Energy Resources

BONN, Germany, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- The top U.N. climate official welcomed U.S. President Barack Obama's decision to attend the climate summit next month in Copenhagen, Denmark.

HARARE, Zimbabwe, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Mines Minister Obert Mpofu says security troops are being withdrawn from diamond fields they have occupied after the beleaguered government was threatened with expulsion from the global diamond market.

CANBERRA, Australia, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- The Australian government struck a deal Tuesday with opposition leaders on a revised carbon emissions trading scheme, clearing the way for the Senate to approve legislation this week.

MOSCOW, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Russian energy monopoly Gazprom announced a 5.4 percent spending increase for its 2010 budget amid growing optimism for an economic recovery.

TEHRAN, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Iranian authorities are following initiatives in the relationship with New Delhi as it relates to the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline, a spokesman said.

TRIPOLI, Libya, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Ukrainian utility Naftogaz aims to expand its oil and gas exploration presence in Libya, said National Security and Defense Council Secretary Raisa Bohatyryova.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Foreign investments in the Iraqi energy sector passed real estate as the country embarks on a plan to boost oil production, a consultant group said in a report.

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Biofuel made a significant headway in aviation as a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Boeing aircraft using the renewable energy source flew over the Netherlands with about 40 people on board.

ATHENS, Greece, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- The Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline and South Stream gas pipeline would be beneficial to southern Europe, said Greek President Karolos Papoulias.

BAKU, Azerbaijan, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Turkish pipeline company BOTAS and the State Oil Co. of Azerbaijan Republic finished a round of price talks for Azeri gas with settlement seen by year's end.

MOSCOW, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Ukrainian utility Naftogaz and Russian gas giant Gazprom agreed to lower gas shipments and prices under the terms of an amended January agreement.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Nov. 25 (UPI) -- North Carolina's Duke Energy said it plans to match a $22 million federal grant to examine the use of batteries to store wind energy from a Texas wind farm.

TEHRAN, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. signed a memorandum of understanding with its Iranian partners to invest $6.5 billion in oil refinery construction in Iran.

TOFTE, Norway, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- Norway on Tuesday unveiled the world's first osmotic power plant, which uses a combination of seawater and freshwater to make clean electricity.

NEW DELHI, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- India announced Monday a plan to increase solar power to 20,000 megawatts by 2022.