Energy
Matthew Simmons: Oil markets face ‘Pearl Harbour’
The oil market is facing its own ‘Pearl Harbour’, as a number of factors, ranging from supply tightness, operational disasters such as the BP’s Gulf of Mexico oil spill, ageing refining capabilities and a diminishing oil sector workforce push the sector…
More research needed on price impact of CO2 on power: expert
Power risk managers may face previously unforeseen cost challenges in the next few years, as not enough research has been done to quantify the marginal effects carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions prices will have on the electricity generation sector, says…
Gazprom sees huge potential in Asian gas
Gazprom Marketing & Trading expands into Asia with the opening of its Singapore shipping unit
Powering up
Utility companies in Japan and South Korea are changing the way they purchase coal after being hit by volatile price swings in coal during the past three years. And their efforts to improve risk management are helping the development of both coal indexes…
Trading and assets misaligned?
The interests of trading desks may not always be aligned with the best interests of a vertically integrated company’s assets. Charles Ford discusses some approaches that address this issue
FERC inquiry to tackle price distortions
The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has launched an inquiry into spot market price caps in the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC)
Oil sands supply weighs on WTI prices
Canadian oil sands could become the top source of US crude oil imports this year, according to a report published on Wednesday (May 19), raising concerns that oversupply of US crude will continue to weigh on prices
“Questionable” CERs add to post-2012 uncertainty
Carbon experts warn that HFC-based carbon offset credits could lose value in third phase of EU ETS
E.ON Energy Trading enters US natural gas market
German power and gas company E.ON begins drive to expand presence in US gas market.
Kyoto suspension will disadvantage Bulgarian compliance companies
Bulgaria's emissions trading suspension set to impact companies trading on EU ETS
First container derivatives trade could herald booming new market
Container derivatives launched by Clarkson Securities Limited signifies potential for new market, say experts.
New SocGen commodities strategy expected by year-end
Société Générale plans to have fully integrated a new power and gas trading strategy by the end of 2010 after announcing the sale of its 49% stake in the 10-year Gaselys partnership with GDF Suez yesterday.
IEA cuts global oil demand for 2009 and 2010
The International Energy Agency (IEA) slashes global oil demand for 2009 and 2010, following questions over the health of the global economy, weaker-than-expected data from Asia and the Middle East, and repercussions from the volcanic ash cloud and the…
Offshore policy remains unclear after drilling ban
The full effect of the recent Gulf of Mexico oil spill on US offshore drilling policy remains unclear as the official investigation continues.
Iraq seals oil deal with Kurdistan
The Iraqi government has resolved the longstanding oil dispute with Kurdistan, signalling a short-term increase in oil exports, while the prospect for a petroleum law, which would detail revenue and expense allocations for foreign energy companies in…
BP’s Gulf of Mexico oil spill to affect EU shale gas projects
BP’s Gulf of Mexico oil spill will lead to approval and production delays in the European shale gas industry as governments crack down on environmental safety regulations.
Fraud crackdown will boost carbon market credibility, say experts
Market experts say Europe-wide crackdown on carbon trading fraud will strengthen market credibility and lead to tighter regulation
Choppy seas for shipping’s carbon scheme accord
The EU has pledged to include shipping in the EU ETS by the end of 2011 if a global scheme hasn’t been agreed on. Some shipping experts believe this could cause chaos, finds Alex Davis
Oil/gas price disconnect prompts calls to scrap index
The recent disconnect between oil and gas prices has once again raised the question of whether the practice of indexing gas to oil prices should be dropped, finds Alex Davis
Cutting Edge: Measuring the risk of Financial Transmission Rights
In this month’s article, Ning Zhang proposes a semi-parametric approach to calculate the risk of FTRs/TCCs portfolios whose risk is hard to capture by using standard VaR methods. The major specialties of FTRs/TCCs – such as non-normality and seasonality …
New regulation could open up French power market
A slow response to the EU’s liberalisation directive has left the French power market lagging behind some European markets in terms of liquidity, but recent regulatory proposals are set to open up the market and may spell the end of regulated tariffs…
Gulf of Mexico oil spill to delay BP drilling projects
BP’s Gulf of Mexico oil spill could lead to production delays throughout the industry while safety regulation tightens up.
Oil supply outlook: Nigeria
An uptick in Nigerian oil production at the end of 2009 led to hopes of greater supply stability. However, with political uncertainty looming and attacks on oil facilities on the rise again, Lianna Brinded asks experts if they are still optimistic for…
Natural gas: a story of surplus
Oversupply in the natural gas market looks set to keep prices soft in the near term. Pauline McCallion speaks to the experts about the price outlook for this year and next and what that means for the arbitrage with oil