The Oil Drum

BP joins renewable power campaign group

BP is to throw its weight behind the renewable power industry by joining its main campaigning body. Its decision to join the BWEA, formerly the British Wind Energy Association, early in the new year is a seen by the alternative energy sector as important because BP always had close links with government.

Ex-Interior Secretary Norton to join Shell as counsel

HOUSTON -- Royal Dutch Shell PLC Wednesday said it hired Gale Norton to serve as a counsel for the oil giant.

The move comes amid rising scrutiny on Capitol Hill of Norton's former agency's dealings with the oil industry.

Gazprom says will compensate for possible gas tapping by Belarus

"Not everything depends on us [in the gas dispute] with Belarus this year, nor did it last year with Ukraine, but we will spare no effort to make up for the possible unsanctioned tapping of gas [in transit]," Alexander Medvedev said.

But Medvedev said compensating European consumers in full was impossible for a prolonged period given Russia's growing domestic gas demand.

Belarus gas row 'may hurt Europe'

Russian energy giant Gazprom has warned that its gas price dispute with Belarus may affect consumers across Europe.

Gazprom has threatened to cut off gas supplies to Belarus unless it accepts an increase in prices from 1 January.

Belarus responded that if supplies were cut, it would deny Gazprom access to its pipelines, in a move that could hurt supplies elsewhere in Europe.

Pakistan: Gas supply cut causes closure of four power plants

KARACHI: Four power plants have been closed in the country due to scarce supply of natural gas, federal water and power minister told a press conference in Karachi.

Pakistan: Hydro, wind, solar energy power generation units to be set up soon

ISLAMABAD: In its efforts to harness power from renewable resources, the government in collaboration with private sector will set up electricity generation units of up to 50-megawatt capacity utilizing hydro, wind and solar energy resources.

India: Privatisation central to coal mining policy

The prime reason for sluggish performance of the sector has been strong government control over coal production. After having a free run, the sector was nationalised in 1973 with the enactment of the Coal Mines (nationalisation) Act. The aim then was to bring coal, an essential commodity, under a central supervision so that consuming industries like power, cement, steel companies could be provided their raw material at reasonable prices. However, this very act is coming in the way to take the resource-rich country out from its deficit status.

Bulgaria Fumes as EU Demands Nuke Reactor Shutdowns

KOZLODUY, Bulgaria - At this sprawling nuclear plant in northern Bulgaria, Kiril Nikolov feels he is about to unwillingly betray his nation.

As part of the Balkan state's treaty to join the European Union, he must shut down two of the plant's four functioning reactors on Dec. 31, the day before entry.

Nigeria: Afenifere Wants End to Fuel Scarcity

The Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has called for an immediate end to the current fuel shortage in the country. In a statement, the national secretary of the group, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, expressed regret that the "interest of the sixth largest oil producer in the world are consistently being subjected to severe hardship as a result of mismanagement of the oil sector by the ruling elite."

Energy insecurity

In recent years, a parade of business and military leaders has tried to rally support for a more responsible national energy policy. Perhaps the Bush administration, with a nudge from a new Congress chosen by voters last month, will finally take notice in 2007.

Fuel diversity is the key for our state's future

Last spring, parts of Texas were left in the dark and without power for up to five hours when record temperatures hit the state, leading to a series of rolling blackouts to prevent a total statewide blackout.

Months later, when temperatures soared in the peak of summer, Texas exceeded previous peak demands by the equivalent of two to three large power plants.

Unfortunately, our expected population growth could make these situations commonplace.

Anadarko Seeks Scarce Rigs

Energy company Anadarko Petroleum Corp. has something harder to find than oil -- the floating rigs that explorers need for drilling.

A boom in drilling deep-water oil and natural-gas wells in the Gulf of Mexico and off the coasts of Brazil and West Africa has driven demand for the specialized rigs needed to work in depths as much as two miles. Deep-water rigs are in short supply, and companies are scrambling to get their hands on them, which could pay off for Anadarko.

Six bodies found after helicopter goes down in UK

LONDON - Rescue workers recovered six bodies after a helicopter carrying gas rig workers went down off the northwest English coast on Wednesday, police said.

John Michael Greer: Resolutions for a Post-Peak New Year

As 2007 approaches, worldwide conventional oil production remains noticeably below its 2005 peak, and the geopolitical situation in the Middle East and elsewhere promises at least its share of oil crises and economic shocks in the months and years to come.

Thus a set of New Year’s resolutions for a world on the brink of the deindustrial age seems timely just now.

Australia's drought natural, researcher says

CANBERRA - Australia's crippling drought, which some lawmakers have called the worst for 1,000 years, is a natural occurrence and has no link to global warming, the country's top science organization said on Thursday.

