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Kazakhstan president Nursultan Nazarbayev and French president Nicolas Sarkozy have signed oil and gas agreements. A deal has been reached on French participation in the main export oil pipeline from the Caspian Sea to Europe. Meanwhile, Total and GDF Suez have signed a deal to acquire 50 percent of KazMunaiGas' stake in Kharvalynskoye gas field.

Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni said no oil and gas agreements will be made without his approval. The move stemmed from problems between the Ugandan government and Heritage Oil. Comments from officials are also included.

Militants belonging to the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta have threatened to attack the proposed Trans-Saharan gas pipeline project. The group is responsible for numerous attacks on the Nigeria's oil and gas installations, resulting in a drop in the country's oil production to 1.8 million barrels/day.

Business Monitor International has forecasted only a 0.6 percent increase in global oil consumption in 2009. North American demand is seen to decrease by at least 520,000 b/d. Oil production in 2009 has been forecasted to increase by just 0.4 percent.

Colombia-based Ecopetrol will join Pacific Rubiales, Petrominerales and other oil firms in building an oil pipeline. The pipeline will be the largest of its kind in Colombia. Ecopetrol will hold a 55 percent stake in the company that will build the pipeline. The company's partners have paid a total of $139.5 million for their combined stakes.

The US Department of State announced that it will monitor energy agreements between Iran and Venezuela to ensure compliance with international sanctions. Venezuela and Iran agreed to form a joint oil shipping company, to jointly construct petrochemical plants, and to allow a Venezuelan presence in the South Pars gas field.

Norway launched its 2010 oil and gas licensing round for predefined areas, particularly on the country's continental shelf. The round coincided with the release of the Norwegian Police Security annual report warning of intelligence activity conducted by other countries against the oil and gas industry.

Indonesia has awarded five oil and gas blocks to several companies. Talisman Energy Inc. has received exploration rights for the Andaman III block. Meanwhile, Niko Resources and Black Gold Energy won rights to the Halmahera Kofiau, East Bula and West Papua IV blocks.

The al-Qaeda terrorist group has vowed to target China's oil and gas interest around the world. The development is in connection with the deaths of Muslims in the province of Xinjiang. Attacks are seen to target Chinese engineers and security forces. The threat has prompted oil firms to operate under heavy security.

Tullow Oil PLC announced the discovery of oil in the Ugandan side of the Lake Albert rift basin. The company is negotiating with Congo to reacquire exploration rights to two blocks in the Congo side of the basin. Chinese oil companies are looking to acquire stakes in the blocks in the Ugandan side of Lake Albert.

US crude oil production will increase to 7.92 million barrels/day by 2017, reducing oil imports to 13.79 million barrels/day. Natural gas production will rise to 570 billion cubic meters by 2018. The US will also account for 87.42% of gas consumption, 74.35% of gas production, 89.87% of oil demand, and 65.63% of oil supply by 2012.

Data on Latin American and Mexican oil and natural gas trade, consumption and production, as well as prices, are provided. Mexican oil production is projected to decline to 3 million barrels/day by 2015, while gas production is forecast to rise to 70 billion cubic meters by 2018.

The BMI Saudi Arabia Oil & Gas Report projects that Saudi Arabia will account for 20.93% of oil demand and 40.71% of oil supply in the Middle East. The report also included consumption, production, and price forecasts for oil and natural gas, and Saudi economic growth.

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of Indonesia announced the award of 22 out of 25 oil and gas blocks offered to investors. Companies winning the blocks intend to invest $330 million during the first three years of exploration. The Indonesian government opened a new tender for 31 oil and gas blocks.

Moschanco Investment Group 2000 chief executive officer Gennady Moshkovich says members of the oil and gas industries should sponsor research and development in alternative technologies. The industries are also seen to grow through diversification.

Members of the petroleum and gas industry have forecasted a decrease in production from their operations in Indonesia. PT Chevron Pacific Indonesia has cited aging fields and seasonal floods as the cause of the decline in its production. The Indonesian government has expressed concern over lost revenue from the production decline.

