As Enron expanded beyond the natural gas pipeline business, it also reached
beyond U.S. borders. Enron International, a wholly owned subsidiary of Enron, was
created to construct and manage energy assets outside the United States, particularly
in markets where energy was being deregulated. The unit’s rst major project
was the construction of the Teesside electric power plant in the United Kingdom,
which began operation in 1993. Enron subsequently entered contracts to construct
and manage projects in Eastern Europe, Africa, the Middle East, India, China and
Central and South America. These projects represented signi cant investments in
these economies.
While the privatization of energy producers and deregulation of energy markets
created demand for the management of energy assets outside the United
States, Enron faced some distinctive risks in entering these new markets. Some of
8 Journal of Economic Perspectives
the international projects were for the construction and management of pipelines,
where Enron had a core competence, but many others were not. Could the
company’s core expertise be extended to other types of energy assets, such as power
plants? Also, international diversi cation, particularly in developing economies
such as India and China, exposed Enron to political risks. For example, the Dabhol
power project in India represented the single largest foreign direct investment
project until that time in India, and it attracted considerable political opposition
and controversy. Given its limited business experience in developing economies,
did Enron have expertise in managing the risk that any returns would be taxed or
its asset expropriated after construction of the plant? Even if Enron was successful
in the international energy market, questions could be raised about whether the
company could create a sustainable advantage over competitors that later sought to
enter the market. Many existing players had expertise in managing the construction
and operations of power plants.
As Enron expanded beyond the natural gas pipeline business, it also reached
beyond U.S. borders. Enron International, a wholly owned subsidiary of Enron, was
created to construct and manage energy assets outside the United States, particularly
in markets where energy was being deregulated. The unit’s rst major project
was the construction of the Teesside electric power plant in the United Kingdom,
which began operation in 1993. Enron subsequently entered contracts to construct
and manage projects in Eastern Europe, Africa, the Middle East, India, China and
Central and South America. These projects represented signi cant investments in
these economies.
While the privatization of energy producers and deregulation of energy markets
created demand for the management of energy assets outside the United
States, Enron faced some distinctive risks in entering these new markets. Some of
8 Journal of Economic Perspectives
the international projects were for the construction and management of pipelines,
where Enron had a core competence, but many others were not. Could the
company’s core expertise be extended to other types of energy assets, such as power
plants? Also, international diversi cation, particularly in developing economies
such as India and China, exposed Enron to political risks. For example, the Dabhol
power project in India represented the single largest foreign direct investment
project until that time in India, and it attracted considerable political opposition
and controversy. Given its limited business experience in developing economies,
did Enron have expertise in managing the risk that any returns would be taxed or
its asset expropriated after construction of the plant? Even if Enron was successful
in the international energy market, questions could be raised about whether the
company could create a sustainable advantage over competitors that later sought to
enter the market. Many existing players had expertise in managing the construction
and operations of power plants.
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