Thursday, September 22, 2016

UPDATE 1-Gazprom discovers new gas deposit in Sea of Okhotsk

MOSCOW, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Gazprom said on

Thursday it had discovered a new gas deposit during exploration

at the Kirinskoye field in the Sea of Okhotsk near Russia's

Sakhalin island.

Read more

Hinkley Point a boost to UK steel, but not a game changer

* Experts say project will need at least 1 mln tonnes of

steel

Read more

Li Ka-shing planning bid for stake in National Grid gas unit-FT

Sept 22 (Reuters) - Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing is

preparing to bid for a majority stake in British electricity

grid operator National Grid Plc's gas distribution unit,

the Financial Times reported on Thursday, citing people close to

the talks.

Read more

The grace of Beccaria's nymphs at Milan's second day of fashion

MILAN, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Airy, ethereal and delicate

designs filled the catwalk in Luisa Beccaria's show on Thursday

as models took the role of water nymphs on the second day of

Milan's fashion week.

Read more

Fifty pct coal price jump no leap to competitive joy for Asia LNG

SINGAPORE, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Natural gas producers have

long yearned for a price spike in coal that would allow them to

compete in Asian power generation.

Read more

High costs slowing Sri Lanka push toward solar energy

COLOMBO, Sept 22 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - An ambitious

plan by the Sri Lankan government to outfit 100,000 homes with

solar panels, to turn them into power producers for the national

grid, may be too expensive for many families to afford, experts

warn.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Climate deal comes one step closer to effect at United Nations

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 21 (Reuters) - An agreement to fight

global warming came one step closer to taking effect on

Wednesday when dozens of countries deposited their ratification

of the deal at the United Nations, taking the total to 60, U.N.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said.

Read more

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Britain's first new gas plant in 3 years starts power production

LONDON, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Britain's first new large gas

plant in three years began electricity generation this week, the

owner of the Carrington plant near Manchester said.

Read more

Climate deal comes one step closer to effect at United Nations

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 21 (Reuters) - An agreement to fight

global warming came one step closer to taking effect on

Wednesday when dozens of countries deposited their ratification

of the deal at the United Nations, taking the total to 60, U.N.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said.

Read more

Denmark determined to continue production at ageing North Sea gas field

COPENHAGEN, Sept 21 (Reuters) - The Danish government is

determined to find an economically viable solution that will

allow A.P. Moller-Maersk's energy arm to continue

production at the Tyra gas field in the North Sea, energy and

climate minister Lars Christian Lilleholt said on Wednesday.

Read more

UPDATE 2-India to fund major gas pipeline to boost eastern states

NEW DELHI, Sept 21 (Reuters) - India's government will

partly fund a $2 billion gas pipeline project linking five

eastern states to help kick-start economic growth in a region

that has trailed the rest of the country, the oil minister said

on Wednesday.

Read more

Indian Oil, Gail to buy 49 pct stake in LNG terminal in Odisha

NEW DELHI, Sept 21 (Reuters) - India's biggest refiner

Indian Oil Corp Ltd and gas transporter Gail (India)

Ltd will buy a combined 49 percent stake in a

liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal being built in the eastern

state of Odisha.

Read more

REFILE-UPDATE 1-Japan signals end for $10 billion nuclear prototype

TOKYO, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Japan signalled on Wednesday it

would scrap a costly prototype nuclear reactor that has operated

for less than a year in more than two decades at a cost of 1

trillion yen ($9.84 billion).

Read more

HIGHLIGHTS-Thomson Reuters/INSEAD Q3 Asian Business Sentiment Survey -by economy

Sept 21 (Reuters) - Optimism among Asia-Pacific companies

rose for the third straight quarter in July-September 2016 on

signs China's growth is stabilising, although they remained wary

of risks from volatile oil prices and the outcome of the U.S.

presidential election, a Thomson Reuters/INSEAD survey showed.

Read more

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

UPDATE 1-Northern Gateway pipeline project will not appeal Canadian court decision

TORONTO, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Oil company Enbridge Inc's

Northern Gateway pipeline project will not appeal a

recent Canadian Federal Court of Appeal decision that reversed

its approval pending consultations with aboriginal groups, it

said on Tuesday.

Read more

HIGHLIGHTS-Thomson Reuters/INSEAD Q3 Asian Business Sentiment Survey -by sector

Sept 21 (Reuters) - Business sentiment at Asian companies

rose to its highest level in more than a year in the third

quarter, buoyed by signs that China's economy is stabilising and

as Brexit concerns receded.

Read more

Northern Gateway pipeline project won't appeal Canadian court decision

TORONTO, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Oil company Enbridge Inc's

Northern Gateway pipeline project will not appeal a

recent Canadian Federal Court of Appeal decision that reversed

its approval pending consultations with aboriginal groups, it

said on Tuesday.

Read more

New fields to boost Algerian gas output in 2017

ALGIERS, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Algeria is on track for more

than 9 billion cubic meters a year additional gas output next

year when three delayed projects in its south west come online,

a source at state energy company Sonatrach said.

Read more

First Balkans private power plant boosts coal dependence

* Chinese-built plant is first privately built in Western

Balkans

Read more

Poland aims to have 1 mln electric cars on its roads by 2025

WARSAW, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Poland aims to have 1 million

electric cars on its roads by 2025 as it seeks to cut carbon

emissions from transport and will offer tax and other

incentives, the energy ministry said on Tuesday.

Read more

RPT-COLUMN-Coal's cost advantage over LNG slipping, but not yet enough: Russell

LAUNCESTON, Australia, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Thermal coal has

been one of the commodity success stories this year, but there

is a risk that it becomes a victim of its own success by eating

into its advantage over liquefied natural gas (LNG) in

generating electricity.

Read more

Russian firm to sell Siemens turbines which were bound for Crimea

MOSCOW, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Four turbines which Reuters

revealed in August were earmarked for power plants in Crimea are

instead being put up for sale by the Russian company which

ordered them from a joint venture of Germany's Siemens

.

Read more

Australia weighs reworking Ausgrid offer after rejections -trade minister

HONG KONG, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Australia aims to rework its

offer to sell a controlling stake of the country's biggest

energy grid to take into account the security concerns that led

the government to reject two bids from Asia, Trade Minister

Steven Ciobo said.

Read more

COLUMN-Coal's cost advantage over LNG slipping, but not yet enough: Russell

LAUNCESTON, Australia, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Thermal coal has

been one of the commodity success stories this year, but there

is a risk that it becomes a victim of its own success by eating

into its advantage over liquefied natural gas (LNG) in

generating electricity.

Read more

CGT union calls for strike at French power grid operator RTE

PARIS, Sept 20 (Reuters) - France's CGT trade union on

Tuesday called its members to down tools at power grid operator

RTE on Sept. 21 to protest the planned sale of about half of the

stake in the company held by state-controlled utility EDF

.

Read more

Monday, September 19, 2016

GE plans to invest $10 bln in Argentina through 2026

NEW YORK, Sept 19 (Reuters) - U.S. industrial conglomerate

General Electric Co will invest $10 billion in Argentina over

the next decade, Vice Chairman John Rice said on Monday, the

latest foreign company to announce new plans since President

Mauricio Macri took office.

