Multi Commodities & Fuel Management

In its first year of operation, this business unit successfully prepared for its new tasks, focused primarily on gas, oil and coal trading, gas procurement and price risk management.

Gas trading stepped up

Alpiq rounded out its presence in the European gas markets in close coordination with gas trading. This included setting up an international team. Physical gas trading was consistently stepped up, particularly in France and Germany.

Price movements in the gas market were heavily influenced by the downturn in the spot markets in the wake of economic developments. On the procurement side, prices were driven down as new facilities for liquefied natural gas (LNG) came on-stream around the world. Conversely, demand for gas fell sharply in Europe, further widening the gap between short-term trading prices and long-term oil-related import contracts. At present, the general trend is towards a gas market that is increasingly decoupling from the oil market.

A key role within the Group

Within the Group, this business unit will play a key role in procurement, trading and market price risk aggregation.