The global focus on reducing greenhouse gases and promoting renewable energy cannot be ignored in today’s business environment. Whether your business deals directly in energy or not, EU green policy-making is likely to affect your costs: transport, shipping, heating, electricity - all are ultimately affected by EU legislation on energy and climate change. In March 2007, the Council of the European Union agreed a new Energy Policy ...
These Regulations transpose the EU Directive 2008/101/EC ("the Aviation Directive") which extends the EU Emissions Trading Scheme ("ETS") to aviation activities. The previous 2009 Regulations [S.I. No. 274 of 2009], which partially transposed the Aviation Directive, are revoked. All flights arriving at and departing from EU airports will be included in the ETS from 2012 ...
1. Industry Structure and Market Portugal is usually looked at as a potential oil-producing country attracting industry players on a regular basis to carry out prospection activities due to the extension of its coast. In fact, several public agencies and experts have identified the Portuguese off-shore and on-shore as having oil producing potential ...
as published in West Virginia Executive magazine, June 2011The past few years have been an exciting time for oil and gas operators. The Marcellus Shale, previously uneconomical to produce, has been unlocked through the deployment of advanced drilling techniques, namely horizontal drilling and large-volume hydraulic fracturing ...
On 20 December 2010, the Government issued Government Regulation No. 78 of 2010 on Reclamation and Post Mining Activities (“GR No. 78”). It is the fourth Government Regulation issued pursuant to Law No. 4 of 2009 on Mineral and Coal Mining, along with several lower level regulations. Under GR No ...
Introduction Sustainable energy use has a significant place in Ukraine's energy policy. The Energy Strategy to 2030 and the Economic Reform Programme for 2010 to 2014 both identify switching to alternative energy sources and achieving greater energy efficiency as key priorities ...
Argentina has great geological potential and a very attractive regulatory framework that provides mining companies with important incentives, such as a 30-year fiscal stability period and several tax exemptions. However, in 2010, the Argentine mining industry faced certain issues prompted by regulatory trends in order to address social, environmental, and economic concerns towards mining ...
On 5th May 2011, the Italian Government approved the much¨Cexpected Ministerial Decree (the ¡°Decree¡±), establishing new tariffs for photovoltaic plants (¡°Photovoltaic Plants¡±) entering into operation from 1st June 2011 and until 31st December 2016. The Decree was published in the Official Gazette on 12th May 2011 and entered in force on 13th May 2011 ...
Recent decisions of the Australian Competition Tribunal provide an opportunity to reflect on the efficiency and cost effectiveness of limited merits review under the National Electricity Law (NEL) ...
The 2011 Regular Session of the West Virginia Legislature began and progressed in the midst of a frenzy of media attention focused on natural gas production activities in the Marcellus Shale formation and allegations of inadequate regulatory programs to assure proper State oversight of these operations ...
Introduction Based on the final report submitted on September 29 2009 by a working group established by the Ministry of Employment and the Economy, on March 11 2010 the government submitted a draft for proposal to Parliament on new legislation in relation to a feed-in tariff system for electricity produced by renewable energy ...
For the third year in row, Václav Rovenský and Ján Béreš prepared an up-to-date overview of Czech legal regulations in the electricity sector for the worldwide publication Getting the Deal Through – Electricity Regulation 2011. The overview summarizes the current regulations of the electricity business in the Czech Republic and focuses inter alia on topics relating to the determination of electricity prices in the Czech Republic ...
The Québec mining industry is currently at the forefront of discussion, particularly in light of:* the publication of a study on the mineral industry cluster’s contribution to socio‑economic development in Québec, which occurred during the Mining Week (April 26th to May 2nd) organized by, among others, the Québec Mining Association and the Québec Mineral Exploration Association; a copy of this study is available on their website;(1)* the Fraser Institute A
by Ronald W. SchulerAccording to insiders, with regard to a Pennsylvania severance tax, Governor Corbett will be holding firm on “no state tax, no local fee,” although it is likely that the legislature will nevertheless offer up a “local impact assessment” bill ...
by Andrew B. McCallisterAs the West Virginia Legislature passes the midway point of the 2011 Regular Session, oil and gas issues remain hot topics with several bills having the potential to directly impact Marcellus Shale operators. Perhaps most significantly are two bills (SB 258/HB2878 and SB 424/HB 3042) that would substantially alter the current regulatory regime for Marcellus Shale permitting in West Virginia ...
by Allyn G. TurnerOn February 8, 2011, the EPA sent a draft copy of its plan for studying the impact of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water to the Science Advisory Board for review and comment. As proposed, EPA’s plan would involve a “cradle to the grave” study of the practice, from the impacts of the withdrawals of water used to fracture a well to the ultimate disposal of the frac water flowback ...
Pooling. This word is on the lips of almost every operator working in the Marcellus Shale. Depending on where you stand on the issue, pooling is either a necessity to allow for the efficient recovery of the resource or a dastardly scheme meant to allow big operators to run roughshod over small operators and small mineral owners ...
A overview of natural Gas Sector and a brief outline of Nigeria’s natural gas sector, including a general description of: natural gas reserves; natural gas production including the extent to which production is associated or non-associated natural gas; import and export of natural gas, including liquefied natural gas (LNG) liquefaction and export facilities, and/or receiving and re-gasification facilities (“LNG facilities”); natural gas pipeline
Effective September 1, 2010, the Texas Railroad Commission issued new regulations for oil and gas operators related to inactive onshore wells and associated equipment pursuant to House Bill 22591 which dramatically changed requirements for extension of plugging obligations for inactive wells. Certain aspects of the regulations and the original law currently are under review, and amendments to HB 2259 are expected to be introduced in the current legislative session ...
The 2011 Session of the West Virginia Legislature promises to be one of the most interesting in the state's history. The passing of U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd in 2010 has led to a series of corresponding leadership changes in West Virginia's state and federal delegations. Further, perceived incongruities between state succession laws and West Virginia's Constitution have led interested parties to seek input and clarification from the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals ...
In the 2011 legislative session, Pennsylvania's new Republican governor, Tom Corbett, and its largely Republican legislature are likely to pick up where the last session left off with regard to Marcellus Shale issues ...
In a move that indicates significant regulatory changes may be coming to deepwater operations, federal authorities are eyeing new rules curtailing venting of natural gas in the Gulf of Mexico ...
In line with the national long term program to improve the mining and energy sectors to support the development of the country, as well as to ensure that the supply of energy and mineral resources to the domestic market can be met, the Government of Indonesia has been working hard to expedite the process to issue new regulations in the mining and energy sectors ...
