Energy, Petrochemicals and Plastics 46

Friday, January 10, 2020

Energy, Petrochemicals and Plastics 46

1          Natural gas prices in 2019 were the lowest in the past three years
https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=42455
In 2019, natural gas spot prices at the national benchmark Henry Hub in Louisiana averaged $2.57 per million British thermal units (MMBtu), about 60 cents per MMBtu lower than in 2018 and the lowest annual average price since 2016. Lower natural gas prices in 2019 supported higher consumption—particularly in the electric generation sector—and higher natural gas exports. Continued growth in domestic production of natural gas also supported lower natural gas prices throughout the year.

2          Divergent paths: Oil, natural gas going different directions
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-natgas-oil-graphic-idUSKBN1Z80ID
The oil-to-gas ratio, or the level at which oil trades compared with natural gas, recently reached 30-to-1, and could increase further as analysts expect average gas prices will fall for a second consecutive year in 2020 to their lowest level in over 20 years. That is because most U.S. drillers are not looking for gas.

3          Oil Price Fundamental Daily Forecast – Bullish Jobs Report Could Raise Hope for Increased Demand
https://www.fxempire.com/forecasts/article/oil-price-fundamental-daily-forecast-bullish-jobs-report-could-raise-hope-for-increased-demand-625024

U.S. West Texas Intermediate and international-benchmark Brent crude oil futures are trading sideways to higher on Friday as speculators continue to try to establish support after dumping risky long positions as the threat of war in the Middle East receded and investors expressed concerns over rising U.S. inventories.

4          Natural Gas Price Fundamental Daily Forecast
https://www.fxempire.com/forecasts/article/natural-gas-price-fundamental-daily-forecast-traders-waiting-for-cold-weather-to-fuel-short-squeeze-rally-625009

Natural gas futures are edging lower on Friday shortly before the regular session opening. The market is coming down from a failed attempt to follow-through to the upside following Thursday’s higher close. Today’s intraday high at $2.176 also fell short of the high of the week at $2.185.

5          Volume Resin Prices Flat or Down
https://www.ptonline.com/articles/volume-resin-prices-are-flat-or-down
Prices of nearly all volume resins were largely expected to bottom out by the end of 2019, and flat pricing was generally projected for the start of this new decade. Factors driving the downward trajectory included lower feedstock prices, supply outpacing demand, and an overall global demand slowdown and lower global prices.

6          Weekly resin report: Historically low resin prices ring in new year
https://www.plasticstoday.com/resin-pricing/weekly-resin-report-historically-low-resin-prices-ring-new-year/167894244362176

Most commodity resin prices fell sharply during 2019, but the variance among grades also highlighted distinct differences in sub-markets. High-density polyethylene (PE) resins, including film, blow mold and injection materials, each eroded $0.12 to 0.14/lb over the course of the year; film and injection linear-low-density PE dropped a solid 9 cents; while low-density PE for injection lost a nickel and snugly supplied low-density film only shed a single cent. The vast majority of new PE production was sold into the export market, which continuously rocketed into record monthly volumes.

7          INSIGHT: ICIS index charts 17% fall in global petchem prices in 2019
https://www.icis.com/explore/resources/news/2020/01/07/10457594/insight-icis-index-charts-17-fall-in-global-petchem-prices-in-2019

Propylene prices on the US Gulf Coast were 31% lower year on year, for example. Ethylene prices were down 28% year on year in northeast Asia. Northwest European markets appeared to be less volatile although no region escaped the steep 20% plus fall in methanol contract prices over the course of the year. Prices in the US may have bucked a more general downward price trend earlier in the year but by mid year, the regional ICIS indexes (IPEXs) were heading south. The most recent monthly global IPEX value (for December 2019) reflects a 2.7% fall in the US Gulf Coast index component.

8          Petrochemicals: Weak Margins Sweep Asia
https://aogdigital.com/news/474295-petrochemicals-weak-margins-sweep-asia
Asian petrochemical makers, who are unable to pass down sky-high feedstock costs, are resorting to run cuts or extending cracker shutdown periods to tie through the bad times.

9          Global oil and gas discoveries reach four-year high in 2019, boosted by ExxonMobil’s Guyana success
https://www.rystadenergy.com/newsevents/news/press-releases/global-oil-and-gas-discoveries-reach-four-year-high-in-2019/

The world’s oil and gas explorers powered ahead and discovered 12.2 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe) in 2019, the highest volume since 2015, according to estimates from Rystad Energy. Last year recorded 26 discoveries of more than 100 million boe, with offshore regions dominating the list of new oil and gas deposits.

10        Why Oil Markets Don’t Have To Worry About World War 3
https://oilprice.com/Geopolitics/International/Why-Oil-Markets-Dont-Have-To-Worry-About-World-War-3.html

In a series of moves, Trump has successfully distracted public attention from his impeachment. With some targeted strikes on Hezbollah in Iraq and Syria and the intentionally spectacular public assassination of a key Iranian general – who could have been taken out any time over the course of the past couple of years – the President has relieved much of the domestic pressure that had been building.

11        Fluor, Kiewit win multibillion-dollar contract to build new petrochemical facility outside Edmonton
https://www.on-sitemag.com/financing/fluor-kiewit-win-multibillion-dollar-contract-to-build-new-petrochemcial-facility-outside-edmonton/1003966544/

The Canadian and Kuwaiti companies developing a new multibillion-dollar petrochemical facility in Alberta have awarded a lump sum construction contract to a 50/50 partnership between Fluor Canada Ltd. and Kiewit Construction Services ULC.

12        Three Ways Oil Companies Can Prevent An Investor Exodus
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Three-Ways-Oil-Companies-Can-Prevent-An-Investor-Exodus.html

Money continues to flow from the sector to better performing index funds and/or other “greener energy” sectors, as evidenced by shrinking stocks and the sector’s weighting in the S&P 500 dropping from 13% at the height of the shale boom to just 5% currently. So, how are E&P strategies changing?

13        Mexico’s Mega Oil Hedge Cost “Around” $1 Billion
https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Mexicos-Mega-Oil-Hedge-Cost-Around-1-Billion.html

The largest oil hedge in the world cost Mexico “around $1 billion” for 2020, Mexico’s Finance Minister Arturo Herrera said on Thursday, according to Reuters. Herrera had said the cost of the hedge would be revealed on Thursday.

14        Mexico’s president doubles down on nationalist line: no oil auctions
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mexico-oil-auctions-idUSKBN1Z729H
Mexico’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Wednesday his government was not contemplating reopening oil and gas auctions this year, ending hopes his left-leaning government will soon spur private investment in the energy sector.

15        U.S. weekly LNG exports jump
https://www.lngworldnews.com/u-s-weekly-lng-exports-jump/
Data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows that a total of 19 vessels with a combined LNG-carrying capacity of 68 Bcf departed the United States between January 2 and January 8, 2020.

16        Energy Hedge Fund Is Bullish on Canada
https://www.rigzone.com/news/wire/energy_hedge_fund_is_bullish_on_canada-10-jan-2020-160768-article/

After big wins shorting U.S. shale companies last year, one energy hedge fund is turning its sights on the beaten-down Canadian oil sector.

17        Low Gas Prices Crush Appalachia Shale Boom
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Natural-Gas/Low-Gas-Prices-Crush-Appalachia-Shale-Boom.html
Gas production in Appalachia declined by about 1 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) over the past 30 days, bringing output down to an average of 32.7 Bcf/d, according to S&P Global Platts Analytics. That helped drag down overall U.S. gas production to 91.8 Bcf/d, a 1.7 percent decline from 93.4 Bcf/d in November.

