Energy Blast – Aug 4, 2011

Bulgaria’s monopoly watchdog is investigating a local trading arm of LUKoil over suspected abuse of its dominant market position and possible cartel agreements.  Europe’s ‘military indecision’ about energy diversification will lead to increased dependence on Russian hydrocarbons, says Matthew Hulbert.  Russian Presidential aide Arkady Dvorkovich has indicated that the government may sell its entire Rosneft stake by 2017.  Engineering companies Hitachi and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries are in talks about a potential merger, a bid to save them from the fallout from the Fukushima disaster, which has impacted orders.  Royal Dutch Shell may have to pay out compensation of up to $410 million after admitting liability for two oil spills in Nigeria.