UPDATE 3-Code associated with Russia hacking found on Vermont utility computer

* Malware in only one laptop, says Homeland Security

(Adds comment from source)

Read more

WRAPUP 9-Trump praises Putin for holding back in U.S.-Russia spy dispute

PALM BEACH, Fla./ MOSCOW, Dec 30 (Reuters) - U.S.

President-elect Donald Trump on Friday praised Russian President

Vladimir Putin for refraining from retaliation in a dispute over

spying and cyber attacks, in another sign that the Republican

plans to patch up badly frayed relations with Moscow.

Read more

Vestas' strong 2016 finish offsets worry over Trump energy policy

COPENHAGEN, Dec 30 (Reuters) - A spate of last-minute orders

from the United States has put Danish wind turbine maker Vestas

on track for its highest contract intake in six years and eased

some investors' concerns over U.S. energy policy under the

incoming Trump administration.

Read more

Russian hackers penetrated Vermont electric utility -Wash Post

WASHINGTON, Dec 30 (Reuters) - A code associated with the

Russian hacking operation dubbed Grizzly Steppe by the Obama

administration has been detected within the system of a Vermont

electric utility, The Washington Post reported on Friday, citing

unnamed U.S. officials.

Read more

China to fund 4,000 MW power transmission line in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Dec 30 (Reuters) - State Grid of China will help

build a 4,000 MW power transmission line in Pakistan in a

project valued at $1.5 billion, Pakistan said on Friday, the

latest in a series of Chinese investments in its South Asian

neighbour.

Read more

Syrian forces and allies clash with rebels near Damascus - monitors, rebel official

BEIRUT, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Syrian government forces and

their allies clashed with rebels near Damascus on Friday, and

used helicopter gunships in raids in the area in the latest

violence to disrupt a nationwide ceasefire that otherwise

appeared to hold, monitors said.

Read more

Four million in Damascus without mains water after springs targeted - U.N.

BEIRUT, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Four million people in Damascus

have been without safe drinking water supplies for more than a

week after springs outside the Syrian capital were deliberately

targeted, the United Nations said on Thursday.

Read more

Peru natgas union calls off strike after deal with Pluspetrol

LIMA, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Workers at Peru's Camisea natural

gas fields have called off a strike scheduled for Thursday after

reaching a deal on labor benefits with Argentina energy company

Pluspetrol, the union SUTRAPPEC said Wednesday.

Read more

Ivory Coast signs deal for construction of two 350 MW power plants

ABIDJAN, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Ivory Coast will build two 350

megawatt (MW) charcoal power stations in the western cocoa town

of San Pedro by 2021 to address growing national demand for

electricity, the government said on Wednesday.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Strong earthquake hits Japan, no tsunami warning

TOKYO, Dec 28 (Reuters) - An earthquake with a magnitude of

6.3 hit eastern Japan on Wednesday, the Japan Meteorological

Agency said, adding no tsunami warning was issued.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Egypt signs $220 mln of oil and gas deals

CAIRO, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Egyptian Oil Minister Tarek El

Molla has signed three offshore oil and gas exploration and

production deals worth a total of at least $220 million with

France's Total, Britain's BP, and Italian oil

major ENI's Egyptian subsidiary IEOC, the ministry said

on Wednesday.

Read more

China gas pipeline catches fire, no casualties reported

BEIJING, Dec 28 (Reuters) - A natural gas pipeline in the

northern Chinese city of Tianjin ruptured and caught fire on

Wednesday, but the flames were brought under control and no

casualties were reported, Tianjin police said.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Russia's Gazprom files proposals to EU aimed at ending antitrust case

MOSCOW, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Russia's Gazprom said on Tuesday

it had filed proposals with the European Commission aimed at

resolving a five-year EU case over the Russian gas giant's

alleged monopoly practices.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Rosatom says could consider equity stake in Areva

PARIS, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Russian nuclear group Rosatom

would be interested in taking an equity stake in French peer

Areva if the French government allows it, a top Rosatom

executive said on Tuesday.

Read more

Rosatom says would be interested in equity stake in Areva

PARIS, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Russian nuclear group Rosatom

would be interested in taking an equity stake in French peer

Areva if the French government allows it, a top Rosatom

executive said on Tuesday.

Read more

Putin says new gas pipeline will boost annexed Crimea's economy

MOSCOW, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Russia on Tuesday activated a

pipeline carrying Russian gas to Crimea with President Vladimir

Putin hailing it as a step that would power economic growth on a

peninsula Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

Read more

Toshiba flags big impairment loss on U.S. nuclear business acquisition

TOKYO, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Toshiba Corp said on

Tuesday that it expects to book an impairment loss on the

acquisition of a U.S. nuclear power business by its Westinghouse

unit, a figure that could reach several billions of dollars.

Read more

Syrian army escalates campaign to capture Damascus water supply

AMMAN, Dec 27 (Reuters) - The Syrian army escalated aerial

bombing of a rebel-held valley northwest of Damascus in an

offensive begun last week to recapture the strategic area where

a major spring provides most of the capital's water supplies,

rebels and residents said on Tuesday.

Read more

Toshiba sees loss of about 100 bln yen on U.S. nuclear power acquisition - Nikkei

Dec 27 (Reuters) - Electronics giant Toshiba Corp

expects to report a one-off loss of about 100 billion yen ($850

million) on a U.S. nuclear power acquisition made by its

Westinghouse operation last year, the Nikkei business daily

reported.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Toshiba considers booking big loss on US nuclear power acquisition

* Follows $1.3 bln accounting scandal last year

(Recasts with updated figure of several hundreds of billion

yen)

Read more

MIDEAST STOCKS-Saudi post-budget rally stalls, UAE bourses firm

DUBAI, Dec 26 (Reuters) - The Saudi Arabian stock market's

post-budget rally ran out of steam on Monday as the index neared

technical resistance, while United Arab Emirates bourses

outperformed the region.

Read more

Tepco says will enter city gas market next July

TOKYO, Dec 26 (Reuters) - Tokyo Electric Power Company

Holdings (Tepco) will enter the city's metropolitan gas

retail market next July, it said on Monday, opening a new stage

of competition with Japan's biggest city gas operator Tokyo Gas.

.

Read more

MIDEAST STOCKS-State budget boosts Saudi, rest of Gulf sluggish; Egypt drops

* Mobily down, Abu Dhabi's Etisalat up; management tie

expires

Read more

INSIGHT-Behind Tata-Mistry clash, a distinct set of governance rules

NEW DELHI/MUMBAI, Dec 26 (Reuters) - When Ratan Tata retired

as chairman of Tata Sons Ltd in 2012, he proposed a change in

the laws governing the relationship between India's largest

conglomerate and its key shareholder, according to sources

familiar with the situation.

Read more

Qatar's Nebras says buys 35.5 pct stake in Indonesia's PT Paiton Energy

Read more

China to levy new taxes in bid to strengthen pollution fight

BEIJING, Dec 25 (Reuters) - China's largely rubber-stamp

parliament passed a law on Sunday that will levy specific

environmental protection taxes on industry for the first time

from 2018, as part of a renewed focus on fighting the country's

pollution woes.

Read more

Argentine province to auction six Vaca Muerta oil, gas blocks -media

BUENOS AIRES, Dec 24 (Reuters) - Gas y Petroleo del Neuquen

SA (GyP), the oil and gas company owned by Argentina's Neuquen

province, plans to auction exploration rights to six blocks in

the Vaca Muerta shale play, local media reported on Saturday.

Read more

Snow storm bears down on western U.S. as holiday travelers hit the roads

MILWAUKEE, Dec 24 (Reuters) - A winter storm was taking aim

on Saturday at the U.S. West and Midwest where it was expected

to dump heavy snow and freezing rain, causing headaches for

millions of holiday travelers who were hitting the road over the

weekend, forecasters said.