Read more

SoCalGas completes more California Aliso Canyon natgas well tests

Sept 19 (Reuters) - More wells passed safety inspections at

the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility in Los Angeles,

Southern California Gas Co said on Monday, but the company has

more work to do before it can inject gas into the giant field

the utility shut last fall due to a massive methane leak that

was not plugged until February.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Vattenfall CEO sees sale of Moorburg coal plant in next 5 years

STOCKHOLM, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Swedish utility Vattenfall

aims to sell its new coal-fired plant in Moorburg,

Germany, some time in the next five years, its chief executive

said on Monday.

Read more

Solar scale-up in Pakistan hits roadblock after payments slashed

BAHAWALPUR, Pakistan, Sept 19 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) -

An effort to boost large-scale solar energy production in

Pakistan has hit a roadblock after the government cut the rate

it pays for solar electricity, frustrating investors.

Read more

UPDATE 2-SunEdison's yieldcos exploring strategic options, including sale

* TerraForm Global up 7.4 pct

(Adds background and share move)

Read more

Swiss utility Axpo to post 2016 loss on pumped storage writedown

ZURICH, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Government-owned Axpo,

Switzerland's biggest utility, forecast another full-year net

loss after taking 1.4 billion Swiss francs ($1.43 billion) of

writedowns on its pumped storage dams and other facilities.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Engie considers future of its LNG unit - union

PARIS, Sept 19 (Reuters) - French gas and power group Engie

is considering the future of its liquefied natural

gas (LNG) business, which could lead to a reorganisation and

maybe a sale, the firm's CGT union said on Monday.

Read more

SunEdison's two yieldcos exploring strategic options, including sale

Sept 19 (Reuters) - TerraForm Global Inc and

TerraForm Power Inc, the "yieldcos" of bankrupt solar

company SunEdion Inc, said on Monday that they were exploring

strategic alternatives, including a sale of their entire

business.

Read more

RPT-SunEdison's two yieldcos exploring strategic options, including sale

Sept 19 (Reuters) - TerraForm Global Inc and

TerraForm Power Inc, the "yieldcos" of bankrupt solar

company SunEdison Inc, said on Monday that they were exploring

strategic alternatives, including a sale of their entire

business.

Read more

After long honeymoon, Canada's Trudeau faces tough choices

OTTAWA, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin

Trudeau has enjoyed remarkably strong opinion poll numbers since

winning power in last October's election but now faces tough

decisions that could dent his popularity.

Read more

UPDATE 1-EU opens probe into tax deals between Luxembourg and Engie

BRUSSELS, Sept 19 (Reuters) - European Union antitrust

regulators opened a probe on Monday into tax deals granted by

Luxembourg to French power utility Engie, stepping up

the EU's campaign against tax avoidance by multinationals.

Read more

U.N. aid chief says "pained, disappointed" that aid has not reached Aleppo

BEIRUT, Sept 19 (Reuters) - A U.N. aid chief said on Monday

he was "pained and disappointed" that aid which has been sitting

on the Turkey-Syria border for a week has not yet reached

besieged eastern Aleppo.

Read more

CORRECTED-UPDATE 1-Australia to update trade policy in wake of Ausgrid row

SYDNEY, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Australia said on Monday it

plans to update its foreign investment policy to ensure a level

playing field for all countries, after it was criticised for

rejecting bids from China and Hong Kong for a A$10 billion ($7.5

billion) energy grid.

Read more

Sunday, September 18, 2016

Australia could tweak trade policy in wake of Ausgrid row-newspaper

SYDNEY, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Australia could change its

foreign investment policy to ensure a level playing field for

all countries, after it was criticised for rejecting bids from

China and Hong Kong for a A$10 billion ($7.5 billion) energy

grid, a newspaper reported on Monday.

Read more

INSIGHT-Most states on track to meet emissions targets they call burden

LOS ANGELES/WASHINGTON, Sept 18(Reuters) - The 27 states

challenging Obama's Clean Power Plan in court say the lower

emissions levels it would impose are an undue burden. But most

are likely to hit them anyway.

Read more

Haiti's Aristide says dehydration caused his collapse at rally

CAP HAITIEN, Haiti, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Former Haitian

president Jean-Bertrand Aristide said on Saturday that

dehydration caused him to faint at an election rally for his

party's presidential candidate on Friday night.

Read more

Saturday, September 17, 2016

Bulgaria to pay Russia $446 mln for cancelled Belene nuclear project this year

SOFIA, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Bulgaria will pay Russian state

nuclear company Rosatom 400 million euros ($446 million), the

bulk of the compensation for the cancelled Belene nuclear

project, by the end of the year, Economy Minister Temenuzhka

Petkova said on Saturday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-China issues alert for second typhoon in a week

SHANGHAI, Sept 17 (Reuters) - China is bracing for its

second typhoon in a week after government raised their alert to

"orange" for Typhoon Malakas on Saturday, just as southeastern

provinces continue to clean up after an earlier, stronger storm,

state news agency Xinhua reported.

Read more

Brazil's Cemig in talks with potential buyers of Light stake

SAO PAULO, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Cia Energética de Minas

Gerais SA, Brazil's No. 3 power utility, is currently in

advanced talks with potential partners with which it would share

control of electricity distributor Light SA, Chief Executive

Officer Mauro Borges said on Friday.

Read more

Friday, September 16, 2016

UPDATE 1-Florida sinkhole at Mosaic fertilizer site leaks radioactive water

Sept 16 (Reuters) - A sinkhole spanning 45 feet (13.7

meters) in diameter opened at a Mosaic Co phosphate

fertilizer facility in Florida, leaking 215 million gallons of

"slightly radioactive water," a company spokesman said on

Friday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Hungary expects EU clearance for Paks reactors in weeks

PARIS, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Hungary expects European Union

clearance to build two Russian nuclear reactors at its Paks

nuclear site in the coming weeks, a senior Hungarian government

official said on Friday.

Read more

China to build at least 60 nuclear plants in coming decade- industry official

LONDON, Sept 16 (Reuters) - China plans to build more than

60 nuclear plants in the coming decade, a top Chinese industry

official said on Friday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-China to build at least 60 nuclear plants in coming decade -industry official

LONDON, Sept 16 (Reuters) - China plans to build more than

60 nuclear plants in the coming decade, a top Chinese industry

official said on Friday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Naftogaz says charter change threatens gas purchases from Europe

KIEV, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Ukraine has changed the charter of

Naftogaz in violation of a deal with foreign creditors, in a

move that could hold up a $500 million loan for vital gas

purchases from Europe, the state-run energy firm said on Friday.

Read more

U.S. refined products calendar spreads rally on Colonial outage

NEW YORK, Sept 16 (Reuters) - U.S. refined product calendar

spreads, particularly the front month October contract's premium

to November contracts, rallied on Friday, continuing a streak of

gains after a leak was found on Colonial Pipeline's main

gasoline line.

Read more

GLOBAL LNG-Price steady as new supply offset by outages, demand prospects

MILAN, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Liquefied natural gas (LNG) spot

prices in Asia were static this week as the region's producers

put up six new shipments for sale while price support came from

a U.S. outage and potential post-earthquake demand from South

Korea.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Typhoon kills at least 11 in China and Taiwan; another on the way

SHANGHAI, Sept 16 (Reuters) - The world's strongest storm

this year killed at last 10 people in China when it hit the

southeast coast, the government said on Friday, as rescuers

scoured flooded streets and work crews struggled to restore

power to more than a million homes.

Read more

Total's venture arm acquires stake in smart grids firm Autogrid

PARIS, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Total Energy Ventures, the

venture capital arm of oil and gas company Total said

on Friday has acquired an interest in Autogrid, a company that

develops solutions to manage and energy supplied to and from

power grids.

