English Edition

E.U.s Biofuel Norms Flawed, Penalize Palm Oil -Executive

E.U.'s Biofuel Norms Flawed, Penalize Palm Oil -Executive

Flawed empirical calculations and wrong assumptions on greenhouse gas emissions make the European Union's renewable energy policy biased against non-European biofuel producers, including those of palm-based biodiesel, according to Gernot Pehnelt, director of independent research and consulting institute GlobEcon in Germany.

Russia Drops Charges Against Fugitive Oligarch

Russia Drops Charges Against Fugitive Oligarch

The Russian authorities Friday dropped charges of illegal business activity against fugitive oil tycoon Mikhail Gutseriyev, opening the door for the oligarch to return home from the U.K.

Pakistan Approves Privatization Of 3 State-Run Firms

Pakistan Approves Privatization Of 3 State-Run Firms

Pakistan Friday gave the go-ahead for the privatization of Jamshoro Power Company and two other state-run firms as the country looks to reduce its heavy debt burden.

Eni 1Q Net Profit Up 17%; Slight 2010 Output Lift

Eni 1Q Net Profit Up 17%; Slight 2010 Output Lift

Eni SpA (E), Italy's biggest oil and natural gas company by volume, Friday said first-quarter net profit climbed 17% on higher prices and production, and raised slightly its full-year forecast for output.

South Stream Gas Pipeline to Pass Through Romania

South Stream Gas Pipeline to Pass Through Romania

Romania will take part in the Russian-backed South Stream pipeline project, expected to pass through the European Union state's territory, Economy Minister Adriean Videanu was quoted as saying on Thursday.

New EU Wind Farms Held Back by Procedure

New EU Wind Farms Held Back by Procedure

The length of time wind farm developers must wait to receive building permits varies wildly from one EU country to another, jeopardising the bloc's chances of meeting its 2020 renewables goal, the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) said yesterday (22 April).

Rig Sinking Prompts Fears of Gulf Oil Spill, 11 Still Missing

Rig Sinking Prompts Fears of Gulf Oil Spill, 11 Still Missing

BP Plc, Transocean Ltd. and the U.S. Coast Guard confronted the possibility of a major oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico as hope faded for workers missing since an offshore drilling rig exploded on April 20 and sank yesterday.

Colombia Has No Plans To Join OPEC In Foreseeable Future-Official

Colombia Has No Plans To Join OPEC In Foreseeable Future-Official

Colombia, a small but growing oil producer, doesn't plan to join the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries in the foreseeable future, Armando Zamora, head of Colombia's Agencia Nacional de Hidrocarburas said Thursday.

Iraq Oil Flow To Turkey Halted On Pipeline Sabotage -Official

Iraq Oil Flow To Turkey Halted On Pipeline Sabotage -Official

A bomb blast has struck part of the Iraq-Turkey export pipeline near the restive city of Mosul in northern Iraq, cutting off supplies and the resumption of the flow could take few days, an Iraqi oil official said Thursday.

RWE CEO Sees Decision On Romania Nuclear Plant In 2011

RWE CEO Sees Decision On Romania Nuclear Plant In 2011

German utility RWE AG's (RWE.XE) chief executive said Thursday he expects a decision in 2011 on whether a nuclear power plant will be built in Cernavoda, southeastern Romania.

GDF Suez: Will Get Southern France Shale Gas Approval Soon

GDF Suez: Will Get Southern France Shale Gas Approval Soon

French power operator GDF Suez (GSZ.FR) is expected to receive approval to develop two shale gas fields in Southern France in "few weeks time," the group's senior vice-president for exploration and production, Didier Holleaux, said Thursday.

Kuwait Opens New Sabriya Oil Gathering Center To Boost Output

Kuwait Opens New Sabriya Oil Gathering Center To Boost Output

Kuwait Thursday opened a new gathering center at its Sabriya oilfield as part of the Gulf state's drive to boost its oil output to 4 million barrels a day by 2020. Oil Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah al-Sabah inaugurated the center at Kuwait's third-largest oilfield near the country's northern border with Iraq.

Ukraine-Russia Deal Part Of Kievs Tough Balancing Act - US

Ukraine-Russia Deal Part Of Kiev's Tough Balancing Act - US

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Thursday that Ukraine's landmark naval-base-for-gas deal with Russia was part of a delicate foreign policy "balancing act" for President Viktor Yanukovych.

Solar Industry Divided Over EU Toxic Substances Law

Solar Industry Divided Over EU Toxic Substances Law

Solar panel manufacturers are fighting for an exemption from EU legislation restricting the use of dangerous chemicals in electronic products. But some voices are calling for greater scrutiny of the industry, sparking a technology war between rival companies.