TOP NEWS PICK : FEBRUARY 13, 2012

CLICK ON THE LINKS FOR FULL STORIES

Total Shifts Iraq Focus To Kurdistan

Christophe de Margerie, the chief executive of Total SA has said he was considering possible investments in Kurdistan, and added he did not plan to chase contracts in Baghdad's next licensing round, Reuters has reported. "From what we are hearing the conditions of the fourth bidding round in Iraq do not appear very attractive," de Margerie told a press conference | Ameinfo.com

Iraq opens new oil export terminal in Persian Gulf 

BAGDHAD (AP) -- Iraq inaugurated a new offshore oil export terminal in the Persian Gulf on Sunday in a vital step to ease infrastructure constraints and to bring sorely needed cash for reconstruction after decades of war and international sanctions | AP

Tamar developers sign $680 mln Israeli natgas deal 

JERUSALEM Feb 12 (Reuters) - The U.S.-Israeli consortium developing the Tamar natural gas field off Israel's coast said on Sunday it had signed a 15-year deal to supply an Israeli power plant operator with an estimated $680 million worth of gas |Reuters

Fresh oil spill from Eni oil well in Bayelsa 

An environmental group, Environmental Rights Action (ERA), says there is a new spill on
an oil well run by Italian firm Eni SpA in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta | SweetCrude

Namibia Pursues Nuclear Energy Dreams With France's Areva 

Namibia, the fourth biggest uranium producer in the world, first floated the idea of acquiring a nuclear power plant of its own four years ago. Rio Tinto and Australian miner Paladin Energy currently produce Namibia’s uranium | Oilprice.com

New pipeline in Gateway National Recreation Area a good thing, experts say 

When is a new natural gas pipeline a good idea? When it updates aging equipment and brings cleaner air to the region it serves, according to bipartisan support for HR 2606, the New York City Natural Gas Supply Enhancement Act that passed the House of Representatives by voice vote on February 7 | Examiner