Yukos: Russia set to invade Europe

While there are many bidders for BP's surplus German oil businesses, Yukos is one of the frontrunners to purchase the 650 service stations and 45% share in a refinery. Yukos has earmarked $2 billion towards improving its position in western European refining and retailing. Alongside fellow Russian firm Lukoil, Yukos is definitely a company to watch.

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Yello's organic growing pains

It may have taken six years, but Yello has just crept back into the black and recorded a small profit for Q2 2004. The energy retailer took on the German market with a striking price message and managed to acquire 1 million customers in six years. However, they came at a high price and as Datamonitor's Daniel Legg explains, there are better ways to make money in energy retail...

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Yello Strom: from red to black by 2005

The newly installed CEO of EnBW, Utz Claasen, has warned that Yello Strom, its residential subsidiary, must reach profitability by 2005. While its current losses and faltering acquisition strategy make the goal look unreasonable, upcoming market changes could leave Yello in a strong position.

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Wingas right to question the competitiveness of long-term contracts

Germany's Wingas has questioned the paradoxical practice of moving to a liberalized energy market but still allowing suppliers to maintain long-term contracts. Wingas' objection is justified as the context of such long-term contractual arrangements has moved on and, as Datamonitor's Salman Wasti argues, other, less anti-competitive options are available.

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Wind blows strongly towards long-term offshore services for Siemens

Siemens has won a contract to supply 80 turbines to a 288MW offshore project in Germany situated near the North Sea. This marks the first-ever offshore project with a long-term service level agreement in Europe, indicating the emergence of a new trend towards flexible service packages combined with equipment capability.

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Will Europe follow the US's lead on Chinese solar panel imports?

The US Department of Commerce has found the Chinese government to have been "unfairly" subsidizing its solar panel manufacturing industry, and is imposing punitive tariffs on imports of this technology from the country. It is yet to be seen whether Europe will follow suit.

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WestLB/AWG: cards on the table

WestLB has publicized its bid for AWG as a new tactic in its attempt to acquire the business. WestLB has become increasingly frustrated with the board's reluctance to discuss its proposal, but shareholders should wait for an improved offer.

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Verbundnetz Gas: suitors are lining up

Under the terms of E.On's [EOA] takeover of Ruhrgas, the latter is required to sell a substantial stake in Verbundnetz Gas, East Germany's principal gas grid operator. A consortium of Russia's Gazprom [GAZPy.DE] and Germany's Wintershall is the front runner in the bidding for 32% of the company. If successful, this will further increase Gazprom's grip on Germany's gas supply chain.

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Verbund/E.ON: alliance creates European hydro superpower

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Verbund domination of German energy markets under threat

The German energy market is still dominated by the Verbund utilities, whose influence stretches the whole length of the energy supply chain. However, their dominant position is set to be open to challenge in the coming years as a number of factors that have counted against new entry are set to be removed by the new market regulator RegTP.

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