Operational risk
European power: Nord Pool Q&A
Eric Thrane is chief executive of Nord Pool, Europe’s largest marketplace for physical and financial power contracts
European power: Can the Nordic market be replicated?
In the second of a series of in-depth features looking at power markets in Europe, Rachel Morison examines the strengths of the Nordic market as a model for the rest of Europe and finds out what lessons can be learnt
Trading positions
Energy Risk catches up with the latest appointments, promotions and departures in global commodity markets
Oil price volatility still concerns the market
After oil prices started to stabilise in the last quarter of 2009, all eyes turned to the market outlook for the year ahead. But as we enter a new decade, oil still remains at the top of the risk agenda and price forecasts differ vastly. Lianna Brinded…
Building support: CFTC’s reforms in the cold?
Despite being lighter than expected, the CFTC’s proposed reforms for energy trading have found little support from other commissioners or overseas regulators, finds Pauline McCallion
Singapore Exchange to trade fuel oil futures in February
SGX has announced details of a new fuel oil contract scheduled for launch on Monday, February 22.
Lukoil-led consortium seals Iraq deal
A consortium led by Russian private oil company Lukoil is the latest in a line of energy giants sealing deals in Iraq, in a move set to develop one of the country’s largest oil fields.
BP CEO: Oil industry faces supply challenge
The oil industry will continue to face supply challenges in the long term, following China’s burgeoning demand for imports, said BP’s chief executive at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Russia and Belarus sign deal and end dispute
Russia and Belarus have ended a dispute over oil supply by signing a deal on Russian oil deliveries for one-third of Belarus’s import needs, confirms Russian deputy prime minister Igor Sechin on the country’s government website.
Russia looks to China for gas contracts
Russia is forging stronger ties with China to diversify its gas buyer base, following payment disputes with countries such as Ukraine and to compete with the growing US liquefied natural gas (LNG) market, say analysts. Meanwhile, Europe is looking to…
Ice receives CFTC clearing registration
IntercontinentalExchange (Ice) has been granted limited registration by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) as a US derivatives clearing organisation (DCO).
Mexico sees return to normality for oil hedging
Banks’ ability to act as a counterparty is “back to a very normal situation” after the credit crunch, according to one of the designers of Mexico’s oil price hedging programme.
Ferc proposes credit reforms
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Ferc) has outlined credit reform proposals aimed at balancing the need for market liquidity with appropriate risk management while ensuring reasonable rates.
Venezuelan sands could dwarf Canadian reserves
Venezuela’s Orinoco Oil Belt could contain 513 billion barrels of technically recoverable heavy oil, double original estimates, according to a report released last week.
Indian power market faces increased regulation
India’s Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) issued Power Market Regulations for 2010 this week as part of the Electricity Act passed in 2003.
Iran sets out mixed energy plan 2010/2011
Iran’s national budget for 2010/2011 will be less reliant on oil revenues but will still reveal "good news" on oil production of 20% enriched fuel in February this year, says Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in a move aimed at making the state less…
Eni, Oxy & Kogas seal Iraq deal
Three major oil and gas companies have sealed a deal with Iraq’s South Oil Company and Missan Oil Company that is set to increase production by 1 million barrels per day (bbl/d) over the next six years.
CFTC to include Ice Henry Hub SPDC contracts in traders' reports
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) will include positions in the IntercontinentalExchange (Ice) Henry Hub natural gas contract in its weekly Commitments of Traders (COT) reports.
EU & Iraq pact will not boost energy supplies
Iraq will not boost the European Union’s (EU) oil, gas or power supply, or become a key supplier in the near future, say analysts, following the announcement that the two parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding designed to secure the EU’s energy…
Sonatrach CEO probe not affecting exports
Market fears about an Algerian oil and gas export shutdown are unfounded, say analysts, following confirmation that the chief executive of state-owned energy company Sonatrach is now under judicial review.
Upstream deals boost oil and gas companies’ outlooks
The value of oil and gas deals announced last year increased by 10% from 2008 to $198 billion, although the total number of deals fell from 1,152 to 837, according to Ernst & Young’s third annual global oil and gas transactions review.
WEF: Oil price spikes remain top 10 risk for 2010
Oil price spikes remain one of the World Economic Forum's (WEF) top 10 economic risks for 2010, with the risk-rating moving up to medium risk from low risk in 2009.