Mar 2008

Oil production is rising fast and was likely to have reached the country's new Opec quota last month – but the authorities had not agreed ceilings with the large operators by presstime. The quota problem threatens investment in the next wave of mega-projects

Proponents of biofuels in the transport sector have been forced on to the defensive by findings suggesting the environmental benefits may not be as great as previously suggested. But Western governments still believe the sector has a big future, writes Ian Lewis

The Egyptian government says it will pay more for gas produced from deep water. Will that trigger a new era of development in the country's offshore? Derek Brower reports

A competition for environmental leadership is emerging. One contender – willing to invest billion of dollars earned from oil and gas – is Abu Dhabi, writes Alex Forbes from the UAE

The shut-down of two nuclear plants has forced utilities to pay high prices for spot LNG cargoes. But with negligible indigenous energy resources, import-dependent Japan has little choice, writes Ian Lewis

Venezuela's national oil company, PdV, needs investment partners for its ambitious projects in the country's Orinoco heavy-oil belt. China's state-owned CNPC may be among them, writes Robert Cauclanis

Peak oil, human-rights controversy, nuclear power: Total has its own way of doing things, writes Derek Brower

The European Commission proclaims world leadership on fighting climate change and liberalising energy markets. But is anyone listening, asks Derek Brower?

As demand for renewable, clean energy grows, blade design is receiving greater attention as researchers attempt to improve efficiency and reduce costs, writes Anne Feltus

Wind energy is competitive, inexhaustible, free and clean; it reduces dependence on imported energy and can be ramped up fast. Wind has developed from being an alternative energy to a high-tech, competitive and extremely reliable source on par with oil and gas. By Peter W Kruse, vice-president, group communications, Vestas Wind Systems

Oil prices have set new highs at around $110 a barrel and are showing little sign of easing. On Tuesday, US light-crude futures reached a record high of $109.72/b; Brent futures, also breaking new ground, almost reached $106/b.

Another week, another record: crude reached new highs on Monday – $111.80 a barrel in the case of New York light oil futures for April delivery and $107.97/b in the case of May Brent.

While the world has been fretting about oil prices near $100 a barrel, what it should really be worried about is gas. Europe today and the US in the future are moving towards a staggering dependence on imported natural gas. By Nadejda Victor, Program on Energy and Sustainable Development, Stanford University

Will Dmitry Medvedev's ascendancy to the Russian presidency mark a shift in the country's energy policy? Derek Brower reports

Oil prices have this week eased by some $10 a barrel from last week's highs around the $110/b level, but appear to have found solid support at $100/b. And there is a greater chance of a move to the upside than to the downside.

WITH oil markets trading at record-breaking prices, all eyes are on Opec tomorrow as the group meets in Vienna to decide whether to keep its production quotas unchanged – or cut output in support of prices. Market sentiment appeared to accept that the cartel would roll over existing quotas, despite calls from consumers to release more oil onto the market.

GTL suits a world where transport-fuels demand is for high performance products with lower emissions – that is the world of today and tomorrow. By Malcolm Wells, communications manager, Sasol Chevron