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The article reports that the chemical industry firm LyondellBasell Industries NV will end its operations in Iran to avoid possible U.S. economic sanctions. The company has licensed proprietary technology and services to Iranian petrochemical businesses which produce plastics out of natural gas. Iran has attempted to expand its petrochemical industry to diversify its economy.

The article reports that during 2009 China surpassed the U.S. to become the world's biggest consumer of energy, and comments on implications of that development. China's large and rapidly-growing economy has helped maintain prices for oil and coal. International efforts to curb greenhouse gases have been muted by China's refusal to accept limits on its consumption of fossil fuels.

The article discusses the discreet means by which some oil companies purchase petroleum and petroleum products from Iran. Although Iranian oil exports are not subject to sanctions, controversy surrounding that nation's nuclear program has prompted firms to keep their dealings quiet. In one instance a ship chartered by Total SA turned off its transponder during a visit to Iran for oil.

This article presents information about oil prices and oil supplies. Crude-oil prices climbed by nearly 3 percent to $82.17 per barrel, the highest price since early January. Oil traders still appear to be unconvinced that the economic recovery is strong enough to have a more significant effect on the price of crude-oil. Oil prices could also be affected by more plentiful oil supplies.

The article presents the views of several energy experts on how the U.S. can eliminate its dependence on oil. Among those queried are Congressman Roscoe G. Bartlett, venture capitalist R. James Woolsey, professor Amy Myers Jaffe, scientist Amory Lovins, Phil Sharp of Resources for the Future, and Andrew Liveris of Dow Chemical Co.

This article reports on the decision of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to retain its production policy despite of higher prices as of October 15, 2010.

The article reports that the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) sees slow demand, but unchanged production in 2010.

The article reports on doubts raised by outside experts about an internal investigation prepared by BP PLC into its drilling disaster in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 due to its impartiality.

The article reports on the remark by Iran that it has started exporting domestically produced gasoline which is said to reflect its defiance despite international sanctions placed to control the nuclear program of the country.

The article reports on the involvement of al Qaeda-linked Somali militant group Al Shabaab in piracy to fund its attacks against the Somali government, specifically targeting American ships, according to pirates, the group's officials, seaside town residents and the government.

The article reports on the move by the lawyers of the oil company BP PLC to review a report about an investigation into the Deepwater Horizon oil rig accident in the Gulf of Mexico before its publication.

The article focuses on the findings of an internal investigation into the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig by British oil firm BP PLC released on September 8, 2010, which stated that the company bears some responsibility for the disaster but laid most of the blame on its contractors.

The article focuses on a report from BP PLC on its investigation into the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, in which the company partly takes responsibility for the disaster but also blamed other companies for the decisions that led to the explosion.

The article reports on the start of the U.S. government's investigation into the fire at the offshore oil drilling platform of Mariner Energy Inc. in the Gulf of Mexico on September 2, 2010 after the April 20 explosion of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig operated by BP PLC.

The article reports on the problems facing the growing oil industry in Nigeria despite the rising output and crude oil prices, including a new legislation that is expected to reduce investments and the attack against the pipeline of Royal Dutch Shell in the Niger Delta.

The article analyzes the decision of Iran to suspend two of its big liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects with analysts becoming pessimistic about the country's goal to become a major LNG exporter.

This section offers world news briefs as of August 12, 2010, including one about the appeal of the United Nations to governments for 460 million U.S. dollars to address the humanitarian disaster in Pakistan, another about the warning of the International Energy Agency on the risks to future oil demand growth, and another on the deployment of the S-300s anti-aircraft missile system by Russia.

The article reports on the plan of President Rafael Correa of Ecuador and his socialist government to force foreign oil firms to redesign existing contracts in a process likely to result in decreased profits for companies that agree with the new terms.

The article reports on the revival of concerns over the susceptibility of the oil-supply route Strait of Hormuz to terrorist attacks and piracy after the al-Qaeda-linked group Abdullah Azzam Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack of the tanker M. Star owned by Japanese company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. on July 29, 2010.

The article reports that the assertion of the International Energy Agency (IEA) that China surpassed the U.S. as the largest energy consumer in the world in 2009 has been disputed by the Chinese government.

The article reports on the possibility that Iran will fall into the second spot as the biggest oil producer in the Middle East after Iraq due to looming economic sanctions and mismanagement which could mean lower revenue and weaker clout for the oil industry in Tehran.

This article reports on the prison sentence imposed by a Netherlands court against five Somali men for trying to hijack a Dutch Antilles-flagged ship in 2009.

The article focuses on a black market in petroleum products in the Persian Gulf that is expected to continue to hide gasoline shipments to Iran, even if the U.S. passes proposed sanctions aimed at depriving Iran of foreign gasoline in 2010.

The article reports on the written assurance being sought by the Kurdish region of Iraq that the Iraqi main political leaders will protect Kurdish issues such its right to oversee its oil resources before they support a new Iraqi government according to Kurdish Prime Minister Barham Salih.

