A gas shortage is gripping parts of the southeastern U.S., after two hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico forced oil companies to shut down refineries for a time.

Power company PPL Corp said on Thursday it has signed an agreement to sell its natural gas distribution and its propane businesses to UGI Corp unit UGI Utilities for about $268 million.

Russia's state-run natural gas monopoly Gazprom, embroiled in a payment dispute with Ukraine, says Kyiv plans to take gas from a pipeline carrying gas to western Europe.

The government of Ukraine will meet Wednesday to consider options in the face further reductions in natural gas deliveries from Russia. VOA Moscow Correspondent Peter Fedynsky reports that Russia's state-run energy giant, Gazprom, is assuring customers in Europe that their supplies will not be affected.

Ukraine has avoided a gas cutoff by Russia in a last-minute deal reached by the presidents of both nations for re-payment of a Ukrainian energy debt to Moscow. As VOA Moscow Correspondent Peter Fedynsky reports, the leaders also discussed a range of bilateral issues, including the controversial possibility of Ukraine joining NATO.

Russia's giant state-run natural gas monopoly Gazprom is threatening to cut off supplies to Ukraine next week.

Maryland's largest power producer Constellation Energy Group reported that it will sue the state in federal court to cancel almost $400 million in credits it was pressured by lawmakers two years ago into giving electricity customers.

Russia and Bulgaria signed a $15 billion deal on Friday to build the South Stream natural gas pipeline, which is set to give Russia greater control over supplies to southern Europe.

Armenia is not ruling out extending the Iran-Armenia natural gas pipeline to Europe to supply gas to European Union countries, the Armenian energy minister said on Monday.

ArmRosgazprom purchased the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline, Gazprom’s Management Committee Deputy Chairman Valery Golubev told a briefing in Yerevan. The gas pipeline was purchased as result of emission of ArmRosgazprom stocks bought out by Gazprom, he said.

Given the ArmRosgazprom’s activities, Armenia’s savings in the natural gas and transport sector amount to $180-200 million while the population saves some $300 million by using natural gas, ArmRosgazprom Director General Karen Karapetian said at today’s meeting of the company’s shareholders dedicated to ArmRosgazprom 10th birthday.

Iranian Deputy Oil Minister Reza Kasai'i Zadeh has said talks on the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline project are in the final stage where the technical aspects are being looked into.