Brazil’s O.G.X. Makes Aggressive Start Down Uncertain Path
Randy Woods
Brazil’s newest oil company, O.G.X., has yet to produce a barrel of oil or a single cubic foot of natural gas, but it is already an industry giant.
Changing Dynamics Over China’s Offshore E&P Dispute
By Lee Geng
China’s oil and gas sector has been eager to secure energy supplies from countries like Iran and Sudan, a stance that has upset the U.S.
Game, Set, Match: It’s Natural Gas By Default
By Terence Thorn
Gas has seen huge growth over the last 20 years, and that will continue.
Time for U.S. to Embrace Constructive Disengagement from the Mideast
By Leon Hadar
Political observers predict that Barack Obama, who has been critical of the Bush Doctrine of promoting unilateral regime change and spreading democracy in the Middle East, is going to transform U.S. policy there.
Qatar/Saudi Thaw Could Mean Gas for Kuwait
By Andres Cala
Back in 1992, Qatar and Saudi Arabia almost went to war over a border dispute. But recently, the two countries agreed to set their maritime boundaries, and that breakthrough could revive plans to build a major gassupply route to Kuwait.
New Iraq Army Battalion to Speed Pipeline Repair
By Andres Cala
An Iraqi battalion, trained and equipped by the U.S. to reduce the repair time for damaged oil pipelines by half, has begun operating in the wartorn country.
Venezuela Looking at Service Sector
By Randy Woods
he Venezuelan government’s ambitions in the oil industry may know no bounds, as signs emerge that PDVSA is extending its reach over the service industry.
12 Facts about Global Climate Change That You Won’t Read in the Popular Press
By Joseph D’Aleo
Temperatures have been cooling since 2002, even as carbon dioxide has continued to rise.
The Coming War with Iran?
By Michael J. Economides and Peter C. Glover
Israel may have a political opening to launch an air strike against Iran following the U.S. November election. Will they do it?
ConocoPhillips Wins $10B Sour Gas Contract in U.A.E.
By Andres Cala
The Persian Gulf may be known for oil, but natural gas deals are the hot topic of the moment.
In Cuba, It’s a Revolution, Revolution, Revolution…
By Robert Bryce
The revolution lives in Cuba. And it’s not just the revolution started by Fidel Castro four decades ago. It’s an energy revolution. Got that? It’s a revolution.
Iran Rising
By Robert Bryce
Gas for Europe, gas for India and
Pakistan…Sanctions? Israel? No Problem.
A Diesel Primer
By James T. Richardson
With increasing worries about oil imports and greenhouse gas emissions, U.S. consumers and politicians are looking for quick remedies.
“Anwrstan” – Putting A.N.W.R. in Perspective
By Mac Johnson
As occasionally happens, reality has rudely intruded into this year’s political nonsense contest – or what some people call “the election.”
Scratch Russia Georgia War and You Find Oil and Gas Pipelines
By Michael Economides
The war between Russia and Georgia has some nationalist elements, some old grudges but mostly it rubs the wrong way Russia’s newly found power: energy imperialism.
Energy Tribune Speaks with Gwyneth Cravens
By Robert Bryce
Energy Tribune Speaks with a New York-based journalist and author Gwyneth Cravens
Plastic Bags and Black Lungs
By Lee Geng
In 2002, Bangladesh banned the use of plastic bags because they blocked drains and thus worsened floods.
Brazil’s Santos Basin: Does Hype Match Reality?
By Randy Woods
Even taking into consideration July’s five-day workers’ strike that put a brief damper on production, this year has been fantastic for Petrobras.
Gazprom’s Energy Imperialism
By Michael J. Economides and Nate Evans
The line continues to blur between the government and Russia’s gas giant.
The Diesel Crunch: Why Diesel Prices Are Skyrocketing
By Robert Bryce
Low-sulfur regulations, European refining imbalances, growing demand, and the ethanol scam will keep diesel prices far above gasoline’s for years to come.
Brazil’s Lula Juggles Environmental Issues
By Randy Woods
In May, investors cheered and environmentalists jeered when Brazil’s government awarded the second phase of its 6.45 gigawatt Madeira hydroelectric project in the Amazon jungle.
Europe’s Energy Revolution: Long on Rhetoric, Short on Results
By Andrés Cala
In early June, the International Energy Agency warned the world’s biggest energy consumers that their strategy to fight global warming isn’t working, and that $45 trillion in new investment through 2050 will be needed to avert a crisis.
Obama Still Hasn’t Gotten the Memo
By Robert Bryce
After John McCain announced that he wanted to allow more offshore drilling in the U.S., Barack Obama’s campaign responded by saying that McCain’s actions are part of the “same Washington politics that has prevented us from achieving energy independence for decades.”
Iran to Double Refining Capacity
By Andres Cala
Iran, which imports about 40 percent of its gasoline needs, plans to sharply increase its refining capacity.
China’s S.P.R. Pumping Up Prices
By Lee Geng and Michael J. Economides
Although the U.S. has quit filling its strategic petroleum reserve, China continues to fill its new one, yet another reason why world oil prices have risen dramatically over the past few months.
Europe: Five Minutes to Midnight
By Peter Glover
The European Union, overly reliant on imported oil and gas, now sees its economies seriously threatened by rampant fuel price rises, not to mention the menacing shadow of power cuts.
