Energy transition
UK gas prices to remain low despite weather
Spot and future UK gas prices will remain low over the next few months, despite the cold snap, after official government forecasts revealed its expectations for milder weather, say analysts.
Hedge funds will return to energy markets in H2
Energy hedge fund investors will return to the market in the second half of the year, as these investment managers see prices rise towards the end of 2010, say analysts.
Energy Risk: What's coming next?
Energy Risk brings you a snapshot of what's moving and shaking the markets.
Global supply squeeze to ease with China/Saudi ties
The global oil supply tightness forecast for the next five years due to increasing Asian demand might be eased by China’s latest move to promote closer ties and secure more imports from Saudi Arabia, say analysts.
US shale extraction technique under investigation
US oil and gas shale production - seen as a vital contributor to US energy needs - is under investigation due to environmental fears over extraction techniques.
Icap Energy head: Oil broking screen a response to "regulatory times"
Interdealer brokerage Icap Energy will launch a combined voice-electronic broking service for over-the-counter (OTC) crude, fuel oil and middle distillate swaps, subject to regulatory approval. The service, entitled Icap TrueQuote, will offer straight…
Some CERs “not sexy” enough for investors: carbon industry heavyweight
Certified emissions reduction (CER) credits generated from clean development mechanism (CDM) projects, such as Chinese wind farms, are just “not sexy” enough for investors at the moment and they are looking to other regions like Africa, says Liz Bossley,…
Mitsui in US shale joint venture
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation has announced details of a joint-venture agreement with Mitsui E&P USA, a subsidiary of Japan’s Mitsui & Co.
Oil majors go solo with emissions campaign
BP and ConocoPhillips will not renew their respective memberships of the US Climate Action Partnership (USCAP), announcing separate plans to engage policymakers as individual organisations.
Oil price of $70-80/bbl expected in 2010
Oil prices are expected to remain between $70 and $80 per barrel (bbl) this year, according to a consensus of industry experts speaking at the IP Week conference in London.
Iraq's capacity puts pressure on oil prices
The recovery of Iraq’s oil industry is putting downward pressure on global oil prices as the ability of the world market to absorb the extra capacity might be limited, say oil experts.
JP Morgan and RBS Sempra Commodities agree $1.7bn deal
RBS Sempra Commodities has sold its global oil, global metals, and European power and gas assets to JP Morgan for $1.7 billion.
China seen overtaking US as biggest oil importer in 2-3 years
“In two to three years, China will be the largest global importer of crude oil,” Jorge Montepeque, global director of market reports for Platts, said at today’s Global Outlook for Oil event during IP Week.
China forces IEA to boost oil demand forecast
Higher-than-expected demand from China and other Asian countries has forced the International Energy Agency (IEA) to revise up its global oil demand forecast for 2010 by 120,000 barrels a day (b/d) to 86.5 million b/d.
Iraq adopts new pricing for US crude
Somo, the Iraqi state-owned oil marketing firm, has followed in the footsteps of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait by adopting the Argus Sour Crude Index (ASCI) to benchmark price sales of US-bound crude from April onwards.
FirstEnergy and Allegheny announce $8.5bn merger
FirstEnergy and Allegheny Energy have announced an $8.5 billion stock-for-stock merger transaction that would create a diversified generation portfolio including 2,200 megawatts (MW) of renewables.
State drops out of regional carbon trading scheme
Arizona has pulled out of the Western Climate Initiative (WCI) cap-and-trade scheme over fears it would put the state at a competitive disadvantage.
Citi names new global commodities head
Stuart Staley has taken over as Citigroup’s global head of commodities, as the bank aims to boost the business by 30-40% over the next three years.
Gazprom sells US LNG to China
Russian energy company Gazprom has shipped 1 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to China, as the US gas market has an unfavourable pricing environment, says Alexander Medvedev, deputy chairman of Gazprom’s management committee and director…
Obama admits Senate may need to drop carbon trading
US President Barack Obama has acknowledged the potential need to strip cap and trade out of US energy legislation currently being re-drafted in the US Senate in order to pass the bill.
More legislation threatens EPA regulation of GHGs
The chairman of the US House Agriculture Committee has introduced bipartisan legislation designed to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act.
Obama boosts biofuels and clean coal
US President Barack Obama has announced a series of measures designed to boost biofuel production and reduce US dependence on foreign oil.