China Drought Underlines Hydropower Reliance Risks

A major drought has squeezed electricity output at big dams across southwest China, highlighting the risks of Beijing’s massive hydropower expansion plans on coal and oil markets in a warmer, drier world. Ships are stranded, millions are short on drinking water, and power supplies to big consumers in several Chinese provinces have been cut back, […]

Germany attacks green energy scheme

Plans for a European system for trading renewable energy came under attack from Germany on Thursday, just days before Brussels unveils proposals to fight climate change. Sigmar Gabriel, the environment minister, hit out at the scheme, which aims to boost green energy, arguing that it would “endanger” his country’s “successful” approach to promoting solar and […]

Biodiesel uncertainty slows German rapeseed trade

Uncertainty about the future of Germany’s huge biodiesel industry slowed trade in the country’s rapeseed market this week, traders said on Thursday. “The biodiesel industry has been the largest consumer of rapeseed in Germany for the past two years or so but it is in a crisis and no one really knows what is going […]

Overpopulation and peak oil: The perfect storm

For a variety of reasons, humans usually don’t react to problems until they become crises. All these crises are semi-connected, where one will trigger one or more of the others. However, there are two crises marching toward us now, shoulder-to-shoulder, that will trigger every other, both large and small. At best, they will end our […]

President’s Comment Hints At Peak Oil

In a recent interview with ABC News, George W. Bush was asked about getting tougher with Saudi Arabia about the high price of oil. Our President said the following, ‘If they don’t have a lot of additional oil to put on the market, it is hard to ask somebody to do something they may not […]

Iraq: Oil fields hit by fuel shortage

BAGHDAD: The halt of Turkish exports of electricity to Iraq and a lack of fuel for power stations is to blame for the blackouts hitting Iraq’s northern oil fields, the Electricity Ministry said yesterday. The power cuts have forced Iraq to stop pumping crude oil along its northern pipeline to Turkey and knocked out its […]

World Oil Demand Up, Says IEA; OPEC Unwilling to Ease the Pressure

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has revised the 2007 world oil demand, increasing the estimate by 150 kb/d to 85.8 mb/d. The IEA states that demand forecasts for 2008 are slightly higher, yet the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has refused to increase oil outputs despite pleas from IEA and world leaders. According to […]

Iran says western sanctions could hurt crude supply

Tehran: Iran’s Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) governor has warned that any western sanctions on investments in its energy sector could endanger security of supply and also hit consumer countries, an Iranian daily reported on Thursday. Hossein Kazempour Ardebili declined to say whether he believed the world’s fourth-largest crude producer should use oil as […]

Energy bill promises lower-cost biz loans

The Small Business Administration is charged with drafting new loan and training programs to help small businesses boost their energy efficiency – and this time, the SBA faces deadlines. WASHINGTON, D.C. (FORTUNE Small Business) — The Small Business Administration (SBA) and other government agencies are currently at work fleshing out plans for the new small-business […]

Drought-hit Brazil maxes out thermal energy

RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan 17 (Reuters) – Brazil is trying to offset falling water levels at drought-hit hydroelectric reservoirs with more thermoelectric generation, including using pricey fuel oil, but officials deny risks of energy shortages. Outgoing acting Mines and Energy Minister Nelson Hubner said on Thursday the Cuiaba gas-fired plant, which stopped working last September […]

Citgo cuts hundreds of Louisiana contractors – sources

HOUSTON, Jan 17 (Reuters) – Citgo Petroleum Corp cut more than 500 contract maintenance workers in late December at its Louisiana refinery as part of a program to increase returns to corporate parent Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA, according to sources familiar with the company’s refinery operations. Between 500 and 700 contractors were let go […]

CERA v. peak oil

…CERA, as is obvious, is not a peak oil preacher. It sees world oil production easily exceeding 100 million barrels a day within a decade, keeping up with demand and more. In terms of any peak in production, CERA envisions an Mr. Bakhtiari was a senior corporate planner for the National Iranian Oil Co. in […]

Energy Tribune Speaks With Dave Pursell

Dave Pursell is a managing director and head of macro research at Tudor Pickering Holt and Company, a Houston-based energy investment and merchant-banking firm. Pursell spent eight years at S.A. Holditch and Associates (now part of Schlumberger) and did a stint for Arco Alaska, where he helped manage field engineering and operations. Pursell holds B.S. […]

Ukraine, Gazprom hold gas talks as fears mount

MOSCOW, Jan 17 (Reuters) Ukraine’s energy executives today met the chief of Russian gas export monopoly Gazprom as Ukraine’s new government seeks to revise the terms of gas agreements with Moscow amid mounting debt. Russia, which suplies one quarter of Europe’s gas needs, ships four-fifths of its exports to Europe via Ukraine. Europe closely watches […]

