Exchanges
Iberdrola’s inroads
Spanish utility Iberdrola supplied almost a third of its home country’selectricity in 2003. And with a joint Iberian energy market scheduled to startin March, the firm has plans for further expansion into Portugal. By Joe Marsh
A fresh landscape
Prebon Energy’s Kevin McDermott says that much has changed in the electricitybroking world post-Enron. And it’s all for the better. By Paul Lyon
Teething troubles
Following decades of cloistered state control and the exit of a number of largeUS players, the Australian power market is going through a period of hiccups. Paul Lyon reports on the outlook for the country’s electricity sector
Buyouts are back
Private equity funds have been making bold inroads into energy markets in the past year – the number of deals has doubled since 2003, and the acquisitions are getting bigger. CatherineLacoursiere reports
Dominion agrees price for USGen assets
Virginia-based energy producer Dominion looks set to acquire three power plants from Maryland-based USGen New England for $656 million. However, an auction process is due to take place before the deal closes to ensure no other bidders are willing to top…
CCX and IPE team up to offer EU emissions contracts
The Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) and the International Petroleum Exchange (IPE) today signed an agreement to list cash and futures contracts in European Climate Exchange carbon financial instruments (ECX CFIs) on the IPE. Greenhouse gas emissions…
SG sets up $100m credit facility for Kazakh energy company
SG Corporate & Investment Banking (SGCIB) said earlier this week that it has arranged an unsecured 66-month $100 million loan and hedging facility for Canada-based PetroKazakhstan Kumkol Resources (PKKR). PKKR is a subsidiary of PetroKazakhstan Inc, an…
Merrill Lynch snaps up Entergy-Koch Trading
Investment bank Merrill Lynch is set to acquire the energy trading businesses of Entergy-Koch Trading (EKT), a joint venture between New Orleans-based Entergy Corp and Koch Industries in Kansas. Energy Risk reported in June that the bank was a top…
LCH Clearnet launches OTC clearing for UK gas and power
London-based clearing house LCH Clearnet today launched its new clearing service for over-the-counter (OTC) contracts for UK national balancing point natural gas and UK peak and baseload power contracts.
Nymex and Shanghai Futures Exchange look to work together
The New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex) and the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore potential areas of cooperation which they say could mutually benefit the memberships of both exchanges.
Looking to the east
Can power market operators in the new EU member states in eastern Europe gainthe liquidity they need to challenge either bilateral electricity contracts orthe established exchanges? Joe Marsh reports
Shell agrees $150 million fine over reserves scandal, releases interim results
Royal Dutch/Shell Group looks set to pay $150 million in civil penalties and spend $5 million on developing an internal compliance programme, following its recent overstatement of reserves. The energy giant has agreed in principle with the UK Financial…
Nymex and Tiffe consider weather derivatives
Both the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex) and The Tokyo International Financial Futures Exchange (Tiffe) are considering launching weather contracts.
US regulator doles out Enron fines
The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has hit Enron and its former trader Hunter Shively with $35 million and $300,000 in civil fines respectively for gas price manipulation.
Wolverine to be market maker for Japanese weather futures
Wolverine Trading, the Chicago-based energy trading company, will be the lead market maker for Japanese weather futures soon to be offered by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME).
CME appoints lead market maker for fertiliser futures
Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME ) yesterday said that Agriliance will be the lead market maker for the exchange’s new fertiliser contracts traded on Globex, the exchange’s electronic trading platform. Minnesota-based Agriliance markets crop nutrients,…
APX restructures and hires senior staff
APX Group, which provides exchanges for natural gas and power trading across northwest Europe, will move London-based power exchange UKPX’s forwards market onto its own system on August 18. The group has also made several senior appointments following…
Newsome leaves CFTC to head up Nymex
James Newsome has quit as chairman of the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to head up the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex). Newsome’s resignation is effective from July 23, and he will be president of Nymex from August 2, replacing Bo…
The troubleshooter
After struggling for a year with a difficult Triple Point installation, US energycompany Cinergy brought in energy IT veteran Joel McKnight. Nine months on, implementationand integration is complete. By Joe Marsh
Bucking the trend
Openlink’s founder Coleman Fung talks to James Ockenden about the decisionsthat have promoted his company to one of the leading risk management solutionproviders
Faith in the figures
There are signs that price reporting will remain voluntary, despite the drop-offin reporting levels, but proposals are still being made on all sides. EricFishhaut looks at the progress being made to achieve greater price transparency
Nordic volumes heading south
Nordic region electricity trading volumes are falling fast, which is damagingprofits at Oslo-based power exchange Nord Pool. The company may face postinga loss for 2004 if it cannot reverse this trend. Joe Marsh reports
ABN to offer centralised power and gas clearing platform
Dutch bank ABN Amro today said it’s energy futures division is developing a platform to provide centralised over-the-counter (OTC) clearing for natural gas and power contracts at six European energy exchanges – UKPX, EEX, Endex, Powernext, IPE and…
Options trading on EEX by year-end
Members of the European Energy Exchange (EEX) will be able to trade power options on the exchange by the end of 2004, with training and trading simulation for members beginning in July.