Energy transition
New SocGen commodities strategy expected by year-end
Société Générale plans to have fully integrated a new power and gas trading strategy by the end of 2010 after announcing the sale of its 49% stake in the 10-year Gaselys partnership with GDF Suez yesterday.
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 energy credit.
IEA cuts global oil demand for 2009 and 2010
The International Energy Agency (IEA) slashes global oil demand for 2009 and 2010, following questions over the health of the global economy, weaker-than-expected data from Asia and the Middle East, and repercussions from the volcanic ash cloud and the…
Offshore policy remains unclear after drilling ban
The full effect of the recent Gulf of Mexico oil spill on US offshore drilling policy remains unclear as the official investigation continues.
BP’s Gulf of Mexico oil spill to affect EU shale gas projects
BP’s Gulf of Mexico oil spill will lead to approval and production delays in the European shale gas industry as governments crack down on environmental safety regulations.
Corporate statement: New technology is changing the way companies manage ETRM software
Pioneer Solutions’ president, Uday Baral, discusses how the needs of ETRM users are being met by the dynamic and efficient service his company offers
Oil/gas price disconnect prompts calls to scrap index
The recent disconnect between oil and gas prices has once again raised the question of whether the practice of indexing gas to oil prices should be dropped, finds Alex Davis
Cutting Edge: Measuring the risk of Financial Transmission Rights
In this month’s article, Ning Zhang proposes a semi-parametric approach to calculate the risk of FTRs/TCCs portfolios whose risk is hard to capture by using standard VaR methods. The major specialties of FTRs/TCCs – such as non-normality and seasonality …
The state of straight-through processing in energy markets
Integrated front- to back-office processes in energy trading still lag those of financial markets considerably, putting energy markets at a big disadvantage. Lianna Brinded takes a look at why this is the case, and whether change is on the way
New regulation could open up French power market
A slow response to the EU’s liberalisation directive has left the French power market lagging behind some European markets in terms of liquidity, but recent regulatory proposals are set to open up the market and may spell the end of regulated tariffs…
Gulf of Mexico oil spill to delay BP drilling projects
BP’s Gulf of Mexico oil spill could lead to production delays throughout the industry while safety regulation tightens up.
New approaches to energy credit risk management
The aftermath of the financial crisis led to some innovative approaches to tackling energy credit risk. Pauline McCallion looks at developments and asks whether proposed US and European regulation will help or hinder innovation in this space
Oil supply outlook: Nigeria
An uptick in Nigerian oil production at the end of 2009 led to hopes of greater supply stability. However, with political uncertainty looming and attacks on oil facilities on the rise again, Lianna Brinded asks experts if they are still optimistic for…
Natural gas: a story of surplus
Oversupply in the natural gas market looks set to keep prices soft in the near term. Pauline McCallion speaks to the experts about the price outlook for this year and next and what that means for the arbitrage with oil
Tackling the credit insurance challenge
Credit insurance was one of the main risks for energy buyers in 2009 and looks set to stick around in 2010. Wayne Mitchell, head of corporate sales at npower, discusses how using an energy-trading approach can help energy suppliers and customers manage…
Carbon market welcomes ICE purchase of CCX
The Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) has announced the £395m acquisition of The Climate Exchange. The two entities have been partners since 2003.
European oil refineries profitability to drop off
European oil refineries have little chance of making profits for companies over the next two years, despite the sector’s first quarter burst of profitability, say industry analysts.
Deal could trigger downgrade for E.ON US and subsidiaries
German power and gas company E.ON's decision to sell its US subsidiary to PPL Corporation for $7.625 billion has resulted in a ratings review and possible downgrade for E.ON US.
First US offshore wind farm approved
The first US offshore wind farm has been approved by the US government in an area of the Outer Continental Shelf, with the potential to eventually provide 1 million megawatts of offshore energy.
CBI: Quarter of UK power plants face closure
Independent business lobby group the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has warned the latest draft of the European Union Directive for Industrial Emissions could force at least a quarter of the UK’s power plants to close, which would raise a major…
CFTC pushes on with regulatory sweep
The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) moved to increase oversight of several unregulated energy contracts today, even though broader financial reform from Congress could negate the action.
Saudi Arabia global oil exports to wane post-2010
Saudi Arabia’s long-standing status as a swing producer of crude oil could be drawing to a close according to the head of national oil company Saudi Aramco.
OTC reform could strengthen support for energy position limits
The debate over derivatives regulation could provide momentum for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to impose position limits on energy trading proposed in January.