Damian's energy dispatch

Energydesk

Cuadrilla is looking for unconventional oil in Balcombe
Documents from the company and sources contacted by Energydesk suggest the exploratory drilling is expected to find reserves of 'tight oil'. 

UK 

Fuel poverty advisor calls for fracking debate
Dereck Lickorish, a member of the government's Fuel Poverty Action Group has said that fuel poverty needs to be considered in the debate over fracking which - he claims - may reduce gas prices.

UK oil and gas output to continue falling
A sharp fall in Britain’s oil and gas output is set to persist into next year, as maintenance concerns over ageing infrastructure in the North Sea delay a resurgence in production.

Thorium?
It's the future, apparently. 

World

Fukushima situation worsens
Japan is to issue its gravest warning about the state of the wrecked Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant since the facility suffered a triple meltdown almost two and a half years ago. Reuters report that China, which is pursuing its own nuclear ambitions, has expressed shock at the news. 

China oil demand set to take off
The FT report that Wood Mackenzie, the energy consultant, has said China is on track to spend $500bn a year on crude oil imports by 2020, in one of the most bullish forecasts yet of oil demand growth in the world’s second-largest economy.

Campaigners criticise rules on biomass
Draft proposals to regulate the use of biomass to generate energy, critics say, place the European Union on track to repeat the mistakes it made in its policy on biofuels, increasingly seen as doing more harm than good.