Yemen LNG plant attacked

Yemen LNG has confirmed that its previously disclosed minor explosion on grounds inside the Balhaf LNG plant on Friday came from a "rocket-launched explosive device".

There were no injuries or significant operational interruptions, with only slight property damage reported.

Yemen LNG, which has 6.7 million tonnes per annum capacity at the two-train plant, said the government had boosted security measures.

Reported violence in Yemen last week also included al-Qaeda gunfire and car bomb attacks on a military hospital, an RPG fired at the Yemeni national security headquarters, and an assassination attempt on a presidential adviser.

Reuters reported that four Balhaf terminal-guarding Yemeni soldiers were killed in their sleep by suspected al-Qaeda militants in August.

Baird flags foreign buyers

New South Wales Treasurer Mike Baird has signalled that the state's Delta Coastal power assets, part of $3 billion power privatisation plans, may become foreign owned.

"It's the sort of asset that might have some international interest, given the age, given the nature, given the skill sets and given the position in the overall national market," Baird told the Australian Financial Review.

Delta accounts for 28% of the state's power-generation capacity through its gas-fired Colongra plant and coal-fired Values Point plant.

The $2.1 billion Macquarie Generation bidding process is continuing, with AGL Energy, ERM Power and China's Shenhua Energy reportedly shortlisted.

The Eraring and Delta West plants have already been sold, while the sale process for the biggest asset, the $2.1 billion Macquarie Generation is in the last stage, with AGL Energy, ERM Power and Shenhua Energy short-listed to bid.

Putin don't preach

With singer Madonna calling for the release of the "Arctic 30" Greenpeace protestors held on charges of hooliganism, Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly drafted an amnesty bill that may free them and the two jailed Pussy Riot feminist protestors that Amnesty International is campaigning for.

The bill is expected to mark the 20th anniversary of Russia's post-communist constitution on Thursday and is expected to be passed with no issues.

The BBC reported that the amnesty bill did not name who would be pardoned, but "hooliganism" was one of the new categories it gave amnesty to.