18        Oil Workers Wanted with More Tech, Less Roughneck
https://www.rigzone.com/news/oil_workers_wanted_with_more_tech_less_roughneck-09-jan-2020-160752-article/

The oil industry is facing a talent challenge, caused in part due to the aging nature of its workforce, market conditions and a decline in interest by potential recruits to seek employment in the industry. One solution the oil business is adopting is investment in new innovative technologies, which cuts costs and boosts productivity.

19        Operational production costs have fallen globally, led by the United Kingdom
https://www.rystadenergy.com/newsevents/news/press-releases/operational-production-costs-have-fallen-globally/

Operational production costs in the oil and gas industry have fallen across the globe, with the United Kingdom emerging as a cost-cutting powerhouse among global offshore regions. A Rystad Energy analysis aimed at mitigating currency effects confirms this trend, after examining regional opex reduction per barrel, measured in local currency. The results are clear – from 2014 to 2018 the UK reduced operational production costs by 31%, followed by Norway and the United States with opex reductions of 19% and 15%, respectively.

Recycling, Renewables and Sustainable Business 17

Friday, January 10, 2020

Recycling, Renewables and Sustainable Business 17

1          Supply chain concern over anti-plastic drive
https://www.packagingnews.co.uk/news/supply-chain-concern-anti-plastic-drive-09-01-2020
Research produced by Green Alliance for the Circular Economy Task Force has claimed that some moves away from plastic packaging have confused consumers while also risking increasing carbon emissions. The report, ‘Plastic promises: what the grocery sector is really doing about packaging’, spoke anonymously to representatives from retailers and brands.

2          Water wars: early warning tool uses climate data to predict conflict hotspots
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/jan/08/water-wars-early-warning-tool-uses-climate-data-to-predict-conflict-hotspots

Researchers from six organisations have developed an early warning system to help predict potential water conflicts as violence associated with water surges globally.

3          What 50 Years Of Global Hurricane Landfall Data Can Teach Us About Climate Change
https://www.forbes.com/sites/rogerpielke/2020/01/09/tropical-cyclone-landfalls-around-the-world-over-the-past-50-years/

In 2019 the three most costly catastrophes were the consequence of tropical cyclones, according to the reinsurance company Munich Re. Typhoons Hagibis and Faxai struck Japan, together causing more than $26 billion in losses and Typhoon Lekima caused more than $8 billion in losses across Asia.

4          White House unveils plan for major projects to bypass environmental review
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jan/09/white-house-projects-permits-climate-impact-plan

The Trump administration on Thursday unveiled a plan to speed permitting for major infrastructure projects such as oil pipelines, including dropping consideration of their potential impact on the climate crisis.

5          EV Charging Infrastructure Has a Soft Costs Problem
https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/ev-charging-infrastructure-has-a-soft-costs-problem
The U.S. solar industry has spent a decade working to streamline and reduce the so-called soft costs of projects — or less-visible expenses in areas like customer acquisition, permitting, financing and installation. Now it’s time for the growing EV charging industry to do the same.

6          Tesla’s market value zooms past that of GM and Ford – combined
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-stocks-tesla-idUSKBN1Z72MU
The Silicon Valley electric car maker’s stock jumped nearly 5% on Wednesday, closing at a record $492.14 per share and elevating its market capitalization to almost $89 billion, or $2 billion larger than the sum of General Motors’ and Ford’s respective market caps of $50 billion and $37 billion.

7          AI Could Supercharge Corporate Sustainability with New Applications
https://about.bnef.com/blog/ai-could-supercharge-corporate-sustainability-with-new-applications/
Two of the biggest challenges in improving a carbon footprint are determining its size in the first place – and analyzing the actions that might significantly impact it. The more data available, the more an individual or a corporation can make a plan and quantify the likely impact.

8          BlackRock joins investor group seeking emission curbs
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-blackrock-environment-idUSKBN1Z81X5
Top asset manager BlackRock Inc (BLK.N) said on Thursday it has joined the Climate Action 100+ investor group seeking emission curbs. A spokesman for New York-based BlackRock said via e-mail that “evidence of the impact of climate risk on investment portfolios is building rapidly” and reiterated past comments the company will accelerate its talks with corporate executives on climate risk.

9          US Electricity: Solar Up 15%, Wind Up 9%
https://cleantechnica.com/2020/01/09/us-electricity-solar-up-15-wind-up-9/
We’ve been writing for a while that solar and wind power are the cheapest options on the market for new power capacity in many if not most places. That is also shown by the power plants that companies across the United States choose to install. While natural gas is still seen as cheaper in certain regions, it is being pushed out as time goes on and as renewable energy costs continue to drop.

10        JetBlue to become carbon neutral in 2020
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-jetblue-environment-idUSKBN1Z5237
etBlue Airways Corp on Monday said it plans to become carbon neutral on all domestic flights by July 2020 and would use an alternative fuel source for flights leaving from San Francisco amid rising pressure to cut greenhouse emissions.

11        Cenovus aims for ‘net zero’ GHG emissions by 2050
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/cenovus-oilsands-sustainability-strategy-1.5420652
Oilsands producer Cenovus Energy says it’s aiming to achieve “net zero” greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 — and reclaim hundreds of decommissioned wells sites — as part of new sustainability targets announced Thursday.

12        Report: Recycled plastic could supply 71% of UK demand
https://www.packagingnews.co.uk/news/environment/recycling/report-recycled-plastic-supply-71-uk-demand-09-01-2020

This could provide 71% of the raw material needed by UK manufacturers of plastic packaging and products. The UK currently exports two thirds of plastic collected for recycling and only recycles 9% of all plastics domestically.

13        Chemical recycling of plastics gets a catalytic boost in Australia, China
https://www.plasticstoday.com/packaging/chemical-recycling-plastics-gets-catalytic-boost-australia-china/95167332062187

News and interest in chemical recycling is spreading globally. That includes Australia, a country that consumes 3.4 million tonnes of plastic each year, of which only 9% is recycled. Licella Holdings Ltd. (Sydney, Australia) announced January 8 a partnership with bioplastic innovator BioLogiQ, Inc. (Idaho Falls, ID) to accelerate the move towards a circular economy for plastics by the commercialization of Licella’s breakthrough Catalytic Hydrothermal Reactor (Cat-HTR) chemical recycling solution.

14        Climate watchdog warns US fracking boom leading to 30% rise in greenhouse gas emissions by 2025
https://www.rawstory.com/2020/01/climate-watchdog-warns-us-fracking-boom-leading-to-30-rise-in-greenhouse-gas-emissions-by-2025/

Planet-heating pollution from the U.S. oil, gas, and petrochemical industries could rise about 30% by 2025 compared with 2018 because of additional drilling and 157 new or expanded projects “fueled by the fracking boom,” an environmental watchdog group warned Wednesday.

15        Solar Installations to Grow by Additional 142 GW in 2020 – Seven Times the World’s Total Solar Installations a Decade Ago
https://www.altenergymag.com/story/2020/01/solar-installations-to-grow-by-additional-142-gw-in-2020-%E2%80%93-seven-times-the-worlds-total-solar-installations-a-decade-ago/32473/

Global solar installations will continue double-digit growth rates into the new decade, according to the new 2020 Global Photovoltaic (PV) Demand Forecast by IHS Markit (NYSE: INFO), a world leader in critical information, analytics and solutions. New annual installations in 2020 will reach 142 gigawatts (GW), a 14 % rise over the previous year.

16        New York Planning 1GW-Plus Offshore Wind Solicitation in 2020
https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/new-york-planning-1gw-plus-offshore-wind-solicitation-in-2020

New York confirmed plans to issue its second solicitation for offshore wind farms this year, expected to add at least 1 gigawatt to the state’s pipeline.

