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June 26th, 2007:

Financial Times: BP gets into position for the biofuels era

By Ed Crooks, Energy Editor
Published: June 27 2007 03:00 | Last updated: June 27 2007 03:00

The downfall of Biofuels Corporation will have come as no surprise to Philip New, the president of BP’s global biofuels business.

Speaking at yesterday’s launch of a new £200m ethanol plant in Hull, Mr New rejected the idea that BP would similarly expand into producing biodiesel.

“Esterification [the process of making biodiesel from vegetable oil] is relatively basic chemistry with low barriers to entry,” he said. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

FT REPORT – KAZAKHSTAN: State company to become gatekeeper to oilfields

By Isabel Gorst, Financial Times
Published: Jun 27, 2007

Every oilman dreams of landing a really big oilfield. But Askar Balzhanov, the chief executive of KazMunaigas, Exploration and Production, Kazakhstan’s state oil producer, has a better chance than most. Founded in 2004 during a reorganisation of KazMunaigas, the state oil company, KMG E&P lies at the core of Kazakhstan’s plans to expand the state’s influence over its huge oil reserves.

Kazakhstan parcelled out several oilfields, including the giant Tengiz and Karachaganak deposits, to foreign companies in the 1990s. But the government has since passed legislation ensuring state companies of a bigger role in the oil industry in the future. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Financial Times: Broad falls for oil and metals but grain higher

By Chris Flood
Published: June 27 2007 03:00 | Last updated: June 27 2007 03:00

Commodity prices staged a broad based retreat yesterday as risk aversion rose following comments from the International Monetary Fund which highlighted mounting inflationary pressures in the global economy.

Oil prices fell by more than $1 a barrel, holding above the $70 level, but the sell-off also spread across base and precious metals.

ICE July Brent dropped $1.06 cents to $70.30 a barrel while Nymex August West Texas Intermediate retreated $1.20 to $67.98 a barrel. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

The Wall Street Journal: Exxon, Conoco Exit Venezuela Under Pressure

Wall Street Journal Chart

Host Nations Escalate
Demands on Oil Firms;
‘Some Tough Decisions’
By RUSSELL GOLD
June 27, 2007; Page A1

Exxon Mobil Corp. and ConocoPhillips are walking away from their multibillion-dollar investments in Venezuela, further evidence that the relationship between Western oil companies and oil-rich countries is more troubled than at any point since the 1970s.

The rising tension is forcing companies to choose whether to accept less control of investments and smaller returns in order to remain in countries with ample natural resources. That could have big implications for Western oil companies, which are having trouble tapping new reserves, as well as for global consumers and their growing thirst for oil.
 
The companies feel they won’t get adequate value from the Venezuelan government, so they may pursue arbitration rulings that, even if favorable, mean a long wait for compensation. But the need to replace significant holdings could intensify exploration and result in new finds elsewhere, as happened after the last widespread purge of Western majors from developing nations. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Brudirect.com: Brunei To Set Up First Health Promotion Centre

By James Kon

Bandar Seri Begawan – Brunei Darussalam will set up its first ever Health Promotion Centre by the end of July, next year, as part of efforts to support and promote a healthy lifestyle among the public.

A foundation laying ceremony was held at the construction site of the centre, situated just opposite the Ministry of Health Building at Commonwealth Drive, yesterday afternoon. The ceremony was officiated by the Minister of Health, Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Suyoi bin Hj Osman. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Times Online: New £200m biofuel plant planned for Hull

BP and Associated British Foods team up for ‘world-scale’ project that will produce 420,000 litres of biofuel a year

June 26, 2007
Steve Hawkes

BP and Associated British Foods have announced a £200 million alliance to build one of the world’s biggest biofuel plants in the UK.

Under plans revealed today the facility, to be built in Saltend, Hull, will produce 420 million litres of bioethanol a year from low-grade UK wheat feedstock.

ABF, home to British Sugar and the fashion chain Primark, said that the environmental benefit of the plant would be the equivalent of taking a third of a million cars off Britain’s roads per year. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

The Times: Secret account under spotlight

EXTRACT: The account was set up because, in the1980s, Saudi Arabia paid for its arms with oil. It transferred oil production to BP and Shell and they paid cash into the Bank of England account. The money was then forwarded to BAE to pay for arms.

June 27, 2007
David Robertson

At the heart of the Department of Justice investigation into BAE Systems will be a secret account held by the Bank of England on behalf of the Saudi Arabian Government.

