The world’s largest gas exporters have ruled out launching an Opec-style cartel that would control 70 per cent of the world market. Instead they promised “collaborated efforts” on issues such as pricing. Energy ministers from the 13 largest gas exporters have met in Doha, Qatar, to discuss proposals from Iran and Venezuela to develop the … Read More
Gas
Pardon My Skepticism
On March 5, the New York Times published a front-page story called “Oil Innovations Pump New Life Into Old Wells.” Getting new oil from “played out” wells was the thrust of the piece; as the price of oil rises, it becomes worthwhile investing new money into old wells. The article also indirectly took on the … Read More
The $30 Billion Alaskan Gas Pipeline
The concept of huge gas pipeline that snakes all the way from Alaska’s North Slope across Canada to the lower American states draws closer to being a reality. Alaska’s new Governor Sarah Palin, has announced that she will submit her natural gas pipeline legislation within two weeks. Anyone interested in building the line will have … Read More
Turkmenistan Begins “New Era”
The oil industry is getting excited by the fact that power has changed hands for the first time in two decades in the authoritarian energy-rich state of Turkmenistan. Former dentist, Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, has taken the presidential oath in the capital. The strategic importance of the event was underscored by the presence of Russian Prime Minister … Read More
ExxonMobil Shelves $5.5bn PNG Pipeline
ExxonMobil and Oil Search, Papua New Guinea’s leading oil and gas producer, have ditched a $5.5bn plan to build a gas pipeline between PNG and Australia, saying they would focus instead on other more “promising investments” to tap into the vast gas reserves of the Pacific nation. The decision was anticipated as the project had … Read More
Belarus Criticises Russia Over Gas Price Rise
Alexander Lukashenko, the Belarusian President, has criticized Russia over it recent gas price increases, calling them “shameless.” In retaliation, he is threatening to charge Moscow for transiting oil across his country. “If those in Russia, choking on this influx of petrodollars and other sources of hard currency, are still willing to make a scapegoat of … Read More
Congressional Committee to Examine Iranian Gas Deal
A US congressional committee is to look at a gasfield development deal between the China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) and Iran to determine if US sanctions are called for against the Chinese company, Congressman Tom Lantos has said. Iran and CNOOC signed a preliminary 16 billion US deal to develop a giant natural gas … Read More
Russia Punishes Georgia with Huge Gas Price Hike
In a move that has echoes of a year ago, Russia has announced that it is to double the price of gas to its neighbour Georgia. The move is being seen as part of its increasingly bitter campaign of retribution against the country, which is already reeling from a string of punitive measures imposed by … Read More
US Builds LNG Terminals for Imported Gas
A quiet revolution is taking place in Louisiana, courtesy of company you have probably never heard of: Cheniere Energy. With help from Exxon Mobil and others, Cheniere are building three new liquefied natural gas terminals that will double America’s capacity to import natural gas by 2011.
EU Wants Energy Giants Split Up
The European Competition Commissioner has sent shock-waves through the region’s energy industries by proposing that integrated French and German gas and electricity giants might be broken up.The Commissioner, Neelie Kroes said there were too many conflicts of interest for companies that own distribution networks as well as supplying customers. She promised a more wide-ranging regulatory … Read More