Energy Blast – Nov 18, 2011

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich says that officials are still in negotiations with Russia over gas price and supply.  Lukoil has announced plans to partner up with Petrovietnam on exploration both and home and abroad.  Tatneft has won six years’ worth of tax breaks, which will amount to a total of $1.2 billion.  Turkmenistan’s state firm Turkmengaz is in talks with international companies over the construction of a gas pipeline to Europe that would bypass Russia.  ‘Changbei is the most visible playing field for a tricky high-stakes game Shell has entered into with the Chinese behemoth [PetroChina].’  Brazilian regulators are investigating Chevron over an oil spill off the coast of Rio de Janeiro.  Gazprom is moving into Bulgaria, purchasing a number of small fuel stations in the country.  The company is also in talks with KazMunaiGaz over joint development of fields in the Caspian sea.  ‘The Ouarzazate solar complex, south-east of Marrakesh, will cover an area the size of several football fields, and have a capacity of 500 megawatts when completed, enough to power around 90,000 homes.’