Energy Blast – April 28, 2009

President Medvedev delayed without explanation his meeting with Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev in Moscow, implying relations remain frosty over the pipeline issue.  Russia’s electricity providers will install 65% less power than had been predicted before the crisis.  Conflicting views on Boguchansk; Rushydro has said it will cut construction costs at the site by 11% and pay out $22.5 million of debt with Rusal to the plant’s builders; Rusal has denied that a financial agreement has been reached.  According to ITAR-TASS, energy discussions have recommenced between the US and Russia, following a meeting between Eurasian energy envoy Richard Morningstar and Sergei Shmatko.  Reuters examines the imminent scrabble for the Arctic, despite the damage the region has undergone due to global warming.  The major greenhouse gas emitting nations have met in Washington to discuss ways of reducing emissions and creating the groundwork for a UN agreement.  In Skovorodino, Russia has begun construction of a crude oil pipeline to China, according to the Guardian.  Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has announced plans to pump 19.5 billion cubic meters of gas into underground reserves to ensure stability over the next year.