October 2008

Main

Publisher's Note

Patsy Wurster

Welcome to the second annual Asia Energy Outlook issue of Platts Insight Magazine. In response to high demand from our readers, we have increased the distribution of the special outlook issue this year to more than 30,000 industry professionals and financiers in Asia, North America, Europe and the entire Pacific Rim region. The Asia Energy Outlook gives you critical insight from the industry's most trusted information source, Platts. Read More

Guest Editor's Note

Martin Daniel

At a time of unprecedented turmoil in the global financial and energy markets, it is more important than ever to have dispassionate analysis of long-term trends and incisive news about short-term developments. Without this information it is impossible to devise the policies and strategies required by governments and businesses alike, and the articles in this issue of Insight underline Platts' role in providing this information across the energy spectrum. Read More

Authors

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The King is Dead, Long Live the King: Asian Generators Re-crown Coal

Martin Daniel, Editor, Platts Power in Asia

ASIAN POWER GENERATORS HAVE PLACED increasing reliance on coal since the mid-2000s as the price of gas has soared and its availability has failed to keep pace with demand. Traditional coal users have been joined in planning new coal-fired projects by developers in countries not previously associated with coal-fired generation. Read More

New Frontiers and Frontlines: The Battle for LNG Supplies

KimFeng Wong, Asia Senior Editor, Platts LNG Daily

UNTIL RECENTLY, THE ORGANIZATION OF the liquefied natural gas (LNG) business followed a predictable model. Large state-owned energy companies or international oil and gas majors developed the gas fields and liquefaction terminals as integrated projects, while state or private gas and electric utilities built regasification terminals and imported the fuel under long-term contracts. True, the utilities or other representatives of the importing countries often took a minority equity stake in the production assets, but these were basically passive investments intended to keep an eye on how the projects were performing. Read More

Coals from Newcastle: Facing the Futures

James O'Connell, Managing Editor, Platts International Coal Report

SUCCESSFUL INVESTING IS ANTICIPATING the anticipations of others, according to the English economist, John Maynard Keynes. However, not even Keynes could have anticipated the demand-driven factors that have propelled international coal prices to record highs over the last 15 to 18 months. Read More

CCS – Scam or Solution?

Ross McCracken, Editor, Platts Energy Economist

THE GOAL OF ENERGY POLICY, SIMPLY PUT, is to meet energy demand and reduce emissions, but without serious impacts on security of supply or disastrously damaging rises in energy prices. The question for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is whether it can play a role in achieving these goals, or whether funds would be better spent elsewhere. Read More

Asia's Refining Boom: Too Much of a Good Thing?

Vandana Hari, Asia News Director, Oil/Gas, Platts

INDIA'S RELIANCE INDUSTRIES HAS REASON to be proud of completing its massive new refinery in Jamnagar on the country's west coast within 36 months of starting the project amid global manpower and equipment shortages and cost escalations big enough to derail projects of even the industry heavy-weights. Read More

In Asian Renewables Markets, a Sleeping Dragon Awakes

David R. Jones, Editor, Platts Renewable Energy Report

AS RENEWABLE ENERGY HAS MOVED FROM niche market to mainstream energy source around the globe, countries like China and India are beginning to supplant market leaders in Europe and the United States. Read More

Algae – Biofuel of the Future or Pipedream?

E Shailaja Nair, Managing Editor, Platts Asia Central Editing Desk

FIRST THERE WAS SUGARCANE, THEN CORN and soy, then trees, sawdust and seagrass—all used as feedstock to manufacture biofuels. And now, the latest generation of feedstock, algae, is creating excitement in the biofuel world. Read More

Downstream Players Edge Up in Asia Top 250

Neil Fleming, Chief Advisor, Platts

PETROCHINA MARKED ITS THIRD EMPHATIC year at the head of Platts Asia Top 250 rankings with a 30% jump in revenues and a 33% rise in the value of its assets. Read More

Oil Price Reshapes the Energy Industry

Neil Fleming, Chief Advisor, Platts

Platts Top 250 Rankings reviewed Read More