Bosnia-Herzegovina Reach Consensus to Begin Negotiations On Gas Pipeline From Russia

Mr. Dusko Perovic, the head of Republika Srpska's mission in Russia, has reportedly shared that Bosnia and Herzegovina's council of ministers has agreed to begin negotiations on building a gas pipeline to ship gas from Russia.

May 22, 2023

Head of Republika Srpska's mission in Russia, Mr.

Dusko Perovic has reportedly stated that Bosnia and Herzegovina's council of ministers has reached a consensus and agreed to begin negotiations on building a gas pipeline to ship gas from Russia. As per reports, Mr. Perovic stated that "The Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina gave the green light to start the negotiation process", and that region's government would seek to have gas shipped via neighboring Serbia. Republika Srpska, which is the Serbia-dominated part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, has taken a strongly pro-Moscow line under its nationalist leader, Mr. Milorad Dodik.

China Contracts 'West to East' 400 Km Long 100,000 TPA Green Hydrogen Pipeline

Sinopec, a Chinese state-owned oil and gas company, shall build the country's largest green-hydrogen pipeline stretching over 400 kilometers and with a transportation capacity of 100,000 TPA.

Apr 10, 2023

Sinopec, a Chinese state-owned oil and gas company, has bagged the contract to build a hydrogen pipeline, power-sourced from renewable energy projects in the northwestern inner Mongolia region to cities in East China. A report cited Mr. Ma Yongsheng, Chairman of Sinopec, stating that the pipeline will stretch over 400 kilometers connecting Ulanqab to Beijing, and will have an initial capacity of 100,000 TPA.

The pipeline shall be China's first 'West to East' green hydrogen transmission line, even though the fossilsourced 'grey hydrogen' pipeline is already operational. The pipeline shall be enabled with ports to integrate new potential hydrogen sources.

Sinopec is the country's largest hydrogen producer. The company is also involved in building a green hydrogen plant of 30,000 TPA in Ordos. In 2021, the company launched a green hydrogen project in Kuqa, western Xinjiang region.

China will get its first green hydrogen pipeline of 100,000 TPA.

In 2022, China's state planner announced green hydrogen production targets of 100,000 to 200,000 TPA and 50,000 hydrogen-fuelled vehicles by 2025.

Uganda's 1,445 Km USD 3.5 Billion East African Crude Oil Pipeline shall Serve Exports

Congo and Uganda are in discussion about crude-oil exports, based on Uganda's East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) pipeline project. The project is estimated to cost USD 3.5 billion to set up 1,445 kilometers of crude-oil pipeline, sourced by the Albertine Graben rift basin oil fields.

May 10, 2023

Mr. Didier Budimbu, Minister of the Democratic

Republic of Congo (DRC) Ministry of Hydrocarbons, met for discussion with Mr. Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu, Energy Minister of Uganda, for East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) based petroleum exports.

EACOP is a 1,445 kilometers long pipeline, being built by Uganda at an investment of USD 3.5 billion. The project will source energy from the oil-rich basin of Albertine Graben, a shared territory between DRC and Uganda. The pipeline will be used to export crude oil to the international market and is expected to become operational in 2025. The Uganda pipeline is expected to help the country set up various crude-oil-based trade relations with neighboring countries like South Sudan, Tanzania, etc.

DRC Ministry of Hydrocarbons announced, “Uganda acknowledged the crucial requirement of DRC to access the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) for the transport of crude oil to be produced from the oil exploration blocks located in the Albertine Graben in the Democratic Republic of Congo.”

The presidents of respective countries shall sign an MoU sealing the final contract regarding the project based on the reports of respective technical teams.

Iraq Allocates USD 417 Million for Its 3rd Offshore Oil Export Pipeline

The Government of Iraq has allocated USD 417 million for the construction of a third offshore oil export pipeline. The tenders are being invited from both domestic and international companies.

May 31, 2023

The Government of Iraq has allocated USD 417 million for the construction of a third offshore oil export pipeline.

The Basra Oil Company (BOC) recently announced that strategic projects for infrastructure, production, and exports shall be carried out in this regard. Mr. Bassem Abdul Karim, the Director of BOC, stated “In addition to foreign companies operating in Basra, other foreign companies will start operating in Basra through competitive tenders.”

BOC is a state-owned company that contributes to over 75 percent of the state's budget. BOC recently signed a contract with a Dutch-dredging company, Royal Boskalis, to construct a pipeline with a daily transportation capacity of 2 million barrels. Recently, Iraq's cabinet also allocated USD 520 million for the construction of a 750 MW solar power plant project. The project shall be constructed in Southern Iraq, in cooperation with Power China, a China-based company specializing in heavy and civil engineering construction.

Siberia-China Gas Pipeline Project; China Yet to Commit Explicitly

The Russian Prime Minister, Mr. Mikhail Mishustin, recently attended a summit in Beijing and met with the Chinese President, Mr. Xi Jinping to get an explicit agreement from China for the Siberia-China gas pipeline.

May 25, 2023 r. Mikhail Mishustin, the Russian Prime MMinister, met Mr. Xi Jinping, the Chinese President, during a summit in Beijing, China. He attended the summit to get an explicit agreement from

China for the Siberia-China gas pipeline among other reasons. The project is slated to boost the Russian economy, especially its declined gas revenues.

Mr. Vladimir Putin, the Russian President, is keen to finalize planned trade agreements with China, including the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline, which will transport natural gas from the Yamal Peninsula, Western Siberia, to China. He had previously stated that the pipeline will replace Nord Stream 2, which used to transport around 50 billion cubic meters of gas to Europe annually.

However, China is yet to commit to the project explicitly and has made vague comments about further researching the project, as per reports.

Russia has been facing a strong backlash from the West for the Russia-Ukraine war and has imposed various sanctions including on gas exports. However, China has been a diplomatic and economic supporter of the nation. According to Ms. Alicja Bachulska, a China policy expert at the European Council on Foreign Relations, China might be delaying finalizing the deal to secure lower prices.

US Govt Declares USD 196 Million Grants to Revamp Gas Distribution Pipelines

The US Government has announced USD 196 million in grants for the repair, replacement, and rebuilding of 270 miles of gas distribution pipes. 37 projects will receive funding over the course of five years.

Apr 5, 2023

Mr. Pete Buttigieg, the US Transportation

Secretary, along with the US Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has announced the Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization (NGDISM) grant program. Over the course of five years, USD 1 billion shall be disbursed in grants to 37 projects for the modernization of municipal and communityowned natural gas distribution pipes. The grants shall aid repair, replacement, or rehabilitation of nearly 270 miles of pipe, thereby reducing methane emissions by approximately 212 metric tons, annually.

Mr. Buttigieg commented, “This funding to modernize our gas pipelines will help protect residents from dangerous leaks, create good-paying jobs, and reduce methane emissions in communities across the nation, particularly in rural and underserved areas.”

Mr. Tristan Brown, PHMSA Deputy Administrator, said, “Investments in pipeline safety are investments in community safety and our shared environment. For far too long, underserved communities have had to bear the brunt of aging and dangerous pipelines.

This funding will finally give communities the resources they need to replace legacy pipelines— improving safety, protecting the environment, and creating jobs.”

The grant is a part of President Biden's Investing in America agenda, which is attracting investments to rebuild the US infrastructure, create a manufacturing and innovation boom, and build a clean-energy economy to combat climate change and make resident communities safer and more resilient.