Competitive

Indicating that it believes competitive Western natural gas market opportunities require swift and unequivocal political and regulatory action, Sempra Energy late last month dropped out of a proposal for an all-Alaska gas pipeline and liquefied natural gas (LNG) project for bringing North Slope supplies to the Lower 48 states.

Adequate natural gas storage is key to ensure competitive markets in the future, and new liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal development “could make a big difference,” a FERC official said Wednesday. However, William Hederman, director of the Office of Market Oversight and Investigations, predicted that new LNG terminals “won’t be built in the big places” like California and the Northeast unless public perceptions change.

Adequate natural gas storage is key to ensure competitive markets in the future, and new liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal development “could make a big difference,” a FERC official said Wednesday. However, William Hederman, director of the Office of Market Oversight and Investigations, predicted that new LNG terminals “won’t be built in the big places” like California and the Northeast unless public perceptions change.

In an effort to become more competitive for future acquisitions, obtain a lower cost of capital and build a more diversified asset portfolio, Viking Energy Royalty Trust and Calpine Natural Gas Trust (CNG Trust) announced plans to merge their two exploration and production operations, which are concentrated in Alberta.

In an effort to become more competitive for future acquisitions, obtain a lower cost of capital and build a more diversified asset portfolio, Viking Energy Royalty Trust and Calpine Natural Gas Trust (CNG Trust) announced plans to merge their two exploration and production operations, which are concentrated in Alberta.

Improving regulatory efficiency, becoming more competitive and securing reliable energy are three key initiatives highlighted in the second progress report on Nova Scotia’s Energy Strategy, which was released on Thursday.

In a bold move to improve its competitive advantage, ChevronTexaco Corp. said last week it would sell some of its non-strategic U.S. assets, cut up to 200 U.S. jobs, consolidate several U.S. offices and consider whether to sell some of its producing and midstream assets in western Canada. The program, which only targets North American operations, is expected to be completed in 2004.

In a bold move to improve its competitive advantage, ChevronTexaco will sell some of its non-strategic U.S. assets, cut up to 200 U.S. jobs, consolidate several U.S. offices and consider whether to sell some of its producing and midstream assets in western Canada. The program, which only targets North American operations, is expected to be completed in 2004.

NiSource is making some of the last remaining organizational changes since it bought Columbia Energy Group two years ago. The company announced actions Thursday to reduce the size of its management structure. Under the plan, the streamlining will move executive management closer to customers and promote efficiency while lowering costs in response.