KNOC, Other South Korean Companies to Jointly Develop Canada Oil Sands

State-run Korea National Oil Corp. said Friday it has signed an initial agreement with 13 other South Korean companies to jointly develop blocks in Canada's oil sands.

The companies will seek opportunities to secure other downstream projects such as building oil refining facilities and pipelines, KNOC said in a statement.

Gazprom tours Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar

A Gazprom delegation recently toured Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar to discuss the progress and prospects to develop joint projects.

A solution to fuel shortage: Consume less

I'm glad President Bush recognizes that Americans must do something about our "addiction to oil" and is gung-ho about the prospect of ethanol.

I just hope those biofuel fumes aren't blinding him.

Gas guzzling must go before biofuels come in

"We've got to stop the addiction from growing," said Peter Tertzakian, author of the book "A Thousand Barrels."

Biofuels are not a miracle solution to tight fuel supply issues, he said.

"Are they going to completely replace or even make a meaningful dent in the overall consumption of gasoline? I would say not any time soon, that's for sure."

Alternative energy needs to focus on waste recycling

The giddy-eyed proponents of alternative energy bio fuels derived from agricultural commodities received a bit of a wake up call recently when prices of almost all major raw materials such as corn, oil palm, sugarcane, wheat, soya, peanuts and even cassava shot up sharply causing widespread jitters.

Oil Workers Disappear in Northeast Colombia

Four oil company technicians working on a project in northeastern Colombia have been missing for two days, Caracol Radio reported Wednesday.

...The Gibraltar project is operating in a part of the territory of the U'wa Indian tribe, whose members oppose petroleum exploration and exploitation because they believe that crude oil is the blood of the Earth.

French Hostage Released in Southeastern Nigeria

A Frenchman kidnapped in Nigeria's oil-rich Niger Delta last month was released on Friday, reports reaching Lagos said.

Canada greenhouse gas 'violators' would pay under Liberal plan

Polluters releasing more than their share of the so-called greenhouse gases responsible for global warming would be slapped with fines under a plan unveiled Friday by opposition Liberals.

Russia: Pipeline Deal Raises Energy Dependence Concerns

Russia, Greece, and Bulgaria have signed a long-awaited deal to build a trans-Balkan pipeline that will boost oil supplies to Western markets.

The pipeline will ship Russian oil from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean, avoiding the overcrowded Bosphorus Strait.

But there are fears the project will increase Europe’s reliance on Russian energy supplies.

China's Hu Hopes Row with Japan Over Gas Field is Resolved Soon

Chinese President Hu Jintao, in a meeting with Japanese lawmakers, expressed hope Friday for an early resolution of a dispute with Japan over gas exploration rights in the East China Sea, Japanese officials said.

China's Wen hedges on climate change response

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Friday promised a national plan to address climate change but avoided offering emissions caps, speaking after a parliament session where global warming barely scraped on to the agenda.

Easy Solutions to Energy Problems

How do we assure ourselves of a reliable supply of energy at a reasonable cost without doing more damage to the planet? It's actually pretty easy.

What's truly in short supply is not energy, but political will.

Analysts: $3 gasoline unlikely in summer

Elementary school principal Randy Busscher of Holland, Mich. is braced for gasoline prices of $3 a gallon or more by summer break. Analysts say Busscher and other U.S. motorists may be more worried than necessary, however. Absent a major Gulf Coast hurricane, unexpected international strife or a wave of refinery woes, average U.S. gasoline prices are not expected to rise to the $3-a-gallon psychological threshold this summer — a good sign as well for the broader economy, which is under pressure from a weakening housing market.

Gas going up, up, up!

So why can't the West Coast catch a break with gas prices?

For Oregon, it may be the source of the crude oil refined for Oregonians' gasoline: the north slope of Alaska.

Imperial Oil Nanticoke Refinery Back To Full Production

A month after a massive blaze forced the shutdown of Imperial Oil's Nanticoke refinery and caused gas shortages and price hikes across the GTA, the facility is fully operational once again.

New US view on climate change to impact Asia

That rapidly growing economies such as China and India were not obligated to take similar steps toward emissions curbs under the Tokyo Protocol, only served to allow the U.S. and others to ignore the agreement.