17        Saudis to free up more crude for export by building solar power plants
https://www.worldoil.com/news/2020/1/9/saudis-to-free-up-more-crude-for-export-by-building-solar-power-plants

Saudi Arabia is seeking companies to build four solar power plants as the Persian Gulf oil giant resumes its renewable energy push.

The energy ministry is seeking bidders for the projects to build plants capable of generating a total of 1,200 megawatts of solar power, according to a statement from its Renewable Energy Project Development Office.

Business Intelligence and Analytics 46

Friday, January 10, 2020

Business Intelligence and Analytics 46

1          Python vs. R for Data Science: What’s the Difference?
https://www.r-bloggers.com/python-vs-r-for-data-science-whats-the-difference/

If you’re new to data science, or your organization is, you’ll need to pick a language to analyze your data and a thoughtful way to make that decision. Full disclosure: While I can write Python, my background is mostly in the R community—but I’ll try my best to be non-partisan.

2          Data Science vs. Artificial Intelligence vs. Machine Learning vs. Deep Learning
https://towardsdatascience.com/data-science-vs-artificial-intelligence-vs-machine-learning-vs-deep-learning-9fadd8bda583

It’s very common these days to come across these terms – data science, artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning, neural networks, and much more. But what do these buzzwords actually mean?

3          Machine Learning Clustering Algorithms
https://medium.com/@mahiprashanth866/machine-learning-clustering-algorithms-c70192b21f14
Clustering is the machine learning technique. It is the task of dividing the data points into a number of groups such that data points in the same group more similar to the other data points in the same groups and dissimilar to other data points in the other group.

4          Advanced Machine Learning with Basic Excel
https://www.datasciencecentral.com/profiles/blogs/advanced-machine-learning-with-basic-excel
In this article, I present a few modern techniques that have been used in various business contexts, comparing performance with traditional methods. The advanced techniques in question are math-free, innovative, efficiently process large amounts of unstructured data, and are robust and scalable. Implementations in Python, R, Julia and Perl are provided, but here we focus on an Excel version that does not even require any Excel macros, coding, plug-ins, or anything other than the most basic version of Excel.

5          The Book to Start You on Machine Learning
https://www.kdnuggets.com/2020/01/book-start-machine-learning.html
There is so much information out there — both good and bad — that it can be hard to know where to begin. Also, people come from very different backgrounds, so the starting point can vary significantly. For example, for me, I entered the ML world by watching theoretical videos from Computer Science channels about neural networks, and as I got more and more interested I started reading articles, news, and blogs about the topic.

6          The five lessons B2B sales leaders should learn to make analytics work
https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/marketing-and-sales/our-insights/the-five-lessons-b2b-sales-leaders-should-learn-to-make-analytics-work

It’s been nearly 15 years since “big data” broke into the business lexicon, often upending long-held assumptions and elevating the critical role played by data scientists and suites of analytic tools. In that time, most of the attention has been on the B2C world. Only recently has the B2B sales world started to appreciate the scale of the benefits data-driven sales can deliver, from prioritizing leads to enhancing existing relationships with customers, by offering the right product at the right time for the optimal price.

7          The Power of Human Intelligence via Experience Management
https://timoelliott.com/blog/2020/01/the-power-of-human-intelligence-via-experience-management.html
Success in business isn’t about answering questions, it’s about asking the right questions in the first place. Or to put it another way: the most important thing in business is… knowing what’s important!

8          4 Ways to Use Big Data to Grow Your Business in 2020
https://www.business2community.com/big-data/4-ways-to-use-big-data-to-grow-your-business-in-2020-02266484

Big data is one of the most diverse tools marketers can use when growing their business. Essentially, big data is the act of analyzing large quantities of data to make informed business decisions.

Before machine programming allowed us to track everything from sales to user engagement, we had to put together the numbers one at a time in a spreadsheet. Instead of waiting days or even weeks to compile this information, reports are generated in seconds.

9          These 7 Skills Can Help You Increase Your Account-Based Marketing Abilities
https://www.business2community.com/marketing/these-7-skills-can-help-you-increase-your-account-based-marketing-abilities-02273719

There have been recent personalization improvements in the marketing process. This has dramatically increased the value of account-based marketing. The more targeted you can get in your campaigns, the higher the percentage of leads. Closing on leads gauges how much money your business will generate. The challenge comes in selecting the account-based approach to take, which will help you keep costs down to maintain a high ROI.

10        Toyota to build prototype city of the future in Japan
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tech-ces-toyota-idUSKBN1Z5271
Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) said on Monday it planned to build a prototype “city of the future” at the base of Japan’s Mt. Fuji, powered by hydrogen fuel cells and functioning as a laboratory for autonomous cars, “smart homes,” artificial intelligence and other technologies.

11        Which is best for blog SEO: separate domain, subdomain or subfolder?
https://www.smartinsights.com/search-engine-optimisation-seo/internal-linking-strategy/which-is-best-for-blog-seo-subdomain-or-subfolder/

Where you host your blog relative to your main site is one of the more important decisions involved with setting up a blog.

If you get the decision wrong, you may fail to get the hoped-for SEO benefits you have worked hard to convince your colleagues about. But, if you get it right you can almost immediately see new, incremental visits you wouldn’t have attracted without the blog.

12        9 additional books for the Next Economy
https://www.oreilly.com/radar/more-books-for-the-next-economy/
We originally shared a selection of books relevant to the ongoing transformation of the economy, the world of work, the costs of capitalism, and how business gets done, but it was impossible to include all the titles we wanted to highlight. Thus, you get another compendium, this one perhaps a bit more eclectic than our first post (we hope) but just as elucidating and thought-provoking.

Energy, Petrochemicals and Plastics 45

Friday, January 3, 2020

Energy, Petrochemicals and Plastics 45

1          Oil Price Fundamental Daily Forecast
https://www.fxempire.com/forecasts/article/oil-price-fundamental-daily-forecast-need-attack-on-supply-to-sustain-upside-momentum-623803

U.S. West Texas Intermediate and international benchmark Brent crude oil futures hit multi-month highs on Friday as traders reacted to an escalation in Middle East tensions. The catalyst behind the moves is the news that an Iranian military commander was killed in a Baghdad airstrike.

2          Natural Gas Price Fundamental Daily Forecast
https://www.fxempire.com/forecasts/article/natural-gas-price-fundamental-daily-forecast-close-over-2-122-could-trigger-start-of-counter-trend-rally-623789

Looking ahead to today’s EIA weekly storage report, traders are estimating a 65 billion cubic feet draw. Given the prolonged move down, a close over $2.122 will form a potentially bullish closing price reversal bottom. The move won’t change the main trend to up, but it will indicate the buying is greater than the selling at current price levels.

3          Oil Up After US Strike Kills Top Iran General
https://www.rigzone.com/news/wire/oil_up_after_us_strike_kills_top_iran_general-03-jan-2020-160705-article/

Oil jumped close to $70 a barrel after a U.S. airstrike ordered by President Donald Trump killed a top Iranian general in Iraq, intensifying fears of conflict in the world’s most important crude-producing region.

4          ‘A more dangerous world:’ U.S. killing of top Iran general triggers global alarm
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/iran-general-killing-global-alarm-1.5413788
Global powers are warning the world has become a more dangerous place after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the killing of Iran’s top general and are urging restraint on all sides.

Iran has vowed “harsh retaliation” for a U.S. airstrike near Baghdad’s airport that killed Gen. Qassim Soleimani, head of Iran’s elite Quds Force and the architect of its interventions across the Middle East, as tensions soared in the wake of the targeted killing.

