BAKU, Azerbaijan, Oct.30
By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:
The oil market environment remains uncertain and will depend notably on the speed of the global demand recovery, affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, Trend reports citing French Total company.
“Oil prices have remained above $40/b since June, supported by strong compliance with OPEC+ quotas and lower hydrocarbon production in North America. In this context, given the quotas, the Group now anticipates full-year 2020 production below 2.9 Mboe/d.
“Total anticipates that the increase in oil prices over the second and third quarters will have a positive impact on its average LNG selling price in the fourth quarter, which is expected to be over $4/Mbtu.
“In the Downstream, since the beginning of the fourth quarter, European refining margins have averaged more than $10/t and remain fragile given the low demand for jet fuel that weighs on the valuation of all distillates. In this context, the Group expects the Downstream to contribute more than $4.5 billion to the Group’s cash flow in 2020.
“In this context, the Group maintains strong discipline on spending. The Group’s operating cost reduction program will surpass its objective with savings of more than $1 billion in 2020. Net investments will be less than $13 billion in 2020, including $2 billion for renewables and electricity.
“The Group’s priority is the generation of a level of cash flow that allows it to continue to invest in profitable projects, support the dividend and maintain a solid balance sheet. The Group’s teams remain fully committed to the four priorities of HSE, operational excellence, cost reduction and cash flow generation.
“After a second quarter in which the Group faced exceptional circumstances with oil prices falling below $20/b and a very strong slowdown of global activity linked to the health crisis, the Group benefited during the third quarter from a more favorable environment, with oil prices above $40/b thanks to strong OPEC+ discipline as well as the demand recovery for petroleum products for road transportation. However, the environment was mixed with low natural gas prices and severely depressed refining margins due to excess production capacity relative to demand and high inventories,” Total said in its quarterly report.
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