General Interest 2000 P

11/27/2000 -- Sonatrach signs contracts worth $185 million for new pipeline
Algerian state oil and gas company Sonatrach yesterday awarded two major construction contracts valued at $185 million to build a 822-km pipeline between the southeast Haoud El Hamra oilfield and the northwest port of Arzew, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries' news agency, OPECNA, reported.
11/25/2000 -- Industry Trends: Oil firms still adapting to the world of e-commerce
OGJ Online Oil & Gas Writer Karen Broyles interviewed Dennis McMullin, research director for Proxicom Inc. of Reston, Va., about the impact of electronic commerce (e-commerce) and electronic business (e-business) on the energy industry.
11/24/2000 -- Gordian energy knot tightens
The coincidental overlap in the staging of the Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP6) in The Hague and International Energy Forum (IEF) in Riyadh last week could only bring into sharper relief the dilemma that the world has wrought for itself through its long-standing energy consuming and producing habits.
11/23/2000 -- UK oil majors cleared of 'anti-competitive behavior'
The UK Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has rejected claims first made by a number of independent fuel retailers in September that major oil companies were selling wholesale fuel to them at prices higher than at their own branded service stations. Following an inquiry into allegations of anti-competitive behavior by oil giants, the OFT concluded that a combination of high crude prices and public pressure on UK retail prices were to blame for a squeeze on retailers' margins.
11/23/2000 -- Market Watch, Nov. 24
North Sea Brent crude oil futures ended trading yesterday on the International Petroleum Exchange (IPE) having changed little from the day before. IPE January Brent settled at $33.28, up 4� from the Wednesday's close. Yesterday's high was $33.65 and the low $32.90.Brokers noted that futures remained fairly strong at above $33/bbl due largely to the severe weather being experienced currently in the US and some areas in Europe, and forecasts of more inclement weather in the coming weeks.
11/23/2000 -- Camisea deals again on hold
The consortia led by Argentinean companies Pluspetrol SA and Tecgas SA have postponed the signing of contracts and concessions for the Camisea natural gas project, scheduled for Nov. 28, until further notice. The companies now hope to be able to sign the contracts by mid-December.
11/22/2000 -- Frontera gets big financial package for Caucasus fields
Houston-based Frontera Resources Corp. completed the largest onshore financial package for oil and gas development in the Caucasus with a $50 million loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The privately held independent is the largest onshore player in that area.
11/22/2000 -- California PUC claims $4 billion in overcharges
California households and businesses were overcharged more than $4 billion for wholesale electricity and there is evidence some power companies 'manipulated' the market to increase prices, the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) says. The PUC said the findings highlight the need for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to grant a motion that would allow the California regulatory agency to compel generators to respond to subpoenas with data about their sales and operations.
11/22/2000 -- US cold blast sends Canadian spot gas soaring
Plummeting temperatures in the US northeast and other markets are pushing prices for western Canada natural gas to new highs. Spot prices for Alberta gas hit a record high of $8.58 (Can.)/GJ Nov. 21. That compared with a price of $2.80 a year ago. Natural gas on the spot market at the major AECO-C trading hub in southern Alberta is trading at more than triple the prices at this time a year ago.
11/22/2000 -- Research firm: Canadian reserves may not fill US demand gap
A study by Canadian Energy Research Institute, Calgary, suggests that reliance on Canadian reserves to fill the US gas demand gap may be misplaced. It said Western Canada reserves are not what they were and East Coast fields are not yet developed enough to fill the US' forecast gas needs.
11/22/2000 -- Market watch, Nov. 22
Jitters over available natural gas supplies in the western US and the high cash market for that fuel in southern California pushed gas futures prices to a record Tuesday on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The December gas contract hit $6.51/Mcf on the NYMEX before closing at $6.41/Mcf, up 15.9� from the previous day.
11/21/2000 -- Electric Power news briefs, November 21
NiSource Inc. ... Columbia Energy Group Inc. ... Green Mountain Energy Co. ... USPowerSolutions ... Dominion Resources Inc. ... FirstEnergy Corp. ... GPU Inc. ... Entergy Corp. ... New York Power Authority ... FuelCell Energy Inc. ... Sierra Pacific Resources ... Portland General Electric Co. ... Enersis ... Chilectra Compania ... Electrica del Rio Maipo
11/21/2000 -- Exploration/Development news briefs, Nov. 21
Forest Oil � Anschutz Exploration � Mvelaphanda Holdings � Ocean Pakistan � Corridor Resources � Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan � Rocky Mountain Gas � Quaneco � Houston Exploration � Southwestern Energy � BTA Oil Producers � Edge Petroleum � Seneca Resources � Amalgamated Explorations � Barrett Resources � Teton Petroleum � Harken Energy � BPAR-10 Ltda. � Petroleo Brasileiro
11/21/2000 -- Pennsylvania PUC sets conditions on Gas Works rate hike
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) Tuesday approved a $108 million rate increase by Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW), while sharply criticizing the city-owned utility for failing to correct long-standing financial and managerial problems. The nation's largest municipally owned gas utility had requested an increase of $224 million. The state legislature placed PGW under the PUC�s jurisdiction July 1.
11/21/2000 -- Market watch, Nov. 21
Continued forecasts for below-normal temperatures in the US Northeast and Midwest the rest of the week triggered rallies in energy futures prices on the New York Mercantile Exchange Monday. Analysts said prices were set to rise again due to a forthcoming American Petroleum Institute storage report and rising tensions in the Middle East.
11/21/2000 -- COMMON ENERGY-TAX CEILING FOR EUROPE PROPOSED
An energy meeting this month in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, flushed an idea out of Europe's bureaucratic bushes that should chill the oil and gas industry.
11/20/2000 -- Dynegy, NRG Energy sign deal with Sierra Pacific
NRG Energy Inc. and Dynegy Inc. reported plans Monday to acquire 1,330 Mw from Sierra Pacific Resources in a deal worth $634 million that will expand their co-owned power generation portfolio. The assets, which serve the Las Vegas, Nev., market include the 740 Mw gas-fired Clark generating station and 590 Mw of the 605 Mw, coal-fired Reid Gardner generation station.
11/20/2000 -- Lawsuit challenges New York law restricting emissions trade
A group of electricity producers and mining companies has filed suit in US District Court in Albany, NY, challenging a state law that restricts the sale of New York air emissions credits. New York passed a law in May penalizing the seller of federally granted sulfur dioxide air emission allowances, if the buyer is in 14 so-called 'upwind' states. If the allowances are used to offset emissions from power plants in those states, then the company that originated the allowance can be fined.
11/20/2000 -- Oil producers, consumers divided on supply and price
UK Energy Minister Helen Liddell yesterday joined the number of Western politicians calling for further production increases from oil-producing nations including the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, as OPEC itself retrenched its option to cut output in anticipation of a spring supply glut.
11/20/2000 -- Issues & Analysis: High gas prices revive prospects for coal
An over-the-counter market for coal is developing as buyers and sellers hedge their fuel risks. Meanwhile, high gas prices have companies talking about building coal-fired electric generation. The economics may look attractive, but the major stumbling block continues to be the risk associated with permitting the plants. OGJ Online Power Editor Kate Thomas talks with major market players about their plans.

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