Energy estimates imply climate targets will not be met

Significance Under the IEA's baseline 'Stated Policies Scenario', global oil demand plateaus in the 2030s, but there is no significant decline thereafter. Impacts Upstream investment in oil will be needed to address natural decline, but uncertainty will grow over the financial viability of projects. Rising use of electricity to deliver energy requires heavy investment in all aspects of the power system; insufficient spending is a risk. To remain an energy transition destination fuel, the natural gas sector will have to retool as a decarbonised energy source.

Local demand will Egypt’s sustain gas sector long term

Subject Outlook for the Egyptian gas sector. Significance Over the past five years, Egypt’s natural gas sector has seen a dramatic turnaround. However, the demand-side impact of COVID-19 policy responses and the collapse in oil prices are now weighing heavily. Given these challenges, international oil companies (IOCs) are reviewing their investment options. Impacts New upstream investment in the gas sector will be reduced or put on hold. Further drops in domestic gas prices are likely in the near term. Egypt may seek to delay or minimise Israeli gas imports.

Commercial realities of the proposed LNG import terminals on the east coast of Australia

Recent government intervention in the East Australian Gas Market (EAGM) may have temporarily settled short-term supply availability concerns; however, gas prices in the EAGM now inevitably trend with the spot LNG Netback Price. Notwithstanding, supply remains tight, due to lack of upstream investment from overhang of some state government policies restricting exploration and development, and the lack of investment stemming from the recent period of low oil prices. Save further government intervention to retrospectively reserve already contractually committed export supply from the three Queensland LNG export projects, there is no ‘quick fix’ solution to fully address market tightness in the short to medium term from indigenous sources of gas supply. The only real solution to ensure security of supply over a reasonable tenure is to import LNG into the EAGM. However, the clear commercial reality of gas supply sourced from an LNG import terminal is that it can only be supported by high gas prices, albeit also providing other market benefits such as peaking capacity and storage. Without a solution to the EAGM supply–demand issue, there will be demand destruction as industrial users and electricity power generators seek alternatives to gas supply or simply cease operations. Most indigenous gas supply alternatives to LNG imports stem from the northern states and may provide solutions over the longer term (e.g. Beetaloo Basin), but do not solve the immediate need for gas supply in the southern states by 2020/21. New supply from the north is in any event physically pipeline-constrained over this timeframe.

Egypt will increase gas production to raise investment

Significance The government wants to maintain upstream investment momentum following recent successes in increasing gas production to regain self-sufficiency and restart exports. Impacts Increased investment in exploration and production should bolster confidence in Egypt’s ability to honour its export commitments. New contracts would allow companies to sell their share of production, without being obliged to sell to the government at fixed prices. Gas exports will not generate huge revenues, but self-sufficiency will have a beneficial effect on the balance of payments.

From Head to Head: An Emergy Analysis of a War Rifle Bullet

Emergy (spelled with an “m”) analysis is a method for environmental and systemic accounting in terms of sustainability and quality of resources used for a product, service or process. In this paper, it is applied to the assault rifles projectiles used in war battlefields. The specific emergy is evaluated in terms of sej/bullet, pointing out the upstream investment made by both the environment and the human society to produce the bullet in its operating war conditions. Comparison is made with alternative uses of the same resources when addressed to the support of development and wellbeing.