Divers to Plug Oil Leak in Gulf

Divers today were expected to plug a ruptured pipeline, about 30 miles southeast of Galveston, that had spilled about 42,000 gallons of light crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico by Tuesday, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

Want alternative energy? Try pond scum

But while corn, soybeans, canola and other common food crops have drawn the greatest public interest in biomass as a source of fuel, those commodities have been championed by a nexus of growers, processors, brokers and powerful lobbying groups looking to boost the value of existing crops by developing alternative uses for excess capacity and waste byproducts. Algae has few such advocates, and market demand has yet to materialize.

Coal fueling energy debate

Even as some states go on a building binge of coal-fired power plants, Washington is considering hefty restrictions that would do the opposite, essentially allowing just one new coal plant to be built. It's part of an emerging schism over coal as a future source of energy, pitting those who see it as reliable and cheap against those who consider it the dirtiest way to make electricity.

Near-Zero Emissions Power Production Projects

The Department of Energy announced the selection of five projects totaling nearly $12 million targeting cost-effective technologies to improve the performance and economics of near-zero emission, coal-based power generation systems.

An Alcoholic Energy Solution

According to the Peak Oil theorists, we are rapidly approaching the halfway point of world oil consumption. Since the second half of the world's oil supply is harder to get to than the first half, we can expect production to taper off long before the oil runs out. If the Peak Oil folks are right, the tapering off could begin any day now.

And this is where things get silly. Many in the Peak Oil community are saying that the drop in oil production will cause civilization to collapse, that we not only won't be able to drive, but we won't have plastics, medicines, or even coal (since oil burning machines are used to mine coal).

Ethics of Biofuels

It seems like you can’t go anywhere without someone telling you that in ten years we’re all going to be driving ethanol or biodiesel cars. Biofuels are hot. People who a year ago had never heard of switchgrass keep assuring me that it will be fueling my car practically next week. No need to change anything significant about our lives, they say – just raise fuel efficiency standards a little bit and alchemically turn the corn into gold er… oil, and off we go, back to business as usual.

Ed Begley Jr.'s 10 Tips for Going Green

The Footprint of a Cheeseburger

I wondered a couple of days ago what the carbon footprint of a hamburger might be. It's the kind of question we'll be forced to ask more often as we pay greater attention to our individual greenhouse gas emissions. Burgers are common food items for many people; it's said that the average American eats three burgers per week, or about 150 burgers per year. What's the global warming impact of all that? I don't just mean cooking the burger; I mean the gamut of energy costs associated with a hamburger -- including growing the feed for the cattle for beef and cheese, growing the produce, storing and transporting the components, as well as cooking.

Report claims high oil prices threaten UK food security

Dwindling oil stocks and EU trade and energy policies threaten food price hikes and could cause food shortages in the UK, according to a new report by Green Party Euro-MP Caroline Lucas.

...The report warns that we must change energy, trade and agriculture policies at an EU level if we are to avoid a food crisis precipitated by 'Peak Oil' – the point at which half of global oil production has been consumed, and beyond which extraction goes into irreversible decline, and prices rise accordingly.

U.S. Embassy Is Warning Beijing on Iran Gas Deal

WASHINGTON — The Bush administration and Congress are warning that a proposed $16 billion deal between a Chinese company and Iran could trigger economic penalties under an American law aimed at starving Iran of funding for terrorism and nuclear weapons.

The gathering Gulf storm

One doesn't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that the renewed US campaign about the Iran nuclear issue camouflages a struggle for the domination of the Gulf and the Middle East - a region that set the tempo of the Cold War in the last century and will significantly determine the contours of the world order struggling to be born.

Energy price wars ahead in 2007

Britain's big six energy suppliers are poised to launch a price war in the coming weeks that should send household bills tumbling by the spring.

British Gas has signalled it will cut prices 'significantly' after the winter, with customer losses running at 20,000 a week - or one million over the past 12 months, its worst ever year for customer defections.

China, sure of power supply, freeing coal prices

BEIJING - China will allow coal producers and consumers to set their own prices without state interference next year, as Beijing anticipates excess supplies and more than enough power capacity, government documents showed.

Analysts say the shift reflects Beijing's growing confidence in energy and resource price reforms that will bring rates into line with higher global markets in an effort to encourage conservation and promote "green growth" for its booming economy.

Bright idea makes a big comeback: Conservation

Nearly all businesses share an all-consuming mission: sell, sell, sell. McDonald's wants to peddle more hamburgers. Airlines strive to fill every seat. Phone companies want you to make more calls.

But power companies these days are increasingly being told by regulators to pump hundreds of millions of dollars into selling less electricity.