nuclear

Argentina: Se agudiza la escasez de gasoil

Even though the cuts in routes and access to refining plants in the south of the province have been lifted, there is still no diesel. In the Federal Capital the problem affects a good percentage of passenger service, and within our province long-distance services, especially to the north, are limited.

Australia: West Australia Says Gas Blast Cut Supply to Pilbara by 45%

Western Australia said the gas plant explosion that cut almost a third of the state's supplies has reduced deliveries of the fuel to the mining industry in the Pilbara region by 45 percent.

The state's Goldfields region has 20 percent less gas than before the June 3 blast, Western Australia's Office of Energy in Perth said in a presentation posted on its Web site. Supplies to large companies in the South West have also dropped by a fifth.

China: Chongqing plans for nuclear power plant

As demand for energy rises, the government has been seeking ways to supplement the use of fossil fuels.

"Nuclear power is one of the effective means for China to solve the problem of energy shortage and meet the environmental challenge," Kang Rixin, president of China National Nuclear Corporation, said.

There are now 11 nuclear power reactors in commercial operation on the mainland, according to the World Nuclear Association.

India: Power situation remains bleak in West Bengal

The power situation in entire West Bengal worsened on Thursday as some more power plants could not generate.

"Power shortfall will be around 600 MW taking into account both West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company and CESC command area," a utility official spokesperson said

India: What we need is electricity -not oil

More than cheap oil, what we need today is electricity to run the tube wells on the farms; to light the homes, to run the factories; to run railways and if the need be to even run electric trolley buses of the kind that used to run in some of our cities during the last days of British era. The scenario on the electricity front all over India is grim to say the least. All our plans for future growth can come to a nought if this problem is not tackled.

Nepal: Fresh protests in Nepal capital over fuel price hike

Fresh protests over a recent hike in fuel prices forced thousands of students home and vehicles off the streets in the Nepali capital on Thursday, police said.

Three small communist parties have called for a transport strike in the Kathmandu valley to protest against a recent hike of about 25 percent in diesel and petrol prices.

Nigeria: Analysis: Nigeria attack cripples Chevron

Chevron Corp. has declared a force majeure on its oil exports following a particularly destructive attack on one of its installations in the Niger Delta.

Officials at the U.S. oil company said that though production was unaffected at offshore installations, Chevron could not meet its production quotas for customers because of shortfalls caused by the pipeline attack last week at the Escravos oil field in the delta.

Pakistan: Govt admits diesel shortage , wants two days to resolve matter

Finance Minister Tanvir Ashraf Kaira while admitting that diesel shortage had been artificially created by stockists and fuel pump owners leading to severe inconvenience to the general public, asked for a two-day time period to address the issue.

The matter regarding diesel shortage was taken up in the Punjab Assembly on Wednesday. PML-Q Forward Block Member Sheikh Allauddin, speaking on an adjournment motion, brought to the notice of the House that diesel was fast becoming a rare commodity in the market.

Pakistan: Some petrol pumps staying closed across Karachi

Almost 50 petrol pumps did not sell petrol or diesel to consumers on Sunday or Monday. As a result profiteers lurked round the corner, selling petrol at exorbitant rates in bottles and plastic containers. Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) Chairman Abdul Sami Khan told Daily Times that several pumps ran short on stock as well. “It is the oil companies that are creating this shortage by withholding oil stocks,” he claimed. “Since the government is not clearing outstanding bills to foreign oil companies, the supply is being hampered.”

South Africa: NO POWER, NO SMELTER

Rio Tinto Alcan and the Canadians planning to build a power-hungry $2.7-billion (U.S.) aluminum smelter in South Africa have put their plans on the cold back burner amid the country's severe electricity crisis

Bahrain: Power cuts bring chaos

Power cuts pulled the plug on homes and businesses across Bahrain yesterday. Malfunctions in several units at the Hidd Power Plant were blamed for the blackout. Electricity and Water Authority chief executive Dr Majid Al Awadhi said the cuts affected roughly 20 per cent of the country.

India: KSEB for load - shedding

The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) on Wednesday urged the government to allow it to impose one hour’s load-shedding across the State to help it face the crisis caused by poor rainfall during this monsoon.

India: India at an impasse over civilian nuclear deal

The nuclear agreement, which would give India access to US nuclear fuel and technology even though it has not signed the nuclear nonproliferation treaty, is at the heart of a new strategic partnership between India and the US.

It is opposed by the Communists who object to close ties with the US on ideological grounds and who argue that it will weaken India's foreign policy and independence.

Singh, however, believes that while the issue is hardly a vote winner, the deal is of seismic importance to India, where an energy shortage threatens to curtail economic growth.

India: Locals clash with cops over power cuts

Repeated power cuts in the city took a violent turn with locals clashing with police in Bowbazar on Tuesday afternoon.

There was a power cut in and around Bowbazar around midnight on Monday. When electricity did not return till Tuesday afternoon, local residents came out on the streets and blocked the Phears Lane-Central Avenue crossing, bringing traffic to a halt.

Nigeria: Chevron declares force majeure on Nigeria oil exports

U.S. oil major Chevron declared a force majeure on its Nigerian Escravos crude oil exports after armed youths blew up a supply pipeline last week, a company official said on Wednesday.

"There has been no impact on Chevron's offshore production and Escravos terminal is still operating," said spokeswoman Margaret Cooper.

Northern Marianas: Trying to understand the CNMI power crisis

About four or five years ago-during the second-half of the administration of former governor Juan Babauta, the CNMI began experiencing the start of what has now been a continuing power crisis. The Commonwealth Utilities Corp.-the autonomous agency charged with managing and operating the power utility-began experiencing problems, both internal and external in nature. The external problems had mostly to do with what-we-now-know as the start of what has been a continuing and unrelenting increase in the price of crude oil worldwide for at least four to five years now.

Pakistan: Govt to look into diesel shortage in 2 days

The Punjab government will conduct an inquiry and fix the responsibility for the shortage of diesel at petrol pumps within two days, Finance Minister Tanveer Ashraf Kaira said on Wednesday.

Pakistan: POL dealers claim fuel shortage

Petroleum dealers on Tuesday alleged that marketing companies have reduced supply of oil products to petrol pumps in rural parts of the country.

Naming Shell, Total and some small companies like Admore, which have cut down supply, Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) Chairman Abdul Sami Khan said some parts of interior Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan were getting less than 50 per cent of normal quantities of petrol and diesel.