
Falkland Oil and Gas Ltd (FOGL.L) said on Wednesday it conditionally raised 7.6 million pounds (11.8 million US dollars) to help fund capital expenditure on long-lead drilling equipment, and general and administrative costs through 2010 into 2011.

Paraguay’s chances of a better deal from Brazil regarding the Itaipu Hydroelectric dam surplus power and its price are seen as “difficult” particularly because Brazil is approaching an electoral year, according to Asuncion press reports from journalists who accompanied President Fernando Lugo in his visit to Brasilia.

Brazil and Paraguay failed to come to an agreement on proposed renegotiation of accords related to the Itaipu hydroelectric facility and are scheduled to meet again in early June, according to Paraguay’s Executive spokesperson Ruben Penayo.

Representatives of oil companies intending to drill in North and South basins around the Falkland Islands say they are, “…as confident as they can be in an exploration setting,” that they will be successful in their endeavour to recover oil in commercial quantities.

Visiting Paraguayan president Fernando Lugo and his counterpart host Brazil’s Lula da Silva ended Thursday evening their first private meeting with out any statements or having signed several bilateral agreements which were ready to be stamped.

State owned Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. PDVSA, will begin Friday taking over control of some oil-field services currently being provided by private firms, President Hugo Chávez said.

Brazil will increase the amount of natural gas it imports from Bolivia later this month to bring on stream several thermoelectric power plants that had been inactive, Brazilian government managed energy company Petrobras said.

Brazilian President Lula da Silva said that while his government will continue promoting the use of “clean” energy sources such as ethanol and bio-diesel, he wants government managed oil company Petrobras to press ahead in the search for additional crude.

Brazilian president Lula da Silva and the ministerial cabinet will consider Wednesday a “fair and viable” solution to differences with Paraguay regarding the energy from the world’s largest operational hydroelectric dam, Itaipú, announced in Brasilia Foreign Affairs minister Celso Amorim.

Six foreign companies have presented offers to explore a natural gas deposit off Uruguay's Atlantic coast, announced Uruguay’s government owned oil company Ancap, Administración Nacional de Combustibles, Alcohol y Portland