Russia and Venezuela begin further energy talks today, as a delegation including Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin arrives in Caracas. Sechin says that Russia will make its own rules on oil production, and Medvedev has proposed conducting oil and gas settlements in rubles. A new power plant in Tajikistan is aimed at alleviating some of the problems caused by energy shortages and harsh winters. Lukoil will finalize a $1.74 billion deal with Italy’s ERG today, sealing Italy’s position as one of Russia’s key energy collaborators. Russia and Kyrgyzstan are working on a series of new energy bills. An arm of India’s Oil and Natural Gas Corporation may join up with Russia’s Sakhalin-3 project. Despite initial environmental objections, Canada may persuade Barack Obama’s government to join oil sands operations in Alberta.