Author Archive

Medium Term Geopolitical Power of Oil: Tilting Towards Asian/Chinese Financiers

We’ve tracked the series of long term oil deals being signed by the Chinese around the world (most recently, in Brazil & Russia) and now Steve LeVine (via Business Week) has provided an analytical piece explaining how the current underinvestment in production is going to lead to another boom cycle in prices – however this […]

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A Total Experience in Yemen…

Via The New York Times, an interesting report on Total’s activities in Yemen.  As the article notes “…Yemen is a showcase for Total, whose experience here shows how far an oil company will go these days to unearth new energy supplies. Because of the endlessly complicated interplay of geology and geopolitics, access to petroleum resources […]

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China’s Long Term Strategy in Africa Defies Current Market Woes

Via Africa Asia Confidential, an in depth analysis of China’s growing relationship with Liberia, which is expanding into Guinea and Sierra Leone.  As the article notes: “…The US$2.68 billion agreement signed by China Union’s Chief Executive Yin Fuyou and Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on 19 January to restart iron ore production at the old […]

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Iran’s Interest in Turkmen Gas

Via Energy Daily, a report of Iran’s increasing efforts to establish itself as a major friend to its oil- and gas-rich neighbors, despite the strength of its more dominant competitors and the international sanctions in place, specifically Turkmenistan.  As the article notes: “…Since the death of Turkmenistan’s Saparmurat “Turkmenbashi” (President for Life) Niyazov in December […]

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China’s Crude Finance – China & Brazil Con(Tango)

Via Stratfor (subscription required), a close look at the most recent of China’s yuan-for-resources initiatives.  As the article notes: “…Jose Sergio Gabrielli, the chief executive of Brazilian state oil firm Petroleo Brasileiro SA (Petrobras), has announced a pending deal with the China Development Bank. Under the rough sketch of the deal that has been released, […]

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Gazprom’s Woes = Less Influence for Russia

Via Stratfor (subscription required), a detailed look at Gazprom’s troubling declines in both production and export values in 2008 and even sharper falls predicted for 2009.  As the article notes, less revenue for Gazprom translates into less influence for Russia and could have long-term implications for Moscow’s relationship with Europe and the United States: “…Figures […]

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ABOUT
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.