Alternative Energy Opinions: Getting a Real Grip on “Green”
By Larry Bell
As global demand continues, readily accessible oil and gas deposits dwindle, competition for world supply accelerates, and costs rise, it is clear that we must develop and exploit alternatives.
Mexico’s Ongoing Reform Battle
By Randy Woods
It has been a challenging year for Mexican President Felipe Calderón, whose efforts to reform his country’s declining oil industry have been met with a constant stream of criticism and congressional protests.
Violence Flares in Malaysia as Fuel Subsidies Decrease
By Neil Hickey
Cutting fuel subsidies may be desirable, but it’s not easy or popular.
Nukes Get Small
By Robert Bryce
Entrepreneurs are now developing small nuclear reactors that could ultimately become just as important as their bigger, more famous counterparts.
Energy Tribune Speaks with Mercedes De Freitas
By Robert Bryce
The director of Transparency International’s office in Caracas, Mercedes De Freitas, exchanged e-mails with Robert Bryce.
The Re-Sovietization of the Russian Press
By Michael J. Economides and Nate Evans
American newspaper editor William Allen White once said that a “newspaper is as good as the town it serves.” Today, one need only look at Russia’s press to understand the country.
Venezuelan LNG: Really!
By Randy Woods
Sitting on Latin America’s largest natural gas deposits (with 152 trillion cubic feet of reserves), Venezuela has boasted for years that one day soon it will become a major gas exporter.
Brazil Revitalizing Shipyards
By Randy Woods
Brazil’s government has launched an ambitious fleet modernization plan designed to support Petrobras’s expanding deepwater operations.
Dead...and Overpaid
By Robert Bryce
The Wall Street Journal provided a heap of ammunition to energy sector critics by showing that some top executives in the business are shameless greed-heads.
A Nuclear Power Renaissance
By William E. Burchill
Nuclear power was once going to deliver “electricity too cheap to meter.” Later, following the accidents at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl, it was feared and scorned.
Malaysia Considers Nukes
By Neil Hickey
In a move that could have regional ramifications, Malaysia has commissioned a key study, to be delivered in 2010, of the benefits of nuclear power.
Vietnam Slashing Coal Exports, Repercussions for China
By Neil Hickey
Vietnam has announced a major boost in coal output, but other nations such as China won’t see the benefits.
Investors Want More Petrobras Discoveries
By Randy Woods
The good fortune of Petrobras has shown no sign of abating in recent weeks.
The Ongoing Sino-Russian Energy Wrangle
By Lee Geng
As price negotiations continue, one nagging question remains: can Russia really supply all the gas its is promissing?
Please, God, Curse Me with Oil
By Mac Johnson
People blame oil for costing them a lot of money. But the funny thing is that some also blame oil for making them a lot of money. The idea that oil is inherently bad, even when good, reaches its zenith in the so-called “curse of oil.”
The Democrats’ No-Drill Energy Plan
By Robert Bryce
When it comes to domestic oil production, the Democrats and their Green/Left supporters are all singing from the same deranged hymnal.
Cuba’s Energy Revolution, Revolution, Revolution…
By Robert Bryce
The revolution lives in Cuba. And it’s not just the revolution started by Fidel Castro four decades ago. It’s an energy revolution. Got that? It’s a revolution.
More Brains Per Barrel
By Robert Bryce
It’s all about access to the resources. That was the common talking point for the heads of Repsol, Shell and BP during the opening session of the World Petroleum Congress in Madrid.
Gas Production Down in Russia
By Robert Bryce
Russia’s natural gas production continues to falter.
More Subsidies for PetroChina, Sinopec
By Lee Geng
The major earthquake that struck Sichuan Province in mid-May hit PetroChina and Sinopec hard.
China’s Power Sector Profits Sag
By Lee Geng
China’s coal-fired power plants have been operating in the red, due to high fuel costs.
China Keen to Participate In IPI Pipeline
By Lee Geng
The long-delayed, much-discussed Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project may soon have another player: China.
Brazil, Paraguay In Electricity Feud
By Randy Woods
It’s no wonder why Brazil speaks so much of energy independence in a region teeming with fossil fuels and hydro resources: the South American giant has been frustrated time and time again by its neighbors’ energy policies.
Global Warming and Energy Implications: Will Nature Soon Cool Hot Debates?
By Larry Bell
Measurements by four major temperature tracking outlets reported that world temperatures dropped by about 0.65° C to 0.75° C during 2007.
Oil in Venezuela, Then and Now
By Luis E. Giusti
PDVSA was established in August 1975 to become the parent company of the newly nationalized oil industry. It was structured through a special law that included all the necessary provisions to protect the corporation from the weaknesses and drawbacks of state companies.
Ecuador’s Bumpy Road to a New Oil Future
By Randy Woods
The strategy of Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa to expand the government’s take of oil production is facing major setbacks, as talks with foreign energy companies are taking longer than expected.
Vietnam’s Ongoing Power Shortage
By Neil Hickey
Vietnam is enjoying a period of unprecedented economic growth, with industry (manufacturing, information technology, and electrical products, to name three) and the agricultural sector leading the way. The economy is now growing at 8.5 percent.
