Energy transition
David Mooney
With 34 trading offices active in 40 countries, Swiss commodity trading house Trafigura is no small concern. But while the firm – perhaps best known for its oil, petroleum products and metals trading activities – employs some 600 energy traders worldwide…
Kiodex adds more energy forward curves
Kiodex, an energy risk management technology company based in New York, willadd five new forward curves to its global market data offering, it told delegatesat EPRM’s May congress in Houston.
Detecting market transitions: from backwardation to contango and back
Svetlana Borovkova looks at detecting market transitions between backwardation and contango states using the forward curve. In this first part of a two-part article, she introduces two change indicators, which she applies to oil futures prices. Next…
CROs seen as vital for restoring confidence
Chief risk officers (CROs) have a vital role in helping shape the future of thetroubled energy sector and should report directly to their company’s boardif investor confidence is to be rebuilt in the industry. Vincent Kaminski, seniorvice-president of…
Buying your way out of trouble
UK high-street retailer Littlewoods has saved £1.5 million through an energy risk management and procurement programme. Utilyx’s Nigel Cornwall looks at how other companies can reduce energy costs through purchase programmes
Wanted: cash for new lines
Can Ferc’s standard market design encourage much-needed investment in the US power grid and develop a merchant model for transmission assets? By Kevin Foster
Speculate away
A new report argues that speculative trading in the crude oil markets contributes far less to volatility than its critics suggest. Kevin Foster looks at the arguments
A formula for high prices
The US chemical industry is crying foul over spiralling natural gas prices, but there are measures they can take to protect themselves, as Kevin Foster discovers
Petrochemicals firms take a stand against oil price volatility
Many petrochemicals firms are seeking to reduce price volatility through hedging, given that the cost of crude oil is strongly influencing the price of petrochemical products. GlobalView Software looks at the figures behind the trend
Models of good behaviour
The development of new models that describe the real dynamics of energy prices have to take into account the behavioural aspects of market players. The problem is how to quantify these aspects. Maria Kielmas reports
Rethinking European power
European energy firms are seeking to reposition their products and strategies in advance of European Union market deregulation. FAME Energy reports
Seam shifts in central Europe
Gordon Feller looks at the changing coal economies of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Slovenia and the effect of electricity sector moves in the region
Opportunity knocks for smelters
Aluminium manufacturers have long used sophisticated hedging and risk management techniques to protect against fluctuating metal prices, yet they have only recently looked at transferring these skills to power risk management. David Wilson reports
US energy prices: in line for a fall?
A combination of concerns in the second half of January 2003 has boosted US oil and natural gas prices to levels not seen since the winter of 2000/2001. Will the higher prices stick? Logical Information Machines examines cause and effect
US gas market challenges
A new report from the investigative office of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission finds that competitive natural gas markets in the US are robust, but warns of challenges ahead. Kevin Foster reports
Coal on the rocks
Faced with liquidity problems, falling volumes and uncertainty over the accuracy of price data, coal trading has had many of the same difficulties as the natural gas and power sectors over the past year. How can it get back on its feet, asks Kevin Foster