Energy Blast – July 4, 2011

Russian armed forces are planning to create two brigades to protect Arctic resourcesfirmly and consistently‘.  Mongolia’s Tavan Tolgoi coking coal deposit, thought to be the world’s largest, will be jointly developed by the Sino-Japanese Peabody Energy venture and a Russian consortium.  India may ban nuclear reactor purchases from countries that refuse to sell it nuclear technology.  Maxim Barsky, the deputy CEO of TNK-BP has called for independent management at the joint venture to protect international growth plans.  The FT profiles Barsky, explaining that his decision about management is based on having just witnessed a grueling 18 months for the company.  The Washington Post looks at the volatility of the oil price and its various effects.  Russia’s oil production fell last month, but still remains above the 10 million bpd stipulated by Vladimir Putin.  In a move towards a joint venture with Europe and Russia, Ukraine’s parliament will back a bill to allow privatization of its Europe-bound gas pipelines.