Read more

UPDATE 3-Holiday weather forecast more naughty than nice for U.S.

Dec 23 (Reuters) - A winter storm system sweeping the

Pacific Northwest on Friday is expected to unleash heavy snow,

freezing rain and high winds as it moves across much of the

United States over the weekend, making holiday travel

treacherous, forecasters said.

Read more

Uranium stocks find spotlight with Trump's nuclear comments

NEW YORK, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Donald Trump's call for an

expansion of the United States' nuclear capabilities has shone a

spotlight on a group of uranium stocks that has been battered

over the past six years but have seen some new life since his

presidential election victory.

Read more

WRAPUP 1-Trump's nuclear remarks test bid to improve Russia ties

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla./MOSCOW, Dec 23 (Reuters) - U.S.

President-elect Donald Trump upped the stakes on Friday in a

back-and-forth exchange with President Vladimir Putin over

nuclear weapons that tested the Republican's promises to improve

relations with Russia.

Read more

CANADA STOCKS-TSX slips as energy, financial losses offset miner gains

TORONTO, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index

slipped on Friday, ending a six-day rising streak as losses

among energy and financial stocks outweighed gains for gold

miners.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Former director at India's Tata group sues Tata Sons, board members for defamation

MUMBAI, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Nusli Wadia, a former independent

director on the boards of Tata Motors Ltd, Tata Steel

Ltd and Tata Chemicals Ltd, has filed a

defamation case against holding company Tata Sons and 11 of its

board members and executives.

Read more

CANADA STOCKS-TSX notches small gain as materials stocks rise

TORONTO, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index edged

higher in morning trade on Friday as materials stocks led a

broad but shallow rally and some heavyweight financial shares

slipped.

Read more

Putin says Russian government has control of Rosneftegaz's money

MOSCOW, Dec 23 (Reuters) - The Russian government is in

control of cash on the books of state holding company

Rosneftegaz and spending from those reserves is "absolutely

transparent", President Vladimir Putin said on Friday.

Read more

REFILE-Former director at India's Tata group sues Tata Sons, board members for defamation

MUMBAI, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Nusli Wadia, a former independent

director on the boards of Tata Motors Ltd and Tata

Steel Ltd, has filed a defamation case against holding

company Tata Sons and 11 of its board members and executives.

Read more

FACTBOX-China's war on smog sends shivers across commodities

BEIJING, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Four cities in China's

smoke-stack provinces published detailed lists of factories that

were ordered to either shut or curtail output, as severe smog

blanketed the north of the country.

The lists offer a snapshot into the disruption to China's

manufacturing heartland by the emergency measures that lasted

five days. In total 24 cities issued red alerts, forcing

schools, some airports and highways to close.

Here is the breakdown by sector in Beijing, Tianj

Read more

UPDATE 2-Trump on nuclear weapons tweet: 'Let it be an arms race' -MSNBC

WASHINGTON, Dec 23 (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Donald

Trump, asked to clarify his comments about expanding U.S.

nuclear weapons capability, said, "Let it be an arms race," and

that the United States would win it, MSNBC reported on Friday.

Read more

China's war on smog sends shivers across commodities sector

BEIJING, Dec 23 (Reuters) - China's crackdown on

exhaust-spewing factories that shut or slashed output this week

at sites including steel mills, textile and cement factories and

coal-fired power plants will ripple across major bulk commodity

markets into 2017.

Read more

Costly debt, tepid equities nudge China Inc to convertibles

* Spike in China yields to encourage demand for such hybrid

bonds

Read more

UPDATE 1-U.N. warns of water crisis in Nigeria's megacity Lagos

GENEVA, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Nigeria's commercial capital

Lagos faces a water crisis that is creating unacceptable

conditions for millions of people, a U.N. expert said on

Thursday, but an official in the megacity said spending was

being increased to alleviate the problem.

Read more

Some 200,000 Iraqis seen returning to their farms for first time in two years - UN

LONDON, Dec 22 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Some 200,000

Iraqis are due to return to their farms for the first time since

Islamic State militants captured large swathes of land in Iraq

in 2014, destroying irrigation canals and laying landmines in

fields, the United Nations said on Thursday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Engie CEO complains to French regulator about attempts to undermine company

* Media reports about tensions in Engie boardroom

(Adds AMF comment in third paragraph)

Read more

Ireland's EirGrid says power link with Britain to restart on Dec 23

Dec 22 (Reuters) - The East West Inerconnector (EWIC), a

500-megawatt power link between Ireland and Britain, will return

to service on Friday, two months ahead of schedule, Ireland's

EirGrid said on Thursday.

Read more

Engie CEO complains to French regulator about attempts to undermine company

PARIS, Dec 22 (Reuters) - The chief executive of French

energy group Engie has sent a complaint to the French

financial markets regulator warning of attempts to undermine the

company, an Engie spokesman said on Thursday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Latvian gas utility to set up new transmission and storage firm

* Latvia government to decide in Jan whether to buy stakes

(Adds officials, detail, background)

Read more

Beijing districts to cap population in bid to tackle smog, congestion

BEIJING, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Five districts in Beijing have

announced plans to cap or lower their population in the next few

years, local media reported on Wednesday, as the Chinese capital

bids to tackle chronic pollution and congestion.

Read more

Cyprus picks Eni, Total and Exxon for offshore exploration blocks

LONDON, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Cyprus said on Wednesday it had

picked Eni, Total and ExxonMobil for

three oil and gas exploration licences in the Mediterranean

close to where Eni made the biggest gas find in the past decade.

Read more

UPDATE 1-DONG Energy lifts earnings forecast after wind farm stake sale

COPENHAGEN, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Danish utility and wind farm

developer DONG Energy, whose listing in June was one

of the biggest IPOs globally this year, raised its full-year

earnings forecast on Wednesday, helped by the sale of a stake in

its UK offshore wind farm.

Read more

EU Commission favours keeping limits on Chinese solar panels

BRUSSELS, Dec 21 (Reuters) - The European Commission has

recommended keeping import duties and a minimum price for solar

panels and cells from China for two more years, according to

documents seen by Reuters.

Read more

DONG Energy raises earnings forecast after wind farm stake sale

COPENHAGEN, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Danish utility and wind farm

developer DONG Energy raised its full-year earnings

forecast on Wednesday and announced the sale of a stake in its

UK offshore wind farm.

Read more

RPT-Japan pulls plug on Monju, ending $8.5 bln nuclear self-sufficiency push

* Monju beset with accidents, missteps since construction

began

Read more

Japan pulls plug on Monju, ending $8.5 bln nuclear self-sufficiency push

* Monju beset with accidents, missteps since construction

began

Read more

Traditional rainmaking ceremonies resurge in parched Zimbabwe

ZIMUNYA, Zimbabwe, Dec 21 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) -

Under worryingly clear skies, men gathered amid sparse,

drought-shrivelled trees at the edge of this remote village in

eastern Zimbabwe to sing, whistle and ululate. They were calling

the rain.

Read more

Norway wealth fund excludes 15 coal related firms, more to follow

OSLO, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Norway's central bank, which

manages the country's $869 billion wealth fund, has excluded an

additional 15 companies from its portfolio due to their use or

production of coal, and plans further exclusions next year, it

said on Wednesday.

Read more

CORRECTED-China's LNG buying spree to set import record in December

BEIJING/SINGAPORE, Dec 21 (Reuters) - China's state oil and

gas majors are set to import record levels of liquified natural

gas (LNG) this month, betting on robust demand during the cold

winter months and helping lift Asian prices to their highest in

nearly two years.

