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HOME | GAS NEWS | EVENTS | JOBS | BUSINESS CENTERS | DIRECTORIES=
| DATA CENTER MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2001 =09
=09 THIS ISSUE BROUGHT TO YOU BY Competitive Intelligence now avai=
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ttp://www.energycentral.com/sections/research/default.cfm?cpane=3D23003&rpu=
blisher=3D11408&rtype=3Dall TOP STORIES More downside seen ahea=
d for U.S. gas prices By Joseph Silha, NEW YORK, Nov. 16 (Reuters) U.S. na=
tural gas prices extended a steep, year-long downhill dive this week, hit h=
ard by sagging demand and bulging supplies that not even the approach of wi=
nter is likely to halt, industry analysts say. FERC meets on LNG plant =
restart security WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 (Reuters) - Federal energy market reg=
ulators met on Friday with state and local officials to discuss national se=
curity concerns connected with restarting a liquefied natural gas plant nea=
r the Calvert Cliffs nuclear power plant in southern Maryland. Indigent=
Gas Fund Plan in Georgia Faces Money Woes By Matthew C. Quinn, The Atlant=
a Journal-Constitution, Nov. 16 Gov. Roy Barnes' proposal to erect a safety=
net for tens of thousands of consumers who can't pay their natural gas bil=
ls landed at the Public Service Commission Thursday like a pricey restauran=
t check. Missouri Gas Energy Sues over New State Rules on Customer Reco=
nnection By Steve Everly, The Kansas City Star, Mo., Nov. 17 Missouri Gas =
Energy has sued to stop state regulators from relaxing rules that allow con=
sumers who haven't paid their gas bill to be reconnected. Energy Secur=
ity Terror fears could force U.S. gas offshore-experts LONDON, Nov 16=
(Reuters) - Fears that terrorists could use gas tankers as floating missil=
es against U.S. cities, just as they did with airliners on September 11, co=
uld force the United States to move its gas import terminals offshore. =
Mergers, Acquisitions & Divestitures Trade, bank buyers circle Enron'=
s Wessex Water-reports LONDON, Nov 17 (Reuters) Both financial and trade b=
uyers are considering bids for Wessex Water, the UK utility owned by crisis=
-hit U.S. energy group Enron, weekend press reports said. E.ON gets Ge=
rman govt backing on taking majority interest in Ruhrgas - report FRANKFU=
RT, Nov 16, 2001 (AFX-Europe via COMTEX) -- E.ON AG can count on extensive =
German government support for its aim to acquire the majority shareholding =
in Ruhrgas AG, Berliner Zeitung newspaper said, citing sources. AD=
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ons/databases/OPEC Gas Pricing/Hubs U.S. spot gas prices dive=
15 pct, pressured by temps SAN FRANCISCO, Nov 16 (Reuters) U.S. spot natu=
ral gas prices were pummeled again Friday as a lack of strong and sustainab=
le heating demand in many parts of the nation sent weekend quotes skidding,=
market sources said. Canadian spot natgas plummets again on warm weat=
her NEW YORK, Nov 16 (Reuters) Spot natural gas prices in Canada plummeted=
Friday, dropping for the seventh day in a row on continued warm weather, l=
imited demand, and packed storage, industry sources said. NYMEX Hub ga=
s ends up on pre-weekend short covering NEW YORK, Nov 16 (Reuters) NYMEX H=
ub gas mostly ended higher Friday despite a sinking cash and mild weekend f=
orecasts, lifted by some short covering ahead of the weekend, industry sour=
ces said. Natural Gas Cash Crashes on Low Demand, Oversupply of Gas N=
ov. 16 (Btu's Daily Gas Wire) The natural gas spot market plunged by 30 to =
40 cents throughout much of the country as rather low weekend demand, combi=
ned with mild weather throughout much of the U.S. and Canada and ample gas =
supplies sent weekend deals spiraling lower, said traders. Special Offer fr=
om this Publisher! Drilling/Exploration Supreme Court Deals Setb=
ack to Energy-Drilling Plan in Montana By Bill McAllister, The Denver Post=
