TOP NEWS PICK : JANUARY 10, 2012

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UK trio 'face Arctic grilling' 

BP, Shell and Cairn Energy are believed to be on the draft list of companies to be called to give evidence to the UK Parliament’s environmental audit committee in the spring as part of its Protecting the Arctic inquiry that was announced on Sunday, according to UK newspaper The Telegraph | Upstream Online

Malaysian's set to boost renewable energy five-fold 

The Energy Commission of Malaysia has announced plans to boost the share of renewable electricity to 5.5 percent, compared with less than one percent currently, off the back of the passing of the Renewable Energy and Sustainable Development Authority Acts in April 2011 | Renewable Energy Magazine

Thai energy demand seen up almost 5 pct in 2012-ministry 

Jan 9 (Reuters) - Thailand's energy demand is expected to rise almost 5 percent in 2012, driven by economic growth and restoration work after last year's flooding plus work on flood defence systems, the Energy Policy and Planning Office of the Ministry of Energy said on Monday | Reuters

Israel's Dalia to buy $5 bln in natgas from Tamar 

TEL AVIV Jan 9 (Reuters) - The partners developing the Tamar field off Israel's Mediterranean coast reached an agreement to sell Dalia Power Energies up to 1.38 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas annually over 17 years for the operation of a private power plant | Reuters

Israel puts navy in charge of protecting offshore gas infrastructure 

The Israel Navy has been put in charge of protecting the offshore rigs and natural gas infrastructure located off the country's Mediterranean coast, Israeli government sources said Monday | Platts

Shell to build large oil storage and transportation facility in Tianjin 

Royal Dutch Shell's Chinese joint-venture are to build a large oil storage and transportation facility in the northern port city of Tianjin. This is expected to further expand the global energy tycoon's business in China, local authorities said today (Monday 9th January) | Oilvoice

India considers rupee for Iranian oil 

NEW DELHI, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- New Delhi said it may want to pay for Iranian crude oil in its national currency out of fear sanctions pressure would hurt its energy sector, an official said | UPI.com 

Bonga Oil Spill: Activist laud NIMASA’s confirmation of alleged cover-up 

09 January 2012, Sweetcrude, Yenagoa - A Niger Delta activist, Osteen Igbapike, has lauded the Nigerian Maritime Adminstration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), for being firm in its report on the Bonga oil spill alleging the Anglo Dutch oil giant tried to exonerate itself of blame | Sweetcrudereports

Crude oil at $101 

NEW YORK, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Crude oil prices hovered near $101 Monday while the dollar fell against the euro and the yen | UPI.com

UAE strategic oil pipeline delayed 

A delayed strategic pipeline project that would allow the United Arab Emirates oil exports to bypass the Strait of Hormuz in the event of an Iranian blockade will not be ready for at least another four months, the UAE oil minister said on Monday | FT.com

Nigeria: JTF restructures, now Operation Pulo Shield 

09 January 2012, Sweetcrude, Yenagoa -The special security force in the Niger Delta, the Joint Task Force codenamed Operation Restore Hope has been restructured and is now known as Operation Pulo Shield | Sweetcrudereports

Statoil makes another Barents Sea find 

Statoil, the Norwegian state-controlled energy group, has made its second significant oil discovery in the Arctic waters of the Barents Sea in the course of nine months | FT.com

Canada seeks alternative route for Keystone XL pipeline 

While President Obama wants to delay a decision on the controversial Keystone XL pipeline until after the 2012 election, Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper is stepping up efforts to explore an alternative pipeline that would allow Canada to ship their tar sands oil to China | USAtoday.com

Iraq reveals income from oil and gas 

Iraq disclosed it earned $41bn from oil and gas exports in 2009, in a move designed to increase transparency in its energy sector. But critics said Monday’s disclosures did not go far enough, and urged the Iraqi oil ministry to fulfil a longstanding promise to publish its contracts with foreign oil companies | FT.com

Opec to stay out of Iran dispute 

Opec will not get involved in the standoff between Iran and Western powers over its nuclear program, according to Venezuela's oil minister | Upstream Online