China To Lend $10B To Kazakhstan In Return For Oil Stake
April 12th, 2009
Via Bloomberg, a report that China, the world’s second-biggest energy consumer, may agree next week on lending $10 billion to Kazakhstan in return for the right to take a stake in an oil producer in the Central Asian country. As the article notes: “…China National Petroleum Corp. plans to buy a minority holding in AO […]
Read more »Venezuela Seeks Japanese Support for PDVSA
April 10th, 2009
Via Robert Amsterdam, an interesting look at Venezuela’s continuing efforts to reach out to global firms to help finance its oil sector. As the article notes, the most recent initiative involved Japan: “…Hugo Chavez and Japan’s Prime Minister Taro Aso today agreed to cooperate on oil and gas developments in the Latin American nation, according […]
Read more »Iran’s Mysteries
April 10th, 2009
Via Gregor.us, an interesting examination of Iran’s recent announcements of new oil discoveries. As the article notes: “…People are usually shocked to learn Iran imports 50% of its gasoline. This effectively destroys a good portion of their export earnings from oil. Obviously, therefore, it would make sense for Iran to expand its domestic refining capacity. […]
Read more »Gazprom Gains Control and ENI Exhales With Relief
April 10th, 2009
Via Stratfor (subscription required), analysis of Gazprom’s $4.2 billion acquisition of the 20 percent stake in Gazprom Neft held by Italian energy giant ENI. As the article notes, the original purchase by ENI was never intended to result in a permanent stake in Gazprom Neft, but rather to help Gazprom fight off a challenge from […]
Read more »More Pipe Dreams? Russian & Turkey Thoughts On Blue Stream 2
April 6th, 2009
Via Energy Daily, an interesting article on the continued impact that January’s natural gas dispute between Russia and Ukraine has had throughout European energy markets: Europe, alarmed by the vulnerability of its supplies, is sounding out new possibilities for transmission of natural gas, including the proposed Nabucco pipeline. Russia, in its turn, is seeking bypass […]
Read more »Gazprom: Into Africa (Again)…
April 4th, 2009
Via Energy Daily, a detailed report on Russia’s renewed interest in Nigeria’s oil patch. As the article notes: “…Russian energy firm Gazprom has signed an agreement with the New Nigeria Development Co. for exploration of three oil blocks in the country’s north, officials from both countries said.Though rights to the blocks in the Chad Basin […]
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.