Read more

Water innovation helps Bangladeshi women dodge snakes, shortages

BANDARBAN, Bangladesh, Sept 16 (Thomson Reuters Foundation)

- C ollecting drinking water from springs in this part of the

Chittagong Hill Tracts, a forested area in southeast Bangladesh,

is not for the faint-hearted.

Read more

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Tesla wins energy storage contract with California utility

Sept 15 (Reuters) - Tesla Motors Inc said on

Thursday it won a contract to provide a 20-megawatt energy

storage system at a substation owned by California utility

Southern California Edison Co.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Dutch parliament orders annual check on Groningen gas production

AMSTERDAM, Sept 15 (Reuters) - The Dutch parliament adopted

a motion on Thursday ordering the government to evaluate every

year whether gas production at the country's Groningen field can

be reduced further.

Read more

Spanish wetlands and wildlife sanctuary under threat - WWF

MADRID, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Donana National Park, part of

southern Spanish wetland used by 6 million migratory birds,

could dry out completely unless the Spanish government tackles

the threat of dredging, mining and intensive farming, a report

said on Thursday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-EDF's hands tied tighter by UK's golden share in Hinkley Point

* Critics say financial risk too high

(Adds quotes, detail)

Read more

Dutch parliament orders annual check on Groningen gas production

AMSTERDAM, Sept 15 (Reuters) - The Dutch parliament adopted

a motion on Thursday ordering the government to conduct an

evaluation every year of whether gas production at the country's

Groningen field can be reduced.

Read more

RPT-COLUMN-Australia's natural gas bans risk replicating Springsteen's rust belt: Russell

LAUNCESTON, Australia, Sept 15 (Reuters) - When government

policies are driven by populist politics, it is almost certain

to lead to poor outcomes and a low standard of debate, as shown

by the current conundrum in Australia's natural gas sector.

Read more

Foreign nuclear investment is a vote of confidence in Britain - minister

LONDON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Foreign investment in Britain's

Hinkley Point nuclear project, which was approved by the

government on Thursday, is a vote of confidence in the country,

business minister Greg Clark told parliament.

Read more

New foreign investment rules better match UK national interest - minister

LONDON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - British business minister Greg

Clark said the government's new approach to foreign investment,

announced alongside approval for a new French-built,

Chinese-backed nuclear power plant, better met the national

interest than previous rules.

Read more

CORRECTED-(OFFICIAL)-UPDATE 1-Siemens to invest in Argentine energy, transport

BUENOS AIRES, Sept 14 (Reuters) - German engineering group

Siemens plans to help create projects worth up to 5

billion euros ($5.6 billion) in Argentina after agreeing to

intensify cooperation with Buenos Aires, it said on Thursday.

Read more

Water fund to slake Cape Town's thirst by restoring native bush

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, Sept 15 (Thomson Reuters

Foundation) - Cape Town is planning to launch a new fund by the

end of 2017 that will improve its water supply by restoring the

native shrubland plants covering the region's watersheds and

aquifers.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Oil producer Ophir cuts capex again amid crude slump

Sept 15 (Reuters) - Oil and natural gas producer Ophir

Energy Plc cut its 2016 capital budget for the second

time this year to weather a crude price slump and said it had

short-listed four potential partners for the Fortuna project in

Equatorial Guinea.

Read more

REUTERS SUMMIT-Russian power firm InterRAO seeks bigger Turkey role

MOSCOW, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Russian state power company

InterRAO may enhance its presence in Turkey once

relations between Moscow and Ankara are fully restored, a board

member told Reuters Russia Investment Summit.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Britain approves nuclear plant, easing Chinese, French ties

LONDON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Britain gave the go ahead on

Thursday for a $24 billion nuclear power plant, ending weeks of

uncertainty that strained ties with China and France and put a

question mark over Prime Minister Theresa May's investment

policy.

Read more

PRESS RELEASE-UK govt statement on EDF Hinkley Point deal

PARIS, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Below is the text of a UK

government statement announcing a new deal with French utility

EDF for the construction and operation of the Hinkley Point C

nuclear project in southwest England. Pricing details are at the

bottom of the statement:

Read more

RPT-Nigerian oil ceasefire threatened by local anger at military

WARRI, Nigeria, Sept 14 (Reuters) - A truce in the conflict

in Nigeria's oil-producing Niger Delta is in danger of being

derailed by anger at the military over the death of an elderly

local leader.

Read more

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

UPDATE 3-Typhoon cuts power, lashes China with wind and rain before weakening

BEIJING, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Typhoon Meranti slammed into

southeastern China on Thursday with strong winds and lashing

rain that cut power to 1.65 million homes, but there were no

reports of more casualties in what has been described as the

strongest storm of the year globally.

Read more

Hong Kong stocks rise, led by financials, utilities

HONG KONG, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Hong Kong stocks posted

modest gains on Thursday, outperforming broader regional

markets, as investors hunted for bargains after selling earlier

in the week, but turnover was light as Chinese markets were

closed for a long holiday.

Read more

Pastor cuts Trump short during anti-Clinton speech in Flint

FLINT, Mich., Sept 14 (Reuters) - The pastor of a black

church in Flint, Michigan, stopped Donald Trump on Wednesday in

the midst of his remarks criticizing Democratic rival Hillary

Clinton, and said the Republican presidential nominee was not

invited to talk about politics.

Read more

Typhoon cuts power as it slams into China, but losing strength

BEIJING, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Typhoon Meranti slammed into

southeastern China on Thursday, bringing strong winds and

lashing rain and cutting power, but there were no immediate

reports of casualties.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Siemens to invest 5 bln euros in Argentine energy, transport

BUENOS AIRES, Sept 14 (Reuters) - German engineering group

Siemens will invest 5 billion euros in

infrastructure, mobility and energy management in Argentina in

coming years, creating some 3,000 jobs, CEO Joe Kaeser said on

Wednesday.

Read more

Nigerian oil ceasefire threatened by local anger at military

WARRI, Nigeria, Sept 14 (Reuters) - A truce in the conflict

in Nigeria's oil-producing Niger Delta is in danger of being

derailed by anger at the military over the death of an elderly

local leader.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Alberta says will support 5,000 MW of new renewable energy capacity

Sept 14 (Reuters) - The Canadian crude-producing province of

Alberta said on Tuesday it will support the creation of 5,000

megawatts of additional renewable energy capacity by 2030 to

help achieve goals laid out in its climate plan last year.

Read more

Government confident it can find new panel for TransCanada Energy East pipeline



Read more

UPDATE 1-India's 2016 monsoon rains could be below average - forecasters

* Rainfall in Sept could be up to 15 pct below

average-sources

Read more

Danish watchdog asks audit office to investigate DONG Energy IPO

COPENHAGEN, Sept 14 (Reuters) - A Danish political watchdog

on Wednesday asked the national audit office to investigate the

role of key parties involved in the share market flotation of

offshore wind farm developer DONG Energy, including

Goldman Sachs.

Read more

Greek utility PPC and China's CMEC to build coal-fired plant

ATHENS, Sept 14 (Reuters) - China Machinery Engineering

Corporation (CMEC) signed a memorandum of

understanding on Wednesday with Greece's leading utility Public

Power Corp. (PPC) to build a coal-fired plant in

northern Greece.

Read more

As decision time approaches, UK PM May mulls Hinkley options

LONDON/PARIS, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Theresa May could announce

as soon as Thursday whether Britain will go ahead with a $24

billion nuclear power project, laying down a marker on energy

policy and her approach to investment from China.

Read more

UPDATE 1-UK, Argentina agree joint steps on Falklands in win for diplomacy

LONDON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Britain and Argentina have

agreed to work together towards removing measures restricting

the oil and gas, shipping and fishing industries around the

disputed Falkland Islands, both countries said on Wednesday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-American Electric to sell 4 power plants to newly formed JV

Sept 14 (Reuters) - Power plant operator American Electric

Power said it would sell four of its power plants with a

total capacity of about 5,200 MW for about $2.17 billion as it

focuses on its regulated power business.

Read more

UK, Argentina to cooperate on Falklands oil and gas restrictions

LONDON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Britain and Argentina have

agreed to work together towards removing measures restricting

the oil and gas industry, shipping and fishing around the

disputed Falkland Islands, Britain's Foreign Office said on

Wednesday.

Read more

American Electric to sell 4 power plants to newly formed JV

Sept 14 (Reuters) - Power plant operator American Electric

Power said it would sell four of its power plants with a

total capacity of about 5,200 MW for about $2.17 billion to a

newly formed joint venture.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Turkmenistan removes legal barrier to leader's indefinite rule

ASHGABAT, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Turkmenistan amended its

constitution on Wednesday in a way that will allow President

Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov to stay in power indefinitely,

following in the footsteps of his predecessor, who ruled the

gas-rich Central Asian nation until his death.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Kazakhstan says awaiting answers from oil firms in Karachaganak dispute

ASTANA, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Kazakhstan's government and

energy companies developing the Karachaganak gas condensate

field are still in talks about the Central Asian nation's

financial claim against the consortium, Kazakhstan's deputy

energy minister said on Wednesday.

Read more

CEZ to re-start production at Temelin unit 2 by start of October

PRAGUE, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Czech power utility CEZ

is aiming to re-start production at the second unit of

its Temelin nuclear power plant by the start of October after

halting it last week, the company said on Wednesday.

Read more

RPT-Banks add leverage to spice up 'masala' bonds for expatriate Indians

MUMBAI/SINGAPORE, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Bankers are finding

new ways to sell India's "masala" bonds by structuring this

rupee-denominated debt issued abroad into derivatives, and then

sweetening the deal with leveraged returns of 12 to 13 percent

after fees and hedging.

Read more

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

UPDATE 1-China's August power consumption rises on hot temperatures -NDRC

* Thermal power production growth turned positive, rising

7.7 pct y/y

Read more

UPDATE 1-Australia courts US, Canada after rejecting Chinese bids for Ausgrid-sources

* Nth Americans told local partners not a requirement -

source

Read more

Indonesia to resume work on "Giant Sea Wall" to save sinking Jakarta

JAKARTA, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Indonesia will resume land

reclamation that will help prevent Jakarta from sinking below

sea level, a cabinet minister said, five months after work was

suspended due to regulatory and environmental concerns.

Read more

India woos new Nepali PM to claw back ground from China

* India to offer help with east-west rail line, access to

ports

Read more

Australia courts US, Canada after rejecting Chinese bids for Ausgrid-sources

* Nth Americans told local partners not a requirement -

source

Read more

Global upstream oil and gas spending to fall 24 pct in 2016 - IEA

LONDON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Global upstream oil and gas

investments are expected to plummet 24 percent this year, with

little signs of improvement for 2017, the International Energy

Agency (IEA) said on Wednesday.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Protesters slam N. Dakota pipeline but company 'committed'

ATLANTA, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Holding signs and banners and

chanting "Oil Kills," protesters in Atlanta on Tuesday shouted

support for Native American activists trying to stop

construction of a North Dakota pipeline they say will desecrate

sacred land and pollute water.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Brazil launches massive privatization plan to rescue economy

BRASILIA, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Brazil's new government on

Tuesday launched a sweeping plan to auction off licenses to

operate oil and gas, electricity and infrastructure projects in

an attempt to boost investment and pull the economy out of the

deepest recession in eight decades.

Read more

Canadian energy asset sales seen picking up in coming months

TORONTO, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Canadian energy companies will

likely sell more exploration and production assets in the next

several months, driven by weaker producers shoring up their

balance sheets and the longer-term prospect of oil prices

stabilizing, deal advisers said.

Read more

Energy Transfer committed to building North Dakota pipeline-letter

NEW YORK, Sept 13 (Reuters) - The company building a

pipeline to transport oil from North Dakota to the U.S. Gulf

Coast said on Tuesday it remained committed to completing

construction even after the U.S. Justice Department blocked the

project while Native Americans and other protesters geared up

for another day of demonstrations.

Read more

Hollande lauds defence cooperation as Airbus opens Romanian helicopter plant

BUCHAREST, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Airbus opened a new

plant to produce the H215 helicopter in Romania on Tuesday, a 50

million-euro ($56 million) investment which French President

Francois Hollande said fits into efforts to promote European

defence cooperation.

Read more

South Africa's cabinet has confidence in new state airline board -Zuma

CAPE TOWN, Sept 13 (Reuters) - South African President Jacob

Zuma said on Tuesday his cabinet has confidence in a newly

reconstituted board of the struggling state airline.

Read more

Eni acknowledges risk management at Arctic field needs improving

OSLO, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Italian oil company Eni

acknowledged its staff needed a better grasp of the potential

risks at its Goliat field in Norway's Arctic waters more than a

month before a power failure that halted production.

Read more

REUTERS SUMMIT-Russian Nord Stream-2 on track with pipes expected soon

* For other news from Reuters Russia Investment Summit,

click on http://www.reuters.com/summit/russia16

Read more

German court throws out pollution case against K+S execs

FRANKFURT, Sept 13 (Reuters) - A German court said on

Tuesday it would not open proceedings against executives of

German potash and salt miner K+S on charges of water

pollution.

Read more

Demand for Groningen gas will fall "sharply" from 2020 - Dutch govt. minister

AMSTERDAM, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Demand for gas from Groningen

will "fall sharply from 2020" as production at the northern

Dutch field is reduced, Economy Minister Henk Kamp said in a

letter to parliament released on Tuesday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Dutch see demand for Groningen gas down sharply from 2020

AMSTERDAM, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Demand for gas from Groningen

will "fall sharply from 2020" as production at the northern

Dutch field is reduced, Economy Minister Henk Kamp said in a

letter to parliament released on Tuesday.

Read more

CORRECTED--Korean power firm KEPCO near joining UK nuclear plant project-FT

LONDON, Sept 12 (Reuters) - State-controlled South Korean

electric power utility KEPCO is closing in on

investing in a 10 billion-pound ($13 billion) project in Britain

to construct a new nuclear power plant near Sellafield,

northwest England, the Financial Times said on Monday, citing

sources close to the negotiations.

Read more

CORRECTED-UPDATE 1-Korea's KEPCO in talks to buy into UK nuclear project NuGen - source

PARIS/LONDON, Sept 12 (Reuters) - South Korean power utility

KEPCO is in talks with Japan's Toshiba and France's

Engie about buying a stake in the Toshiba-Engie British nuclear

joint venture NuGen, a source familiar with the situation told

Reuters on Monday.

Read more

NRG Energy wins auction for SunEdison wind and solar projects

CHICAGO, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Houston-based NRG Energy Inc

has won the auction for bankrupt renewable power plant

developer SunEdison Inc 's wind and solar projects in

Texas and other states with a $144 million bid, according to a

court filing.

