Energy/All

May 18, 2012

Energy/All

Black Sea sliver may decide Nabucco fate

A sliver of territory on the maritime border between Romania and Bulgaria could be decisive in deciding Russia's South Stream and the European Union's Nabucco pipelines, two proposed and conflicting mega-projects to transport gas from the Caspian region to Europe.

- Vladimir Socor (Mar 28, '12)

Trans-Caspian pipeline remains distant prospect

The European Union's goal of getting Central Asian gas directly is linked to Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan agreeing on their Caspian Sea border, over objections from Russia and Iran. Then there is the matter of European Union funding - against Germany's wishes. It still looks a long wait.

- administrator (Mar 28, '12)

Gazprom seeks Israeli gas

Russia's Gazprom is seeking to obtain gas from the consortium developing large fields lying below Israeli waters in the Mediterranean. Daewoo is already signed up to take gas to South Korea. Gazprom's would also probably go to Asia, but with the intent of denying the fuel to European markets.

- Robert M Cutler (Mar 27, '12)

Trans-Caspian pipeline pact to energize EU gas project

Agreement by Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan to build a trans-Caspian gas pipeline will help to catalyze implementation of the European Union's plans for a Southern Gas Corridor to the region, even as reconfiguration of its Nabucco pipeline project is already underway.

- Robert M Cutler (Mar 22, '12)

EU deals Gazprom a competition setback

The European Commission has ruled that Nord Stream, the Gazprom-led consortium whose pipeline runs Russian gas to Europe, must allow other gas suppliers to share its capacities on German territory, overthrowing a previous exemption by German regulatory authorities.

- Vladimir Socor (Mar 21, '12)

Romania joins big gas league

A natural gas strike in Romania's offshore sector of the Black Sea, with the strong possibility of more to follow, has potential ramifications for the entire Euro-Caspian energy complex, while forcing a rethink on calculations around the European Union's Southern Gas Corridor.

- Robert M Cutler (Mar 16, '12)

Vietnam power needs unresolved by sacking

The dismissal of Electricity of Vietnam's boss may point to a shake-up in the state-controlled energy sector. Yet its inadequacies, with regular rolling power cuts a barrier to foreign investment, also reflect government indecision, while future power supplies appear restricted to polluting coal-fired plants or risky nuclear.

- David Brown (Mar 15, '12)

Speaking Freely

Rare earths - the next oil

The decision of the United States, the European Union and Japan to file a joint case at the World Trade Organization against China over its handling of trade in rare earths - the first such cooperation by the three powers - highlights the strategic importance of what are, in fact, non-rare elements. China will not easily let go of its advantages in controlling supply.

- Elliot Brennan (Mar 15, '12)

A tough-oil world

The temporary nature of some of the pressures driving oil prices higher means passing relief is possible at gas pumps. But a fundamental shift in the structure of the oil industry means prices are destined to remain high for a long time to come.

- Michael T Klare (Mar 14, '12)

Obama picks wrong target

President Barack Obama is blaming speculators for the surge in gas prices in the United States, and is investigating for fraud. Yet this mess is the direct result of failed federal energy policies and could be resolved, along with creating jobs, by raising US oil production.

- Peter Morici (Mar 14, '12)

Iran offers financial aid to build Pakistan pipeline

Tehran has agreed to provide Islamabad with US$250 million to help build a gas pipeline linking Pakistan to Iran against the wishes of the United States. That is half the amount cash-starved and energy deficient Pakistan was looking for.

- Syed Fazl-e-Haider (Mar 01, '12)

Putin's oligarch killer

Russian lawyer Alexei Navalny's pledge that oligarchs will be targeted after Sunday's presidential election overlooks the fact that likely election winner Vladimir Putin is already ahead of him, with a government order requiring extensive disclosures by state-owned companies and which includes a subtle, and overlooked, oligarch killer.

- John Helmer (Mar 01, '12)

Caspian pipeline rivals narrow

Rival projects to transport gas from Azerbaijan's offshore Shah Deniz deposit have been narrowed down by the elimination of a Turkey-Greece-Italy pipeline proposal. The next challenge is to choose between long-time hopeful Nabucco and the more recently proposed South East European Pipeline.

- Robert M Cutler (Feb 29, '12)

Gazprom gets reality check

Russian natural gas monopoly Gazprom, which has repeatedly pledged to increase natural gas exports, has had to tell Prime Minister Vladimir Putin that its sales to many countries already exceed contract obligations while deals with Central Asia and China look increasingly fragile.

- Sergei Blagov (Feb 29, '12)

Gas relief for Bangladesh

A gas find in the offshore Sangu field will give Bangladesh slight relief from debilitating energy shortages and a mounting trade deficit. The government hopes further discoveries and improved infrastructure will make an impact before the recent find by Australia's Santos International runs out.

- Syed Tashfin Chowdhury (Feb 23, '12)

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Black Sea sliver may decide Nabucco fate

Trans-Caspian pipeline remains distant prospect

Gazprom seeks Israeli gas

Trans-Caspian pipeline pact to energize EU gas project

EU deals Gazprom a competition setback

Romania joins big gas league

Vietnam power needs unresolved by sacking

Speaking Freely

Rare earths - the next oil

A tough-oil world

Obama picks wrong target

Iran offers financial aid to build Pakistan pipeline

Putin's oligarch killer

Caspian pipeline rivals narrow

Gazprom gets reality check

Gas relief for Bangladesh

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