White House releases America First energy plan following inauguration

The White House released an energy plan following Donald J. Trump’s inauguration as the 45th US president in which he promised to put America and its people first. “To all Americans, hear these words: You will never be ignored again,” Trump said in his Jan. 20 inauguration address. Source: News


Petrobras completes sale of Japanese downstream assets

Brazil’s state-owned Petroleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras) has finalized the sale of its Japanese refining business, including subsidiary Nansei Sekiyu KK’s 100,000-b/d idled Nishihara refinery on Japan’s southwestern island of Okinawa, to Taiyo Oil Co. Ltd., Tokyo. Source: News


BP’s Juniper platform departs for offshore Trinidad

The Juniper platform has set sail for the southeast coast of Trinidad where it will be installed as BP Trinidad and Tobago LLC’s 14th offshore installation. Source: News


MARKET WATCH: Crude oil prices rise slightly on IEA report

Benchmark crude oil prices rose slightly on markets in New York and London Jan. 19 on indications that major producers are making progress toward cutting production in their effort to rebalance oil supply and demand worldwide. Source: News


Barrette, Mercer join Blank Rome in Pittsburgh

Amy L. Barrette and Jeremy A. Mercer have joined Blank Rome LLP as partners in the Energy, Environment, and Mass Torts practice group. They are in the law firm’s Pittsburgh office. Source: News


TransCanada gets approval to construct shale gas pipeline projects

The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has issued an order approving the construction of TransCanada Corp.’s Leach XPress and Rayne XPress projects that will transport natural gas from the Marcellus and Utica regions to the Midwest and Gulf Coast. Source: News


Perry pledges strong support for DOE, energy research efforts

Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) praised the US Department of Energy’s research programs, said he would try to protect their funding, and repudiated his call as a 2012 presidential candidate for DOE’s elimination during the US Senate Energy and Natural Resource Committee’s hearing on his nomination to be US Energy Secretary. Source: News