Read more

UPDATE 1-China's LNG buying spree to set import record in December

* Could bolster Asia LNG prices

(Adds CNPC forecast in paragraph 13)

Read more

RPT-Residents in China's north complain as smog alert enters fifth day

SHANGHAI, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Northern China was shrouded in

smog for a fifth straight day on Wednesday as citizens

complained that the state's emergency measures were still not

being implemented properly.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Chinese cities choked by dangerous smog for fifth day; factories, schools closed

* China says long-term pollution battle complex

(Adds transport disruption, environment minister comment)

Read more

UPDATE 1-Cold snap drives China LNG imports to record in November

* Chinese gasoline, diesel exports surge

(Adds export data, detail)

Read more

Residents in China's north complain as smog alert enters fifth day

SHANGHAI, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Northern China was shrouded in

smog for a fifth straight day on Wednesday as citizens

complained that the state's emergency measures were still not

being implemented properly.

Read more

Energy Future, senior creditors reach $800 mln bankruptcy deal

WILMINGTON, Del., Dec 20 (Reuters) - Energy Future Holdings

Corp and its senior creditors agreed to an $800 million deal

aimed at bringing the owner of Texas's largest network of power

lines works out of Chapter 11 next year, according to a

securities filing on Tuesday.

Read more

RPT-UPDATE 1-British shale gas gets boost from court ruling on permit

LONDON, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Britain's High Court ruled on

Tuesday that a fracking permit awarded by a local council to

developer Third Energy was legal, after it was challenged by

environmental campaigners, opening the way to shale gas

extraction in the UK.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Utility Suez's shares rise on report that Engie considering full bid

* Suez shares top performer on Paris' SBF-120 market

(Adds share price reactions, analyst comment, detail)

Read more

UPDATE 1-British shale gas gets boost from court ruling on permit

* Third Energy says welcomes verdict

(Adds details, background)

Read more

Japan urges bold reform for Tepco as Fukushima costs soar

TOKYO, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Japan's government on Tuesday

urged Fukushima operator Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco)

to integrate its transmission and nuclear operations with peers

to cut costs and generate higher income to pay the costs from

the 2011 nuclear disaster.

Read more

UK High Court upholds shale gas permit for Third Energy - claimants

LONDON, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Britain's High Court ruled on

Tuesday that a local government's shale gas fracking permit

award to developer Third Energy was legal, claimants Friends of

the Earth said in a statement.

Read more

French utility Engie considers full bid for Suez -report

PARIS, Dec 20 (Reuters) - French utility Engie is

considering acquiring full control of Suez, in which

it already has a 33 percent stake, French business radio station

BFM reported, citing sources close to Engie.

Read more

S.Korea's latest nuclear reactor starts operations

SEOUL, Dec 20 (Reuters) - South Korea's latest nuclear

reactor started commercial operations on Tuesday, bringing the

total number of reactors in Asia's fourth-largest economy to 25.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Smog engulfs north China for fourth day; flights diverted

SHANGHAI/BEIJING, Dec 20 (Reuters) - A plane carrying the

head of the world's biggest oil exporter was prevented from

landing in the Chinese capital of Beijing on Tuesday because of

thick smog blanketing large parts of northern China.

Read more

Smog engulfs northern China for fourth consecutive day

SHANGHAI/BEIJING, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Heavy smog engulfed

large parts of northern China for a fourth straight day on

Tuesday, with the environment ministry warning that some firms

in the region were continuing to flout emergency restrictions

and dozens of flights out of Beijing cancelled.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Cyrus Mistry quits Tata group company boards, but vows to fight on

* Mistry announces decision to quit in letter to

shareholders

Read more

Southern California Gas urges customers to cut natural gas use

Dec 19 (Reuters) - Southern California Gas Co (SoCalGas) has

urged customers to reduce natural gas use to help lower the risk

of possible gas and electricity shortages due to what it

described as severe cold weather throughout the U.S. Southwest.

Read more

Chile billionaire, congressman face off in slander trial

SANTIAGO, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Chilean billionaire Andronico

Luksic testified on the first day of a colorful, at times

explicit slander trial on Monday, seeking damages from a

congressman who called him a "son of a bitch" and "the king of

criminals" earlier this year.

Read more

Odebrecht executives' testimony could spur fall of Brazil's Temer

BRASILIA, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Odebrecht executives have

testified the Brazilian engineering firm illegally funded the

2014 campaign of the country's impeached leftist president, a

top newspaper reported on Monday, a development that could lead

to the removal of her successor.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Odebrecht executives' testimony could spur fall of Brazil's Temer

BRASILIA, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Odebrecht executives have

testified the Brazilian engineering firm illegally funded the

2014 campaign of the country's impeached leftist president, a

top newspaper reported on Monday, a development that could lead

to the removal of her successor.

Read more

Nordic power firms set to apply for Norway-UK subsea link

OSLO, Dec 19 (Reuters) - NorthConnect, owned by three

Norwegian power firms and Sweden's Vattenfall, will

seek permission to build a power link from Norway to Britain

costing up to 2 billion euros ($2.09 billion), its chairman Odd

Oeygarden told Reuters.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Nordic power firms set to apply for Norway-UK subsea link

OSLO, Dec 19 (Reuters) - NorthConnect, owned by three

Norwegian power firms and Sweden's Vattenfall, will

seek permission to build a power link from Norway to Britain

costing up to 2 billion euros ($2.09 billion), its chairman Odd

Oeygarden told Reuters.

Read more

Air pollution in northern Chinese city surpasses WHO guideline by 100 times

BEIJING, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Concentrations of airborne

pollutants in a major northern Chinese city exceeded a World

Health Organisation (WHO) guideline by 100 times on Monday as

north China battled with poor air quality for the third straight

day.

Read more

Australia shares end firmer as rating agencies shrug off budget deficit forecast

Dec 19 (Reuters) - Australian shares ended higher on Monday,

pushed up by financials and energy stocks after the top three

rating agencies held their triple-A appraisals on Australia,

despite the government forecasting bigger budget deficits for

some time.

Read more

Saudi Aramco, GE to launch Saudi Arabia's first wind turbine next month

KHOBAR, Saudi Arabia, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Saudi Aramco plans

to commission its wind turbine pilot project, the first in the

kingdom, next month, the state oil company said on Sunday, part

of nationwide plans to diversify energy supplies and to meet an

increase in demand.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Highways shut, flights grounded as smog blankets China's Tianjin

BEIJING, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Authorities in Tianjin grounded

dozens of flights and closed most highways on Sunday after

severe smog blanketed the city, one of more than more than 40 in

China's northeast to issue pollution warnings in the past 48

hours.

Read more

Highways shut, flights grounded as smog blankets China's Tianjin

BEIJING, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Authorities in Tianjin grounded

three dozen flights and closed most highways on Sunday after

severe smog blanketed the city, one of more than more than 40 in

China's northeast to issue pollution warnings in the past 48

hours.

Read more

INSIGHT-Heralding social, financial change, China aims blow at iron rice bowl

* China orders state firms to break from providing social

welfare

Read more

Engie Energia Chile secures financing for key power project

SANTIAGO, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Engie Energia Chile

said in a note to regulators on Friday that it had secured

financing to build an energy transmission line between the

nation's two power grids, shaking up the way consumers receive

power in the South American nation.

Read more

Polish regulator approves PGNiG gas price hike for Q1 2017

WARSAW, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Poland's biggest gas firm PGNiG

will increase the price of high-methane gas it sells by 12.2

percent and the price of nitrogen-rich gas by 13.4 percent from

the start of next year, the company said, citing an approval

from energy regulator URE.

Read more

Suez targets 10 percent revenue growth from Indian water supply

PARIS, Dec 16 (Reuters) - France's Suez sees

potential for 10 percent revenue growth in India, where it

already supplies water for 44 million people, a senior executive

said on Friday.

Read more

Ethiopia completes 1.5 billion euro power plant, seen doubling power output

ADDIS ABABA, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Ethiopia inaugurated on

Friday a 1.5-billion-euro ($1.57 billion) hydropower plant along

the Omo River in the country's south that will nearly double

total electricity output to 4,238 megawatts (MW).

