LONDON, Dec 9 (Reuters) - British prompt wholesale gas
prices edged up on Wednesday morning as imports throught the BBL
pipeline fell and amid concerns about a looming strike at EDF's
French power plants.
* The day-ahead contract was 0.50 pence higher
at
41.00 pence per therm by 0853 GMT.
* Gas for immediate delivery inched up by 0.10
pence
to 41.00 p/therm.
* Traders said a looming strike at EDF in France
from
Thursday could be providing upside support for gas.
* Although the impact on power capacity of the strike is not
known, France relies on nuclear for the bulk of its electricity
and disruptions there can have a knock-on effect on the UK gas
market.
* EDF's unions have called to go on strike on Dec. 10
against the
French utility's restructuring plan.
* Imports through the BBL pipeline to Britain are nominated
at 8
million cubic metres (mcm), 11 mcm lower from the 19 mcm seen
since the beginning of the month.
* Other market drivers are bearish.
* Local distribution zone demand, mainly for heating, is
lower and
liquefied natural gas send-out is nominated higher.
* The latest weather forecast for the rest of this week
shows
below normal temperatures in north-west Europe but milder
weather with temperatures around 3 degrees Celsius above normal
are forecast for next week, Refinitiv gas analysts said.
* Gas-for-power demand is forecast 19 million cubic metres
(mcm)
lower for Thursday as stronger wind output is expected.
* Higher wind generation typically lowers demand for gas
from
power plants.
* Peak wind generation is forecast at 6.9 gigawatts (GW) on
Wednesday, rising to 12.4 GW on Thursday, out of total metered
capacity of around 18 GW, Elexon data showed.
* The gas system was oversupplied by 9 mcm, with demand
forecast
at 335 mcm and flows at 344 mcm/day, National Grid data showed.
* The January gas price at the Dutch TTF hub
was up
0.12 euro at 14.52 euros per megawatt hour.
* The benchmark Dec-20 EU carbon contract was 0.51
euro
higher at 30.08 euros a tonne.
(Reporting by Nina Chestney)