Message-ID: <24114962.1075841950596.JavaMail.evans@thyme> Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2002 19:11:08 -0800 (PST) From: gasnews@mail.energycentral.com To: d..thomas@enron.com Subject: Daily Gas News - 1/22/02 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ANSI_X3.4-1968 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable X-From: "gasnews@mail.energycentral.com" X-To: Thomas, Paul D. X-cc: X-bcc: X-Folder: \ExMerge - Thomas, Paul D.\Deleted Items X-Origin: THOMAS-P X-FileName: paul d thomas 6-26-02.PST Infocast =09 [IMAGE]=09 [IMAGE] =09 HOME | GAS NEWS | EVENTS | JOBS | BUSINESS CENTERS | DIRECTORIES= | DATA CENTER TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2002 =09 =09 THIS ISSUE BROUGHT TO YOU BY Skyrocketing prices, reliability = worries and environmental concerns have increased current demand for distri= buted energy resource projects and services. The Guidebook of Funds and Inc= entives for Distributed Energy Resources from EFI, provides a comprehensive= listing and description of more than 200 federal and state government prog= rams. Leverage them to reduce the cost and increase the value of your distr= ibuted energy resource projects. Each inclusive program detail includes bac= kground and purpose, description, contact information, and more, also in ta= bular format. See more info on this valuable resource at http://www.energyc= entral.com/links/show_mi.cfm?id=3D100416 TOP STORIES Oil Search= in A$1.4 bln Orogen merger SYDNEY, Jan 21 (Reuters) - Oil and gas produce= r Oil Search Ltd unveiled a A$1.4 billion merger offer on Monday for Papua = New Guinea's Orogen Minerals Ltd as it seeks to raise its stake in the regi= on's major oil and gas projects. PanCanadian cuts 2002 spending CALGAR= Y, Alberta, Jan 21 (Reuters) - PanCanadian Energy Corp. said on Monday it w= ill cut spending by 13 percent in 2002 as the country's top oil explorer an= d producer joined many of its rivals in expectation of lower oil and gas pr= ices. Shell, Exxon eyeing Korea gas assets SEOUL, Jan 21 (Reuters) Roy= al Dutch/Shell and Exxon Mobile Corp have expressed interest in gas assets = South Korea plans to privatise, an official of the Commerce, Industry and E= nergy Ministry said on Monday. Press Release KWI Adds Washington = State's Leading Energy Utility to its North America Client List HOUSTON (J= anuary 21, 2002) KWI, a global company specializing in trading and risk man= agement software for energy companies, has been awarded a contract to suppl= y the kW3000? system to Puget Sound Energy, for complete front-to-back-offi= ce trading, risk management and invoice settlement. Competition & Dere= gulation For reports and related information on this topic visit our Dat= a Center [IMAGE] Peoples Energy To Join Dominion In Marketing Jan 21 = - Richmond Times - Dispatch Peoples Energy Corp., the owner of Chicago's na= tural gas utility, is joining with Dominion Resources Inc. to market gas an= d electricity services to nearly 3 million customers in Chicago and norther= n Illinois. ADVERTISEMENT ENERGIZE YOUR CAREER - The Energy Cen= tral Job Center has a new look, new features, premier employers and is upda= ted daily! Visit the energy industry's largest on-line job center today: ht= tp://www.energycentral.com/sections/jobs Mergers, Acquisitions & D= ivestitures Belgium's Tractebel eyes Korea, China BANGKOK, Jan 21 (Re= uters) - Belgium's Tractebel, part of French utility Suez Lyonnais, said on= Monday it had submitted a bid for Enron Corp's stake in a South Korean gas= distributor and was looking to enter China's energy market. German re= gulator confirms ruling against E.On acquisition of Ruhrgas By DAVID McHU= GH AP Business Writer, FRANKFURT, Germany, Jan 21, 2002 (AP WorldStream via= COMTEX) -- Germany's antitrust regulator said Monday it had ruled against = utility giant E.On AG's acquisition of the country's main natural gas distr= ibutor, stalling a drive E.On says would create a German powerhouse in glob= al energy markets. RWE could save stalled CEZ sale By Hana Lesenarov= a, Jan 21, 2002 (New World Publishing via COMTEX) -- The government may hav= e found a new savior for its derailed sale of the country's dominant energy= producer CEZ whose tender was cancelled after Electricite de France (EDF) = and the consortium of Italian Enel and Spanish Iberdrola failed to fulfill = its demanding conditions and pay the asking price of Kc 200 billion for the= package. Shell Offloads Tejac Gas Project Mexico, Jan 21, 2002 (BNa= mericas.com via COMTEX) -- Anglo Dutch oil company Shell has sold its Tejac= Gas de Toluca pipeline project to Gas Natural Mexico and a group of Texan = investors, local paper El Financiero reported, adding that the deal was put= together in November and awaits regulatory approval. French eye Seebo= ard auction Jan 21 - The Daily Telegraph AMERICAN Electric Power, the Ohio= -based energy trader, is expected to restart the bidding for Seeboard, its = British gas and electricity supplier, within the next few weeks. Briti= sh Gas to bid again for Enron's