Read more

Poland may expand consortium bidding for EDF's Polish assets - minister

WARSAW, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Poland could expand a consortium

of Polish companies bidding for French utility EDF's

power assets in the country, Polish Energy Minister Krzysztof

Tchorzewski said on Friday.

Read more

China's State Grid seals purchase of stake in Greek power grid

ATHENS, Dec 16 (Reuters) - China's State Grid,

the world's biggest utility, signed on Friday the purchase of a

minority stake in Greece's power grid operator ADMIE, China's

second big investment in the debt-laden country in a matter of

months.

Read more

UPDATE 1-E.ON names company insider as new finance chief

* Spieker has been with E.ON for almost 15 yrs

(Adds background)

Read more

UPDATE 4-Tata patriarch plays down talk of imminent exit from Tata Trusts

* Move unlikely to quell feud between Tata, ousted chairman

(Recasts)

Read more

UPDATE 1-EDF Energy breaks ranks to cut UK winter household gas prices

Dec 16 (Reuters) - EDF Energy on Friday became

Britain's first big energy supplier to announce household winter

gas price cuts, breaking ranks with three rivals who have opted

to freeze prices instead.

Read more

InterOil says raises cap on additional cash payment in Exxon deal

Dec 15 (Reuters) - InterOil Corp said it has

increased the cap on an additional cash payment based on the

output from a natural gas field in Papua New Guinea that was

part of its sale agreement with ExxonMobil Corp.

Read more

UPDATE 1-World Bank units add $517 mln to Ghana oil, gas project financing

ACCRA, Dec 15 (Reuters) - The World Bank Group said on

Thursday it two of its units would provide another $517 million

to Ghana in debt and guarantees to support the $7.7 billion

Sankofa oil and gas project developed by Italy's ENI SpA

and upstream trader Vitol Ghana.

Read more

Rotation from U.S.-based bond funds to stocks accelerates -Lipper

NEW YORK, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Investors poured $6.8 billion

into U.S.-based stock funds in the week through Dec. 14, Lipper

data showed on Thursday, accelerating a rotation from bonds to

stocks as U.S. policymakers raised interest rates for the first

time in a year.

Read more

World Bank Group to provide $517 mln for Ghana oil and gas project

ACCRA, Dec 15 (Reuters) - The World Bank Group said on

Thursday it would provide $517 million to Ghana in debt and

guarantees to support the $7.7 billion Sankofa oil and gas

project being developed by Italy's ENI and upstream

trader Vitol Ghana.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Investors offer 500 mln euros for 10 pct stake in Areva's nuclear fuel spin-off

* Calls shareholder meeting for Feb 3, 2017

(Adds detail on liquidity, bridge loan, Areva TA sale)

Read more

UPDATE 1-Corpus Christi halts tap water use due to chemical leak

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec 15 (Reuters) - The Texas city of Corpus

Christi has told its nearly 320,000 residents to stop using tap

water due to possible contamination from an industrial chemical

leak, city officials said on Thursday.

Read more

Corpus Christi, Texas tells residents to stop using tap water

AUSTIN, Texas, Dec 15 (Reuters) - The Texas city of Corpus

Christi has told its nearly 320,000 residents to stop using tap

water due to possible contamination from an industrial chemical

leak, city officials said on Thursday.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Trump names Montana Congressman Zinke to lead Interior Dept

WASHINGTON, Dec 15 (Reuters) - President-elect Donald Trump

on Thursday named U.S. Representative Ryan Zinke of Montana, a

former Navy SEAL commander and a proponent of coal development

on federal lands, as his choice for secretary of the interior.

Read more

U.S. revises safety rules for underground natgas storage facilities

Dec 15 (Reuters) - The U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials

Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued an interim final rule (IFR)

revising pipeline safety regulations to address safety issues

related to underground natural gas storage facilities.

Read more

Trump names Montana Congressman Zinke to lead Interior Dept

WASHINGTON, Dec 15 (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Donald

Trump on Thursday formally announced that Montana Congressman

Ryan Zinke, a former Navy SEAL commander and a proponent of coal

development on federal lands, as his choice for secretary of the

interior.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Shell finance chief to leave company in March

* Departure was Henry's own decision - company source

(Adds details, quotes)

Read more

As rains fail, maneuvering for water grows in southern Sri Lanka

HAMBANTOTA, Sri Lanka, Dec 15 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) -

Tucked inside a large forest near the drying Andaraweva

irrigation reservoir, a well-tended plantation of young banana

trees is growing strongly despite dry weather.

Read more

UPDATE 2-EDF shares slump after warning of lower earnings in 2017

* Overcapacity, low demand depress power prices

(Adds detail about earnings, stock price, analyst comment)

Read more

UPDATE 1-EU lawmakers opt for more ambitious carbon market reform

* Plenary vote expected in early 2017

(Adds details, vote ended)

Read more

UPDATE 1-Centrica lifts earnings outlook as European power price swings boost trading

* 2016 adjusted operating cashflow upgraded to 2.4-2.6 bln

pounds

Read more

Volkswagen takes stake in e-mobility service group Hubject

FRANKFURT, Dec 15 (Reuters) - German carmaker Volkswagen

has taken a stake in Hubject, which develops a

standard payment method for electric charging stations, joining

fellow carmakers, engineering groups and utilities that prepare

for an expected e-car boom.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Volkswagen takes stake in e-mobility service group Hubject

* Hubject develops standard payment method for EV charging

(Adds confirmation, VW quote)

Read more

REFILE-Japan, Hitachi to stump up $8.5 bln for Horizon nuclear project in Wales -source

TOKYO, Dec 15 (Reuters) - The Japanese government and a

Hitachi Ltd unit will compile a package worth around 1

trillion yen ($8.5 billion) for a UK nuclear power plant

project, a government official involved in the project said on

Thursday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-U.S. looks for potential issues linked to falsified French nuclear documents

Dec 14 (Reuters) - U.S. nuclear regulators are investigating

whether the suspected falsification of documents at French

nuclear power company Areva SA, which supplies

components for reactors globally, poses any problems at U.S.

nuclear plants.

Read more

U.S. looks for potential issues linked to falsified French nuclear documents

Dec 14 (Reuters) - U.S. nuclear regulators are investigating

whether the suspected falsification of documents at French

nuclear power company Areva SA, which supplies

components for reactors globally, poses any problems at U.S.

nuclear plants.

Read more

UPDATE 2-EDF's board approves partial sale of its grid unit RTE

PARIS, Dec 14 (Reuters) - French utility EDF's

board has approved the partial sale of RTE, the company's

high-voltage power grid unit, to state bank Caisse des Depots,

the companies said in a statement.

Read more

UPDATE 5-U.S. oil industry cheers Trump energy pick, seeks gas export boost

WASHINGTON, Dec 14 (Reuters) - The U.S. oil and gas industry

on Wednesday welcomed President-elect Donald Trump's choice of

former Texas Governor Rick Perry to head the U.S. Department of

Energy, and wasted no time making its first specific request of

him: to support increased exports of America's natural gas

overseas.

Read more

Endeavor-led consortium to build Ghana power station

ABIDJAN, Dec 14 (Reuters) - A consortium led by

Africa-focused power producer Endeavor Energy began building a

$552 million, 200-megawatt power plant in Ghana on Wednesday, it

said in a statement.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Brazil proposes 'fiscal recovery' bill for state governments

BRASILIA, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Brazil's government proposed a

"fiscal recovery" bill on Wednesday that would allow state

governments to suspend debt payments to the federal government

in exchange for limiting spending and pursuing privatizations.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Brazil's Temer loses top aide due to graft allegations

BRASILIA, Dec 14 (Reuters) - One of Brazilian President

Michel Temer's closest aides resigned on Wednesday following

allegations he had received graft money from engineering

conglomerate Odebrecht in a widening corruption scandal that is

besieging the government.

