Energy Blast – Feb 12th, 2009

The state will go ahead with previous plans to construct Russia’s largest hydropower plant in Evenk, despite protests from environmentalists and locals who believe the resulting reservoir would fundamentally alter the region’s ecosystem and possibly disturb underground nuclear test sites.  Russia and India have agreed, in deals totaling $700m, that Atomenergoprom will supply uranium pellets to Delhi.  The International Energy Agency cut its forecast again for global oil demand this year, but warned about a future supply crunch because of low investment levels: ‘We seem to be on a downward escalator we can’t get off of.’  Total says that oil firms must continue to invest to avoid a sharp rebound in oil prices.  On the two new satellites that will monitor greenhouse gases from space.  Bidding for lucrative contracts in Iraq will see fierce competition despite the security risks, says this report.