Energy & natural resources sector

November 2014  |  SPECIAL REPORT: ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES SECTOR

Financier Worldwide Magazine

The major issue facing the energy and natural resources sector has remained much the same in recent years, namely the need to define and bring about the right balance between environmental, security of supply and cost pressures. The difficulty of this task has only been exacerbated by the sweeping reforms and an uncertain economic climate left in the wake of the financial crisis. In the face of ongoing pressure to reduce carbon emissions, the sector is tasked with reshaping the generation mix completely over the next 30 years, through a variety of technologies. But aging infrastructure means major investment decisions must be taken today. As a hugely capital-intensive sector, the strategic allocation of available capital and access to new sources of finance will become increasingly important to complete this task.

FORUM: Opportunities and challenges in shale gas

FW moderates a discussion on opportunities and challenges in shale gas between Hamish McArdle at Baker Botts, Chris Faulkner at Breitling Energy Corporation, Pedro Nunes at EUREKA Secretariat, Simon Talbot at Ground-Gas Solutions Ltd., and Bruce Rutherford at Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL).

Canada’s highest court recognises Aboriginal Title – implications for Canada’s resource sector

Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP This summer, the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) issued a landmark declaration that the Tsilhqot’in Nation, one of hundreds of indigenous groups in Canada with unresolved land claims, has title to over 1700 square kilometres of Crown land in...

SOE transactions within Canada’s petroleum and natural gas sector – acquisitions of control

Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP It has been almost two years since Prime Minister Harper approved the CNOOC/Nexen and PETRONAS/Progress mergers, and highlighted that “Canadians, generally, and investors specifically, should understand that these decisions are...

Brazil’s Libra PSA – first anniversary

Villemor Amaral Advogados On 21 October 2013, the winners of the first Brazilian bid round made under the new regulatory regime were announced. The regime is based on the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) that was developed especially for the pre-salt block called Libra...

Institutional money for renewable investments: hard work to make a ‘natural fit’ suitable

Simmons & Simmons LLP Investors who are managing long-term institutional money, such as for life insurances, pension funds or family offices, seem to be the logical partners for renewables developers in their preparation for more complex future markets. The general parameters...

EU sanctions against Russia: what does it mean for the energy industry?

Norton Rose Fulbright LLP The EU has again strengthened sanctions against Russia, including further restrictions directly impacting the energy industry. We are already seeing in the press the effect sanctions are having on the Russian energy sector, and the oil majors’ interests there...

Energy issues in the Central and Eastern European region

CMS Cameron McKenna LLP Over the past 12 months the energy sector in the Central and Eastern European region has seen various substantial developments. In the oil and gas sector we have seen an increasing concern over the security of supply of natural gas from Russia...

South African power – diversifying and securing supply risk

Hogan Lovells (South Africa) The South African energy system has always been highly dependent on fossil fuels. This has led to environmental challenges which were not there, or at least not so intensely under the spotlight, when the power plants were designed...

Q&A: M&A and investment in the energy & utilities sector

FW moderates a discussion on M&A and investment in the energy & utilities sector between Christopher Ryan at Beowulf Energy LLC, Hermenegildo Altozano at Bird & Bird LLP, Carlos Ramos Miranda at Hogan Lovells BSTL, S.C., Fintan Whelan at Mainstream Renewable Power Ltd., and Charles Peterson at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP.

CONTRIBUTORS

Baker Botts

Breitling Energy Corporation

EUREKA Secretariat

Ground-Gas Solutions Ltd.

Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL).

Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP

Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP

Villemor Amaral Advogados

Simmons & Simmons LLP

Norton Rose Fulbright LLP

CMS Cameron McKenna LLP

Hogan Lovells (South Africa)

Beowulf Energy LLC

Bird & Bird LLP

Hogan Lovells BSTL, S.C.

Mainstream Renewable Power Ltd.

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP