Andrew joined NGI in 2018 to support coverage of Mexico’s newly liberalized oil and gas sector, and his role has since expanded to include the rest of North America. Before joining NGI, Andrew covered Latin America’s hydrocarbon and electric power industries from 2014 to 2018 for Business News Americas in Santiago, Chile. He speaks fluent Spanish, and holds a B.A. in journalism and mass communications from the University of Minnesota.
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Articles from Andrew Baker
‘ERCOT Failed Texas,’ says Abbott, Vowing to Reform Grid Operator Following Cold Weather Debacle
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott blasted the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) on Thursday, saying the independent system operator “failed the people of Texas” during an extended cold snap this week. Some 325,000 customers remained without power as of an afternoon press briefing in which Abbott pledged to reform ERCOT to prevent a repeat of…
February 18, 2021
Abbott Nixes Gas Exports Outside of Texas as Mexico Already Facing Cold-Induced Supply Crunch
A clearer picture was emerging on Wednesday of a massive natural gas shortage facing Mexico amid the extreme cold gripping Texas, Mexico’s main source for the fuel. The supply shortfall was punctuated by a late-breaking announcement Wednesday from Texas Gov. Greg Abott that he was prohibiting the sale of natural gas produced in Texas outside…
February 17, 2021
No Easy Answers as Texas Power Grid, Natural Gas Market Rocked by Unprecedented Cold Snap
Rotating power outages continued to impact Texas end-users on Tuesday as the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) scrambled to restore service amid a blast of arctic cold that sent the electric grid and natural gas markets into chaos. About 10,500 MW of customer load, equal to the demand of about 2 million homes, was…
February 16, 2021
U.S. Oil, Natural Gas Permitting Drops 10% in January, but Majors in Permian Record Six-Month High
Lower 48 onshore oil and gas permit approvals fell by 10% in January versus December to 1,688, with declines seen across all of the major basins, according to the latest monthly statistics compiled by Evercore ISI. The Permian Basin and Eagle Ford Shale combined to account for 52% of the total permit count, said the…
February 12, 2021
‘Writing is on the Wall,’ says Total’s Pouyanné as Major Shifting to LNG, Renewables
France’s Total SE plans to base its growth strategy on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and renewable electricity during the 2020-2030 period and propose a name change to shareholders to reflect the shift in focus, management said Tuesday. “The writing is on the wall,” said CEO Patrick Pouyanné upon presenting the major’s 2020 earnings to analysts…
February 10, 2021
Preferential Treatment for Mexico’s CFE Said Unlikely to Boost Natural Gas Market
Proposed legislation in Mexico to favor state utility Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE) in the electricity dispatch order should not be viewed as bullish for the natural gas market, despite CFE’s plans to add more gas-fired capacity over the coming years, according to local energy consultant David Rosales. The bill supported by President Andrés Manuel…
February 8, 2021
Mexico Natural Gas Prices Hit 22-Month High Amid Bullish 2021 Outlook
Mexico natural gas prices in December hit their highest level in 22 months, averaging $3.64/MMBtu, according to the latest IPGN monthly natural gas price index published by the Comisión Reguladora de Energía (CRE). CRE used 311 transactions reported by 30 marketers to calculate the December index, the highest number of companies ever to report transactions…
February 1, 2021
New York City to Ban New Gas Hookups by 2030 as de Blasio Calls to ‘Renounce Fossil Fuels Fully’
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Thursday the city must “renounce fossil fuels fully,” including banning fossil fuel connections in new construction by 2030 at the latest, decarbonizing the city’s pension fund investments, and transitioning away from cars. By banning fossil fuel hookups, New York will be “literally ensuring that our only choice…
January 31, 2021
EDF-Led Study Finds ‘Exceptionally High’ Methane Emissions in Mexico Oil, Gas Operations, Exceeding Government Estimates
Processing facilities in Mexico’s oil and natural gas patch are emitting “exceptionally high levels of methane pollution” at 10 times the rate being reported by the government, according to a new study led by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). The study tracked emissions of the potent greenhouse gas across the states of Chiapas, Tabasco, Veracruz…
January 28, 2021
U.S. Oil, Natural Gas Industry Sounds Alarm as Biden Order Halts Federal Leasing
The U.S. oil and gas industry reacted with dismay and the first of perhaps multiple lawsuits Wednesday ahead of an executive order (EO) by President Biden directing the Department of the Interior (DOI) to pause new oil and natural gas leasing on federal lands and offshore waters. The EO published Wednesday afternoon follows a 60-day…
January 28, 2021