This escrow account is the conduit through which £43 billion has been passed to BAE over the past 22 years to pay for Tornado fighter jets and other military equipment. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Reuters: UPDATE 1-Exxon, Shell to sell Canada gas project stake

Tue Jun 26, 2007 6:53 PM BST

CALGARY, Alberta, June 26 (Reuters) – Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM.N: Quote, Profile , Research) and Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSa.L: Quote, Profile , Research) want to sell their combined 18 percent stake in the proposed C$700 million ($654 million) Deep Panuke gas project off Nova Scotia’s Atlantic coast, the broker handling the auction said on Tuesday.

Bids on Exxon Mobil’s 12 percent and Shell’s 6 percent of the long-delayed development are due Aug. 8, IndigoPool, the Houston-based acquisition and divestiture service, said in an email. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Oilweek Magazine: The lesser of two evils

Energy Alberta is proposing a nuclear component to help Alberta meet its emission reduction goals

Jul 2007
By Leah Lawrence
 
Concerns about climate change and a shortage of natural gas for oilsands development has one project proponent predicting a nuclear renaissance in Alberta sometime in the next decade. Oilsands producers and regulators are skeptical, citing long project lead times, challenging regulatory processes, and Alberta’s deregulated energy marketplace as significant barriers. Can two plus two equal five for nuclear energy in Alberta? read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Correspondence with Shell on corruption allegations against Ian Craig, CEO of Sakhalin Energy

(Article contains email correspondence with Shell about its attempt to close down this website)

By Alfred Donovan
26 June 2007

On Monday morning we contacted Mr Keith Ruddock, General Counsel of Shell Exploration & Production, to bring to his attention serious allegations made against Mr Ian Craig, the Chief Executive of Sakhalin Energy Investment Company (SEIC).

We sought from Keith Ruddock a categorical denial of the allegations including an alleged pending action against Mr Craig by the Sakhalin Prosecutors Office.

Shell has not confirmed or denied the allegations. It has instead refused to comment claiming the allegations come from an anonymous source, when in fact that is not the case. We are in regular daily contact with our source. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Bloomberg: Shell Appoints De Wit to Succeed Willems as Head of Dutch Unit

By Marcel van de Hoef

June 26 (Bloomberg) — Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Europe’s largest oil company by market value, said it appointed Peter de Wit to lead its Dutch division.

De Wit will succeed Shell Nederland BV’s director, Rein Willems, on Sept. 1, The Hague-based Shell said in an e-mailed statement today.

The 61-year-old Willems, who earlier this month became a member of the upper house of the Dutch Parliament, will retire after a 38-year career at Shell.

De Wit, 57, started at the company in 1970. He is now executive vice president global businesses at Shell’s gas and power division. De Wit will keep some of his current responsibities, the company said. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Bloomberg: Showa Shell May Merge LPG Unit With Japanese Rivals (Update1)

By Shigeru Sato

June 26 (Bloomberg) — Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K., the Japanese refining unit of Royal Dutch Shell Plc, plans to merge its liquefied petroleum gas wholesaling business with rival companies as local demand growth slows, a company official said.

Showa Shell is reviewing its LPG operations because domestic demand may not sustain growth, the official said by phone from Tokyo today, asking not to be named in keeping with company policy. He didn’t identify potential partners.

Japanese LPG importers and wholesalers are combining their operations to cut costs and compete with suppliers of liquefied natural gas, an alternative fuel. Mitsui & Co. and Marubeni Corp. agreed on June 12 to merge their LPG units in 2008 to challenge Astomos Energy Corp., Japan’s largest LPG distributor. The cost of importing LPG last year was 56 percent higher than LNG. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY TO FUND WIND BLADE TEST FACILITIES

(This is a reformatted version of a press release issued by U.S. Department of Energy, obtained from www.energy.gov.)

June 25, 2007

Department of Energy to Invest up to $4 Million for Wind Turbine Blade Testing Facilities

New facilities in Massachusetts and Texas will bring cutting- edge technology to wind research

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Samuel W. Bodman today announced that DOE has selected the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Partnership in Massachusetts, and the Lone Star Wind Alliance in Texas, to each receive up to $2 million in test equipment to develop large-scale wind blade test facilities, accelerating the commercial availability of wind energy. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Bloomberg: Gazprom Says Chief Executive Miller to Return to Work `Soon’

By Greg Walters and Bradley Cook

June 26 (Bloomberg) — OAO Gazprom Chief Executive Officer Alexei Miller, hospitalized with a kidney ailment more than three weeks ago, will return to work “soon,” Deputy Chief Executive Officer Alexander Medvedev said.

