MARCH, 2006

March 31
Kazakhstan: Government inks memo on Transparency Initiative with subsurface users
Kazakhstan Today

Oil helps Angola but poverty rife
BBC

President Ilham Aliyev establishes Azeri investment company
Trend

US advisory panel report warns of threats to Sudan peace accord
Sudan Tribune

Venezuela Expanding Oil Production
Prensa Latina

Loan to fund Azeri share in major energy project
AzerNEWS

Talisman Energy publishes 2005 Corporate Responsibility Report
ReportAlert

Commentary: Why insurgents are attacking oil contractors in the Niger Delta
Harvard Political Review

Indonesia reappears on investors' radar screen
Jakarta Post

Kuwait''s economy to remain in comfortable surplus says IMF report
KUNA

Vietnam: Economy keeps steady pace
Vietnam Economic Times

Thai Economy Expected to Recover in 2006
AP

March 30
IMF says Angola economy on mend; urges transparency
Reuters

Bribery: US Court Dismisses Suit Against NNPC, Ajibola
This Day

Venezuela: PJ wants more results on corruption
Daily Journal

KUAT oil company opens office in Beijing
kazinform

Obasanjo meets Bush as Taylor held in Freetown
FT

South Africa: Concern over conflicting Oilgate reports
Business Day

Kenya: IMF calls for improvement of governance
Xinhua

Brazil real slides on political jitters, stocks up
Reuters

Venezuela: Exxon Mobil Not Welcome
AP

Total makes tax payment to Venezuela
AP

March 29
Kazakhstan: Revenue transparency - One more for EITI
Ethical Corporation

Belize: Belmopan seeks bigger share of oil revenues
News 5

Troubled nation rich in oil to host ethics workshop
AP

China Plans N903b Investment In Nigeria
Independent

Associated Offshore explores oil industry investment opportunities
Vanguard

Indonesia Apexindo Gets $170M 3-Yr Oil Drilling Contract
Dow Jones

AIOC to bring volume of oil gas handed over to Azerbaijan up to 3 b cu metres
Today.Az

Pakistan attracts US$ 1 billion in petroleum sector: Jadoon
PakTribune

Conference on direct foreign investments to be held in Baku
Today.Az

ExxonMobil Acquires Stake in UAE Oil Field
Arab News

March 28
Equatorial Guinea under microscope over oil money
AP

Venezuela: Assembly committee launches corruption probe
Daily Journal

Czech Officials Meet With Bahamian AG
Bahama Journal

Indonesia: Some 80 state officials questioned in corruption cases since 2005
Antara

Analysis: Nigeria`s interests worry U.S.
UPI

Brazil Economy to Endure Political Rift, Cardoso Says
Bloomberg

Africa hosts the great oil debate
Energy In Africa

March 27
China: Fuel Price Increase Backed But More Open System Urged
South China Morning Post

Yemen Oil Price Difference Totals 2B Dollars
NewsYemen

Secret mission sent to Bahamas to get back Kozeny
CTK

PDVSA shuts down ExxonMobil's La Ceiba field
Oil & Gas Journal

Chevron and Exxon strike it big in Africa
Business

Sao Tome general elections hit by protest
Reuters

Commentary: Why keep a lid on what Texas pipelines pay to ship gas?
Austin American-Statesman

China After Old Oil Wells in Azerbaijan
Zaman

Exxon Mobil signs final Abu Dhabi oil field development deal
MarketWatch

March 24
Indonesia: House asks BPK to audit foreign oil production sharing contractors
Antara

China expands ties with oil-rich Angola
Reuters

Kibaki's Nairobi: Little has changed
FT

Roundup: Peace agreement sparks huge investment in southern Sudan
Xinhua

Commentary: Exxon Bloomberg

Cameroon: Audit Dep't: Tough Weapon Against Corruption in Cameroon - Okon
Post

March 23
Chad`s corruption struggle
UPI

Indonesia Approves UN Anti-Corruption Convention
World Bank (press release)

Venezuela halts oil lifting at Exxon field
MarketWatch

Repsol Bolivia boss resigns to fight corruption charges
ThinkSpain

Commentary: Is Africa the next oil giant?
I-Net Bridge

Commentary: How Bribery and Other Types of Corruption Threaten the Global Marketplace
Inc.com

Venezuela eyes 3 pct oil royalty hike on new deals
Reuters

Peru Plans 350M in Oil Investments
Prensa Latina

March 22
India: Legislation for petroleum, gas regulatory board passed
IANS

NBU former head Kadlec tells police who gave him two million
CTK

Argus Brings Transparency to Russian Domestic Crude Market
Argus (press release)

'World's largest' oil and gas exchange launches
ACN

Sudan: Security remains a major concern in post-war scenario
East African

Continuing killings, rapes, human rights abuse in Darfur threaten peace in whole of Sudan, Special Representative tells Security Council
UN Security Council

