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Oil    

     
Speculative trading in energy marketsCalls to curb oil market speculators may spill into gas, industry fears
Talk of curbing speculative trading in petroleum markets has the potential to bleed into the gas market, according to industry insiders, who warned that, despite the historically high price of commodities, the reining in of such players could have devastating effects on energy trading.
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Created: May 14, 2008
  Oil in IraqIraq: The year of transfer?
Iraqi oil minister Hussein al-Shahristani said April 23 that the recent government crackdown in the southern oil hub of Basra had been a success and had created a safer environment for the oil industry.
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Created: April 24, 2008
     
Advanced biofuelsNext-generation biofuels begin to emerge
The production of biofuels has tripled from 4.8 billion gallons in 2000 to 16 billion gallons in 2007, but still only accounts for less than 3% of total global transportation fuel supply, according to a report from the Economic Research Services division of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
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Created: April 16, 2008
  Challenges for crude oilIEA says world needs bigger cushion on oil inventories
The world oil market needs a bigger oil stock "buffer" to cope with geopolitical tension, even though inventory levels are already above five-year averages, the International Energy Agency said March 11.
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Created: April 14, 2008
     
Oil markets round-upCrude oil market round-ups
In a special series of podcasts, Platts European oil team discuss what's been moving the West African, North Sea and Urals crude markets in the week beginning February 4.
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Updated: February 8, 2008
  OPEC GuideGuide to OPEC
OPEC secretary-general Abdalla el-Badri on Sep 14 said the oil producer group did not believe current record oil prices would last, saying they were not justified by market fundamentals or any shortage of crude.
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Updated: May 13, 2008
     
Renewable diesel on the riseOil manufacturers turn to waste products
The unsavory leftovers from slaughterhouses and nose-crinkling gunk from the sinks of any fast-food drive-through restaurant could be coming soon to a diesel tank near you.
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Updated: October 31, 2007
  Master limited partnership boomletVolatility aside, MLP boomlet carries on
A string of energy-sector initial public offerings for master limited partnerships (MLPs) has closed in 2007, with at least six others set to launch.
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Updated: October 16, 2007
     
Ethanol slow downUS ethanol output may miss target
US ethanol production forecasts may not be met due to a slowdown in new plant construction and an end to easy financing, said Ron Miller, CEO of producer/distributor Aventine Renewable Energy.
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Updated: September 24, 2007
  European naphtha market European naphtha market
Mixed fortunes have marked the European naphtha market over the course of June and July as tightness, brought about by a healthy arbitrage to Asia, helped push the price to a record high of $714.50/mt on July 12.
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Updated: July 14, 2007
     
The dieselization of EuropeThe dieselization of Europe
Diesel demand in Germany, France and the UK is expected to rise 2.2% in 2007 to 20,676,000 mt, according to International Energy Agency data analysed by Platts, as Europe trends towards diesel powered transportation.
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Updated: July 7, 2007
  US Energy BillPelosi unveils House energy bill
House Democratic leaders unveiled a package of wide-ranging energy bills on June 28 that they said would significantly reduce US dependence on foreign oil.
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Updated: June 28, 2007
 
Biodiesel outlookBiodiesel advocates optimistic about future growth
It's a very rough measure, admittedly, but based on the number of hits on Google, ethanol is the reigning king of the alternative transportation fuels, compared to biodiesel.
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Updated: May 16, 2007
  US oil & gas expansion constraintsService sector costs reflect the struggle to grow capacity
While general inflation is relatively muted, it is endemic in the oil and gas supply chain. Average production costs are rising and service sector capacity is stretched, threatening project timelines and cost estimates.
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Updated: March 28, 2007
     