5          Here’s Why Stocks Plunged, Oil Prices Surged After U.S. Airstrike Kills Top Iranian General
https://www.forbes.com/sites/sergeiklebnikov/2020/01/03/heres-why-stocks-plunged-oil-prices-surged-after-us-airstrike-kills-irans-top-military-leader/

Global stock markets pulled back from their strong start to the new year and oil prices surged on Friday, following an overnight U.S. airstrike that killed Iran’s most senior general and significantly inflamed tensions in the Middle East.

6          Oil edges up on Mideast tensions, trade optimism
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-global-oil-idUSKBN1Z102T
Brent crude futures LCOc1 settled at $66.25 a barrel, gaining 25 cents. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude CLc1 settled at $61.18, rising 12 cents.

7          Experts Offer a Downstream Preview for 2020
https://www.rigzone.com/news/experts_offer_a_downstream_preview_for_2020-02-jan-2020-160685-article/

Earlier this week, Rigzone used six adjectives to recall major trends for 2019 in the downstream oil and gas industry. Based on additional comments from the same panelists interviewed for the recap article, three letters should command much of the downstream sector’s attention in 2020

8          The Top 10 RBN Energy Prognostications for 2020
https://rbnenergy.com/the-top-10-rbn-energy-prognostications-for-2020-year-of-the-rat-abandoning-the-sinking-ship

Years ago the RBN team turned to the Chinese zodiac to help us better comprehend energy markets. Back then the calendar had proud animals like the horse and rooster to work with. In 2018, we were still in good shape with Year of the Dog, and we asked “Who let the dogs out?” But last year we had to make do with Year of the Pig. And 2020?

9          Exxon expects gain of $3.4 billion-$3.6 billion from Norway asset sale to boost results
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-exxon-mobil-outlook-idUSKBN1Z21DR
Exxon Mobil Corp expects a gain of $3.4 billion to $3.6 billion from the sale of its Norwegian oil and gas production assets to significantly lift results for the fourth quarter, according to a regulatory filing on Friday.

10        U.S. shale producers to tap brakes in 2020 after years of rapid growth
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-shale-outlook-idUSKBN1Z108U
Vastly slower U.S. oil growth this year and the prospect of a plateau for the world’s top oil producer have signaled a new and unfamiliar era of self-restraint for the go-go shale industry.

11        Lacking customers and suppliers, Cape Breton natural gas project faces uncertain future
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/bear-head-lng-construction-permit-extension-1.5411707
A natural gas terminal project in Point Tupper, N.S., that was originally supposed to come online in 2019 still doesn’t have a facility or any signed contracts with suppliers or customers, but the company behind the project is confident about its prospects.

12        Mitsubishi to build two new LNG-fuelled ferries
https://www.lngindustry.com/small-scale-lng/03012020/mitsubishi-to-build-two-new-lng-fuelled-ferries/
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co. Ltd has announced that it has concluded a contract with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) to build two new LNG-fuelled ferries, the first such project in Japan.

13        EIA projects nearly 50% increase in world energy usage by 2050, led by growth in Asia – Today in Energy
https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=42342
In its newly released International Energy Outlook 2019 (IEO2019) Reference case, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects that world energy consumption will grow by nearly 50% between 2018 and 2050. Most of this growth comes from countries that are not in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and this growth is focused in regions where strong economic growth is driving demand, particularly in Asia.

14        With fates intertwined, Mexico and Pemex face downgrade risk in 2020
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mexico-pemex-bonds-idUSKBN1Z20CD
Mexico threw troubled state oil company Pemex a lifeline in 2019 to stop $80 billion in bonds held by investors worldwide being labeled junk by credit rating agencies. Now, investors worry that the state itself is a risk for Pemex.

15        Ineos Styrolution, Agilyx advance PS chemical recycling plant in Illinois
https://www.plasticstoday.com/recycling/ineos-styrolution-agilyx-advance-ps-chemical-recycling-plant-illinois/91586652462144

Styrenics supplier Ineos Styrolution and Agilyx, a leader in converting post-consumer plastics to low-carbon fuels, chemicals, and plastics, are advancing the development of a polystyrene (PS) chemical recycling facility in Channahon, Illinois. The facility will be capable of processing up to 100 tons per day of post-consumer polystyrene and converting it into a styrene monomer that will go into the manufacturing of new polystyrene products.

Recycling, Renewables and Sustainable Business 16

Friday, January 3, 2020

Recycling, Renewables and Sustainable Business 16

1          U.S. electricity generation from renewables surpassed coal in April
https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=42336
In April 2019, U.S. monthly electricity generation from renewable sources exceeded coal-fired generation for the first time based on data in EIA’s Electric Power Monthly. Renewable sources provided 23% of total electricity generation to coal’s 20%.

2          Renewable corporate power deals soar tenfold in Europe: study
https://www.rechargenews.com/transition/renewable-corporate-power-deals-soar-tenfold-in-europe-study/2-1-731698

Increased pressure on corporations over their green credentials and a phase-out of government incentives sent the number of renewable power purchase agreements (PPAs) in Europe soaring more than tenfold in six years, according to global law firm DLA Piper.

3          Goldman Sachs agreed to stop funding Arctic drilling. Will other banks join them?
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jan/03/goldman-sachs-arctic-drilling-gwichin-banks
Last fall, I traveled more than 4,000 miles from my home in Alaska to meet with major banks and urge them to help protect the Arctic national wildlife refuge from destructive oil drilling and exploration. In all the years I’ve worked to defend this place, we’ve been focused on trying to make our voices heard by leaders in the White House or in Congress, and I never thought I’d be sitting in a conference room on the 43rd floor of Goldman Sachs’ global headquarters in downtown New York, talking about the Arctic refuge.

4          Global capital moving towards renewables, away from coal
https://ieefa.org/global-capital-moving-towards-renewables-away-from-coal/
The latest climate talks in Madrid achieved very little, with the world’s governments making glacial progress on the task of cutting greenhouse gas emissions to avoid climate catastrophe.

5          Self-Healing Lithium Batteries Are On The Horizon
https://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy/Renewable-Energy/Self-Healing-Lithium-Batteries-Are-On-The-Horizon.html

Engineers at the University of Illinois have developed an electrolyte that could help manufacturers produce recyclable, self-healing commercial batteries.

In a study published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, the researchers said that they have created a solid polymer-based electrolyte that can self-heal after damage—and the material can also be recycled without the use of harsh chemicals or high temperatures.

6          Tesla meets low end of 2019 goal for vehicle deliveries
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tesla-deliveries-idUSKBN1Z21B5
Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) beat Wall Street estimates for vehicle deliveries in its fourth quarter on Friday and met the low-end of its full-year delivery goal, boosted by higher demand for its mass-produced Model 3 sedans.

7          Iberdrola completes ‘Europe’s largest’, 500MW solar giant
https://www.pv-tech.org/news/51817
Multinational utility Iberdrola has completed the giant 500MW Núñez de Balboa solar farm in Spain’s Extremadura region, claiming it to be Europe’s largest completed solar project.

8          Ontario environmental groups set ambitious goals for 2020
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-environmental-goals-2020-1.5410213
2020 is set to be a busy year for climate activism.

The do-or-die deadlines for curbing emissions put out by groups like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) continue to draw closer — and around the world, you can expect another year of dire reports, high-profile international meetings, and protests.

9          Zero carbon power sources outstrip fossil fuels in 2019 in historic first
https://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/news/zero_carbon_power_sources_outstrip_fossil_fuels_in_2019_in_historic_first

Wind, solar and hydro together generated 26.5% of Britain’s electricity. This contributed towards a total of 48.5% of power from zero carbon sources when added to nuclear and imports from interconnectors. In comparison, fossil fuels, predominantly gas, generated 43% of the nations power, while the remaining 8.5% came from biomass.

10        Automakers Face Tough New Standards In EU
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Automakers-Face-Tough-New-Standards-In-EU.html
The long-awaited light-duty vehicle emission rules will hit light-duty vehicle makers working in EU member countries on January 1.

