Energy Report

Friday, September 29, 2006

China tests nuclear-fusion reactor

China tests nuclear-fusion reactor
By Shai Oster
The Wall Street Journal Europe
29 Sep 2006

BEIJING—China announced the first successful test of an experimental thermonuclear-fusion reactor, aiming for a cleaner, more powerful form of nuclear energy that mimics the power of the sun. State media said Thursday that scientists at the Institute... read more...

Thursday, September 28, 2006

Venture capitalists ignite fight over oil tax

Venture capitalists ignite fight over oil tax
By George Anders And Rebecca Buckman
The Wall Street Journal Europe
28 Sep 2006

STILL SMARTING from California’s recent enactment of emissions caps, the oil industry is confronting another assault in the Golden State—this one bankrolled in part by Silicon Valley executives pushing to fund conservation and alternative-energy... read more...

Campaigners attack Shell’s charity arm over Sakhalin talks

Campaigners attack Shell’s charity arm over Sakhalin talks
Rob Evans and Terry Macalister
The Guardian
28 Sep 2006

An attempt by Shell to portray itself as a model of corporate social responsibility was undermined last night after Whitehall documents showed its charitable arm discussing a key commercial project with a British government minister. The multinational... read more...

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

E.On raises offer for Endesa

E.On raises offer for Endesa
By Keith Johnson
The Wall Street Journal Europe
27 Sep 2006

MADRID—German utility E.On AG late yesterday upped its cash bid for Spanish power company Endesa SA by 38% to OE35 ($44.65) a share, after Spanish builder Acciona SA swept in with a “dusk raid” Monday evening and bought 10% of Endesa at OE32 a... read more...

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Saudis plan to boost output by up to 1.5m barrels a day

Saudis plan to boost output by up to 1.5m barrels a day
by Rupert Steiner CITY EDITOR
The Business
24 Sep 2006

SAUDI Arabia, the world’s largest oil producer, is planning to boost future production capacity by 1.5m barrels a day to counter potential supply disruptions expected from Iran, Venezuela and Iraq. The Kingdom, which owns 25% of the world’s proven... read more...

Monday, September 25, 2006

At summit, Moscow lobbies for EADS role

At summit, Moscow lobbies for EADS role

The Wall Street Journal Europe
25 Sep 2006

ASSOCIATED PRESS RCompiegne, France USSIAN PRESIDENT Vladimir Putin trumpeted his country’s interest in Airbus’s parent and pledged to share more Russian natural-gas riches with European customers during a summit with his French and German... read more...

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Oil firms’ united front cracks

Oil firms’ united front cracks
By Steve LeVine in Dallas, Bhushan Bahree in New York and Gregory L. White in Moscow
The Wall Street Journal Europe
21 Sep 2006

Afreshround ofdemandsfor contractconcessions, andoutrightexpropriation, by oil-producing countries have brought down one of the most powerful negotiating tools used by major oil companies—their united front. The companies are divided into two camps:... read more...

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Russia tries to rein in foreign oil firms

Russia tries to rein in foreign oil firms
Terry Macalister and Michael Mainville Moscow
The Guardian
19 Sep 2006

Shell and BP were facing legal wrangles and upheaval in Russia last night, raising doubts about the involvement of foreign companies in the country’s oil and gas sector. Government approval for Shell’s $20bn Sakhalin project was withdrawn and... read more...

Monday, September 18, 2006

China nears choice for nuclear plants

China nears choice for nuclear plants
By Shai Oster
The Wall Street Journal Europe
18 Sep 2006

BEIJING—China will announce by year end which company has won a contract potentially valued at $8 billion to build four nuclearpower plants, a topU.S. energy official said. “They are getting very close to deciding which path they will go down,” U.S.... read more...

Friday, September 08, 2006

Npower raises prices for third time this year

Npower raises prices for third time this year
Miles Brignall
The Guardian
08 Sep 2006

The gas and electricity supplier npower yesterday became the first power company to announce three price rises in less than a year. The company said it was increasing gas bills by 17.2% and electricity prices by 9.9% for its six million domestic... read more...