Ethanol at a crossroads US ethanol producers look to discretionary blending
US ethanol is at a crossroads. After the surge in demand following last year's phaseout of MTBE, 6 billion gallons of new capacity is planned, leading to fears of overproduction.
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Updated: February 28, 2007
  Latin American E&PLatin America looks to foreign investment
Latin America has agreed on numerous projects in 2006 that will mean increased exploration and production, as well as improved cooperation between Latin American countries and the rest of the world.
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Updated: November 6, 2006
     
Turkey: east-west energy corridorBaku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipline officially opens
The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, which officially opens on July 13, constitutes the most important key to date in unlocking the energy riches of the Caspian and bringing them to global markets.
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Updated: September 1, 2006
  Hurricane watchErnesto spares energy futures another slump
Debbie was harmless and Ernesto may still prove to be nothing more than another small storm in a teacup, but the vague threat of nasty weather in the Gulf of Mexico spared energy futures a major slump.
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Updated: August 28, 2006
     
Prudhoe BayPrudhoe Bay Outage
With crude production from Alaska's Prudhoe Bay field down indefinitely, and tight supplies of short-haul Latin American crudes, typical Alaska North Slope crude buyers may have to seek crudes from West Africa or Asia to fill the void on the US West Coast.
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Updated: August 7, 2006
  African Oil and GasAfrican continent to remain a key spot for investors
The African continent will remain a key spot for hungry investors keen to take advantage of bumper revenues as explorers spurred on by high oil prices seek out previously under-explored frontier regions.
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Updated: July 20, 2006
     

Middle Eastern conflictIran a phantom menace in latest Middle Eastern conflict
Oil prices thundered into record territory July 14, and then again on July 17 as Israel launched military strikes against Lebanon to smash Iranian-backed Shi'ite Hezbollah guerrillas north of its border.
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Updated: July 17, 2006

Bottom of the barrelUSGC 3%S prices remain weak while Russian M100 fuel oil floods market
Prices for USGC 3%S have remained weak for May relative to next-month 3% sulfur fuel oil swaps, as heavy imports of Russian M100 fuel oil this month and a lack of incremental arbitrage opportunities in the Americas or to Singapore weighed on the spot market.
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Updated: May 26, 2006

     
$100 oil$100/barrel oil-coming soon to an exchange near you
$100/barrel oil has gone from sensationalist claim to credible reality. Little more than a year ago, Goldman Sachs was castigated for releasing what was seen as a self-serving report warning that oil could see a 'super spike', with crude prices reaching as high as $105/barrel.
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Updated: May 16, 2006
  MTBE Phase outMTBE Phase out
Salt Lake City-ExxonMobil sees a "fairly rapid" phase-out of MTBE-blended gasoline by US refiners ahead of the May 5 repeal of the US oxygenate mandate.
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Updated: April 6, 2006
     
Top 250 Platts Top 250 Global Energy Company Rankings
Revenues and profits for many firms surged last year over previous years. The turnaround from our last global survey is dramatic.
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Updated: March 20, 2006
  Crude Benchmark AnalysisCrude Benchmark Analysis
For the last 20 years, price discovery in the oil market has been concentrated around three main regional crude oil benchmarks, also known as 'marker' crudes.
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Updated: March 7, 2006
     
N Sea Rig UtilizationsNorth Sea Rig Utilisation
After a subdued spell at the turn of year, the North Sea rig market sprang to life during the past few weeks, with a high level of activity, featuring the signing of a number of new and extension contracts.
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Updated: February 27, 2006
  Platts Ethanol GuidePlatts Ethanol Guide
Increasingly concerned about the cost of oil and the risks associated with importing it, bipartisan groups of House and Senate lawmakers have filed bills seeking to give biofuels and alternative fuel vehicles a place on American highways.
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Created: December 21, 2005
     
Gasoline, diesel, and jet outlookGasoline, diesel, and jet outlook
The Bush administration is considering establishing regional reserves of gasoline, diesel fuel and jet fuel to help avert the type of shortages that occurred following hurricanes this year.
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Updated: November 7, 2005
  Hurricane updateHurricane Update
Platts provides a daily offering of a status report on energy industry recovery efforts in the US Gulf. Detailed information about industry-specific recovery efforts are provided as well.
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Updated: November 14, 2005
     
