China's Heavy Energy
The scale of China's economic emergence this century is no better exemplified than by her energy use. Here, we profile a new report, China Energy: A Guide for the Perplexed, a joint project by the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the Peterson Institute for International Economics.
By Guy Isherwood, Commodities Now, June 2007.

The Long-Arm Reach of Regulators in the Energy Markets
Energy commodity trading is a globalised business, with high risks and rewards. One of the main attendant risks is that, in an increasingly borderless world, trading operations need to have an evolving and fluid insight into how the major regulators understand the concept of 'jurisdiction' - in many ways, this forms the key to managing and avoiding regulatory risk.
By Doron Ezickson, Kate Learoyd & Prajakt Samant, McDermott Will & Emery, Commodities Now, December 2006.

Energy & Environmental Funds: Continuing to Offer Superior
Opportunities?
Energy related environmental or 'green' investment opportunities are in the initial stages of market development and present a host of new global investment opportunities in areas such as emissions, carbon finance, clean technology and renewable energy.
By Peter C. Fusaro & Dr. Gary M. Vasey, Energy and Environmental Capital Management LLC, Commodities Now, September 2006.

Energy City Qatar
The Middle East's first Energy Business Centre intends to become the 'Houston' or 'Calgary' of the Middle East.
Review, Commodities Now, June 2006.

Better Competition in Power Markets: Transparency, intra-day markets
& cross border trading
One goal of the EU Single Market was to establish free, transparent marketplaces with efficient competition. This is in continuation of the so-called 'Lisbon Agenda', a programme adopted in Lisbon in March 2000 by the then 15 EU Member States. The aim of the programme was, "...to turn Europe into the world's most competitive economy by 2010." Its failure to date has led European Commission President, José Manuel Barroso, to relaunch of the Lisbon agenda as the centrepiece of his presidency. This article looks at ways in which competition is being fostered in the Northern European power markets by improving the integration between the Nordic and European power sectors.
By Kenneth Rotvig Dupont, Nord Pool, Commodities Now, March 2006.

EU ETS - Moving From Politics to Markets
The main source for abatement of carbon dioxide (CO2) within the EU ETS is the potential to switch between coal-fired and gas-fired generation. For example, an average coal fired plant in the UK of 36% efficiency emitting 0.9 tonnes of CO2 per Megawatt hour (MWh) generated and an average combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plant with 49% efficiency emitting 0.45 tonnes of CO2/MWh generated, results in the ability to reduce emissions by switching between the coal and CCGT plant. Continued political uncertainty over the development of the EU ETS will only hold back its potential.
By Imtiaz ahmad, Morgan Stanley, Commodities Now, December 2005.

US Energy Law ... Five Years in the Making
Congress presented President Bush with a mammoth 1,723 page report he was eager to sign, even though it is likely to cost as much as twice estimates and failed to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to drilling. The Senate passed the legislation [74/26] ending years of energy policy stalemate and at last providing a platform for US energy action to take place.
By John Sodergreen, Editor-in-Chief, Scudder Publishing Group, LLC, Commodities Now, September 2005.

The Coming Energy Winter
Oil prices have replaced those of houses/real estate in many lay conversations. Even sales of fuel-efficient hybrid cars in the US have taken off as motorists anticipate that US$40-60 oil prices are here to stay - perhaps rising much further. Global growth prospects are set to slow; the airline industry is being "destroyed"; and the US dollar remains vulnerable, probably sending prices still higher. Guy Isherwood, editor, looks at the theories surrounding the current oil cycle and what could come next.
By Guy Isherwood, Commodities Now, June 2005.

Green Hedge Funds: The New Commodity Play
Energy hedge funds have mostly been a North American phenomena until this year with the vast majority located in the New York metropolitan area. However, our continuing research into the secretive world of energy hedge funds is revealing evidence of a next wave of interest in Europe as well as an extension of the commodity trading platform into green markets.
By Peter C. Fusaro, Chairman, Global Change Associates, Commodities Now, March 2005.

Understanding the Supply Side Dilemma of Oil & Gas Commodities
The only ‘given’ for commodity trading experts is that oil and gas prices recently reached all time historical highs. Crucial questions about the supply side of the supply and demand matrix are largely unanswered.
By Ron Harrell, Chairman & CEO, Ryder Scott Company LP, Commodities Now, June 2004.

The Natural Gas Price Reporting Conundrum
What started as an issue of false price reporting and inaccurate data is swelling to encompass other aspects of the energy trading business and causing a host of new problems. In addition, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has levied fines for false price reporting ranging from US$3 – 20 million each on nearly half a dozen current and former energy trading giants with more such penalties rumoured to be in the works.
By Greg Lander, Principal, Skipping Stone, Inc., Commodities Now, September 2003.

Consolidating UK Gas Exchanges Call for Faster Reform of the European
Energy Markets - How Can the Two be Reconciled?
The energy industry, and gas in particular, is a European-wide business. Pipelines run between the UK and Belgium, and pretty soon - Norway. UK Gas is currently supplied from North Sea sources as outlined below, but this source is slowly running down and current predictions indicate that the UK will, for the first time in over 30 years, become a net importer of natural gas by 2005/2006. So where will this gas come from?
By Les Male, Director, Commercial Operations, EnMO, Commodities Now, June 2003.

Gas Marketplaces
The definition and conditions required for the emergence of a gas marketplace: - the example of the North West Europe zone.
By Evariste Nyouki, Gaselys, Commodities Now, June 2003.

Generational Energy
In the increasingly competitive European power market there are signs that the market dynamics of consolidation are becoming more important than those of competition and that, as a result, the focal point of business management has to change to reflect this. An alternative way of addressing this market evolution is that companies will have to adapt and be less reactive to competition dynamics and develop more proactive business strategies that reflect the growing importance of consolidation dynamics.
By Jeremy Wilcox, Commodities Now, March 2003.

Restructuring Russian Power
With the third reading of the six bills on electricity reform completed, all that remains is President Putin's signature to bring forward root-and-branch reform of Russia's ailing electricity sector. But major obstacles and dissent still remain before Russia's electricity experiment is likely to bear fruit.
By Guy Isherwood, Editor, Commodities Now, March 2003.

Empowerment of the Powerful: Business Innovation in the European Utility Sector
This article examines how market dynamics requires companies operating within the European utilities sector to make constant adjustments to their business model. Also, we will analyse the consequences of market developments and the future challenges in strategic management, mainly from a merger and acquisitions perspective.
By Dr Taco C.R. van Someren & Hans Bongartz, KPMG's Dutch Energy & Natural Resources Practice, WorldPower 2003.

It's Back to the Future for Energy Trading
After the hype, excess, manipulation, scandal, collapse, restructuring and retrenchment, it's back-to-basics for both the surviving and new players within the energy trading marketplace.
By Matthew Frye, OpenLink, WorldPower 2003.

World Power Markets - to 2030
The world needs power - and a lot more of it. Guy Isherwood, Editor-in-Chief, WorldPower, highlights key findings from the International Energy Agency's World Energy Outlook for power markets.
By Guy Isherwood, Editor, WorldPower, 2003.

Pricing Greenhouse Gas Credits & Quotas
John Palmisano looks at the use of emissions credit and quota trading mechanisms in managing greenhouse gas emissions.
By John Palmisano, Commodities Now, September 2002.