** Growth in natural gas production in the biggest producing regions in the United States is on the decline due to the lack of sufficient pipeline network, as prices soar at home alongside a major uptick in LNG exports destined for gas-thirsty Europe.
** MPLX LP on Monday said it would move forward with the expansion of a Permian basin natural gas pipeline that will ease an expected lack of takeaway capacity from the top U.S. shale region.
** Record fuel exports from the U.S. Gulf Coast are eating into domestic supplies, leaving gasoline and diesel tanks on the East Coast emptier than they have been in decades.
** After boosting LNG exports to a record because of Europe’s thirst for energy, oil exports from the U.S. are now on the rise, as well, but the trend may not be sustainable.
** The top solar energy industry group said Wednesday that it has cut its forecasts for deployment by nearly 50 percent, blaming the Biden administration’s decision to investigate Asian manufacturers amid allegations of dodging tariffs.
** Georgia and Rivian Automotive sign a deal in which state and local governments will pay $1.5 billion in incentives for the electric vehicle maker to build a $5 billion factory near Atlanta.
** Louisiana lawmakers advance a bill to impose an annual state road usage fee for drivers who own electric or hybrid vehicles.
World
** Germany said this week it was prepared to back an immediate EU embargo on Russian oil, a major shift by Germany — that analysts say would tip its economy into recession. The EU is expected to propose a sixth round of sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine this week- and the oil embargo is possibly on the menu.
** The European Union is getting ready to propose a ban on Russian oil, but Hungary has been vocal in its opposition. “It makes no sense for the commission to propose sanctions…that would restrict Hungarian procurements,” an official said.
** Slovakia will seek an exemption from any embargo of Russian oil agreed by the European Union in its next set of sanctions against Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine, Slovakia’s Economy Ministry said on Tuesday.
** Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree on retaliatory economic sanctions in response to the “unfriendly actions of certain foreign states and international organisations”, the Kremlin said on Tuesday.
** With the war in Ukraine raging on, German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck is calling for a rapid buildout of liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals to help the country source more gas from overseas suppliers and wean off Russian imports, which currently account for around a third of Germany’s natural gas.
** Iran is moving ahead with a US$500-million contract for the production development and enhanced oil recovery from its strategically vital South Pars Oil Layer signed between the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), the Iranian Offshore Engineering and Construction Company, and an as-yet officially undisclosed foreign company reported OilPrice.com.
** Qatar reclaimed the crown as the world’s top liquefied natural gas exporter from the U.S. just as the end of winter lowered demand for the heating fuel in the northern hemisphere.