Energy

A new lobby group associated with influential players in the power industry has warned the state government it risks a voter backlash at the 2017 poll if proposed changes to the sector trigger higher prices to households.

AGL Energy has swung to a half-year net loss of $449 million after accounting for writedowns from its decision to exit natural gas exploration and production.

Some of Western Australia’s lowest income residents may soon be able to access solar panels and other energy efficient devices following the announcement of a $250 million national package aimed at improving existing and helping build greener community housing.

Geraldton-based Bhagwan Marine has grown its subsea services division with the acquisition of Delta Subsea for an undisclosed amount.

Global oil supply fell by 0.2 million barrels per day in January, while falling demand growth and resilience of high cost suppliers could lead to continued downward pressure on prices, according to the International Energy Agency.

AGL Energy is quitting its gas exploration and production activities due to the collapse in oil and gas prices.

Colleagues have paid tribute to Troy Resources chairman and Aquarius Platinum director David Dix, who passed away overnight.

Two niche operators in Western Australia's electricity market have accused the state government of being more concerned with protecting its own interests than creating a truly competitive industry

One of Perth’s leading solar power and lithium battery storage providers has struck a strategic alliance with a New Zealand power provider expected to be worth $40 million over the next five years.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA’s Energy Apprenticeships Group has kicked off with 16 process operator apprentices to begin their four-year training today.

Woodside Petroleum says its recently flagged write-downs of up to $US1.2 billion ($A1.7 billion) had taken into account possible delays at the Wheatstone LNG project near Onslow.

Perth-based Decmil Group has won a contract to provide temporary accommodation for ConocoPhillips workers at the Australia Pacific LNG facility on Curtis Island for an undisclosed sum.

Carnarvon Petroleum has acquired a 35 per cent stake in Quadrant Energy’s Barrow sub-basin oil project, and has committed $10 million towards a drilling program scheduled for June.

Shares in oil and gas company AWE have rallied on news it has sold its stake in the Sugarloaf project in the US for $US190 million ($A271 million).

Engineering group Clough has won a contract for work on Inpex’s Ichthys LNG project in the Browse Basin, with the value undisclosed.

Despite falling oil prices, projections are showing that local consumers and industry could be paying much more for gas in 10 years’ time.

Perth company Subsea Engineering Associates has won a contract to provide its services to the Baltic gas project in the Polish section of the Baltic Sea.

Economist and climate change adviser Ross Garnaut has called on the Barnett government to write down the value of coal-fired power stations and other ageing assets, warning that keeping them online threatened its ability to reduce power prices.

Beach Energy and Santos are the latest Australian oil and gas companies to flag big write-downs, with Beach announcing late today it would cut capital spending and make impairment charges of up to $650 million.

Woodside Petroleum expects to take a hit of up to $US1.2 billion ($A1.7 billion) as it writes down the value of its energy assets following the slump in oil prices.

Lower exploration and construction activity in the energy sector has led Canada-based contractor Enerflex to exit the Australian engineering, procurement and construction market, with most of its Perth operations to be made redundant, Business News understands.

Engineering firm Wood Group has continued its run of contract wins in the offshore oil and gas sector, with the latest contract being for Shell’s Prelude floating LNG project.

Western Australia's only onshore oil producer has suspended production after being hit by the low oil price and the high cost of trucking its output to Wyndham rather than the much closer port at Broome.

The state government will lay underground power lines in areas of the South West after the Yarloop bushfire racked up a $26 million damage bill to the region’s electricity network.

The operator of Australia's largest gas project, Gorgon, plans to supply more liquefied natural gas to China over a decade in the face of softening global demand.

Mining services firm Tempo Australia has won contract extensions with unnamed existing clients for construction, pre-commissioning and commissioning support services work, worth a combined $65 million for the year.

Chevron Australia has moved another step closer to completion of the Gorgon gas project, with a commissioning LNG cargo arriving at Barrow Island to cool down the storage and loading facilities prior to commencement of exports.

Mining giant BHP Billiton will write down the value of its onshore US oil and gas assets by more than 30 per cent as it factors in the slump in crude oil prices.

Engineering and construction group Valmec has secured a $4.3 million contract for work at Vector Gas’s compression project in Auckland.

Western Australia’s biggest and most productive gas production facility suffered an equipment failure early this morning.

If Woodside Petroleum is ever looking for a corporate slogan it could borrow a saying from the Dutch philosopher Erasmus: “in the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king”.

Citation Resources’ 40 per cent-owned subsidiary Pearl Global has struck a heads of agreement with a Singaporean renewable energy company to fund the development of up to 50 tyre recycling plants across Asia.