Energy Blast – Nov 17, 2010

Russia has made it into the top ten of a British consultancy’s index on greenhouse gas emissions, but trails well behind UAE, Australia and the United States.  According to Gazprom chief Alexander Medvedev, falling demand saw European countries pay for 5 billion cubic meters of unused gas this year under take-or-pay clauses; he forecasts that gas sales will return to their pre-crisis levels by 2012.  Russia’s independent gas producer Novatek will pay Gazprombank $900 million to buy Sibneftgaz.  The New York Times has an in-depth piece about the future of the world’s energy supply, offering a rosy outlook on healthy oil and gas supplies in coming decades.  French energy giants EDF and Areva are planning to construct four new nuclear power stations in the UK by 2025.