Feb 2002

At the beginning of this year the 1-GW Santa Rita power station, near Batangas, on the island of Luzon, started full commercial operation, becoming the Philippines’ first gas-fired plant to enter service. It will be joined in the second quarter of the year by the 500-MW San Lorenzo plant, with both plants fuelled by gas from Shell’s Malampaya field, reports Derek Bamber

Following a string of departures by several foreign firms from high-profile Indian power projects, there has been some concern that the country’s first steps towards power market reform have already failed. Other projects are now in doubt, but it is too early to write off the country, argues David Townsend

On 25 February 2002, the UK Department of Food Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) will be auctioning rights to share in a £215m fund to incentivise a cut in greenhouse gas emissions. Liz Bossley investigates

Solidoc, a joint initiative by Shell and BP, received sufficient industry support in January to justify its continued development, its chief executive, Alan Rattigan, tells Liz Bossley. Other industry sources close to the talks are less convinced that the project will proceed

The government has pledged to phase out nuclear power production in the country over the next 20 years – a controversial move, which means that just short of one-third of the country’s existing generating capacity must be replaced. The jury appears to be out on how the shortfall will be made up, writes David Townsend

As the single energy market takes shape, Germany has seen foreign power companies move into its territory and its own producers establish a market reach outside Germany. David Townsend profiles the country’s third-largest power supplier, EnBW, partly owned by one of France’s main utilities, which is building its presence in other European Union states

Upstream oil and gas spending in North America, especially by the independents, is set to fall sharply this year, outweighing growth elsewhere. Overall, analysts expect a modest fall in global exploration and production spending, writes Tom Nicholls

The accelerating pace of development work in the world’s deep-water provinces is a lure for pipelaying contractors – but deep-water capability does not come cheap. Only two or three companies will have the facilities to lay large pipelines in the deepest waters, Martin Quinlan writes

There are several ambitious oil and gas pipeline projects covering Russia’s vast territory in varying stages of development – some on the drawing board, others at an advanced stage of construction. Their ultimate success will determine Russia’s future role as a global energy player, writes David Townsend

Spurred by expectations of rising demand for natural gas over the next 20 years and with development of Arctic gas riches an immediate prospect, pipeline construction across North America is on the verge of unparalleled growth, writes WJ Simpson

The immediate hopes for a continuation of liberalisation in the US rest, to a large extent, on the efforts of Texas. Any blunders there could change the course of liberalisation in the US for good. Roger James reports on the lessons learned from last year’s California power crisis

Eni is looking for acquisitions after successfully absorbing UK upstream company Lasmo. In addition, in its corporate strategy for 2002-2005, it outlines ambitious plans for upstream growth, writes Tom Nicholls

Old style value chains and transfer pricing must give way to new internal market structures if energy companies are to survive in the deregulated era By Greg Keers Chairman, kwi

Both EEX and Intercontinental Exchange announced OTC clearing in the wake of the Enron implosion. Does this spell out the future of energy trading? By David Smith Energy consultant

Two years after the Economic Committee of the Polish government approved a new electricity market structure, operation has begun

A decade of dramatic change in the energy sector is revealing new asset management challenges and opportunities By Simon Arnold Cap Gemini Ernst & Young

As the march of deregulation continues, electric utilities' exposure to risk, multiple jurisdictional regulatory reviews and cross border transactions will increase the likelihood of utility bankruptcies By Michael J. Zimmer & Roger M. Gibian Baker & Mckenzie

US electricity utilities risk another California-style power crisis unless regulators link prices in the wholesale and retail markets. But how can such mechanisms be installed? By Justin Colledge, Jason Hicks, James Robb and Dilip Wagle McKinsey & Co