Energy Blast - Aug 28, 2008

The Federal Anti-Monopoly Service is investigating LUKoil, Russia’s second-biggest oil producer, on suspicion that it barred a smaller rival from using its pipeline in the Komi republic. LUKoil is set to ask Russian anti-trust authorities to oblige aluminum firm United Company RusAl to pay more for the oil coke it purchases. BP is conducting secret, high-level talks with its Russian billionaire partners in TNK-BP, sparking hopes that a deal to settle their dispute may come within weeks. More details on Rosatom’s planned Kaliningrad nuclear power plant, due to be completed next year. Norway's StatoilHydro says it has made a new gas discovery in Algeria.