Japan and Iraq agreed to cooperate on different projects aimed at rebuilding the Iraqi oil and gas industry. Japan loaned 2.1 billion yen to help build refinery and export facilities in and around Basra, Iraq. The Japan Bank for International Cooperation signed loan agreements totaling 57.7 billion and 182.7 billion yen to help restore war-damaged facilities, including oil and gas facilities.

Senior Indonesian government officials and top foreign oil and gas company executives met to discuss changes to the cost recovery process. The Indonesian government aims to increase its oil and gas revenue share by reducing payments for exploration and production expenses to foreign oil and gas companies.

Colombia's oil and gas industries have increased production owing to the decline in the power of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebel group. Thirteen FARC members were killed during a military raid. Meanwhile, Ecopetrol has partnered with international firms to build an oil pipeline.

BP PLC partners in the Macondo oil well Anadarko Petroleum Corp. and Mitsui Oil Exploration still refuse to pay for the costs of the oil spill. Anadarko chief executive officer Jim Hackett said the oil spill was the result of BP's reckless decision and actions. Mitsui, on the other hand, it will not pay pending identification of the spill's cause.

Yemini officials said the country remains safe for investment despite local al-Qaeda terrorist's targeting of international oil and gas firms. Prime minister Ali Muhammad Mujawar said the government can eradicate terrorist activities in the country. The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation said the security situation in Yemen has deteriorated.

Westmont Resources Inc. will acquire 92 wells at the Chattanooga shale region from AG Oil and Gas. The estimated value of probable reserves has been pegged over $200 million. Comments from executives are also presented.

Tullow Oil PLC signed a heads of agreement with Staatsoilie Maatschappij Suriname NV regarding the exploration of a 2,369-square kilometer deepwater block off the Suriname coast. Tullow will have a 100% interest during the exploration phase, while Staatsoilie can participate during the development and production phases with a 20% interest.

Gunther Oettinger, energy commissioner of the European Union, declared that the EU and the Ukrainian government agreed to intensify cooperation on energy. He also opposed a proposal by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to merge Gazprom and Naftogaz Ukrainy.

ExxonMobil Indonesia signed a memorandum of understanding to supply natural gas to state-owned PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara and PT Perusahaan Gas Negara. The natural gas will be produced from the Jambaran field in Cepu block.

The British government announced up to 12 billion pounds sterling worth of tax incentives for the development of oil and gas reserves in Shetland. The country's Department of Energy and Climate Change announced a new round of offshore licensing.

The Indonesian government has announced a plan to attract oil and gas facilities investments. About 70 percent of the government spending budget is targeted for investments in gas facilities. The country's oil production currently lags behind domestic demand growth.

Iran's decision to give the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command over naval operations in the Persian Gulf is seen to impact the oil and gas industries. The move is seen as a strategy to block international access to vital sea lanes in the event of a war. It is seen to impact the movement of oil exports.

Turkmenistan's government moved to increase the production of its oil and gas industry by firing several top state oil and gas officials. These officials were accused of inefficiency and were found to have overstated deposits in the country's South Yolatan field.

The Venezuelan government is requiring oil and gas industry workers to support the socialist revolution for them to keep their jobs. Pending talks with workers is set to establish a three-year collective bargaining agreement on pay and benefits. Workers who refuse to join the socialist revolution will be suspected of conspiring against the government.

Terrorist organizations have been targeting the Canadian oil and gas industries. Threat groups include individual saboteurs, ecoterrorists and the Metis people. The country's expansion of oil and gas pipelines is seen as a reason for the development.

The government of Brazil is planning to make changes to the country's oil and gas law. A government panel has been tasked to work on the proposed changes. A new company would manage development of reserves and production-sharing agreements.

The Venezuelan government's policies are seen to adversely affect the country's oil and gas industries. The recent expropriation of 76 petroleum firms in the country has resulted in decreased production. Nationalization policies have also increased state debts.

