Argentina is estimated to hold the world’s 3rd largest shale gas reserves and during a recent visit there, Pope Francis was photographed holding anti-fracking T-shirts. The Pope is reportedly working on an encyclical letter to all Catholic Bishops that will address environmental issues, and perhaps controversial shale gas development technology. The short piece in Grist… Keep reading →
Continuing this week’s coverage of the ethanol blending battle raging in Washington, we’re bringing attention to a letter the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers recently penned to President Obama in support of the US EPA’s indication that it may partially waive the 2014 Renewable Fuel Standard over blending requirement concerns. The letter serves as one… Keep reading →
By Catherine Boyle The fallout from the failure of a high-profile international meeting over Iran’s nuclear ambitions could be most felt in the cost of oil. The Brent crude price of oil rose towards $106 a barrel in early trading Monday morning, following the conclusion of the weekend’s meeting. Any signs that Iran is coming into the… Keep reading →
The possibility of a rapprochement in nuclear talks between the US and Iran – though they did not produce a deal – had fueled a degree of oil market optimism about Iran’s reinstatement as a global oil supplier. But even if negotiations had proved successful, political and logistical hurdles would likely have stalled any significant return… Keep reading →
A recent report by consultancy IHS Cera takes aim at common arguments against development of Canadian oil sands, but acknowledges the need for continued – and improved – environmental monitoring and regulation. Groups opposed to construction of the Keystone XL pipeline frequently feature the following claims on their websites: that the pipeline will not enhance… Keep reading →
The battle over the Renewable Fuel Standard and how much ethanol should be blended into the US fuel system next year is heating up again, with trade groups exchanging punches and lawsuits being filed. The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers are involved in a war of words with the Renewable Fuels Association and the American… Keep reading →
In BBC News’ Ten Things We Didn’t Know Last Week, we discovered the following: A study has found that zinc oxide-based solar cells – which are less efficient than silicon-based cells – convert sunlight into electricity more efficiently when rock or pop music is being played, and while much of the debate about wind power’s effect on… Keep reading →
After repeated delays to the start-up of Kazakhstan’s giant Kashagan field, and not one, but two incidents that forced its shutdown in the first month that the field was on stream, some might call the project cursed. But the latest in the string of mishaps – a gas leak that has prompted an indefinite shutdown… Keep reading →
The equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane, typhoon Haiyan, aka Yolanda, barreled through the Philippines and is expected to make landfall in Vietnam Sunday. “The Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System, jointly run by the United Nations and the European Commission, said nearly 16 million people, including more than 12 million from the Philippines, were… Keep reading →
The development of unconventional oil resources outside the US frequently features in lists of events that could dramatically alter the global energy picture. But international development of unconventional resources of all kinds has been stymied by a range of above-ground factors, and EOG Resources does not expect their development to impact global markets for at… Keep reading →