China’s 1Q Oil Use Hit All-Time High
By Lee Geng
China’s oil consumption continues to soar. During the first quarter, refined product use jumped by 16.5 percent and crude consumption jumped by 8 percent.
Australasia’s Gas Liquefaction Plans
By David Wood
The Australian LNG business appears to be on the cusp of a big expansion. Over the past few months, several new gas liquefaction projects have been announced, including ones in the traditional North and North West Shelf basins.
The Chavez Regime: Totalitarianism in Socialist Drag
By Kyle D. Guerrero
If you think Hugo Chavez is the democratically elected, leftist revolutionary who is fighting U.S. oil interests, Bush, and imperialism to help the poor of Venezuela, think again.
E.U. Rethinking Biofuels Usage
By Andres Cala
Public backlash over environmental concerns and rising food costs will likely force the European Commission to delay, or perhaps even reverse, its target of using biofuels to supply 10 percent of its transport needs by 2020.
$2.5 Billion for Russia’s First Sub-sea Infrastructure
By Pavel Romanov
Lukoil has announced plans to spend some $2.5 billion to build Russia’s first subsea pipeline network, which will be an integral part of its plan to develop two major fields in the Caspian Sea.
Bolivian Autonomy Movement Could Threaten Morales
By Randy Woods
Oil and gas investors who worry about Bolivia’s stability had new cause for concern on May 4, when the wealthy department (state) of Santa Cruz voted for autonomy.
The Manhattan Project Is Underway
By Robert Bryce
Over the past few years, numerous energy watchers and politicos have declared that the U.S. government needs to launch a “Manhattan Project” or “Apollo Project” to provide us with the breakthrough energy technologies that will allow us to transition away from fossil fuels and toward something cleaner/cheaper/more convenient.
The Chavez Regime: Ending With A Whimper
By Gustavo Coronel
In December 1998, after Hugo Chavez won the Venezuelan presidential elections, even his opponents were prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Sergei Shmatko Nuking Russian Ministry
By Robert Bryce
Appointing Sergei Shmatko as his energy minister is among the more interesting moves made by Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s new president.
European Oil Growth Flat Through 2020
By Andres Cala
European oil demand is going nowhere fast. Over the next decade or so, the region’s oil consumption is expected to be flat, or even to decline slightly.
Upstream Targets Set for China
By Lee Geng
The Ministry of Land and Resources, which surveys oil and gas reserves and issues exploration and production licenses, believes that China will discover 10 medium-sized oil fields and 8 to 10 major natural gas fields by 2010.
Petrobras Expanding Downstream
By Randy Woods
The deepwater discoveries in Brazil’s Santos Basin by Petrobas, the national oil company, have received global attention, as the reserves could boost Brazil’s stature as a major exporter and allow it to join OPEC.
Venezuela: Rich Dictator, Poor People
By Cristal Montañéz
I condemn the disaster that has befallen my country since Hugo Chávez took office, and continue to denounce it to let the world know the current reality of Venezuela. This is a personal account juxtaposed by political and social events.
The Powder Keg That is Venezuela
By Michael J. Economides
Hugo Chávez is in a free-fall, and the uncertain transition that will follow him bodes ill for the stability of the country with the Western Hemisphere’s largest oil reserves. The signs that started appearing last year, when he lost the referendum that would have prolonged his power, have become quite pronounced, and were evident in my recent cursory visit to the country.
Malaysia’s $5 Billion Oil Development Deal
By Neil Hickey
A major Qatari company, with backing from the country’s royal family, has won a $5 billion contract to build a new oil and gas development in Malaysia. Gulf Petroleum, Ltd. will lead a multi-national consortium to build the project in Manjung, in Malaysia’s northern Perak State.
How Big is Your Carbon Footprint?
By Mac Johnson
There’s a lot of talk today about the size of one’s so-called “carbon footprint” as a measure of alleged greenness. Perhaps a better measure might be the size of one’s corn footprint.
Mexico’s Deepening Production Woes
By Randy Woods
While much is said of Mexico’s efforts to develop its deepwater potential, state oil company Pemex is struggling with a more pressing priority: increasing production at new fields in the mid-term.
Production and Exports Drop in Russia
By Pavel Romanov
Lack of investment and the depletion of western Siberian fields have led to declines in Russia’s overall output and exports.
Juniors Thrive in Latin America
By Randy Woods
Junior oil and gas companies are thriving in Latin America, especially in Colombia and Argentina, where governments are eager to attract investments in fields overlooked or deliberately ignored by majors.
Energy Tribune Speaks with Andrew Bacevich
By Robert Bryce
Boston University's Andrew Bacevich exchanged e-mails with Robert Bryce in early April.
Gas Use Surging in China
By Michael J. Economides and Lee Geng
China’s voracious appetite for energy has been blamed as one of the main reasons that oil is now selling for more than $100 per barrel.
Russneft Pays Back Taxes
By Pavel Romanov
Russneft, one of Russia’s largest remaining independent oil and gas companies, was accused of tax evasion last year.
Eni-Gazprom Partnership: Is Russia Warming Up To European Firms?
By Andres Cala
The partnership between Gazprom and Italy’s Eni was bolstered last month when they agreed to work together in developing Libyan upstream projects.