, Nov. 15 The U.S. Supreme Court dealt the Bush administration a setback in=
its plan to open more public lands in the Rocky Mountain West to oil and g=
as exploration. Futures Natural gas weaker as long liquidation co=
ntinues to weigh; weak fundamentals Nov 16, 2001 (TradeSignals via COMTEX=
) -- Natural gas futures extended downside negativity in Thursday's session=
as long liquidation continues to weigh on trade. Nymex Natural Gas Re=
view: Lifted by Technical Bounce Nov 16, 2001 - FWN Financial News Natural=
gas futures finished higher today, getting a lift on a technical bounce an=
d perhaps also continuing to react some to activity taking place in the pet=
roleum energy futures, sources said. LNG For National Security Re=
asons, FERC Considers Revising Cove Point LNG LP's Authority Regarding LNG =
Operations Nov. 19 (Btu Watch) Earlier this year, Cove Point LNG Limited P=
artnership (Cove Point) requested permission to provide LNG tanker services=
on a firm and interruptible basis and under proposed new Rate Schedules LT=
D-1 and LTD-2 to BP Energy Company, Shell NA LNG, Inc., and El Paso Merchan=
t Energy, L.P. Special Offer from this Publisher! Pipelines Ener=
gy firms re-group on Alaska natgas pipeline WASHINGTON, Nov 15 (Reuters) -=
Major gas transmission companies have agreed to reconstitute a partnership=
to carry natural gas from Alaska to markets in Canada and the lower 48 U.S=
. states, Alaskan Sen. Frank Murkowski announced on Thursday. NEW AUST=
RALIAN PIPELINE SET TO DELIVER GAS IN LATE 2003 PERTH, Nov 16, 2001 (Asia=
Pulse via COMTEX) -- Origin Energy managing director Grant King said today =
that Australia's SEA gas pipeline between Victoria and Adelaide was on time=
and on budget, and would deliver gas in late 2003. EU study of Caspia=
n area oil, gas pipelines compares routes, costs Nov 17 - Oil & Gas Journa=
l Under auspices of the European Union, two studies of pipeline transportat=
ion out of Caspian Sea producing areas have concluded that such systems are=
technically, economically, and environmentally feasible but depend critica=
lly on route selection. Comprehensive Rules Unlikely for Rural Pipelin=
es Nov 18, 2001 - Cox News Service Dennis Holubec raises cotton and cows o=
n 3,500 acres in the West Texas oil patch. Drought and low commodity prices=
have forced him to shave costs, so he's been installing underground pipes =
and hoses that deliver irrigation water to the roots of cotton plants, elim=
inating evaporation losses from traditional sprinkling. Rates For m=
ore information on rate tariffs visit Gas Rate Tariffs [IMAGE] New Jer=
sey Natural Gas Expects 12-Percent Decrease in Rate for Customers By David=
P. Willis, Asbury Park Press, N.J., Nov. 16 New Jersey Natural Gas Co. cus=
tomers will see rates drop 12 percent by Jan. 1 as the company takes advant=
age of a drop in wholesale natural gas prices, a spokeswoman said yesterday=
. Lexington Reduces Its Gas Rates Again; The Reduction Could Mean A $1=
0 Saving In December's Bills. Nov 15 - Greensboro News Record The City Cou=
ncil has lowered its natural gas rate, which will mean homeowners will be p=
aying less to heat their houses this month. Rigs Baker Hughes-U.S=
. rig count down 17, Canada down 2 NEW YORK, Nov 16 (Reuters) The number o=
f rigs searching for oil and gas in the United States fell by 17 to 993 dur=
ing the week ending Nov. 16, according to oil services firm Baker Hughes. =
General Energy Price Drop of 6.3 Percent in October Affects Other =
Parts of Economy By L.M. Sixel, Houston Chronicle, Nov. 17 Energy prices f=
ell 6.3 percent during October, the biggest drop in 15 years, which pushed =
overall consumer prices down 0.3 of a percentage point, the U.S. Bureau of =
Labor Statistics reported Friday. Energy plug: The majors' shift to na=
tural gas Nov 15 - Monthly Energy Review Interest in natural gas has risen=
in recent years, stimulated by environmental concerns, price volatility, a=
