Opportunity

Gas-fired power generators that enjoyed eating coal’s cake last year will have the opportunity again in 2011 as soft gas prices and abundant supply position the power sector for a reprise of 2009’s fuel switching, analysts at Barclays Capital and Raymond James & Associates Inc. said separately last week.

Gas-fired power generators that enjoyed eating coal’s cake last year will have the opportunity again next year as “there will be too much gas supply in 2011 not to boost displacement back to about 2009 levels, assuming normal weather next year,” Barclays Capital analysts said in a note Tuesday.

An Alaska lawmaker last week introduced legislation that would give residents the opportunity to vote on whether to tap earnings from the state’s Permanent Fund to support construction of an in-state natural gas pipeline to deliver North Slope gas to the state’s energy-short Southcentral region.

An Alaska lawmaker Monday introduced legislation that would give residents the opportunity to vote on whether to tap earnings from the state’s Permanent Fund to support construction of an in-state natural gas pipeline to deliver North Slope gas to the state’s energy-short Southcentral region.

An Alaska lawmaker Monday introduced legislation that would give residents the opportunity to vote on whether to tap earnings from the state’s Permanent Fund to support construction of an in-state natural gas pipeline to deliver North Slope gas to the state’s energy-short Southcentral region.

IntercontinentalExchange (ICE), a major energy trading platform, Thursday said it welcomed the opportunity to participate in the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC) upcoming hearings on position limits in energy trading markets, noting it has been an area of concern for some time. Independent oil and natural gas producers, however, were less receptive, warning that dramatic changes by the CFTC affecting their hedging activities could cripple development.

Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) in July plans to offer private companies the opportunity to bid for rights to develop three small natural gas exploration blocks that could produce up to 100 MMcf/d, the company’s exploration and production (E&P) chief said Friday.

The opportunity is now for natural gas buyers because front-month futures prices are likely headed to $8 before the end of the year, according to Paul Corby, senior vice president of Planalytics. Corby will be offering the market analysis behind his forecast at GasMart 2009, the annual meeting of major natural gas buyers and sellers coming up in Chicago May 19-21.

The opportunity is now for natural gas buyers because front-month futures prices are likely headed to $8 before the end of the year, according to Paul Corby, senior vice president of Planalytics. Corby will be offering the market analysis behind his forecast at GasMart 2009, the annual meeting of major natural gas buyers and sellers coming up in Chicago May 19-21.