Energy transition
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.
Experts predict wave of commodity spread ETFs
An influx of commodity-based exchange-traded funds (ETFs) could sweep the market, after Canadian investment firm Jovian Capital Corp’s ETF unit BetaPro Management launched the first ever commodity spread ETF this month, signalling the growing range of…
Gazprom seals US LNG deal
The world’s largest natural gas company Gazprom has sealed a deal with US-based Sempra Energy that will allow Russia’s energy giant to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) to another US receipt terminal and further broaden its client base and its reach in…
China’s oil demand rise won’t tighten global supply
China’s apparent oil demand rose by 12.8% in March this year, following the expansion of refining capacity and rapid growth in the Chinese economy, but this does not indicate that global supply will tighten, say analysts.
Ex-RBS Sempra boss heads to UBS
UBS has hired former RBS Sempra Commodities head Kaushik Amin amid speculation that it will restart its commodities trading business
Chinese CDM project approval drops
The Chinese government's approval rate for Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects has dropped by over a third since December 2009, amid continued fears that Chinese CDM-generated Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) credits will not be allowed to be…
CFTC data shows speculators don't influence commodity markets
The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC) re-aggregated data releases show speculation has minimal impact on oil price movements, according to investment bank Credit Agricole.
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.
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.
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.
Cutting Edge: Pure jump models for energy prices
Université de Lausanne’s Roberto Marfè investigates pure jump processes as modelling blocks for the distributions of energy returns under the pricing measure. An easy-to-implement option-implied approach is outlined, which circumvents most of the…