Latin American E&PLatin American E&P
Latin America is buzzing with exploration and production activity, especially where countries are teaming up for joint benefits. Many countries in Latin America are steering away from costly imports and are instead delving into untapped resources at home.
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Updated: October 14, 2005
  Focus On YukosFocus On Yukos
Key Yukos shareholder Menatep Group has joined a Societe Generale-led creditor syndicate that Friday filed a $480-mil claim against the embattled Russian oil producer in a Dutch court, Russian business daily Kommersant reported August 23.
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Updated: August 23, 2005
     
Energy Bill Energy policy focus now shifts to bureaucracy
President Bush on Aug. 8 signed Energy Policy Act of 2005 into law against a backdrop of the Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, N.M., triggering a number of rulemakings and other actions by the FERC.
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Updated: August 8, 2005
 

Fuel Management Fuel Management
World oil reserves were almost unchanged at the end of 2004 from the same time a year earlier as new discoveries barely covered the amount of oil produced, BP said June 14 in its 2005 statistical review of world energy.
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Updated: June 28, 2005

     
Peak oilWhat is "peak oil" and why should we worry?
Peak Oil is entering the mainstream. A phrase once considered synonymous with "The End of Oil" -- the point at which global oil production reaches its peak -- is now a subject for serious debate.
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Updated: June 1, 2005
  High Indian, Chinese demandHigh Indian, Chinese demand squeezes supply, keep prices volatile
Oil prices have been notoriously volatile in recent years and 2005 has seen a continuation of this recent trend, whilst prices have established new all-time highs.
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Updated: April 19, 2005
     
Platts Gasoline GuidePlatts Gasoline Guide
High oil prices should propel US retail regular-grade gasoline prices in May to a monthly average price of about $2.35/gal, although weekly prices and some regional prices will likely be higher.
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Created: April 14, 2005
 

Oilgram Proce ReportOil prices merit re-examining of supply/demand fundamentals
Last year's relentless upward surge in oil prices was different from other increases. Never before had the benchmark price of WTI crude passed even $45/bbl, much less $50.
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Created: February 3, 2005

     
Impact of recent oil price spikesImpact of Recent Oil Price Spikes
The effect of high oil prices, which reached historic highs on August 20, on European energy commodities and metals.
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Created: September 9, 2004
  Follow-up to US-Iraq HandoverFollow-up to US-Iraq Handover
Iraq's oil ministry is evaluating offers from 14 international companies for a contract to conduct a technical study on the country's major oilfields-north and south Rumaila in the south and Kirkuk in the north.
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Updated: August 24, 2004
     
Energy In ChinaEnergy In China
China is the largest fuel oil importer in the Asia Pacific region. The country's growing energy requirement has been spurred by escalating industrial growth in the country.
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Created: August 18, 2004
  Royal Dutch/ShellShell Reserve Recategorization
Under regulatory authority investigation in three countries, facing a US Justice Department probe, with its hitherto rock-solid long-term borrowing downgraded by all major ratings agencies -- this hardly sounds like the blue chip oil major Royal Dutch/Shell. More...
Updated: May 10, 2004
     
Bosphorus Tanker Traffic IssueThe Bosphorus Tanker Traffic Issue
The Bosphorus 'issue' is a thorny one. Conflicting interests are in-built. The waterway is surrounded by Turkish territory, but it is the single passage to the Mediterranean for the landlocked states of the Black Sea.
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Created: March 8, 2004
 
     
Electric Power    

     
Merger activity changes courseNegative outlook for mergers could turn around
Analysts were unanimous in agreement at the Edison Electric Institute International Utility Conference back in March 2008 that there would not be much cross-Atlantic merger and acquisition activity in the US power sector this year.
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Created: May 8, 2008
  Eastern European new power generationRebalancing with gas and wind
Continuing uncertainty about the future carbon environment as well as ongoing concerns over security of supply seem to be outweighing fears about tightening supply-demand margins, according to Platts Energy in East Europe's latest power plant tracker.
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Created: May 1, 2008
     