Read more

Poland blocks local power and heating asset sale by France's EDF

WARSAW, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Poland has blocked the sale of

local heating and electricity assets by France's utility EDF

, citing the country's energy security, the Polish

energy ministry said on Wednesday.

Read more

RWE's Innogy sets up new electric vehicle business

FRANKFURT, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Leading German energy group

Innogy is combining its activities relating to electric

vehicles into a new unit, seeking to benefit from renewed

efforts by global carmakers to increase sales.

Read more

EDF's board approves partial sale of its grid unit RTE - source

PARIS, Dec 14 (Reuters) - EDF's board has approved

the partial sale of the French state-controlled utility's

high-voltage power grid to state bank Caisse des Depots, a

source familiar with the situation said on Wednesday.

Read more

Germany risks missing 2020 climate targets, ministry report shows

BERLIN, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Germany is at risk of missing its

2020 target for cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent

from 1990, an environment ministry report showed on Wednesday.

Read more

UPDATE 3-Dixons Carphone plans for tougher times ahead

* Higher prices seen as risk, shares down 29 pct this year

(Adds finance chief's comments, updates shares)

Read more

Trump formally names ex-governor Perry of Texas to lead Energy Dept.

WASHINGTON, Dec 14 (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Donald

Trump on Wednesday formally announced Rick Perry, a former Texas

governor and Trump's one-time presidential rival, as his choice

to lead the U.S. Department of Energy.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Trump formally names ex-governor Perry of Texas to lead Energy Dept.

WASHINGTON, Dec 14 (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Donald

Trump on Wednesday formally announced Rick Perry, a former Texas

governor and Trump's one-time presidential rival, as his choice

to lead the U.S. Department of Energy.

Read more

S.Korea pairs state utility, private tech giants in $37 bln bid to seize global green energy lead

SEOUL, Dec 14 (Reuters) - South Korea aims to vault from

laggard to leader in the renewable energy industry, as Seoul

prepares to hook the country's tech giants up to nearly $40

billion in public funds in a bold plan to become a new global

leader in green power.

Read more

Sweden won't block Nord Stream harbour deals, but raises defence concerns

STOCKHOLM, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Sweden's government said on

Tuesday it would not stop two municipalities from leasing two

harbours to Russia's Gazprom to facilitate the

construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, despite concerns

about security.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Japan's JNFL in talks on taking Areva minority stake-source

Dec 13 (Reuters) - French authorities are ready to launch a

capital increase for state-owned nuclear group Areva and are in

talks with Japan's JNFL about taking a minority stake, a source

familiar with the situation told Reuters on Tuesday.

Read more

Fracking harms drinking water in 'some circumstances,' EPA concludes

WASHINGTON, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Fracking for oil and natural

gas can contaminate drinking water under "some circumstances,"

the Environmental Protection Agency said in a report released

Tuesday, which changes a previous finding that the drilling

process does not cause "widespread, systemic" effects.

Read more

Shell takes aim at British and German offshore wind deals

LONDON, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Royal Dutch Shell wants

to buy into the British and German offshore wind markets as it

attempts to shift its business away from fossil fuels.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Trump picks former Texas Governor Perry as energy secretary

WASHINGTON, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Donald Trump has chosen

former Texas Governor Rick Perry to head the U.S. Department of

Energy, a source close to the president-elect said, putting him

in charge of an agency he proposed eliminating during his bid

for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.

Read more

Yemen's toxic trash mountain adds to war woes

DUBAI, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Many disasters loom over one of

the poorest countries in the Middle East as it suffers through

nearly two years of war, among them a colossal pile of waste

outside Yemen's capital leeching toxic waste into its

diminishing water supply.

Read more

Trump to pick former Texas Governor Perry as Energy Secretary

WASHINGTON, Dec 13 (Reuters) - President-elect Donald Trump

has chosen former Texas Governor Rick Perry to head the U.S.

Department of Energy, a transition official said, putting him in

charge of the agency he proposed eliminating during his bid for

the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.

Read more

E.ON invests in UK start up that uses sails to harness wind power

FRANKFURT, Dec 13 (Reuters) - German energy group E.ON

has invested in a British start-up business that uses

sails instead of rotors to harness wind energy.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Engie's provisions for Belgian nuclear to rise by 1.8 bln euros

PARIS, Dec 13 (Reuters) - French utility Engie

expects provisions for its nuclear activities in Belgium to

increase by up by 1.8 billion euros ($1.9 billion) to cover the

cost of decommissioning its reactors and storing their waste.

Read more

German day ahead power prices up on lower wind supply

FRANKFURT, Dec 13 (Reuters) - Day ahead power prices rose

early in Germany on Tuesday on forecasts for lower wind supply.

Read more

UPDATE 2-French nuclear plant availability back to normal mid-Jan - EDF

* Power prices fall back sharply as supply worries ease

(Adds detail on outages)

Read more

Zimbabwe drought, hunger push farmers to seek greener pastures

NYANGA, Zimbabwe, Dec 13 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - A

decade ago Ndaizivei Nyamatsatse was the proud owner of 20 cows

- a number that made him the envy of his neighbours in

Zimbabwe's eastern province of Manicaland, where cattle are

prized as a symbol of wealth.

Read more

Brazil's Temer, in battle for survival, plans economic stimulus

BRASILIA, Dec 12 (Reuters) - President Michel Temer,

fighting for survival over corruption allegations against him

and his government, is planning new measures to jump start a

stalled economy, improve his dismal approval ratings and stifle

calls for his resignation.

Read more

Deepwater says commercial operations start at Block Island Wind Farm

Dec 12 (Reuters) - Privately held power developer Deepwater

Wind said on Monday that commercial operations had begun at its

Block Island Wind Farm, which will deliver electricity into New

England's grid.

Read more

AES Brazil chief slams power supply rules, seeks solution

SAO PAULO, Dec 12 (Reuters) - A sharp recession in Brazil

has forced electricity distributors to buy power they cannot

sell, adding to their struggles during the downturn, the most

senior Brazilian executive for U.S. power company AES Corp

said on Monday.

Read more

Uganda starts up first solar power plant in bid to tap renewables

KAMPALA, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Uganda on Monday started up its

first grid-connected, 10 megawatt solar power plant as the east

African country moves to tap its renewable energy resources and

expand its electricity generation capacity.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Sinopec sells 50 pct gas pipeline stake to China Life and SDIC unit

BEIJING, Dec 12 (Reuters) - China's Sinopec

has sold a 50 percent stake in its Sichuan-East China

gas pipeline to China Life Insurance and SDIC's transportation

business in a deal that values the asset at 45.6 billion yuan

($6.6 billion).

Read more

Sinopec sells 50 pct stake in gas pipeline to China Life Insurance, SDIC unit

BEIJING, Dec 12 (Reuters) - China's Sinopec

said on Monday it had sold a 50-percent stake in its

key Sichuan-East China gas pipeline to China Life Insurance and

SDIC's transportation unit for 22.8 billion yuan ($3.3 billion).

Read more

UPDATE 1-Eni to sell 30 pct stake in Egyptian gas field to Rosneft

MILAN, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Italian energy company Eni

has agreed to sell a 30 percent stake in a giant

Egyptian offshore gas field to Russia's Rosneft for

$1.575 billion, pressing ahead with asset sales to fund

investment amid weak oil prices.

Read more

Bloody conflict between western Kenya farmers drives bid to improve water, fodder

ALALE, Kenya, Dec 12 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Most

days Kenyan teenager Andrew Taimoi leaves his village on the

Ugandan border before dawn and takes his family's livestock in

search of food and water, risking his life on the way.

