BETTA: threatening renewables

The introduction of BETTA is likely to penalize renewable generators north of the border. Government targets to generate 10% of the country's electricity through renewables by 2010 are looking increasingly unrealistic.<BR />

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Bewag: No end in sight for Vattenfall and Southern

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Bewag: split ownership expected to be approved

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BG Group acquisition: the hunter becomes the hunted

UK gas explorer BG Group's hostile takeover of Australasian energy supplier Origin Energy has been all but sunk by a deal between Origin and US oil giant ConocoPhillips, to form a joint venture company that will own and operate Origin's coal seam gas reserves.

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BG Group: backing out of US and UK generation

With the sale of its US generators complete, barring regulatory sign-off, and a sale process underway for its remaining UK generation assets, BG Group is cutting the cable on its involvement in power generation as demand keeps falling. By selling plants to pure-play generation and infrastructure groups, BG Group will be able to grow its activities in burgeoning areas of the oil and gas sectors.

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BG Group: microgeneration strategy will prove difficult

BG is aiming to create a new market for its gas. However, the augurs for the venture aren't good. Honeywell last year had to pull the plug on its plan to sell microgeneration units to residential customers - and like the US firm, BG has no residential utility customer base. There is no reason to expect BG to do any better.

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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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