BG Group: planned acquisition of Origin Energy has potential problems

UK natural gas producer BG Group has signaled its interest in Australia's Origin Energy through a A$12.9 billion (GBP6.2 billion) takeover offer. However, Origin's asset mix differs significantly from that of BG Group and selling on Origin's core activities following the acquisition in order to align their respective operations could prove to be a headache for the UK energy giant.

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BG: getting the go-ahead in Italy

It may have taken two years of negotiations, but BG can now look forward to building a base for itself in the fast growing Italian gas market. As well as supplying gas to the high-growth power generation sector, BG will also get the opportunity to penetrate the end-user market - which currently remains in the hands of but a few major players.

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BG: unlocking Italy with Tony's help

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BHP Billiton's asset sale highlights need for utilities to acquire equity gas

The news that BHP is close to concluding an asset disposal deal in the North Sea highlights the varying motivations of different players in acquiring wholesale gas. With wholesale price pressures showing few signs of mitigating in the short term, utilities should give serious consideration to acquiring assets of this type in order to better manage their retail price pressures.

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BHP Billiton: mad dogs and aluminum

It's been a good week for BHP, which also managed to resolve a long-running pollution dispute and gain approval for another oil joint venture. Last year's merger has left the Anglo-Australian company in a strong position to invest in new markets and distance itself from old mistakes. If it carries on as it has, BHP is set for a strong future.

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Billions at stake in Europe's gas glut

European energy companies are currently embroiled in a $30 billion struggle over unwanted gas caused by a slump in demand, a collapse in wholesale spot prices and the market's contractual pricing mechanisms. The battle could be the beginning of the end for take-or-pay contracts, which have locked utilities into taking delivery of billions of cubic meters of gas for which they have no customers.

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Biofuels in Europe: use growing but overcapacity looms

Biofuel companies across Europe are increasingly suffering from overcapacity. The issue is becoming particularly acute in Germany, where a new biofuels tax has had the undesirable effect of causing demand to fall rapidly. This implies that the German government should have been more careful in its predictions and, in order to meet EU biofuels targets, the rest of Europe must heed this warning.

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Biofuels' European growth driven by mandates

Biofuels currently account for only about 1% of total European road fuel in terms of energy content and the EU has missed recent targets to increase this share. However, biofuels' penetration of the road fuel market will continue to grow as a result of national mandates and increased availability at the pump, even in countries like the UK that have traditionally lagged behind in biofuels use.

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Biofuels: a Swedish exception

Svenska Statoil, the Swedish division of Norwegian oil and gas company Statoil has announced that its sales of biofuel are growing at a rapid rate. However, the case of Statoil and Sweden is the exception rather than the rule, and widespread conversion to biofuels in Europe will only come from increased government pressure and consumer demand.

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Biofuels: EU should meet renewable targets despite production problems

Over the last 12 months, many European biofuels producers have faced bankruptcy as a result of rising costs and reduced subsidies. However, as imports from countries such as the US are taking the place of domestically produced biofuels, the failure of European companies will not affect member states' ability to meet their targets.

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