Energy Blast – Jan 26, 2010

Russia’s Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin has apparently suggested returning to a tax on oil from East Siberian fields just two months after the government suspended the duty.  At a media briefing executives from TNK-BP have suggested that tensions have calmed between the Russian consortium and its BP counterparts, and commented on how 2009 was a particularly successful year for the venture.  With a rising interest in nuclear reactors, Bloomberg reports that a flurry of international mergers and acquisitions are predicted in the uranium market.  In order to resolve a dispute with EU regulators, Eni may sell the TAG pipeline responsible for gas transit from Russia through Austria to Italy, to Cassa Depositi e Prestiti Spa.  Contrary to earlier reports, Kazakhstan is apparently not negotiating to purchase a stake in the huge Karachaganak gas field operated by a consortium of Western energy majors.  According to Bloomberg, the Kazakh oil venture led by Chevron Corp., TengizChevroil LLP, intends to invest $15.2 billion to increase oil output at the country’s largest producing field from 2016.  Tatneft will start production at Tatarastan’s first new major refinery since the collapse of the Soviet Union in October.