11        $1bn solar plan to power Las Vegas takes new step forward
https://www.rechargenews.com/transition/-1bn-solar-plan-to-power-las-vegas-takes-new-step-forward/2-1-731463

Plans to spend $1bn building one of the world’s largest solar plants near Las Vegas took another step forward when US federal officials published a final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the 690MW Gemini Solar and Storage project.

12        3 Major Solar Trends to Watch in 2020
https://www.energytrend.com/research/20200103-16099.html
After the turbulence in 2018, the global market has begun to stabilize in 2019. According to EnergyTrend, the Green Energy Research Division from TrendForce, in 2020, judging from the three major global market trends, the market conditions are improving. The industry is stabilizing and maturing through perpetual changes.

13        5 Battery & EV Charging Stories You May Have Missed
https://cleantechnica.com/2020/01/02/5-battery-ev-charging-stories-you-may-have-missed/
Electric vehicle (EV) batteries and charging may not be as exciting as robotaxis and other autonomous vehicles, there’s been a variety of fun news about these matters that should help to further raise awareness and get people to switch to EVs.

14        Behind the Buzzword: A Brief History of Energy ‘Resiliency’
https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/behind-the-buzzword-a-brief-history-of-resiliency-in-the-energy-industry

Over the last 30 years, the transition away from centralized energy infrastructure, global climate events like the devastating hurricanes of 2017, extreme volatility in the cost of fossil fuels, and a growing demand for renewable energy have shaped an unfamiliar theoretical term into not only a buzzword but a cornerstone of infrastructure planning.

15        5 Early Applications for Green Hydrogen
https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/5-early-applications-for-green-hydrogen
Few energy-related topics are getting as much attention at the moment as green hydrogen. Europe’s biggest natural-gas infrastructure firm recently launched a new hydrogen business. A hydrogen economy in the U.S. could generate an estimated $140 billion per year in revenue and support 700,000 jobs by 2030, according to a recent McKinsey study published by the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association.

16        ‘Completely unsustainable’: How streaming and other data demands take a toll on the environment
https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/data-centres-energy-consumption-1.5391269
The gigabytes of data we’re using — although invisible — come at a significant cost to the environment. Some experts say it rivals that of the airline industry.

17        Tracking emissions in China | MIT News
http://news.mit.edu/2019/tracking-emissions-china-valerie-karplus-1230
In January 2013, many people in Beijing experienced a multiweek period of severely degraded air, known colloquially as the “Airpocalypse,” which made them sick and kept them indoors. As part of its response, the central Chinese government accelerated implementation of tougher air pollution standards for power plants, with limits to take effect in July 2014.

Business Intelligence and Analytics 45

Friday, January 3, 2020

Business Intelligence and Analytics 45

1          Is Augmented Analytics a Threat to Business Intelligence?
https://www.analyticsinsight.net/is-augmented-analytics-a-threat-to-business-intelligence/
A term coined by Gartner, Augmented analytics is used to describe the integration of natural language generation, text mining, natural language processing, and automated data processing capabilities into Business Intelligence (BI) systems. Augment Analytics has been on the wish list of IT vendors as they are on a rush to build or buy these capabilities into their BI platforms to make it easier for enterprise customers to democratize analysis.

2          Predict Electricity Consumption Using Time Series Analysis
https://www.kdnuggets.com/2020/01/predict-electricity-consumption-time-series-analysis.html
Time series forecasting is a technique for the prediction of events through a sequence of time. The technique is used across many fields of study, from geology to behavior to economics. The techniques predict future events by analyzing the trends of the past, on the assumption that future trends will hold similar to historical trends.

3          How HR Is Using Data Science and Analytics to Close the Gender Gap
https://www.kdnuggets.com/2020/01/hr-data-science-analytics-gender-gap.html
The gender gap refers to the differences men and women experience related to what they can or want to attain in the labor market. One of the most common ways people speak about this issue is by bringing up how women often don’t earn as much as men, even when they assume similar roles.

4          12 Digital Marketing Trends and Innovations For 2020
https://medium.com/@jackmathew/12-digital-marketing-trends-and-innovations-for-2020-18614c78ba65
Technology has turned the world into a global village in terms of effortlessly connecting people from all different countries and cultures.

Sharing information is more accessible than it ever has before, making it much easier to generate product awareness or promote your service. And since the internet is such a powerful tool that can be used to generate ROI, investing in digital marketing cannot be ignored. According to eMarketer, “worldwide digital ad spend is predicted to reach over $375 billion by 2021.”

5          10+ books for the Next Economy
https://www.oreilly.com/radar/books-for-the-next-economy/
One of the most popular sections of the Next:Economy Newsletter is our periodic Deeper Reading feature, highlighting books of relevance to the ongoing transformation of the economy, the world of work, the costs of capitalism, and how business gets done. It’s nearly impossible to keep up with the recent spate of important, enlightening, and inspirational publications…

6          4 Impressive Ways Blockchain Could Disrupt the Banking Sector
https://datafloq.com/read/4-impressive-ways-blockchain-could-disrupt-the-ban/7357
These experts shared a variety of insights. They believe that blockchain will create an entirely new foundation for the financial industry, which will lead to a number of new services. However, the biggest changes will probably come in the form of new variations of existing services, which can be provided more securely, cost-effectively and timely.

7          Why Machine Learning Services Are Disrupting Every Industry Across the Globe
https://www.smartdatacollective.com/why-machine-learning-services-are-disrupting-every-industry-across-globe/

Artificial Intelligence is surrounding us everywhere. We cannot go with our day without approaching a solution involving AI. Machine learning is a field of Artificial Intelligence which specializes in setting machine using algorithms to learn certain things by itself.

8          7 Reasons Why ABM Fails and How to Avoid Them
https://www.business2community.com/strategy/7-reasons-why-abm-fails-and-how-to-avoid-them-02272305

With more and more companies implementing ABM and heralding their successes—everything from increased revenue and more significant deals to increased customer retention rates—it’s only natural to want to join the party. After all, according to ITSMA, 87% of B2B marketers report higher ROI using ABM strategies.

9          5 Things To Avoid in 2020 From Looking at Online Marketing in 2019
https://www.business2community.com/online-marketing/5-things-to-avoid-in-2020-from-looking-at-online-marketing-in-2019-02272362

The marketing press is full of stories about how we can make marketing more effective in 2020. In most cases, these articles are full of oft-repeated advice: the importance of email marketing, why SEO is important for your business, and how to store your customer data safely.

10        Baidu tops Microsoft and Google in teaching AI to understand human language
https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3043895/baidu-tops-microsoft-and-google-teaching-ai-understand-human-language

Baidu’s model, called ERNIE (Enhanced Representation through kNowledge IntEgration), recorded the highest score of 90.1 – just ahead of Microsoft and Google – on the General Language Understanding Evaluation (GLUE) benchmark and analysis platform for natural language understanding. Baidu’s model was first developed to understand Chinese language but researchers soon found it was able to understand English better too.

11        The Future of Work in Developing Economies
https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/the-future-of-work-in-developing-economies/
Much has been written about the rise of automation in developed countries. Economists have been busily creating models seeking to quantify the likely impact of automation on employment.1 However, far less has been written about the potential effects on work in developing nations. This is surprising, given that automation may be especially troublesome for developing economies.

12        Predicting the next decade in the stock market
https://www.r-bloggers.com/predicting-the-next-decade-in-the-stock-market/
Making accurate predictions using the vast amount of data produced by the stock markets and the economy itself is difficult. In this post we will examine the performance of five different machine learning models and predict the future ten-year returns for the S&P 500 using state of the art libraries such as caret, xgboost Explainer and patchwork.

