BP: targeting 1000 service stations in China

BP is catching up with rival, Shell, in penetrating the Chinese fuel retailing market. With fast growth forecast, the oil majors are all trying to get in on the action. BP hopes to have 1000 sites, putting it ahead of the other international players. Currently BP owns 30 stations and manages a further 100; gaining more than 500 over the next three years seems a real challenge.

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Prudential: taking the Indian option

Insurer Prudential's decision to 'export' jobs to Mumbai is a bold move; it could both cut staff costs by 80% and improve quality of service. As utilities look to reduce costs and fight the downward price pressures that erode margins in the residential sector, they might do well to follow suit. The Pru's high profile example should encourage such moves.

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Alstom: super critical technology provides bright spot

Tying up with local player BHEL is the right strategy for Alstom in India. It spreads the Indian power sector's political and market risk with a local company that is well poised to win the major super critical power plant contracts that are on the horizon.

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Tepco: nuclear shutdown

Japanese power giant Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) has announced the shutdown of the last of its nuclear reactors. This puts the government's long-term energy plans at risk as Japan may face an acute electricity shortage in the summer.

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Shell/Coles Myer: alliance may prompt fuel price war

Coles Myer is going head to head with Woolworths in the fuel retailing business to drive growth among its supermarkets and other outlets. While the alliance may help grow sales, Coles Myer will need to be wary of the wafer-thin margins in fuel retailing while Woolworths will surely fight hard to maintain its share.

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Coles Myer: fuel wars

Coles Myer [CM] has bounced back in Australia's retail market thanks to its new fuel discount, offered via an alliance with Shell [SHEL.L]. The discount, which matches that of rival Woolworths [WOW.AX], has driven sales up by 12%, and now prospects are strong for further growth as the venture is rolled out nationwide.

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Alinta: driving growth and diversification through acquisition

The price may be high, but for Alinta [ALN.AX] it is worth paying Duke [DUK] A$1.69 billion to capture some of Australia's most important gas pipelines, as well as power generation assets. Capitalizing on US energy companies' steady exit from Australia, the company is both improving the diversity of its operations and creating steady long-term growth in shareholder returns.

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UK energy: nuclear option key to supply diversity

With increasing demand for energy, restricted supply, and Kyoto targets on reducing greenhouse gas emissions to meet, the case for building new nuclear plants, once dismissed as a last resort, is rapidly regaining force. The importance of the nuclear role as part of a diverse generation portfolio must not be underestimated.

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Utility challenges: effective billing is crucial to cost-to-serve base

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Renewable energy: Australia's going green

Australians are among the most willing national groups to support the environment and use green energy. Indeed, the number of households in Australia consuming accredited green power is expected to expand rapidly over the next two to three years. However, Australians need to be better informed of the options available to them, and more accessible pricing options should be offered.

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