Mexico’s Modest Approach to Reform
By Randy Woods
The long-awaited energy reform bill of Mexico’s President Felipe Calderón is a modest proposal that did not warrant the spectacle that erupted after it was introduced to the Senate on April 8.
Let’s Sue OPEC! That’ll Teach ‘Em!
By Robert Bryce
When it comes to energy policy, Congress keeps getting dumber and dumber. The latest example: a bill passed by the House of Representatives on Tuesday that will allow the U.S. government to sue OPEC for conspiring to raise prices.
A Nuclear Indonesia?
By Neil Hickey
For many countries, nuclear is the energy that dare not speak its name. Despite the global community’s rising energy demands, nuclear remains expensive and often unpopular for most countries.
Cambodia Ramping Up Hydro
By Neil Hickey
Cambodia is speeding ahead with plans to expand its hydropower sector – spurred on by a voracious demand for electricity, yet seemingly impervious to environmental and agricultural concerns.
E.U. Study Selects Chinese CBM Development Sites
By Lee Geng
A study by the E.U.-China Energy Environment Program has recommended 85 mining areas for future coal-bed methane development in China.
Lukoil Trimming U.S. Retail
By Pavel Romanov
Lukoil is having success in its downstream operations, but it is cutting back its exposure to the U.S. market.
E.On Unbundling Emboldens E.U. Commission’s Liberalization Crusade
By Andres Cala
The unexpected decision by Germany’s giant utility E.On to effectively unbundle its electricity generation and transmission businesses has emboldened the E.U. Commission in its long-running crusade to liberalize and integrate Europe’s energy markets.
Brazil Getting Bigger, Wants Bigger Piece of the Action
By Randy Woods
Petrobras keeps making news. In mid-April, a Petrobras official said the company’s new Carioca discovery may contain as much as 33 billion barrels of oil equivalent.
The Uranium Boom Hits Western U.S.
By Richard Martin
Thanks to soaring commodity prices, the U.S. uranium mining sector is enjoying a comeback – and that is causing conflict in several western states.
The Immorality of Ethanol
By Robert Bryce
Boosters claim ethanol production doesn’t raise food prices, but the numbers tell a different story.
Populist Pipeline Planning in Alaska
By Ron Oligney
After three decades, Alaska still doesn’t export natural gas. Here’s why.
Thailand Building More Gas-Fired Power Plants
By Neil Hickey
Thailand, the world’s 20th most populous country, has announced plans to build two gas-fired power stations at an expected cost of $1.1 billion.
Would You Buy PetroChina’s Shares?
By Lee Geng
Would you buy a company’s shares when it can’t even control the price of its product? That’s the question for potential PetroChina investors.
Rosneft Passes Lukoil On Output, Not Profitability
By Pavel Romanov
In 2007, Rosneft’s oil output finally surpassed Lukoil’s. The state-controlled giant produced 711 million barrels of crude, while Lukoil pumped 676 million.
Europe’s Diesel Hunger
By Andres Cala
Soaring construction costs, recession fears, falling refining margins, environmental concerns, biofuels and hybrid car use, and increased global refining capacity are expected to deter much-needed investments in Europe’s downstream sector.
British Energy Takeover and the Case for Europe’s Nuclear Future
By Andres Cala
The eventual takeover of British Energy, the U.K.’s biggest utility, could be a test case for the future of Europe’s nuclear industry.
Indigenous Rights Take Center Stage in Latin America
By Randy Woods
Latin America’s political landscape has changed dramatically in the last decade. Democracy took a stronger hold throughout the region, especially in countries like Mexico and Peru, and more recently, governments have turned farther left in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile – and of course, Venezuela.
Wanted: Evil Minions for Long Hours, Rough Conditions, Constant Criticism
By Mac Johnson
The energy industry is almost universally criticized and hated. And for some reason the number of people wanting to work in it are in short supply.
Looking Back at Offshore for 2007
By Matt Pickard
High oil demand is here to stay, and the offshore industry continues to boom.
Seward’s Folly…Not!
By John W. Reeder
He bought vast mineral riches for pennies on the dollar. If only every U.S. politician were so foolish.
Chevron Facing Environmental concerns in Bangladesh
By Muhammad Abdul Hameed
Bangladesh may be one of the poorest countries on earth, but its citizens are still concerned about environmental issues.
A Breath of Fresh Air at a Climate Change Conference
By Joseph D’Aleo
The Heartland Institute along with 20 other supporting organizations sponsored the First International Conference on Climate Change in New York City on March 2-4. Over 500 people attended, with a cross section of specialties from Australia, Canada, England, France, Hungary, New Zealand, Poland, Russia, Sweden, and of course, the U.S.
Thailand Says Burma Open for Business
By Neil Hickey
While much of the world shuns Burma as a trade partner, Thailand, like China, is expanding its economic and energy links with the outlaw nation.
Sakhalin-1 Output Drops
By Pavel Romanov
Sakhalin, one of the highest-profile energy projects in the world, is following the trend of Russia’s entire oil sector: falling production.
Energy Tribune Speaks with Robert Hart
By Robert Bryce
Robert Hart, president of Hart Energy Partners, corresponded with Robert Bryce via e-mail.
