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Sweden Refuses To Fast-track Baltic Gas Pipeline

Sweden Refuses To Fast-track Baltic Gas Pipeline

Sweden won't be hurried into giving its blessing to a Russian-German natural gas pipeline project under the Baltic Sea until environmental concerns have been fully addressed, a minister said Friday.

GDF Suez Deputy CEO:Co Will Apply To Handle A 3rd EPR

GDF Suez Deputy CEO:Co Will Apply To Handle A 3rd EPR

French power and utility company GDF Suez (GZS.FR) will apply to handle a potential third European pressurized reactor, or EPR, in France, Deputy Chief Executive Jean-Francois Cirelli said Friday in an interview with French television channel France 24.

Iran Min:Tehran Would Be Cooperative If US Amend Policy

Iran Min:Tehran Would Be Cooperative If US Amend Policy

Iran's foreign minister said Thursday that Tehran would be "cooperative" in response to changes in U.S. policy, following the revelation that U.S. President Barack Obama's team is drafting a landmark letter to the Islamic Republic aimed at thawing a three-decade freeze in relations, the Guardian reports Friday.

Gazprombank Buys Back $82M Of Outstanding Debt

Gazprombank Buys Back $82M Of Outstanding Debt

Russia's Gazprombank, the banking arm of gas monopoly OAO Gazprom (GAZP.RS), has bought-back $82 million of its outstanding debt at a discount to face value, deal manager Credit Suisse said Friday.

Cuba, Russia Presidents To Meet Ahead Of Trade

Cuba, Russia Presidents To Meet Ahead Of Trade

Cuban President Raul Castro was to meet his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev Thursday in a bid to revive Soviet-era ties as he paid the first visit to Moscow by a Cuban leader since the Cold War.

Iraq Refuses US Co Blackwater New Operating License

Iraq Refuses US Co Blackwater New Operating License

Iraq will not renew the operating license of U.S. security firm Blackwater Worldwide because of a 2007 incident involving its guards in which civilians were killed in Baghdad, an official said Thursday.

Azerbaijan Oil Fund Hits $11.2 Bln In 2008 On High Prices

Azerbaijan Oil Fund Hits $11.2 Bln In 2008 On High Prices

Assets in Azerbaijan's state oil fund rose more than fourfold in 2008 to 9 billion manat($11.2 billion) on the back of high oil prices, the fund's director, Shahmar Movsumov said Wednesday.

Kazakh Kazmunaigas EP 2008 Crude Output Up 12.4% On Year

Kazakh Kazmunaigas EP 2008 Crude Output Up 12.4% On Year

London-listed Kazakh oil and gas producer KazMunaiGas Exploration Production (RDGZ.KZ) said Thursday it produced 11.954 million metric tons, or 239,800 barrels a day, of crude oil in 2008.

EU To Launch Eastern Partnership At May Summit

EU To Launch Eastern Partnership At May Summit

European leaders will launch their "Eastern Partnership" to boost ties with six ex-Soviet republics at a Prague summit in May, a Czech European Union presidency source said Thursday.

EU Summit on Nabucco Gas Pipeline Begins in Budapest

EU Summit on Nabucco Gas Pipeline Begins in Budapest

"The Nabucco gas pipeline is a very important project and the Czech Republic will do its best in its completion," Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek whose country is currently holding EU presidency. According to him, not only Eastern-European countries but also EU as a whole is convinced in the necessity of Nabucco.

EU Proposes EUR5B Package To Promote Econ Recovery

EU Proposes EUR5B Package To Promote Econ Recovery

The European Commission Wednesday proposed spending EUR5 billion to help revive the European economy, including new funds for alternative energy, high-speed Internet and gas pipelines to diversify European supply away from Russia.

EU Ferrero-Waldner:EU Needs A Strong Energy Strategy

EU Ferrero-Waldner:EU Needs A Strong Energy Strategy

The recent natural gas dispute between Russia and Ukraine has proved the need for the development of a strong European Union energy strategy and the diversification of Europe's energy supply, said European Union Commissioner for External Relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner Wednesday.

Ukrainian Sea Ports 2008 Throughput Rose 6.8% On Year

Ukrainian Sea Ports' 2008 Throughput Rose 6.8% On Year

Ukraine's 19 state-owned sea ports handled 132.17 million metric tons of cargo in 2008, an increase of 6.8% compared with 2007, the transport and communications ministry reported Wednesday.

Verbund, Sabanci Buy Turkish Power Grid Co Baskent EDAS

Verbund, Sabanci Buy Turkish Power Grid Co Baskent EDAS

Austrian utility company Verbund AG (VER.VI) said Wednesday that it and Turkish partner Sabanci Energy Group, through their joint venture Enerjisa, have undersigned the purchase contract with the Turkish government for distribution grid company Baskent EDAS in Ankara.