Chinese and Canadian Chemists Create New Catalyst for Methanol Fuel Cells

Chemists led by Viola Birss at the University of Calgary have designed a relatively simple production process, using acetone as the solvent and ethylene glycol as the reducing agent, to create a methanol oxidation catalyst consisting of platinum, ruthenium and iridium (PtRuIr). The catalyst comprises PtRuIr nanoparticles (about 1nm in diameter) dispersed on the surface […]

EPA May Let Ethanol Plants Pollute More

In an attempt to increase domestic production of alternative fuel sources, the Bush administration has proposed allowing ethanol plants to send more hazardous air pollutants into the air. The Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday that it has proposed a rule that would raise the emissions threshold for corn milling plants that produce ethanol fuel, allowing […]

The Impact of the Abqaiq Attack on Saudi Energy Security

It is too early to know the full details of what actually took place at the Abqaiq oil facility in eastern Saudi Arabia, but early reports indicate that an attempted attack was foiled by Saudi security forces on February 24, 2006. The news caused oil prices to jump more than $2 a barrel…. In the […]

OPEC President: $60 ‘Fair Price’ for Oil

While tight markets and global tensions have pushed up prices, the president of OPEC said Wednesday there’s plenty of oil with the global surplus expected to grow at current production levels. The assessment by Nigerian Oil Minister Edmund Daukoru in an interview with The Associated Press provided an indication that the OPEC producers are likely […]

Kids build High efficiency sports biodiesel fueled car

A car that can go from zero to 60 in four seconds and get more than 50 miles to the gallon would be enough to pique any driver’s interest. So who do we have to thank for it. Ford? GM? Toyota? No “We have a number of high school dropouts,” he says. “We have a […]

Divers Work the Gulf Floor to Undo What Hurricanes Did

ABOARD M.S.V. BOTNICA, in the Gulf of Mexico off Louisiana, Feb. 22 The shortages, amounting to 6 percent of the country’s domestic production, have worsened a global picture of razor-thin margins of supply, playing a central part in keeping oil prices around $60 a barrel. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita destroyed or damaged 167 offshore platforms […]

Willits to Star in International Film: Town Plays Key Role in Localization Story

The End of Suburbia, a Canadian film documenting the expected demise of an oil-based, global economy, has sold more than 30,000 DVDs around the world and grossed more than $1 million. A sequel to that film, Escape from Suburbia, Beyond the American Dream, will place an emphasis on events in the small town of Willits, […]

Energy independence is a disaster in the making

It’s been a rallying cry since the 1970s — but it could doom the economy, the environment and our position in the world. LONDON – It may be one of the most dangerous phrases in the English language. It certainly is one of the most expensive. I speak of “energy independence,” a rallying cry since […]

Are the feds ignoring oil lease fraud?

Fewer audits of companies producing oil and gas on federal land has states, Indian tribes crying foul, newspaper reports. NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) – The federal government has cut back audits of energy companies that pay billions of dollars for leases to produce oil and gas on federal property, according to a published report. The New […]

Fuel prices plunge at end of season

Additives play roll in lower cost Everything must go. Perhaps it’s not that extreme, but it turns out even gasoline isn’t immune to the spectacle of end-of-the-season clearance sales, which is why pump prices have been falling in recent weeks. The average price for regular gas dropped 4.4 cents per gallon nationwide as of Feb. […]

Oil turmoils test Chinese buyers’ risk appetite

SINGAPORE/HONG KONG – Chinese oil firms may have snared large foreign assets at fair prices, fanning their reputation as non-aggressive buyers, but their investments are being tested by turmoil in some of the countries. Major delays in the projects sparked by attacks or violent protests could wipe hundreds of millions of dollars off the present […]

ANALYSIS – No Easing US Ethanol Import Duties as Demand Soars

WASHINGTON – US drivers may face higher pump prices this summer but Congress seems unlikely to lift import duties on much-needed ethanol to meet a domestic shortfall in the fuel additive due to opposition from US producers and farmers. US oil refineries will need more ethanol to mix with their gasoline as they stop using […]

Europe’s Utilities Stay Close To Home

A Wave Of Consolidation Has Swept The Sector, But To The Chagrin Of EU Officials, Players Are Mostly Hunting Targets Within Their National Borders Score two for economic nationalism, zero for European integration. That’s the clear message from the latest round of activity in Europe’s fast-consolidating energy sector. On Feb. 27, France announced a $39 […]

Tracking West

After their innovative wind energy proposals failed to generate excitement in Louisiana, local Sierra Club Chairman Harold Schoeffler and oil magnate Herman Schellstede are getting a welcome reception across the border. In February 2004, Schoeffler Cadillac co-owner Harold Schoeffler and New Iberia oilman Herman Schellstede announced their new joint venture, Wind Energy Systems Technology LLC. […]

Saudi eyes new phase of oilfield expansion

RIYADH – Saudi Arabia will decide soon whether to proceed with plans to raise capacity at its oilfields beyond the 2009 target of 12.5 million barrels per day (bpd), a Saudi oil adviser said. The kingdom is on track to add 2.3 million bpd by August 2009, around 800,000 of which will be used to […]

Americans Are Cautiously Open to Gas Tax Rise, Poll Shows

Americans are overwhelmingly opposed to a higher federal gasoline tax, but a significant number would go along with an increase if it reduced global warming or made the United States less dependent on foreign oil, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll. The nationwide telephone poll, conducted Wednesday through Sunday, suggested that a […]

Higher material costs hang over construction industry

NEW YORK So far, it doesn’t appear that higher prices have prompted the industry to put up fewer buildings. “I have not seen a project killed. I have just seen aspects of the scope of the project scaled back,” Drill said. But the higher costs promise to ripple through the nation’s economy because they will […]

Energy prospects of Kazakhstan

They are discussed not only in Kazakhstan, but also in England. The future of the Kazakhstani energy sector is worrying not only local experts and officials, but also Western politicians and experts. It is the first and main conclusion that can be drawn from the recent international conference “Kazakhstan Energy Strategy Development.” It was organised […]

Putin puts energy security at heart of G8 presidency

Putin will host U.S. President George W. Bush and other G8 leaders at a summit in his home town of St. Petersburg in July to crown Russia’s first stint chairing the rich nations’ group. Keen to underline Russia’s role as an energy superpower, Putin said in an article published on Wednesday that he wanted energy […]

Oil wars are coming to Africa

Now there’s China, apparently the new bogeyman when it comes to oil. Should we, as Africans, be rooting for the new kid on the block, someone who’s likely to give the big bad US a run for its money? We must remember that China refuses take a stand against Sudan on the Darfur issue because […]

Wait drags on for foreign access to Kuwait’s oil

International companies that have already been waiting around a decade for the opening up of Kuwait’s oil reserves will have to wait at least until the end of the year, a top oil official said on Tuesday. He stressed the urgency of bringing in foreign firms to help boost output at oilfields torched after the […]

CHINA ENERGY WATCH:Local Tanker Companies Fetch More Oil

When China’s biggest shipping company and its top refiner hammer out a new oil transport deal, it’s a sign the country is serious about gaining more control over its energy supply chain. ..China seems determined to consolidate its grip on as much of the oil and gas chain as possible, including buying up overseas production […]

Opec accuses Bush of threatening energy security

The Opec oil cartel on Tuesday hit back at President George W. Bush, criticising the US and other consuming countries for pursuing energy policies that threatened energy security and the global economy. Moving away from oil made it more difficult for producing countries to invest the billions of dollars needed to ensure enough output to […]

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