"There is no change in our position to go ahead with the project. It is part of an internal dispute in Iraq and we are not involved in it."
A South Korean energy ministry official said Tuesday after Iraq halted crude exports to South Korea's top oil refiner SK Energy in protest at its involvement in an "illegal" exploration deal in northern Iraq. Last month, the Iraqi government notified SK Energy, South Korea's top refiner and sole buyer of Iraqi crude, that it would halt crude shipments if South Korean companies did not scrap an oilfield project in Kurdistan.

"The future of our energy security, requires that we invest in the creativity of our inventors and entrepreneurs."
The US President, George W. Bush said in his final State of the Union Address Monday night, in reference to asking for $2 billion over the next three years for the Clean Energy Technology Fund, an initiative to help developing nations like India and China deploy low-carbon technology like nuclear, renewables and clean coal technology. night calling for investment in energy technology research and deployment.

Updated: January 29, 2008