stake in Indian oil, gas fields Jan 21 - B= BC Monitoring South Asia Britain's oil and gas major BG Group plc Monday [2= 1 January] said that it would finalize a new bid shortly for acquiring 30 p= er cent stake of bankrupt energy trader Enron Corp in Panna-Mukta and Tapti= oil and gas fields. Legislation/Regulation Chairman's Resignatio= n Puts Role of Texas Utility Regulatory Agency in Focus The Dallas Morning= News, Jan. 19 After six years of relatively smooth sailing, the Texas Publ= ic Utility Commission again finds itself in choppy, political waters. = Enron Issues Appear Likely to Affect Major Legislation The Boston Globe, J= an. 20 Questions about Enron's political influence and complaints from empl= oyees whose pensions have been ravaged by the energy company's failure have= not only triggered a string of congressional investigations, but also coul= d influence the fate of major legislation this year. Enron Was Big Pla= yer in Texas By KELLEY SHANNON Associated Press Writer, AUSTIN, Texas, Ja= n 20, 2002 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- In the company's high-flying days, Enr= on Corp. employees and their political action committee stuffed the campaig= n coffers of Texas state officials in nearly every top post, from the gover= nor to justices on the highest civil court. Bush Advisers Worry Over E= nron Scandal By RON FOURNIER, WASHINGTON, Jan 21, 2002 (AP Online via COMT= EX) -- President Bush's advisers, fearing the Enron Corp. bankruptcy contro= versy could divert attention from his second-year agenda, are debating what= to do about a political problem they helped create. Hearing Scheduled= in Enron Probe By PETE YOST Associated Press Writer, WASHINGTON, Jan 21,= 2002 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- Vowing to issue subpoenas if necessary in t= he Enron Corp. affair, a House panel hopes to get the conflicting stories o= f the company's accounting firm and the auditor it fired for the destructio= n of thousands of documents. Auditor: Enron, Accountant Share Blame B= y PETE YOST Associated Press Writer, WASHINGTON, Jan 21, 2002 (AP Online vi= a COMTEX) -- A fired auditor has told congressional investigators that Enro= n and its accounting firm share the blame for the partnership arrangements = that helped drive the energy giant into bankruptcy. SEC's Pitt says US= agency cannot police accountants WASHINGTON, Jan 20 (Reuters) U.S. Securi= ties and Exchange Commission Chairman Harvey Pitt said on Sunday that his a= gency lacks the money and staff to directly police the accounting industry = in the wake of Enron Corp.'s collapse. LNG China CNOOC says short= lists three LNG suppliers SINGAPORE, Jan 21 (Reuters) China National Offsh= ore Oil Corp (CNOOC) said on Monday it had drawn up a shortlist of three po= tential gas suppliers for China's first liquefied natural gas (LNG) termina= l. Pipelines Poland confirms financing of Yamal-Europe gas pipeli= ne Jan 21 - ITAR - TASS News Wire Poland has confirmed its commitment to f= inancing the first unit of the Yamal-Western Europe gas pipeline in the ori= ginally expected amount, a source in the Russian presidential delegation vi= siting Poland told Tass Wednesday. Algeria: Gas pipeline sabotaged eas= t of Algiers Jan 20 - BBC Monitoring Middle East It has been learnt from s= ecurity sources that a gas pipeline linking eastern and central regions of = the country was the subject of sabotage on the night of Saturday to Sunday = [19-20 January] in Aomar, Bouira Province. Rates For more informati= on on rate tariffs visit Gas Rate Tariffs [IMAGE] Scottish Power telli= ng customers will lift gas prices by 6.5 pct - sources LONDON, Jan 21, 20= 02 (AFX-UK via COMTEX) -- Scottish Power PLC is sending out letters to its = 800,000 customers saying they will be increasing gas prices by 6.5 pct from= next month, according to industry sources. General Arthur Anders= en's CEO Defends Accounting Firm, Blames Enron's Business Formula By Chris= topher Lee, The Dallas Morning News, Jan. 21 The head of the accounting fir= m that signed off on Enron Corp.'s books said Sunday that a bad business mo= del -- and not failures by outside auditors -- led to the collapse of the H= ouston-based energy giant. Experts Say Memory of Enron Will Last but S= ystem Can Overcome Demise By Angela Shah, The Dallas Morning News, Jan. 20= The details of Enron Corp.'s spectacular demise are still playing out, but= the debacle has already become a metaphor for failed bets on the free ente= rprise system. Andersen executive says shredding note unprecedented-WS= J NEW YORK, Jan 21 (Reuters) An executive at Arthur Andersen LLP, the audi= ting firm used by now-shattered energy trader Enron Corp., told congression= al investigators that an e-mail reminder to employees sent by Andersen head= quarters was unprecedented, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday. = Enron Victim of Corporate Meltdown By JEFF DONN Associated Press Writer= , HOUSTON, Jan 20, 2002 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- Several years before