A Pemex's pipeline gas leakage prompted the evacuation of 2,000 people and killed dozens of animals. The leak occurred in an unpopulated area near the city of Agua Dulce in Veracruz on the Gulf coast.

It contaminated at least two rivers and a stream, and was the company's fourth accident in just over a month. Mexico's Federal Environmental Protection Agency announced that it would shut down the pipeline "until the company can guarantee its correct operation and submits a preliminary report on the causes of the accident, and a report on what measures have been taken to control the emergency."

The agency also filed a criminal complaint against Pemex and announced the first official estimate on how much gas was sp illed, which the agency stated ranged from 1,000 to 1,500 barrels.

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Qatar will produce 25 million tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) by the end of the year, according to Jerry J. Wolahan, managing director for RasGas. The company's share in Qatar's production would total 16.1 million tons.

Wolahan noted that since 2002, the LNG industry has witnessed an increase of 7 percent annually and the figure is expected to rise to 12 percent for 2005. RasGas had increased the company's production capacity by approximately 70 percent in early 2004.

Wolahan said: "Expansion activity plans currently under development will also ensure that RasGas will become the world's largest producer of LNG by 2008. Many of the developments that position Qatar as the world's leading LNG producer will see new applications to existing technology and leveraging advancements in technology, to drive development across the entire LNG value chain."

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Semyon Vainshtok, president of Russia's oil pipeline company Transneft, announced that the company intends to construct a pipeline eastward. Vainshtok said in a meeting with Russia's President Vladimir Putin: "We have now started work on designing the Far East project with a branch to China."

The first phase of the pipeline would go from Taishet to Skovorodino, and then continue on to Nakhodka. Transneft increased oil exports from Russia by 34 million tons. Vainshtok noted that the company carried out a lot of work to develop the Far East pipeline and the Baltic pipeline system. Vainshtok noted that the Baltic pipeline system's capacity increased by 55 million tons in 2003.

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Magistrate Chen Ming-wen of Taiwan's Chiayi County intends to invest in a wind-energy project proposed by the Germany-based Infra Vest Group, which plans to set up 97 wind turbines in coastal areas of the southern Taiwan county.

According to Infr a Vest officials, the company will invest $500 million in setting up 97 wind turbines in Chiayi's coastal areas after carrying out various in-depth inspections of the area.

The Tungshih and Putai regions are extremely rich in wind power and resources. The company expects to install six turbines there in the initial stage; each of which will have a capacity of between 12 million and 18 million watts, generating 51 million kilowatt-hours per year.

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Pakistan's Petroleum and Natural Resources Minister Mir Naseer Mengal announced that Pakistan is eager to begin constructing the proposed Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project.

Mengal emphasized that Pakistan had little concern over a liquefied natural gas deal between Iran and India, stating, "It (the deal) has nothing to do with the proposed gas line project."

According to Mengal, India may agree on laying the pipeline from Iran via Pakistan up to India's territory. Mengal said: "Whether or not India joins the project, Pakistan will continue efforts for its realization."

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According to Kazakh Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Vladimir Shkolnik, Kazakhstan expects to produce between 62 million and 63 million tons of crude oil and gas condensate for 2005. Kazakhstan produced 50.6 million tons of crude for 2004 and 8.8 million tons of gas condensate, according to the National Statistics Agency.

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Closing oil prices, Feb. 2, 3 p.m., London

Brent crude oil: $44.70

West Texas intermediate crude oil: $46.97

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