Read more

Banks add leverage to spice up 'masala' bonds for expatriate Indians

MUMBAI/SINGAPORE, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Bankers are finding

new ways to sell India's "masala" bonds by structuring this

rupee-denominated debt issued abroad into derivatives, and then

sweetening the deal with leveraged returns of 12 to 13 percent

after fees and hedging.

Read more

Monday, September 12, 2016

Brazil's Cemig sells stake in Chilean transmission company for $56.5 mln

SAO PAULO, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Brazil's power holding

company Cia Energética de Minas Gerais has sold a stake in an

energy transmission unit in Chile for $56.5 million, the company

said in a securities filing on Monday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Peugeot plans LA car-sharing operation with Bollore - CEO

PARIS, Sept 12 (Reuters) - France's PSA will

launch car-sharing services in Los Angeles in partnership with

Bollore Group, Chief Executive Carlos Tavares said on

Monday, as the maker of Peugeot, Citroen and DS cars diversifies

into mobility services.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Spain's Repsol and Criteria sell combined 20 pct of Gas Natural

* Companies to forge new agreements on board and governance

(Adds detail, background)

Read more

Ontario government pledges lower electricity costs

OTTAWA, Sept 12 (Reuters) - The Ontario government pledged

on Monday to lower electricity costs for residents of the

Canadian province as it sought to provide balm for an issue that

has become an irritant with voters.

Read more

Four South Korea nuclear reactors suspended due to earthquakes

SEOUL, Sept 13 (Reuters) - South Korea's nuclear operator

said early on Tuesday it suspended operation of four reactors at

a nuclear power complex as a precaution late on Monday after two

earthquakes struck the country's southeast.

Read more

Total halts some units at Gonfreville refinery following incident

PARIS, Sept 12 (Reuters) - French oil and gas company Total

has shut down some units at its 247,000

barrels-per-day Gonfreville refinery in northern France

following a technical incident, a spokesman said on Monday.

Read more

Vattenfall wins Danish wind farm tender, but project still in doubt

COPENHAGEN, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Swedish utility Vattenfall

won a tender on Monday to build two offshore wind

farms for Denmark, but could yet have the project pulled by a

government worried about the cost of renewable energy subsidies.

Read more

UPDATE 1-RWE to sell more of Innogy in listing to satisfy demand

* IPO leaves room for anchor shareholders

(Adds further CEO comments, ownership context)

Read more

Qatar considers joining Exxon's Mozambique gas move

LONDON/DOHA, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Qatar Petroleum is

interested in the Mozambique gas business of Italian energy

group Eni and could opt to join Exxon Mobil in

buying a multibillion-dollar stake, sources familiar with the

matter said.

Read more

Korea's KEPCO in talks with Toshiba, Engie to buy stake in NuGen -source

PARIS, Sept 12 (Reuters) - South Korean power utility Kepco

in talks with Japan's Toshiba and France's Engie

about buying a stake in the Toshiba-Engie British nuclear joint

venture NuGen, a source familiar with the situation told Reuters

on Monday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Protests over river water dispute turn violent in Indian IT hub

BENGALURU, Sept 12 (Reuters) - India's technology hub of

Bengaluru deployed riot police and banned public gatherings on

Monday to rein in protests as a water dispute turned violent,

with cars and buses set on fire and people pelted with stones.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Uniper's $4.4 bln listing unveils huge valuation gap

* Flotation comes ahead of listing of RWE's Innogy

(Recasts, adds analyst comment, details on volume)

Read more

Tokyo Gas imports first LNG from Australia's Gorgon

TOKYO, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Japan's biggest city gas

supplier, Tokyo Gas Co, said it has received its first

liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo from Chevron Corp's

$54 billion Gorgon export facility in Australia.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Uniper opens above 10 euros per share in much awaited market debut

* Flotation comes ahead of spin-off of RWE's Innogy

(Recasts with Uniper flotation)

Read more

UPDATE 4-North Korea ready for another nuclear test any time - S.Korea

* North has tunnel where it can conduct further test -

S.Korea

Read more

Sunday, September 11, 2016

U.S. utility solar enjoys building boom in 2nd qtr but residential slows

Sept 12 (Reuters) - U.S. solar installations rose 43 percent

in the second quarter, according to a new report, as sharp gains

in large projects for utilities offset slowing growth in

residential systems in top solar market California.

Read more

UPDATE 2-North Korea ready for another nuclear test any time - S.Korea

* North has tunnel where it can conduct further test -

S.Korea

Read more

Australian coal soars to premium of more than $10 over Europe

SINGAPORE, Sept 12 (Reuters) - A 40-percent rally since June

in prices for Australian thermal coal due to a jump in Chinese

imports has pushed its premium over Europe to more than $10,

offering miners with easy access to the Atlantic and Pacific

basins opportunities for arbitrage.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Germany nears 26.4 bln euro nuclear waste deal - Boersen-Zeitung

FRANKFURT, Sept 11 (Reuters) - Germany is close to agreeing

that the government will assume the liabilities of storing

private-sector nuclear waste in return for a 26.4 billion euro

($30 billion) cash payment, daily Boersen-Zeitung reported on

Saturday.

Read more

North Korea ready for another nuclear test -Yonhap

SEOUL, Sept 12 (Reuters) - North Korea has completed

preparations for another nuclear test, South Korea's Yonhap News

Agency reported on Monday, citing South Korean government

sources who said the North may use a previously unused tunnel at

its mountainous test site.

Read more

Germany nears 26.4 bln euro nuclear waste deal - Boersen-Zeitung

FRANKFURT, Sept 11 (Reuters) - Germany is close to an

agreement with its utilities that will see the government assume

the risks and liabilities of storing private-sector nuclear

waste in return for a 26.4 billion euro ($29.6 billion) cash

payment, daily Boersen-Zeitung reported on Saturday.

Read more

Canada may grant easier residency for foreign workers -minister

TORONTO, Sept 11 (Reuters) - Canada may make it easier for

temporary foreign workers to get permanent residency and

eventual citizenship, Immigration Minister John McCallum said on

Sunday.

Read more

Russia says to sign TurkStream pipeline deal with Turkey in October

MOSCOW, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Russia plans to sign an

agreement with Turkey next month on the implementation of the

Turkish Stream gas export pipeline project, Russian Energy

Minister Alexander Novak was quoted as saying on Saturday.

Read more

Saturday, September 10, 2016

Iran, Russia start construction of new Iranian nuclear plant

DUBAI, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Iran began building a second

nuclear plant with Russian help on Saturday, in a $10 billion

project which follows Tehran's landmark nuclear deal with world

powers last year, state media reported.

Read more

California nears adoption of energy-saving rules for computers

LOS ANGELES, Sept 9 (Reuters) - California regulators moved

a step closer on Friday to the first mandatory U.S. energy

efficiency standards for computers and monitors, gadgets that

account for 3 percent of home electric bills and 7 percent of

commercial power costs in the state.

Read more

Friday, September 9, 2016

U.S. urges Serbia, Slovenia to diversify their energy sources

TIRANA, Sept 9 (Reuters) - The United States has encouraged

Serbia and EU-member Slovenia to diversify their energy sources

away from Russian gas to make sure any potential disruptions

will not hurt their economies, a senior U.S. official said on

Friday.

Read more

UPDATE 4-U.S. halts N. Dakota pipeline near tribal lands

WASHINGTON, Sept 9 (Reuters) - The U.S. government moved on

Friday to temporarily halt an oil pipeline in North Dakota that

has angered Native Americans, blocking construction on federal

land and asking the company behind the project to suspend work

nearby.

