Central and eastern Europe may follow the EU's lead in many respects, but the rising use of natural gas for electricity generation is not one of them, writes NJ Watson

The power industry in China lives and breathes coal, an abundant resource in this fast-growing Asian super state. But coal-fired power generation has come at a price, with the country facing some of the worst pollution levels in the world, writes Martin Clark.

The oil ministry has designed a plan to capture flared gas and bring new output on stream, but it is already behind schedule if it wants to supply expected power demand by the end of the decade, writes Ayesha Daya

Saudi Arabia has become the latest member the region's expanding roster of private power producers. In mid-November, the kingdom signed its first privately financed independent power and water project (IWPP)

Southeast Europe is the new investment frontier for international power companies, although progress towards opening the electricity markets in the region is likely to be halting. By NJ Watson

China is facing a large gap between electricity demand and supply in the long term. NJ Watson reports on what the is country doing to mitigate the problem

THEY WERE calling it Draxula, the monster power station of the north sucking the life out of the nation's energy industry – a shocking horror story that many feared would leave the country powerless, writes Robert Lea.

Among the darker secrets being unearthed in Lebanon is the touchy subject of debt-ridden Electricité du Liban. Ayesha Daya writes

The European Electricity Directive, like the Gas Directive of 1998, was updated in 2003 because of 'significant shortcomings and possibilities for improving the functioning of the market'. Two years on, Liz Bossley, Richard Cockburn and Rob Kelvey consider the lack of progress towards a fully liberalised European market

Strong economic growth across Asia and the emergence of the US as a thermal coal importer have lifted coal prices to record highs over the past year, although things are now starting to ease, writes Martin Clark

An accident, in May, at the Chagino power station, near Moscow, drew attention to the dilapidated state of much of Russia's electricity-generating infrastructure and to the chaos that even temporary breakdowns can cause. A sweeping reorganisation of the highly regulated sector, intended to stimulate badly needed investment, is under way, writes Isabel Gorst

The European Gas Directive of 1998 was updated in 2003 because of "significant shortcomings and possibilities for improving the functioning of the market". Two years on, Liz Bossley and Gavin Templeton consider whether the dream of the free and competitive movement of gas within the EU is a reality

Rising oil and gas prices have led to one of the greatest comebacks in UK corporate history – from the verge of bankruptcy, British Energy's share price has almost doubled this year. But some analysts say the renaissance of the UK's nuclear generator is not sustainable writes Robert Lea

The UK's Centrica wants a bigger slice of the European gas market and it wants Brussels to level the playing field once and for all. Robert Lea writes

Once upon a time, economists praised the German economy for its long-term stability and steady growth. If that reputation has taken a knock in recent years, the country's two biggest utilities, E.On and RWE, have not noticed. Analysts and investors alike continue to hold both in high regard, writes Derek Brower

The government plans to sell part of EdF in October. But shaky finances, unruly unions and a disgruntled public promises to make the privatisation a hard sell, says NJ Watson

Gaz de France must adapt to life as a publicly quoted company, cope with competition in the domestic gas market, take on Electricité de France in the French power sector and expand internationally. The next two years will prove a critical period in the company's history, writes Ayesha Daya