Will oil exports cut your energy bill?

As U.S. oil production soars, momentum appears to be building toward lifting the U.S. ban on exporting crude. But a debate over the economics of the issue—namely, whether adding to global supply will result in lower oil and gas prices—remains a sticking point. On the pro-side of the argument, oil producers and free-market champions are […]

90% Of Gazprom Clients Have “De-Dollarized”, Will Transact In Euro & Renminbi

Following Obama and Putin’s “caught on tape” meeting Vine’d by the French President, we can’t help but wonder if the Russian leaders comments were something akin to “this is not over yet.” With “De-Dollarization” efforts already broadly under discussion, ITAR-TASS reports that Gazprom had signed additional agreements for clients to switch from dollars to euros […]

Tech Talk – what the EPA Plan neglects

One of the problems, I suspect, with predictions of future energy use and production is that physical reality can become entangled in the politics of the day. Thus news that tends to negate the optimistic views of future American oil and natural gas production is subsumed by the need to keep the level of those […]

China president vows to limit population growth of largest cities

Chinese President Xi Jinping today promised to impose strict limits on population growth in the country’s largest cities, state media reported, as authorities seek to push migration towards smaller urban centres. Decades of rapid urbanisation in China have seen the proportion of its urban population swell to more than 50 per cent, creating massive conurbations […]

Russia and Europe: “Can’t Live With ‘Em, Can’t Live Without ‘Em”

Europe’s natural gas relations with Russia are kind of like an old marriage that’s hit a rough patch, but in reality the two sides can’t live without each other: Europe needs the gas supplies and Russia needs the income from selling them. But that doesn’t mean that Brussels has not been publicly speaking about diversifying […]

The oil mistake

Oil may be the most sought-after resource in the world, but it’s no secret that it can also be a curse. Political scientists have long observed that the oil industry concentrates power in the hands of the few. Governments that rely on oil sales, rather than taxes, are less democratic and quicker to quash dissent. […]

US Strategic Gasoline Reserve: Solution or Band-Aid?

The new Northeast Gasoline Reserve addresses some of the shortcomings of the current, 39-year-old federal emergency crude oil reserve, or SPR. Whether or not the DOE considered other options, the upcoming Quadrennial Energy Review provides an ideal opportunity to rethink our strategic energy stockpiles. The recent announcement that the US Department of Energy (DOE) would establish a […]

Are China And Russia Moving Toward A Formal Alliance?

During Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to China last week, China and Russia signed a huge natural gas deal that is worth about $400 billion. The natural gas deal is a win-win for China and Russia, as China secures a long-term (30 years) provision of natural gas from Russia and Russia can reduce its dependence […]

Peak Oil And National Security

The discussion of energy politics in the US is now dominated by two competing paradigms. One is promoted by the Bush Administration and its corporate allies; the other by a wide assortment of liberal and left-wing NGOs and analysts (and occasionally by corporate supporters of the “Gore-wing” of the Democratic Party including, at times, John […]

Is A Russia-Japan Natural Gas Pipeline Next?

A group of Japanese lawmakers are interested in pursuing a $5.9 billion natural gas pipeline project with Russia. Following Russia’s historic $400 billion natural gas supply deal with China last week, Japanese lawmakers are looking to revive efforts to tap into Russian natural gas supplies themselves. A Bloomberg report shows that a group of 33 lawmakers in Japan are […]

Tanker with piped Iraqi Kurdish oil U-turns away from US

A crude oil tanker at the center of a dispute between Iraqi Kurdistan and Baghdad has reversed course from its route towards the United States, ship-tracking data showed on Friday, indicating that the shipper may not have a buyer. The United Leadership oil tanker has become a symbol of a wider conflict between Baghdad and […]

Mexican Energy Reform Seeks to Reverse Decline in Oil Production

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration In late 2013, Mexico’s congress approved historic legislation that altered the 1938 ban on private sector participation in the Mexican energy sector. These reforms, that end the 75-year monopoly of Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) and allow for greater foreign investment, are the first to include constitutional change, and promise to address […]

Yergin: Lifting Ban On Crude Oil Exports Would Boost US Economy

Ending the four-decade ban on U.S. crude oil exports would lower gasoline prices, create jobs and boost government revenues, according to a study by the energy arm of IHS, a global consulting firm. STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: NPR’s Business News starts with something a little crude. A new study is recommending the United States end its […]

EU wants to avoid energy ‘blackmail’

“Concrete actions” from members of the European Union to diversify the gas market is the only way forward, the energy commissioner said Wednesday. European Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger said EU member states need to develop stronger partnerships in the energy sphere in order to avoid falling victim to “political and commercial blackmail.” Russia supplies about […]

Tech Talk – China, Russia and East Siberian natural gas

The recent agreement between Russia and China for the sale of some 38 billion cu m of natural gas a year for 30 years, at a reported price of $400 billion ends a long-going negotiation between the two countries over the price of that supply. (Which works out at roughly $10 a thousand cubic feet, […]