Read more

EU clears energy schemes in France, Denmark

BRUSSELS, Dec 12 (Reuters) - The European Commission on

Monday cleared four renewable energy support schemes in France,

as well as Danish support for energy intensive users, saying

they were in line with European Union rules on state aid.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Tata Sons renews appeal for removal of Mistry from group companies

MUMBAI, Dec 11 (Reuters) - Tata Sons on Sunday renewed its

appeal to shareholders of Tata group companies to remove Cyrus

Mistry from their boards, saying that his presence as chairman

"is likely to lead to fragmentation of the Tata Group".

Read more

Tata Sons renews appeal to shareholders to remove Mistry from group firms

MUMBAI, Dec 11 (Reuters) - Tata Sons on Sunday renewed its

appeal to shareholders of Tata group companies to remove Cyrus

Mistry from the board of those companies, saying his presence as

chairman "is likely to lead to fragmentation of the Tata Group".

Read more

UPDATE 1-German nuclear firms offer to forgo claims for deal on waste - letter

BERLIN, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Nuclear power firms have written a

letter to Germany's parliamentarians saying they are prepared to

drop some of their numerous legal claims in exchange for handing

the bill for nuclear waste storage to the government.

Read more

UPDATE 3-Oil drilling advocate expected to be Trump pick for Interior Dept. - sources

WASHINGTON, Dec 9 (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Donald

Trump is expected to pick U.S. Representative Cathy McMorris

Rodgers, a climate-change skeptic and an advocate for expanded

oil and gas development, to run the Interior Department, sources

briefed on the matter told Reuters on Friday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Russia, Ukraine edge closer to gas accord at EU-brokered talks

* EU seeking to avert gas supply disruptions

(Adds talks concluding without deal)

Read more

Trump expected to pick oil drilling advocate to run Interior Dept. -source

WASHINGTON, Dec 9 (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Donald

Trump is expected to pick U.S. Representative Cathy McMorris

Rodgers, a strong advocate of increased oil and gas development

who is skeptical about climate change, to run the Department of

the Interior, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters on

Friday.

Read more

FEATURE-Election brings no hope to Macedonia's Roma-run "ghetto", say voters

SUTO ORIZARI, Macedonia, Dec 9 (Thomson Reuters Foundation)

- A s Sunday's election in Macedonia draws close, Amet Yashar

jokes that politicians' newfound concern for his home, one of

Europe's largest Roma communities, might not be wholly sincere.

Read more

EU mediates Russia, Ukraine gas dispute talks

BRUSSELS, Dec 9 (Reuters) - EU officials are mediating

between Ukraine and Russia over gas supplies on Friday, their

first talks since the former Soviet republic stopped buying gas

from Gazprom last November.

Read more

Solar's scorching demand for silver set to cool

* GRAPHIC-Industrial silver demand 2016 http://reut.rs/2gYWOVv

Read more

Australia shares up, financials at 16-mth high; NZ slips

Dec 9 (Reuters) - Australian shares extended gains to a

fourth straight session on Friday led by financials and energy

stocks which were propped up by steady oil prices.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Japan nearly doubles Fukushima disaster-related cost to $188 bln

* Clean up and decommissioning of Fukushima to take four

decades

Read more

Japan doubles Fukushima disaster-related cost to $188 bln

TOKYO, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade

and Industry (METI) said on Friday it has nearly doubled its

projections for costs related to the Fukushima nuclear disaster

including decommissioning and compensation to 21.5 trillion yen

($188.40 billion).

Read more

French court probes forged documents case at Areva nuclear foundry

PARIS, Dec 8 (Reuters) - The Paris prosecutor's office has

opened an investigation into the suspected falsifying of

documents at Areva's Le Creusot foundry that

manufactures parts for nuclear reactors, a judicial source said

on Thursday.

Read more

Germany's highest court to rule on nuclear fuel tax in 2017

DUESSELDORF, Germany, Dec 8 (Reuters) - Germany's highest

court will decide next year on complaints brought by utilities

against a tax on nuclear fuel rods, a spokesman said on

Thursday, in a further challenge to the government's energy

policy.

Read more

UPDATE 2-National Grid picks Macquarie-led group for $7 bn gas grid stake sale

* National Grid sells 61 pct stake to Macquarie-led

consortium

Read more

E.ON sees limited scope for nuclear claims after ruling -Bernstein

FRANKFURT, Dec 8 (Reuters) - E.ON sees limited

scope for compensation claims following a court ruling related

to Germany's nuclear exit that paves the way for utilities to

try to reclaim money, its chief executive told brokerage

Bernstein in an interview.

Read more

National Grid agrees UK distribution sale, to return cash to investors

LONDON, Dec 8 (Reuters) - Britain's National Grid has

agreed to sell a 61 percent equity interest in its UK gas

distribution business to a group of infrastructure investors

that implies an enterprise value of around 13.8 billion pounds

($17.5 billion), it said on Thursday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Thai energy panel approves PTT's 15-yr LNG deal with Petronas

* Raises long-term LNG purchase to meet rising demand

(Adds details on long-term LNG purchase plan)

Read more

Thailand nod for PTT's 15-year LNG purchase from Petronas

BANGKOK, Dec 8 (Reuters) - Thailand's energy policy

committee has approved a proposal under which state-owned PTT

Pcl will buy liquefied natural gas (LNG) from

Malaysia's Petronas over a 15-year period, the committee said in

a statement on Thursday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Australia's Santos to focus on long-life gas in growth push

* Other offshore assets and ageing oil non-core

(Adds CEO comments)

Read more

UPDATE 1-China Nov coal imports hit highest in 18 mths

* Local prices surged after govt-enforced mine closures

(Updating with detail, comment)

Read more

Australia's Santos flags asset sales in turnaround strategy

SYDNEY, Dec 8 (Reuters) - Australian oil and gas producer

Santos Ltd will cut costs and put some assets up for

sale as it looks to cut debt over the next three years, in a

turnaround strategy announced on Thursday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Japan to increase loan to Fukushima operator Tepco to $123 bln -source

TOKYO, Dec 8 (Reuters) - Japan will increase an

interest-free loan to the operator of the wrecked Fukushima

nuclear plant, Tokyo Electric Power, by more than a

third to 14 trillion yen ($123 billion), a source familiar with

the matter said on Thursday.

Read more

EU nations agree to let European Commission vet gas, oil deals

BRUSSELS, Dec 7 (Reuters) - EU nations agreed on Wednesday

to allow the European Commission to vet their oil and gas deals

with third countries like Russia to guard against

anti-competitive practices and supply disruptions.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Electrical fault temporarily halts rail links with Paris

PARIS, Dec 7 (Reuters) - An equipment failure temporarily

halted all rail traffic on Wednesday at the Gare du Nord station

in Paris, including the international Eurostar and Thalys train

links, the SNCF state rail company said.

Read more

Engie in "contraction phase" of its transformation plan - CEO

PARIS, Dec 7 (Reuters) - French utility Engie is

in the contraction phase of its three-year transformation plan

when investments in new assets have not yet replaced earnings

from assets sold, its chief executive said on Wednesday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Tata seeks shareholder support before vote to remove Mistry from group cos

NEW DELHI, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Tata Sons' interim chairman

Ratan Tata reached out to shareholders of Tata group companies

on Wednesday, seeking their support to remove Cyrus Mistry from

the board of these companies.

Read more

Eurostar, Thalys rail links with Paris halted by equipment failure

PARIS, Dec 7 (Reuters) - An equipment failure halted all

rail traffic on Wednesday at the Gare du Nord station in Paris,

including the international Eurostar and Thalys train links, a

spokesman at the SNCF state rail company said.

Read more

Engie sees 40 pct earnings growth in smart services for cities

PARIS, Dec 7 (Reuters) - French utility Engie

expects 40 percent earnings growth over three years in its smart

services to cities, which include heating networks, video

surveillance and street lighting.

