Drilling & production

Standard and Poor’s has raised Qatar’s credit rating to AA, based on strong growth prospects in the LNG sector.

Anglo American plc has announced that it has entered into a conditional agreement to sell its interests in five undeveloped coal assets in Australia for A$580 million (approximately US$500 million) in cash.

Beach Energy has signed an MOU with ITOCHU to co-operate on an LNG project that will be supplied by Beach’s onshore gas reserves.

Banpu is to acquire Centennial coal for US$ 2 billion.

Poland could potentially be sitting on a shale boom if the unconventional resources can be tapped.

Abengo Solar have been offered the conditional loan guarantee to build the world’s largest concentrated solar power plant in Arizona.

Following constructive discussions with the mining industry, Australia's newly appointed prime minister, Julia Gillard, has moved to scrap the controversial Resource Super Profits Tax (RSPT), replacing it with a Mineral Resource Rent Tax (MRRT).

The Exmar consortium, which won the contract to build an LNG terminal in Jamaica, is having to defend itself against allegations of impropriety in the bidding process.

National Coal Corp. has started construction of Mine 12, which is expected to produce up to 40,000 t of coal per month when completed.

Venezuela has won the OPEC’s first ever international quiz, as part of celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the group’s formation.

Xcel Energy has started its demonstration plant to showcase the viability of such a hybrid plant.

Senate action on domestic energy sources imperils jobs and economic growth.

Subsea UK is calling for greater support from the UK government to support the sector and help promote its future growth.

The Department of Energy and the Department of the Interior have announced an MOU, which will strengthen the two departments working relationship on offshore renewables.

Foreign firms have started to leave Iran as new economic sanctions come into force.