道達爾將加大在可再生能源領域的投入

據(jù)道瓊斯10月1日消息，法國石油巨頭道達爾集團承諾將加大在可再生能源方面的投入，減少對石油的依賴，這是國際石油巨頭在清潔能源方面的最新舉措。

道達爾公司表示，公司計劃到2030年每年在可再生能源上投入30億美元，約占年度投資預算的20%，高于今年的20億美元。與此同時，該公司還計劃將汽油和柴油等石油產(chǎn)品的銷售減少30%，同時增加天然氣、電力和生物燃料的銷售。

道達爾表示，總體而言，未來10年其能源產(chǎn)量將增長三分之一。其中，大約一半將來自液化天然氣，另一半來自電力——主要來自太陽能和風能的增長。

道達爾首席執(zhí)行官潘彥磊（Patrick Poyanne）在一個詳細介紹公司計劃的活動上告訴投資者：“我們相信這是正確的方向?！辈贿^，潘彥磊也表示，道達爾將繼續(xù)致力于其核心的油氣業(yè)務，維持油氣業(yè)務是轉型的基礎，因為它將為公司提供所需的現(xiàn)金流。

道達爾預計，隨著電力和液化天然氣需求上升，石油需求將在2030年見頂。

道達爾的綠色投資計劃與競爭對手英國石油公司(BP)今年早些時候公布的計劃類似，不過時間節(jié)點上要慢一些。

BP打算到2025年將低碳投資占其預算的比重提高至20%，同時未來十年將其石油和天然氣產(chǎn)量降低40%。這家英國公司還表示，計劃增加可再生能源的發(fā)電量。

石油巨頭們已經(jīng)表示，新型冠狀病毒大流行可能會加速化石燃料向低碳能源的轉變。在全球變暖的擔憂下，這一轉變已經(jīng)進行了好幾年。新型冠狀病毒大流行削弱了對石油的需求，打擊了價格和企業(yè)利潤。

作為回應，這些公司紛紛裁員、減記資產(chǎn)價值，荷蘭皇家殼牌公司和BP還削減了股息。

道達爾拒絕采取其中一些措施。潘彥磊表示，公司打算維持派息，不打算裁員。

潘彥磊表示，他希望向可再生能源轉型將提振該公司的估值，而公司的股息將有助于道達爾區(qū)別于其他采取這一行動的石油巨頭。近年來石油股票已經(jīng)失寵,而可再生能源公司表現(xiàn)更好。

然而，一些投資者表示，他們擔心石油公司進軍風能和太陽能等領域可能損害利潤，因為它們?nèi)狈?jīng)驗，競爭加劇，回報率通常較低。道達爾表示，預計其可再生能源項目的回報率為10%，低于去年設定的15%的目標。石油和天然氣項目的行業(yè)基準回報率約為15%。

由于向低碳能源轉型的速度和時機存在不確定性，石油公司一直難以吸引投資者。疫情加劇了這種暴跌，全球石油巨頭的股價今年受到打擊。不過，道達爾的股價表現(xiàn)要好于同行，過去三個月累計下跌了約14%，而其他石油巨頭的跌幅超過了20%。

張春曉 摘譯自 道瓊斯

原文如下：

Oil Giant Total Pledges Renewable Power Push

Total SA pledged to ramp up its spending on renewable energy and reduce its dependence on petroleum, the latest move by a major oil company toward cleaner power.

The French company said Wednesday that it plans to spend $3 billion a year on renewables by 2030, about 20% of its annual investment budget and up from $2 billion this year. Over the same period, it said it also plans to reduce its sales of oil products such as gasoline and diesel by 30%, while increasing its sales of natural gas, electricity and biofuels.

Overall, Total said its energy production was set to grow by a third in the coming decade. Of that, roughly half would come from liquefied natural gas and the other half from electricity -- mostly from growth in solar and wind power.

"We are also convinced that this is the right direction," Chief Executive Patrick Poyanne told investors at an event detailing the company's plans.

However, he also said Total would remain committed to its core oil and gas business. "We consider that maintaining an oil and gas business is a foundation of the transformation, because it will provide to us the cash flow that we need."

The move comes as Total expects oil demand to peak by 2030 as demand for electricity and LNG rises.

Total's green investment plans are similar to those outlined by rival BP PLC earlier this year, although on a slower time frame.

BP intends to increase its low-carbon investments to 20% of its budget by 2025 and cut its oil-and-gas output by 40% in the coming decade. The British company has also said it plans to increase renewable-power output.

Major oil companies have said that the coronavirus pandemic could speed up the transition from fossil fuels toward low-carbon energy, which has been under way for several years amid concern about global warming. The pandemic has sapped demand for oil, hitting prices and corporate profits.

In response, these companies have cut their workforces, written down the value of their assets and, in the case of Royal Dutch Shell PLC and BP, cut dividends.

Total has resisted taking some of these measures. On Wednesday, Mr. Pouyanne said the company intended to maintain its dividend and didn't plan to lay off staff.

Mr. Poyanne said he hoped the shift into renewables would boost the company's valuation, and that its dividend would help differentiate Total from other majors making the move. Oil stocks have fallen out of favor in recent years, while renewable energy companies have fared better.

However, some investors say they're concerned that oil companies might damage profits by moving into areas like wind and solar because they lack experience, competition is rising and returns are typically lower. Total said it expects its renewable-energy projects to generate returns of 10%, below its target of 15% given last year. The industry benchmark for returns on oil and gas projects is around 15%.

Oil companies have struggled to attract investors amid uncertainty over the speed and timing of the transition to low-carbon energy. The pandemic has exacerbated that slump, with shares in the world's oil majors taking a beating this year.

However, Total's stock price has fared better than its peers, down about 14% over the past three months, compared with drops of over 20% for other majors.