Energy, Petrochemicals and Plastics 44

Friday, December 27, 2019

Energy, Petrochemicals and Plastics 44

1          Global Superpowers Vie For Power In World’s Most Important Oil Chokepoint
https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Global-Superpowers-Vie-For-Power-In-Worlds-Most-Important-Oil-Chokepoint.html

Iran, Russia, and China will begin on Saturday joint navy drills in the northern Indian Ocean, an Iranian military spokesman said on Wednesday, amid simmering tensions in the Middle East throughout this year.

2          The Strait of Hormuz is the world’s most important oil transit chokepoint
https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=39932
The Strait of Hormuz, located between Oman and Iran, connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. The Strait of Hormuz is the world’s most important oil chokepoint because of the large volumes of oil that flow through the strait. In 2018, its daily oil flow averaged 21 million barrels per day (b/d), or the equivalent of about 21% of global petroleum liquids consumption.

3          Oil Analysts See Few 2020 Fireworks
https://www.rigzone.com/news/wire/oil_analysts_see_few_2020_fireworks-24-dec-2019-160654-article/
Oil prices are likely to remain in check during 2020 as OPEC+ production cuts are offset by higher output from other countries and a mixed outlook for demand, according to analysts.

4          The 10 Most Important Oil Market Trends For 2020
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/The-10-Most-Important-Oil-Market-Trends-For-2020.html
This year saw a mix of some of the more predictable events—such as OPEC and Russia extending their cooperation pact, twice—and a ‘black swan’ such as the September attacks on Saudi oil facilities which cut off 5 percent of daily global oil supply for weeks.

As black swans are, by definition, unpredictable, analysts focus on predicting the ‘knowns’ in the market for 2020 as they see them at the end of 2019.

5          U.S. energy shareholders seek to leave behind a lost decade
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-global-markets-decade-energy-idUSKBN1YV0CM
The 2010s was a lost decade for shares of U.S. energy companies overall. Volatile commodity prices amid growing supply, poor financial performance and disfavor from some investor groups all contributed to the energy sector’s transformation from investor darling to investor outcast.

6          Oil’s 2019 milestones tell the decade’s story of energy abundance
https://www.worldoil.com/news/2019/12/20/oil-s-2019-milestones-tell-the-decade-s-story-of-energy-abundance

Global oil markets notched up a number of milestones this year that echoed the story of the past decade: the world has shifted from an era of supply tightness to plenty.

7          Don’t get too excited – OPEC needs to do more in 2020
https://www.rystadenergy.com/newsevents/news/press-releases/dont-get-too-excited-opec-needs-to-do-more-in-2020/

“The OPEC cuts didn’t fully solve the problem – instead they offer a light bandage to get through the first quarter of 2020, but after that, we believe the market will begin to realize the looming over-supply reflected in our balances and call-on-OPEC,” says Bjørnar Tonhaugen, head of oil market research at Rystad Energy.

8          2019 Was A Pivotal Year For Energy
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/2019-Was-A-Pivotal-Year-For-Energy.html
This year may be a “tipping point when global capital markets accepted the technology-driven inevitability and grid parity cross-over from polluting thermal coal and the increased uptake of sustainable clean renewable energy,” Tim Buckley, Director Energy Finance Studies at the Institute for Energy Economics

9          Oil Up on US Inventory Drop and Trade Deal Optimism
https://www.rigzone.com/news/wire/oil_up_on_us_inventory_drop_and_trade_deal_optimism-26-dec-2019-160660-article/

Oil rose for a third session as an industry report showed American inventories shrank and as optimism over a partial U.S.-China trade deal grew.

10        OPEC: Review of 2019 and outlook for 2020
https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/opec-review-of-2019-and-outlook-for-2020/
Global oil demand is projected to rise by 0.98 mb/d in 2019, mainly due to cooling macro-economic indicators in major economies. Oil demand in the OECD is projected to grow by a marginal 0.02 mb/d in 2019, due to slower than-expected demand in the Americas and Asia Pacific.

11        Why Chevron’s $10 Billion Impairment Matters
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Why-Chevrons-10-Billion-Impairment-Matters.html
Chevron surprised a number of people last week when it announced that it would take a non-cash, after-tax impairment charges of $10 billion to $11 billion in its fourth-quarter 2019 results.

12        Permian Gas Problem Getting Worse
https://www.rigzone.com/news/wire/permian_gas_problem_getting_worse-24-dec-2019-160658-article/
America’s top shale field is becoming increasingly gassy as drilling slows down, undercutting profits for explorers at a time when investors are demanding better returns.

13        Global LNG Outlook 2020
https://www.lngindustry.com/special-reports/24122019/global-lng-outlook-2020/
2019 has seen the start of a re-shaping of the LNG industry, with the promise of further changes in 2020 and beyond. As well as new import and export countries entering the market, the year has been marked by the development of mega-liquefaction projects, particularly in the US, Russia and Qatar.

14        EU energy in 2019: a year of unprecedented events
https://blogs.platts.com/2019/12/23/eu-energy-2019-unprecedented-events/
Energy markets have always been characterised by a small handful of perennial market-moving dynamics – Middle East political tensions, supply interruptions, climate change policy and the global economic prognosis to name but four. Predictably, any significant occurrence in any of these dynamics often leads to cries of “unprecedented”.

15        Oil Price Fundamental Daily Forecast
https://www.fxempire.com/forecasts/article/oil-price-fundamental-daily-forecast-light-trade-expected-ahead-of-fridays-eia-weekly-inventories-report-622414

U.S. West Texas Intermediate and international-benchmark Brent crude oil futures are trading slightly better on Thursday shortly before the regular session opening. The early strength is being supported by a combination of thin-trading conditions, optimism over the U.S.-China trade deal, OPEC+ production cuts and expectations of a bullish number in Friday’s government inventories report after a private industry report showed a drawdown on Tuesday.

16        Natural Gas Price Prediction – Prices Surge Ahead of Inventory Report
https://www.fxempire.com/forecasts/article/natural-gas-price-prediction-prices-surge-ahead-of-inventory-report-2-622525

Natural gas prices rebounded sharply on Thursday ahead of Friday’s inventory report scheduled to be released one day late due to the Christmas Holiday. Expectations are for natural gas inventories to decline by 119 Bcf according to survey provider Estimize. Demand moved higher in the latest week due to rising power generation. The weather is expected to be warmer than normal during the next 6-10 days and then turn to move normal levels during the next 8-14 days according to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration.

Recycling, Renewables and Sustainable Business 15

Friday, December 27, 2019

Recycling, Renewables and Sustainable Business 15

1          Top 10 Utility Regulation Trends of 2019
https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/top-10-utility-regulation-trends-of-2019
As renewable energy and energy storage resources become increasingly cost-competitive, states have become more ambitious in their clean energy targets. At least 13 states plus Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. have now set 100 percent clean energy targets.

2          ‘It’s a good start’: Berkeley takes the lead in charging fee for single use cups
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/berkeley-businesses-single-use-to-go-coffee-cups-fee-1.5395807

Beginning Jan. 1, businesses in Berkeley must include a charge of an extra 25 cents US for every to-go coffee cup — part of a growing worldwide movement against single-use items.

3          Volkswagen ahead of schedule in electric cars production
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-volkwagen-electric-idUSKBN1YV0O5
Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) said on Friday that it would reach a key target in the production of electric autos earlier than previously anticipated.

4          Tesla set to begin deliveries of China-made Model 3 cars on Dec. 30
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tesla-china-idUSKBN1YV0MB
U.S. electric vehicle maker Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) will begin delivering Model 3 vehicles built at its Shanghai factory on Monday, a company representative told Reuters.