nd deregulation of natural gas markets, and major U.S. energy companies hav=
e made it an increasingly important investment focus. Lawmakers seek t=
o close public utility records Nov 15 - Florida Times Union When the Times=
-Union requested public records from the JEA this summer, it found an eye-o=
pening story: Some homeowners had used millions of gallons of water to main=
tain their lawns while Jacksonville suffered from a drought. Trading/M=
arketing RWE's Trading unit to also trade energy in London ESSEN, Ge=
rmany, Nov 16, 2001 (AFX-UK via COMTEX) -- RWE AG said its Trading unit wil=
l trade energy in London in addition to oil, gas and coal. Deals/Contr=
acts Natural Gas Contracts Are Beneficial To Companies: Pemex MEXICO=
CITY, Nov 15, 2001 (Reforma/Corporate Mexico by Internet Securities, Inc. =
via COMTEX) -- Pemex Gas and Basic Petrochemicals Director Marcos Ramirez S=
ilva said the company has no intention of canceling its contracts with indu=
strial gas consumers to supply them with natural gas for three years at the=
fixed price of 4 dollars per million BTUs, reported Mexico City daily Refo=
rma. Legal Energy Seller Plans to Buy Back Stock in Trading Opera=
tion Despite Lawsuits By Steve Everly, The Kansas City Star, Mo., Nov. 16 =
UtiliCorp United Inc. is facing 10 lawsuits over its plans to reacquire all=
stock in Aquila Inc., but a top UtiliCorp executive said Thursday that the=
company was hearing little opposition and had no plans to change its offer=
. Large pension funds weigh legal options over Enron By Martha Slud, =
NEW YORK, Nov 16 (Reuters) Some big pension funds that invested in Enron Co=
rp. said on Friday they are considering legal options in the wake of the en=
ergy giant's stock collapse and a regulatory probe of its dealings. Wi=
sconsin Agency's Counsel Comes Under Fire for Excluding Non-Lawyers By Lee=
Hawkins Jr., Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Nov. 16 State Senator Rod Moen an=
d several business and consumer groups blasted the Public Service Commissio=
n's lawyer Monday for a legal opinion that non-lawyers should not be allowe=
d to participate in rate cases and other formal agency proceedings. Pe=
ople Executive of Pittsburgh-Area Electricity Supplier Transfers Back =
to Virginia By Frank Reeves, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Nov. 15 Dominion Res=
ources Inc. said it planned to eliminate 19 -- or nearly a quarter -- of it=
s senior managers by year's end and will transfer its top local manager bac=
k to its Richmond, Va., headquarters. President of Western Resources S=
ubsidiary in Kansas to Retire The Wichita Eagle, Kan., Nov. 15 The preside=
nt of KGE announced his retirement Wednesday, the same day that executives =
of Western Resources unveiled plans to merge KPL and KGE under a new name, =
Westar Energy. Cal-PERS Will Block Old Enron Board from Joining New On=
e Nov. 18 (California Energy Markets) The California Public Employees Reti=
rement System, which owns three million shares of the battered giant Enron,=
announced at the end of a closed-door meeting it will oppose the appointme=
nt of current Enron board members to the merged Enron-Dynegy company board.=
Special Offer from this Publisher! Labor/Human Resources Belgia=
n Gas And Electricity Unions Accept Electrabel Offer Nov 17, 2001 - FT Wor=
ld Media Abstracts via Comtex Belgian gas and electricity sector unions, re=
spectively FEG and CGSLB, have accepted the terms of a protocol agreement o=
n the status of employees at Electrabel. Financial Gazprom May Re=
ceive $200M Credit From Western Banks Moscow, Russia, Nov 16, 2001 (RosBu=
sinessConsulting via COMTEX) -- The Russian gas giant Gazprom has signed an=
agreement with a group of western banks about a long-term credit worth $20=
0 million for five years. Enron plans to sell off losing assets Nov 1=
6 - Tulsa World Enron Corp., the once-mighty energy trader, is dumping mone=
y-losing assets and focusing on its core wholesale power marketing business=