Read more

U.S. Senate committee chair: Mylan's response on EpiPen price hike 'incomplete'

WASHINGTON, Sept 9 (Reuters) - The chairman of the U.S.

Senate Judiciary Committee probing Mylan NV's EpiPen

price hike on Friday said its response to his query was

"incomplete," and called on the drugmaker to give more details

over how much government health insurance programs pay for the

allergy treatment.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Canada implies won't demand regulator alter TransCanada pipeline panel

OTTAWA, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Canada on Friday indicated it

would not press the country's energy regulator to remove members

from a three-person panel looking into TransCanada Corp's

proposed Energy East pipeline despite protests over

their actions.

Read more

Irrigation on rise in Africa as farmers face erratic weather

STOCKHOLM, Sept 9 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) -

Sub-Saharan Africa is seeing a surge of interest in irrigation

among small-scale farmers as climate change brings more erratic

weather and as rising populations in countries from Nigeria to

Kenya mean demand for a reliable harvest is growing, agriculture

and water experts say.

Read more

GLOBAL LNG-Prices edge up as old and new buyers seek spot supplies

MILAN, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Asian liquefied natural gas (LNG)

prices edged up on a crop of fresh tenders expected to add to

already brisk demand from Indian and Middle Eastern importers.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Total sees bargain buy in Chesapeke's Barnett Shale assets

* Barnett Shale produces about 65,000 boe per day

(Adds details, background)

Read more

N. Dakota governor calls in National Guard ahead of pipeline ruling

Sept 8 (Reuters) - North Dakota's governor activated 100

National Guard troops on Thursday ahead of an expected ruling by

a federal judge on a Native American tribe's request to halt

construction of a crude oil pipeline that has drawn fierce

opposition and protests.

Read more

Rolls-Royce seals bidder status to supply to delayed Hinkley nuclear plant

LONDON, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Rolls-Royce said on Friday

it had been awarded "preferred bidder" status to supply a diesel

system to Hinkley Point C, the British nuclear plant that has

been put on hold for further review by Prime Minister Theresa

May.

Read more

Thursday, September 8, 2016

RPT-Bloated, glutted and static, Asia's LNG market keeps disappointing

SINGAPORE, Sept 8 (Reuters) - The liquefied natural gas

(LNG) industry has morphed from energy's golden child to black

sheep in the last two years, with demand slumping just as

supplies soar.

Read more

Britain to miss its 2020 renewable energy targets - lawmakers

LONDON, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Britain is set to miss its 2020

European renewable energy targets, a parliamentary committee

report said on Friday, setting a poor example for less wealthy

countries as the world tries to rein in global warming.

Read more

UPDATE 3-Enterprise pulls Williams bid citing lack of engagement

NEW YORK, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Pipeline company Enterprise

Products Partners on Thursday withdrew its takeover bid

for rival Williams Cos Inc, saying that Williams' lack

of engagement left it with "no actionable path forward."

Read more

Three arrested in Paris gas cylinder car investigation -France's BFM TV

PARIS, Sept 8 (Reuters) - French police investigating why a

car packed with gas cylinders was left near Notre Dame cathedral

in Paris have arrested three women, one of whom injured a police

official, French BFM TV said on Thursday.

Read more

Tax to rescue Chicago pension fund passes council committee

CHICAGO, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel's

proposal to tax water and sewer usage to save a city pension

fund from insolvency passed a key city council committee on

Thursday despite concerns that revenue will fall short.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Glencore, Origin put Chile hydropower business up for sale

* Larger dam projects have struggled in Chile

(Adds detail on hydropower in Chile, company no comment)

Read more

Shell eyes next tender for Dutch North Sea wind farm

AMSTERDAM, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Royal Dutch Shell,

which lost a bid to build a Dutch North Sea wind park in July,

is interested in entering a second tender process opening next

week, an official said on Thursday.

Read more

Greek utility PPC warns over planned power auctions

ATHENS, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Greece's dominant power utility

Public Power Corp. (PPC) warned on Thursday it could

be hurt by electricity auctions Athens plans to open up the

country's power market if pricing is too low.

Read more

Uniper to hit jittery market and E.ON's balance sheet

FRANKFURT, Sept 8 (Reuters) - When Germany's top utility

E.ON lists its power generation and energy trading

business Uniper next Monday, investors known as index trackers

with about a quarter of the shares will sell, that much is

clear.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Dong installs world's largest wind turbines off UK coast

LONDON, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Dong Energy has installed the

first of the world's largest wind turbines, which are taller and

wider than the London Eye, at its Burbo Bank windfarm off the

coast of Britain in the Irish Sea, it said on Thursday.

Read more

Malaysian sovereign fund Khazanah selling stake in utility Tenaga -sources

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Malaysian sovereign wealth

fund Khazanah Nasional Bhd is divesting part of its

stake in national power utility Tenaga Nasional, two

sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday.

Read more

St. Jude's lawsuit against short-seller faces steep climb -lawyers

Sept 7 (Reuters) - St. Jude Medical will face an

uphill battle in its corporate defamation lawsuit over a

short-seller's report that said the medical device company's

heart implants were vulnerable to cyber attacks, lawyers

familiar with such cases said.

Read more

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

UPDATE 1-Top BlackRock portfolio manager cutting stocks exposure

NEW YORK, Sept 7 (Reuters) - A top BlackRock Inc

portfolio manager said on Wednesday he has been buying options

"protection" against equities and slicing stock exposure, adding

that now is not the time to take risks.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Norway's fund barred from investing in U.S. firm Duke Energy

* Duke Energy says disappointed but not surprised by

decision

(Adds comment from Duke Energy)

Read more

UPDATE 2-St. Jude sues short-seller over heart device allegations

Sept 7 (Reuters) - St. Jude Medical Inc on Wednesday

filed a lawsuit against short-selling firm Muddy Waters and

cyber security company MedSec Holdings Ltd, saying they

intentionally disseminated false information about its heart

devices to manipulate its stock.

Read more

Poland may block sale of local EDF, Engie assets under new law

KRYNICA-ZDROJ, Poland, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Poland has put

local heating assets owned by French EDF and Engie

on a list of companies deemed important for energy

security, in order to be able to block their potential sale, the

energy minister said.

Read more

EUROPE POWER-Spot mixed, wind and nuclear power weigh on French spot

PARIS, Sept 7 (Reuters) - European spot electricity prices

for next day delivery were mixed on Wednesday as increased wind

and nuclear power production kept French prices lower, while a

rise in consumption supported German prices.

Read more

Noble Midstream expects to raise up to $263 mln in IPO

Sept 7 (Reuters) - Noble Midstream Partners LP expects to

raise as much as $263 million in its initial public offering

after withdrawing plans to go public earlier.

Read more

Global coal power plans fall in 2016, led by China, India - study

* Planned coal-fired plants drop 14 pct to 932 GW -

CoalSwarm

Read more

EDF workers to strike on Sept. 14 over Fessenheim closure plan

PARIS, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Workers at French state-controlled

power utility EDF will down tools on Sept. 14 in

protest over the planned closure of the company's Fessenheim

nuclear power plant, a statement from staff representatives said

on Wednesday.

Read more

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

CORRECTED-UPDATE 1-Brookfield-led group to buy $5.2 bln Petrobras unit -source

SAO PAULO, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Brazil's state-run oil company

Petroleo Brasileiro SA agreed to sell 90

percent of its natural gas pipeline unit to a group of investors

led by Canada's Brookfield Asset Management Inc for

$5.2 billion, a source with direct knowledge of the deal said on

Tuesday.

