BP: the UK, Germany, and Switzerland go contactless

Oil giant BP is to introduce contactless payment terminals instore at all of its service stations in the UK, Germany, and Switzerland; a total of 3,984 company- and dealer-owned sites. If the roll-out is a success, BP could take measures to lift the current E25 limit imposed on contactless payments, in order to capture a larger proportion of fuel sales, rather than just shop purchases.

Published By Datamonitor

Europe's pending power dilemma

A number of factors have placed Europe's power market into uncertainty. These include Germany's decision to exit nuclear power by 2022, and a "not in my backyard" attitude to carbon capture and storage. Moreover, there are also issues with wind power and natural gas, while aging plants and drought are further adding to a problem to which there appears to be no clear solution.

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Italian electricity: calls for protectionism on the rise

After Sweden and Denmark's power cut last week, some observers highlighted the growing call for state protectionism to safeguard home markets. With Italy's accusations focused on France and Switzerland, where the power failure originated, the call for self-sufficiency and national protectionism will grow.

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Swiss fuel: exemplary in essence

Switzerland's aim of ensuring that all petrol consumed contains at least 5% bio-ethanol by 2010 would seem to be overly optimistic given the undeveloped nature of the Swiss ethanol market. Even with the construction of the country's first bio-ethanol plant in 2008 and various tax incentives, achieving this aim can only be achieved with considerable ongoing government support.

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Tamoil: selling the family silver

Following confirmation by the Libyan government that 60% of state owned Tamoil is up for sale, the bidding process for the stake has begun in earnest. With refining capacity and significant distribution networks in the Italian and Swiss markets up for grabs, the offer will be attractive to buyers hoping to benefit from the favorable market conditions in the oil sector.

Published By Datamonitor

TXU: shuffling its European pack

Published By Datamonitor