Author Archive

Venezuela Quietly Courting Big Oil Once Again

Via The International Herald Tribune, a report that Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, who initially reveled in describing the crash as proof of capitalism’s flaws, is now quietly courting Western oil companies once again. As the article notes: “…Until recently, buoyed by the surging price of oil, Chávez had pushed foreign oil companies here into a […]

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China and Iran Sign Large-Scale Oil Development Contract

Via Energy Daily, a report that China and Iran recently signed a $1.76 billion contract for the initial development of the North Azadegan oil field in western Iran.  As the article notes: “…The agreement between China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) foresees production from the field reaching 75,000 barrels […]

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Plowing Money Into Southern Sudan via A Warlord’s Family

Via The Financial Times, several interesting articles about investment in southern Sudan.  The first deals with a US businessman backed by former CIA and state department officials says he has secured a vast tract of fertile land in south Sudan from the family of a notorious warlord, in post-colonial Africa’s biggest private land deal.  The […]

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Falling Oil Prices = Falling Stars & Some Turnarounds in Fortune

From Foreign Policy’s new blog entitled The Call, some thoughts on winners & losers from the steep drop in oil prices and the financial meltdown.  As the report notes, the old Seven Sisters are now among the winners while frontier markets occupy a spot on the loser side of things: Until the middle of last […]

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Italy, Russia: Together In Tripoli

Via Robert Amsterdam’s fine blog, an interesting analysis of Italy’s ENI’s efforts to penetrate the Libyan market in partnership with Gazprom.  As the article notes: A few days ago, the CEO of the Italian energy group Eni told everybody he felt calm and “serene” with regard to Gazprom’s decision to cut off all gas flowing […]

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Russian – Ukraine Gas Standoff: Efforts To Yield A More Russian-Friendly Ukranian Government

Via Stratfor (subscription required), insightful analysis on how the latest round of the Russia – Ukraine gas pipeline “war” may turn out. As the article notes: “…Russian natural gas behemoth Gazprom has made Ukraine a new offer for the purchase of natural gas Jan. 4, this time raising its price from $179 per thousand cubic […]

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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.