the = meltdown, something already seemed out of whack to Tom Brigger at Enron's C= orp. headquarters here. Enron Expose Widens, Affects Past, Present U.S= ., Andersen Officials Jan. 21 (Utility Spotlight) As federal investigators= arrived in town to dig into the Enron scandal last week, the company's pra= ctically worthless stock was delisted by the New York Stock Exchange and th= e nation's biggest bankruptcy mushroomed with serious new allegations invol= ving its Andersen auditor. Special Offer from this Publisher! Deals/C= ontracts Egypt signs contract to sell natural gas to France over 20 ye= ars CAIRO, Egypt, Jan 21, 2002 (AP WorldStream via COMTEX) -- The Egyptian= Liquified Natural Gas company signed a contract Monday to supply 3.6 milli= on tons of gas to France for 20 years from 2005. Legal Enron Pros= ecuting Team Will Be Tough to Build By Michael Hedges, Houston Chronicl, J= an. 20 The sprawling criminal investigation of Enron will be a team effort = involving prosecutors from both coasts and Texas, as large numbers of feder= al lawyers bowed out to avoid conflict of interest charges. People = Profiles of major figures in Enron saga WASHINGTON, Jan 21 (Reuters) Fol= lowing are profiles of some of the major figures involved in the growing po= litical and financial saga revolving around the collapse of energy trading = giant Enron Corp., and ensuing criticism of its auditors, accounting giant = Andersen. Aggressive and Driven, Enron Chief Financial Officer Has Man= y Faces By David Ivanovich, Houston Chronicle, Jan. 20 After 11 years at E= nron, Andrew S. Fastow had good reason to strut. Enron CEO gave back s= tock to repay loans Jan 21 - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Kenneth L. Lay, th= e chairman and chief executive officer of the Enron Corp., was forced to re= peatedly repay millions of dollars in loans by handing over stock to Enron = last year as his various investments declined in value, his lawyer said Sun= day. Labor/Human Resources Oil-Field Equipment Maker Halliburton = Lays Off 105 Duncan, Okla., Workers By Don Mecoy, The Daily Oklahoman, Jan= . 18 Halliburton Co. is laying off 105 workers at its Duncan manufacturing = center -- 11 percent of the work force -- because of the sliding oil and ga= s business. Ex-Enron Workers Seek Severance Pay By KRISTEN HAYS Asso= ciated Press Writer, HOUSTON, Jan 20, 2002 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- Nearly= 200 former Enron Corp. workers have united to demand severance pay from th= e bankrupt energy giant that abruptly laid them off last month. Financ= ial Enron's Collapse May Carry Greater Economic Cost Jan 20, 2002 - t= hedailycamera.com The collapse of Enron Corp., so far a political, legal an= d investor crisis, is now imposing widespread costs on the U.S. economy, ac= cording to a range of companies, energy experts and bankers. Enron's D= ebts Hit a Variety of Houston Businesses By Bruce Nichols, The Dallas Morn= ing News, Jan. 21 Compared with the $2 billion Enron Corp. owes Chase Manha= ttan, the $11,000 that Brown Book Shop is due isn't that big. Worker P= ension Funds Often Trapped in Company Stock By Janet Kidd Stewart, Chicago= Tribune, Jan. 20 Enron. It could happen again. International Har= rods says in talks to sell stake in Thai blocks BANGKOK, Jan 21 (Reuters) = Harrods Energy (Thailand) said on Monday it was close to finalising talks w= ith two potential buyers of stakes in its four oil and gas exploration bloc= ks in the Gulf of Thailand. BHP, TotalFinaElf, Conoco bid for Syrian g= as fields - report DAMASCUS, Jan 20, 2002 (AFX-Europe via COMTEX) -- Angl= o-Australian oil company BHP Billiton PLC, TotalFinalElf and US firm Conoco= are bidding to develop gas fields in the eastern Syrian region of Palmyra,= Ath-Thawra newspaper reported Sunday. Hopa And Interbanca May Acquire= Italgas Jan 20, 2002 - FT World Media Abstracts via Comtex According to I= talian newspaper Borsa & Finanza, Italian holding company Hopa and Italian = bank Interbanca are about to launch a takeover bid on Italian gas distribut= ion group Italgas at 13 euros per share. Putin calls for energy allian= ce with Central Asian gas producers Jan 21, 2002 - Agence France-Presse Ru= ssian President Vladimir Putin called on Monday for the creation of an alli= ance of gas producers grouping Russia and the ex-Soviet Central Asian state= s of Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Qatar to raise crude pro= duction, gas deal with Kuwait in 2002 Jan 21, 2002 - Deutsche Presse-Agent= ur (dpa) Qatar's crude oil production is set to rise by about 77,000 barrel= s per day this year, while an agreement to supply Kuwait with natural gas c= ould be signed later this month, the Middle East Economic Survey reported M= onday. Woodside seeks new Shell deal By Ian Howarth, Jan 22, 2002 (T= he Australian Financial Review - ABIX via COMTEX) -- The Netherlands-based = multinational, Royal Dutch Shell, has made two unsuccessful bids for Austra= lia's Woodside Petroleum. 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