Subsidizing Power in Guangdong
By Lee Geng
Authorities in southern China’s Guangdong Province are subsidizing power plants to offset losses caused by rising fuel costs, part of the government’s efforts to keep up power production to meet the summer’s surging demand.
Gazprom Investing in the Ethanol Scam
By Pavel Romanov
The ethanol scam may soon be speaking Russian. Gazprom has announced that it will invest some $220 million in Russia’s first ethanol plant.
Brazil’s Booming Private Power Producers
By Randy Woods
Business is booming for private-sector generators in Brazil, despite the fact that the government is playing a major role in developing a new wave of nuclear reactors and large-scale hydroelectric plants.
Argentina’s Natural Gas Shortage
By Gerardo Jimenez
With over 50 percent of Argentina’s internal energy consumption derived from natural gas, it’s clear that it depends heavily on the fuel for residential, industrial, and transportation purposes.
The Electricity Gap
By Robert Bryce
When it comes to economic growth, the vital commodity is always electricity.
Beijing Clearing Air Ahead of Olympics
By Lee Geng
In an effort to improve Beijing’s dismal air quality before the Olympic Games, authorities are closing factories and implementing stricter sulfur standards for motor fuel.
U.E.S. Sells Assets to Finns for $3 Billion
By Pavel Romanov
Unified Energy Systems (U.E.S.) of Russia is selling its power generating companies to private investors as part of the company’s restructuring effort.
EdF Lurks Around Iberdrola, M&A Action Continues
By Andres Cala
Recent overtures from French EdF (the world’s biggest utility by market capitalization) to buy Spain’s power giant Iberdrola are unlikely to materialize into a takeover bid anytime soon.
Cuba’s Oil: So Close and Yet So Far
By Randy Woods
Last month’s conference call held by Sherritt, the Canadian natural resources company, was remarkable for what wasn’t said.
Reliable Gas? Not for Iran, Turkey, Europe
By David Wood
An unprecedented cold winter for much of the Middle East and the Caspian region highlighted the unreliability of regional gas supplies. The cold weather resulted in heated rhetoric, as Turkmenistan temporarily stopped shipping gas to Iran.
E.U. Facing Business Backlash
By Peter Glover
Europe finds that cutting carbon emissions is far easier said than done.
Pakistan’s Ongoing Electricity Shortage
By Muhammad Abd al-Hameed
Pakistan, the world’s sixth most populous country, has a power crisis. And it’s not political power – it’s electric power.
Latin America on Verge of New Nuclear Age
By Randy Woods
Latin America’s three leading economies – Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico – have dusted off old blueprints for nuclear generators and are developing projects that could more than double the region’s capacity from the power source.
U.S. Monitoring CNOOC-Iran Deal
By Lee Geng
Washington is concerned over CNOOC’s plans to import 10 million tons of Iranian LNG per year.
Unprofitable East-Siberian Pipeline
By Pavel Romanov
One of Russia’s most ambitious energy projects is undergoing serious revisions due to questions about its financial viability.
Solar Power Boom Continues in Europe
By Andres Cala
The recent growth of photovoltaic energy in countries like Spain and Germany is triggering a reassessment of incentives in Europe to foster a cost-effective, consumer-friendly approach to solar power.
Peru Mulls New Natural Gas Markets
By Randy Woods
Peru faces a peculiar predicament for a South American country. As many of its neighbors face moderate to severe natural gas restrictions, Peru is wondering what to do with all its recently discovered gas.
The Next U.S. President Will Be the Chauncey Gardiner of Energy
By Michael J. Economides
U.S. politicians focus primarily on renewables, ignoring the continuing importance fossil fuels have to the global economy.
Carbon Capper Capers: Taxation Without Misrepresentation
By Christopher C. Horner
In the past few months, France, Italy, and the 27-nation European Union have separately threatened a trade war against the U.S. to stem ongoing damage to Europe’s competitiveness.
Malaysia: Correlating Electricity and Economic Growth
By Neil A. Hickey
Malaysia, historically regarded as one of the most Westernized countries in southeast Asia, now more than ever has the economy to back up that claim.
LNG Deals Speed Terminal Projects
By Lee Geng
Recent deals for China to import significantly more liquefied natural gas (LNG) have sped up the government approval procedure for construction startups at as many as five receiving terminals this year.
China's Nuclear Sector Beats Forecast
By Lee Geng
China’s nuclear power projects are developing faster than anticipated, forcing the government to revise its planned nuclear power capacity upward by 50 percent.
Profiles in Energy Independence
By Mac Johnson
Energy independence must be really, really good. That much I can gather from the fawning media coverage of the idea and its support from both political parties.
Promising More Renewables in China
By Lee Geng
China will aggressively promote the development of renewable energy so it accounts for 10 percent of the country’s energy mix by 2010, up from the current 7.5 percent. Or at least, that’s the plan.
Europe Needs Iranian Gas
By Andres Cala
Europe’s hunger for natural gas and its lack of reliable suppliers is leading several countries to court Iran. This is a delicate situation for the European Union, which also wants to keep the pressure on Tehran to give up its nuclear power program.
Russia’s Electric Sector Going Private?
By Pavel Romanov
Despite record high oil prices, Russia’s economy has not improved. In fact, it is deteriorating. And a key reason for that deterioration is the perilous condition of the country’s infrastructure, with its electricity infrastructure a prime example.
