Operational risk
Industry gets energised
Attracting some 300 delegates, this year's Energy Risk USA conference was by far the biggest and most successful it's been since the fall of Enron, writes Stella Farrington
Weathering the impact of stormy price hikes
At the start of the 2006 hurricane season in the Atlantic Basin, Zachary Simecek takes a look at the impact on the energy markets
Brian O'Cathain, CEO, Afren
Brian O'Cathain, CEO of oil exploration company Afren, talks with Eithne Treanor about the risks and rewards facing small oil companies in Africa.
Time to get physical
For the second tier of banks wishing to buy physical energy assets, the next two years will be critical. Antony Kakoudakis and Aarzoo Shah consider this trend and examine some of the hurdles newer entrants face
A prime time for energy prime brokerage?
The rise of electronic energy markets may prompt energy companies to seek a simple clearing solution through one primary bank, rather than build relations with several clearers, writes Ron Villarin
The impact of SOX on supply chain management
Of the many changes companies have had to introduce as a result of Sarbanes-Oxley legislation, the most useful one is arguably the integration of supply chain management with financial risk management, writes Raees Lakhani
globalCOAL and Icap settle dispute
globalCOAL and Icap Energy have settled the legal dispute between them on the use by Icap of price screens in NEWC coal swaps. Icap has formally agreed not to offer its clients electronic trading or indicative price services in NEWC or other globalCOAL…
Integrating energy data
Knowledge is power, and having the latest information on the marketplace is of paramount importance. Eric Fishhaut looks at why centralising information can have a big impact on tactical management and developing strategies
Taking stock of SOX
Sarbanes Oxley has wide-ranging implications for US power companies on how they use, and record their use of, market data, writes Sandy Fielden
A question of priority
The US Energy Policy Act of 2005 calls for a review of existing power dispatch methods. But replacing today's regional methods with a one-size-fits-all plan throws up many concerns, writes Richard McMahon
Joined-up risk assessment
The nature of risk is changing. Energy companies, well-skilled in managing market risk and operational risks, may now need to adopt a new stance towards risk management, write Rohit Bhapkar, Roland Rechtsteiner and John Stroughair
Exchanging futures
There's no doubt that Andy Gooch takes the helm at Nymex Europe Limited in interesting times. While NEL's trading floor is in danger of closure, arch rival IntercontinentalExchange's new WTI contract has gained significant volume
Special Report - Energy prices - Opening up the grid
Germany is set to move this year to an entry/exit system for access to its gas grids. But some in the market fear that unresolved issues could cause a bumpy start
GlobalCoal wins injunction against Icap
The Court of Appeal in London today awarded GlobalCoal an interim injunction against Icap Energy in a dispute over an alleged breach of GlobalCoal’s product licence agreement (PLA), pending trial. GlobalCoal may now seek damages.
Nymex's death knell to floor?
The New York Mercantile Exchange's decision to introduce side-by-side electronic and open-outcry trading heralds the beginning of the end for its floor trade, many market participants believe
March 2006 - EFET Survey - Could do better
Gas transmission access systems across Europe must be improved significantly before efficient trading can take place, say gas traders in a recent poll conducted by the European Federation of Energy Traders
Coping with setbacks
Most risk managers and employees in energy companies are familiar with the concepts of market risk and credit risk, but operational risk is receiving more attention in corporate boardrooms these days, writes Sandy Fielden
March 2006 - LNG moves offshore
Offshore LNG terminals not only circumvent environmental objections, they give suppliers global arbitrage opportunities. But are they economical, asks Catherine Lacoursiere