SVB Energy International in the Media 2021

U.S.-Africa Committee to Host a Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol in Washington D.C. to Discuss Opportunities for U.S. I

Zawya: December 31, 2021 - The U.S.-Africa Committee of the African Energy Chamber’s (AEC) (https://EnergyChamber.org/) will host a Power Breakfast on Thursday 16th December 2021 at The Army And Navy Club 901 17th St NW, Washington D.C., featuring the participation of Hon. Puot Kang Chol, the Minister of Petroleum for the Republic of South Sudan. The Minister will discuss opportunities for U.S. investors in South Sudan’s oil, gas, and energy sectors. The discussion will be driven by Jude Kearney-Managing Partner, Asafo US, Dean Foreman, Chief Economic Officer of the American Petroleum Institute, Dr. Sara Vakhshouri, founder and president of SVB Energy International, and Derek Campbell, Executive Chairman of African Metals Group.

U.S.-Africa Committee to Host a Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol in Washington D.C. to Discuss Opportunities for U.S. I

The Guardian: December 14, 2021 - The Africa Energy Chamber will host a Power Breakfast on Thursday 16th December 2021 at The Army And Navy Club 901 17th St NW, Washington D.C., featuring the participation of Hon. Puot Kang Chol, the Minister of Petroleum for the Republic of South Sudan. The Minister will discuss opportunities for U.S. investors in South Sudan’s oil, gas, and energy sectors. The discussion will be driven by Jude Kearney-Managing Partner, Asafo US, Dean Foreman, Chief Economic Officer of the American Petroleum Institute, Dr. Sara Vakhshouri, founder and president of SVB Energy International, and Derek Campbell, Executive Chairman of African Metals Group.

Oil execs ponder a future without oil as they gather in Houston

NPR's Market Place: December 7, 2021 - Sara Vakhshouri, president of the oil and gas consultancy SVB Energy, said she doesn’t think the future will be that dark, but “the demand for energy is growing, so we are going to use more energy than we are using today. That means the demand destruction for oil is not going to be so great,” she said. The transition away from fossil fuels is important, Vakhshouri said. But policymakers calling for zero investment in oil are taking a risky approach.

Energy Security and Energy Transition in Sub-Saharan Africa

Energy Security Cubed Podcast: December 2, 2021 - The Canadian Global Affairs Institute's Energy Security Cubed Podcast, Kelly Ogle is joined by Sara Vakhshouri to talk energy security and energy transition in Sub-Saharan Africa, and what this could mean internationally.

OPEC aware of delicate market conditions amid new COVID variant

Anadolu Agency: December 1, 2021 - Sara Vakhshouri, founder and president of SVB Energy International, based in Washington and Dubai, recalled that the collective SPR release would add physical barrels to the market, although she said the volumes that were brought online were not significant, but would "changes the supply prospects." "Also the new variant of Covid-19 and locking out Africa could have a negative impact on demand… In light of all of these, OPEC will carefully study the market's fundamentals’ trajectory and will decide to either continue as it was planned before or take a different direction," she said.

African Energy Week highlights lack of support for renewables

PV Magazine: November 23, 2021 - On the final day of the event in Cape Town – organized by industry body the African Energy Chamber – Sara Vakhshouri, of SVB Energy International, told the conference each African nation has its own unique energy needs and that a ‘mixed basket' of energy sources would be the best approach for nations to secure energy security. Vakhshouri is founder and president of the Washington-based consultant, which lists ‘major national and international oil companies' as its biggest client type. She told the event: “Energy transition doesn’t mean we only need solar and wind. We are not sure that the energy transition to renewables with the current technology is sustainable and viable yet. The high energy prices, increase in population, and lower efficiency of solar and wind make us see a different scenario.” Mohammed Amin Adam, deputy energy minister of Ghana, called upon international investors to devote as much attention to developing renewables in Africa as they do in other markets, such as Europe and Asia.

Biden administration considers its options as gas prices rise

Marketplace: November 18, 2021 - The Biden administration has been pushing the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to speed up production, but they’ve declined. OPEC members have an incentive to keep prices higher, said Sara Vakhshouri, president of SVB Energy International. “Their economies are heavily dependent on their oil sales and oil prices,” she said. The administration has been considering other tools. This week, it asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate anti-consumer behavior in the oil and gas market. 

