Free Republic

U.S. refineries are preparing themselves for the possibility that President Biden could impose a ban on fuel exports after the White House dangled the threat of the ban in front of refiners. No action has been taken to date, but with the mid-terms coming up and fuel prices continuing to rise, this could soon change. Earlier this month, the White House requested that the DOE assess the potential impact of banning fuel exports – including gasoline, diesel, and other refined petroleum products. The move suggested that President Biden may be preparing for a ban. This comes ahead of the mid-term...

Russia's Gazprom said on Friday that natural gas supplies via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline would remain shut off after the main gas turbine at the Portovaya compressor station near St Petersburg was found to have an engine oil leak during a joint inspection with Siemens Energy, which maintains the turbine. It said the turbine could not operate safely until the leak was repaired, and gave no timeframe for the resumption of gas supplies via the pipeline, which had been due to return to operation early on Saturday after a three-day maintenance break. Gazprom said in its statement on Telegram...

Fossil coral records provide new evidence that frequent winter shamals, or dust storms, and a prolonged cold winter season contributed to the collapse of the ancient Akkadian Empire in Mesopotamia. The Akkadian Empire (24th to 22nd century B.C.E.) was the first united empire in Mesopotamia and thrived with the development of irrigation. Yet, settlements appear to have been suddenly abandoned ca. 4,200 years ago, causing its collapse. The area would also not experience resettlement until about 300 years later. Past studies have shown that the Akkadian Empire likely collapsed due to abrupt drought and civil turmoil. However, the climatic dynamics...

China is experiencing unusual chills this winter with its national average temperature hitting the lowest in 28 years, and snow and ice have closed highways, canceled flights, stranded tourists and knocked out power in several provinces. China Meteorological Administration on Friday said the national average was −3.8°C (25°F) since late November, the coldest in nearly three decades. The average temperature in northeast China dipped to −15.3°C (4.5°F), the coldest in 43 years, and dropped to a 42-year low of −7.4°C (18.7°F) in northern China. … The state-run English-language China Daily reported Friday that about 1,000 ships were stuck in ice...

<p>Other polls that ask Americans how they feel about a proposed "cap and trade" system to control pollution have tended to produce positive responses. But those surveys never seem to mention what such a system might cost. The latest IBD/TIPP Poll laid it all out in a somewhat lengthy question and drew a very different response: By nearly 3-to-1, Americans oppose a cap-and-trade system that, if opponents are correct, could add $800 to $1,200 per household to energy prices.</p>

Gazprom has produced record quarterly figures on the back of a 72% increase in the value of exports to Europe, but the heavily indebted Russian group warned the credit crunch could hit its cashflow. The world's largest gas producer earned $18.5bn (£11.4bn) from European sales in the first quarter, triggering more harsh criticism in the west about its decision to establish a gas cartel with Iran and Qatar that could drive up prices further. Domestic sales at Gazprom grew by only 2% and are now worth less than half its European business, while sales to former members of the Soviet...