Energy Blast – Aug 11, 2010

Environmentalist suggest that the effects of Russia’s wildfires could spread across the globe thanks to the phenomenon of brown clouds, amid fears that soot from the fires ‘may stoke global warming by hastening a thaw of Arctic ice.‘  Climate analysts are drawing a direct link between Russia’s heatwave and the monsoon floods in South Asia.  Three miners are refusing to leave the Abakan mine in Chernogorsk where they work, in a protest over unpaid wages.  The Kremlin is having a hard time creating a state mining giant out of Norilsk Nickel, currently the source of a struggle between RusAl and Interros Holding, who are trying to buy each other out.  77 damages lawsuits will be heard against BP in New Orleans, opening ‘what is likely to be years of litigation‘.  ArcelorMittal has made a re-acquisition of its $110 million Imperial Crown Trading stake, ensuring its participation in the iron ore Sishen proejct in South Africa.  ExxonMobil has lifted its force majeure on Nigerian oil exports.