Geopolitics of Energy in Africa

Energy Capital and Power: November 10, 2021 - As the continent’s premier energy event, African Energy Week (AEW) 2021 in Cape Town offers global and African stakeholders the opportunity to engage, network, facilitate deals, and drive the continent into a new era of enhanced energy and economic growth. Accordingly, an energy dialogue session on the geopolitics of energy in Africa aimed to address the challenges and opportunities faced by the African energy industry, proposing an integrated and cooperative approach to the continent’s energy sector expansion. Moderated by Dr Sara Vakhshouri, founder and president, SVB Energy International, panel participants included Dr Lars Schernikau; Erik Prince, Founder, Frontier Service Group; and C. Derek Campbell, Executive Chairman, African Metals Group. With Africa’s rich hydrocarbon resources comprising a predominant topic in global energy dialogue, the speakers emphasized the role that oil and gas will continue to play in Africa.

Why politicians have little sway over gas prices

Marketplace: August 12, 2021 - But squeezing OPEC rarely works. It’s a powerful cartel that doesn’t have to lose too much sleep over rising gas prices in the United States. American politicians also have limited control at home, said Sara Vakhshouri, president of the oil and gas consultancy SVB Energy International. “So, the U.S. government has no say really on how much the oil production should be,” she said. That’s up to private energy firms, meaning Texas Gov. Abbott can’t just tell oil companies in the Permian Basin to start pumping to increase supply.

OPEC Oil Output Surged in June to Satisfy Recovering Demand

Bloomberg July 2, 2021 - Last month all but one of OPEC’s 13 members increased supplies, the survey showed. Saudi Arabia -- which made the lion’s share of cutbacks when the market was ailing -- bolstered output by 490,000 barrels a day to 8.95 million a day. Even countries that have wrestled with sanctions, such as Iran, or economic and industrial crisis like Venezuela, found a way to add barrels in June, according to the survey. Figures are based on ship-tracking data, information from officials, and estimates from consultants including Rystad Energy AS, JBC Energy GmbH and SVB Energy International LLC.

Oil producers look at output levels as demand returns

Marketplace: June 30, 2021 - OPEC has been meeting more frequently since last year as the global pandemic wreaked havoc on oil demand. That way, the group could be ready to shift production quickly as needed when economies came back online, said Sara Vakhshouri, president of SVB Energy. “I would say the key word is predictability,” she said. “They tried to create a predictable market by giving a schedule until 2022 of how OPEC is going to increase its production.”

Iran stores more oil on tankers as it counts days to enter markets

NASDAQ: June 21, 2021 - Iranian officials are optimistic they can increase production quickly, and one senior Iranian oil ministry official said earlier this month that most output could be restored within a month. Observers expect it will take a little more time. "We do expect a recovery of 500,000 to 700,000 bpd within 3 months from sanctions removal, and total 1 to 1.2 million bpd of oil production recovery within 6-12 months from sanctions removal," said Sara Vakhshouri, president of SVB Energy International.

Pain at the pump? Think Iran.

Marketplace: June 21, 2021 - Going into Iran’s election last week, talks between the government in Tehran and the Joe Biden administration were moving toward a deal to patch up their differences, revive the nuclear accord and let Iran export oil again. But the newly elected president, Ebrahim Raisi, and his allies “are very skeptical of U.S. intentions,” said Sara Vakhshouri, who heads the consulting firm SVB Energy International. Since Friday’s election, the price of crude has risen $3 to about $75 a barrel. “Traders are having lower expectations for Iran oil,” Vakhshouri said. Meanwhile, Russia and members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries are keeping supplies tight as international demand is red-hot.

Iran stores more oil on tankers as it counts days to enter markets

Reuters: June 21, 2021 - Iranian officials are optimistic they can increase production quickly, and one senior Iranian oil ministry official said earlier this month that most output could be restored within a month. Observers expect it will take a little more time. “We do expect a recovery of 500,000 to 700,000 bpd within 3 months from sanctions removal, and total 1 to 1.2 million bpd of oil production recovery within 6-12 months from sanctions removal,” said Sara Vakhshouri, president of SVB Energy International.

