BP p.l.c. (BP) is an oil company, operating through its subsidiaries. With effect from January 1, 2008, it operated in two business segments: Exploration and Production, and Refining and Marketing. A separate business, Alternative Energy, reported in other businesses and corporate, handles its low-carbon businesses. Exploration and Production’s activities include oil and natural gas exploration, development and production (upstream activities), together with related pipeline, transportation and processing activities (midstream activities), as well as the marketing and trading of natural gas (including liquefied natural gas), power and natural gas liquids. The activities of Refining and Marketing include the refining, manufacturing, supply and trading, marketing and transportation of crude oil, petroleum and petrochemicals products and related services. In April 2008, BP registered in Russia its subsidiary, BP Exploration Services.