Energydesk

Open data: Leaked documents show UK support for EU tar sands imports

Leaked government position documents seen by Energydesk reveal that the UK government is opposed to attempts by the EU to limit the use of Tar Sands in transport fuels. The documents - which we've uploaded in a open, searchable form - lay out the government's position on the EU's Fuel Quality Directive - an ongoing negotiation in which the position of the UK and Germany are key. Charlie Kronick explains what is at stake. 

UK

Oil rigging backlash starts (mail)
The Daily Mail, Telegraph and others report that oil companies will face 'the full force of the law' if they are found guilty of price rigging. Indeed, according to some reports, executives should even face jail. 

The reports come amidst allegations of a 'limp wristed' previous investigation by the UK's office of fair trading which failed to find any evidence of market manipulation and suggestions that BP had previously lobbied against regulation of the price setting market.

In it's editorial the FT follows the line of most of the energy press in calling for greater regulation and over-sight of the currently largely unregulated process used for setting the price of oil.

BP to ask for help with Gulf payments (BBC)
In a move of spectacularly unfortunate timing the BBC reports that BP wants the Prime Minister to intervene to help it fight what it deems to be excessive compensation claims following the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Robert Peston has learned the firm feels its financial recovery is in jeopardy because of abuse of the compensation system it established after the spill. One has to wonder if now was the best time to bring this up however.

Carbon capture to be competitive by 2020s
Technology to capture and store carbon dioxide from coal and gas power plants could be competative with other forms of energy - which will by then be far more expensive - by the mid 2020s according to the UK's carbon capture and stroage cost reduction task force. However the group identified a gap in both the policy needed to achieve this and the funding to pay for it. 

Global

Japan to close reactor above fault line
Japan's new nuclear regulator is set to permenantly close one of the country's reactors because it runs above an earthquake fault line. A decision to close the Tsuruga nuclear plant would be the first since the 2011 Fukushima disaster which temporarily shut down most of Japan's reactors during a review of safety.  However it may also signal that other reactors could be allowed to re-open.

Quebec to ban fracking
The new government in Quebec is to propose a moratorium on fracking lasting five years. The moratorium would apply to a region supposed to be rich in shale gas deposits and comes after public opposition to fracking in the state. 

Carbon Brief has looked into the claimed local environmental impacts of fracking which focus around concerns about earthquakes, water and local disruption. . 

Climate

70 cm sea level rise by 2100
Reports yesterday that climate change would cause a sea level rise of 70cm by 2100 has caused confusion in the press. Is this better or worse than feared? Carbon Brief investigates.