JANUARY, 2006

January 27
Nigeria hostage talks making progress: Obasanjo
Reuters

China Faulted for Africa Oil Deals
RFA

Libya is turning the tables on big oil
Reuters

Hardliner heads up Bolivian energy ministry
Daily Journal

ExxonMobil will pay compensation for undrilled Caspian well
Oil & Gas Journal

US plans reform of scrutiny panel to reassure investors
FT

Turkmenistani Pres firing officials for corruption, polygamy
ITAR-TASS

January 23
Reform Oil Revenue Account, Group Urges Nigeria FG
This Day

Foreign aid adds to rising graft - study
Mining Weekly

Sham island company is caught up in Congo oil trading scandal
Royal Gazette

Report: Venezuela Oil Co. Delays Filing
AP

Nigerian militants say hostages will be freed soon
AP

Corruption has brought poverty to Congo people
Royal Gazette

Opinion - Jamaica: Reviewing MPs' contracts with gov't
Jamaica Observer

January 20
"Missing Barrels" Reveal Bad Data - report
dBusinessNews

S. America leaders talk pipeline project
AP

Indonesia seeking oil and gas investors
Oil & Gas Journal

West Africa: China Tours Region to Boost Strategic Ties
IRIN

Analysis: Sino-Japanese oil rivalry spills into Africa
Energy Security

Group Promotes Energy Integration and Cooperation in The Americas
VOA

Vermont poised to get discounted oil from Venezuela
AP

January 18
OPEC may cut oil output: Venezuela
Xinhuanet

Chad's Cycle of Instability Gains Momentum
PINR

Azerbaijan: IMF ‘Did not Demand’ Oil Products Price Hike
Baku Today

Dubai Mercantile Exchange announces developments in creation of new International Energy Exchange
Dubai Mercantile Exchange (press release)

Chad urges World Bank to reconsider suspension of loans
IRIN

Qatar on cutting edge of an alternative to oil
New York Times

Venezuela, France stress oil technology co-op
Xinhuanet

Kazakhstan gets 1st production bonus from Agip KCO
New Europe

Poland’s Orlen refiner to invest billions in oil extraction
New Europe

January 17
Nigeria: Shell Begins Evacuation of Staff, NEITI probes oil firms over $541m tax underpayment
This Day

Gulf states told to use extra oil income to diversify their economies
Trade Arabia

Ecuador reviews Jamaican oil deal
Jamaica Observer

Venezuela Tax Chief Reports Oil Back Taxes
AP

Opinion: One Small Step for Mexican Transparency
mexidata.info

Extractive industry audit indicts govt agencies
Tide

Legislative forum tackles security, corruption issues
Jakarta Post

Co-operation among oil producers and consumers to stabilise price volatility
Khaleej Times

Heavily indebted oil refinery Rafo disputed by two owners
Bucharest Daily News

January 13
Nigeria unveils oil accounts to combat corruption
Reuters

TT’s PM asked to rethink post Petro Caribe strategy
Radio Jamaica

World Bank shuts Chad oil account
BBC

Hunt, Repsol Begin Building $2 Bln Peru Gas Plant
Bloomberg

Nigerian state impeaches governor
BBC

Nigerian oil corruption rising
UPI

Max bags Kazakhstan exploration contract
Sharecast

China's CNOOC declines to comment on reported bid for Kazakhstan oil company
AFX

Chinese minister visits Senegal to cement relations
Reuters

Rights forum to expose "corruption"
newKerala.com

January 12
Trinidad & Tobago PM Manning anticipates more govt officials on corruption charges
Radio Jamaica

James Giffen's lawyers demand that all charges be dropped because he corrupted Kazakh officials in the interests of the United States
ferghana.ru

Nigeria to make $1 billion annually from China – Obasanjo
Daily Independent

Maine, Venezuela reach oil deal
Portland Press Herald

Indian oil minister visits China on January 12-13
IRNA

Kazakhstan confirms plans to join BTC project
Interfax

Kazakhstan to invest $ 1 billion in Georgian economy
AKIpress

January 11
Energy minister arrested on bribery charges - Trinidad & Tobago
Bnamericas.com