Raisi Victory Will Delay Return of Iran’s Oil, Analysts Say

Bloomberg: June 20, 2021 - The election of a conservative cleric as Iran’s president will probably hold up the lifting of U.S. sanctions on the Islamic Republic’s energy exports, said analysts including Sara Vakhshouri, president of SVB Energy International LLC. “The election of a hard-liner delays the expectation of a rapid return of Iranian oil,” she said. 

Some traders bet on oil hitting $100 per barrel as economies thaw

Marketplace: June 8 , 2021 - One of the hot bets in commodities markets is that crude oil will jump in price, from about $70 a barrel, where it sits today, to $100. We haven’t seen triple digits in the U.S. price benchmark known as West Texas Intermediate since 2014, but as economies thaw out, energy use will rise. In North America and Western Europe, around 4 out of 10 people have now received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose. “All of these have contributed to more mobility, and more movement,” said consultant Sara Vakhshouri at SVB Energy International. Many of us still work from home, but Vakhshouri said driving is surging. “If you can travel by, let’s say, metro or train, you might prefer to travel in your own personal car because you feel it’s safer,” she said.

Iranian crude blends seen getting lighter to meet Chinese tastes

 S&P Global Platts: May 26, 2021 - NIOC is "increasing the share of Iran Light in the export basket and will stop the export of Pars crude which is ultra-heavy," said Sara Vakhshouri, president of energy consultancy SVB Energy International, who closely follows Iran's oil industry. "During the sanctions period, they have been exporting different grades and cocktails [blends] of oil, based on their customer's needs [that was requested by Chinese refineries]. Iran also consumed lighter crude domestically during the sanctions," she added.

Iran's oil exports, on rising trend, drop in May as China buying ebbs 

Reuters: May 19, 2021 - "The exports dropped to under 600,000 bpd from May 1 until now," said Sara Vakhshouri of consultant SVB International. "Exports in May could have a spike in the days to come," she said, if the nuclear deal is revived. SVB had estimated April exports at about 750,000 bpd.  

Iran Gears Up for Return to Oil Market as U.S. Talks Advance

Bloomberg: May 16, 2021 - “Even if the sanctions are not removed, depending on their ability to sell oil in the gray market, they will increase their production further,” said Sara Vakhshouri, president of consultancy SVB Energy International LLC in Washington. Engineers at NIOC have been rotating crude production between different fields to maintain sufficient reservoir pressure, according to officials at the company, who asked not to be identified. The procedure is crucial for keeping up output levels. Gas injections at older oil fields in the south of the country are playing a similar role, SVB’s Vakhshouri said.

Iran Boosts Oil Exports Amid Nuclear Deal Talks

Wall Street Journal: April 15, 2021 - Rising Iranian oil sales could strengthen Tehran’s hand in negotiations now under way with Western powers, if they lessen the financial stress from U.S.- and European-imposed sanctions. With ready Chinese buyers of its crude, Iran has less incentive for the “gradual removal of sanctions in return for compliance to the nuclear agreement,” said Sara Vakhshouri, president of Washington-based consulting firm SVB, which follows Tehran’s exports closely.

OPEC Supply Rises as Iran Rebound Complicates Balancing Task 

Bloomberg: April 1, 2021 - While Iran remains subject to U.S. sanctions, buyers in China have shown greater enthusiasm during the new administration of President Joe Biden, who seeks better relations with Tehran than his predecessor. Shipments to the Asian nation have surged so substantially that vessels bearing Iranian crude are clogging up Chinese ports. The country’s exports surpassed 1 million barrels a day this month, said Sara Vakhshouri, president of SVB Energy International LLC.

China's Iran oil imports seen hitting new high in March, curbing OPEC output options

Reuters: March 29, 2021 - Separately, a trade source familiar with Iranian ship movements pegged China-bound cargoes at 30 million barrels for March, while Sara Vakhshouri, president of SVB Energy International, estimated Iran oil exports this month exceeded 1 million bpd.

