Energy Blast – April 15, 2010

Ukraine announced that it would get rid of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium – ‘enough to construct several nuclear weapons’ – although it would appear that by ‘getting rid of it‘, they mean ‘giving it to Russia‘.  Gazprom says an ‘abnormal‘ gap between spot fuel prices and long-term contracts is threatening long-term investments for new fields and pipelines, whilst analysts suggest that shale gas is hurting the company’s stock price.  The Federal Anti-Monopoly Service is seeking a cap on the number of gas stations that can be owned by a single oil company.  Analysts are debating the news that Essar Energy is planning a $2.5 billion IPO on the London Stock Exchange, saying the company could suffer from currency movements. KazMunaiGaz is mulling a bid to step into the big time, seeking to borrow up to $2 billion and considering a share sale within three years.  Production is down at Alliance Oil.