Third and Fourth Reviews Under Senegal's PRGF Arrangement
IMF (press release)

Russian, Kazakh leaders set to discuss energy cooperation
RIA Novosti

State provides details of Venezuelan heating oil aid
AP

Kazakhstan confirms intention to purchase Lithuania's oil complex
RIA Novosti

Commentary: Combating corruption in Nigeria
Tide Online

January 10
Sao Tome Opens Inquiry Into Presidential Corruption
VOA

Turkmenistan's secrecy clouds gas deal
New York Times

Trinidad and Tobago: NAR slams Govt over corruption
Express

Chinese Energy Giant to Buy Stake in Nigerian Oil Field
New York Times

Kazakhstan, China set to up trade by $4bln
RIA Novosti

January 9
Second Trinidad minister to resign on fraud charges
New Executive Times

World Bank Cuts Off Aid To Chad in Oil Dispute
Washington Post

Paris Club Offers Nigeria Debt Relief - For a Price
IPS

Nigerian gov't, firms plan 54 million dollar oil investment
Xinhua

Iran: Drilling 1st oil well in SP phases 9, 10 continues
IranMania

January 6
Azerbaijan eyes Iran as Baku seeks to diversify energy imports
EurasiaNet

Rise in re-exports to boost Dubai's non-oil business
Khaleej Times

Peru Presidential Candidate Humala Proposes Higher Oil Taxes
Bloomberg

Commentary: How not to convert gas to power
International Herald Tribune

Analysis - Turmoil in Latin America: Implications for the Natural Resources Industries
NGO Research Group

Production Begins at West Azeri in the Caspian Sea
US Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce

Nippon Steel, JFE Group Win Saudi Aramco Pipe Order
Bloomberg

Kazakhstan: BMB Munai, Inc. Granted Oil Export Quota
BMB Munai, Inc. (press release)

January 5
Sao Tome faces alleged wrongdoing in license awards
Oil & Gas Journal

Nigerian presidential hopeful in looted funds probe
Reuters

Gross' secretary Dolezel did ask for bribe-parliamentary watchdog
CTK

Chevron has deepwater Gulf of Mexico strike
Oil & Gas Journal

Envoys Say Gas Crisis Hurt West's Relations With Russia
New York Times

Prices for oil products fall 18% in Tajikistan
Kazakhstan Today

Venezuela's Tax Agency May Expand Audits
AP

Petrolifera to invest $32M in South America projects in 2006; expects $80M in cash flow
Cnadian Press

January 4
Sao Tome to Make Public Reaction to Oil Probe
Vanguard

Iran shakes up oil ministry
Reuters

Ukraine Concedes It Took Gas From Pipeline but Says It Had the Contractual Right
New York Times

Bolivia to get Venezuelan oil, cash
CNN

ExxonMobil to Pay $50 Million of Compensation to Azerbaijan
Baku Today

Atasu-Alashankou pipeline cements "strategic alliance" between Beijing and Astana
Eurasia Daily Monitor

Corruption seeping into Norwegian life
Aftenposten

January 3
Opinion: Beating the 'curse' of natural riches
Los Angeles Times

Chad Dilutes Oil-For-Development Pledge
IPS

US Oil Companies Re-Enter Libya
VOA

Colombian rebels bomb oil wells, energy tower
Reuters

Nigerian troops kill 12 at pipeline
UPI

Dwindling Debt Boosts Argentine Leader
New York Times

EDP's Talone says to stay on as CEO until 2005 accounts approved
AFX

January 2
World Bank's Wolfowitz faces corruption in Chad
Washington Post

32 oil fields returned to Venezuela's control
AP

Thailand: Government declares war on corruption throughout 2006
TNA

Commentary: Complex and Deep-Rooted Nature of Corruption in Yemen
Yemen Observer

Indonesia: Govt Makes Progress In Fighting Corruption : President
Antara

Iran: No change in Azadegan oil contract
Persian Journal

Analysis: Energy and the new world power play
BBC