Feature
Bridging the gap
Asia's regional commodity exchanges are expanding but the emergence of an Asian exchange champion to challenge Western platforms looks a long way off. Georgina Lee reports
Forcing the issue
Given the success of portfolio standards in the US in promoting the renewables sector, the coal and nuclear industries are calling for portfolio standards of their own. Elisa Wood reports
Russia and the EU Gas Market
Russia is the world's largest exporter of natural gas and holds the largest reserves. With Europe increasingly dependent on Russia for future gas supplies, Eric Fishhaut of GlobaView looks at Russia's influence over gas supply and demand
It’s all relative
Funds based on relativevalue arbitrage strategies have performed better than most. By Richard Jackson
The shape of shipping
The dry-bulk freight market staged a short rebound early this year following September's dramatic crash, but prices and volumes have since dropped. Katie Holliday talks to FFA market participants about their expectations for the market from here
To Copenhagen via Australia
The start of Australia's much talked-about carbon trading scheme has been put back a year to 2011. Andrew Petersen and Eros Artuso at PricewaterhouseCoopers discuss the details of the proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme
Time to celebrate
Discover the leading lights in the global energy trading and risk management industry as we reveal the winners of the 2009 Energy Risk Awards
Forging an index
Efforts by BHP Billiton to create an iron ore index appear to be floundering as Chinese steel producers press hard for pricing advantage. Kathleen Kearney reports
Singapore and Indian commodity exchanges unite
The Singapore Commodity Exchange Limited (SICOM) and the National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange Limited (NCDEX) based in India have signed a heads of terms agreement that will allow certain products to be traded and cleared in both exchanges.
Paying the piper
The Nord Stream pipeline, planned to come online in 2011, will be vital to help Europe meet its future gas demands. However, financing any infrastructure project in the current climate is difficult. Roderick Bruce looks at the challenges facing Nord…
Ukraine's next generation
DTEK, Ukraine's only privately owned power utility, wants to become a leading energy player linking Ukraine, Russia and Europe. Roderick Bruce meets Vitaly Butenko, DTEK's chief strategy officer, to discuss the company's progress and plans for expansion…
Squeezing more out of P&L explain
Commodity traders are increasingly aware of the need to squeeze greater profits from existing business activities. One oft overlooked tool for doing this is the P&L 'explain', write Akhil Sehgal and Anup Singh
Solar contracts to the rescue?
The Solar Power Purchase Agreement, key to funding the industry in the US, is under threat due to the economic downturn. Elisa Wood investigates
Landfill of Plenty
Government incentives to produce 'green' electricity mean that despite the credit crunch, new waste-to-energy technologies continue to attract interest from venture capitalists, raising hopes for further financing opportunities once the economy begins…
Beyond 2012
The EU ETS has been a key driver of CDM market growth. However, changes to CER import limits suggested for Phase III could jeopardise that, writes Miles Austin at EcoSecurities
In the clear
The trend away from uncleared over-the-counter trading to cleared OTC trading has prompted exchanges to list a greater range of OTC cleared products. But to what extent can the OTC markets ever become completely cleared? Katie Holliday investigates
Beyond compliance
Community-level emission reduction projects are in demand as compliance buyers diversify carbon offset portfolios and corporates seek out sustainable green projects. Voluntary and compliance market methodologies and pricing are therefore becoming…
Safe haven
Gold has been a favourite with investors looking for a safe haven since last year’s turbulence began. But will this persist in 2009, or will the precious metal start to lose its shine as a hedging option? Pauline McCallion finds out
Russia rewires
The break-up of Russia's power monopoly, RAO Unified Energy System, in July 2008 heralded a new dawn for the sector and a key point in the lengthy liberalisation process. But privatisation coincided with the economy's crash. Roderick Bruce examines the…
Summer 2009
The latest on investment and finance within the environmental and renewables sectors. In-depth features on the VERs market, US solar power contracts, waste-to-energy and a Q&A with Earth Capital Partners
Profile
To celebrate its 15th anniversary Energy Risk is conducting interviews with veterans who have shaped today's energy markets. This month Katie Holliday talks with energy risk management guru Vincent Kaminski, professor at Houston's Rice University, and…
Playing Russia’s game
Rachel Morison examines the current investor appetite for Russian oil E&P
The Last Contango
Oil prices have remained in the doldrums so far this year, but the market took a surprising turn as it slipped into a contango at the end of 2008 that has so far remained in place. Pauline McCallion examines its causes and speaks to analysts about their…
Sovereign hedging lessons
Oil-hedging losses at Sri Lankan state-owned refinery Ceylon Petroleum Corporation are a lesson in the proper use of derivatives. By Joe Marsh