Energy Blast – Dec 5, 2011

Are economic concerns threatening to overshadow the threat of climate change at global carbon emissions talks?  Given its considerable national carbon footprint, ‘what is the point of Russia’s participation in the climate negotiations in Durban?’ wonders this article.  China continues to militate for the extension of the Kyoto protocol.  According to Bloomberg, Royal Dutch Shell Plc plans to halt operations in Syria in compliance with the latest European Union sanctions against President Bashar al-Assad’s government.  A senior U.S. official has called the situation over Iran’s nuclear program increasingly worrying.  Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller has apparently told Vladimir Putin that the monopoly plans to increase exports to countries outside the Commonwealth of Independent States by 11% this year.  Are Lukoil’s ambitious plans to revive output growth through major and costly investments too risky for its shareholders liking?