Aramco Chief Debunks Peak Oil

“We have grossly underestimated mankind Jum

James Howard Kunstler on the human habitat

Author James Howard Kunstler talks with Duncan Crary of the Institute for Humanist Studies about the tragedy/comedy of suburban sprawl, what makes a successful town, and the fantasy of alternative fuels. Kunstler also reads passages from his book, The Geography of Nowhere. Audio and transcript provided by Duncan Crary. From The Humanist Network News Audio […]

China and India’s pressing energy crunch

The warm welcome given by Chinese and Indian diplomats to the recent agreement by the two countries to strengthen economic, military and business links did not specifically mention one key issue – access to energy supplies. By 2030, China will be importing the same amount of oil as US currently imports daily. And India’s daily […]

Pennsylvania unconventional NG reservoir to dramatically increase US Production

Natural gas distributed throughout the Marcellus black shale in northern Appalachia could conservatively boost proven U.S. reserves by trillions of cubic feet if gas production companies employ horizontal drilling techniques, according to a Penn State and State University of New York, Fredonia, team. “The value of this science could increment the net worth of U.S. […]

Hybrid school buses hit the road

AMES, Iowa — You’ve got to be careful with the accelerator because hybrid school buses like to go. Dan Taghon, the director of transportation for the Sigourney Community School District in southeast Iowa, said his district’s new hybrid bus has been running routes since Jan. 3. And Taghon, who drives the bus on one of […]

Oil Price Rise – Timing Benchmarks Delineate Our Likely Advance to the Oil Peak

Back in 2001, I set out some timing benchmarks for energy developments that I saw coming towards us ( Some 12 out of the top 30 non-OPEC countries have already recorded their peak production of oil. They comprise together some 42% of total non-OPEC output today. China, with approximately 9% of the volume of the […]

C-Realm Podcast: Cui Bono

In this episode, KMO concludes his conversation with James H. Kunstler, author of the Long Emergency: Surviving the Converging Catastrophes of the 21st Century. Later, we hear from Kathy McMahon, founder of PeakOilBlues.com about the range of psychological reactions which commonly manifest themselves in people who come to appreciate the implications of peak oil. C-Realm […]

Warming Climate Accelerated Greenland’s Thaw, Scientists Report

Jan. 16 (Bloomberg) — Climate change led to accelerated melting of Greenland’s ice sheet during the past half-century, scientists said in a study that adds to evidence suggesting sea levels will rise faster than expected. Global warming has led to a “significant increase” in Greenland summer warmth and ice sheet melt and runoff since 1990, […]

No Evidence of Precipitous Fall on Horizon for World Oil Production

Global 4.5% Decline Rate Means No Near-Term Peak: CERA/IHS Study CAMBRIDGE, Mass. “Some of the more gloomy, pessimistic ‘peak oil’ views about the future of oil supplies that are current today result from an assumption of high decline rates,” said CERA Oil Industry Activity Director Peter M. Jackson, author of the Finding the Critical Numbers […]

Oil profits could spark some backlash

HOUSTON – Historic oil prices and $3-a-gallon gasoline have been contributing to fears of a recession, but they’ve yet to cause the hue and cry that some might expect. Americans may simply be growing more accustomed to high fuel costs, analysts say. All that may change beginning Friday, when oilfield services giant Schlumberger Ltd. kicks […]

UAE about to start building green city in desert

DUBAI, Jan 17 (Reuters) – The United Arab Emirates plans to start building a multi-billion-dollar green city in the desert in the first quarter of this year, as the oil producer looks to become a pioneer of alternative energy. The zero-carbon, zero waste city — actually a town of up to 15,000 residents — is […]

The Peak Oil Crisis: We Are Starting To Dim

While waiting to see how the contest between a demand-killing recession and shrinking oil stockpiles plays out, it might be worthwhile to spend a little time reviewing the world Although it has received scant coverage in the U.S. media, in many parts of the world, the electric grids are shutting down for long periods each […]

Analysis: Iraq oil flow actually lower

New reports on Iraq oil production find it flat, possibly decreasing, dampening expectations the sector was steadily advancing in the final months of 2007. The needs of Iraq’s oil sector to continue and expand are not new. But the inability to exact levels of oil flow — particularly the exports that bring in the tens […]

Pakistan: Warning of diesel crisis in March

ISLAMABAD, Jan 16: Oil companies have warned the government of a serious diesel supply crisis in March-April because of their inability to order fresh shipments. Sources said the ministries of petroleum and finance had been informed that the companies could not place tenders for diesel import because of cash problems. Tenders for March and April, […]

Residents speak out on proposed oil refinery

ELK POINT, S.D. (AP) — Some residents who took the podium at a public hearing here Wednesday night said a $10 billion oil refinery proposed for Union County could destroy the air, soil and water in an area known for its fertile, agricultural landscape. Others said it could be an economic boon for southeast South […]

Energy experts to discuss threats to future

You probably have heard more about climate change and energy supply issues in the last year than in the last 10. We have all noticed the increase in fuel prices and felt its effect on our budgets. This Friday you can get the latest information on climate change and energy, how they might affect communities […]

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