughout the week, Brent experienced a decline of over 7%, while WTI dropped by 6.8%.

The slowdown in U.S. job growth, revealed in April’s data, coupled with a cooling annual wage gain, intensified expectations among traders for a potential interest rate cut by the U.S. central bank.

Tim Snyder, an economist at Matador Economics, noted that while the economy is experiencing a slight deceleration, the data presents a pathway for the Fed to enact at least one rate cut this year.

The Fed’s decision to keep rates unchanged this week, despite acknowledging elevated inflation levels, has prompted a reassessment of the anticipated timing for potential rate cuts, according to Giovanni Staunovo, an analyst at UBS.

Higher interest rates typically exert downward pressure on economic activity and can dampen oil demand.

Also, U.S. energy companies reduced the number of oil and natural gas rigs for the second consecutive week, reaching the lowest count since January 2022, as reported by Baker Hughes.

The oil and gas rig count fell by eight to 605, with the number of oil rigs dropping by seven to 499, the most significant weekly decline since November 2023.

Meanwhile, geopolitical tensions surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict have somewhat eased as discussions for a temporary ceasefire progress with international mediators.

Looking ahead, the next meeting of OPEC+ oil producers is scheduled for June 1, where the group may consider extending voluntary oil output cuts beyond June if global oil demand fails to pick up.

In light of these developments, money managers reduced their net long U.S. crude futures and options positions in the week leading up to April 30, according to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

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Crude Oil

Oil Prices Rebound After Three Days of Losses

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Crude oil - Investors King

After enduring a three-day decline, oil prices recovered on Thursday, offering a glimmer of hope to investors amid a volatile market landscape.

The rebound was fueled by a combination of factors ranging from geopolitical developments to supply concerns.

Brent crude oil, against which Nigeria oil is priced, surged by 79 cents, or 0.95% to $84.23 a barrel while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude climbed 69 cents, or 0.87% to $79.69 per barrel.

This turnaround came on the heels of a significant downturn that had pushed prices to their lowest levels since mid-March.

The recent slump in oil prices was primarily attributed to a confluence of factors, including the U.S. Federal Reserve’s decision to maintain interest rates and concerns surrounding stubborn inflation, which could potentially dampen economic growth and limit oil demand.

Also, unexpected data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) revealing a substantial increase in U.S. crude inventories added further pressure on oil prices.

“The updated inventory statistics were probably the most salient price driver over the course of yesterday’s trading session,” said Tamas Varga, an analyst at PVM.

Crude inventories surged by 7.3 million barrels to 460.9 million barrels, significantly exceeding analysts’ expectations and casting a shadow over market sentiment.

However, the tide began to turn as ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas gained traction, offering a glimmer of hope for stability in the volatile Middle East region.

The prospect of a ceasefire agreement, spearheaded by Egypt, injected optimism into the market, offsetting concerns surrounding geopolitical tensions.

“As the impact of the U.S. crude stock build and the Fed signaling higher-for-longer rates is close to being fully baked in, attention will turn towards the outcome of the Gaza talks,” noted Vandana Hari, founder of Vanda Insights.

The potential for a resolution in the Israel-Hamas conflict provided a ray of hope, contributing to the positive momentum in oil markets.

Despite the optimism surrounding ceasefire talks, tensions in the Middle East remain palpable, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterating plans for a military offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

The precarious geopolitical climate continues to underpin volatility in oil markets, reminding investors of the inherent risks associated with the commodity.

In addition to geopolitical developments, speculation regarding U.S. government buying for strategic reserves added further support to oil prices.

With the U.S. expressing intentions to replenish the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) at prices below $79 a barrel, market participants closely monitored price movements, anticipating potential intervention to stabilize prices.

“The oil market was supported by speculation that if WTI falls below $79, the U.S. will move to build up its strategic reserves,” highlighted Hiroyuki Kikukawa, president of NS Trading, owned by Nissan Securities.

As oil markets navigate a complex web of geopolitical uncertainties and supply dynamics, the recent rebound underscores the resilience of the commodity in the face of adversity.

While challenges persist, the renewed optimism offers a ray of hope for stability and growth in the oil sector, providing investors with a semblance of confidence amidst a volatile landscape.

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Gold

Gold Soars as Fed Signals Patience

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gold bars - Investors King

Gold emerged as a star performer as the Federal Reserve adopted a more patient stance, sending the precious metal soaring to new heights.

Amidst a backdrop of uncertainty, gold’s ascent mirrored investors’ appetite for safe-haven assets and reflected their interpretation of the central bank’s cautious approach.

Following the Fed’s decision to maintain interest rates at their current levels, gold prices surged toward $2,330 an ounce in early Asian trade, building on a 1.5% gain from the previous session – the most significant one-day increase since mid-April.

The dovish tone struck by Fed Chair Jerome Powell during the announcement provided the impetus for gold’s rally, as he downplayed the prospects of imminent rate hikes while underscoring the need for further evidence of cooling inflation before considering adjustments to borrowing costs.

This tempered outlook from the Fed, which emphasized patience and data dependence, bolstered gold’s appeal as a hedge against inflation and economic uncertainty.

Investors interpreted the central bank’s stance as a signal of continued support for accommodative monetary policies, providing a tailwind for the precious metal.

Simultaneously, the Japanese yen surged more than 3% against the dollar, sparking speculation of intervention by Japanese authorities to support the currency.

This move further weakened the dollar, enhancing the attractiveness of gold to investors seeking refuge from currency volatility.

Gold’s ascent in recent months has been underpinned by a confluence of factors, including robust central bank purchases, strong demand from Asian markets – particularly China – and geopolitical tensions ranging from conflicts in Ukraine to instability in the Middle East.

These dynamics have propelled gold’s price upwards by approximately 13% this year, culminating in a record high last month.

At 9:07 a.m. in Singapore, spot gold was up 0.3% to $2,326.03 an ounce, with silver also experiencing gains as it rose towards $27 an ounce.

The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index concurrently fell by 0.3%, further underscoring the inverse relationship between the dollar’s strength and gold’s allure.

However, amidst the fervor surrounding gold’s surge, palladium found itself trading below platinum after dipping below its sister metal for the first time since February.

The erosion of palladium’s long-standing premium was attributed to a pessimistic outlook for demand in gasoline-powered cars, highlighting the nuanced dynamics within the precious metals market.

As gold continues its upward trajectory, investors remain attuned to evolving macroeconomic indicators and central bank policy shifts, navigating a landscape defined by uncertainty and volatility.

In this environment, the allure of gold as a safe-haven asset is likely to endure, providing solace to investors seeking stability amidst turbulent times.

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