Commits

London-based BP Plc, considered the third largest energy company in the world, joined its peers in reporting a third quarter profit slide, the first in more than two years, with earnings down 20% because of the decline in oil and gas prices. The global giant said it also does not expect to see high returns into the fourth quarter. Earnings were $3.05 billion, or 14 cents a share, down from $3.08 billion, or 17 cents a share for the same period in 2000. BP measures its earnings on a replacement cost basis, which excludes one-time items and goodwill costs.

London-based BP Plc, considered the third largest energy company in the world, joined its peers in reporting a third quarter profit slide, the first in more than two years, with earnings down 20% because of the decline in oil and gas prices. The global giant said it also does not expect to see high returns into the fourth quarter. Earnings were $3.05 billion, or 14 cents a share, down from $3.08 billion, or 17 cents a share for the same period in 2000. BP measures its earnings on a replacement cost basis, which excludes one-time items and goodwill costs.

Peoples Energy Corp. has invested $5 million in EnerTech CapitalPartners II LP, a private equity firm specializing in investmentopportunities for the deregulated energy, utility andtelecommunications industries. With Peoples’ monetary commitment,EnerTech now has $235 million in committed capital to makeinvestments.

Dynegy Inc. has signaled its commitment to addtelecommunications to its natural gas and power interests with aninvestment of more than half a billion dollars, including the $152million purchase of a Colorado-based communications solutions andnetwork company.

Dynegy Inc. has signaled its commitment to addtelecommunications to its natural gas and power interests with aninvestment of more than half a billion dollars, including the $152million purchase of a Colorado-based communications solutions andnetwork company.

Liquefied natural gas imports to the United States continued onthe upswing yesterday with Coral Energy’s announcement it is buyinga whopping 29 Bcf in 11 cargoes FOB from Oman LNG LLC for shipmentin 2000 and 2001. The LNG will be loaded at Oman LNG’s plant atQalhat, Sultanate of Oman, for delivery into CMS Energy Corp.’s CMSTrunkline LNG terminal in Lake Charles, LA. Coral chartered thevessel LNG Arzew from Shell Bermuda (Overseas) Ltd. to carry theLNG. Terms of the agreements were not released. A Coral spokesmansaid no other details were available about the transaction.