The Oil Drum

Iran puts 17 oil blocks out to tender

"Tomorrow (Tuesday), the exploration tenders for 17 oil blocks will be published in press," the National Iranian Oil Company's director of exploration, Mahmoud Mohades, was quoted as saying Monday.

"The minimum investment for these exploration blocks will be more than 460 million euros," he added.

"The tenders are for 12 onshore blocks and five other blocks in the Persian Gulf," he explained.

No Turkey-Georgia gas deal yet: Turkish official

ANKARA - Turkey has not yet reached a deal with Georgia to supply the ex-Soviet republic with much-needed gas next year but expects talks to be concluded in one week, a senior Turkish Energy Ministry official told Reuters on Monday.

Gazprom warns Belarus on price negotiations

MOSCOW (Reuters) -- Russian gas giant Gazprom said on Monday the clock was ticking for Moscow's ally Belarus to accept a sharp gas price hike from the New Year or have supplies cut, Russian news agencies reported.

"The current contract on gas supplies to Belarus will expire in six days," they quoted Gazprom's chief spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov as saying.

"Belarus's negotiating position is irresponsible and puts the issue of the whole country's energy supplies under threat."

Energize America: the technology of community

We all feel that we witnessing potentially world-changing stuff with the emergence of virtual communities on the internet, and we are trying to harness that power and understand what we can do with it - influencing public discourse, drafting policy, creating new solidarities and more. It's also interesting - and challenging, to say the least - to see that trend described as our best hope to solve the energy crisis.

Our energy future

Our fossil fuels are finite and global supplies, particularly oil and gas are dwindling at an ever faster rate as global populations increase and industrialization accelerates. While use of such fuels has allowed proportionate increase in standards of living, their use is also causing threat to our global, natural environment. The future welfare of man is at stake. Increased use of known forms of renewable energy and energy efficiency can slow the depletion rate, but do not provide assurance of adequacy of energy supplies for generations yet to come.

Nuclear energy nearing revival: 30 new reactors are being considered as power demands rise

After hibernating for decades, the nuclear industry is cautiously gearing up to build a new fleet of reactors to generate electricity, benefiting from political support while hoping to avoid the blunders of the past.

Can geothermal energy light up Yemen?

Turkey, Georgia in gas-sharing agreement

TBILISI, Georgia - Turkey has agreed to give up some of its share of a giant Caspian gas field to Georgia, allowing the small Caucasus nation to reduce its need for expensive Russian gas, the Georgian energy minister said Sunday.

Oil Minister: Turkey should not re-export Iran gas

Turkey has no right to re-export gas it is importing from Iran via a pipeline, said Iranian Oil Minister.

Reining in of foreign firms elsewhere increases African oil's allure

DAKAR, Senegal -- Angola is joining the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, African oil exploration is booming and China is investing. The appetite for African oil grows, even as militant attacks in some countries and precarious governments in others make returns uncertain.

Asian, Pacific countries must adopt 'green growth' patterns

These societies are already living beyond their ecological means and the current 'grow first, clean up later' growth pattern is likely to result in mounting ecological problems, the report by UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) said.

The New Threat To Europe

This year began with a European energy crisis caused by Russia's cutoff of gas supplies to Ukraine, where a democratic government not to the liking of Vladimir Putin had taken power. Because Russian gas passes through Ukraine on its way to Western Europe, the pressure also dropped in Paris and Vienna and Rome -- and Europeans suddenly realized they were dependent for electricity and warmth on an autocracy that was prepared to use energy as a tool of imperialism.

Yes, Oil From Venezuela

There's been a lot of controversy lately over whether Citizens Energy Corp. should distribute -- and the poor should accept -- discount heating oil from Venezuela while that country is under the leadership of President Hugo Chávez.

But those who have no problem staying warm at night should not condemn others for accepting Venezuela's oil. Rhetoric means little to an elderly woman who has to drag an old cot from her basement to sleep by the warmth of the open kitchen stove or give up food or medicine to pay her heating bill.

Nigeria: We Have Met the Enemy, And It Is Us

Responding to the increased rebel violence in the Niger Delta, some oil companies are evacuating the families of foreign workers. Rebels attacks are, month by month, shutting down more production. MEND is getting more skillful and better organized in their attacks. The use of cell phone triggered car bombs, and the ability to get these vehicles into heavily guarded compounds, are examples of this. MEND is also refraining from killing innocent civilians, which means they remain popular, while still terrorizing the government. The bombs destroy the luxurious cars and facilities of the government and oil companies. Pictures of the bomb effects in the media make it clear where the oil money is going.

Nigerian separatists not swayed by hostages' pleas

An armed separatist group in southern Nigeria that is holding four foreign oil workers hostage said on Sunday that it will not be swayed by their pleas for release and indicted Italian oil firm Agip for allegedly attempting to pay a ransom.

Oil Output Cut Restores Balance to its Markets

OPEC estimated a surplus of 500,000-700,000 barrels in oil markets at present. A large part of this surplus is attributed to the fact that some member States do not commit to their output quota, as only 75-80% of the organization members that are committed to their respective quotas, hence the surplus in oil markets.

Some analysts predict rise in oil price

Crude-oil prices may rise this week on speculation that inventories will decline as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries reduces production.

Many problems continue to loom in Africa

Nigeria is Africa's biggest oil producer and the fifth-largest U.S. supplier and has seen its typical oil production of 2.5 million barrels per day cut by a quarter this year by a series of attacks and hostage-takings by militants, some seeking ransoms and others political influence.

At some point the world will have to exercise crucial intervention in this land of local wars and unrest. Otherwise, the Dark Continent is going to give us darkness on a scale we have never seen or hope to see.

A few holiday-induced thoughts about peak oil

Like a lot of people, when I think about peak oil, my mind drifts toward the things that are likely to go away: super-stocked grocery stores, cheap gas and easy mobility, push-button conveniences, exurban houses filling the prairie, and the techno-toys we stuff them with. Once the our present reality starts to sink in on you, it makes sense to think like that. After all, the key word that unlocks the post-peak oil cipher is "less." Not just less hydrocarbon energy; less of everything.

MERRY CHRISTMAS to those of you who celebrate it. Hope the ultimate cornucopian was good to you. For everyone else...happy Monday. Or happy "celebrate our ape-like ancestors day."