ENERGY

Energy and mining projects of Australian companies, including that of the Rio Tinto Group Group and Woodside Petroleum Ltd and Fortescue Mining, are threatened by two cyclones headed north of the country, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

Energy company Jatoil Ltd (ASX:JAT) has signed a binding letter of intent to acquire four coal exploration permits and permit applications in the Galilee Basin in central Queensland.

Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) says its Australian subsidiary has signed a Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA) with Kyushu Electric Power Co. for a portion of Chevron's offtake of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Gorgon Project.

India's state-owned metal and energy firms will decide this week whether they would combine their arsenal to counter the bid to Rio Tinto's $3.9 billion offer for Riversdale Mining Ltd.

Australian energy firm Santos along with its joint-venture partners have committed to investing $16 billion into the Queensland economy in the coming five years through the Gladstone gas project.

Mermaid Marine Australia Ltd (MMA) (ASX:MRM) has won a contract to provide supply base services to Chevron Australiain in support of the energy giant's exploration and production drilling activities off the North West Shelf and ongoing production facilities on Thevenard Island.

Melbourne-based clean energy company Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd (AIM/ASX:CFU) is expanding its UK presence.

Independent energy retailer Australian Power & Gas (APG) (ASX: APK) had signed two new contracts for wholesale gas supply.

Australian gas giant Santos (ASX: STO) has successfully completed its fully underwritten A$500 million institutional placement at A$12.55 per share.

Oil and gas explorer Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) has increased its relevant interest in Impress Energy Ltd (ASX: ITC) to above 60 percent, as a result of continued strong on-market acceptances by Impress shareholders.

Australian energy firm Santos Ltd (ASX:STO) has flagged a $500 million to $1 billion equity raising to fund its Gladstone LNG project after signing a deal with state-run Korea Gas Corp (KOGAS).

Anglo-Australian Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) said production at its New Zealand Aluminium Smelters Ltd subsidiary was being cut by about 5 percent due to high electricity prices.

Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) today confirmed executing sale and purchase agreements with the NSW government to acquire the retail businesses of Integral Energy and Country Energy, and entering into GenTrader arrangements with Eraring Energy, for $3.25 billion.

Oil and gas explorer Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) has secured majority control of Impress Energy Limited (ASX: ITC) by lifting its relevant interest in Impress to above 50 per cent.

AGL Energy Ltd (ASX:AGK) confirmed today it has not acquired any assets in the New South Wales government's sale process for its energy retail businesses and electricity gentrader contracts.

Origin Energy (ASX: ORG) said potentially toxic chemicals discovered in coal seam wells pose no major health risk after tests of water from its Australia Pacific LNG coal seam gas fields.

Oil and gas explorer Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) Beach said today it has increased its relevant interest in Impress Energy Ltd (ASX: ITC) to above 45 percent, as a result of continued strong on-market acceptances by Impress shareholders.

Caltex Australia (ASX: CTX) says it expects that the volatility in exchange rate will hit its full year profit for 2010.

Anglo-Australian Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) and Canada's Ivanhoe Mines have ended a long-running dispute between them after signing a new agreement under which Rio Tinto will assume direct management of the Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold project in Mongolia.

Newcrest Mining (ASX:NCM) temporarily suspended operations in its Bonikro mine in Cote d'Ivoire, after contested elections in that country.

Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BPT) today announced a recommended and unconditional on-market cash offer for all of the issued and outstanding shares of Impress Energy Ltd (ASX: ITC) that it does not own.

Global miner Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) on Wednesday gave the green light to a further US$1.2 billion investment in its drive to lift annual iron ore production capacity in Western Australia's Pilbara region to 283 million tonnes per annum (Mt/a).

Oil and gas producer Origin Energy Ltd (ASX: ORG) and Australian Carbon Trust today signed an agreement to develop a strategic alliance for dedicated and more accessible financing, designed to accelerate the uptake of energy efficiency technologies and practices by Australian businesses.

The devastating mine accidents in the recent months have prompted Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) to further pursue new innovative means of safety for its miners. Australia's Rio Tinto will be investing some C$10 million for research to create a Centre for Underground Mine Construction.

Australia's largest coal hauler and transporter QR National stabilised at $2.55 per share at its mid-day introductory debut at the Australian stock exchange and so far raised some $4.6 billion for the Queensland government.

Gas and oil explorer Bow Energy (ASX: BOW) says this year's exploration has positioned it as the holder of one of the largest uncommitted 3P gas reserves in Queensland.

Oil and gas explorers Beach Energy Ltd (ASX: BP) and Impress Energy Ltd (ASX: ITC) have agreed, subject to shareholder approval, to merge through a Scheme of Arrangement.

Shares in New Zealand coal miner Pike River Coal Ltd dropped sharply after reports of an explosion at its underground mine about 50 kilometers (30 miles) north of the town of Greymouth.

Queensland-based Macarthur Coal Limited (ASX:MCM) has seen profits tripling in fiscal 2011 as the higher demand for steel-grade coal grows and supply situation tightens further.