Villeworth Security Services Ltd

week28

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PORT HARCOURT AND ENVIRONS

EU Proposes $500m For Niger Delta

A $500 million lifeline from the European Union (EU) is in the offing for the Niger Delta. The amount will aid human capital development in the troubled oil-rich region. But the EU must be convinced that the region has a formal structure in place for the disbursement of the facility through development foundations.

Vigilante Operatives Murdered in Onitsha

Five vigilante operatives attached to School of Nursing and Midwifery, Nkpor, near Onitsha, Anambra State were in the early hours of Sunday, murdered by suspected assassins. The incident, according to a source, started late Saturday, but when the operatives returned fire for fire with some hoodlums, who later fled and returned about four hours later to kill the operatives while they were asleep. There have been reports that several criminal activities had been recorded in the school in recent years.

Shell Lifts Force Majeure on Bonga Field

Royal Dutch Shell lifted force majeure on oil exports from its Bonga offshore field in Nigeria, three weeks after an attack by militants forced it to shut the facility.

Police Nab Fake Radio Nigeria Correspondent

The police Monday nabbed a 48-year-old man who allegedly collected money from some people in Enugu, claiming to be as a staff of Radio Nigeria, Enugu.

CLO: Gambari’s Appointment, a Threat to N’Delta Summit

The groundswell of opposition to the appointment of Prof. Ibrahim Gambari as the chairman of the upcoming Niger delta Peace summit increased weekend with the Civil Liberties Organisation, (CLO) joining the fold. A statement by the CLO President, Titus Mann, said that Gambari’s appointment threatens to terminate the summit even before it starts.

Robbers Kill Five Policemen In Enugu

On Wednesday morning; dare-devil armed robbers attacked a bullion van conveying cash along the Enugu-Onitsha Highway and killed five police men. The robbers reportedly blew open the van's safe and made away with an undisclosed amount of money. Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Suleiman Fakai, who confirmed the incident, however, said he was yet to get the details of the attack and number of victims.

Rivers AC Seeks Amnesty For Militant Leaders

The River state Action Congress (AC) has called on the state governor to grant amnesty to militant leaders in the Niger Delta region who have agreed to reconcile and surrender their weapons to restore peace in the state.

US Moves To Stop Arms Inflow To Niger Delta

America has promised to assist Nigeria to curb the inflow of arms into the Niger Delta, but has ruled out the use of its military personnel to achieve the objective. The White House said it is considering sanctions against American firms, which provide cash and arms to militant groups in the region.

Militants Threaten to Attack UK Interests in Nigeria
•FG deploys more troops in Bayelsa

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has threatened to call off its unilateral ceasefire and attack British interests in the Niger Delta in reaction to the pledge of military support to the Federal Government allegedly made by British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. Brown had told journalists at the G8 summit in Japan that his country would help Nigeria "deal with lawlessness" in the region – a statement that MEND believes means military action.

Civil Rights Group Wants UN To Investigate Onitsha Killings

The International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law has called for an international investigation into the extra-judicial killings that took place in Anambra State between 1999 and 2003. The Chairman of the society, Mr. Emeka Umeagbalasi, made the call on Sunday in Onitsha during the inauguration of the society.

Woman, 55, Grand-children Killed As Rival Cultists Clash

A 55-year-old woman and her two grand children were on Tuesday burnt to death as renewed cult attack gripped Akaba Community of Yenagoa LGA of Bayelsa State. The Woman and her grand children between the ages of ten and six were said to have been locked inside their home, set ablaze by rampaging cultists for the alleged sins of her Son, known as Bobo, who was said to belong to a rival cult group. The incident, which occurred around 7pm on Saturday, left over three houses burnt, with many others damaged, while another woman was reportedly raped by the youths during the attack. The Son of the deceased woman alongside six persons who took part in the attack has been arrested.

Threat Of Attack On Politicians, Flow Stations Creates Panic

Conflicting reports from the creeks and water ways in Bayelsa State have continued to heighten tension among security agencies, politicians and Oil Companies operating in the Southern Ijaw LGA of the state, as unnamed groups have sent out text messages and letters indicating their readiness to eliminate some members of the state House of Assembly over alleged working with security agencies for the arrest of key militia heads and cult groups in Ogbia LGA. They have also threatened to blow up flow stations.

