Energy Roundup: Lithium Battery Alliance, U.S. Uranium for Sale, EU Fights Warming, and More

(MoneyWatch)  Industry leaders, government lab call for lithium battery funding -- Hoping to domestically mass-produce a lithium-ion battery for vehicles, 14 U.S. companies and a government laboratory announced an alliance today. The partnership, headlined by industry powers such as 3M and Johnson Controls, is asking for $1 billion to $2 billion in U.S. government funding during the next five years to build a manufacturing facility charged with perfecting a lithium-ion battery. [Source: Thomson Financial News]EU Parliament endorses climate change package -- The European Parliament yesterday approved a package of laws aimed at curbing the effects of climate change. The plan calls for cutting greenhouse-gas emissions 20 percent by 2020. [Source: RTT News]

China reduces fuel prices, increases tax -- Beijing cut its state-regulated prices for jet fuel, diesel and gasoline today. Prices will fall by 32, 18 and 14 percent respectively starting Friday, according to the Cabinet's National Development and Reform Commission. Consumers, however, also face increased fuel taxes that will offset lower prices. [Source: AP]

American uranium to enter market -- The U.S. Department of Energy plans to sell a large part of its uranium stock during the next decade in a variety of forms. All told, its 75,300 ton stock would be worth $3.4 billion after re-enrichment, using the April 2008 market price. [Source: World Nuclear News]

Russian gas monopoly threatens to cut supply to Ukraine -- Gazprom, Russia's state natural gas company, warned today that it will stop gas supplies to the Ukraine on Jan. 1 if the nation fails to repay $2 billion in debts. Following a price dispute between Russia and Western-leaning Ukraine two years ago, gas shipments were reduced in January 2006. [Source: AP]

Afghan commerce leader removed over oil prices -- Afghan lawmakers ousted the country's commerce minister today for failing to limit the increasing cost of oil, despite a steady decline in world oil prices. At the parliament's lower house to answer questions about the high price and other complaints on imports, Commerce Minister Mohammad Amin Farhang was voted out by all but one legislator, said parliamentary speaker Mohammad Younus Qanooni. [Source: AFP]