Oil Change International

Our sites: The Price of Oil | Dirty Energy Money | Shift the Subsidies

Donate Now Take Action

Posts in June 2007

• Democratic Poll Gives Gore the Edge

  Andy Rowell

  Jun29

  Another Vice-President (well ex-) is also in the news. A new election poll in the US suggests Democratic voters would prefer Al Gore to any of the declared contenders, including frontrunner Hillary Clinton. It highlights continuing dissatisfaction among supporters of both main parties with the choice of candidates to succeed George Bush.

• Nigerian Vice-President Visits Delta

  Andy Rowell

  Jun29

  Nigeria’s new vice president visited hotspots in the Niger Delta yesterday in a bid to build confidence ahead of expected talks with local militants who have disrupted oil output and abducted foreign workers. Goodluck Jonathan was likely to visit impoverished fishing communities in the creeks of Delta state, including Escravos, where U.S. energy giant Chevron…
  Continue reading ‘Nigerian Vice-President Visits Delta’.

• Oil Sands Costs Spiral

  Andy Rowell

  Jun29

  The costs of developing major oil sands projects in Alberta are spiralling ever higher, as a consortium led by Petro-Canada estimated yesterday that the first stage of its Fort Hills development will cost a huge $14.1-billion. The project – the most expensive single development yet proposed in the oil sands – includes the construction of…
  Continue reading ‘Oil Sands Costs Spiral’.

• House Committee Passes Iran Sanctions Bill

  Andy Rowell

  Jun28

  A key US Congressional committee has voted overwhelmingly to pass a wide-ranging bill that would toughen U.S. sanctions on Iran and on companies that invest in the country. Although the bill, if passed into law, would sanction any investment in Iran, it particularly targets oil and banking. It requires the president’s administration to enforce the…
  Continue reading ‘House Committee Passes Iran Sanctions Bill’.

• Venezuela: Now the Chinese Move In

  Andy Rowell

  Jun28

  The Americans move out and the Chinese move in. The day after Exxon and ConcoPhillips pulled out of heavy oil projects in Venezuela, the China Petrochemical Corp, known as Sinopec, the nation’s second-largest oil producer, is in talks to drill for oil in the country. The company is seeking “heavy oil” projects, said a company…
  Continue reading ‘Venezuela: Now the Chinese Move In’.

• Environment and US Foreign Policy Top Global Fears

  Andy Rowell

  Jun28

  Growing numbers of people worldwide view environmental problems, pollution, nuclear proliferation and the widening gap between rich and poor as the most menacing threats facing the planet, according to a 47-nation survey published yesterday by the US-based Pew Global Attitudes Project. The US comes in for sharp criticism. “Global distrust of American leadership is reflected…
  Continue reading ‘Environment and US Foreign Policy Top Global Fears’.

• Exxon Chief Criticises US Energy Bill

  Andy Rowell

  Jun27

  No surprises here really. Anything that remotely threatens the interests of Exxon will be opposed. The oil dinosaur has done it so spectacularly on climate, and now it is coming out fighting against the new US energy bill. The proposed reform of US energy policy passing through Congress “almost defies any sense of logical or…
  Continue reading ‘Exxon Chief Criticises US Energy Bill’.

• BP to Build £200m Biofuels Plant

  Andy Rowell

  Jun27

  BP has joined forces with food giant, Associated British Foods, to build a £200m biofuels plant to meet the growing demand, but the move has triggered fears about its inteinsive farming and its effect on wildlife. The plant in the North East of England will need hundreds of thousands of acres of land set aside…
  Continue reading ‘BP to Build £200m Biofuels Plant’.

• Exxon, Conoco Drop Venezuela Oil Projects

  Andy Rowell

  Jun27

  Exxon Mobil and ConocoPhillips have decided to abandon their heavy crude oil projects in eastern Venezuela rather than cede majority ownership and operating control to the government. Yesterday was the deadline set by President Hugo Chavez for the six foreign owners of four mega-projects in Venezuela’s Orinoco Belt region to agree to terms of turning…
  Continue reading ‘Exxon, Conoco Drop Venezuela Oil Projects’.

• Awarding Deception on Climate

  Andy Rowell

  Jun26

  Will Nicolas Robin of Brussels-based lobbying firm Cabinet Stewart become ‘European consultant of the year’ when the winners of the “Public Affairs News Awards” are announced on 5 July? Mr. Robin has been nominated for his work for the International Council for Capital Formation (ICCF), a subsidiary of the American Council for Capital Formation (ACCF).