Investor Demands Affect U.S. Shale Executives
Weak returns at U.S. shale producers could cost more executives their jobs and lead to increasing battles with activist investors, analysts said following changes at two producers. After years of outspending cash flow to expand oil and natural gas production, executives are under pressure to pull back on spending and deliver higher returns. Investors have sold shares in companies that increased their drilling budgets, and some have avoided the sector altogether. Pioneer Natural Resources Co Chief Executive Tim Dove retired after a two-year stint in the job, with founder and former CEO Scott Sheffield returning to the top role. Halcon Resources Corp CEO Floyd Wilson and two other executives - finance chief Mark Mize and Steve Herod, executive vice president of corporate development - resigned the same day. The company said it began the search for a new CEO. “It’s a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately scenario,” said Jason Wangler, analyst with Imperial Capital in Houston. “Not only are investors holding people accountable, they’re watching every move.” He expects management and board changes at other companies this year. Activist investor Fir Tree Partners this month called for Halcon to appoint independent board directors, cut costs and sell itself. Fir Tree in a statement called the management changes “important first steps.”Kimmeridge Energy Management Co announced an activist stake in PDC Energy Inc and urged the producer to cut expenses and pay a dividend. PDC in response said it was focused on capital discipline
Canadian Regulator Backs Oil Pipeline Expansion
Canada’s National Energy Board (NEB) regulator recommended Ottawa approve expansion of the government-owned Trans Mountain oil pipeline, but made new, nonbinding recommendations to mitigate harm to Pacific Ocean killer whales. The pipeline is in the national interest as it will create jobs and allow Canadian oil to reach more markets, the NEB said in a report. But expanding it is likely to significantly harm the killer whale population off the coast of British Columbia and increase greenhouse gas emissions from ships, the board said in its report. A “worst-case” spill, while unlikely, would also be damaging, it said. The NEB made 16 new recommendations, ranging from offsetting increased underwater noise to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from ships. The recommendations constitute nonbinding advice to the government. Ottawa in September directed the board to conduct a new review of its application to nearly triple the capacity of Trans Mountain, which the government bought for C$4.5 billion ($3.43 billion) last year from Kinder Morgan Canada to ensure it gets built. The move came after Canada’s Federal Court of Appeal overturned the Liberal government’s 2016 approval to expand the pipeline, which runs from Alberta to the British Columbia coast. The court ruled that the NEB failed to consider marine impacts and that the government did not adequately consult indigenous groups. The NEB’s ruling is a political win, albeit with mixed implications, for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, ahead of a fall election
Pertamina Eyes Doubling Refinery Capacity
Indonesian state energy company PT Pertamina is planning capital expenditures of $4.2 billion this year and will raise it to $7 billion in two years as part of plans to double its oil refinery capacity, chief executive Nicke Widyawati said.Pertamina is under pressure from the government to expand its downstream production to reduce imports of refined oil products, which creates a trade deficit that weighs on the Indonesian rupiah. “Starting from 2021, we will invest around $7 billion per year as these refineries (developments) are in progress,” Widyawati said in a meeting with journalists.Pertamina plans to double its refining capacity to 2 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2026 from around 1 million bpd currently, Widyawati said, to meet national fuel demand of around 1.4 million bpd.Pertamina expects to import 351,000 bpd of gasoline this year, up from 324,000 bpd in 2018, according to a company presentation during the meeting. The company is currently working on at least seven refinery projects, including the new Bontang and Tuban refineries and the upgrading of the Balikpapan and Cilacap plants. To finance the investment, Finance Director Pahala Mansury said Pertamina has the capacity to raise funds through borrowing, but the company is actively looking for partners for certain projects. “We are looking for investment partners. These are big investments and the return may take a while,” Widyawati said. Meanwhile, Pertamina is targeting $58.85 billion in revenue in 2019, up from $56.06 billion in 2018.
Saudi Aramco Agrees $10bn Project in China
State-owned Saudi Aramco has signed an agreement to form a joint venture with Chinese conglomerate Norinco to develop a refining and petrochemical complex in Panjin city, saying the project is worth more than $10 billion.Aramco and Norinco, along with Panjin Sincen, will form a new company called Huajin Aramco Petrochemical Co as part of a project that will include a 300,000 barrels per day (bpd) refinery with a 1.5 million metric tonnes per annum (mmtpa) ethylene cracker, Aramco said.The deal was signed during a visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Beijing as part of an Asia tour.Aramco will hold 35 percent of the new company, with Norinco and Panjin Sincen owning 36 percent and 29 percent respectively, the statement said.Aramco will supply up to 70 percent of the crude feedstock for the complex, which is expected to start operations in 2024. The value of the project means it is the largest Sino-Foreign joint-venture, Aramco said. The agreement “is a clear demonstration of Saudi Aramco’s strategy to move from beyond a buyer-seller relationship, to one where we can make significant investments to contribute to China’s economic growth and development,” Aramco CEO Amin Nasser said in the statement. It said there were also plans to establish a fuels retail business. Saudi Aramco, North Huajin and Liaoning Transportation Construction Investment Group are expected to form a three-party marketing joint-venture company by the end of 2019, it said