Despite a drop in the volume of oil imports, South Korea’s import bill rose sharply this month from a year earlier as international crude prices shot up, government data showed Sunday.
The country imported US$6.3 billion worth of crude in the first 27 days of March, with the amount likely to hover above $7.1 billion for [...]

Net oil imports to the Philippines fell 2.6 percent in volume terms last year partly due to conservation measures implemented as prices soared, the government said on Sunday.
Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said the country’s net oil imports fell to 100.8 million barrels last year compared with 103.46 million in 2005.
However, the Southeast Asian country’s net [...]

Kenya’s hopes of becoming a coal producer are much higher after exploratory drilling in two districts yielded encouraging results.
According to Government geologists carrying out studies in the Mui basin in Kitui and Mwingi districts, coal, which is currently imported, has been found at a depth of 11 metres.
On site: Workers and part of the machinery, [...]