Miller is involved in all management decisions, Medvedev told reporters today in Moscow, where the world’s largest natural-gas company is based. No other information on Miller’s health was immediately available.

Sergei Kupriyanov, a spokesman for state-run Gazprom, said June 6 that Miller, 45, “has a chronic disease related to the kidneys” that requires hospitalization “from time to time.” read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Bloomberg: SEC Helps Spot Business in Terror-Sponsoring Nations (Update1)

By Jesse Westbrook

June 25 (Bloomberg) — The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has made it easier for investors to find out whether companies do business in nations identified as supporting terrorism.

The SEC, in a statement today, said it’s added a search tool to its Web site that lets shareholders search annual reports for “business interests in countries the U.S. Secretary of State has designated state sponsors of terrorism.”

“No investor should ever have to wonder whether his or her investments or retirement savings are indirectly subsidizing a terrorist haven or genocidal state,” SEC Chairman Christopher Cox said in the statement issued in Washington. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Ros Business Consulting: Gazprom announces Sakhalin-2 investment plans

RBC, 26.06.2007, Moscow 12:52:07.Gazprom plans to invest $1.6bn in the Sakhalin-2 project, Alexander Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian energy holding’s management committee, told journalists today. He added that all participants of the project would invest a total of $3.3bn. Medvedev also said that some $13bn have already been invested in the Sakhalin-2, of which $3.5bn Gazprom allocated $3.5bn.

Medvedev pointed out that the cost of eliminating environmental violations at Sakhalin-2 was included in the price of Gazprom’s stake in the project. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Denver Post: Oil shale power needs stir alarm

Conservation groups see new power plants, vast increase in air pollution
By Nancy Lofholm
Denver Post Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 06/26/2007 01:40:03 AM MDT

Commercial production of oil shale in western Colorado will require new power plants that will greatly increase pollution, according to an analysis released Monday by a coalition of conservation groups.

The same groups that two weeks ago publicized the vast water needs for commercial oil shale production attacked the power needs for oil shale production as envisioned by the federal government. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Dow Jones Newswires: Gazprom’s Medvedev: 07 Export Revenue To Total $38.1 Billion

June 26, 2007: 04:50 AM EST

MOSCOW (Dow Jones)–Russian gas monopoly OAO Gazprom (GSPBEX.RS) expects export revenue to total $38.1 billion in 2007, the head of the company’s export arm Alexander Medvedev said Tuesday.

Export revenue last year stood at $37.2 billion.

Medvedev told a press conference dedicated to the company’s Asia Pacific strategy that it had two strategic priorities: to service the needs of the domestic market in Russia’s far east, which so far has little or no gas infrastructure, and to increase the volume of its exports, especially of liquified natural gas. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

The Mayo News: Shell to Sea breakthrough?

Tuesday, 26 June 2007 

Erris Shell To Sea has this week sought high-level meetings with several new Government ministers and high-ranking Gardaí in an effort to break the current deadlock on the Corrib gas project.

“It is time to face up to the realities and end the conflict,” said spokesman, John Monaghan in a written statement.

Among those approached for face-to-face talks are recently-appointed Justice Minister Brian Lenihan and the two Green Party cabinet members John Gormley and Eamon Ryan, both of whom have direct responsibility for key aspects of the Shell-led scheme. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Irish Times: Mayo family claims Shell stress

26 June 2007

The family of a Co Mayo publican admitted to hospital at the weekend with a suspected stroke claims he has been under severe stress since Shell E&P Ireland placed a Portakabin near Pollathomas Pier earlier this month.

Paddy McGrath is being treated at Mayo General Hospital in Castlebar. He claims ownership of an access road to and land at the north Mayo harbour where the temporary structure was erected.

The Portakabin, which led to a confrontation between protesters and gardaI resulting in a number of injuries last week, had disappeared on Saturday morning. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Lloyds List: Gazprom lines up another Sakhalin development

Published: Jun 26, 2007

GAZPROM has its eyes on another eastern offshore gas project near Sakhalin island to supply Vladivostok and the surrounding area with energy.

The state-run monopoly is looking to acquire the Chayandinskoye gas field in the Sakhalin 3 licence to develop these resources and feed a new pipeline it is building in the next five years.

