Aug 2009

SOME NATIONAL oil companies (NOCs) might have lost influence since last year's oil-price collapse. Not China's, which are in the midst of a global expansion.

A short-term collapse in demand and long-term plans to draw on renewable supplies could transform the EU's energy sector. Are the worries about energy supply over? Derek Brower reports

Oil futures rose to almost $70/b towards the end of July, as a result of renewed hope that the world economy is on the mend

GLOBAL oil demand will rise by 1.7%, or 1.4m b/d, to 85.2m b/d next year, according to the IEA

With world leaders courting Syria again, the country needs to rethink its energy ambitions, writes James Gavin from Damascus

Uncertainty over the global economic recovery threatens years of volatility in markets for oil and gas, says the IEA. Alex Forbes writes

Gas buyers everywhere will benefit from the impending, global oversupply of natural gas. By Noel Tomnay and Stephen O'Rourke*

Small-scale LNG projects will enable gas to reach stranded markets, helping reduce GHG emissions, writes Håkan Werner, vice-president business development LNG, IM Skaugen

World-class oil reserves have been established in Uganda's Lake Albert area. The problem now is exploiting them, Martin Quinlan writes

As governments across the world build more nuclear power stations, disposing of the old and dirty reactors is becoming big business, writes Conal Walsh

FOR ABERDEEN-based TSMarine, 2008 was a bumper year, writes Conal Walsh. The small offshore specialist turned over £74m ($121.5m) after chartering a vessel to decommission well-heads in the North Sea for BP, Tullow Oil and Perenco

The US' nuclear-power sector continues its revival, amid rising energy demand, and the need to cut greenhouse-gas emissions and energy imports, writes Anne Feltus

Russia's electricity-trading monopoly is making inroads into the power generation sector, raising doubts about the government's pledge to privatise the industry, writes Isabel Gorst

The UK considers itself as a leader in the fight against climate change. A raft of new plans might put substance behind the boast. Derek Brower reports

Rising domestic gas demand is putting potential LNG-export projects at risk, as the government applies pressure to supply the local market, writes Ian Lewis

PETRONAS' agreement to buy liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Australia puts Malaysia in the unusual position of preparing to import gas, while remaining one of the world's biggest LNG exporters

UNLIKE Western governments, which have tightened sanctions against Myanmar (Burma), China has provided growing political and economic support to the military government in Rangoon, writes Ian Lewis

Was Chesapeake's meteoric success a flash in the pan, or is CEO Aubrey McClendon worth $112.5m a year? NJ Watson writes

Oil prices have risen for a fourth week in a row because of growing optimism about a global economic recovery, rising stock markets and a weaker dollar.

Oil prices rallied back over $70/b on 19 August after an unexpectedly large fall in US crude inventories the previous week