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Plan for biggest solar project in the U.S.
Published: May 13, 2008 at 4:52 PM
ALLENTOWN, Pa., May 13 (UPI) -- PPL Renewable Energy announced plans for the largest U.S. rooftop solar installation. -
Brazil launches greenhouse gas program
Published: May 13, 2008 at 4:49 PM
BRASILIA, Brazil, May 13 (UPI) -- Brazil launched the Brazil Greenhouse Gas Protocol Program under which 12 corporate members have agreed to report their global-warming emissions. -
DoE: U.S. can hit 20 percent wind by 2030
Published: May 13, 2008 at 3:22 PM
WASHINGTON, May 13 (UPI) -- Wind power is capable of becoming a major contributor to America's electricity supply, a report released by the U.S. Department of Energy says.
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UPI Energy Watch
Published: May 13, 2008 at 7:32 PM
OPEC leaders claim no control over oil prices; China quake cuts oil demand temporarily; Kazakhs threaten to sanction Agip -
Oil and Gas Pipeline Watch
Published: May 13, 2008 at 8:48 AM
By DANIEL GRAEBER
UPI Correspondent
Leaders from the European Union met with Middle Eastern officials in Brussels to finalize details of the Trans-Arab gas pipeline. -
UPI Energy Watch
Published: May 12, 2008 at 1:58 PM
Oil, gas executives see sub-$100 prices by end of year; EnCana Corp. splits; Iran says South Stream projects will go ahead -
Analysis: Turks eye carrying Kazakh oil
Published: May 12, 2008 at 1:16 PM
By JOHN C.K. DALY
UPI International Correspondent
WASHINGTON, May 12 (UPI) -- As Kazakh oil exports continue to rise, Turkey is seeking to position itself as a major transit hub for Kazakh hydrocarbons. Despite Turkish aspirations, however, a number of obstacles exist to Kazakhstan diversifying its export routes to include Turkey. -
Analysis: China faces tanker shortage
Published: May 9, 2008 at 8:21 PM
By JOHN C.K. DALY
UPI International Correspondent
WASHINGTON , May 9 (UPI) -- China's rising energy demands will require Beijing to either build or lease ships to carry the oil needed for its industry. As domestic tanker production has failed to keep pace with rising demand, some Chinese maritime specialists see a shortage in carrying capacity for Chinese oil imports developing by 2015. -
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Published: May 9, 2008 at 8:16 PM
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UPI International Correspondent
Record-high energy prices are increasingly dominating Russia's trade relations with Mongolia. As Mongolia imports nearly all of its oil from Russia, the country is feeling pressure from sharp Russian price increases, and the government is seeking legislative changes to ameliorate the effect of the price increases on the population.
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Nigeria oil rebels eye U.S. presidential race
Published: May 8, 2008 at 12:38 PM
By CARMEN GENTILE
UPI Energy Correspondent
Nigerian militants are calling for former U.S. President Carter to mediate talks between rebels and the government to end hostilities in the oil-rich Niger Delta and are weighing a reported cease-fire appeal by Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama.
"We are ready to call off all hostilities and hold a temporary cease-fire in honor of President Carter should the Nigerian Government accept," read a statement purportedly from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, Nigerian news sources reported.
Carter, who unsuccessfully mediated talks between Nigeria and militant groups in 1999, has not said publicly whether he would accept the invitation.
Meanwhile, Obama, according to MEND, has called for a cease-fire in the delta. A MEND spokesman said the Democratic candidate is "someone we respect and hold in high esteem" and that his supposed call for a cessation of hostilities is something they are considering.
Obama officials have not confirmed whether the senator did speak out on the delta violence, which analysts attribute in part to oil prices reaching record highs.
Militants, widely blamed for costing foreign oil operations in the delta about 500,000 barrels per day, contend that the Nigerian government, along with the foreign oil companies operating in the delta, have benefited enormously over the years from the sale of the nation's oil and gas reserves, though they have done little to help the residents of the region who live in abject poverty.
