2026-02-03 08:25
MOSCOW, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Russia's gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to grow by 1 to 1.3% in 2026, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Tuesday. For 2025, growth was estimated at 1% and the jobless rate at 2.2%, Novak said in a speech on the economy delivered to Russia's upper house of parliament. Sign up here. https://www.reuters.com/business/russias-2026-gdp-growth-is-seen-1-13-deputy-pm-novak-says-2026-02-03/
2026-02-03 07:48
KUWAIT, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Kuwait's prime minister said on Tuesday that Kuwait Petroleum Corporation plans to invite international oil companies to assist Kuwait Oil Company in developing recently announced offshore oil and gas discoveries. Sign up here. https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/kpc-invite-international-oil-companies-help-develop-offshore-oil-gas-kuwait-pm-2026-02-03/
2026-02-03 07:24
TASHKENT, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Uzbekistan boosted annual production of uranium to 7,000 metric tons in 2025, far more than an initial estimate, and plans to develop four new mines this year, the Uzbek president's press service said. The report, which marks the first time that Uzbek uranium production figures have been publicly disclosed, added that uranium reserves have reached 139,000 tons. Sign up here. Last year's production figure compares with an Uzbek Atomic Energy Agency statement that the government planned to produce over 4,200 tons in 2025. Uzbekistan aims to increase uranium production to 7,200 tons per year by 2030, according to the country's development strategy. Deputy Minister of Mining and Geology Ural Yusupov told Uzbek state TV that one of the projects, worth $150 million, is expected to start uranium production as early as July. https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/uzbekistan-sharply-increases-uranium-production-2026-02-03/
2026-02-03 07:10
Greenpeace criticises Eni's climate impact on snow sports Eni committed to net-zero emissions by 2050 Alps warming forces reliance on artificial snow MILAN, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Environmental advocacy group Greenpeace has called on Winter Olympics organisers to end their partnership with Italian oil major Eni (ENI.MI) , opens new tab, warning that the group's fossil fuel operations undermine efforts to protect snow‑dependent sports as the climate warms. The Milano Cortina Olympics will run from February 6-22 and state-controlled Eni is one of the premium domestic sponsors of these Games. Sign up here. Environmental groups say Eni's activities contribute significantly to global warming, accelerating the loss of natural snow cover and glacier mass in the Alps and other winter sports regions. "The Winter Olympics need snow, not fossil fuels," Greenpeace said in a video showing an avalanche of black oil engulfing skiers and the Games' five‑ring symbol. Eni said in a statement that it "shared the importance of addressing climate change" and would continue investing in the energy transition as part of its plan to reach net‑zero emissions by 2050. Greenpeace and ReCommon, another environmental group, have brought a climate change case against Eni, which is ongoing. RISING TEMPERATURE IN THE ALPS Rising temperatures in the Alps, increasing at twice the global average according to specialist research group SLF, have already forced the closure of several Italian ski resorts and pushed organisers to rely heavily on artificial snow. Campaigners argue that companies whose core activities contribute to global warming should not be showcased at events that depend on cold weather to survive. "Polluters shouldn't get a podium at the Games. It's time for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to drop oil and gas sponsorship," Greenpeace said. Greenpeace says the IOC should follow the precedent set in 1988, when tobacco advertising was banned from the Winter Olympics, and phase out fossil fuel sponsorships entirely. Contacted via email, the IOC said that the Games in Italy were planned with a strong focus on reducing their footprint and supporting host regions in adapting to climate change. The Games "engage with a range of partners across different sectors, including those investing in technologies and solutions relevant to the global energy transition," it added. https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/greenpeace-condemns-enis-role-as-milano-cortina-sponsor-2026-02-03/
2026-02-03 07:08
OSLO, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Danish wind farm operator Orsted (ORSTED.CO) , opens new tab said on Tuesday it has agreed to sell its European onshore business to Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) for 1.44 billion euros ($1.70 billion). The sale, alongside previously announced deals to divest a 50% stake in Hornsea 3 and 55% of Changhua 2, is part of Orsted's divestment programme designed to strengthen its balance sheet, the company said in a statement. Sign up here. "The transaction also contributes to delivering on Orsted's strategic priority of refocusing on offshore wind in its core European markets, where a significant amount of capacity is expected to be tendered in the coming years," it said. ($1 = 0.8465 euros) https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/orsted-sells-european-onshore-business-cip-17-billion-2026-02-03/
2026-02-03 06:43
DOHA, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Libya plans to boost its natural gas production in the next five years to have more supply available for export to Europe by early 2030, National Oil Corporation Chairman Massoud Suleman said on Tuesday. The country plans to increase gas production to nearly 1 billion standard cubic feet per day and start drilling for shale gas in the second half of this year, Suleman told delegates at the LNG2026 conference in Qatar. Sign up here. Foreign investors have been wary of investing in OPEC member Libya, which has been in a state of chaos since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Disputes between armed rival factions over oil revenues have often led to oilfield shutdowns. Libya has 80 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves, split between conventional and unconventional resources, he added. The country is currently exporting a negligible volume of natural gas via the Greenstream pipeline, Suleman said. Libya also plans to announce the winners of its latest bid round on February 11, he added. About 37 companies from Asia, Europe, North America, the Middle East and Africa participated, Suleman said. These included Chevron (CVX.N) , opens new tab, Eni (ENI.MI) , opens new tab, ConocoPhillips (COP.N) , opens new tab and a consortium that included Repsol (REP.MC) , opens new tab, he added. NOC will also announce another bid round this year, Suleman said, adding there may be bid rounds for unconventional resources or marginal fields. Libya last month signed a 25-year oil development deal with TotalEnergies and ConocoPhillips. https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/libya-targets-europe-gas-export-boost-by-early-2030-2026-02-03/