US cap-and-trade systemCongress analyzes cap-and-trade system for carbon dioxide
A program to control carbon dioxide emissions through a cap with an emissions-allowance trading program that includes a "safety valve" would be "significantly more efficient" than an inflexible annual cap on CO2.
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Created: March 4, 2008
  Florida power outageNERC chief applauds Florida restoration efforts
NERC CEO Rick Sergel on Feb. 27 applauded the efforts on Feb. 26 by Florida utilities to restore power after a system disturbance led to the loss of about 12 power plants and cut power to millions of customers.
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Created: February 27, 2008
     
Photovoltaic energyProsperous solar PV sector confronts specter of looming investment 'bubble'
The solar photovoltaic industry since 2000 has established the best track record for growth among all energy sources, oil and gas included.
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Created: February 27, 2008
  EC climate change packageEC sets out new targets for emissions, renewables
The European Commission on January 23 set out detailed proposals for meeting its target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020.
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Created: January 24, 2008
     
Emissions TradingEmissions trading -- time to get serious
The Kyoto Protocol's five-year compliance period begins in 2008. Industrialized nations around the world have pledged to cut carbon emissions, but the job seems to get harder, not easier. Can market mechanisms make the crucial difference?
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Created: January 2, 2008
  Climate Change & EnergyClimate Change & Energy
The energy industry is bracing for a carbon-constrained world, but the ways governments choose to control carbon around the globe may have vastly different impacts on company bottom lines.
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Created: December 4, 2007
     
2007 European power year2007 European Power Year
The 2007 power year has been characterized by benign complacency. Within-year prices have trended gently down on mild weather and soft demand. The summer has been notable for a welcome lack of volatility - no cooling water panics, no air conditioning crises.
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Created: October 16, 2007
  International investment in US powerInternational investment in US power
European companies may soon begin looking for power sector investments in the US, according to an executive of a US hedge fund who spoke at a conference in New York City in June.
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Created: September 4, 2007
     
Emissions TradingEmissions Trading
Industrialized countries' commitment under the Kyoto Protocol to cut greenhouse gas emissions to stem global warming will affect companies in all sectors across the globe.
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Created: October 26, 2007
  European M&A UpdateE.ON lands on its feet
E.ON's pragmatic acceptance of political reality in Spain could stand the German company, and European power competition, in good stead.
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Created: May 9, 2007
     
US Merger ActivityM&A conditions may become 'more intrusive'
Conditions placed on mergers in the utility industry are "going to become more and more intrusive over time," a former Illinois Commerce Commission member told an Energy Bar Association annual meeting on April 25 in Washington.
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Created: April 29, 2007
  EU Energy - Romania profileReform and restructuring essential for Romanian energy industry
On January 1 Romania and neighboring Bulgaria became the latest members of the European union, swelling its ranks to 27 states. But Romania still has some catching up to do if it is to comply with all the EU's policies, not least so in energy where progress has been slow.
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Created: April 12, 2007
     
European council's energy action planEU summit backs binding 20% renewables target
EU leaders have backed the European Commission's recommendation to have a binding 20% by 2020 renewables target in a last minute landmark agreement, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said March 9.
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Created: March 16, 2007
  TXU agrees to go privatePrivate-equity giants to buy TXU in $45 billion deal
Dallas-based TXU Corp. would pass into private hands if its many-sided, historically large agreement with private-equity giants wins approval and does not run into deal-breaking moves by Texas policymakers.
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Created: February 26, 2007
     
