Developed world 'having second thoughts' about globalisation

The seemingly unstoppable rise of China and India as challengers to the domination of the United States and Europe has started a debate on whether globalisation has gone too far.

In particular, the current economic superpowers are worried about control of oil and other resources being sapped by China's demand.

Accidents dim hopes for green nuclear option

The recent earthquake in Japan and accidents at two German power plants raise questions on the safety of nuclear energy as a cleaner alternative.

Uranium Mining in Niger at Risk

In April, the Tuaregs attacked one of Areva’s uranium mines. Dominique Pin, head of Areva’s uranium mining in Niger, recently admitted, “The attack caused us to stop all our operations for almost a month.” Pin was recently forced to rebut claims that Areva had been financing the Tuareg ‘Movement of Niger People for Justice’ (MNJ). The Areva executive expressed concerns about ‘security and stability in Niger.’

Peak Oil Passnotes: Peak Oil Zombie Attack Redux

It is rare in this column that we take a look back at our previous work. But the client response to last week’s column ‘Zombie Attack’ was so brilliant we cannot help ourselves. For any new readers, we talked about the fact - and we use the word ‘fact’ as such - that many people who believe in ‘peak oil’ are a bit weird.

In fact, many of the people who believe in ‘peak oil’ are so weird they put off anyone else who looks at the subject. Because the subject, at first glance, seems so amazingly simple, it attracts simple views. That is we are about to embark, or already have embarked upon a precipitous decline in the production of oil. When you consider how important oil is to the global economy, notably transport, the effects are unknown and worrisome.

John Michael Greer: Culture death

A few weeks ago, one of the readers of The Archdruid Report posted a comment asking whether I thought the white race would survive the decline and fall of industrial civilization.

New US Natural Gas Projects Seen Boosting Supply, Easing Prices

New supplies of natural gas scheduled to hit the U.S. market over the next several months are expected to beef up already healthy inventories and could result in lower natural gas prices.

U.S. gas stocks are at near-record levels after a warm early winter and a cool early summer have kept gas demand for heating and cooling moderate. New gas supply from the Independence Hub in the deep waters of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, and from the Rockies Express Pipeline out West could put downward pressure on gas prices, some analysts predict.

Analysis: Oil from shale could meet need

Technology to draw oil from rock in Rocky Mountain states and other unconventional sources is getting another look from companies and the government as the demand for energy increases and supply tightens, especially in the United States.

Russia to Expand Asian Oil Link after 2015

Russia is on track to open the first 600,000 barrels per day phase of its Asian pipeline next year, but it is unlikely to expand to the full 1.6 million barrels per day capacity before 2015-2017, an official said on Thursday.

ConocoPhillips Chief Urges Cooperation on Energy Policies

The sometimes adversarial relationship between the U.S. government and oil industry should become more collaborative to hammer out an energy policy, the head of Houston-based ConocoPhillips told business leaders Thursday.

President of Shell Oil urges more oil drilling

The United States is living on the "knife's edge of a (energy) shortage," but the country has plenty of energy sources for the future if Congress and other policymakers open more areas to oil drilling and provide incentives for developing other forms of energy.

Shell ordered to suspend Arctic drilling

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A federal appeals court has ordered Shell Oil to stop its exploratory drilling program off the north coast of Alaska at least until a hearing in August.

The order, issued Thursday by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, comes after the federal Minerals Management Service in February approved Shell's offshore exploration plan for the Beaufort Sea.

"Vessels currently located in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas shall cease all operations performed in furtherance of that program, but need not depart the area," the order said.

Oil: OPEC in Charge, $90 on the Way?

With supply flagging, prices could reach exorbitant levels by fall, but experts say the world economy should be able to handle it.

Oil Prices: where now?

On Webdiary we've gone round the the Peak Oil loop more than a few times over the last few years (eg here). A new point of interest has arisen over this week: for the first time in the last few years the oil futures price has come out of its persistent state of contango as it rose back over USD75.

What does this mean? Well, the short answer is, for the first time in a long while, oil futures dealers are not on balance convinced that the next move in the oil price is necessarily up.

Ras Tanura blaze disruption

A fire which broke out in berths undergoing maintenance at Saudi Aramco's Ras Tanura facility last Thursday has led to the closure of the plant's North Terminal, according to the Dow Jones newswires. Aramco has said operations are continuing from alternative berths and has also stressed that naphtha loading is ongoing.

Lebanese killed in Nigeria's oil region

Gunmen killed a Lebanese businessman in his home early Friday in oil-rich southern Nigeria, police said, while attackers tried to ambush a truck carrying several foreign workers in what appeared to be a kidnapping attempt later in the day.

Chavez inaugurates refinery in Nicaragua

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Friday inaugurated a 150,000-barrel-a-day refinery the nation is building in Nicaragua as part of the leftist leader's oil-funded battle against U.S. influence in the region.

Japan's nuclear plans affected by quake

Japan's nuclear power industry is among the world's most ambitious. Spurred by fears of global warming, planners envision a rapid expansion of plants, capacity and cutting-edge technologies.

But a series of radioactive leaks at the world's largest atomic plant following a killer earthquake in northwestern Japan this week has given the industry a public relations headache that will be difficult to cure.

Lots of energy, shortage of policy

The U.S. National Petroleum Council's new report on global energy markets, believed to be one of the most extensive studies of its kind, received mixed reviews this week from greens and others whose policy ideas depend on an ever-present looming catastrophe. Especially put out by the 470-page report, titled Facing the Hard Truths About Energy, were the peak-oil theorists, who believe disaster is imminent as the world supply of conventional oil is set to peak, triggering a catastrophic decline.

Motorists getting greyer, greener, thriftier: Nissan's Ghosn

Motorists are getting older, thriftier and more concerned about the planet, sending automakers back to the drawing board to develop cars to meet their needs, industry guru Carlos Ghosn said Friday.

Booming car industry fuels climate crisis

The world’s auto manufacturers produced a record 67 million vehicles in 2006, putting more cars on the road than ever before. While global production grew 4 per cent last year, China increased its production by nearly 30 per cent, overtaking Germany to become the third largest producer.

Adams sees web of streetcars

The Portland Streetcar, long considered a downtown transit and redevelopment tool, could reach disparate parts of the city under a vision described on Friday by City Commissioner Sam Adams in a speech to the Portland City Club. The commissioner oversees the Portland Office of Transportation, which is developing a 30-year rail transit plan for the city, with implications for the metro area.

"What would Portland look like if we implemented solutions to global warming and peak oil?" Adams said. "It would look a lot like Portland circa 1920, a time when the main means of motion were your feet, streetcars and bikes."

Drivers, give cyclists a break

Cyclists should not ever feel afraid to go out on the road, nor should they come across as a threat or a nuisance to drivers. We are willing to share the road with cars, so why are cars so unwilling to share the road with us? I can't help but wonder what these angry, anti-bike drivers will do when peak oil hits and they'll be forced to consider other modes of transportation.

Gotta love Kunstler's Eyesore of the Month. Believe it or not, it's "the world's first sustainable parking garage."