Energy Blast – September 22, 2009

The new CEO of TNK-BP will apparently be chosen by the end of the year, energy mogul Viktor Vekselberg has announced.  The Telegraph examines Total chief Christophe de Margerie’s belief that oil prices may rocket back up to the $100 mark if further investment into oil exploration is not followed through.  According to Bloomberg, state-run monopoly Saudi Aramco says that it imagines little chance of pumping crude from idle fields in 2010 because demand for oil remains low.  Ukraine will offer ‘absolute and unconditional guarantees’ to restructure the debt of Naftogaz Ukrainy.  Greece is cooperating with Russia in the construction of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline and South Stream gas line, but with a predominant concern for its own interests, says Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, according to ITAR-TASS.   37 tenders for the Shtokman gas field have been announced and the Belgian branch of the PricewaterhouseCoopers has professed an interest in participation.  According to Reuters, Russia and Turkmenistan will soon hold another round of talks aimed at restarting transit of Turkmen gas to Russia.