Oi l and gas companies stand to benefit from an agreement by Malaysia and Brunei over their long-disputed maritime boundary. The two countries established a commercial arrangement area where they would share oil and gas revenues.

The Indonesian government drafted new rules reducing national expenditure on upstream oil and gas operations. Natural gas transmission pipelines and liquefied natural gas export terminals will be redefined as downstream components under the new rules, allowing the government to reduce payments to contractors.

Japan and Venezuela agreed to invest $33.5 billion in the development of Venezuelan oil and gas projects for Japanese markets. The two countries plan to cooperate in 12 projects through 2014, supplying Japan with 1 million barrels/day of oil.

Japanese prime minister Taro Aso said the Sakhalin 2 oil and gas project between Japan and Russia is an example of mutual advantageous cooperation. But Moscow has threatened to abandon the project in its early stage. Russia's Gazprom has acquired a majority stake in the project.

State-owned Sonatrach of Algeria is going to join Peruvian state-owned oil firm Petroperu in hydrocarbon exploration and production efforts. The Peruvian government seeks the help of the Algerian company in the development and operation of petrochemical and natural gas plants.

Sino Union Petroleum and Chemical International Ltd. expects oil and gas production to start in its primary onshore block in Madagascar. The oil and gas industry has been adversely affected by the local political situation. Other firms such as Madagascar Oil has also boosted the reserve estimates for its Tsimiroro project.

Indonesia's oil and gas production will continue to decline in 2009, analyst BMI has reported. The country's crude volumes have been dropping steadily to 800,000 b/d. Indonesia is also seen to account for 4.32 percent of Asia-Pacific regional oil demand by 2013.

BMI has reported that major risks involving attacks on oil installations can affect Iraq's targeted annual oil production. Iraq is aiming to produce 500,000 b/d annually. Meanwhile, Iraqi gas production is seen to increase to 35 billion cu m by the end of the 2007-2018 period.

Cairn Energy PLC is planning to defer its oil and gas exploration activity in the Mediterranean to focus on Greenland. The company will use its cash flow from India to fund its Greenland drilling projects. Meanwhile, Greenland voters are asking for more independence from Denmark to get their share of revenue from natural resources.

The Indonesian government will order oil and gas companies to keep funds for energy projects in Indonesian banks in an attempt to increase liquidity and halt decline in the rupiah. The country plans to spend more than $11 billion in 2008 and $12 billion in 2009 to finance oil and gas projects.

The Russian government is seen to oppose the United States and its allies' attempts to extract oil and gas from the Caspian and Central Asia. It has also attempted to influence the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and Latin America through a memorandum of understanding. But it said closer ties with OPEC will not affect markets.

The oil and gas industry must also show concern for the plight of the polar bears, which have been designated as a threatened species. Oil and gas industry groups sued the US Department of Interior over a rule over business activities that might harm the polar bear.

Oil executive Mikhail Khodorkovsky's imprisonment is seen to represent the Russian government's future treatment of other members of the oil and gas industry. Sakhalin Energy stakeholders have been forced to sell majority shares to OAO Gazprom. It has also been trying to oust TNK-BP chief executive officer Robert Dudley.

Colombian soldiers successfully freed about 15 hostages held by the rebel group Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC). The Colombian oil and gas industry also got a boost when the government announced an auction of rights to more than 100 oil and gas exploration blocks.

Turkmenistan is allowing international oil companies to develop oil and gas deposits in the Caspian Sea under production-sharing agreements. The country, however, is retaining the right to develop onshore oil and gas deposits.

A report by Business Monitor International expects Venezuela to provide 28.24% of the Latin American oil supply while accounting for only 8.04% of the region's oil demand by 2011. The country is also expected to produce 17.50% of the region's gas supply and account for 17.92% of regional demand by the same year.

Turkmenistan president Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov is contemplating changes in the administration of the country's oil and gas industry. He is disappointed with the country's oil and gas output, citing underproduction and lack of technological innovation.