The article reports on the slated trial of suspected Somali pirates who were charged of trying to hijack the Dutch Antilles-flagged cargo ship Samanyolu in East African waters in January 2009 at a court in Rotterdam, the Netherlands in the first week of June 2010.

The article reports on an amendment to a defense-spending bill approved by the U.S. House Armed Services Committee aimed at restricting the Department of Defense (DoD) from purchasing fuel from companies engaging in business with the energy industry in Iran.

The article discusses the reaction of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) on the decline of crude-oil prices.

The article reports on a tentative deal signed between Nigeria and China to develop three oil refineries in the former in 2010.

The article reports on the decision of the International Energy Agency (IEA) to reduce its oil-demand forecast for 2010.

The article reports on the slow-speed meltdown of ice in Greenland, which creates a huge opportunity for the oil industry as it clears path for new drilling rigs despite concerns raised by the fishing industry on the environmental impact of more oil wells.

This section offers world news briefs including the decision of Malaysian state-owned oil company Petroliam Nasional Bhd. or Petronas to stop shipping gasoline to Iran, two bombings in Kandahar, Afghanistan that killed three foreigners and three Afghan soldiers, and an election violence in Sudan which killed five supporters of the ruling party.

The article focuses on what is perceived to be a cautious view of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) on global demand for oil amid price increases, with crude oil rising 2.1% on the New York Mercantile Exchange, while in other markets, prices for palladium and corn rise.

This article reports on the concern of the International Energy Agency that rising oil prices could affect the world economic recovery in 2010.

This article reports that the Dow Jones Industrial Average continued its upward trend on March 29, 2010. Exxon Mobil and Chevron stock price increases led a rally that helped the index to climb by 45.50 points.

The article reports on the arrest of 113 alleged militants linked to the al-Qaeda terrorist group who were accused of plotting attacks on oil facilities and security sites in Saudi Arabia according to an announcement by the Interior Minister on March 24, 2010.

The article reports that the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has committed to maintain oil production levels.

The article reports that crude oil prices increased by 2.4 percent while sugar futures went down.

The article reports on a challenge about how to raise post-recession production facing the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in 2010.

The article reports that Royal Dutch Shell PLC stopped selling gasoline in Iran.

The article reports on the aim of acting Nigeria President Goodluck Jonathan to revive the energy sector of the country in which he has held discussions with several executives from foreign oil companies.

The article reports on the release of a tanker called Maran Centaurus from Greece and its crew by Somali hijackers in the Indian Ocean on January 18, 2010 after receiving a ransom and engaging in a shooting with another group of pirates who attempt to get a portion of the money.

The article reports on the anticipation for a ruling to be made by a Dutch civil court in Hague on January 13, 2010 on whether to pursue the lawsuits against Royal Dutch Shell PLC for allegedly failing to keep its pipelines properly.

The article reports on the move of Glencore International AG to stop its gasoline shipments to Iran in late 2009 due to the growing possibility of sanctions against the country as a result of its nuclear program, according to sources.

The article reports that the number of pirate attacks and attempted hijacking of oil tankers totaled 42, according to the Piracy Reporting Centre of the International Maritime Bureau in Malaysia.

The article analyzes the impact of the alleged attempt of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab to blow up an airplane on the threat of terrorism in Nigeria. There is a concern that an extremist Islamic activity in Nigeria and West Africa is possibly existing. U.S. officials are critical that West Virginia could become vulnerable to terrorist networks that are active in North and East Africa. It recounts that in 2008, five militants allegedly planning to attack the government of Nigeria, three of whom were reportedly trained in a camp run by al Qaeda in the Magreb.

The article discusses industry reaction to the failure of a conference on climate change in Copenhagen, Denmark to establish limits on greenhouse gas emissions. Firms that manufacture equipment for alternative energies such as wind and solar power will now seek to exploit local and national policies concerning clean energy to boost sales.

The article reports that Royal Dutch Shell PLC is looking to sell various onshore petroleum-production assets in Nigeria. Over a several-year period the firm has lost hundreds of millions of dollars of profit due to attacks on their facilities by militant forces. Royal Dutch Shell will retain its natural-gas assets in the country, as well as its interests in offshore petroleum production.

The article reports that the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries is expected to keep its current production level steady when it meets in Luanda, Angola in December 2009. The cartel is facing problems heading into 2010 due to the increase in oil prices and the need for some members to increase production. The excess oil resulting from the weak demand was reduced by the cartel by cutting at least 2.4 million barrels a day of production in 2009.

This section offers news briefs related to the efforts of Copenhagen in Denmark to address climate change as of December 16, 2009. A Christmas tree project in the City Hall Square allows volunteers to sit on stationary bikes around the tree and pedal away to keep it lit. Nobuo Tanaka, head of the International Energy Agency, asserted that large amounts of private finance is more helpful than smaller amounts of public funding in implementing global emission cuts.

The article reports on the expected increase in global oil demand in 2010 due to rise of economic activity in China according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). The forecast was based on the increase in Chinese industrial production by 19% in November 2009. IEA adds that global consumers will burn oil on average 86.3 million barrels a day. The outlook is said to be more optimistic compared to the ones of the U.S. Energy Information Administration and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).