STUFF

Marathon Oil got exploration deal in Kenya.

World corn prices up 55% in last 6 weeks to new record ~$8/bu. US capacity to distill corn ethanol now approaching the 15B gal/y Congress mandate. Eth currently provides ~10% of US "gas" supply.

S Korea's top grain importer asking US to cut corn supply for biofuels because of drought. US supplies over 80% of S Korea's corn. They need their corn.

Morocco officials likely to form partnership with Saud's Intl Comp for Water & Power to develop 160MW solar project for ~$500M.

Fisherman's Energy got final permit needed to start bldg wind farm offshore Atlantic City.

American manufacturers importing workers. Shortage of skilled American workers. Where's the job training? Trade school grads in hot demand for manufacturing jobs.

UK Treasury not willing to back contracts (using country's AAA rating) to spur clean E. Energy minister resigned.

US rounded up 20 countries to take part in mine sweeping exercise in Straits of Hormuz.

Abu Dhabi started exporting its first crude from pipeline that bypasses Hormuz. Shipping oil from neighbor Fujairah to Pakistan.

Venezuela says Chevron plans to invest $2B to boost petrol production of Venezuela oil field.

France's new energy minister says govt will stick to its opposition to fracking, banned by previous admin last year.

Israel navy looking to spend $756M on 4 new warships to bolster protection of E Mediterranean NG bonanza.

Motor vehicles in China up 3.7% over last year. Over 233M, near half motorcycles.

India will need to import 185M tons of coal per year by '17.

Brazil agency said it will fine Chevron $25M for Nov oil spill.

Poet and Royal DSM joint venture finalized $250M finance for cellulosic ethanol plant in Iowa. Expected ready for '13 harvest.

SAT (Brazil) to build plant to produce biofuels from seaweed at industrial scale. Online by late '13. Will produce 1.2M liters/y of algae-based fuel. Will use CO2 emissions from nearby sugarcane ethanol production as 2nd feedstock.

EIA forecasts oil under $100 through '13.

EC report: global GHG emissions up 3% in '11 to all-time high 34B tons. China the most - 29% of total, up from 9% in '10. US 2nd at 16%, a 2% decrease from '10.

BP: Turkmenistan's proven NG reserves increased to 24.3T cubic meters, almost double the '10 estimate. Almost 12% of global reserves, matching Qatar.

From '80 to '08, SO2 and NO emissions from US industry was cut 57%. From power plants 40%, even though el use was up 85% in same period and use of coal tripled. EPA estimates $9.6B cost to comply now with new mercury emission standards can be justified by estimated $90B/y savings in healthcare costs.