John Phaceas

LIQUEFIED natural gas - LNG - is without doubt the gold of the 21st century, at least with respect to Western Australia.

The much anticipated review of state electricity generator Verve Energy, prepared by former Western Power executive Peter Oates, will be tabled in parliament by Energy Minister Peter Collier this afternoon.

A major urea project could help secure the long-term future of the coal industry.

LOCAL industry is demanding a say on the state government's next move on energy policy, after it finally scrapped unwelcome plans to merge electricity generator Verve with retailer Synergy.

OIL and gas contracting specialist Clough remains in the running for a $200 million contract for the offshore production facilities at Apache Energy's Reindeer gas field following John Holland Group's successful tender for onshore plant construction.

A major boardroom shakeup is believed to be imminent at Subiaco-based laterite nickel explorer Graynic Metals.

Shares in Perth-based engineering group Forge Group soared over 13 per cent today, after it smashed its full year earnings forecast to book a net profit of $15.6 million for the financial year, a 100 per cent increase on its 2008 result.

THE global financial downturn has had a dramatic impact on the dividend yields of those Western Australian stocks that still pay regular dividends.

NO matter which way you cut it, the 2008-09 financial year was a shocker for investors in local companies, with only 110 of the 730 or so Western Australian-listed companies managing a positive return of any sort.

IT may come as a surprise, but judging by the results of WA Business News' latest survey of Total Shareholder Returns, the safest place for investors to put their money over the last year has been at the most speculative end of the share market.

NOBODY should be too concerned about the differences between partners in the $30 billion Browse LNG project over how the venture should be developed, according to Woodside Petroleum chief executive Don Voelte.

THE global financial crisis had a marked impact on Western Australia's engineering contractors during the year as the slowdown forced resources companies to scale back and defer numerous new developments and expansions.

WHILE junior explorers dominated the 10 best-performing Western Australian stocks last financial year, was there a defining characteristic that bound together the worst performers for the year? A lack of scale would seem to be one possibility, with the 10

Every cloud has a silver lining, so the saying goes. So which WA companies delivered the best returns to investors as the cold winds of the global financial crisis wreaked havoc?

Woodside Petroleum chief executive Don Voelte said the company had suggested a range of exit options to its wavering partners in the $30 billion Browse LNG venture to facilitate the timely delivery of the massive project off the Kimberley coast.

Rejuvenated engineering contractor Clough is looking to the flood of emerging LNG developments and potential consolidation of niche local service providers as the platform for continued growth over the coming years.

THE impact of the global financial crisis on the drilling industry was painted in stark relief this week in a flurry of news from key players in the sector.

FRENCH energy giant GDF SUEZ, formerly Gaz de France, is expected to beef up its presence in Perth following a $US370 million-plus deal with Santos to develop floating LNG facilities off the state's far north coast.

THE proponent of Australia's biggest new coal-fired power plant believes the two-stage 330-kilovolt upgrade of the Perth-Geraldton transmission line has left the door open to competition among aspiring power proponents in the Mid West.

WESTERN Australia's resources industry is demanding urgent implementation of measures to overhaul the state's failing approvals processes following a damning review commissioned by the state government.

Woodside Petroleum expects to treble production from its Pluto LNG project at the Burrup Peninsula by 2014, after formally starting front end engineering and design work for two additional production trains at the site.

Fortescue Metals Group says a proposed $US6 billion funding agreement with Chinese banks will give it optimum flexibility to expand its Pilbara iron ore operations to meet demand from Chinese customers.

MINERS expect little benefit from the federal government's easing of foreign investment review regulations, which is aimed at speeding the flow of foreign capital into the junior end of the sector.

State Mines and Petroleum Minister Norman Moore says he expects no further delays from the federal government in granting its final environmental approval for the $50 billion Gorgon LNG project, paving the way for a final investment decision within weeks.

Shell's ambitions for establishing its first ever floating LNG facility in Australia have been boosted by a significant new gas discovery near its Prelude field in the Browse Basin.

Softer oil and gas prices punched a $US7.5 billion ($A8.9 billion) hole in half year earnings for US energy giant and Gorgon operator Chevron.

An independent report prepared for the national competition watchdog has found that allowing joint marketing of gas from the Gorgon project would likely lead to higher prices for WA gas customers than if each partner was forced to market its share separat

SHELL Australia chairman Russell Caplan has capped an extraordinary week for Western Australia's LNG industry, with a swipe at Premier Colin Barnett's attempt to dictate how the $30 billion Browse LNG project in the Kimberley should be developed.

INVESTMENT in new infrastructure, and ensuring equitable and fair access to existing infrastructure are key issues that must be addressed if government is to encourage new mining investment, according to those at the WA Business News junior miners forum.

FOR decades, successive state governments have dreamed of adding value to the millions of tonnes of raw materials mined and exported from Western Australia by moving further down the processing chain.

Despite the massive plunge in share values in recent months, many junior miners are once again optimistic about the future – provided government comes to the party.

GIANT South Korean conglomerate Samsung Corporation has thrown its weight behind Perdaman Chemicals & Fertilisers' proposed $3.5 billion urea project at Collie by taking a small equity interest in the venture.