Energy efficient, but still using more

Many household appliances have become more efficient, using less electricity than ever to cool rooms, wash clothes and chill food. But the increasingly wired American home, where outlets are charging cell phones and iPods and powering multiple computers and big-screen TVs, is creating higher demand for power than was the case even a few years ago.

Ghana: Energy Crisis Devastates Mining Sector

THE PRESIDENT of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Mr. Jurgen Eijgendaal has bemoaned the effect of the nation's energy crisis on the mining industry, describing it as very devastating.

According to him, mining is an energy intensive economic activity and as such obtaining full energy requirements at competitive rates was vital for the containment of the sector's overall production costs.

Petroleos Venezuela May Explore in Vietnam, Argentina

Petroleos de Venezuela SA, the country's state oil company, plans to explore for oil and gas in Vietnam, Bolivia and Argentina.

OSHA steps up refinery oversight

Nearly 300 federal safety inspectors will fan out to refineries across the country over the next two years as part of a stepped-up enforcement program prompted by the BP Texas City blast and other deadly refinery accidents.

To some, high gas prices have a silver lining

A sprinkling of experts and consumers welcome paying extra at the pump.

Ethanol to Take 30 Percent of U.S. Corn Crop by 2012

Almost a third of the U.S. corn crop will be used in five years to produce fuel ethanol, possibly raising animal feed costs for farmers and meat prices for consumers, a new government report warned on Monday. Assuming U.S. ethanol production continues to expand to the Energy Department's projected 11.2 billion gallons by 2012, about 30 percent of the corn crop will be needed for the fuel supply, according to the Government Accountability Office.

Solar Panels, Biofuel and Tidal Turbines in Bloomberg Plans

Moving to harness cleaner forms of energy to meet the city’s growing power demands, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced a plan yesterday to outfit municipal buildings with solar panels and to begin buying heating oil containing biofuels.

Builders create suburbs with downtown appeal

Victoria Gardens in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., is typical of dozens of developments sprouting along the nation's light-rail lines and near subway stations: stores, theaters, restaurants, offices and housing connected by sidewalks to mimic a walkable urban neighborhood.

Just one thing is missing: transit.

How Published Oil Reserves Figures Confuse The Oil Supply Situation

I occasionally read commentaries which imply that there is no concern about global oil supply because the world has huge global oil reserves. We know that because huge, and growing, reserves figures are published in World Oil and Oil and Gas Journal, which then make their way into the mainstream media.

While those figures are published in respected oil industry journals, the figures are essentially worthless. No outside agency audits oil reserves for individual countries. Since there is no outside auditing, governments of many countries exaggerate their reserves figures. Also, multiple countries don’t update reserves figures for extended periods of time by subtracting off what they produce.

Nigerian government calls unions for talks over strike

The Nigerian government has invited unions to a meeting on Friday to discuss a threatened strike in Africa's top oil producer over rising prices and privatisations, authorities said on Tuesday.

Unions have threatened to stage an indefinite general strike demanding President Umaru Yar'Adua reverse hikes in value-added tax and fuel prices introduced in the dying days of the previous government, which stepped down on May 29.

The EU's agrofuel folly: policy capture by corporate interests

Despite growing public concern about the risks associated to agrofuels, the European Union (EU) is throwing its weight behind the promotion of these often very harmful crops.

Battling Baghdad's petrol crisis

Filling up your car in Baghdad these days means organising a minor expedition, with the capital in the grip of a new fuel crisis.

Book review: The Last Oil Shock

There is something very strange about listening to the mainstream media, even on a solar radio, covering such weighty topics as the potential Collapse of Civilisation and hearing someone as confident and erudite as Strahan explain just how deeply dependent we are on supplies of fuels that will become increasingly unreliable over the next few years. It seems eerily at odds with 99% of the media content.

California lawmaker promises to revisit guzzler fee

A Silicon Valley state legislator vowed Monday to try again next year after the defeat of his provocative bill that would have given buyers of new Toyota Priuses and other fuel-efficient vehicles rebates of up to $2,500 - paid for by fees on buyers of new Hummers and other gas guzzlers.

Nuclear shutdown sparks energy fears

ONE of Scotland's ageing nuclear reactors had to be shut down manually over the weekend, the latest in a catalogue of problems which prompted experts last night to warn of a possible looming gap in energy supplies.

...Experts last night said the shutdown cast doubt on British Energy's plans to extend the lives of Hunterston B and the company's other nuclear station at Torness, in East Lothian.

Good companies, bad karma

I began researching this and found that the life expectancy of companies has been declining dramatically since the 1970s, when the first energy crisis occurred. Where earlier a company would be in existence for 50 to 60 years, now its lifecycle is down to just 10.5 years.

Guvs see money in saving planet

While many Americans see global warming and the country's dependence on oil as impending disasters, there are those who view finding solutions to these complex problems a colossal money-making opportunity.

Assembly Commission Approves PDVSA-China JV

Venezuela's national assembly energy and mining commission has approved the creation of Petrozumano, a joint venture between state oil company PDVSA and China National Petroleum Company (CNPC), according to a statement posted on the assembly's website.

Official warns of energy crisis

Construction of new electrical generation in the West is projected to grow by 6 percent, while demand for electricity is projected to increase by 19 percent over the next 10 years, according to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

FERC commissioner Suedeen Kelly, speaking on her own behalf, said the situation is nothing short of a crisis.

"There's not enough time to build our way out," Kelly told the Western Governors' Association here Monday.

Energy Scenario of Bangladesh Going from Bad to Worse.....

The helpless people of Bangladesh are gradually getting hopeless. People have started loosing confidence in the managerial efficiency of the caretaker government as far as improving the acute energy crisis is concerned. Caretaker Government (CTG) declared Jihad against energy mafias and promised various initiatives to manage the crisis and set the energy sector on the right track from the brink of collapse. People whole heartedly welcomed that. But after 4 months of CTG rule the energy supply situation showed only marginal improvement. Traders and businessmen spontaneously cooperated with government in adjusting business hours of shopping malls and markets in the cities when government requested them to pull down shutters in their otherwise peak business hours. Citizens in particular spontaneously cooperated with all other initiatives government suggested. But massive load shedding continues to make life miserable. Some people say it has turned worse.

Senate Energy Plan Debate Set to Begin

The U.S. Senate is set to tackle a comprehensive energy policy proposal this week as Democratic leaders aim to keep their campaign promise to reduce the country's dependence on foreign oil.

It’s Still All About Oil

Our short-term energy policy very much requires the use of our own oil resources that can be easily extracted now.

Ghana: Scientist Blames Energy Crisis On Global Warming

AN ENVIRONMENTAL Scientist, Mr. Padmore Baffour Adjapong says global warming - an increase in temperature of the world - is the cause of Ghana's current energy crisis that is suffocating businesses in the country.

He believes the increase in temperature has put much stress on water supplies to the Akosombo hydroelectric dam, from where the country generates the highest percentage of electricity for industrial and domestic usages.

U.N. seeks to conserve genetic resources

The United Nations is stepping up its campaign to conserve the world's genetic resources so crops and animals can adapt to global warming and other challenges, focusing on fish for the first time since fish are increasingly being bred to meet the world's food needs.

Carbon Traders Attracted to China’s Vast Methane Reserves

Carbon traders are utilizing the Kyoto Protocol's clause on 'certified emission reduction' credits to capitalize on China's vast coalbed methane reserves. The Asian director of Fortis' carbon trading desk calls China's methane 'easy pickings.' For every tonne of methane captured, about 20 tons of CO2 credits are obtained. CBM projects in China should indirectly benefit from foreign capital racing to exploit these credits before they expire in 2012.

WWF Awarded Grant to Study Negative Impacts of Damming Amazon Tributary

The Blue Moon Fund recently awarded WWF a grant to ensure that construction of the Madeira dams in the Amazon River basin does not permanently harm the region's biodiversity, economic potential and local communities. Established in 2002, the Blue Moon Fund supports nonprofit organizations working to build a sustainable balance between humans and nature.

Shell Begins Nigeria Ops Cost-Cutting Program to Offset Costs

Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB.LN) said Sunday it has started implementing a number of cost cuts to its operations in Nigeria, which are likely to include job cuts, to combat rising costs and falling oil revenues caused by production outages.

Crying Wolf or Crying Uncle: Does our dependence on foreign energy and credit really matter?

For a country founded on rugged individualism, our current state of affairs is looking a lot less rugged and a lot more dependent. With a massively expanding debt to foreign creditors, and an insatiable appetite for energy, we as a nation become more dependent each and every day. Even if we eventually import fewer Chinese products, the trade deficit may march higher because the percentage of energy (crude, natural gas, and refined products) from overseas sources continues to grow. More ominously, if we are in fact nearing the front door of Peak Oil, the price of energy will be headed in one direction, higher. This will only exacerbate our trade deficit.

Sinopec's Move To Trim Gas Prices Rekindles Debate

China Petroleum & Chemical Corp.'s decision to cut the cost of gasoline at some filling stations in Guangzhou city has reignited the debate about market pricing in China.

How to Trade Like a Rockefeller

Check out the Stockpickr portfolio and you'll see that the Rockefellers haven't left their oil roots behind. Rather, it's probably the most comprehensive oil-infused portfolio I've ever seen. The Rockefellers clearly believe in peak oil theory, and they are putting their money behind it full force.

The Supreme Court Doesn't Matter

California has been asking for permission to regulate greenhouse gas emissions since 2004, but the philistines at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have yet to grant it permission to do so.

For quite some time the EPA's excuse was that they didn't have the power to regulate emissions. That's funny--greenhouse gases harm the environment and the EPA is supposed to protect the environment. Maybe they should consider a name change.

Saudis increase focus on gas development

Karan is thought to contain at least 9 trillion cubic feet of gas and when development is completed in four years time the field is expected to produce one billion c/f a day of gas.

The project is part of an ambitious gas exploration programme which is aimed to increase gas reserves by more than 20 per cent in the next five years.

Loose Wheels - Kunstler

My eerie thought was this: what if a time came in America when the conspicuous display of wealth was not such a healthy thing for the displayer? What if these displays only made them conspicuous targets for the hordes of economic losers that the Long Emergency will shake loose? What if wealth is actually forced into hiding instead of displaying itself for all to see?

I admit it was not a big deep thought, just an eerie one. Of course, one would have to begin by asking what kind of society would worship clowns like Donald Trump in the first place — and the answer would be: a society of envious slobs deluded into thinking that they could become the next Trump if only the Baby Jeezus would whack them over the head with a sock-full of silver dollars. This is, after all, a culture currently fueled by two dangerously childish ideas: that it's possible to get something for nothing, and that when you wish upon a star your dreams come true.

World Bank plans international fund to fight deforestation

The World Bank is planning an international fund of at least 250 million dollars to fight deforestation, which contributes to global warming, a bank official said Monday.

BP: World's proven oil reserves edge lower

The world's proven oil reserves at the end of 2006 stood at 1.208 trillion barrels, fractionally lower than 1.209 trillion at the end of 2005, BP Plc said on Tuesday in its Statistical view of World Energy.

The one billion-barrel reduction reflects in part a decline in Norway's reserves, which fell to 8.5 billion from 9.6 billion.

IEA raises estimate of world oil demand in 2007

Global oil demand will increase by two per cent this year, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Tuesday, revising upwards an earlier estimate by about 400,000 barrels per day and warning the market will be tight.

Highlights of the latest OMR

● Global oil product demand is revised up

● May world supply fell by 565 kb/d to 84.9 mb/d

● Nigerian outages cut OPEC crude supply by 425 kb/d to 30.1 mb/d

● Dated Brent rose above $70/bbl in late May as markets tightened

● Global refinery crude throughput rose by 0.6 mb/d to 72.4 mb/d in April

● Total OECD industry inventories rose by 9.9 mb in April

Issues facing the oil and gas industry

Demand for oil is surging and unless significant investments are made and technology improves, the high demand growth will not be sustainable, according to a captain in the oil and gas industry.

“Society is concerned over increased carbon dioxide emissions and other environmental consequences of energy development, and these concerns must be addressed,'' ConocoPhillips chairman and CEO James J. Mulva said.

Oil shortage could spark conflicts in world: SIPRI

The prospect of a future scarcity of oil and gas could lead to conflicts in Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, South America and Southeast Asia, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said on Monday.

'Paradox' as Mideast faces power shortage

Oil and gas-rich countries of the Middle East are facing a worrying paradox - how to meet rapidly expanding power demand to feed their fast growing economies, the International Energy Agency said on Tuesday.

"Shortages of natural gas - hitherto the fuel of choice for electricity generation - have become a regular feature, forcing governments to consider alternatives such as coal, fuel oil, nuclear and even imported gas," the IEA wrote.

Opec biofuel brinkmanship is a sign of things to come

It was always going to happen. Like a lover fearful they are about to get dumped for a younger rival, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) appears to have its scissors poised and ready to cut up the rest of the world's suits unless it stops flirting with those wanton biofuels.

Nigeria hostage takers free 13 captives

Hostage takers in Nigeria's restive oil heartland released 13 captives Monday, including three Americans, officials said.

The militants said earlier they were releasing the hostages on "humanitarian grounds," while indicating they would continue attacks despite conciliatory efforts from new President Umaru Yar'Adua.

As N.E. warms, tiny pests take root

One of the most sobering projections about global warming is that species -- including those that bring disease or harm -- will reach a climate "tipping point" that will allow them to survive in new locations. Now, researchers are racing to unlock exactly what temperature, humidity, and other climate thresholds could drive the spread of scores of species. The answers are critical, these researchers say, because even a tiny change in temperature could have an exponential effect on some populations.

UK’s richest man in slave labour row

Coalminers working in Mittal’s Kazakh mines claim his firm is endangering their lives by using dangerous, outdated equipment and by cutting corners. More than 90 have died in the mines since 2004.

Miners claim that conditions are worse than in Soviet times and say they would rather work in Siberian mines.

Sole U.S. Company That Enriches Uranium Is Struggling to Stay in Business

Seventy years after the United States invented uranium enrichment, the sole American company in the business is struggling to survive, while nuclear power experts worry that its failure would leave the Russians dominant in the market for fuel processing.

ThaneEnergy Report: The Coal Peak, Historic Data (PDF)

There has been a lot of interest lately in the idea of non-renewable resources peaking. The basic idea is that natural resources do not suddenly run out, but instead experience a period of growth, a peak, and then a decline. Because resources do not suddenly run out but instead nearly always experience a decline curve, our usual idea of a resource “running out” is nearly meaningless. Resources experience two major periods: this first is pre-peak when they are cheap and abundant the second is post-peak when they are expensive and scarce. This is somewhat simplistic way of looking at a complex economic event, but it is much more accurate then the commonly thought of idea of “running out” and the associated metric of reserves over production to determine how many years a resource will last.

Most peaking investigations to date have focused on oil and gas, but coal, as a nonrenewable resource, will also experience a peak and decline. Figure 1 shows the coal peak that has already occurred in the United Kingdom. The peak, as well as the year in which 50% of the original coal in place was depleted, are labeled. Many who study resource peaks, believe that the 50% depletion point coincides with the production peak and this is the fundamental way that peaks are usually predicted by analysts before they occur. The question that we can ask is whether coal production peaks coincide with the 50% depletion point and if they don’t why not.