5          Why Hasn’t Hydrogen Gone Mainstream?
https://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy/Renewable-Energy/Why-Hasnt-Hydrogen-Gone-Mainstream.html
As the world pays more and more attention to reducing emissions and mitigating climate change, analysts believe that the most abundant element in the universe—hydrogen—has the potential to become a mainstream energy technology and a key clean fuel source in the future that could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

6          Revealed: microplastic pollution is raining down on city dwellers | Environment
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/dec/27/revealed-microplastic-pollution-is-raining-down-on-city-dwellers

Microplastic pollution is raining down on city dwellers, with research revealing that London has the highest levels yet recorded.

The health impacts of breathing or consuming the tiny plastic particles are unknown, and experts say urgent research is needed to assess the risks.

7          Offshore wind developer Orsted secures money for renewable hydrogen project
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-orsted-renewables-hydrogen-idUSKBN1YO0WC
anish energy firm Orsted (ORSTED.CO) said on Friday it had secured funding for a demonstration project using offshore wind power to produce renewable hydrogen to power buses, lorries and potentially taxis.

8          Electric vehicle startup Rivian scores $1.3 billion investment from T.Rowe Price, others
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-autos-rivian-idUSKBN1YR1KF
Electric vehicle startup Rivian said on Monday it closed a $1.3 billion investment round led by T. Rowe Price and including existing investors Amazon.com and Ford Motor Co.

9          EV Ownership + Rooftop Solar Ownership — New Report & Charts
https://cleantechnica.com/2019/12/25/ev-ownership-rooftop-solar-ownership-new-report-charts/
We were curious whether EV ownership/leasing correlated with rooftop solar panel ownership, and also whether driving an EV encouraged people to drive more efficiently or even conserve energy more at home, so we surveyed thousands of EV owners. Guess what the results were.

10        FTSE leaves coal and oil firms and G4S on ethical investment list | Business
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/dec/22/ftse-leaves-coal-and-oil-firms-and-g4s-on-ethical-investment-list

Some of the world’s biggest fossil fuel companies, including Russia’s state oil giant Rosneft, have been added to the London Stock Exchange’s “ethical” investment lists.

11        Is Goldman Sachs’ Recent Environmental Push Enough?
https://cleantechnica.com/2019/12/21/is-goldman-sachs-recent-environmental-push-enough/
Goldman Sachs has been garnering quite a lot of Twitter praises after the bank updated its “Environmental Policy Framework.” As per the changes, the firm has now pledged:

To decline any financing transaction that directly supports new upstream Arctic oil exploration or development. This includes but is not limited to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Decline the opportunities for transactions which directly finance new thermal coal mine development or any mountaintop removal mining.

12        Coal Killing Long-Duration Energy Storage For Vermont (Vermont?!?)
https://cleantechnica.com/2019/12/22/coal-killing-long-duration-energy-storage-for-vermont-vermont/
Whelp, it looks like the US coal industry is going to end the 2010s the way it started. Back in 2009, US coal producers probably didn’t know they were staring down at the bottom of an abyss fueled by natural gas and renewable energy — or if they knew, they weren’t telling. Now that the 2020s are here, a major new threat to coal is taking shape in the form of long-duration energy storage. And it’s happening in Vermont, of all places.

13        Are vegetables vegan? Organic agriculture’s dirty little secret | Environment
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/dec/24/vegetables-vegan-organic-agriculture-farming
Bonsall is an influential member of a small but growing group of vegan and organic – “veganic” – farmers, who want to revolutionize organic agriculture, which traditionally depends on animals byproducts such as cow manure.

14        Why we put climate concerns on hold for the holiday season
https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/climate-change-consumer-holiday-waste-gift-wrap-glitter-tree-psychology-1.5403646

You’re standing in line at the cash register, holding a sparkling roll of colourful gift wrap. You know it’s not a climate-friendly choice. You also know the paper is headed straight for the trash as soon as the gift is unwrapped.

But you buy it anyway.

Business Intelligence and Analytics 44

Friday, December 27, 2019

Business Intelligence and Analytics 44

1          Tech We Can’t Live Without, Growing Pains and 2020 Insights
https://www.informationweek.com/strategic-cio/executive-insights-and-innovation/tech-we-cant-live-without-growing-pains-and-2020-insights/a/d-id/1336603

In 2020, expect to see these trends in technology work together to create solutions to improve how businesses and society work together.

Every year, technology that was once cutting edge becomes obsolete as new ideas enter the space. 2019 was a big year in the high-tech world. Here’s a look at new tools that are making a difference in business outcomes, some big ideas that haven’t yet come together, and what’s next for the industry in 2020.

2          Crystal Ball Time! 10 Marketing, Tech and CX Predictions for 2020
https://www.business2community.com/marketing/crystal-ball-time-10-marketing-tech-and-cx-predictions-for-2020-02270723

It’s that time of year to break out the crystal ball. As we get ready for a new year and new decade, what does the future hold?

We asked 10 leading experts in the fields of marketing, customer experience, e-commerce, personalization, customer data platforms (CDPs) and more for their industry predictions for 2020. Read on to see the advances, challenges, opportunities and trends they forecast:

3          5 Predictions for AI and Analytics in 2020
https://medium.com/cuddle-ai/5-predictions-for-ai-and-analytics-in-2020-8341dc265b86
AI has become an integral part of the business — development tools, algorithmic models, computing platforms, management, and monitoring tools, data governance and ethics — are all part of the mainstream conversation at every forward-looking enterprise. The intersection of AI and Analytics is one that we find most exciting — and there are many trends we predict to see in 2020. Let us look at the 5 developments we are most likely to see at the intersection of AI and Analytics in the next year.

4          How Algorithms Impact Our Decisions
https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/algorithms-decision-making/
When we buy something on Amazon or watch something on Netflix, we think it’s our own choice. Well, it turns out that algorithms influence one-third of our decisions on Amazon and more than 80% on Netflix. What’s more, algorithms have their own biases. They can even go rogue.

5          Predictive Analytics Techniques in One Picture
https://www.datasciencecentral.com/profiles/blogs/predictive-analytics-in-one-picture

Predictive analytics is a wide field of techniques that share a common goal of predicting future behavior. Choosing the right prediction modeling method is perhaps the most important step in the process, because predictive models are the driving force behind predictive analytics. This picture summarizes six of the most popular methods:

6          AI and the future of work: Will Artificial Intelligence make us all into Polymaths in the future?
https://www.datasciencecentral.com/profiles/blogs/ai-and-the-future-of-work-will-artificial-intelligence-make-us

A polymath is an individual whose knowledge spans a significant number of subjects, known to draw on complex bodies of knowledge to solve specific problems. (wikiepdia). The best example of a polymath is Leonardo Da Vinci. Specifically, a polymath could be seen as someone who has demonstrated mastery in  more than two trades (poly – hence more than two)

7          How is IoT Supporting Various Oil & Gas Industrial Operations?
https://www.datasciencecentral.com/profiles/blogs/how-is-iot-supporting-various-oil-amp-gas-industrial-operations

The heightened technological development in the 21st century would not have been possible without the contribution from the oil & gas sector. Our dependence on the crude and its products has made it one of the industrial sectors that contribute around 2 to 3 per cent to the overall global economy. In fact, in 2017, the consumption of crude grew by 1.4 million b/d and its production increased by 2.2 million b/d.

8          Recession, robots and rockets: another roaring 20s for world markets?
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-markets-outlook-2030-analysis-idUSKBN1YV0QQ
The ‘20s could be an era of smart cities, where big data and robotics ensure better governance, health and connectivity, UBS forecast. It expects annual spending to turn cities smart will reach $2 trillion in 2025 and internet-connected devices will multiply more than four-fold to 46 billion.

