Mar 2000

The high hopes of gas enthusiasts could be tested sooner than expected – by falling electricity prices. Further ahead, the rising cost of gas imports presents another challenge to growth.

By James Crowley, Paul Spence, Glenn Rockefeller and Rich Patrick, Global Energy Practice, Andersen Consulting

After years of slow progress, the pursuit of open access to the European electricity market is gathering pace. While the level of commitment to liberalisation and competition of the different member states remains patchy, the race between energy companies to secure a competitive edge is providing an impetus all of its own that will prove difficult to resist.

Even after years of study and planning, future fuel supplies to the Nordic energy sector have still not been finalised.

Power traders are using a risk management tool that was developed in the 1990s for financial markets and it may be the wrong tool for the job, writes Greg Keers, director, KWI

Although the state-owned gas and electricity monopolies are unhappy with their government’s stance on market opening, there is little they can do about it.

A lack of investors is stymying growth at some of the country’s oil and gas producers.

Merging the selling arrangements for the two main UK North Sea crudes will secure the UK’s key role in international price setting.

Higher oil prices, new criteria and existing expressions of interest are giving Brazil’s ANP confidence that its second licensing round will prove a success.

In order to pursue its objective of becoming the leading gas chain player, BG had to combine and free up its upstream and downstream gas operations.

The 1990s were a good time for international energy law, with new provinces opening up and privatisations and mergers and acquisitions providing a dynamic environment, but the scene has changed

Last year was the mega-year of the mega-merger for energy companies and the impact of 1999 rationalisation will be felt for many years to come. And the deal advisers appear set to continue to reap benefits as consolidation continues.

Troubled BNFL faces a tough battle convincing customers to buy its fuel following its admission that manufacturing data on fuel rods had been falsified and a critical Nuclear Installation Inspectorate (NII) report on the company. The chief executive has resigned over the scandal and further dismissals are expected among senior and middle management.

Water and electricity are not really supposed to mix, but then again, man was never supposed to stand on the Moon. Here, two leading authorities debate the future of the industry in the competitive market

A single, mature European retail market for electricity and gas may be some way off. In the meantime, some electricity fundamentals, as well as new trading concepts, are the drivers of the retail power markets

South Africa’s government has said it is willing to consider radical restructuring of the power sector, looking towards the introduction of competition and private ownership

A look at trading debacles, lessons learned and the role of information systems