Read more

Argentina's top court gives go-ahead to electricity subsidy cut

BUENOS AIRES, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Argentina can go ahead with

its plan to cut electricity subsidies, according to a Supreme

Court ruling on Tuesday that bolstered President Mauricio

Macri's fiscal tightening push despite opposition from

recession-racked utility users.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Netanyahu says Netherlands, Israel to improve water, gas supply to Gaza

AMSTERDAM, Sept 6 (Reuters) - The Dutch government will

assist Israel in improving water and gas supplies to

energy-strapped Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on

Tuesday during a visit to the Netherlands.

Read more

Brookfield group to buy Petrobras pipeline unit for $5.2 bln-source

SAO PAULO, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Brazil's Petroleo Brasileiro

SA agreed to sell 90 percent of its natural

gas pipeline unit to a group of investors led by Canada's

Brookfield Asset Management Inc for $5.2 billion, a

source with direct knowledge of the deal said on Tuesday.

Read more

Tunisia fears jihadists returning home from Libya, seeks joint action

PARIS, Sept 6 (Reuters) - North African countries should be

cooperating more to stop Islamic State fighters who are fleeing

their Libyan stronghold of Sirte from returning to their

homelands and causing trouble there, Tunisia's defence minister

said on Tuesday.

Read more

UPDATE 2-EOG to buy Yates in $2.5 bln deal, boosting Permian assets

Sept 6 (Reuters) - EOG Resources Inc said on Tuesday

it would buy privately held Yates Petroleum Corp and some of its

subsidiaries and other entities in a deal valued at $2.5 billion

to boost its assets in the Permian and Powder River basins.

Read more

EUROPE POWER-French spot slides on weak demand, increased renewables

PARIS, Sept 6 (Reuters) - European prompt power prices for

day-ahead delivery diverged on Tuesday as French prices fell,

weighed down by the decline in consumption and a slight increase

in power from wind and solar sources, while German prices were

firm on steady demand.

Read more

Poland could sign climate deal amendment if EU backs new coal plants

WARSAW, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Poland is willing to back EU

ratification of an amendment to the Kyoto Protocol on carbon

emissions if the European Commission guarantees financing for

new, cleaner coal-fired power stations, the Prime Minister's

office said.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Canada's Enbridge to buy Spectra Energy in $28 bln deal

Sept 6 (Reuters) - Enbridge Inc, Canada's largest

pipeline company, said on Tuesday it would buy Spectra Energy

Corp in an all-stock deal valued at about C$37 billion

($28 billion) to create the largest North American energy

infrastructure company.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Azerbaijan's SOCAR wants lower price for Greek gas grid deal

BAKU, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Azerbaijan's state energy company

SOCAR plans to go ahead with a deal to buy Greek natural gas

pipelines operator DESFA, but says that its price should be

reduced, SOCAR's president said on Monday.

Read more

Monday, September 5, 2016

Dutch greenhouse emissions up 5 pct in 2015 due to coal use

AMSTERDAM, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Dutch greenhouse gas emissions

rose by 5 percent in 2015 from a year earlier, Statistics

Netherlands said on Monday, again highlighting the difficulty

the country will have meeting its Kyoto Protocol commitments by

2020.

Read more

Coal leads surge in European energy exchange trading in first half 2016 -study

FRANKFURT, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Coal lead a surge in trading

volumes on west European energy exchanges in the first half of

this year as traders took advantage of low commodity prices,

research company Prospex said on Monday.

Read more

Bulgaria plans feasibility study for 1.5 bln euro gas hub

* Bulgaria hopes to attract Russian, Caspian gas for its gas

hub

Read more

Britain's May says China-UK enjoying golden era, ties not doomed by Hinkley

LONDON, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Theresa May said

on Monday that Britain and China were enjoying a 'golden era'

and the strategic partnership would not be derailed by her

decision on whether to back a part-Chinese funded power station

at Hinkley Point.

Read more

Azerbaijan's SOCAR wants lower price for Greek gas grid deal

BAKU, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Azerbaijan's state energy company

SOCAR plans to go ahead with a deal to buy Greek natural gas

pipelines operator DESFA, but says that its price should be

reduced, SOCAR's president said on Monday.

Read more

EUROPE POWER-Prompt up on rising consumption, low wind

FRANKFURT, Sept 5 (Reuters) - European spot power prices

rose on Monday on rising demand and a continued warm period that

brought sunny but calm weather with low wind power production.

Read more

UPDATE 3-Hanjin scrambles to prevent ship seizures as more vessels blocked

* Odds of successful legal action depends on

jurisdiction-lawyers

Read more

Sunday, September 4, 2016

RPT-EXCLUSIVE-Saudi state fund plans stake in big industrial zone-source

* Public Investment Fund to invest in King Abdullah Economic

City

Read more

Japan's Kyushu Elec rebuffs governor's call to halt nuke plant

TOKYO, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Japanese utility Kyushu Electric

Power on Monday rebuffed a call by a local governor to

temporarily close its Sendai nuclear plant, saying it would

address any new safety concerns in a special inspection to be

launched from next month.

Read more

Climate change threatens to double malaria risk from African dams, say researchers

LONDON, Sept 5 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - The number of

Africans at risk of malaria who live near dams will nearly

double to 25 million by 2080 as areas where the disease is not

currently present will become transmission zones due to climate

change, researchers said on Monday.

Read more

RPT-UPDATE 2-China's Xi says hopes for fair Australia investment policy

HANGZHOU, China, Sept 4 (Reuters) - China hopes Australia

can provide a fair and transparent environment for foreign

investors, President Xi Jinping said on Sunday, as he met

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull for the first time

since Canberra blocked a major deal.

Read more

RPT-EXCLUSIVE-Saudi state fund plans stake in big industrial zone-source

* Public Investment Fund to invest in King Abdullah Economic

City

Read more

UPDATE 1-British government to set out plans on post-Brexit ties with EU in coming week

LONDON, Sept 4 (Reuters) - The British government will set

out in the coming week how it plans to shape its relationship

with the European Union upon leaving the bloc, Prime Minister

Theresa May said in an interview broadcast on Sunday.

Read more

UK PM May says government to set out progress on Brexit this week

LONDON, Sept 4 (Reuters) - The British government will set

out next week the work it has done so far on preparing to leave

the European Union, Prime Minister Theresa May said in an

interview broadcast on Sunday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-UK's May to review security risks of Chinese-funded nuclear deal

HANGZHOU, China, Sept 4 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Theresa

May said on Sunday she wanted her security advisers to review a

delayed nuclear power investment from China - a source of

diplomatic tension - as she arrived in the country to attend a

G20 summit.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Power outages, flooding as deadly Hermine strengthens in Mid Atlantic

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON, Sept 4 (Reuters) - A powerful and

deadly storm churned off the U.S. Middle Atlantic Coast on

Sunday, where it was expected to spoil the Labor Day holiday

weekend with high winds, soaking rains and surging seas after

passing over North Carolina's Outer Banks.

Read more

Saturday, September 3, 2016

UPDATE 1-China's Xi says hopes for fair Australia investment policy

BEIJING, Sept 4 (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping

told Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Sunday that

he hopes Australia continues to provide a fair, transparent and

predictable policy environment for foreign investors.

Read more

UK's May defends delay on Chinese-backed nuclear power plan

HANGZHOU, China, Sept 4 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister

Theresa May on Sunday defended her decision to delay a partly

Chinese-funded nuclear power deal, despite it causing diplomatic

tension with China as she landed in the country to attend a G20

summit.

