Russia’s Resource Grab in Ukraine
April 29th, 2022
Via Foreign Policy, a report on how Ukraine’s extraordinary riches in energy, minerals, and agriculture are a prize for the Kremlin: Russia’s motives for invading Ukraine vary from security fears to revisionist historical claims that a Ukrainian national identity does not exist. Energy security also looms large—in particular, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s determination to ensure the […]
Read more »Bad Business Climate in Russia a Boon for Kazakhstan
April 27th, 2022
Via The Diplomat, a report on how Kazakhstan stands to benefit as Russian companies look to move out of Russia in order to trade globally again: The COVID-19 pandemic broke supply chains and mangled logistics the world over. The war in Ukraine, sanctions on Russia, and rising anti-Russian sentiments have added a new layer of […]
Read more »Marathon Petroleum Snaps Up Ecuador’s Oil After Russian Sanctions
April 25th, 2022
Via Boomberg, a report on Marathon’s purchase of Ecuadorian oil to make up for Russian crude: Marathon Petroleum Corp., previously the largest U.S. buyer of Russian oil, just beefed up supplies of Ecuadorian crude after sanctions cut off its supplies from Moscow. The Findlay, Ohio-based fuelmaker offered a 75-cent premium over the price marker for […]
Read more »Middle Corridor: Potential Alternative to Russian Railways?
April 25th, 2022
Via Jamestown Foundation, an article on the Middle Corridor as a potential alternative to Russian transit: The Russo-Ukrainian war has cast doubt on the sustainability of the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative’s (BRI) “Northern Corridor” because of mounting Western sanctions on this overland route’s key links—Russia and Belarus (see EDM, April 8, 18). The growing vulnerability of […]
Read more »Iraq’s Oil Dysfunction
April 21st, 2022
Courtesy of Foreign Policy, an article on why the world’s sixth-largest oil producer still suffers from fuel shortages and power outages: As Iraq marks 19 years since the U.S.-led invasion and the fall of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein’s regime this month, the country hasn’t turned into the stable, prosperous democracy that the United States and […]
Read more »Moscow’s Race Against Time To Divert Energy Exports From Europe To Asia
April 21st, 2022
Via BNE Intellinews, a report on Moscow’s efforts to diver energy exports from Europe to Asia: Europe’s unprecedented push to sever all energy ties with Russia has left Moscow scrambling to re-orientate its vast oil, gas and coal exports to Asian markets. But achieving such a monumental feat would likely take years, not to […]
Read more »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.