Energy Blast - Oct 26, 2009

Russia 'counts on a controlling stake' in the three small hydropower plants it is building in Tajikistan and 'hope[s] for the Tajik side's understanding' in the matter.  The United Nations nuclear watchdog is in the process of inspecting Iran's uranium enrichment plant.  Both Iran and the U.S. are wary of falling into a trap over the nuclear question, reports the New York Times, and President Barack Obama reportedly called Dmitry Medvedev over the weekend to discuss the need to maintain Russian and U.S. unity over the issue.  The environmental safety of the Nord Stream project has been questioned by several of the transit countries, including Finland, but Vladimir Putin's meeting with his Finnish counterpart yesterday seemed to leave the schedule for completion in place.  China's oil demand is recovering at its fastest rate since June 2006.