FACTBOX-Global energy investment hit by financial crisis

Nov 18 (Reuters) - The growing financial crisis and plunging energy prices have forced companies to scale back spending and delay projects, with expensive ventures in the Canadian oil sands hardest hit.

Below is a list of energy projects that have been delayed or scaled back in recent months, as well as other related news.

Nov 18 - British energy group BP Plc (BP.L) said it will close its Australian solar-cell factory by end-March 2009 to focus on bigger, lower-cost operations offshore. The factory is the BP's smallest solar plant.

Nov 17 - Petro-Canada (PCA.TO) defers construction of an upgrader for its C$21 billion ($17 billion) Fort Hills oil sands project. It will not make decision on the mine until 2009 as it expects costs to fall as oil sands projects fall by the wayside. It had previously planned a go-ahead decision in December.

Nov 14 - Austrian oil and gas group OMV AG (OMVV.VI) cuts oil production and gas marketing targets, also reviewing capex.

Nov 13 - Harvest Energy Trust (HTE_u.TO) defers C$2 billion ($1.6 billion) expansion of Come By Chance refinery in Newfoundland. Instead of 75,000 bpd expansion, which would have boosted output to 190,000 bpd, it will work on C$300 million of de-bottlenecking projects.

Nov 6 - Canadian Natural Resources Ltd (CNQ.TO) slows spending on second phase of Horizon oil sands project for 2009 after first phase costs rise to C$9.7 billion, up 42 percent from 2004 estimate. It also scraps timelines for phase 2, which would lift output to 250,000 bpd from 110,000.

Nov 6 - ConocoPhillips (COP.N) and Saudi Aramco halt bidding on 400,000 bpd joint-venture Yanbu refinery in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Aramco previously sought to renegotiate contracts for equipment and a refinery venture with France's Total SA (TOTF.PA).

Nov 5 - Saudi Arabia may renegotiate contracts for long-term projects such as the giant Moneefa oilfield expansion and the Karan gas scheme.

Nov 5 - Sunoco Inc (SUN.N) to save $375 million by scrapping upgrade of Tulsa, Oklahoma refinery; still looking to sell plant, which accounts for nearly 10 pct of 910,000 bpd capacity.

Nov 4 - BG postpones decision on whether to proceed with Phase III of Karachaganak field development, which aims to lift oil output to 16 million tonnes per annum (tpa) from 11 million.

Oct 30 - Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSa.L) to delay investment decision on second expansion of Athabasca oil sands project.

Oct 29 - Thai refiner and petrochemical company IRPC IRPC.BK reviews $1.5 billion investment plan. Has delayed a refinery expansion and cut run rate by 10,000 bpd.

Oct 27 - FPL Group (FPL.N), the largest wind-power operator in the U.S. to slash 2009 spending nearly 25 percent to $5.3 billion and new wind-power generation to 1,100 megawatts from 1,500 megawatts.

Oct 23 - Suncor Energy Inc (SU.TO) delays oil sands upgrader for C$20.6 billion Voyageur expansion by one year to 2013. Expansion boosts production from Suncor's oil sands operations near Fort McMurray, Alberta, to 550,000 bpd from 350,000.