Why War Is Inevitable

Memorial Day is being turned into a celebration of war Memorial Day is when we commemorate our war dead. Like the Fourth of July, Memorial Day is being turned into a celebration of war. Those who lose family members and dear friends to war don’t want the deaths to have been in vain. Consequently, wars […]

Russia’s Rise To Global Power

Western propaganda about events in Ukraine has two main purposes. One is to cover up, or to distract from, Washington’s role in overthrowing the elected democratic government of Ukraine. The other is to demonize Russia. The truth is known, but truth is not a part of the Western TV and print media. The intercepted telephone […]

UK to hush fracking victims with $1.35mn as vast new reserves uncovered

The UK government will attempt to buy off communities by increasing compensation for fracking operations after announcing plans to deny them the use of trespass laws. This comes just as several more billion barrels of oil were found in southern England. Ministers will propose that 800,000 pounds (US$1,350,000) on average will be added on top […]

Who Needs The United States? Not Russia And China

Russia and China have just signed what is being called “the gas deal of the century”, and the two countries are discussing moving away from the U.S. dollar and using their own currencies to trade with one another. This has huge implications for the future of the U.S. economy, but the mainstream media in the […]

Are US-China Relations Broken Beyond Repair?

Eurasia Group’s Ian Bremmer discusses U.S.-China relations turning icy over the recent cyber-spying charges with Trish Regan on Bloomberg Television’s “Street Smart.”

Russia-China Natural Gas Pipeline & the Future of Energy

Russian and China have come to an agreement, signing off to allow OAO Gazprom , a Russian state-run gas corporation, to have a $55 billion investment to develop Siberian gas fields with the purpose of creating a pipeline. This contract was signed by Alexey Miller, CEO of Gazprom and Zhou Jiping, chairman of National Petroleum […]

Canada moves to put toughter limits on dangerous oil trains

Credit: Jason Cohn/Reuters Emergency personnel examine the wreckage of a train derailment near Vandergrift, Pennsylvania, February 13, 2014. The 120-car Norfolk Southern Corp train carrying heavy Canadian crude oil derailed and spilled in western Pennsylvania.  In Lynchburg, Virginia, on April 30, a train carrying crude oil derailed, and some of the rail cars exploded into […]

Export Delusions: Why the rush to export natural gas is a fool’s errand

Click the thumbnails to view slideshow. © J Henry Fair, flights provided by LightHawk On a sweltering day in May last year I sat dumbfounded at a US Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee meeting. Pat Outtrim, VP of Cheniere Energy, was arguing for fast-tracking approval of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) exports because it would benefit […]

China and Russia sign gas deal

China and Russia signed an eleventh hour agreement to import natural gas from Russia’s Gazprom during a state visit by President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday following strenuous Russian efforts to secure what has been portrayed as a key test of closer Sino-Russian ties.  As Moscow’s relations with the west have deteriorated over the crisis in […]

China Signs Non-Dollar Settlement Deal With Russia’s Largest Bank

Slowly – but surely – the USD’s hegemony is being chipped away whether by foreign policy faux pas, crossed red-lines, or economic fragility. However, on Day 1 of Vladimir Putin’s trip to China it is clear that the two nations are as close as ever. VTB – among Russia’s largest banks – has signed a […]

Applying Brainpower to Address the Global Sustainability Crisis

The world faces an unprecedented global sustainability crisis. It is caused by climate change, the stress on the planet’s ecosystems by developed economies, and the drive for economic growth in the developing world. While some choose to believe that the scientific analyses detailing the threats to our planet are inaccurate, common sense tells me that […]

Population Dynamics and Sustainable Development

Tatyana Haplichnik will present population trends and policies in the UNECE region at this international workshop. Organized by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), this International Workshop entitled “Population dynamics and sustainable development in CIS countries” will take place at the Parliamentary Centre of CIS Inter-Parliamentarian Assembly in St. Petersburg, Russia on 21 May 2014. The purpose […]

Global warming research suppressed due to intolerance of scepticism

A professor claims his paper questioning the speed of climate change was deliberately rejected for publication due to intolerance of views seen as “sceptical” A climate change researcher has claimed that scientists are confusing their role as impartial observers with green activism after his paper challenging predictions about the speed of global warming was rejected […]

Secret Trade Memo Calling For More Fracking and Drilling

The European Union is pressing the Obama administration to expand U.S. fracking, offshore oil drilling and natural gas exploration under the terms of a secret negotiation text obtained by The Huffington Post. The controversial document is an early draft of energy policies that EU negotiators hope to see adopted under the Transatlantic Trade and Investment […]

Russia’s “Holy Grail” Gas Deal With China Now “Only One Digit Away”

We have previously profiled the “holy grail” gas deal between Russia and China on several occasions, and noted last week how it is expected to be signed this week – pending some final price negotiations. It appears that was spot on as Reuters reports, Russian state-run Gazprom said it was still “one digit” away from finalising a 30-year gas […]

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