BENIN/WARRI/ESCRAVOS

Niger Delta Militants Should Be Crushed, Says Waku

Vice-Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Sen. Kennedy Waku has described the Niger Delta militants “as terrorists that should be crushed.” Waku said that the Niger Deltans ought to embrace the peace summit instead of complaining about its composition.

Police, Soldiers Clash With Youths In Effurun

Soldiers and police were, Tuesday, deployed to Jakpa Road/Alaka/PTI Road area of Warri, Delta state following a violent demonstration by some youths in the area. The youths decided to stage a public demonstration to protest against the decision of the State Government to outlaw all youth groups in the state that take laws into their hands by constituting themselves into obstacles to development projects through illegal demands.

Shell Accused Of Fraudulent Land Deal In Niger Delta

Owners of the land on which oil major, Shell, operates in Isoko South LG council of Delta State have accused Shell of fraudulent land acquisition. The Obahor family, which claims to be the rightful owners of the land, allege that Shell fraudulently robbed them of their land under a falsified deal it claimed to have held with some members of the family. According to them, some unknown SPDC officials pressurised some members of the family to sign an indemnity of the land without knowing what the content and purpose of the document.

JTF Threatens Reprisals On Militants

Commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF) on the Niger Delta, Brigadier–General Nanven Rimtip, says there has been an uneasy calm between soldiers and militants in the last few days, but warned that he will not hesitate to avenge further attacks by militants on pipelines in the region. Indeed, there was panic in some militant camps, weekend, over reports that the JTF planned to raid them but Brigadier-General Rimtip said there was no truth in the allegation.

Alleged Toxic Waste Dump: Orogun Demands N2bn Damages

Imodje-Orogun oil producing community in Ughelli-North LGA of Delta State, which raised apprehension, recently, over a suspected illegal dumping of toxic waste by the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in the company’s Well 33 in the community, is demanding a N2 billion compensation from the company for the consequential threat its exploit has caused to the ecosystem and life of the people.

Chevron Boss, Moshiri, Raises Hope On Escravos GTL Project

The President, Africa and Latin America Exploration and Production, Chevron Corporation, Mr. Ali Moshiri, has said that the Escravos Gas -To Liquids (EGTL) is on track to meet the new start up date and will be economic even after cost overruns. Moshiri said the venture would start up in 2011. The project had been expected to come on stream at the end of the decade and is now expected to cost $2.7 billion as against the original estimate of $ 1.7 billion when the contract was first signed.

Student Fraudsters

Three students of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, have been arrested by detectives of the Nigeria Police Special Fraud Unit (SFU). They allegedly withdrew about N34 million fraudulently from an Access Bank account through the Automated Teller Machine (ATM). The principal suspect is 20-year-old Timothy Ehimea, a part-time student of Science Laboratory Technology at the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State.

EU to Assist N’Delta with N59bn – Shell

Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has said that about N59.2 billion is being expected from the European Union for the development of the Niger Delta region. The company made the announcement on Tuesday in Warri at the signing of a sub-contract agreement between Dorman Long Engineering Limited and Decsalfa Limited. Mr Ubaka Emelumadu, the Social Performance and Community Affairs Director of SPDC, said in a statement that the EU wanted to be convinced that the funds would be managed by a credible agency before releasing it. He urged the communities in the region to form themselves into registered foundations to be eligible to access the funds.

LAGOS AND ENVIRONS

31 Suspected Vandals Arrested In A Container

Men of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested in a container, a 31-man gang suspected to be Telecommunications cable vandals.

Kidnapping: Policemen Put On Red Alert In Lagos

Following a reported case of kidnapping in Lagos on Saturday, policemen in the state have been put on the red alert to forestall recurrence. The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2, Mr. Muhammed Abubakar, has threatened to deal decisively with any divisional police officer that records any case of kidnapping in his area.