9          4 Content Marketing Mistakes You Didn’t Know You Were Making
https://www.business2community.com/content-marketing/4-content-marketing-mistakes-you-didnt-know-you-were-making-and-how-to-fix-them-02270698

If there’s one golden of starting a business, it’s that you need a blog to grow. Your blog is the reason consumers come back long after they’ve purchased something from your online store. It’s also the reason that new users find your brand when they are searching on Google. Lastly, your blog is the deciding factor for many consumers when they commit to your company.

10        Using a Connected Strategy to Gain a Competitive Advantage
https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/connected-strategy-book/
In an increasingly competitive marketplace, it’s no longer good enough for company to sell a product through a simple, one-time transaction with shoppers they may never see again. Businesses can create more value for themselves and their customers if they learn to develop a connected strategy.

11        Market Basket Analysis: A Tutorial
https://www.kdnuggets.com/2019/12/market-basket-analysis.html
The lifeblood of retail businesses has always been sales. A retailer can never assume that his customers know all of his offerings. But rather, he must make the effort to present all applicable options in way which increases customer engagement and increase sales.

Energy, Petrochemicals and Plastics 43

Friday, December 20, 2019

Energy, Petrochemicals and Plastics 43

1          Don’t Bet On A Natural Gas Rebound
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Dont-Bet-On-A-Natural-Gas-Rebound.html
Natural gas prices are set to close out the year down by about 25 percent, and unlike crude oil, there is not a lot of confidence in a rebound.

Record levels of production and mild temperatures have left the gas market in the U.S. well-supplied. After running down to exceptionally low levels a year ago, U.S. gas inventory levels have shot back up to the five-year average in 2019. That means that the U.S. enters the peak winter demand season with plenty of gas on hand.

2          Oil Price Fundamental Daily Forecast –Lackluster Trade, but Markets Still Higher for Week
https://www.fxempire.com/forecasts/article/oil-price-fundamental-daily-forecast-lackluster-trade-but-markets-still-higher-for-weekl-621397

U.S. West Texas Intermediate and international-benchmark Brent crude oil futures are edging lower Friday on profit-taking ahead of the week-end and next week’s Christmas holiday. Nonetheless, the markets are in a position to finish higher for a third consecutive week on the back of an improving outlook for global demand growth.

3          Natural Gas Price Fundamental Daily Forecast
https://www.fxempire.com/forecasts/article/natural-gas-price-fundamental-daily-forecast-could-be-setting-up-for-short-squeeze-621408

Natural gas futures are trading higher on Friday after forming a potentially bullish technical chart pattern on the daily chart in reaction to a much larger-than-expected storage withdrawal on Thursday. Traders remain a little skeptical about the move, however, because the weather outlook for the early part of 2020 is not supportive for increasing demand.

4          Weekly resin report: PE prices hold steady; PP slips another cent
https://www.plasticstoday.com/resin-pricing/weekly-resin-report-pe-prices-hold-steady-pp-slips-another-cent/54816879362064

The spot resin markets remained extremely active through mid-month. Transacted volumes were above average and prices were mixed, reports the PlasticsExchange (Chicago) in its Market Update.

5          Delays loom for LNG and deepwater oil & gas projects as bottlenecks restrain service industry
https://www.rystadenergy.com/newsevents/news/press-releases/delays-loom-for-lng-and-deepwater-oil-and-gas-projects-as-bottlenecks-restrain-service-industry/

A dark cloud of capacity constraints is casting a shadow over the oilfield service industry heading into 2020, mirroring the sharp growth in the number of new projects being brought forward by oil and gas operators. About 250 new oil and gas projects are likely to be sanctioned for development in 2020, up from 160 in 2016, and bottlenecks among suppliers appear inevitable.

6          Global shipping sails into turbulent times as IMO 2020 nears
https://blogs.platts.com/2019/12/18/global-shipping-turbulent-imo-2020/
When the shipping industry counts down to the New year on December 31, markets are unlikely to be in a celebratory mood as global markets will wake up to a whole new shipping regime come January 1: IMO 2020.

7          The pressure on the polyethylene (PE) industry
https://www.argusmedia.com/pages/NewsBody.aspx?id=2038672&menu=yes
The pressure that has built from all sides on the polyethylene (PE) industry looks likely to continue in 2020. Europe began 2019 with healthy integrated PE margins, but they dropped significantly towards the end of the year to the point that some producers are trimming operating rates, saying that integrated margins are unacceptably low in some grades.

8          EIA: European LNG imports hit record levels
https://www.lngworldnews.com/eia-european-lng-imports-hit-record-levels/
Europe’s imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) have been steadily increasing since October 2018, and reached a new monthly record of 12.7 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in November 2019, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates.

9          China firms stock up cleaner shipping fuel overseas ahead of new emission rules
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-shipping-fuel-imo-idUSKBN1YO0UI
Chinese marine fuel suppliers have signed up short-term deals to buy very low-sulphur fuel oil from companies like oil major Shell, Germany’s Uniper and U.S. commodities trader Freepoint ahead of a new standard on emissions for the global shipping industry that kicks in on Jan. 1.

10        Shell writes down up to $2.3 billion on weaker economic outlook
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-shell-outlook-idUSKBN1YO0PC

Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) said on Friday it expected to write down up to $2.3 billion in the fourth quarter, the latest major energy company forced to shrink estimates for sector values due to a weaker economic outlook.

11        Canada approves CNOOC’s offshore drilling plan
https://www.offshoreenergytoday.com/canada-approves-cnoocs-offshore-drilling-plan/
The Chinese company is proposing to conduct an exploration drilling project within two offshore exploration licenses in the Flemish Pass Basin.

“The Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Jonathan Wilkinson, has announced that the proposed CNOOC International Flemish Pass Exploration Drilling Project can proceed,” the government said on Wednesday.

12        Why Oil Majors May Never Return To Canada’s Arctic
https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Why-Oil-Majors-May-Never-Return-To-Canadas-Arctic.html

Canada’s federal government has returned security deposits that oil majors had paid to drill in Canadian Arctic waters which are currently off limits until 2021, but even if Canada lifts the ban then, companies are unlikely to be eager to drill in harsh-environment challenging waters, analysts say.

13        BP, Chevron to invest $116M on exploration in Australia after Bight exit
https://www.offshoreenergytoday.com/bp-chevron-commit-to-invest-116m-on-exploration-in-australia/
Oil and gas majors BP and Chevron have committed to investing a total of $116.5 million in oil and gas exploration activities in Australia, with at least half directed to projects in South Australia with a view of increasing energy supplies in the state and south-eastern Australia. The commitment follows the two firms’ cancellation of the Great Australian Bight drilling plans in the past three years.

14        Commodities 2020: China set to embrace Norway as regular crude oil supplier
https://www.spglobal.com/platts/en/market-insights/latest-news/oil/121919-commodities-2020-china-set-to-embrace-norway-as-regular-crude-oil-supplier

China appears likely to add Norway into the list of its regular crude oil suppliers in 2020, with the country’s independent refiners especially finding North Sea’s new Johan Sverdrup crude attractive for its competitive price and familiar specification.

15        Mexico postpones clean diesel rule for Pemex for five years
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mexico-diesel-idUSKBN1YM2EH
Mexico’s energy regulator voted on Wednesday to defer for five more years a rule requiring national oil company Pemex to produce, distribute and sell ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD) nationwide.

16        2019 ends on a low note, offering a gloomy start to 2020
https://www.rystadenergy.com/newsevents/news/newsletters/OfsArchive/ofs-december-2019/

The global oilfield service market saw year-over-year revenue decline 3% in the third quarter this year, the first quarter to post negative growth since 2Q 2017. Moving into the fourth quarter, service companies are reporting that operators have little budget left, hinting that 4Q will be sluggish.