English Edition

BP Slammed By Norway Regulator For Valhall Fire

BP Slammed By Norway Regulator For Valhall Fire

BP PLC (BP.LN) has been ordered to take immediate steps to address a number of "serious breaches" of regulations in connection with a fire on its Valhall platform last year, Norway's offshore safety authority said Thursday.

Kuwait, China Closer To $9 Bln Refinery, Petchem JV Deal

Kuwait, China Closer To $9 Bln Refinery, Petchem JV Deal

State-run Kuwait Petroleum Corp., or KPC, and China Petrochemical Corp. (SNP), or Sinopec, have moved closer to conclude an acceptable deal for implementing a $9 billion joint refinery and petrochemical project in China, state-run Kuwait News Agency, or Kuna, reports Thursday citing an executive.

Brazil Electricity Use To Grow 4.5% A Year Through 2021 -EPE

Brazil Electricity Use To Grow 4.5% A Year Through 2021 -EPE

Brazil's electricity consumption will expand by an average of 4.5% per year through 2021 as the country continues its pattern of sustained economic growth, the government-run National Energy Research Corporation, or EPE, said Wednesday.

Iraq Delays Energy Bidding Round To April - Official

Iraq Delays Energy Bidding Round To April - Official

Iraq has postponed by a month its fourth oil-and-gas bidding round, to April 11-12, when it will auction 12 promising exploration blocks to international companies, a senior Oil Ministry official said Wednesday.

EDF CFO: Investment Plans Unchanged From July 2011

EDF CFO: Investment Plans Unchanged From July 2011

French state-controlled power giant Electricite de France SA's (EDF.FR) initial investment plans remain unchanged, its Chief Financial Officer Thomas Piquemal said Wednesday, despite it facing extra costs from additional measures required by France's nuclear safety watchdog.

Saudi Aramco Cuts Oil Prices For Asia, Europe In Feb

Saudi Aramco Cuts Oil Prices For Asia, Europe In Feb

State-owned Saudi Arabian Oil Co., or Aramco, Wednesday cut most of its official selling prices for February term supply of crude oil, in line with traders' expectations.

EU Agrees In Principle On Oil Embargo On Iran - EU Diplomats

EU Agrees In Principle On Oil Embargo On Iran - EU Diplomats

European Union member states are agreed in principle to press ahead with an oil embargo on Iran but there are significant differences still over details of the plan, including the timing for implementing the plan, EU diplomats said Wednesday.

Israel: Electricity Rates to Rise 9% in February

Israel: Electricity Rates to Rise 9% in February

Electricity rates will rise by nearly 9% in February, under a deal reached between Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) CEO Eli Glickman and Ministry of Finance officials today. The Public Utilities Authority (Electricity) still has to approve the rate hike.

SSE Now Has Over One Gigawatt Of Onshore Wind Farm Capacity

SSE Now Has Over One Gigawatt Of Onshore Wind Farm Capacity

SSE PLC (SSE.LN), the supplier of gas and electricity, Tuesday said that continuing progress in the construction of its large capital projects means that SSE now has over one gigawatt or one thousand megawatts of onshore wind farm capacity in operation for the first time.

Belgiums Oldest Nuclear Reactors Can Run To 2025 - GDF Suez

Belgium's Oldest Nuclear Reactors Can Run To 2025 - GDF Suez

Belgium's oldest nuclear reactors can operate safely until 2025, after some improvement and upgrades are undertaken, GDF Suez (GSZ.FR), the French utility that owns the plants, said in a report to the country's nuclear regulator.

French Energy Min: To Meet Jan.9 With French Nuclear Operators

French Energy Min: To Meet Jan.9 With French Nuclear Operators

French energy minister Eric Besson will meet Jan. 9 with the heads of French nuclear groups to discuss how to implement the additional safety measures recommended by France's nuclear safety watchdog Autorite de Surete Nucleaire Tuesday, his office said.

Total Signs $2.3 Billion Shale Deal With Chesapeake

Total Signs $2.3 Billion Shale Deal With Chesapeake

Oil major Total SA signed a $2.3 billion deal with Chesapeake Energy Corp and EnerVest, continuing a trend of European and Asian oil and gas companies buying into U.S. shale plays.

Saudi Arabia Expects Budget Surplus in 2012

Saudi Arabia Expects Budget Surplus in 2012

Saudi Arabia forecasts a budget surplus of 12bn Saudi riyals ($3.2bn) for the next fiscal year, despite announcing record government spending of 690bn riyals.

Syria Activists Heap Criticism On Arab Monitors

Syria Activists Heap Criticism On Arab Monitors

Activists piled pressure Monday on Arab monitors to do more to prevent Syrian forces pursuing their brutal crackdown against pro-democracy protesters, amid fresh criticism of the observer mission. The Arab League insisted however it wouldn't back down from the operation, which Damascus accepted after weeks of stalling, and said that a new batch of monitors would head to Syria Thursday to join 66 already there