News
Tories plan to phase out UK Renewables Obligation
The Conservative Party has responded to rumours it is preparing to overhaul the UK's renewable energy policy by confirming that, if elected, it will phase out the government's Renewables Obligation scheme.
IEA remains steady on global oil demand for 2010
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has stuck to its previous forecast for global oil demand in 2010, following two consecutive upwards revisions, but has lowered its 2009 estimates based on adjusted official data.
Tokyo carbon scheme: blueprint for Asia?
Tokyo’s recently launched carbon trading scheme could provide a blueprint for similar schemes across Asia, say carbon experts.
US energy secretary says clear clean energy signal needed
US energy secretary Steven Chu joined industry figures in underlining the need for a clear legislative signal to encourage investment in clean energy and emissions reductions technology at a Washington, DC conference this week.
Clearing exemption too close to call
Exempting commercial hedgers from mandatory clearing could create a loophole for the institutional investors often blamed for driving up commodity prices, according to the chief lawyer for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
Estonian bidding area paves the way for integration of Baltic power markets
Nordic power market Nord Pool Spot has introduced a bidding area to connect Estonia to the Nordic region, as part of the exchange’s plans to further integrate the Baltic power market.
JP Morgan LNG launch shows growing interest in market
JP Morgan’s move into liquefied natural gas (LNG) last week is indicative of growing interest and expectations for the future of the sector.
Talking Technicals: Nymex Gas oversold
Nymex natural gas prices are completely oversold and now is not the time to buy gas, says a market expert in Energy Risk's new show, Talking Technicals.
Energy Risk - Commodity Rankings Reception - photos
Highlights from Energy Risk’s Commodity Rankings cocktail reception, held in London on February 25
Obama launches new offshore drilling plan
In a joint announcement yesterday, US President Barack Obama and secretary of the interior Ken Salazar disclosed further details of efforts to strengthen energy security.
BP and CNPC push forward in Iraq despite oil law uncertainty
BP and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) have awarded a raft of other energy and commodities companies deals to start drilling and production in the lucrative Iraqi Rumaila oilfield, which they operate, despite the current lack of a petroleum…
Trading positions – April 2010
Energy Risk catches up with the latest appointments, promotions and departures in global commodity markets
Iran’s nuclear standoff forecast to push up oil
As more companies pull out of trading deals with Iran, analysts predict oil prices will rise on the back of production contraints and geopolitical uncertainty, writes Lianna Brinded
Mixed views on return to backwardated oil market
A tightening of the long-running contango in WTI crude oil prices has sparked debate about whether the futures price curve could soon swing into backwardation. Pauline McCallion reports
UK CRC brings opportunities and new risks for utilities
The April launch of the UK’s CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme brings with it more work and the need for more risk assessment for UK utilities, finds Katie Holliday
Energy Risk: What's coming next?
Energy Risk brings you a snapshot of what's moving and shaking the markets with a special look at the Indian energy derivatives sector.
Gazprom hones in on LNG, carbon and Asia
Russian energy giant Gazprom has secured its foothold in Asia by opening a new office in Singapore, to focus on global liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipping and trading, as well as portfolio development and carbon credit origination projects for Asian…
China secures big Angola oil deal
Chinese oil refining, producing and trading company China Petroleum and Chemical (Sinopec) has acquired deep-water oil assets in Angola by buying a 55% stake in Sonangol Sinopec, in a bid to further secure its diverse portfolio of oil import security.
All Europe’s electricity could be from renewables by 2050, says PwC report
Europe and North Africa could be powered solely by renewable electricity by 2050 through the implementation of a SuperSmart Grid, according to a report issued this week by global advisory firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.
IEA: Power prices 2010 will depend on government finance spend & carbon prices
The cost of electricity for 2010 onwards will depend heavily on how governments plan to raise financial capital for electricity generation as well as the price of carbon, say the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA)…
Carbon market will bounce back from recycled CER scandal, say brokers
The sale of two million recycled Certified Emission Reduction (CER) units, the latest in a series of setbacks for European carbon trading, has been absorbed by the market as another teething problem, according to carbon market participants.
Iraq’s oil output targets 'impossible'
The Iraqi government’s stated intention to increase oil capacity from 2.5 to 10-12 million barrels per day (b/d) over the next decade is impossible and actual production will fall far short of official stated targets, a panel of market experts has…
UNFCCC official: public and private sectors must work together on CDMs
The relationship between the public and private sector needs to be strengthened at a quicker pace to ensure the future of project-based mechanisms such as clean development mechanism (CDM) and joint implementation (JI) projects, says a United Nations…
ETF Securities launches commodity index tracker fund
Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and currency specialist ETF Securities has launched the first ETF to track the Dow Jones-UBS Commodity Three-Month Forward Index (DJ-UBSCI F3(SM)), following growing investor demand for diversified commodity related products.