Energy & Oil

• Thursday, August 7th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Petrobras announces new light oil discovery off Rio

  

  Brazil's government managed oil and gas corporation Petrobras announced on Thursday a new discovery of light oil with an API grade of around 30 in the ultra deep Santos Basin off the Sao Paulo coast.

• Monday, August 4th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazil authorizes expansion of nuclear power program

  

  The Brazilian government has authorized the resumption of plans to expand the country's nuclear power program, basically a third power plant. Work on the Angra 3 reactor, near Rio de Janeiro, has been stalled for 22 years by a lack of money and political issues.

• Sunday, August 3rd 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  “Cool UN” initiative: dress causal and turn down air conditioning

  

  Critics who say the United Nations only churns out hot air will find even more of the stuff if they visit the UN New York headquarters this month. Under the Cool UN initiative, the air conditioning will be turned down and temperatures will rise several degrees.

• Saturday, August 2nd 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Venezuela to help Bolivia boost natural gas production

  Bolivia with the help of Venezuela unveiled a plan to increase the country's natural gas reserves to supply energy thirsty neighbors, Brazil and Argentina. Bolivia has 48.7 trillion cubic feet of proven and probable natural gas reserves, the second-largest deposits in South America after Venezuela.

• Saturday, August 2nd 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Spain and Chile plan largest wind farm in South America

  

  Chile and Spain will spend more than one billion US dollars to set up Latin America's largest wind farm in the South American country, according to the Spanish news agency EFE.

• Friday, August 1st 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Ecuador and Chile join to explore for gas in Guayaquil gulf

  

  Ecuador government owned petroleum corporation Petroecuador announced this week the creation of a joint company with Chile's counterpart, ENAP, to explore for natural gas in the Guayaquil gulf.

• Wednesday, July 30th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Oil exploration in Magallanes Region begins next month

  

  Several international oil companies awarded exploration blocks in Chile's extreme southern Magallanes region should begin oil and gas exploration in August, the government said on Tuesday.

• Wednesday, July 30th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Alternative energy: 12 wind turbines for Valparaiso

  

  Plans are underway in Chile to invest 47 million US dollars in a wind park at Punta Curaumilla in Region V's Laguna Verde. The project comprises of 12 wind turbines with a 2MW capacity each and seeks to light up 10,000 homes and businesses in the Valparaíso region.

• Tuesday, July 29th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  OPEC president predicts oil below 100 USD a barrel

  

  The price of crude sunk to below 121 US dollars a barrel, touching on its lowest point since May, in the wake of a strengthening dollar and the comments of OPEC president Chakib Khelil, who called current prices “abnormal” and predicted that the barrel price could sink below 100 dollars in the long term.

• Monday, July 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Chilean commuters take to bikes to keep fit and save

  

  Chilean bike manufacturers and promoting groups reported this week that bicycle sales increased 30% during the first six months of 2008 in Santiago. New lightweight and easily transportable aluminum bikes have much to do with this sharp increase in sales and bike use, as do increased petroleum prices and new bicycle cycle lanes