Energy & Oil

• Thursday, March 8th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Bachelet's Chile (until 2010), will not have nuclear power

  Six days after Chile's government announced a committee to investigate the feasibility of nuclear power, Mining and Energy Minister Karen Poniachik said this week that no nuclear program would start during President Michelle Bachelet's term. The committee's study, costing 200.000 US dollars, will however go ahead.

• Tuesday, March 6th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Petrobras and Japan sign bio-fuels memorandum

  

  Brazil's government managed oil company Petrobras and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation signed Monday in Rio do Janeiro a memorandum of understanding on bio-fuels announced Monday, Petrobras.

• Tuesday, March 6th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Rockhopper Exploration plc: Placing to raise up to GBP1.32 million

  

  Rockhopper Exploration plc (the “Company”) is pleased to announce a placing (the “Placing”) of up to 3,588,700 new ordinary shares (the “Placing Shares”) at a subscription price of 37 pence each (the “Placing Price”) by Teather & Greenwood Limited with institutional and other investors to raise up to £1,328,000 (before expenses).

• Sunday, March 4th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Lula da Silva/Bush expected to sign biofuels agreement

  The world's two top ethanol producers, United States and Brazil, announced the creation of an international forum to help turn biofuels into a globally traded commodity, just days before the two countries are expected to sign a separate agreement promoting the industry across the Western Hemisphere.

• Thursday, March 1st 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  South Africa looking into windfall tax for mining industry

  

  Mining companies may be required to pay a windfall tax in South Africa if the recommendations of finance minister Trevor Manuel's task team are implemented, South African daily Business Day reported this week.

• Thursday, March 1st 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Petrobras acquires natural gas assets in south Argentina

  

  Petrobras increased its share in natural gas exploitation in the south of Argentina acquiring the assets of US ConocoPhillips, announced Thursday the company in Buenos Aires

• Wednesday, February 28th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile announces plans to research nuclear energy

  

  Energy Minister Karen Poniachik announced Tuesday that her ministry would begin technical studies into the potential use of nuclear energy in Chile. Facing criticism from both the governing Concertación coalition and opposition Alliance for delays in the government-mandated studies, Poniachik said the ministry would present a plan to assess the implementation of nuclear energy in March.

• Wednesday, February 28th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Venezuela takes control of foreign oil projects

  President Hugo Chavez's announced takeover of Venezuela's most promising oil-producing operations will likely increase strain on the country's heavily burdened state-run oil company and pressure production at the world's eighth-largest oil exporter.

• Tuesday, February 27th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Repsol looking for another shareholder for the YPF branch

  

  Repsol YPF chairman Antoni Brufau on announcing Tuesday the discovery in Libya of its largest ever oil field and lower profits in 2006, admitted that the company was looking for another shareholder for its Argentine branch YPF.

• Tuesday, February 27th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentine strikers cut gas supply to south Chile methanol plant

  

  Canadian company Methanex plant in Chile's southern region of Magallanes has seen natural gas supply fall 10% following an indefinite strike from oil and gas workers union in neighboring Argentina. Methanex is the world's leading producer or methanol.