Archive for 2009

Shift In Central Asia?

Via Stratfor (subscription required), interesting analysis of the shifting dynamics in Central Asia as the global financial crisis and declining energy prices have shifted Central Asian regional leader Kazakhstan to an inward focus, and offered Uzbekistan an opportunity to reassert its historic role as regional leader.  As the article notes: “…Central Asia had remained stagnant […]

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Baku Looks East: Who Lost Azerbaijan?

Via Energy Daily, an intriguing analysis of a recent agreement beween Russia and Azerbaijan that may be the harbinger of a dramatic shift in Baku’s Western-leaning policy.  As the article notes: “…On March 27, officials from Gazprom and the State Oil Co. of Azerbaijan Republic signed a memorandum of understanding providing that discussions between the […]

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China To Lend $10B To Kazakhstan In Return For Oil Stake

Via Bloomberg, a report that China, the world’s second-biggest energy consumer, may agree next week on lending $10 billion to Kazakhstan in return for the right to take a stake in an oil producer in the Central Asian country.  As the article notes: “…China National Petroleum Corp. plans to buy a minority holding in AO […]

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Venezuela Seeks Japanese Support for PDVSA

Via Robert Amsterdam, an interesting look at Venezuela’s continuing efforts to reach out to global firms to help finance its oil sector.  As the article notes, the most recent initiative involved Japan: “…Hugo Chavez and Japan’s Prime Minister Taro Aso today agreed to cooperate on oil and gas developments in the Latin American nation, according […]

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Iran’s Mysteries

Via Gregor.us, an interesting examination of Iran’s recent announcements of new oil discoveries.  As the article notes: “…People are usually shocked to learn Iran imports 50% of its gasoline. This effectively destroys a good portion of their export earnings from oil. Obviously, therefore, it would make sense for Iran to expand its domestic refining capacity. […]

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Mongolia: Another Saudi Arabia?

According to Marc Faber, the publisher of the Gloom, Boom & Doom report, said Mongolia is “torn between two lovers – China and Russia,” and is a country with huge potential.  As he notes: “The country is incredibly resource rich, another Saudi Arabia, next to the largest population in the world”

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WILDCATS AND BLACK SHEEP
Wildcats & Black Sheep is a personal interest blog dedicated to the identification and evaluation of maverick investment opportunities arising in frontier - and, what some may consider to be, “rogue” or “black sheep” - markets around the world.

Focusing primarily on The New Seven Sisters - the largely state owned petroleum companies from the emerging world that have become key players in the oil & gas industry as identified by Carola Hoyos, Chief Energy Correspondent for The Financial Times - but spanning other nascent opportunities around the globe that may hold potential in the years ahead, Wildcats & Black Sheep is a place for the adventurous to contemplate & evaluate the emerging markets of tomorrow.