Water and oil don’t mix

Fears that the massive Ghawar oil field in Saudi Arabia may have passed its prime have been the stuff of speculation for many years. Ghawar has underpinned Saudi Arabia’s dominance of the oil market ever since it came on stream in 1951. With its ability to pump out some five million barrels per day on average, more than half of Saudi Aramco’s total of 9.1 million barrels per day, the slow death of Ghawar may help to ensure that the low oil prices of the 1980s are but a dream for the average consumer.

World's biggest underwater gas pipeline opens between Britain, Norway

U.K.: Nuclear closures threaten supply

The discovery of more cracks in boiler tubes forced British Energy to shut down two plants, Hunterston B in Scotland and Hinkley Point B in Gloucestershire. The company also disclosed for the first time that only one of its eight plants is currently operating at full output.

The closure of the ageing 30-year old plants and the extent of the supply cutbacks sent British Energy shares into free fall and raised renewed fears about winter supply shortages. It also dealt a further blow to Government hopes of selling its 65pc holding in the company.

American oil production in Russia problematical

Like Venezuela, Libya, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Mexico and even the United Kingdom, the Russian Federation is discouraging foreign oil and gas investments by taking a big tax bite of the profits.

Arab GDP crosses US$1 trillion for first time ever

Coal shortages hit Western Cape

The industries affected include brick-making, cement, steel, cotton, paper, wine and fruit and fish caning.

...The coal crisis comes in the wake of the recent blackouts as well as diesel and gas shortages. Taken together it appears that the Western Cape is facing an energy crisis.

EU plans tough laws on energy efficiency

World needs 20 times as many nuclear plants to avoid greenhouse catastrophe

The world needs 20 times more nuclear power plants to avert an environmental apocalypse that could kill billions of people due to global warming blamed on growing greenhouse gas emissions, a top nuclear advocate said Monday.

Lulled by cheap gas, candidates ignore looming energy crisis

Boom in U.S. coal plants poses big questions

DALLAS - A building boom that would add scores of new coal-fired power plants to the nation's power grid is creating a new dilemma for politicians, environmentalists and utility companies across the United States.

Should power companies be permitted to build new plants that pollute more but are reliable and less expensive? Or should regulators push utilities toward cleaner burning coal plants, even if it means they will cost more and are based on newer, yet still unproven, technology?

Oil Tax Campaign a Cash Guzzler for Both Sides: More than $107 million has been raised for and against Proposition 87, a state ballot record.

California joins Northeast global warming fight

The sugarcane that ate Tokyo: Japan brewer pursues 'Monster Cane' ethanol dream

It is three meters tall and productive even in poor soil, it holds up in droughts and typhoons, and it yields twice as many stems as most sugarcane. No wonder they call it "Monster Cane."

Cheaper oil not denting big oil's spending plans