Category: ‘ Energy Supply ’

 

Will Natural Gas Really Profit from the Death of U.S. Coal?

Today, in its Energy Source blog, the Financial Times looked at the possibility of a broad switch from coal plants to natural gas power plants.  It cites Bernstein Research as predicting that this shift will come despite uncertai...

More Uncertainty Affects Nigeria Outlook

The Financial Times reported this week that the outgoing Africa chief of Royal Dutch Shell issued a stinging public criticism of the Nigerian government over proposed legislation that could raise royalties from 1-2 percent to more...

New Report Adds Fodder to Peak Oil Debate

Since the 1950s, when M. King Hubbert correctly predicted a 1970s peak in U.S. oil production, the “peak oil” debate has roiled industry and policy groups as different stakeholders try to prove that either we are rapidly runni...

Boosting biofuels; bothering enviros

Steven Mufson has a good piece in today's WaPo (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/03/AR2010020303804.html?sub=AR) that nicely summarizes the policy debate on mandates for increased biofuels use in the tr...

A Nuclear Renaissance

Later today, we expect to learn that the President’s FY 2011 budget will include $54 billion in loan guarantees for the construction of new nuclear power plants. This is a critical step forward to the revitalization of the nucle...

Common Sense Required in Kazakhstan Dispute

The Financial Times reported yesterday that Kazakhstan is threatening to extract higher taxes from western oil majors.  Contracts on the country’s three largest oil projects (led by ChevronTexaco, BG/Eni and Eni respectively) w...

Is Oil Overvalued?

This morning WTI crude traded at above $80 per barrel.  A year ago they traded closer to $40 per barrel.  The OECD oil demand projection is set to fall by 4.3% (-2.0 mb/d) year-on-year in 2009 and remain flat in 2010.  Notably,...

Political Unrest Scaring Away Investment

For many parts of the world, 2009 has been a year of decline.  We need 2010 to be a year of recovery and renewal.  This process starts with sound investment strategies for long-term growth.  In the case of oil, the outlook is g...

Weekly Political Roundup: ‘Tis The Season

In an effort to cobble together 60 votes on energy and climate legislation before the legislative session’s clock strikes midnight, ‘tripartisan’ Sens. John Kerry (D-MA), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Joe Lieberman (I-CT) relea...

Six Years Out

Liberating Iraq from the politically repressive and economically backwards regime of Saddam Hussein ought at this point to at least have liberated a few of the 40 billion barrels of oil known to be lying just underneath Kurdistan....