Energy Blast – Feb 13th, 2009

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said he was willing to consider incentives to reverse a further decline in oil output, which, the Energy Minister predicts, will drop by at least 8% through 2013.  Russia is taking steps to stake its claim in Arctic territory, with plans to station more researchers and improved icebreaker ships in the region.  Gazprom expects to raise $2.55 billion this year, and foresees no delays in projects it has already publicly announced.  Russian delegates will travel to China next week in a bid to unlock a $25 billion loan that Moscow is seeking from Beijing as part of a bigger oil supply deal.