Read more

French regulator cites Brexit uncertainty for delay to second power link with UK

PARIS, Dec 7 (Reuters) - French energy markets regulator CRE

is withholding approval for a planned second power link between

France and Britain to assess the impact of Brexit on the

project, it said on Wednesday.

Read more

Dutch to stop subsidising renewables in long-term climate strategy

AMSTERDAM, Dec 7 (Reuters) - The Netherlands will gradually

phase out subsidises for renewable energy and shift its climate

change strategy to areas such as energy saving and carbon

capture, the government said on Wednesday.

Read more

California Democrats propose series of infrastructure bills

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Democrats in California's

state Senate announced on Tuesday a series of infrastructure

funding bills that would invest billions in roads, bridges,

housing and water projects.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Abengoa's U.S. unit, holdout creditor spar over bankruptcy plan

WILMINGTON, Del./CHICAGO, Dec 6 (Reuters) - A U.S.

subsidiary of Spanish renewable energy firm Abengoa SA pressed a

judge on Tuesday to approve its plan to exit bankruptcy over

objections from a holdout creditor, who said the plan violated

U.S. law by favoring the company's foreign parent.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Britain's mid-caps lag FTSE as spreadbetters tumble

* Commodity stocks drop, HSBC rises after upgrade

(Updates prices at close, adds detail and quote)

Read more

UPDATE 1-Mugabe praises resilient Zimbabweans, skirts bond notes

HARARE, Dec 6 (Reuters) - President Robert Mugabe praised

Zimbabweans on Tuesday for resilience in the face of economic

hardship, in a speech that avoided the recent introduction of

"bond notes", a new currency that has raised fears of

uncontrolled money-printing.

Read more

Zimbabwe imported more than 300,000 tonnes of maize in 2016 after drought - Mugabe

HARARE, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Zimbabwe imported more than

300,000 tonnes of maize in 2016 to plug a shortfall caused by a

devastating drought in one of the continent's poorest countries,

President Robert Mugabe said on Tuesday.

Read more

Indonesia cuts gas prices for some companies from 2017 - energy ministry

JAKARTA, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Indonesia on Tuesday told energy

companies to cut natural gas prices for fertilizer, steel and

petrochemical industries starting Jan. 1, 2017, in a renewed

effort to bring down domestic gas prices.

Read more

CORRECTED-UPDATE 1-GE Power sees little sales impact if U.S. quits climate deals

NEW YORK, Dec 5 (Reuters) - General Electric Co's

sales of power plant upgrades would not suffer much if the

United States bailed out of climate change treaties under a

Trump administration as utilities still want the economic

benefits that come with modernizations, GE's power services

chief said on Monday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-German court paves way for damages claims in nuclear exit row

KARLSRUHE, Germany, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Germany's highest

court ruled on Tuesday that accelerating the shutdown of nuclear

plants following Japan's Fukushima disaster violated some

property rights, paving the way for damage claims and sending

shares higher.

Read more

UPDATE 2-British power producer Drax plans to buy Opus Energy for 340 mln pounds

* Drax shares surge 11 pct on acquisition news

(Adds share price reaction, more detail on gas plants, analyst

comment)

Read more

German court rules utilities have right to compensation for nuclear exit

FRANKFURT, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Germany's decision to

accelerate the shutdown of nuclear plants following Japan's

Fukushima disaster violated some property rights of utilities,

the country's highest court said on Tuesday.

Read more

Role of Abengoa in spotlight at U.S. bankruptcy showdown

WILMINGTON, Del./CHICAGO, Dec 6 (Reuters) - A leading U.S.

subsidiary of Abengoa SA heads to court on Tuesday to

seek approval for a bankruptcy exit plan that opponents argue

violates the law by prioritizing the Spanish parent and its

international backers ahead of U.S. creditors.

Read more

Japan's CO2 emissions drop 3 pct to 5-year low in FY2015

TOKYO, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Japan's greenhouse gas emissions

fell 3 percent to a five-year low in the financial year through

March due to lower power demand, growing renewable energy and

the restart of nuclear power plants, government figures showed

on Tuesday.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Australia's Origin Energy to spin off some assets in IPO, cut debt

SYDNEY, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Australia's top power and gas

retailer Origin Energy said on Tuesday it will spin off

its interests in conventional oil and gas fields in an initial

public offering expected to be worth at least A$1 billion ($750

million), helping it cut debt.

Read more

Australia's Origin Energy to spin off oil and gas assets in IPO

SYDNEY, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Australia's Origin Energy

will spin off its interests in conventional oil and gas fields,

launching a new listed company in an initial public offering,

the company said Tuesday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-U.S. commodities regulator sidesteps finalizing new rules

WASHINGTON, Dec 5 (Reuters) - The U.S. Commodity Futures

Trading Commission on Monday revised its proposed rules for

limiting positions that traders can hold in the commodity

markets, dashing expectations that it would finalize the rules

by year-end.

Read more

Qaeda militants blow up Yemen gas export pipeline - local officials

SANAA, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Al Qaeda militants blew up Yemen's

only gas export pipeline on Monday, local officials said, in a

further blow to a moribund but vital piece of infrastructure for

an impoverished country battered by 20 months of war.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Alberta petrochemical projects get C$500 mln royalty credits

CALGARY, Alberta, Dec 5 (Reuters) - The Canadian

oil-producing province of Alberta will offer C$500 million

($377.84 million) in royalty credits to Pembina Pipeline Corp

and Inter Pipeline Ltd for their petrochemical

projects, the government said on Monday as it seeks to diversify

its ailing economy.

Read more

EDF says will work fast to restart reactors after watchdog's conditional approval

PARIS, Dec 5 (Reuters) - French utility EDF said on

Monday it will work quickly to carry out extra tests on some of

its nuclear reactors involved in a safety probe and provide the

additional information to regulator ASN.

Read more

Standing Rock Sioux chair: protesters can go home, hopes for Trump meeting

FORT YATES, N.D. Dec 5 (Reuters) - Standing Rock Sioux

Chairman Dave Archambault said Monday that non-Sioux protesters

can leave the North Dakota protest camp after the government

ruled in their favor in a controversial pipeline project

adjacent to their lands.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Tata's ousted chairman defends himself in letter to shareholders

MUMBAI, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Ousted Tata Sons chairman Cyrus

Mistry has reached out to shareholders of six Tata group

companies, defending his position and laying out reasons why he

should not be removed as director at their upcoming shareholder

meetings.

Read more

UPDATE 1-France's ASN could allow re-start of EDF reactors after extra tests

PARIS, Dec 5 (Reuters) - French nuclear safety regulator ASN

said on Monday it agreed with EDF that some of its

nuclear reactors whose steam generators have high carbon

concentrations could be restarted, although the utility would

have to carry out some extra tests.

Read more

RPT-With Dakota denial, outlook for U.S. pipelines turns murky

HOUSTON, Dec 5 (Reuters) - The U.S. Army's denial of an

easement for the Dakota Access Pipeline, after permitting and

legal obligations were followed, sets an uncertain precedent for

new projects despite President-elect Donald Trump's promise to

support energy infrastructure.

Read more

Paris rolls out public waste sorting stations to boost recycling

PARIS, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Paris plans to build hundreds of

public waste recycling stations to boost the low level of

recycling in the French capital, city authorities said on

Monday.

Read more

Girls turn poo to clean power in Cameroon biogas push

BUEA, Cameroon, Dec 5 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - An

initiative by youth organisations in Cameroon to turn human

waste into biogas is reducing pollution and providing cheap,

renewable energy to the growing populations of the university

towns of Buea and Bamenda.

Read more

Gas group PGNiG takes legal action over EU's Opal pipeline decision

WARSAW, Dec 5 (Reuters) - State-run gas company PGNiG

said on Monday that it had taken legal action against

the European Commission's decision to grant Russia's Gazprom

more transit capacity on the German-based Opal pipeline, the

Polish group said on Monday.

