Energy

JASON Banks has been appointed as chair of the review of the state’s gas provisions.

THE Perth CBD is among the nation's most energy efficient business districts, with buildings in the precinct performing at levels above the Australian average in a number of key areas.

THERE'S not much talk of the global economic downturn or falling commodity prices when you listen to companies with an interest in iron ore mining and infrastructure projects in the Mid West region.

Woodside Petroleum has today unveiled a new logo, the first substantial change in 32 years.

The Michael Kiernan-led Stirling Resources has raised over $2 million through a convertible note issue to an Austrian resource company.

Tourism Western Australia will visit Ravensthorpe, Hopetoun and Bremer Bay this week to assess tourism opportunities in the area following the shutdown of BHP Billiton's nickel operation in the area.

The value of projects in Australia has declined by $37.2 billion since the September 2008 quarter, with new projects failing to replenish those being completed.

BHP Billiton could redeploy some of the sacked workers from its Ravensthorpe nickel mine to its iron ore operations in the Pilbara, as the miner confirms that it will buy back 60 houses in the Hopetoun area.

Carnegie Corporation has entered into a deal with energy retailer Synergy to supply electricity from its wave energy project off Western Australia.

Oil and gas giant Chevron has set aside over $A35 billion towards capital and exploration spending worldwide in 2009, including Western Australia's Gorgon, Wheatstone and North West Shelf projects.

West Perth-based Tap Oil says it expects to be generating revenue at near full capacity in the coming months following the Varanus Island incident, as quarterly production jumps 42 per cent.

The Office of Energy has recommended a 55 per cent increase in small business electricity prices, even higher than the increase it proposed in a draft report released last year.

Coordinator of Energy Jason Banks will chair a new committee that will review the state's gas supplies and examine ways to improve the management of energy emergencies.

West Perth-based Green Rock Energy, ARC Energy and Worsley Alumina are some of the preferred applicants chosen by the state government to harness geothermal energy in the Perth Basin.

Mining services company Imdex is banking on the oil and gas sector to help it through the mining downturn as it calls off an acquisition deal for Australian Drilling Specialities.

Malaga-based Advanced Engine Components has received a $1.2 million order for its natural gas vehicle system kits from Chinese company Aussen Engine (Dalian) Co.

THE quiet summer holiday period can perhaps bring more attention than necessary to the movements of a director's shareholding, particularly when the person in question sells $580,000 worth of shares.

WESTERN Australia has experienced a significant increase in the use of solar hot water, with more than one-fifth of homes in WA now fitted with solar hot water systems.

THE announcement this month that Citic Pacific will pay $US585 for 75 petajoules of natural gas is important, not just because it underwrites the Devil Creek project in the Pilbara and a potential new supply of domestic gas, but also because we get to see

The Science and Innovation Council review presents a creative opportunity.

IT takes great patience and determination, dedication and creativity to craft a fine beer.

BRIEFCASE sees the oil price recovering slowly during late 2009, following the first annual contraction of global oil consumption since 1982.

Barack Obama looks set to follow a different foreign policy path than his precessor

Australia is at a crossroads with regard to its energy policy and faces some tough decisions in coming years.

Sue Murphy is leading the way again, this time as chief executive at the Water Corp

BHP Billiton has reportedly made a series of commitments to the unemployed mine workers from the Ravensthorpe nickel operation, including the redeployment of up to 200 former employees.

Engineering services company Neptune Marine Services Limited has taken advantage of its position within the global oil and gas industry to deliver second quarter revenues of $52 million.

The state government says it will seal the road from Hopetoun to Bremer Bay, and provide financial assistance of $5 million, to lessen the financial impact of the closure of BHP Billiton's Ravensthorpe nickel operations.

Perth-based CGA Mining is the latest company to consider capital raising plans as commissioning begins on its Masbate gold project in the Philippines.

Analysts at CommSec have forecast iron ore prices to fall by 25 per cent this year as Chinese consumers push for lower prices after being squeezed over the past five years.

Brokerage Hartleys has started coverage of Woodside Petroleum, rating the oil and gas giant as a Buy as the company gets ready to report its most profitable year ever.

As the fallout from the Ravensthorpe mine closure starts to unravel, the state's resources lobby group says mining companies are doing all they can to prevent further job losses.