E.U. Chasing Energy Efficiency
By Andres Cala
The European Union’s ability to meet its binding target – to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020 – hinges on increasing renewable energy capacity output and improving its energy efficiency.
Trinidad & Tobago Looks to Stem Reserves Decline
By Randy Woods
Just about everyone in the government of Trinidad & Tobago knows Ryder Scott. After all, it was the Houston-based reservoir appraisal firm’s 2007 report that gave the government a major fright by showing that the Caribbean country could run out of domestic natural gas supplies by 2019.
Nigeria: A Case Study in Power Shortages
By Leonard Lawal
MTN is one of Nigeria’s biggest suppliers of mobile phone services. It is also one of Nigeria’s biggest independent power producers.
The Super Battery Prize
By Robert Bryce
For electricity, batteries are the silver bullet. A large monetary award could encourage inventors to discover the next big breakthrough.
Sinopec Buys Into Tianfa
By Lee Geng
Sinopec, Asia’s top refiner, has decided to buy into downstream assets owned by the Tianfa Group, formerly headed by incarcerated businessman Gong Jialong.
China Cuts Emission, Energy Intensity
By Lee Geng
In 2007, China reportedly broke its long trend of ever increasing pollution loads. According to federal authorities, chemical oxygen demand decreased by 3.1 percent, and sulfur dioxide emissions, a key air pollutant, fell by 4.6 percent, compared to 2006 levels.
China's New Energy Overseers
By Lee Geng
The Chinese government has reorganized the management of the energy industry by creating two dedicated agencies, but has stopped short of establishing an energy ministry.
Overblown: The Real Cost of Wind Power
By Peter Glover and Michael Economides
If you have a hankering to see Britain's green and pleasant countryside or its rugged coastline, you shouldn't wait too long. They are both likely to disappear soon under thousands of massive, swirling, 400-foot wind turbines.
It’s About Time, Time
By Michael J. Economides
We were hopeful when we saw this week’s Time magazine cover on ethanol – until we read the entire story. To call ethanol a scam just because it does not bode well for the even bigger scam, anthropogenic global warming, is not that interesting.
G.U.P.C. Falls Alongside Gong
By Lee Geng
Gong Jialong had hoped to change China’s oil business. But as he faces fraud charges, business at his Great United Petroleum Corp. has stagnated.
China Embarks on Carbon Capture
By Lee Geng
In a world of big carbon footprints, China reportedly has the biggest one. And it will be a while before the country can do much to change that fact.
An Ecuadorean Environmental Ultimatum
By Randy Woods
Environmentalists in Ecuador have a difficult decision to make: pay the government roughly $350 million a year for the next two decades, or see oil companies drill in the pristine heart of Ecuador’s Amazon rainforest.
Chavez v. Exxon: Who Will Prevail?
By Francisco Rodriguez
Last month, President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela threatened to cut off oil supplies to the United States. This was in response to news that Exxon Mobil had obtained court orders in the U.K., the U.S., and the Netherlands to freeze $12.3 billion of assets owned by PDVSA, Venezuela’s state-owned oil company.
CNOOC Building Downstream Muscle
By Lee Geng
CNOOC, China’s top offshore oil and gas operator, is expanding its downstream operations in eastern Shandong Province.
COSL Gets Denied by Russian Government
By Pavel Romanov
It was supposed to be a done deal: after months of negotiation between the two sides, Chinese Oilfield Services, Ltd. (COSL) agreed to buy Saratovskoe Tamponazhnoe Upravlenie (STU), a Russian oilfield services company.
Mexico’s Surging LNG Trade
By Randy Woods
The lackluster increase in Mexico’s domestic natural gas production has forced the country to rethink its energy policy.
China's Energy Ministry Likely to Reopen
By Lee Geng
This month, China’s National People’s Congress is likely to adopt the country’s first energy law and perhaps more important, reinstate its energy ministry.
Baltic LNG and the Kremlin Cronies
By Pavel Romanov
Among the most promising and most expensive Gazprom projects on the drawing board is Baltic LNG, planned for the coastal town of Primorsk just north of St. Petersburg on the Gulf of Finland.
Europe Looks to LNG
By Andres Cala
By 2015, Europe plans to double its infrastructure capacity to receive liquefied natural gas, to hedge concerns over its future supplies.
Diesel, Natural Gas Demand Soaring in South America
By Randy Woods
Energy planners in Argentina, Chile, and Brazil are scrambling to deal with something they hoped to avoid this decade: drier-than-normal weather.
The Sloppy Science of Global Warming
By Roy W. Spencer
While a politician might be faulted for pushing a particular agenda that serves his own purposes, who can fault the impartial scientist who warns us of an imminent global-warming Armageddon?
Coalbed Methane Wells are Cheap, but Permeability Can Be Expensive!
By Ian Palmer
The good news: the world has huge coalbed methane reserves. The bad news: it’s not that easy to get them.
Carbon Sequestration: Injecting Realities
By Xina Xie
The amount of carbon dioxide used in enhanced oil recovery projects indicates the number of wells needed for large-scale sequestration projects. And that number is huge.
