Energy Blast – Nov 24, 2009

Turkey’s highest court has reversed the decision to have Atomstroyexport build its first nuclear power plant, due to allegations of unfairly high prices issued by the Russian company, and concerns about energy dependency.  Russia will give Belarus a 30-40% discount on natural gas prices, as compared with what its neighbors pay.  Japan’s Chubu Electric Power Co. has purchased at least 200,000 metric tons of coal from Russia’s Siberian Energy, in a bid to reduce reliance on Australian imports.  TNK-BP outlines the thinking behind some of its strategies, including branding and retail.  Gazprom has asked the government to intervene in a dispute over unexpectedly high custom duties could cost it $13.17 billion into 2010.  A Naftogaz delegation is in Moscow to sign new agreements with Gazprom that will exclude the possibility of fines for Ukraine.  India’s Reliance Industries has reopened the 900 gas stations it shut down when state firms were selling subsidized fuel.