Energy Blast – March 30, 2009

The Kremlin plans to create a new military force to protect its energy interests in the disputed Arctic region.  Oil producer Surgutneftegaz has agreed to buy 21% of Hungarian refiner MOL from Austrian oil and gas company OMV for €1.4 billion.  Rusal denies that it has any plans to close production at its Bogoslovsky Aluminum Plant.  Reuters looks at greenhouse gas goals for major nations, with Russia conspicuously lacking one.  Sistema has agreed to pay $2.5 billion for control of the main oil producer and three refineries in Russia’s Bashkortostan region.  Protesters all over Russia’s Sverdlovsk region rallied over the weekend to demand the lowering of electricity and utility fees.  Gazprom-controlled Sakhalin Energy has sent Russia’s first cargo of liquefied natural gas to Japan.