Energy & Oil

• Thursday, March 22nd 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Petrobras backs from criticism of Argentina's energy policy

  The Argentine government rejected this week calls from the head of Brazil's government owned oil company, Petrobras, for changes in energy pricing in Argentina, where gasoline and diesel prices have been virtually frozen for more than four years.

• Tuesday, March 20th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Bio-fuels top of US Treasury secretary agenda in Latam

  

  United States Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson arrived in Guatemala Monday vowing to back efforts to expand the benefits of free trade, combat poverty and promote bio-fuels such as ethanol.

• Monday, March 19th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  A natural gas OPEC, or an attempt to scare markets?

  Five of the world's leading producers of natural gas, Venezuela, Algiers, Qatar, Iran and Russia will be launching the “gas OPEC” during the next energy conference scheduled for April 9 in Doha according to a report from the Russian newspaper Kommersant, quoting Arab diplomatic sources.

• Saturday, March 10th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Winter time in Chile: clocks 60 minutes back

  At one o'clock Sunday, March 10th, Chileans will have to set clocks sixty minutes back officially signaling the beginning of winter time.

• Thursday, March 8th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Peru begins work on a 'petrochemical pole'

  

  Peru's government owned oil company Petroperu signed memorandums of understanding with a French firm to build a 500 million US dollars gas pipeline and with a Brazilian company to construct 2.8 billion in petrochemical projects.

• Thursday, March 8th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Bachelet's Chile (until 2010), will not have nuclear power

  Six days after Chile's government announced a committee to investigate the feasibility of nuclear power, Mining and Energy Minister Karen Poniachik said this week that no nuclear program would start during President Michelle Bachelet's term. The committee's study, costing 200.000 US dollars, will however go ahead.

• Tuesday, March 6th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Petrobras and Japan sign bio-fuels memorandum

  

  Brazil's government managed oil company Petrobras and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation signed Monday in Rio do Janeiro a memorandum of understanding on bio-fuels announced Monday, Petrobras.

• Tuesday, March 6th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Rockhopper Exploration plc: Placing to raise up to GBP1.32 million

  

  Rockhopper Exploration plc (the “Company”) is pleased to announce a placing (the “Placing”) of up to 3,588,700 new ordinary shares (the “Placing Shares”) at a subscription price of 37 pence each (the “Placing Price”) by Teather & Greenwood Limited with institutional and other investors to raise up to £1,328,000 (before expenses).

• Sunday, March 4th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Lula da Silva/Bush expected to sign biofuels agreement

  The world's two top ethanol producers, United States and Brazil, announced the creation of an international forum to help turn biofuels into a globally traded commodity, just days before the two countries are expected to sign a separate agreement promoting the industry across the Western Hemisphere.

• Thursday, March 1st 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  South Africa looking into windfall tax for mining industry

  

  Mining companies may be required to pay a windfall tax in South Africa if the recommendations of finance minister Trevor Manuel's task team are implemented, South African daily Business Day reported this week.