Economics

Climate change threatens millions of children with hunger
Geoffrey York

Johannesburg — From Wednesday's Globe and Mail
Tuesday, Sep. 29, 2009

Malnutrition will strike another 25 million children in the world's poorest countries if climate change continues unabated, a new study says.

Africa and South Asia will be the hardest-hit regions as rising temperatures lead to lower crop yields and higher prices for basic food staples such as wheat, rice and maize, according to the study to be released Wednesday by the International Food Policy Research Institute.

Oil sands: bruised, but not out

The oil-price collapse took some steam out of the boom in Canada's energy sector. Development is likely to proceed at a more sedate pace

September 2009 - Analysis - Natural gas
A transport fuel with a future
Petroleum Economist
September 28, 2009

Concerns over energy supply security, greenhouse-gas emissions and oil-price volatility are generating greater interest in natural gas vehicles, writes Ian Lewis

NATURAL gas has long been a popular fuel for fleet vehicles in South America. But new legislation is set to encourage the use of natural gas vehicles (NGVs) in the US – which could be a boost for Latin American NGV manufacturers.

Oil pipeline to West Coast makes 'strategic sense'

Syncrude chief says proposal would diversify Alberta's markets

Lisa Schmidt
Victoria Times Colonist
September 19, 2009

The head of Canada's biggest oilsands producer says a pipeline to the West
Coast makes strategic sense to help diversify Alberta's export markets.

But Tom Katinas, chief executive of Syncrude Canada Ltd., told the Global
Business Forum in Banff., that the U.S. will remain Canada's key buyer.

"I would love to see a pipeline that goes from Alberta out to the West

Good to see Ms Francis up to her usual turgid nonsense.

-M

Oil sands need positive spin

Diane Francis, Financial Post
September 19, 2009

Alberta and Canada have an image problem and it's called the oil sands. Non-government organizations such as Greenpeace and others have made these gigantic open-pit mining operations their current whipping boy. And by deploying hyperbole or inaccuracies, these organizations are winning the public relations game in the United States where the lion's share of this oil is destined.

OPTI, in partnership with Nexen, is parented by Israeli corporation Ormat (who also own many shares in the ostensibly Canadian OPTI) and uses the worst climate changing form of procedure available-- borrowed from Ormat who patented it in historical Palestine as "Or Crude", called "cogeneration" in Canada. It's a procedure of burning the waste gunk from the bottom of a previously extracted barrel to power the operations of getting more bitumen.

Inuvik businesses hit by MGM Energy's drilling delay
Friday, September 18, 2009
CBC News

  Some businesses in Inuvik, N.W.T., have less work lined up for the coming months after a Canadian gas exploration company said it won't explore in the region this winter.

MGM Energy Corp. announced this week that it will postpone drilling in the Mackenzie Delta region in the 2009-10 winter drilling season, citing continued uncertainty surrounding the proposed Mackenzie Valley natural gas pipeline project.

Alberta Clipper oil pipeline project creates housing crunch in Bemidji
Posted: Sep 16, 2009

BEMIDJI, Minn. (AP) -- The influx of workers building the new Alberta Clipper oil pipeline across northern Minnesota has meant a shortage of rental housing in the Bemidji area.

Some homeowners are renting rooms to pipeline workers and a local hotel that's been closed for several years may reopen as construction activity ramps up.

NWT minister bullish on both Arctic gas pipelines
Fri Sep 18, 2009
By Yereth Rosen

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Despite economic recession, financial skittishness and emergence of alterative supplies, the energy minister for Canada's Northwest Territories said Thursday he is confident the huge gas pipelines from both the Mackenzie Valley and Alaska's North Slope will be built and will supply North American markets.

Mackenzie delays prompt MGM to put Arctic drilling plans on ice this winter

By Lauren Krugel (CP)
September 17, 2009

CALGARY — MGM Energy Corp. (TSX:MGM), a junior company focused on exploiting natural gas in the high Arctic, is putting its drilling plans on ice this winter as uncertainty persists around the development of the Mackenzie pipeline.

"With really nothing going ahead, we just couldn't justify spending the money and drilling the wells," Henry Sykes, president of the Calgary-based company told an energy conference hosted by Calgary brokerage Peters & Co. Wednesday.