A blog for Ralph Allen geographers
The government seized control of key levers in the energy sector today in an attempt to kickstart a stalling “green energy” revolution and head off the threats of global warming and a rundown in North Sea oil.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/jul/15/labour-green-energy-revolution-plan
Militants in Nigeria’s oil-producing region say they have blown up a major pipeline belonging to Italian energy firm Agip.
The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) is an association of oil-producing nations set up in 1960 with the express purpose of influencing oil prices by controlling supply. Things have changed a great deal for the cartel in recent years.
The importance of oil to global economies has been brought into focus as prices reach $100 a barrel. Follow the links for a snapshot of the industry and how reserves, consumption and trade differ around the world.
The amount of proven oil reserves awaiting to be exploited fell last year for the first time in a decade, according to new figures released today. The amount of crude left in the ground was 1.258trn barrels – 3bn less than this time last year.
An oil prices through the decades interactive graph
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/interactive/2008/may/22/commodities
Predictions of $250 a barrel on fears for oil reserves, hopes of economic recovery and hedging against weak dollar
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/jun/10/oil-market-reserves
Deep in the deserts of Gansu province, in an area declared off-limits by Chinese state security, is a clean, hi-tech vision of the country’s energy future.
Set among the pale yellow dunes are seven banks of dark blue photovoltaic panels that stretch the length of a running track.
Together they comprise the biggest desert solar power plant in China and the largest test case of a technology that is about to get a massive boost from the central government.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/may/26/china-invests-solar-energy
By 2020, Chinese government is committed to raising the share of renewable energy in the energy mix to 6%
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/may/26/china-invests-solar-power-renewable-energy-environment
BBC special report 