A Moscow news agency reported that Gazprom’s deputy chief executive, Alexander Ananenkov, had told the government it needed the licence to supply Vladivostok with gas. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Lloyds List: India gives nod to OVL’s $380m Egypt offshore well stake

Shirish Nadkarni
Published: Jun 26, 2007

India’s cabinet committee on economic affairs has approved a $380m investment plan by ONGC Videsh (OVL), the overseas investment arm of the state-owned Oil & Natural Gas Corp, to acquire 33% equity in an Egyptian deepwater block from operator Royal Dutch Shell.

The block is said to have estimated gas reserves of around 14trn cu ft, the size said to be approximately the same as that of Reliance Industries’ approved gas find in the Krishna-Godavari basin. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Financial Times: Oil dips lower as strike in Nigeria is called off

By Chris Flood
Published: June 26 2007 03:00 | Last updated: June 26 2007 03:00

Oil prices moved lower yesterday after unions in Nigeria called off a general strike planned for this weekend, reducing the threat of supply disruptions from the world’s eighth largest crude exporter. Nigeria’s government has agreed to freeze fuel prices for a year, the main cause of the dispute.

ICE July Brent fell 98 cents to $70.20 a barrel while Nymex August West Texas Intermediate lost $1.24 at $67.90 a barrel. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

The Wall Street Journal: Van der Veer: Efficiency: Renewable Fuels

June 25, 2007, 3:49 pm Posted by Mark Gongloff
Stephen Grocer has this report on a noteworthy take on renewable energy:

The world has high hopes that renewable energy will relieve its energy crunch. But the public may have placed too much faith in the ability of wind and solar to replace fossil fuels and is blind to the extent energy demand is rising, according to an editorial by Royal Dutch Shell’s CEO Jeroen van der Veer (left) in the Times of London today. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

The Wall Street Journal: ONGC’s Profit Falls 13%, Hurt By Fuel Discounts

A WALL STREET JOURNAL NEWS ROUNDUP
June 26, 2007

India’s state-run Oil & Natural Gas Corp.’s fiscal fourth-quarter net profit fell 13% on charges and higher mandatory discounts to refiners.

ONGC said it will invest more than $26 billion in the next five years to boost oil and gas production at home and overseas and that it was in talks with Chevron Corp., Total SA and Royal Dutch Shell PLC to enter into equity-sharing pacts for oil blocks. ONGC proposes to swap equity in its blocks, both onshore and offshore, for blocks overseas. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

The Moscow Times: The State Has Spoken

Tuesday, June 26, 2007. Issue 3685. Page 12.
 
As a Kremlin official and doctoral candidate in 1997, President Vladimir Putin crafted a strategy to rebuild the country’s global power through state control of its natural resources.

A decade later, the Russian president can look back on a second term marked by high oil prices and a significantly boosted state presence as he prepares to leave office in March 2008.

“It’s more than just high oil prices — it’s a true part of the government’s belief system,” said Clifford Kupchan, a senior analyst at Eurasia Group, a political risk consultancy. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

The Moscow Times: A Power Lunch With the State

Tuesday, June 26, 2007. Issue 3685. Page 10.
Vedomosti

The problems created for the country’s investment climate by the Kovykta gas field have now been resolved. The delay in rendering a decision on the revocation of the TNK-BP license to exploit the field had provided cause for hope that some kind of unexpected resolution to the conflict between the state and the energy company could be found, but the result was in line with what had long been expected by most analysts. Control over Rusia Petroleum, which holds the license to operate the field, was transferred to Gazprom. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Appeal by ‘Terror-Free Oil’: Please sign petition to Shell to stop doing business with terrorist regime of Iran!

E-mail: [email protected] | URI: http://www.TerrorFreeOil.org

IP: 68.13.18.127
Date: June 25, 2007

Please sign petition to Shell to stop doing business with terrorist regime of Iran!

http://www.terrorfreeoil.org/projects/petition_shell.php

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

New Zealand Herald: Date for Southern Petroleum case

EXTRACT: In 2001 Royal Dutch Shell and Apache bought Fletcher Energy and took on the responsibility of resolving the case. Shareholder spokesman and former New Zealand Petroleum Company consultant Tony Gavigan said getting the matter to trial had cost about $8 million, a similar amount he claimed Shell had spent defending the case.

THE ARTICLE: Date for Southern Petroleum case

5:00AM Tuesday June 26, 2007
By Christine Nikiel 

As the Securities Commission celebrates settling its insider trading case against former Tranz Rail directors last week, an even longer-running case is crawling toward its own conclusion. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.