M&A activity in Asia & Australasia 'Muted' M&A activity in Asia and Australasia for much of 2006
Merger and acquisition activity in the regional power market remained a muted business during much of 2006, in common with the situation pertaining during the past few years.
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Created: February 7, 2007
  Capacity MarketsNew capacity markets for power in East: Do they work?
If it sticks to its tentative schedule, the PJM Interconnection is within months of an auction that will mark the debut of a new capacity market. It is scheduled to be followed, in less than a year, by the first auction in the new forward capacity market for ISO New England.
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Created: January 31, 2007
     
Texas Power MarketsRetail headroom increases across board as Texas starts new retail pricing regime
Utility affiliates in Texas have downplayed the change that took place January 1 as the price to beat expires for utilities in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas , but retail marketers have gained customers and hope to continue that trend in 2007, sources said as 2006 came to a close.
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Created: January 9, 2007
  Power industry restructuring Industry structure debate shifts gear
In the seemingly never-ending debate about restructured power markets, foes of restructuring have turned up the heat recently with a study that rebuts claims of benefits and assertions that momentum is building to turn the clock back to cost-of-service regulation.
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Created: December 26, 2006
     
European Power Re-regulationEuropean power: Fiddling at the margins
Creeping re-regulation of Europe's electricity sector in recent months has betrayed a lack of confidence in the EU's internal market project, at a time when the European Commission is planning an ambitious drive to complete it.
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Created: November 29, 2006
Platts Energy Research InitiativeRisk and electricity price dynamics
The Platts Energy Research Initiative aims to forge close links with the academic world by providing timely and accurate data as a basis for independent energy research.
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Updated: November 21, 2006
     
Enron's biggest trialEnron's biggest trial finally arrives
Kenneth Lay and Jeffrey Skilling, the two top leaders of the once-giant energy corporation, began trial January 30 on fraud and conspiracy charges of manipulating earnings statements and deceiving investors, analysts and others about Enron's massive debts and failed ventures.
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Updated: October 6, 2006
 

Bulgaria ProfileBulgaria braces itself for EU membership
Bulgaria and Romania are set to become the European Union's newest members on January 1, 2007. In a two-part series Platts Paul Whitehead looks at the preparations and the challenges ahead for their energy sectors. First stop: Bulgaria. More...
Updated: September 28, 2006

     
Asian Power DemandChina and India look overseas
Ballooning demand for energy resources in China and India has prompted Beijing and Delhi to place energy security at the heart of their foreign policies.
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Updated: September 20, 2006
California PowerIndustry infrastructure struggling to meet growing demand
Today's electricity systems are overstressed and overloaded, and investment in new infrastructure is critical to maintaining reliability, said American Electric Power Managing Director Calvin Crowder.
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Created: September 11, 2006
     
Hurricane watchErnesto spares energy futures another slump
Debbie was harmless and Ernesto may still prove to be nothing more than another small storm in a teacup, but the vague threat of nasty weather in the Gulf of Mexico spared energy futures a major slump the week of August 21.
More...

Updated: August 28, 2006
  Power sector mergersUS power acquisition deals are getting made, but will they close?
The US power industry isn't lacking for merger activity -- about $58.5 billion worth of deals are pending, or have been announced or completed in 2006, including the first hostile takeover attempt in some time. More...
Created: June 7, 2006
     
EC Inquiry EC inquiry opens competitive can of worms
The initial findings of the European Commission's competition inquiry into the internal energy market confirm what many had suspected: Europe's newly-opened energy markets are not working properly yet.
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Created: February 16, 2006
Calpine Calpine on the brink
Merhcant power giant Calpine has been involved in a dispute with debt holders over its use of more than $300-mil it received from the sale of its natural gas production assets earlier this year, and is widely considered to be on the verge of filing for bankruptcy protection.
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Updated: February 13, 2006
     