Russia seeks common energy policy in G8
New Europe

Commentary: Is it time for BP to be broken up?
MoneyWeek

March 21
Iran’s Oil Ministry denies reports claiming it opens oil exchange to trade for euros
Itar-Tass

Russia investor banned from country
AP

Venezuela signs oil supply agreement
AP

Qatar To Host Oil Bourse Rivaling Dubai's Nymex Exchange
Dow Jones

Analysis: The Sino-Russian superpower
UPI

Libya loosening up to rekindle economy
Dallas Morning News

Chinese oil market offers cooperation to Kazakhstan
kazinform

Oman’s oil and gas potentials at biennial exhibition
Pipeline Magazine

March 20
Niger Delta Rejects Proposal on Oil Revenue
VOA

China: First oil stock data system to be set up
Xinhua

Venezuela Official Presents Oil Proposal
AP

Kuwait: Zalzalah urges transparency; Stay out, say speakers; Intervention risky
Arab Times

''The Increasing Importance of African Oil''
PINR

Mexico’s López Obrador Sketches His Energy Plan
MexiData.info

Zimbabwe: Anti-corruption ministry fires warning shots
Sunday News

In Africa, corruption doesn't go without notice anymore
Baltimore Sun

Congo oil scam firm faces being wound up
Royal Gazette

Parallel Petroleum to restate certain financial statements for 2004, 2005
Midland Reporter-Telegram

London hosted 1st Kazakhstan Investment Summit
kazinform

Commentary: In China, You Better Watch Out
CFO.com

March 17
Sudan Delegation to Paris Consortium Well Prepared, Jan Pronk
Andnetwork.com

Power Play in Azerbaijan
IWPR

Venezuela Sends Rules for Oil Joint Ventures to Congress
Bloomberg

Corruption fear hits Oxfam tsunami aid
Telegraph

China Pays Dearly for Kazakhstan Oil
New York Times

Venezuela: Two Oil Firms' Offices Closed
Stratfor

March 16
Africa needs more aid but must tackle graft - IMF
Reuters

Malaysia: Kit Siang calls for greater transparency from Petronas
Malay Mail

Nigeria: Corrupt Practices Scare Foreign Investors, Says Ashaolu
Daily Independent

Venezuela to hit heavy oil projects with natural gas bill
MarketWatch

Nigeria, Sao Tome Conclude Oil Deals
VOA

Ukraine: Top energy groups to explore shelf
Kyiv Post

KEC to acquire a service contract for a major oil field in Oman
AMEInfo

Japan cuts oil imports from Iran
Iranian.ws

March 15
Pride Shares Sag on Bribery Allegations
AP

Nigeria, Sao Tome sign long-delayed oil deals
Reuters

Sovereignty issues dominate EU energy ministers' meeting
EUobserver

Chávez and Vázquez plan to sign oil deals
AP

Congo Gets World Bank Debt Relief
ANDnetwork

IMF sees oil boom opportunity for central Africa
Reuters

Kenya: Row Rages Over Pipeline Tender
East African

Venezuela to Hike Taxes for Oil Companies
Jackson News-Tribune

Mexico: World Bank Approves $300 Million for Competitiveness
World Bank (press release)

March 14
Nigeria: FG, oil firms and new deadline
Tide

Venezuela to talk taxes with Total
chron.com

China Makes Policy Shift, Aiming to Widen Access to Central Asian Energy
EurasiaNet

Commentary: The corruption crusader
Guardian

Oil trade fuels Nigerian strife
Globe and Mail

Sudan Donors Confirm $4.5 Billion In Aid, Call For End To Darfur Conflict
Moldova.org

Exxon and Indonesia Reach Accord on a New Oil Field
New York Times

Commentary: How Secure Is New Pipeline Across Caucasus?
DefenseNews

Fox: Deep-water oil find may top Cantarel
AP

March 13
Kenya: Anti-graft teams target plum parastatals
Standard

ONGC quits Nigeria oil exploration deals
Reuters

Turn in Kozeny case, allegedly new accusations
CTK

Analysis: Brazil's Natural Gas Market: Challenging The Petrobras Monopoly
InfoBrazil