China Creates S.P.R. Agency
By Lee Geng
China has established the National Petroleum Reserve Center to manage its strategic petroleum reserves.
GdF, Gazprom, May Link on South Stream
By Pavel Romanov
The question: will the French join in the Nabucco pipeline project; or will they join with Gazprom on the far more expensive South Stream line?
Repsol Shedding YPF
By Andres Cala
The decision of Madrid-based Repsol YPF to sell up to 45 percent of YPF, its Argentine subsidiary, is the crux of a strategic shift to diversify business out of its core South American operations.
Brazil’s Offshore Gas: Will CNG Bring it Ashore?
By Randy Woods
Brazil has a problem that many of its neighbors wish they had: a surfeit of natural gas.
Global Warming: the Climate of Fear
By Alexander Cockburn
Although the world’s climate is on a warming trend, there is zero evidence that the rise in carbon dioxide levels has anthropogenic origins. For daring to say this I have been treated as if I have committed intellectual blasphemy.
Not By Energy Efficiency Alone
By Robert Bryce
Few concepts are as important (or as poorly understood) as the paradoxical one that energy efficiency increases energy consumption.
Europe’s Ambitious Carbon Sequestration Plans
By Andres Cala
Since it relies on coal for most of its power, Europe can’t meet its Kyoto obligations. Huge investments in carbon capture technologies might be the answer.
Darfur and Beijing Olympics
By Lee Geng
In early February, Oscar-winning director Steven Spielberg quit his advisory position for the opening-night Beijing Olympics ceremony in protest against China’s support for Sudan.
China's Oil Demand Expected to Jump
By Lee Geng
China’s demand for oil products will grow by 6 percent this year to 398 million metric tons (about 8.5 million barrels per day), amid rapid economic expansion and soaring automobile sales.
Guangdong’s Middle East Link
By Lee Geng
China’s booming Guangdong Province is trying to establish direct links with Middle East energy suppliers, in an effort to diversify its crude suppliers.
Russia Competing in Pipelines
By Pavel Romanov
lmost a year after Vladimir Putin signed an agreement with Greece and Bulgaria for the construction of an oil pipeline, he has expanded the plans to favor Gazprom’s geopolitical strategy.
Norway Lowering Output to Gas-thirsty Europe
By Andres Cala
Norway recently moved to decrease short-term natural gas shipments to Europe, an indication it will use its extensive hydrocarbon reserves to maximize revenue.
Venezuela’s Refining Woes
By Randy Woods
Fires, accidents, and unplanned maintenance shutdowns have become commonplace at Venezuela’s refineries. The problems are symptomatic of the ailments afflicting state-owned oil giant PDVSA.
Man-Blubber: A Biofuels Bonanza!
By Mac Johnson
For those of us who are fond of parodying idiocy, one of the great hazards of life is the high rate of self-parody by idiots. An excellent example is a recent report out of the United Kingdom of an important first in human history.
Russia’s Other Election
By Michael J. Economides
Russia’s presidential election has barely received any coverage here, but the results will affect U.S. citizens for years to come.
Carbon Capture in the U.S. Faces Hard Realities
By Richard Martin
Although carbon capture seems like a good idea on paper, few projects get beyond the drawing board.
Energy Tribune Speaks with Tim Searchinger
By Robert Bryce
Princeton University's Tim Searchinger exchanged e-mails with Robert Bryce in mid-February.
Russian Elections Update: Why Medveded's a Shoe-In
By Pavel Romanov
Russia’s state-controlled media is doing its part to assure the election of Dmitry Medvedev. According to some estimates, roughly 90 percent of the presidential election coverage on public Channel 1 (ORT) and Channel 2 (Rossia) has been devoted to Medvedev.
Latin America Sees the Forest for Carbon Capture
By Randy Woods
Only a handful of Latin American countries are pursuing high-technology carbon capture and sequestration projects. Instead the region is considering a raft of forestry initiatives, seen by some experts as an effective way to capture and store carbon dioxide. But these initiatives will go nowhere without substantial help from the global community.
LatAm NOCs Unveil 2008 Investment Plans
By Randy Woods
Latin America’s biggest energy companies will spend just over $64 billion in 2008, according to recently released capital investment plans.
Mexican Energy Reforms on Horizon
By Randy Woods
Mexico’s political leadership is building on the momentum created by last year’s passage of several reforms to the state-controlled energy sector.
PetroChina to Double Refining by 2015
By Lee Geng
PetroChina plans to more than double its refining capacity by 2015 as part of its strategy to become a fully integrated major multinational company.
PDVSA Pushing Orinoco Crude
By Randy Woods
Much is said about Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez’s petro-diplomacy: spending his country’s oil wealth throughout Latin America and the Caribbean to spread socialist ideals and reward allies.
Russia's Duma Elections: Just a Formality
By Pavel Romanov
To most outside observers, Russia’s Duma elections in December appeared rigged; We expect more of the same in March.
Energy Consumption in Pakistan
By Robert Bryce
Pakistan is a mess. The country is largely controlled by a cadre of active and retired military personnel who control the country’s biggest and most important businesses and hold most of the political power as well.
CNOOC Builds Up Refining Muscles
By Lee Geng
CNOOC, China’s top offshore oil and gas producer, is hunting for refining assets in the country as part of its plan to diversify into an integrated energy company.