DPO Shoots Youths

Three young boys in the Surulere area of Lagos escaped death by flicker from a gunshot allegedly fired by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Area C police post, Mr. Tajudeen. Though none of the trio died, one of them, 22-year old Rasheed Adedokun, who was hit by a bullet that pierced through his upper ankle, is currently receiving treatment at the intensive care unit of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). The father of the injured boy has resolved to take a legal action against the entire Nigeria Police Force.

200 Vandals, 72 Fuel Tankers Arrested In Lagos In 6 Months

Over 200 pipeline vandals and 72 fuel tankers have been arrested in Lagos State in the last six months, the Deputy Commandant-General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mr. Ewurum Evans, disclosed. Ewurum stated that the culprits had since been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for prosecution.

Rioting Soldiers To Face Court Martial

Soldiers involved in the protests in Akure, Ondo State penultimate Friday would face a face a court martial, according to the army authorities. The soldiers blocked roads in Akure and chanted war songs for allegedly being “short-changed in the payment of their full allowances” for participating in the United Nations peacekeeping mission. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has summoned Minister of Defence, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, to explain why soldiers had to embark on street protest over unpaid allowances.

GENERAL

Nigeria Earned $2.13bn From Oil Blocks Sales—PTDF

Nigeria made about $2.13 billion from the sales of oil blocks, otherwise known as Signature Bonus, between 2005 and 2007, which, under the law, ought to have gone to the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) says the Executive Secretary of the PTDF, Alh. Kabir Mohamed.  Mohammed however said that, the amount would have been too much for the Fund to handle, as a special arrangement has been made in which $672 million of the Signature Bonus is held in a Special Account called PTDF Reserve Account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)

N/Delta Solution Is A Collective Responsibility - NNPC Boss

The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Abubakar Yar’adua, says solution to the Niger Delta crisis is a collective responsibility. Receiving the Central Working Committee of PENGASSAN at his office in Abuja, He said that all stakeholders must come together to deliberate and map out a well thought-out integrated plan that will assuage the cries of the region. According to him, government was already doing a lot to solve the problems of the Niger Delta.

N’Delta Summit: FG Shops For Gambari’s Replacement

Indications have emerged that the Presidency may have bowed to pressure by governors and opinion leaders in the Niger Delta states to drop a United Nations Under-Secretary, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, as the chairman of the Steering Committee of the proposed Niger Delta Summit.

Shell Ends Re-Organisation, Sacks 1,300 Workers

The management of Shell Petroleum Development Company has sacked 1,300 workers as the controversial re-organisation of the company’s operation in the country ended penultimate Friday. The new organisational structure in Shell takes effect from August 1. It was learnt that some indigenous workers previously listed for disengagement were eventually spared due to the protests by their kinsmen.

More Oil Blocks Face Revocation

More oil blocks may be revoked following investigations by the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee investigating the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), its subsidiaries and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR). Investigations revealed that the committee has gone far in its preliminary investigation and has discovered that in spite of the anomalies believed to be inherent in the bid rounds between 2005 and 2007, the Federal Ministry of Finance is allegedly asking the president to sign the PSCs.

FG Reiterates Commitment To Chemical Weapons Convention

The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to the chemical weapons convention. This is even as it said that a total destruction and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction was the key to global peace and security. The Nigerian Ambassador to the Netherlands and country’s Permanent Representative to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Dr. (Mrs.) Nimota Akanbi, made government’s position known at the 53rd session of the executive council of the organisation.

Waziri Wants Psychiatric Tests For Public Officers

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mrs. Farida Waziri has canvassed thorough psychiatric tests for all aspiring public office holders. According to her, most of the negative character traits exhibited by public officers in the country, especially massive looting of the treasury, are symptoms of mental illness. Waziri also accused Western nations, especially the United Kingdom (UK) of aiding graft in Africa by making it easy for stolen funds to be lodged in their banks.

Senate To Probe Oil Blocks Leases

The Senate, Wednesday, resolved to probe illegal oil blocks leases following what it called the breach of the Petroleum Act by Shell and Agip. Ahead of the exercise, the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Upstream) has summoned the management of both companies. Director of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) Ahiju Sabonbirni told the committee that the agreement between Agip and Shell on the oil blocks was illegal.

