Indonesia’s EV Dream Crashing Into A Lack of Lithium
May 16th, 2023
Via The Asia Times, an article on how Indonesia is importing a fraction of the lithium needed to crank up EV battery production with no clear new source in sight: Delivering a speech on the sidelines of last year’s G20 Summit, President Joko Widodo pointed to lithium as the one crucial element Indonesia still needed […]
Read more »Kyrgyzstan: China Not Taking Over Largest Iron Mine
May 16th, 2023
Via Energy Daily, a report that Kyrgyzstan will not transfer control over its largest iron mine to China: Kyrgyzstan has denied that it wants to transfer control of its largest iron mine to neighbouring China, following claims that it would do so to pay off debt to Beijing. China has been reinforcing its presence in […]
Read more »Brazil & Mexico: Transforming Latin American Convenience Stores
May 16th, 2023
Via Emerging Markets Today, an interesting look at how Brazil and Mexico are transforming the usual Latin American convenience store: Convenience stores (or c-stores) in Latin America have been expanding consistently in recent years. Due to shifting consumer preferences, urbanization, and the rising demand for products that can be used on the go, convenience stores […]
Read more »China’s BRI Adding Afghanistan?
May 16th, 2023
Via Al Arabiya, a report that China may extend BRI funding to Afghanistan for infrastructure projects: The Taliban agreed with China and Pakistan to extend the Belt and Road Initiative to Afghanistan, potentially drawing in billions of dollars to fund infrastructure projects in the sanctions-hit country. Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang and his Pakistani counterpart […]
Read more »Finally, Rich Countries Recognize Africa’s Right to Use Gas
May 15th, 2023
Courtesy of Foreign Policy, commentary on how Western-led blanket bans on gas finance stifle development, hurt climate goals, and reek of hypocrisy: In 2010, Mozambique discovered massive offshore natural gas reserves that promised to transform the country’s economy. Mozambique’s current GDP is around $15 billion; the government expects sales from liquefied natural gas (LNG) to […]
Read more »Sudan Conflict Delivers Fresh Blow To China’s African Lending Strategy
May 15th, 2023
Courtesy of The Financial Times, an article on how Beijing’s loans to Sudan are at risk just as Chinese lenders are hit by series of defaults across the continent: The conflict in Sudan has dealt a fresh blow to China’s strategy of financial engagement with Africa, putting at further risk loans from Beijing worth at […]
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.