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The Covid-19 pandemic is effecting everyone in the world. There isn't a corner of the planet that isn't impacted by the virus. Not only is it affecting human lives, causing suffering and death. It is also having a large effect on the financial situation of the world. It is forcing people to stay home and to lose work. Many people have lost their jobs. One of the biggest sectors that is being effected by the pandemic is the energy industry. Each sector of this industry is being effected differently and only time will tell how it is impacted by the disease.
Coal
According to MoneyPug, the site used to switch energy suppliers, coal is perhaps the most effected by the pandemic. The industry is not only impacted by the inability for miners to work in the mines, coal was already falling apart. Coal was out the door, it was barely holding on. Now with social distancing and the economic hit that comes with Covid-19, coal will likely not survive. Luckily this brings an opportunity for the other sectors of the energy market, which have also been greatly impacted by the global pandemic.
Oil
The global oil demand is expected to decline in 2020 as the impact of Covid-19 spreads. This is according to data from the International Energy Agency. The pandemic has constricted travel and has had a negative impact on economic activity. This has sent ripples down the economy and the situation remains fluid and uncertain.
The oil consumption level in China is down and this will have a large impact on the oil market economy in general. The IEA now sees the global oil demand at just under 100 million barrels a day in 2020. The number is down by around 90,000 barrels from 2019, which is a sharp decrease from February's forecast. It predicted that global oil demand would grow by 825,000 barrels a day in 2020.
The short-term for the oil market will depend on how quickly governments react to contain the coronavirus outbreak. The estimated pessimistic scenario shows global demand falling by 730,000 barrels and an optimistic look shows barrels growing at 480,000 barrels a day.
Natural Gas
The demand for natural gas from China's industrial sector was down by around 25 percent, according to the Chongqing Gas and Petroleum Exchange. While natural gas is suffering like any other sector of the energy market, there is an opportunity for natural gas to pick up where coal and oil leave off. Still in the global gas markets, there is further weakness expected during the quarantine. US natural gas producers are looking at crude prices and European gas is not doing so well. Furthermore, the demand in India may slash Asian LNG prices, which will come under pressure as major demand centers in both Europe and elsewhere shut down. Restrictions will be tightened to tackle the virus.
Renewables
Just like every other field, the renewable energy industry is suffering. It will remain tough for the sector during this quarantine, but there is an open door in some ways. With coal and oil struggling, there is an opening for the renewable industry. Of course green energy is further behind some of the other industries, but that just means it is a perfect time for them to further their business. Now is the time to invest in the industries we want to see succeed both during this quarantine and after the fact.
We have been given a strange opportunity in this time. We can prop up failing companies and businesses or we can invest in the future. If we do our part to work towards a sustainable world, in the end it won't be expensive. It will become cheaper and cheaper to live and the cost of energy will continue to go down.
So what are you waiting for? Now is the time to commit to investing in the energy sector to not only make some money but to have a say with what will happen in the future. The world will be quite different once this is over. Don't fret. We are in the position to change the way we are living our lives in modern society. Do your part and support those who deserve it to embolden their businesses and boost the economy.
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