1. EIA: US energy-related carbon dioxide emissions at lowest levels since 1994 (April 5 Wholesale Keegan Kolesar Jersey , 2013) According to the US Energy Information Administration, in 2012, US energy-related carbon dioxide emissions reached 5.3 billion tonnes, the lowest level since 1994. One of the main drivers behind the declining CO2 emissions was the predominant use of natural gas as against coal for electric power generation. Decreased demand for transportation fuels and warmer winters were the other two contributory factors. 2. Gastar to Buy Back Chesapeake Stake (April 1, 2013) Gastar Exploration Ltd., an independent energy company in the US, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire proven reserves and undeveloped leasehold interests in Oklahoma from Chesapeake Energy Corporation, repurchase Chesapeake's common shares of the Company and settle all litigation for USD85 million. The transaction is expected to close by June 2013. The new property is close to Gastar’s existing Mid-Continent acreage. The company believes that its new property along with the Mid-Continent acreage will boost its opportunities in the potentially highly prolific new oil play. EUROPE AND RUSSIA 1. Shell, Gazprom to Sign Arctic Agreement (April 5, 2013) Royal Dutch Shell PLC is expected to sign a framework agreement with Russia's OAO Gazprom Neft on projects on Russia's Arctic shelf. Shell is already partnering with OAO Gazprom, Gazprom Neft’s parent company, on the Pacific Sakhalin-2 project. Shell and Gazprom Neft are also partnering in the development of onshore oil resources. 2. MOU signed for Yamal-Europe 2 gas pipeline (April 5, 2013) Gazprom and EuRoPol Gaz have signed a memorandum of understanding for the Yamal-Europe 2 gas pipeline. As per the MoU, Yamal-Europe 2 natural gas pipeline would pass through Poland en route to Slovakia and Hungary. The Yamal-Europe line connects a gas transmission hub at Torzhok Wholesale Luca Sbisa Jersey , Russia, with the German transmission system near the German border with Poland, and also passes through Belarus. It is more than 2,000 kms long and has the design capacity of 32.9 billion cu myear. 3. Statoil Oil Sands Production Up More Than 60% in 2012 (April 4, 2013) Statoil has announced that during 2012, it increased production from