Regulator's New Focus on Emissions Rankles Offshore Energy

The Minerals Management Service is exploring whether to increase the scope of its regulation of greenhouse gas emissions in the oil and gas industry, a move that has producers worried their actions could be linked to global warming.

Winds of change

The business case for local power gets stronger as the cost of oil or natural gas rises. At the same time the environmental case for renewable energy has gained support from public concern about global warming and the role oil, gas and coal-fired generation may play in adding to the greenhouse effect.

Harvesting energy from the sun

Though India has an enormous renewable energy potential, the current installed capacity of around 8100-MW derived from renewable energy sources including sun, wind and biomass constitute about 7% of the total installed power generation capacity in the country, even though India is one of the pioneers in utilizing a part of its huge reserve of renewable energy sources.

A New Day Dawns for Solar

Last week, Energy (DOE) Secretary Samuel W. Bodman announced the selection of 13 joint R&D projects with various partners in the solar industry, for a total commitment of $168 million through 2009.

Another fireplace firm extinguishes its flame

Another stress on the industry was a nearly yearlong shortage of fuel for pellet-burning stoves, says Glenn Strom, sales manager for Custom Fireside on Auburn Boulevard.

Mexican national oil monopoly in crisis on 69th anniversary of expropriation

Despite steady drops in production and myriad threats to the company's long-term stability, high oil prices pushed Pemex's sales revenue in 2006 to a record 1 trillion pesos (US$98 billion; €74.1 billion) — 10 percent more than 2005.

If those revenues were significantly threatened — by suddenly falling oil prices, drastic production drops or problems in the troubled refining sector — Congress could be compelled to take action next fall when the new budget is drafted, Shields said.

In the meantime, "if the money's coming in, people are not going to be too worried and they're not going to make changes.

Peak Oil Passnotes: Return to the OPEC Corral

It was that time of year again when Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) like to get together and convince us they are in control of the oil markets. But they are not.

Can Peak Oil Save Us?

Occasionally I run into someone who has heard about Peak Oil, but doesn't think it will matter much. Usually they are convinced that the peak is at least 30 years off. Or that we have copious amounts of alternative sources of energy (tar sands, oil shale, methane hydrates, etc.) that we can tap into as soon as the market signals. They may have read somewhere that people have been warning about the depletion of oil ever since it was first discovered. Or they may dismiss Peak Oil as the rantings of a doomsday cult, much like the Y2K prophesies of societal collapse.

Energy efficiency and economic growth?

A hopeful Friday note: a significant downloadable report (PDF) from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. It was just brought to my attention, but it's from 2004. Its message bears repeating: energy efficiency/technologies have the potential to dramatically reduce energy use while supporting economic growth.

Green Energy Enthusiasts Are Also Betting on Fossil Fuels

For all the boasting in the region about investing in clean technologies, there have also been a smaller number of bets in companies set up to promote the development of fossil fuels — the source of many of the problems their other investments are meant to fix.

Students get a glimpse of future without oil

Local high school students are on the road to breaking the oil addiction they’re inheriting from their parents’ generation.

There are two new presentations on Matt Simmon's page: "Sunrise In Coal Fields: Coal’s Role In A Peak Oil World" and "Is The World’s Energy Supply Sustainable? Is America's? Is The Rocky Mountain's?"

Movie Review: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil

...Cuba has not produced anything nearly resembling adequate food supplies. As an October 2006 WaPo article makes clear, shortages of food remain widespread, leading to a thriving black market. This suggests that while Cuba's sustainable ag practices have averted widespread famine, fundamental problems remain.

A peak oil comedian? One-man humor show tackles serious issues

"It's a comedy show but it has a lot to say," [Richard] Brenne said on Friday. "Comedy and humor is the hook to get people to discuss serious issues."

The talk will center on global warming and peak oil, but will touch on various international issues that the U.S. is involved in.

Peak Oil Task Force recommends Portland cut fossil fuel use

The Portland Peak Oil Task Force, a twelve member citizen committee appointed by Portland's City Council in May 2006, today delivered a strongly worded report advising that the City accelerate efforts to curb the use of oil and natural gas

Study: Warming Causing Decline in Global Crop Production

Over a span of two decades, warming temperatures have caused annual losses of roughly $5 billion for major food crops, according to a new study by researchers at the Carnegie Institution and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! The Annual International ASPO Conference is in Ireland this year.