as it moves toward a merger with rival Dynegy Inc. Financial - Result=
s The Times: Bg Given A Lift by High UK Gas Price Nov 16, 2001 - FT W=
orld Media Abstracts via Comtex BG increased its operating profits for the =
third quarter by 20% to GBP202m, due primarily to a 22% rise in gas prices.=
Energy firms buck the trend Nov 16 - The Guardian Two leading Britis=
h energy groups, BG and International Power, yesterday brushed aside slidin=
g oil and power prices as they delivered higher profits and forecast earnin=
gs growth. International Eni sees growth through takeovers, explo=
ration MILAN, Nov 17 (Reuters) Italian oil and gas group Eni wants to expa=
nd its way into the heavyweight league by buying more companies and increas=
ing its exploration activity, top managers were quoted as saying on Saturda=
y. Ukraine Approves Russian Gas Debt Deal Moscow, Russia, Nov 16, 20=
01 (RosBusinessConsulting via COMTEX) -- Ukraine's parliament ratified on T=
hursday key agreements between Kiev and Moscow on restructuring debts for R=
ussian natural gas supplies, opening the way for the government to start th=
e repayments. Gaz de France to Invest US$500mn in Gas Transport Mexi=
co, Nov 16, 2001 (BNamericas.com via COMTEX) -- France's state gas company =
Gaz de France will invest US$500mn in Mexico in the next five years in proj=
ects related to gas transportation, the company's president of Mexican oper=
ations Gerard Mallett said, newspaper El Economista reported. Energy D=
ept, Mexico State Sign Gas Accord Mexico, Nov 16, 2001 (BNamericas.com vi=
a COMTEX) -- Mexico's federal Energy Department head Ernesto Martens Reboll=
edo has signed a coordination agreement with Mexico state governor Arturo M=
ontiel Rojas on the distribution, transport and storage of natural gas in M=
exico state. Private Industry Holds Back On Energy Investments MEXIC=
O CITY, Nov 16, 2001 (El Universal/Corporate Mexico by Internet Securities,=
Inc. via COMTEX) -- Private industry held back 15.683 billion pesos of inv=
estment in the Mexican energy sector this year, despite having agreed with =
Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) and the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) to=
make these investments, reported Mexico City daily el Universal. Fren=
ch Government to Privatise Gas Transport Infrastructure Nov 15, 2001 - FT =
World Media Abstracts via Comtex Having privatised the motorways, the Frenc=
h government is now turning its gaze to France's gas transport infrastructu=
re. Vattenfall Interested in Co-Operation with German Gas Supplier Vng=
Nov 16, 2001 - FT World Media Abstracts via Comtex Verbundnetz Gas AG, Ge=
rmany's second-largest gas supplier, would be affected if the conglomerate =
E.ON AG were to succeed in acquiring a majority stake in Ruhrgas, the count=
ry's largest gas supplier, as it is thought that Ruhrgas would have to redu=
ce its stake in VNG from the current 36.84 per cent. Half a billion do=
llars to be spent on upgrading Kazakh gas system Nov 15 - BBC Monitoring C=
entral Asia The Oil and Gas Transportation [OGT] company [Transport Nefti i=
Gaza] company has drawn up a programme whereby approximately 500m dollars =
will be invested in the development of the country's gas transportation sys=
tem by 2005, OGT first deputy general director, Kairgeldy Kabyldin, told jo=
urnalists in Almaty today. Distribution/LDCs CRE To Begin Tenders=
Of Gas Distribution In 2002 MEXICO CITY, Nov 16, 2001 (Reforma/Corporate=
Mexico by Internet Securities, Inc. via COMTEX) -- Beginning next year, th=
e Energy Regulation Commission (CRE) will begin the second stage of tenders=
for natural gas distribution zones, reported Mexico City daily Reforma. =
Fpl Expands Natural Gas Service Nov 17 - Palm Beach Post FPL Energy Ser=
vices, a subsidiary of Juno Beach-based FPL Group, has expanded natural gas=
service to businesses throughout Florida. If you are an Energy Cent=
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