David Blair's Blog, page 134

Fear grows for nascent solar industry

Seven companies have petitioned the High Court to overturn proposed reforms of the subsidies for solar energy schemes amid intensifying dismay at the government's policy review.

Tullow sues Heritage over Uganda tax bill

Tullow , the upstream oil company, has launched legal action against Heritage Oil for the recovery of $313m (£192m) of tax payments made to Uganda's government.

Big guns vie to tap Azeri gas riches

An ugly mass of buildings, pipes and vents sprawled beside the Caspian Sea appears an unlikely beginning for Europe's future energy supply.

Aliyev's balancing act soothes neighbours

Azerbaijan's national flag billows over the capital, Baku, from the tallest flagpole in the world.

High oil prices start to hit demand

The combination of rising oil prices and growing demand that has allowed the world's biggest oil producers to bask in renewed prosperity appears to be breaking down. Early signs suggest that high prices are now starting to restrain demand.

Saudis 'throttled back' oil output in March

Opec's response to the loss of 1m barrels per day in Libyan oil supplies has been "limited", according to the International Energy Agency, as the cartel's biggest member "throttled back production in mid-March".

Saudi oil response to Libya 'limited'

Saudi Arabia increased its oil output in response to Libya's crisis by less than had been thought, producing fewer than 9m barrels per day in March, according to the International Energy Agency.

Iraq oil output at highest level for a decade, says IEA

Iraq has raised its oil output to the highest level for almost a decade, adding another 350,000 barrels per day in the space of six months to reach 2.68m b/d, according to the International Energy Agency.

Oil rise has not hit recovery, says Iraq

The latest rise in oil prices has not damaged the global economic recovery or restrained consumer demand, according to Iraq's deputy prime minister.

Kuwaiti cabinet resigns en masse

Kuwait's entire government resigned on Thursday over a row with the country's parliament, in the latest knock-on effect of the political turmoil sweeping the Middle East.