Read more

With Dakota denial, outlook for U.S. pipelines turns murky

HOUSTON, Dec 5 (Reuters) - The U.S. Army's denial of an

easement for the Dakota Access Pipeline, after permitting and

legal obligations were followed, sets an uncertain precedent for

new projects despite President-elect Donald Trump's promise to

support energy infrastructure.

Read more

India prioritising shift to become natural gas-based economy - Modi

NEW DELHI, Dec 5 (Reuters) - India is giving priority to

moving towards a natural gas-based economy and efforts must be

made to raise local production of the fuel while also creating

infrastructure to import it, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told

an energy conference on Monday.

Read more

Hong Kong CKI makes $5.4 bln bid for Australian energy Duet Group

SYDNEY, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Hong Kong-listed Cheung Kong

Infrastructure Holdings Ltd has made an A$7.3 billion

($5.44 billion) bid for Australian energy infrastructure owner

Duet Group, Duet said on Monday.

Read more

UPDATE 1-Hong Kong CKI makes $5.4 bln bid for Australian energy Duet Group

SYDNEY, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Hong Kong-listed Cheung Kong

Infrastructure Holdings Ltd has made an A$7.3 billion

($5.44 billion) bid for Australian energy infrastructure owner

Duet Group, Duet said on Monday.

Read more

UPDATE 2-Morton County sheriff defends tactics against pipeline protesters

CANNON BALL, N.D., Dec 4 (Reuters) - The sheriff of the

North Dakota county where thousands of people are protesting a

controversial pipeline project defended police tactics after

they used water hoses and rubber bullets in a late November

confrontation.

Read more

Morton County sheriff defends tactics against pipeline protesters

CANNON BALL, N.D., Dec 4 (Reuters) - The sheriff of the

North Dakota county where thousands of people are protesting a

controversial pipeline project defended police tactics after

they used water hoses and rubber bullets in a late November

confrontation.

Read more

Nigeria and Morocco sign gas pipeline deal to link Africa to Europe

ABUJA, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Nigeria and Morocco have signed a

joint venture to construct a gas pipeline that will connect the

two nations as well as some other African countries to Europe,

Nigeria's minister of foreign affairs said on Saturday.

Read more

U.S. veterans to meet with tribe elders in pipeline protest

CANNON BALL, N.D., Dec 3 (Reuters) - U.S. military veterans

will meet with tribal leaders on Saturday as they continue to

entrench themselves in a North Dakota camp where thousands of

activists are protesting a multibillion-dollar pipeline project

near a Native American reservation.

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UPDATE 1-U.S. veterans, tribe elders join forces in pipeline protest

CANNON BALL, N.D., Dec 3 (Reuters) - U.S. military veterans

spoke with tribal leaders on Saturday about their shared

interest in blocking a multibillion-dollar pipeline project near

a Native American reservation, with as many as 3,500 veterans

joining protests at the site.

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China's Xi says government to increase environmental inspections

BEIJING, Dec 3 (Reuters) - China will increase environmental

inspections and punish polluters, President Xi Jinping said,

vowing more effort to tackle the pollution that blights the

lives of millions of Chinese.

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UPDATE 1-Ferrovial in talks to acquire Isolux projects in Brazil -document

SAO PAULO, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Spain's infrastructure company

Ferrovial SA is in talks to acquire from its Spanish

rival Grupo Isolux Corsan SA three power

transmission projects in Brazil, according to a Ferrovial letter

seen by Reuters on Friday.

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Ferrovial in talks to acquire Isolux projects in Brazil -document

SAO PAULO, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Spain's infrastructure company

Ferrovial SA is in talks to acquire from its Spanish

rival Grupo Isolux Corsan SA three power

transmission projects in Brazil, according to a Ferrovial letter

seen by Reuters on Friday.

(Reporting by Luciano Costa; Writing by Marcelo Teixeira;

Editing by Lisa Shumaker)

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Energy firms swoop on startups in billion-dollar technology race

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UPDATE 1-Poland and Ukraine to jointly oppose EU over Nord Stream 2, Opal

* Poland and Ukraine to take joint actions to oppose the

plan

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UPDATE 2-U.S. military veterans flock to North Dakota pipeline protest camp

CANNON BALL, N.D., Dec 2 (Reuters) - Hundreds of U.S.

military veterans on Friday have been arriving at a protest camp

in North Dakota where thousands of activists, braving frigid

conditions, are demonstrating against a pipeline project near a

Native American reservation.

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U.S. military veterans to join North Dakota pipeline protest camp

CANNON BALL/WEST FARGO, N.D., Dec 2 (Reuters) - More than

2,000 U.S. military veterans are expected to join a protest at a

camp in North Dakota on Friday where thousands of activists,

braving frigid conditions, are demonstrating against a pipeline

project near a Native American reservation.

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Early drought warning helps Pakistan's farmers prepare for dry season

RAWAT, Pakistan, Dec 2 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Like

his farming neighbours, Bilal Khan plants wheat in late October

or early November each year, and harvests and sells his winter

crop a few months later.

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Australia boosts spending to keep Great Barrier Reef off "in danger" list

SYDNEY, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Australia will spend A$1.3 billion

($965.3 million) in the next five years to improve the water

quality and wellbeing of the Great Barrier Reef to prevent the

World Heritage Site being placed on the United Nation's "in

danger" list.

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UPDATE 1-California expects to complete Aliso Canyon natgas review in early 2017

Dec 1 (Reuters) - California agencies expect to complete

their safety review of Southern California Gas' (SoCalGas) Aliso

Canyon in early 2017, preventing the utility from injecting

natural gas into the Los Angeles storage facility for at least

the first half of winter.

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Calif. expects to complete Aliso Canyon natgas review in early 2017

Dec 1 (Reuters) - California agencies expect to complete

their safety review of Southern California Gas' (SoCalGas) Aliso

Canyon in early 2017, preventing the utility from injecting

natural gas into the Los Angeles storage facility for at least

the first half of winter.

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UPDATE 1-Australia's New South Wales begins sale of third power grid

SYDNEY, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Australia's New South Wales state

will begin the sale process for a majority stake in electricity

network Endeavour Energy on Friday, its treasurer said, a

transaction expected to be worth about A$4 billion ($2.96

billion).

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SCENARIOS -Beyond banks, investors seek other Italian referendum plays

MILAN, Dec 1 (Reuters) - With only three days to go before

Italians vote in a referendum that could tip their country into

political chaos, investors are trying to work out how to play

the ballot on the stock market.

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Australia's New South Wales begins sale of third power grid

SYDNEY, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Australia's New South Wales state

will begin the sale process for a majority stake in eletricity

network Endeavour Energy on Friday, the New South Wales

treasurer said, a transaction expected to be worth around A$4

billion ($2.96 billion).

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French power cuts more likely after UK link outage - RTE

PARIS, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Power cuts in France are more

likely this winter because of problems with electricity cables

linking the country to the United Kingdom and prolonged outages

at nuclear reactors, French power grid operator RTE said on

Thursday.

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France's Fillon favourable to privatisation selloffs, cites Renault

CHANTENAY-VILLEDIEU, France, Dec 1 (Reuters) - France's

conservative presidential candidate Francois Fillon on Thursday

said he was favourable towards privatisations of state

shareholdings in order to raise cash for investments in major

infrastructure projects.

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BHP Australia copper mine hit by another power outage

SYDNEY, Dec 1 (Reuters) - BHP Billiton

said on Thursday that its Olympic Dam copper mine was without

power for four hours due to a blackout in the state of South

Australia.

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Lanka IOC raises premium product retail prices after diesel tax increase

COLOMBO, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Sri Lankan fuel retailer Lanka

IOC put up prices for its premium brands on Thursday, three

months after the government increased the duty on oil products,

and said it will have to raise other petrol prices if the

government fails to hike official prices.

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