Opinion: A Corrupt French Connection
Washington Post

Nigerian MP: Lawmakers Offered Bribe to Change Constitution
VOA

Analysis: Exxon ponders the challenge of Chad
Ethical Corporation

Total plans to build an oil terminal in Caspian Sea
AzerNews

Select Energy wins fourth 2006 Azeri Light tender
Interfax

March 10
IMF accepts Congo Republic for HIPC debt relief
Reuters

Ecuador: Oil workers' strike spurs emergency
Chicago Tribune

Kozeny should be extradited to USA -- state attorney
CeskéNoviny.cz

Azerbaijan: Corruption still stumbling block to investment growth
AzerNews

US accuses Obasanjo of rights abuses, corruption
Vanguard

Nigeria commander removed in oil theft probe: sources
Herald News Daily

Analysis: To whom does Ethiopia’s Gambella oil belong
Sudan Tribune

Petrofac Wins Contract In Kazakhstan With Karachaganak Award
Webbolt

South Korea Wins Nigeria Oil Drilling Venture, May Spend $6 Bln
Bloomberg

March 9
World Bank agrees to $9.2 Billion in debt relief for Republic of Congo
ANDnetwork

Ecuador emergency over oil strike
BBC

Vietnam: Court to pronounce final verdict in corruption scam
Thanh Nien

Nigeria: "Governors spent N3.8trn between June '99 and Dec '05"
Vanguard

Foreign investors keen on Nigeria's mining sector
ANDnetwork

WB launches crackdown on graft
Kenya Broadcasting Corporation

Indonesian govt reshuffles Pertamina management, names new chief
AFX

Court hearing for Kozeny´s extradition to US adjourned to Thur
CTK

March 8
Indonesia to announce new executives in oil firm Pertamina
Xinhua

Ecuador Oil Workers Seize Wells in Jungle
AP

US State Department considers Azerbaijan should use incentives to develop non-oil sector
Today.Az

Romania: Prosecutors freeze Rompetrol shares
Bucharest Daily News

Kenya: Oil importers clash over storage facility
EastAfrican

Opinion: Philippine National Oil Co.-Energy Development Corp. a model for integrity and corporate governance
ABS-CBN

March 7
Trinidad & Tobago: Claim dismissed in bribe scandal
Trinidad Express

New militia is potent force in Nigeria's oil-rich delta region
Christian Science Monitor

Analysis: Commodities boom has unlikely fallout in Latin America
Wall Street Journal

Siemens Plans to Establish Joint Venture with Socar
Baku Today

Editorial: South Sudan share of oil revenues: A storm in a teacup
Khartoum Monitor

Oil: Recent Trends in Caspian Basin Energy Complex
Global Politician

CITIC Resources joins race for Kazakh oil firm -sources
Reuters

Caspian oil and gas investment hailed as model for extractive industries
CIOB International

March 6
South Africa: Oilgate probe reopened
Sapa

Two Turkmenistani oil and gas officials charged with corruption
Itar-Tass

Romanian Oil Businessman Arrested In The Rafo Onesti Case
Jurnalul National

Venezuela demands oil ventures pay royalties in crude
Bloomberg

Nigerian militants threaten more oil sabotage
IOL

Niger Delta Crises: Corruption prevents us from helping Nigeria - US, Europe
Nigerian Tribune

Eradication of corruption in oil and gas sector of Turkmenistan continues
Turkmenistan.ru

Turkmen Leader Orders Tighter Scrutiny Over Heavy Industry
AP

US Urges Saudi Arabia to Allow More Foreign Ownership
Arab News

Mexico: PAN candidate runs on clean reputation, anti-corruption promises
Knight Ridder

March 3
Minister denies misusing of oil revenues by S. Sudan government
Sudan Tribune

Venezuela: Citgo to take steps to avoid SEC reporting requirements
AP

Problems for business persist despite growth
AzerNEWS

Yemeni MPs stress fighting corruption as imperative
Yemen Times

Protesters pour trouble on Ecuador's oil producers
FT

Itsekiri Order Oil Firms To Quit Niger Delta
Daily Independent

LUKoil eyes new fields
AzerNEWS

Siemens to supply turbomachinery equipment for the Oil and Gas industry
Siemens (press release)

March 2
Top CSR firms must combat bribery
SupplyManagement.com

Official Says Oil and Gas Giveaway Was Probably an Error
New York Times

President Obasanjo Says Transparency in Extractive Sector is Necessary for Accountability
Nigeria First

Venezuela to Pay About $800 Million in Loans Early
Bloomberg

Nigeria: N150 Billion Petroleum Support Fund Takes Off
Daily Independent

Indonesian president pledges to overhaul state oil and gas firm Pertamina
Today Online

March 1
Wait drags on for foreign access to Kuwait's oil
Reuters

Africa turning up heat on graft
Baltimore Sun

In the Sudanese Crisis, Oil Revenue Goes Missing, UN Says
Inner City Press

Kazakhstan-China oil pipeline to open in May
People's Daily

Deal Close On Funding Debt Relief: World Bank Head
World Bank (press release)

Exxon Faces Dilemma In Chad - Agreement To Avoid 'Oil Curse' May Break Amid Royalties Fight
World Bank (press release)

Connecticut Attorney General OK's Venezuelan Oil Assistance
VOA

Opinion: Oil firms and tax underpayment
Sun News