Read more

UPDATE 5-Hermine strengthens off North Carolina en route to Middle Atlantic

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK, Sept 3 (Reuters) - A powerful Atlantic

storm strengthened on Saturday afternoon after passing over

North Carolina's Outer Banks en route to the U.S. Middle

Atlantic coast, where it was expected to spoil the Labor Day

holiday weekend with high winds, soaking rains and surging seas.

Read more

UPDATE 1-May hails "golden era" for UK-China ties as nuclear power row looms

LONDON, Sept 3 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa

May said on Saturday Sino-British relations were in a golden era

but made no mention of a looming row with Beijing over her

suspension of a partly Chinese-funded nuclear power station

deal.

Read more

Russia: oil production freeze to be discussed at meeting in Algiers

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Russian Energy

Minister Alexander Novak said on Saturday that an oil production

freeze will be one of the issues discussed by crude producers at

their meeting later this month in Algiers.

Read more

Britain's May hails "golden era" for UK-China ties

LONDON, Sept 3 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa

May said Sino-British relations were in a "golden era", as she

left on Saturday for the G-20 meeting in China next week.

Read more

Friday, September 2, 2016

No imminent UK decision on Chinese-backed nuclear plan as PM May heads to China

LONDON, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Theresa May will

not announce her keenly awaited decision on a partly-Chinese

funded nuclear power project in the coming days, a British

official said on Saturday as May flew to China to meet President

Xi Jinping at her first G20 summit.

Read more

Anti-Macri protest arrives in Argentine capital

BUENOS AIRES, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Thousands of workers and

members of leftist social movements descended on Buenos Aires'

Plaza de Mayo on Friday to protest the economic measures of

center-right President Mauricio Macri.

Read more

GLOBAL LNG-Prices slip as Nigeria shakes off output problems

MILAN, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Asian liquefied natural gas (LNG)

prices fell in a slow week as traders awaited the outcome of two

tenders and Argentina turned away shipments due to mild weather

curbing demand.

Read more

Interim waste water report prolongs uncertainty for K+S

FRANKFURT, Sept 2 (Reuters) - The interim results of a

German environmental regulator's probe into waste water

discharge by K+S will keep the potash mining company

in limbo, with hundreds of thousands of tonnes of potential

potash production at risk.

Read more

EUROPE POWER-Fall in solar output lifts German spot for Monday

PARIS, Sept 2 (Reuters) - The German spot power price for

early next week delivery rose on Friday on an expected decline

in solar power output. The year-ahead contract was under

pressure as oil futures fell.

Read more

Turkey formally announces nuclear energy agreement with China

ANKARA, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Turkey published in its official

gazette a deal with China for cooperation in the peaceful use of

nuclear energy on Friday, a step needed to open the way for

China to potentially build Turkey's third nuclear power plant.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Latvia gas utility owners approve assets spin-off

* Latvia to liberalize gas market from April 2017

(Adds Gazprom comments, CEO quotes, details)

Read more

Russia's Putin expects Turkish stream to be implemented

MOSCOW, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin

said he thinks the Turkish stream gas pipeline project will be

eventually implemented, the Kremlin website quoted his interview

to Bloomberg news agency on Friday.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Uniper sets $4.5 bln listing date as spin-off from E.ON nears end

* Share price to be determined at opening auction Sept. 12

(Adds projected market value, opening price)

Read more

South Korea, Kenya to cooperate on nuclear energy

SEOUL, Sept 2 (Reuters) - State-run utility Korea Electric

Power Corp (KEPCO) on Friday agreed a deal on developing nuclear

energy in Kenya, as the African nation looks to broaden its

sources of electricity.

Read more

UPDATE 2-VW appeals labor board decision on UAW with federal court

DETROIT, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Volkswagen AG said

on Thursday it has filed an appeal of a federal labor board

decision on its dispute with the United Auto Workers union in

Tennessee to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of

Columbia.

Read more

Thai utility EGCO expects higher operating profit on rising capacity

BANGKOK, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Thailand's second largest

private power producer, Electricity Generating Pcl,

said on Friday it expected 2016 operating profit of 8 billion

baht ($231 million), up from last year due to rising capacity at

home and abroad.

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Thursday, September 1, 2016

U.S. stock funds post $748 mln in outflows during week - Lipper

NEW YORK, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Investors pulled $748 million

from U.S.-based stock funds in the latest week, adding to a

nearly unbroken streak of withdrawals in recent months, Lipper

data showed on Thursday.

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Duke Energy shareholder lawsuit over CEO firing moves forward

Sept 1 (Reuters) - Duke Energy Corp's board must

face a shareholder lawsuit over its abrupt 2012 firing of its

newly installed chief executive, a Delaware judge has ruled.

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CORRECTED-UPDATE 1-U.S. blacklists dozens over Ukraine conflict

WASHINGTON/MOSCOW, Sept 1 (Reuters) - The United States on

Thursday added dozens of people and companies to its sanctions

blacklist over their actions in Ukraine, including separatists

and Russian firms operating in Crimea which was annexed by

Russia in 2014.

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UPDATE 2-U.S. imposes sanctions on 'Putin's bridge' to Crimea

MOSCOW/WASHINGTON, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Companies building a

multi-billion dollar bridge to link the Russian mainland with

annexed Crimea, a project close to the heart President Vladimir

Putin, were targeted by the United States in an updated

sanctions blacklist on Thursday.

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Israel seeks new gas routes to Europe after fixing red tape

LONDON, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Israel has overcome delays to the

development of its offshore natural gas fields and wants to

establish at least two export routes to Western Europe, its

energy minister told Reuters.

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UPDATE 1-Spain's Repsol, Criteria exploring sale of around 20 pct in Gas Natural

* U.S. investment fund in preliminary talks to buy

stake-sources

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EUROPE POWER-Rising solar output weighs on spot prices

FRANKFURT, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Strong solar production and

lower electricity consumption weighed on European prompt power

prices on Thursday despite persistent hot weather that typically

boosts air conditioning demand and depresses wind output.

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UPDATE 1-Reliance unwraps Jio mobile telecom network with free calls, cheap data

* Shares in rivals Bharti Airtel, Idea Cellular slump

(Adds details on company plans, share price moves)

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UPDATE 1-Samsung firms cancel $2.5 billion Kazakhstan power plant project

SEOUL, Sept 1 (Reuters) - South Korea's Samsung C&T Corp and

Samsung Engineering Co Ltd have decided to terminate

a thermal power plant project in Kazakhstan worth a combined 2.8

trillion won ($2.50 billion), the companies said in regulatory

filings on Thursday.

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SE Asia Stocks-Fall ahead of key U.S. jobs data

Sept 1 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stocks fell on

Thursday, in line with Asian peers, as investors shrugged off an

official survey showing Chinese factory activity unexpectedly

expanded in August, to focus on a U.S. jobs report that could

determine the timing of a rate increase by the Federal Reserve.

U.S. nonfarm payrolls data due on Friday remains this week's

key market focus after Federal Reserve Vice Chair Stanley

Fischer said last week the data would be a factor as to when the

cent

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UPDATE 1-Serbia hikes electricity prices after IMF demand

BELGRADE, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Serbia will increase retail

electricity prices by 3.8 percent, Energy Minister Aleksandar

Antic said on Wednesday, announcing a rise of about half the

level demanded by the International Monetary Fund in return for

a loan.

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