Europe

The Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company (SKB) has applied for a permit to construct a final repository and encapsulation facility for spent nuclear fuel.

SKB is applying for permission to build the encapsulation facility in Oskarshamn municipality and the final repository at Forsmark in Östhammar municipality.

UAE-based Polarcus has signed a letter of intent with Lansdowne Oil & Gas for a 3D seismic project in the Celtic Sea off southern Ireland.

The survey will commence immediately after completion of another 3D seismic acquisition contract over the Barryroe oilfield, operated by Providence Resources, in which Dublin-based Lansdowne has a 20 per cent interest.

The survey area will cover approximately 300 square kilometres and will take in the Rosscarbery, Amergin, and Middleton prospects. The survey is expected to run for 20 days.

The world’s finest hotels combine the very best in accommodation, food and service to offer their guests an unforgettable experience. Okura Hotels & Resorts certainly delivers on that front; and with the recent acquisition of JAL Hotels, the company looks set to bring the very best of Japanese hospitality to new markets, as Becky Done discovers.

Gem Diamonds is planning major investments at two diamond mines, buoyed by increasing global demand for the precious stones.

The London-based company, which recently announced its 2010 results, is betting on the price of rough diamonds continuing to rise this year. The increase is partly driven by strong demand from Chinese consumers.

Exploration firm Chrysaor has said it will increase its stake in the Spanish Point licences off the west coast of Ireland.

The London-based company will exercise its option to double its stake to 60 per cent, in return for the drilling of up to two appraisal wells on the discovery, which is owned and operated by Dublin-based Providence.

The licences are situated in the Main Porcupine Basin, approximately 200 kilometres off the west coast in a water depth of around 400 metres.

Not-for-profit oil and gas technology facilitator ITF has announced it is to open a new office in the Middle East.

The organisation hopes that the new Abu Dhabi base, set to open in April, will attract new members and increase awareness of its global technology funding programme.

The office is being set up as part of ITF's international growth strategy that will also see new bases opening in the US, Australia and Asia-Pacific.

The New European Economy Awards has named the Eurail Group the best Sustainable Travel Provider 2010, it has been announced.

The awards recognise excellence, achievements and best practice in the international finance and commerce arenas.

Utrecht, Netherlands-based Eurail Group manages and markets the Eurail Pass on behalf of its stakeholders, and aims to educate business and leisure travellers about the advantages of travelling by train in Europe.

Det norske has entered into an agreement with Talisman Energy to acquire 10 per cent of the PL438 in the Barents Sea.

The licence contains the Skalle prospect, operated by Lundin Petroleum. Lundin will drill Skalle in June this year, using the Transocean Leader drilling rig.

The deal is set to strengthen Det norske's existing position in the Barents Sea.