N/Delta Crisis: Britain Pledges To Intervene

British Prime Minister, Mr Gordon Brown said on Wednesday that Britain was ready to help Nigeria tackle lawlessness that has hit oil output from its Niger Delta region. Meanwhile, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta has considered this as a threat.

EFCC To Stop Corrupt Govs From Stealing Federal Allocation

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mrs Farida Waziri, Tuesday, said plans are underway to prevent corrupt State Governors and LG Chairmen from looting public funds. Waziri also disclosed that, despite the immunity clause, the Commission will investigate any serving governor suspected of graft.

US Builds Armoured Vehicles For Niger Delta

Ahead of the Niger Delta summit, United States (US) leading supplier of armoured and bullet proof vehicles, Texas Armouring Corporation has announced that it had built specially designed cars for the Niger Delta region. The company's announcement came amidst a threat by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) to call off its June 24 unilateral ceasefire following a pledge by British Prime Minister, Mr Gordon Brown to help Nigeria curb militancy in the oil rich zone.

NUPENG Begins Nationwide Strike

National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), on Thursday, embarked on a nationwide industrial action to protest the soaring price of diesel and the deplorable condition of the nation’s public highways including access roads to the refineries.

House Re-affirms Capital Punishment For Armed Robbery

The House of Representatives recently re-affirmed death penalty for convicted armed robbers by rejecting a bill for an act to amend the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Cap R 11 law of the federation 2004. The Amnesty International said it was disappointed with the rejection, saying that a recent human rights report published in the country indicated that most inmates on the death row were not given fair hearing.

Government Plans New N400bn Subsidy For Diesel

The Federal Government has bowed to pressures from stakeholders to subsidise the cost of diesel. Odein Ajumogobia, Minster of Energy (Petroleum) confirmed this but did not specify the sum involved. It was gathered however, that government is to raise this year’s budget subsidy on petroleum products by N500 billion to accommodate diesel.

Senate Summons Defence Minister, Army Chief Over Pact On Bakassi

The Senate Ad-hoc Joint Committee on the International Court of Justice Judgment has invited the Minister of Defence, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, and his Justice counterpart, Mr. Michael Aondoakaa, as it begins the process of ratifying the Green Tree Agreement.  The agreement was signed by Nigeria and Cameroon for a smooth implementation of the ICJ verdict on Bakassi. The public hearing is expected to avail government officials of the opportunity to feel the pulse of Nigerians living in Bakassi in order to make an informed judgment on the way forward.

IG Tasks ECOWAS Police Chiefs On Crime Control, Graft

Nigeria's Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr. Mike Okiro, has charged police chiefs and heads of gendarmeries in West Africa to evolve strategies to curb cross-border banditry in the sub-region. Okiro, who gave the charge at the maiden meeting of Police Chiefs and Heads of Gendarmeries under the aegis of the West Africa Police Chiefs Committee (WAPCCO) at the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) Secretariat in Abuja, also cautioned the police chiefs on corruption and human rights violations.

Yar’Adua Seeks Concerted Efforts against Trade in Stolen Oil

The Federal Government plans to send a proposal to the United Nations for decisive action to be taken by the international community to clampdown on illicit trade in stolen crude oil.  President Yar’ Adua had appealed to the international community to treat stolen crude oil just the way it treats stolen diamonds because they are both natural resources.

Diesel Heads for N200 Per Litre

Nigeria’s energy crisis may further worsen as indications have emerged that the price of diesel – on which the economy is heavily dependent – may soon hit N200 per litre. The pump price currently hovers around N150 and N160 in Lagos, while it is selling higher in other major towns and cities.

Death by Drowning: 60 Nigerian Illegal Immigrants Die Off The Coast Of Spain

About 60 Nigerians were reported killed and several others missing after their boat capsized while attempting to enter into Spain illegally. Spanish officials who said the dead included two pregnant women said the mishap occurred after their boats ran into rough waters off Spain’s southern coast. About 23 persons were rescued. The authorities said they are searching for other boats, but warned that the death toll could be higher.

