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South Sudan: Dozens dead as group opens fire in U.N. base

At least 58 people were killed Thursday when a group of armed civilians pretending to be peaceful protesters delivering a petition to the United Nations in South Sudan  forced their way into a U.N. base sheltering some 5,000 civilians and opened fire, the world body said. Among those killed in the attack on the base in Bor in northern Jonglei state were 46 internally displaced persons and 12 attackers, according to the U.N. Mission in South Sudan. No U.N. staff were killed, they said.  Another U.N. spokesperson said about 100 had been injured. Two U.N. peacekeepers were wounded repelling the armed intruders, the U.N. said. The United Nations has reinforced security at Bor, and South Sudan’s government has sent troops to secure the base. More than 1 million people have fled their homes since  fighting erupted in the world’s youngest country in December between troops backing President Salva Kiir and soldiers loyal to his sacked Vice President […]

Posted On : Published By : Tom Whipple
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Nigeria: U.S. to Help Nigeria On Crude Oil Theft

The United States Ambassador to Nigeria yesterday said his country was willing to help Nigeria tackle crude oil theft. Mr James Entwistle said this at the opening of this year’s edition of a multi-national military exercise in Lagos, codenamed Obangame Express 2014. He said a report has been prepared on a request made by Nigeria on ending crude oil theft. "As many of you are aware, last September, when President Jonathan and President Obama met in New York, we were asked to help your government in the struggle against oil bunkering. We sent out an inter-agency delegation and have delivered a report to your government," he added. The ambassador said: "US remains absolutely committed to collaborating with and supporting Nigeria in its ongoing efforts to increase maritime safety and security in the region." Earlier, Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin told journalists that the Navy […]

Posted On : Published By : Tom Whipple
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Is This The End Of China’s Coal Boom?

“ The End Of China’s Coal Boom ,” is a new, must-read chart-filled report from Greenpeace. It documents the response of China to the almost unimaginable  life-shortening  air pollution caused by its rapid growth in coal use. One of its charts highlights the stunning statistic that over half of the growth in  global  carbon pollution in the past decade has come just from China’s increase in coal! But that kind of growth of coal has more than just climate impacts. It is “draining the country’s arid west of precious water resources,” as Greenpeace itself  noted . And then there is the air pollution. Climate Progress has  pointed out  “when eight-year-olds  start getting  lung cancer that can be attributed to air pollution, you’ve got a problem. When  smog forces  schools, roads, and airports to shut down because visibility is less than 50 yards, you’ve got a problem. When a  study […]

Posted On : Published By : Tom Whipple
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Keystone Decision Delayed by U.S. Over Nebraska Route

The Obama administration said it delayed a decision on the Keystone oil pipeline over uncertainty about the route in Nebraska , which may push final action on the project until after the November election. Republicans and some Democrats in Congress immediately criticized the delay. Eight federal agencies that had until early May to comment on the proposed pipeline will get more time, according to a statement today from the State Department, which is conducting the review. The notice didn’t include a new deadline. President Barack Obama has said he will make the final decision after the review is completed. The decision “amounts to nothing short of an indefinite delay” of the project, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Mary Landrieu , a Louisiana Democrat, said in a statement. Representative Lee Terry , a Nebraska Republican, criticized the move, saying Obama had “punted a tough decision in the name […]

Posted On : Published By : Tom Whipple
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Keystone XL Decision Likely to Come After Midterm Elections

The Obama administration is extending its review of the Keystone XL pipeline, citing ongoing litigation in Nebraska over the project’s route through the state, according to people familiar with the matter. The State Department is allowing more time for government agencies to weigh in on the project–a review process that was expected to end in early May, State Department officials told congressional staff on Friday. It is unclear how much more time the State Department will allow for input, but it is likely to push a final decision on the pipeline–which has been under review by the Obama administration for more than five years–until after November’s midterm elections. TransCanada Corp. wants to send oil through a pipeline from Canadian oil sands to Gulf Coast refineries in the U.S. The pipeline project has stirred opposition from environmental groups, which warn it could lead to oil spills and […]

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PetroChina Unit to Buy Remaining Stake in Alberta Oil-Sands Operation

CALGARY—A unit of Chinese state-run oil producer Co. will purchase the 40% stake it doesn’t already own in an oil-sands operation in northern Alberta for 1.32 billion Canadian dollars (US$1.2 billion) from Corp. , the Calgary-based company said Thursday. The move, first announced nearly two years ago, completes a 2010 deal that initially gave PetroChina subsidiary Brion Energy Corp. a 60% stake in the 250,000 barrel-a-day project, known as Dover. The acquisition of the remaining stake had been held up by a provincial regulatory process and a now-settled dispute with a Native American group. "We have today opted to sell our remaining ownership in projects operated by Brion Energy," Athabasca Chief Executive Sveinung Svarte said. Representatives for Brion weren’t immediately available for comment. The acquisition gives PetroChina its second wholly owned oil-sands project in Canada, and perhaps its last. The deal was agreed to before the Canadian federal government […]

Posted On : Published By : Tom Whipple
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Once-In-A-Decade Surge In Oil Inventories Chalked Up As ‘Anomaly’

ByNicole Friedman A once-in-a-decade surge in U.S. oil inventories had traders scratching their heads this week. U.S. crude-oil supplies rose by 10 million barrels last week, the biggest one-week gain since 2001, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. But much of the increase happened on the West Coast, far from the gushing wells in North Dakota and Texas. ClipperData, which tracks oil imports, says the massive jump in oil stockpiles comes down to a big coincidence. Four tankers delivered Colombian crude to West Coast refineries last week, leading to a 1.5-million-barrel boost in Colombian exports to the region, which stretches from Arizona to Alaska, according to ClipperData. “I think it’s an anomaly week, which is not unusual on the west coast,” said Abudi Zein, ClipperData’s chief operating officer. “It’s a very volatile region in terms of imports.” ClipperData tracks U.S. oil and petroleum-product imports and domestic shipments using […]

Posted On : Published By : Tom Whipple
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Texas Upstream Petroleum Economy Sustains Record Run

This opinion piece presents the opinions of the author. It does not necessarily reflect the views of Rigzone. The upstream oil and gas economy in Texas ventured further into uncharted territory in February, as rapidly increasing production, higher wellhead prices, and revised statewide employment numbers boosted the Texas Petro Index (TPI) to a record 300.6. “Texas producers increased oil output by more than 22 percent in February compared to February 2103, and natural gas production was up about 1.0 percent,” said Karr Ingham, the economist who created the TPI and updates it monthly. “Combined with higher wellhead prices for both commodities, the value of oil and gas produced in Texas during February increased by more than $2.85 billion in the past year to about $10.63 billion.” Ingham noted that Texas producers recovered about 2.75 million bbls per day of crude oil during February, “the most since 1980.” Ingham said […]

Posted On : Published By : Tom Whipple