China Buys More Iranian and Venezuelan Oil, in a Test for Biden 

The Wall Street Journal: March 19, 2021 - “If it sells 1 million barrels a day at current prices, Iran has no incentive to negotiate,” said Sara Vakhshouri, president of Washington-based SVB Energy International and an expert on Iran's oil industry.

Iran oil output faces race against time as U.S. sanctions linger

Reuters: February 15, 2021 - “Saudi Arabia, Russia, the U.S. and major energy companies are already way ahead of Iran in securing a large portion of oil market share in the medium and long-term,” said Sara Vakhshouri, founder and president of SVB Energy International.

Gas prices up on renewed crude oil demand, not US policy

AFP: February 11, 2021 - Sara Vakhshouri, president of energy consultancy at SVB Energy International, explained that “because of the pandemic, lower demand, lower oil prices and severe Capex (capital expenditures) cut among the producers, US natural gas production and LNG (liquefied natural gas) exports reduced,” which, in turn, all contributed to higher prices.

Iran activates game plan for oil comeback in 2021 in test for Biden administration

S&P Global Platts: February 9, 2021 - The government recently ordered its domestic oil operators to ramp up operations, largely from the South Azadegan and West Karun fields. Pre-sanctions crude production capacity was about 4 million b/d. "Iran's oil fields and regional producing companies have already received a planned schedule and orders to increase their production, said Sara Vakhshouri, president of energy consultancy SVB Energy International. "If there are less export restrictions and Iran could gradually increase its export, we can expect a gradual output rise of about 120,000-150,000 b/d each month, in the coming months."

Iran's oil exports rise in January despite sanctions - trackers

Reuters: January 26, 2021 - Iran’s exports have shrunk since Trump in 2018 withdrew the United States from a nuclear deal with Iran and reimposed sanctions. New President Joe Biden has said if Tehran resumed compliance with the deal, Washington would too. Figures from SVB International and two other firms that estimate Iranian supply by tracking tankers indicated exports are rising. SVB International estimated Iranian crude exports increased to 710,000 barrels per day (bpd) in December from 490,000 bpd in October, and that shipments and production so far in January were moving up. “Iran and customers are expecting an easier approach from the Biden administration,” said Sara Vakshouri of SVB. “Iran has already started increasing its production and exports in anticipation of negotiations with the U.S.”

Iran Oil Exports Creep Up as Trump’s Maximum Pressure Fades

Bloomberg January 25, 2021 - Iranian crude remains subject to American sanctions and exports are still just a fraction of levels seen three years ago, before Donald Trump cracked down to cajole Tehran into renegotiating a nuclear pact. But as new president Joe Biden seeks to revive the existing accord, firms that monitor Iran’s output -- Petro-Logistics SA, Kpler Ltd. and SVB International LLC -- have seen it creep higher. “ “The output and export increase is an anticipation of Biden’s softer approach toward Iran,” said Sara Vakhshouri, SVB’s founder and president.

Iran Says It’s Reviving Oil Output to Pre-Sanctions Levels

Bloomberg: January 22, 2021 - Iranian output has been edging higher recently, analysts who track tanker loadings say. Petro-Logistics SA in Geneva estimates supplies have gained about 50,000 barrels a day in January, and SVB Energy International LLC sees an increase of about 36,000 a day.

French oil giant Total going big on solar energy

 Marketplace: January 19, 2021 - Energy industry consultant Sara Vakhshouri said this particular partnership with Adani Green Energy makes a lot of sense for Total. After all, India is one of the world’s fastest-growing markets for energy demand. “If you’re an international energy company and you are looking to be ahead of your peers in the game to seize a huge chunk of market share, India is where you want to be,” Vakhshouri said. She said the other place multinational energy companies are looking to invest is southern Africa, because, like India, that region is moving fast toward increasing electricity access to more citizens.

Iran says it restarts 20% uranium enrichment as tensions simmer in Persian Gulf

S&P Global Platts: January 4, 2021 - "Biden's energy policies are targeting oil demand and his administration is willing to negotiate with Iran, which is a political rival to some of the largest producers of the OPEC and directly threatens their national interest and market share," said Sara Vakhshouri, president of SVB Energy International.