Energy

Former Woodside Petroleum Ltd director and State Training Council chairman Keith Spence has been appointed as a non-executive director at Clough Ltd.

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West Perth-based Tap Oil Ltd has forecast a significant impact on its bottom line following disruptions at its Woollybutt oil field which kept it offline for most of the year.

Perth-based Woodside Petroleum Ltd has alerted its shareholders of a possible unsolicited offer following a request for the company's list of shareholders.

Engineering company Neptune Marine Services Ltd is set to capitalise on the $40 billion European subsea market following its acquisition of Aberdeen-based Subsea Engineering Services Ltd.

Following a structural glitch that halted the project in March, Woodside Petroleum Ltd has announced that first production has started at its $1.2 billion Neptune project in the Gulf of Mexico.

General manager of Aviva Corporation Perth, Mark Chatfield, has briefly appeared in court to face allegations of insider trading.

Nickel miner Minara Resources Ltd has confirmed that it shut down its Murrin Murrin operation for five days following the Varanus Island gas incident, and has disclosed its new gas supply, secured last month, is partly interruptible.

Billionaire Clive Palmer's plans to raise $5 billion by floating his company Resources Development International will see an alliance forged and funding for MEO Australia Ltd's Western Australian projects.

West Perth-based Jabiru Metals Ltd has secured alternative gas supplies to power its Jaguar zinc-copper mine near Leonora up to the end of September.

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Former technology company Wavenet International Ltd has joined the rush by local investors seeking to exploit booming coal prices, agreeing to purchase a stake in four coal tenements in Queensland.

Two days after stopping the pseudo privatisation of the state's $9 billion superannuation fund, treasurer Eric Ripper and his government have yet to reveal significant detail on why they acted at the last minute.

Woodside has been able to further increase output at the North West Shelf joint venture past the 100 terrajoules of gas per day that was initially estimated in the wake of the state's gas crisis.

Gold miner Norton Gold Fields Ltd will drop its litigation claims against Alinta for lost production arising from the gas crisis, as power prices agreed to by both companies return to normal levels.

Alcoa of Australia managing director Alan Cransberg has written to shareholders to clarify the company's position in the on-going gas crisis.

THE Kemerton power station near Bunbury has received an upgrade that will allow it to increase output by more than 40 megawatts in summer while reducing its carbon footprint.

Gresham Advisory PartnersMichael Ashforth Branch office

Improving co-ordination between government departments and making the public sector an attractive place to work will be among the key priorities for the woman about to take over as Department of Industry and Resources director general, Anne Nolan.

The solar power industry appears to be gathering momentum in Western Australia, with the state government funding the first solar power station connected to the grid and several major solar projects being investigated for feasibility.

Visiting WA John Howard Tribute Dinner The Liberal Party of Western Australia is to hold a tribute dinner for John Howard on July 8 at the Hyatt Grand Ballroom.

It's probably no surprise to see the number of investment bankers rising in line with the amount of work available.

If it were just about money, the investment bankers and their other advisory colleagues would find life a lot easier.

Three manufacturing companies in Perth with exposure to the booming resources sector have reported good news this month, despite having to contend with increased competition from Asian suppliers.

The state's food and beverage manufacturing sector believes the fallout from the gas crisis could be felt for years, not months, as it faces the challenge of rebuilding customer relationships and workforces once normal gas supply resumes.

The state government will launch an online gas trading bulletin board on Thursday, but energy minister Francis Logan warned the scheme is not the sole answer to the gas supply crisis.

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Luxury hotel operator Stamford Land Corporation Ltd has announced it will begin construction of a $140 million, 13-level office tower at 905 Hay Street this month, with the building contract for the project having been awarded to Diploma Constructions (WA

Businesses and companies seeking assurances of a longer-term gas supply allocation will have to wait a little longer, as the government keeps quiet on details of an official gas trading scheme.

Perth-based engineering company Clough Ltd has secured a contract worth $US50 million ($A53 million) by Norwegian company Advanced Production & Loading.

Singapore-based Shell director Ian Robertson has taken a director's seat at Woodside Petroleum, following the resignation of Jakob Stausholm.

The state government has given $6 million from its $36.5 million Low Emission Energy Development fund to two companies to develop technology to help reduce Western Australia's greenhouse gas emissions.