Suspected Nigerian Militant Faces More Charges at Secret Trial

More charges are expected to be brought against suspected Nigerian militant leader, Henry Okah. Okah, a suspected leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) is facing 55 counts of treason, terrorism, illegal possession of firearms and arms trafficking. A member of Okah’s defence counsel said that the prosecutors have increased the charges from 55 to 62.

FG Revokes Indian Firms’ Oil Blocks

The Federal Government has reversed the award of three oil blocks – Oil Prospecting Leases (OPLs) 226, 2005 and 2006 – which were awarded to two Indian oil companies, Essar Exploration and Production Limited and Sterling Global Resources Limited, during the 2007 oil bidding round held in May last year. The withdrawal of the award of the oil licences was on the grounds that neither of the firms had met the pre-qualification requirements to participate in the 2007 bid round, nor formally bid for the blocks which were offered them.

Shell Needs $5bn To End Gas Flaring

The December 2008 deadline for the cessation of gas flaring set by the Federal Government has again taken another blow that may make its realisation unlikely. Shell, weekend, said it needs an additional $5 billion (N600 billion) to end gas flare in its operational areas in the Niger Delta region. According to SPDC’s Managing Director, Mutiu Sunmonu, “beyond funding, the security situation in the Niger Delta also would play a decisive role in determining when gas flare would end”. He however said a dedicated team was working to actualise the flare-out programme.

Nigerian Banks To Finance FGs Oil, Gas Targets

Nigerian banks have promised to finance projects that will assist the Federal Government to achieve 70 per cent Nigerian Content, 40 billion barrels reserves of crude oil and 4 million barrels per day (mbpd) by 2010. Mrs Cecilia Ibru, Managing Director of Oceanic Bank International Plc, assured of Nigerian Banks’ strength and capacity to finance projects in the upstream and downstream sub-sectors of the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

Government Should Separate LPG from Natural Gas

Liquefied Petroleum Gas Off-takers in the country have called on the national assembly to use the bill on natural gas to separate LPG from natural gas in order to give it proper attention. Mr. Auwalu Ilu, of Greenfield Integrated Energy Services who spoke on behalf of the Off-takers said the FG should implement the World Bank recommendations in the CIS report which states that there should be no import duties on LPG.

INTERNATIONAL

G-8 Leaders Face Rising Expectations At Summit

The world’s top industrialized nations began their annual summit last Monday, confronted with demands that they reinvigorate the world economy, push ahead languishing climate change talks and make good on pledges to battle poverty and hunger. The summit also coincides with demanding foreign policy issues like the effort to strip North Korea of its nuclear weapons, mounting international pressure on Iran to stop its uranium enrichment program, and the threat of U.N. Security Council sanctions on Zimbabwe over its recent one-sided presidential election.

Indian Diplomats, 40 Others Die In Afghan Suicide Attack

About 41 people, including two Indian diplomats, died and several wounded during the week after a suicide car bomber rammed the Indian embassy in Kabul in the Afghan capital. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs said the attack would not deter the mission from fulfilling its commitments to the government and people of Afghanistan. Many of the dead were Afghans collecting Indian visas.

Ex-British Soldier Sentenced for Guinea Coup Plot

Former British soldier, Simon Mann, has been sentenced to 34 years and four months in jail by an Equatorial Guinea court for his role in a 2004 coup plot. The verdict followed Mann's trial in the capital Malabo last month in which he admitted conspiring to oust President Theodore Obiang Nguema.

Man Kills Wife, Daughter, Self

A man shot and killed his wife and daughter and wounded his son before killing himself, in South Africa, penultimate Saturday. A neighbour was notified by the man's nine-year-old son who survived after being shot. The boy is receiving treatment at the hospital.  Police are investigating the incident.

Female Suicide Bomber Kills 9 North Of Baghdad

A female suicide bomber killed nine people and wounded 12 when she blew herself up at a market in the northern Iraqi city of Baquba on Monday, police said. The use of female suicide bombers has become a popular tactic of al Qaeda to avoid detection by security forces, since men make up most of the Iraqi security forces and strong cultural taboos prevent them from searching women at checkpoints.

Zimbabwe Talks To Resume Under Mbeki Mediation

President Robert Mugabe's ruling party and Zimbabwe's opposition are to resume talks to resolve the country's political crisis. Zimbabwean Justice Minister, Patrick Chinamasa, said that the opposition Movement for Democratic Change had agreed to the resumption of negotiations with ZANU-PF under the mediation of South African President, Thabo Mbeki.

Boy, 3, Shot Dead By Confused Police

Police shot dead a three-year-old boy in Rio de Janeiro after apparently mistaking the car he was in for that of fleeing armed suspects. Two police officers fired 15 shots into the car carrying the three-year-old boy, Joao Roberto Amaral. His nine-month-old brother was unhurt, while his mother, Alessandra Amaral, who was driving the car, was hit with fragments. The two officers have been arrested and put under investigation.

Man Arrested For Student Murders

A 33-year-old man has turned himself in to police in connection with the brutal murders of two French students in London, one of whom was stabbed nearly 200 times. Gabriel Ferez and Laurent Bonomo, both 23, were killed on June 29. The deaths coincided with a time of growing concern about knife and gang culture in London. Eighteen youths have died in violent circumstances so far this year in the British capital.

Indonesia Facing Fresh Religious Unrest

Indonesia is at risk of fresh religious unrest as hardline Islamic groups gain increasing influence over the government, a new report warns. Brussels-based think-tank, the International Crisis Group (ICG), says radical Islamic groups are waging intensive campaigns to influence Indonesian government policy.

Two Dead After Cargo Plan Crashes

A US-owned cargo plane recently crashed into a house in Colombia shortly after take-off, killing two people inside the home while the aircraft's eight crew members survived. The plane owned by Centurion was headed to Miami when it crashed near the town of Madrid after it took off from Bogota's El Dorado airport.

Sudan Accuses Ethiopia Of Deadly Attack

Khartoum has accused neighbouring Addis Ababa of launching a cross-border military raid against police in which 19 Sudanese people were killed. A joint committee between the Sudanese government and Addis Ababa has been established to investigate the matter.

Iran Downplays Possible War with U.S., Israel

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran has downplayed possible war between his country and the United States (U.S.) or Israel. But he predicted that the Jewish state would collapse without Iranian action. The remark came after an aide to Iran's Supreme Leader was quoted as saying that Tehran would hit Tel Aviv, U.S. shipping in the Gulf and American interests around the world if it was attacked over its disputed nuclear activities.

Medvedev Faults U.S.-EU Missile Defence Deal

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has lashed out at the United States (U.S.) over its plans for a missile shield in Europe, saying a U.S. deal to install part of the system in Czech Republic "deeply distresses" Moscow. Medvedev vowed a response to the planned U.S. system but stopped short of specifying what kind. A day earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry threatened a military response if the agreement U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice signed in the Czech Republic is ratified.

Lebanese Army Boosts Forces After Deadly Unrest

The Lebanese army boosted its forces in the northern city of Tripoli on Thursday where sectarian gunfights were continuing despite a ceasefire called after four people were killed, a security official said.

World Body Predicts Easier Oil Market Conditions Next Year

Tension on oil markets is set to ease early next year amid a US slowdown, the International Energy Agency (IEA) forecast on Thursday, noting strong output by OPEC this year. The agency said despite uncertainty on the length of the US downturn, demand in advanced countries seemed to be on a weaker trend although it forecast a global increase in demand of 1 percent next year.

Asian Firm to Start New Oil Fields

Vietnam Oil and Gas Group, Southeast Asia's third-biggest producer, plans to reverse a drop in crude oil production this year by advancing the start of operations at five fields. According to a report from Bloomberg, the producer, known as PetroVietnam, expects ``to boost this year's output to as much as 16 million tons by bringing forward the schedule to start the five new oil fields,'' Chairman Dinh La Thang told reporters in Hanoi. The company's output in 2007 dropped to 15.91 million metric tons from 17.3 million tons