VENTURE CAPITAL POST

Statoil Energy Ventures announced its first investment worth at about US$3 million in United Wind. The fund plans a total investment of $200 million in wind energy over a period of 4 to 7 years.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has warned that short-term risks downside have increased as oil glut is expected to be worse than anticipated. With Iran resuming oil production, the sluggish global demand is adding further to the woes. OPEC's continuation of oil production is keeping pressure on oil prices.

The latest forecast indicates 50 percent rebound in oil prices by the end of 2016. The oil price could be higher by $15 per barrel this year taking the New York crude to $46 a barrel by fourth quarter and Brent to $48 during the same period. The drop in US shale output is likely to drive oil price up in the second half of 2016.

An unusual drop in US crude oil, below the already low $28 a barrel, created quite a stir in the market. It seems the oil prices are at a continuous plummeting spree. The current situation seems pretty bleak with supply exceeding demand to a great extent, especially after major oil exporter Iran came back into the scene.

China was the main contributor to a 24 percent rise in new global investment in clean energy in the second quarter.