Gazprom Tightens German Ties
By Pavel Romanov
In mid-December Gazprom began producing gas from one of the largest natural gas fields in Russia, and in doing so consolidated its ties to German giant BASF AG.
No Tears for Argentina's Energy
By Randy Woods
Spanish oil major Repsol YPF is selling minority stakes in its Argentine subsidiary YPF, in a move to allow it to redirect attention to more promising markets.
Gazprom Goes to Libya, Putin Goes to Gazprom?
By David Wood
In mid-December, the Libyan National Oil Company announced results of the country’s fourth exploration and production bidding round, the first that has focused on natural gas.
Energy Tribune Speaks with Arthur L. Smith
By Robert Bryce
Triple Double Advisors' Arthur L. Smith exchanged e-mails with Robert Bryce in January.
An Alternative View of the Russian Elections
By Donna Marie D’Aleo
In today’s Russia, there is no off-switch for corruption, nor any formula for instant economic diversification.
Dam Pakistan
By M. A. Hameed
The Kalabagh Dam will generate Pakistan’s largest amount of electricity. Once it is built, that is. Originally slated to start construction in 1985, the project has seen many delays.
553 Thermal Coal Power Plants Closed in China
By Lee Geng
According to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), in 2007, Chinese authorities shut down 553 small thermal power generators with a total capacity of nearly 14.4 gigawatts, 44 percent above the target.
Russia's Oil Production: Flat Like Siberian Plain
By Pavel Romanov
In 2007, oil production grew by just 2 percent, a fraction of the growth seen between 2001 and 2004. Since then, the structure and ownership of the industry have devolved back to the state, and as state control has grown, output has fallen.
Tupi: Just the Start of Brazil’s Sub-salt Story
By Randy Woods
Brazil’s Tupi discovery, which holds an estimated 5 to 8 billion barrels of recoverable oil and gas, could be just the beginning of the country’s sub-salt finds.
Biofuels - Biofueling Inflation?
By Mac Johnson
Energy has long been one of inflation’s bogeymen. The oil price shocks of the 1970s and the failed economic policies instituted by Congress afterward have left a lasting impression on almost everyone old enough to remember those events.
The Good News: Decarbonization
By Robert Bryce
Now that the big climate conference in Bali is over, questions are arising about how (or whether) the U.S. and other countries can reduce their CO2 emissions.
Medvedev Should Move Beyond Autocracy
By Michael McFaul and Kathryn Stoner-Weiss
Although Russia’s economy saw strong growth over the past eight years, it would have done even better with a more democratic government.
U.S. Energy Bill: Subsidizing China
By Michael J. Economides
A push in the U.S. for more biofuels won’t significantly impact oil demand. In fact, any consumption decrease may simply act as a subsidy for Chinese drivers.
U.S. Energy Price Shock – Why aren’t we already in a recession?
By Larry Kealey
Historically, every U.S. recession since World War II has been preceded by an energy price shock – namely, a rapid increase in the price of oil.
Spain and Italy to Spend $10B on Carbon Credits
By Andres Cala
Spain and Italy will not meet their Kyoto commitments by 2012 unless taxpayers dish out up to $10 billion to buy carbon credits, mostly in the developing world.
Spain Poised to Embrace Nuclear
By Andres Cala
Spain is already a trend-setter as the world’s second largest generator of green energy. And now it’s poised to embody the E.U.’s ideal policy of simultaneously embracing renewable and nuclear energies.
Why Europe Loves Qaddafi
Andres Cala
On his European tour, Qaddafi met with numerous business leaders and went home with as much as $32.5 billion in oil, aviation, arms, and infrastructure deals, and even one for nuclear generators to power desalination plants.
The Pakistan Fuel Connection
By Robert Bryce
Many presidential candidates are insisting that the U.S. get tough with Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf. But the reality is that we have almost no leverage.
Spratly Islands Will be Quiet in 2008
By Lee Geng
Chinese oil companies are unlikely to pursue any significant hydrocarbon exploration in the disputed region around the Spratly Islands in 2008, as Chinese national oil companies have slowed activities there to ensure the success of the Beijing Olympics.
Lukoil Pays $1B for Russneft Stations
By Pavel Romanov
Lukoil, Russia’s top oil producer, has paid $1 billion for a network of Russneft-owned filling stations, including 95 in and around Moscow that belonged to Grand, a Russneft affiliate.
Bolivia Natural Gas Rebounding?
By Randy Woods
Following the industry’s nationalization by President Evo Morales, concern about the business environment kept many companies away from La Paz. But over the past few months several companies have announced significant discoveries in Bolivian gas fields.
Vladimir Putin’s "Oiligarchy"
By Jed Babbin
Under Vladimir Putin, Russia has reverted to aggressive authoritarianism.
Rosneft Loses Top Brass
By Pavel Romanov
Rosneft boss Sergey Bogdanchikov has lost some key figures in his top management team. In December, several members of the old Rosneft organization were released from their jobs.
Gazprom Heads to Nigeria
By Pavel Romanov
Gazprom – no longer content with dominating Russia, central Asia, and Europe – has set its sights on Africa. In January, the company announced that it plans to invest as much as $2.5 billion on gas projects in Nigeria.