Since the 1970s, Nigeria, Africa's No. 1 oil producer, has pumped more than $300 billion worth of crude from the southern delta states, according to estimates. But high unemployment in the delta, environmental degradation due to oil and gas extraction, and a lack of basic resources such as fresh water and electricity have angered some of the region's youth and incited them to take up arms.
MEND has also said it was stepping up its attacks because of the arrest of one of its most prominent leaders, who is facing trial by a secret commission on several charges including weapons trafficking and treason.
The Nigerian government and foreign oil companies meanwhile appear perplexed about how to quell the violence and get production back online.
"There's no immediate solution to this situation," London-based analyst for Global Insight Simon Wardell told United Press International. "And we don't expect Nigerian oil production to come back online in the foreseeable future."
The production decrease in Nigeria has been blamed in part for rising global oil prices.
Nigeria is the fifth-largest supplier of crude to the United States -- after Canada, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela -- and accounted for 1.075 million barrels per day. The United States, in a bid to reduce dependence on oil from the Middle East, has placed its hopes in Africa, in general, and Nigeria, in particular.
Foreign companies like Shell have already conceded that this year's production was down from last year mostly because of setbacks caused by violence.
Feeling the sting of recent attacks on its installations in the oil-rich Niger Delta, Royal Dutch Shell said in April it might not be able to honor contracts because of decreased production levels.
The leading foreign oil producer in Nigeria said its output was off by 169,000 barrels per day because of the increased attacks by militant groups.
UPI Energy Correspondent
Nigerian militants are calling for former U.S. President Carter to mediate talks between rebels and the government to end hostilities in the oil-rich Niger Delta and are weighing a reported cease-fire appeal by Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama.
"We are ready to call off all hostilities and hold a temporary cease-fire in honor of President Carter should the Nigerian Government accept," read a statement purportedly from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, Nigerian news sources reported.
Carter, who unsuccessfully mediated talks between Nigeria and militant groups in 1999, has not said publicly whether he would accept the invitation.
Meanwhile, Obama, according to MEND, has called for a cease-fire in the delta. A MEND spokesman said the Democratic candidate is "someone we respect and hold in high esteem" and that his supposed call for a cessation of hostilities is something they are considering.
Obama officials have not confirmed whether the senator did speak out on the delta violence, which analysts attribute in part to oil prices reaching record highs.
Militants, widely blamed for costing foreign oil operations in the delta about 500,000 barrels per day, contend that the Nigerian government, along with the foreign oil companies operating in the delta, have benefited enormously over the years from the sale of the nation's oil and gas reserves, though they have done little to help the residents of the region who live in abject poverty.
Since the 1970s, Nigeria, Africa's No. 1 oil producer, has pumped more than $300 billion worth of crude from the southern delta states, according to estimates. But high unemployment in the delta, environmental degradation due to oil and gas extraction, and a lack of basic resources such as fresh water and electricity have angered some of the region's youth and incited them to take up arms.
MEND has also said it was stepping up its attacks because of the arrest of one of its most prominent leaders, who is facing trial by a secret commission on several charges including weapons trafficking and treason.
The Nigerian government and foreign oil companies meanwhile appear perplexed about how to quell the violence and get production back online.
"There's no immediate solution to this situation," London-based analyst for Global Insight Simon Wardell told United Press International. "And we don't expect Nigerian oil production to come back online in the foreseeable future."
The production decrease in Nigeria has been blamed in part for rising global oil prices.
Nigeria is the fifth-largest supplier of crude to the United States -- after Canada, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela -- and accounted for 1.075 million barrels per day. The United States, in a bid to reduce dependence on oil from the Middle East, has placed its hopes in Africa, in general, and Nigeria, in particular.
Foreign companies like Shell have already conceded that this year's production was down from last year mostly because of setbacks caused by violence.
Feeling the sting of recent attacks on its installations in the oil-rich Niger Delta, Royal Dutch Shell said in April it might not be able to honor contracts because of decreased production levels.
The leading foreign oil producer in Nigeria said its output was off by 169,000 barrels per day because of the increased attacks by militant groups.
© 2008 United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
