Türkiye's Botas Buying 4 bcm of LNG from Shell in 10-year Deal

The logo of a Shell gas station is pictured in Ulm, Germany, April 6, 2017. REUTERS/Michaela Rehle
The logo of a Shell gas station is pictured in Ulm, Germany, April 6, 2017. REUTERS/Michaela Rehle
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Türkiye's Botas Buying 4 bcm of LNG from Shell in 10-year Deal

The logo of a Shell gas station is pictured in Ulm, Germany, April 6, 2017. REUTERS/Michaela Rehle
The logo of a Shell gas station is pictured in Ulm, Germany, April 6, 2017. REUTERS/Michaela Rehle

Turkish state energy company Botas and British oil major Shell signed a 10-year LNG agreement on Monday, the Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said.

"A total of 40 LNG cargoes of approximately 4 billion cubic meters will be delivered annually for a period covering 10 years starting from 2027," Bayraktar said, Reuters reported.

"This agreement ... provides additional regional and global trade opportunities with the options of receiving (LNG) from the filling port and unloading to European terminals."

Speaking in the ceremony, Bayraktar said the deal has strengthened Turkey's prospects of becoming a natural gas centre and its role in playing a part in Europe's supply security.

Botas signed a 10-year LNG agreement with ExxonMobil in May, under which Botas will purchase up to 2.5 million tons of LNG per year from the US company.

Türkiye meets almost all of its consumption needs with imported gas and brought in 14.3 billion cubic metres (bcm), or 28.3% of the 50.5 bcm that it consumed last year, in the form of LNG.

Türkiye has the supply flexibility to a large part of national consumption needs with liquefied gas instead of pipeline gas if needed, with a gasification capacity of approximately 0.16 bcm per day, according to Reuters calculations.



Gold Dips to One-week Low as US Jobs Data Awaited

Gold bars from the vault of a bank are seen in this illustration picture taken in Zurich November 20, 2014. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo
Gold bars from the vault of a bank are seen in this illustration picture taken in Zurich November 20, 2014. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo
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Gold Dips to One-week Low as US Jobs Data Awaited

Gold bars from the vault of a bank are seen in this illustration picture taken in Zurich November 20, 2014. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo
Gold bars from the vault of a bank are seen in this illustration picture taken in Zurich November 20, 2014. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo

Gold prices fell to their lowest in more than a week on Monday as the US dollar firmed, while market focus shifted to a series of economic data due this week for clues to the extent of rate cuts at the Federal Reserve's September meeting.

Spot gold fell 0.1% to $2,501.06 per ounce, as of 10:34 GMT after dipping to its lowest since Aug. 23 earlier in the session.

US gold futures rose 0.2% to $2,533.40. Trading is expected to be light with U.S. markets closed for a holiday.

"To move higher from here we need to have more clarity whether it will be 25 (bps) rate cut or 50 (bps) rate cut and probably by the end of the week, with the employment data, we might get more clarity on that side," UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said.

Traders await a slew of US economic data pending this week including the ISM surveys, JOLTS job openings, ADP employment and the non-farm payrolls report, Reuters reported.

The markets broadly expect the Fed to cut rates at its Sept. 17-18 meeting, which would mark its first cut in this policy cycle.

According to the CME FedWatch tool, investors now see a 71% chance of a 25-basis-point cut and a 29% chance of a 50 bp cut in September. Lower rates reduce the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding gold.

"With earnings season now largely completed and a Fed rate cut on Sept. 18 all-but guaranteed, investors appear content to remain long despite some recent firming of both short rates and the US dollar," Mike Ingram, market analyst at Kinesis Money, said in a note.

"High levels of geopolitical risk and portfolio diversification remain as additional supports."

The dollar hovered near a two-week peak hit earlier in the session, making bullion more expensive for holders of other currencies.

Spot silver fell 0.7% to $28.62 per ounce, and hit its lowest in over two weeks.

Platinum was steady at $926.40 and palladium rose 0.5% at $969.99.