Eni becomes first major to drill off Mexico since 2013 energy reforms
Italian giant Eni has been crowned the first international oil major to drill in Mexico since the country's 2013 energy reform.
Italian
Saipem hires Bain to get in shape for cheaper oil
Italian oil contractor Saipem SPMI.MI is working with Bain & Company to draw up a restructuring plan to help it cut costs and counter falling oil prices that have sapped its order book and stretched its balance sheet, three sources said. Saipem, 43 percent owned by state-controlled Eni ENI.MI, has lost around three-quarters of its value in the last 30 months after a corruption probe in Algeria, two profit warnings and increasingly bleak business prospects. The cancellation of a Black Sea pipeline contract was the latest blow. (Full Story) "The plan is called 'Fit to 60' -- whipping the company into shape to deal with life with crude at $60 a barrel," a source with knowledge of the matter said. Low oil and gas prices have prompted majors and governments the world over to cut energy investments and shelve projects, starving oil service companies of business and forcing them to streamline operations.
Four workers kidnapped in Libya
Four Italian workers have been kidnapped in Libya. The incident happened near an industrial complex owned by energy company Eni in the western city of Mellitah. The Italian Foreign Ministry said the employees had been kidnapped on Sunday.