The Thirsty Dragon: China Ponders A Pipeline Loan to Russia
October 29th, 2008
Stratfor (subscription required) provided an excellent analysis of the recent discussions between China and Russia over a potential $20 -$25 billion loan to Russian state-owned companies Transneft and Rosneft to build a connector to the Eastern Siberian Pacific Ocean pipeline and ship oil to China. As the article notes: “…China is pondering giving Russia’s state-owned […]
Read more »Gazprom’s Move Into Kyrgyzstan
October 10th, 2008
As reported by Reuters, Gazprom recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Kyrgyzstan which will help it buy a stake in Kyrgyz state-owned gas company Kyrgyzgaz, the state gas export monopoly. As the article notes “…the memorandum was signed in Bishkek as part of Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev’s visit to Kyrgyzstan and allowed the […]
Read more »Turkey: Is The Silk Road of the 21st Century Turning Towards Russia?
October 9th, 2008
Via Energy Risk, a very good analysis by Robert Amsterdam of Turkey’s geostrategic importance as the bridge between Europe and the Near East, particularly as the European Union considers its dwindling options for alternative supply routes beyond the reach of Gazprom, Russia’s natural gas oligopoly. As the article notes: “…A key transit hub of both […]
Read more »Economic and Geopolitical Implications of Russia’s Declining Oil Production
October 5th, 2008
Via Stratfor (subscription required), an in-depth analysis of Russia’s declining oil production capacity and implications this will cause for Russia as a whole. As the report notes, Russia will not be able to maintain current oil production without a concerted effort to develop new production, transportation infrastructure and encouraging greenfield projects: “…The Russian Energy Ministry […]
Read more »Gazprom & Kyrgyzstan: An Energy Side of “The Great Game”
October 3rd, 2008
Via Energy Daily, interesting analysis of Gazprom’s strategy of offering former Soviet republics in the Caucasus and Central Asia near-market prices for its future natural gas production, undercutting the West’s major trump card in negotiations. As the article notes: “…Among the most vulnerable to Gazprom’s policies is Kyrgyzstan, which is largely bereft of hydrocarbon resources, […]
Read more »SOCAR So Good: Azerbaijan Wants to Boost Oil Carried by Russian Pipelines
October 2nd, 2008
From Windows on Eurasia, an interesting report that Azerbaijan hopes to send more oil through Russia. According to the article: “…The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) is negotiating with Russian officials to boost the amount of oil transported by Russian pipelines to the West, a move that many people around the world will see […]
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.