Vattenfall: building strength in northern Europe

Published By Datamonitor

UK: North Sea exploration receives crucial incentives

In an attempt to mitigate a growing dependency on imports, the UK government has revealed legislation to promote development of the North Sea's last offshore oil and gas frontier. Combined with a new licensing round offering licenses for exploration in all UK waters for the first time in 12 years, these incentives will potentially open up 20% of the UK's remaining untapped oil and gas reserves.

Published By Datamonitor

UK-Nord Pool collaboration is a step towards EU energy integration

Nord Pool, Norway's leading power-hub, aims to launch a new power trading platform in the UK to pass on volume and price transparency efficiencies to market participants. This key development in UK power trading highlights the evolutionary nature of competitive markets and is a significant step closer to a single EU market.

Published By Datamonitor

UK energy retail: Centrica looking to reduce reliance on NBP

Centrica, the parent company of British Gas, is subject to significant volatility due to the fact that it purchases gas from the UK wholesale market, the NBP. This volatility places utilities, including Centrica, under a great deal of pressure to pass changes in wholesale pricing through to retail customers in order to remain profitable.

Published By Datamonitor

Statoil: Q4 profits boost average year

Q4 proved to be a strong finish to an average 2002 for Statoil, the Norwegian oil and gas company, with rises in operating profit and output. While a fall in output is anticipated in 2003, Statoil should be able to bring its volumes up again by 2004 through increased investment in international fields.

Published By Datamonitor

Statoil: on course for sell off

Published By Datamonitor

Statoil: going it alone in forecourt retailing

Following a five year joint venture with Statoil [STO] in the ownership of fuel retailer Statoil Detaljhandel Skandinavia, grocery major ICA is now withdrawing from the partnership. As long as Statoil maintains supply arrangements with ICA and has used its alliance to learn important retailing lessons, this needn't hinder its development in the convenience sector.

Published By Datamonitor

St1: shaking up the Scandinavian service station market

St1 has revived competition in the Scandinavian service station market with the acquisition of 198 sites. By the end of 2009 Datamonitor predicts that St1 will have a 6% volume share in Sweden and a 4% volume share in Norway, but making further inroads will be tough.

Published By Datamonitor

Ormen Lange gas field and pipeline would suit Centrica's portfolio

BP's [BP.L] recent offer of equity in the Ormen Lange field and Langeled gas export pipeline will interest UK companies aiming to replace UK continental shelf (UKCS) production. Centrica [CNA.L] would be one such candidate, as its recent flurry of investment in gas assets would be well complemented by the Norwegian developments...

Published By Datamonitor

Oil prices: majors jostle for control

Platts, the world's chief oil price-setter, recently changed the way it assesses the price of Brent crude - the benchmark used for roughly two thirds of all internationally traded oil. BP is attempting to use the change to wrest control of the Brent-based market from Shell, which is of course resisting strongly. Failure to reach consensus could cause an unsettling rift in the global oil market.

Published By Datamonitor