Energy in East Europe Energy in East Europe
One does not need a crystal ball to know that southeast Europe is the place to be this year and next for investors looking for acquisition action in Europe's electricity and gas markets. A host of assets across the region are already under privatization with more to come up for offer over the course of the next year.
More...
Updated: February 6, 2006
  California power California's resource planners think long-term
Coal-fired electric generating plants and long-haul transmission lines are making a comeback as California's resource planners think long-term. Officials are looking 1,000 miles east to the open spaces of Wyoming to play host to the next generation of baseload generation.
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Created: October 6, 2005
     
Security of Supply European power use rises 1.7%
Mainland Europe used 1.7% more power last year, less than in 2003 on mild weather conditions, the Union for the Coordination of Transmission of Electricity (UCTE) said in its 2004 system adequacy report published on July 15. Generation capacity increased by 4%, mainly on a rise in combined cycle plants and renewable sources of up to 20%.
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Created: August 12, 2005
Asia-Pacific acquisition Asia Pacific acquisition market in the first half of 2005
The first half of 2005 again saw relatively muted merger and acquisition activity in the Asia-Pacific region. However, at the end of June there was a spurt of activity, while several major deals agreed during the first half of the year or earlier were still awaiting completion.
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Created: August 8, 2005
     
Power Market Rankings With more companies reporting sales, impact of financial firms on market becomes clear
Nearly 290 companies made about 1.35-bil MWh of wholesale power sales in the first quarter of 2005, compared with 262 companies reporting about 1.46-bil MWh in sales for the same time period last year, according to data submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
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Created: August 2, 2005
Polish power Polish elections mark turning point for the energy sector
Membership of the EU's common energy market creates new development prospects for the Polish energy sector but it also necessitates significant changes. Poland's caretaker coalition government has succeeded in moving national energy legislation toward the EU energy market model. More...
Created: June 29, 2005
     
Utility M&A US Power: Mergers & Acquisition Activity
Standard & Poor's is not yet convinced there is a new wave of utility mergers and acquisitions under way, but the rating agency is sure such deals are generally bad news for bondholders.
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Created: June 8, 2005
RenewablesAnalysts predict booming market
Policy developments in North America and Europe, along with the emergence of markets in countries like China and Brazil, could spur a booming market in renewable energy this year, industry analysts and market players predict.
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Created: May 19, 2005
     

Green CertificatesCould green certificates transform the European renewables market?
Are green certificates the key to realizing the EU's goals for renewables? Platts looks at prospects for green certificates, and their current use in the market.
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Created: April 5, 2005

MISOMISO faces other issues, but new market is center stage in policy debate
Implementing the ISO markets, which amount to a monumental change in market structure, is the biggest challenge facing the Midwest right now. But an in-depth look at the MISO region shows it's far from the only challenge.
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Created: April 1, 2005

     

Global  powerEssential to economies, electric power is in the spotlight worldwide
While assuring the public that another blackout as widespread as the one of August 2003 is unlikely, federal and state regulators also say that American transmission grids operate under vague and voluntary reliability standards and that attempts to audit utilities' compliance with those standards are marred by inconsistency and subjectivity. More...
Created: March 16, 2005

US New Gen 2004US New Generation 2004
The US added nearly 26,000 MW of nameplate new generating capacity in 2004, according to Platts POWERdat. These figures show a nearly 50% reduction in 2003 new generation additions of more than 52,000 MW.
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Created: February 2, 2005
     
California Power Crisis Refunds SettlementCalifornia Power Crisis Refunds Settlement
On September 9, the appeals court dismissed California's challenge of FERC's market authority, but ruled that FERC was wrong in deciding that it could not make retroactive refunds stretching back further than the October 2, 2000, date that the agency had set.
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Created: December 13, 2004
Emissions MarketplaceEmissions Marketplace
The dress rehearsals are over. After a last minute change of cast, when President Vladimir Putin decided that Russia should also star in the world’s first carbon trading spectacular, the directors of the show in Brussels are now confident there will be no last minute hitches. The EU emissions trading scheme is ready to roll. More...
Updated: December 13, 2004
     
