RE: Rkh16 Nov 2018 21:16
Anyone who doubts whether oil has any future, despite the IPCC report doesn't understand just how dependent humanity is on low-cost energy.
We're going to need oil & gas for a few more decades as world population grows, humans continue to live too comfortably and renewables are unable to provide an adequate alternative - eventually oil consumption will fall, but by then the planet will probably have been trashed.
Whatever the actual outcome, the FI oil will be extracted. The UK may make all the right environmental noises, but the FIG is already well advanced in preparing for their once-in-eternity bonanza, which they're not going to forfeit.
Despite making all the right noises, HMG would like greater energy independence from oil producing states with dubious credentials and reliability, so they're not going to get in the way of this one - more likely they're going to help fund it with Export Credit finance.
I agree with Giblets, that if we've heard nothing about FID by March 2019, then I'd be getting a bit worried, but at least by then we'll have heard the verdict of the ECT claim against Italy, even if we haven't got the money!
Also, we'll have heard about progress in Egypt.
Anyone who was expecting SL FID news in PMO's RNS yesterday is a tit, because TD had already said in August that it would be later, so those betting on hearing something yesterday weren't paying attention.
As I said in an earlier post, the only serious clouds I can see are a collapse in POO, which is unlikely and we should hear from OPEC on 6/12/18 and the Peronists getting back in, in next year's election.
PMO having such vast debts doesn't help things move quickly, but on the other hand, with potential lenders being ultra-cautious, they're going to make sure that every "I" is dotted and every "T" crossed before FID is announced, so you can be sure that if/when it happens, a VERY thorough job will have been done.