Broadband over Power LinesBroadband over Power Lines
While there are still questions about the regulatory treatment of broadband over power line (BPL) service at the state level, both US federal and state regulators are going out of their way to say they do not intend to stifle broadband deployment with restrictive regulations. More...
Created: November 22, 2004
US Election 2004US Election 2004
President George W. Bush's energy policies are likely to be unchanged in his
second term.
More...
Created: November 4, 2004
     

Energy Utility Web SitesEU Accession Countries: Outlook On Gas And Electricity Sectors
All eight former Communist states have worked near miracles over the last 15 years in reforming their energy sectors to comply with EU legislation, notably the electricity and gas directives of 1996 and 2003.
More...
Created: June 3, 2004

  UK ROC Price Set To CrashEnergy Utility Web Sites
The Internet-savvy, transaction-driven, financial services industry has much to teach the energy industry about effectively serving customers online. Financial firms have learned how to get their customers to use the web and keep them happy and loyal. Energy companies could copy their approach and net the same results. Most have not. More...
Created: March 24, 2004
     
UK ROC Price Set To CrashUK ROC Price Set To Crash
The price of Renewables Obligation Certificates (ROCs) could crash by nearly a third to just over GBP33/MWh by 2007, new research by Power UK shows.
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Created: February 23, 2004
  Interview with US DOE's AbrahamInterview With US DOE's Abraham
As he enters the final year of the Bush Administration's term Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham aims to fulfill the top priorities on President George W. Bush's energy agenda. More...
Created: February 2, 2004
     
WorldCap StudyWorldCap Study 2003: The Strategic Guide to Global Power Markets
In the last five years, N America experienced unparalleled power plant development and construction, with natural gas-fired generation emerging as the dominant technology. The study by Platts Research & Consulting reveals that considerable opportunities exist in overseas electricity markets for power plant developers. More...
Created: October 6, 2003
   
     
Petrochemicals    

European ethanol outlookEthanol stocks high, prices static
Ethanol prices in Europe have been static in the first part of 2008 as high stock levels have reduced spot trading activity.
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Created: February 15, 2008
European petrochemcals & naphthaEuropean petrochemcals & naphtha
The recent run up in the price of crude, which has pushed prices in the entire petrochemical market to record levels, looked set to continue in the near future.
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Created: November 19, 2007
 
European & Americas polyolefinsEuropean & Americas polyolefins
European polypropylene homo injection contract prices have only shown an upward trend so far this year rising to set a record high of Euro 1,265-1,270/mt FD Germany in September.
More...
Created: October 24, 2007
Daily Polymer BenchmarksDaily Polymer Benchmarks
On the day Platts introduces daily global polymer assessments for LDPE, LLDPE, and PP in Asia, the US, and Europe, Platts.com speaks to Senior Petrochemicals Editor Ihsan Rahim to find out about recent polymer trading activity.
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Created: April 18, 2005
     
Petrochemical ReportPetrochemicals sector struggles with mature market, high costs
To cope with the industry's double challenge, many of its players are choosing one of two opposing strategies: consolidation or divestiture.
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Created: February 17, 2005
Euroepean Plastics GuideEuropean Plastics Guide
The global polymer business is emerging from the worst time in history, Robert Bauman, VP and director of polymers for Nexant, said October 6 at the Petrochemical World Trade Conference in Houston.
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Created: October 15, 2004
     
Security in the US Chemical SectorSecurity in the US Chemical Sector
A look at security in the petrochemical sector three years on since 9/11. There are some 15,000 facilities across the US that produce, store or in some manner handle hazardous chemicals.
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Created: September 21, 2004
 
     
Metals    

 
Gold market analysisGold prices soar to record levels as rally continues
Someone once said there's this odd thing about the future -- it never gets here. But if exchange-traded steel futures contracts ever take off, 2007 may be looked back on as the pivotal year.
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Updated: January 16, 2008
  Global lead market Overview