O Petróleo é Nosso: But Is It Petrobras’ or Brazil’s Petoro’s?
September 12th, 2008
Via The Financial Times, an article noting that Brazil’s recent offshore oil find is set to pit one of the world’s most important emerging economies against both foreign equity investors and international oil companies, and may also lead to the creation of a new state owned entity at the expense of Petrobras. As the article […]
Read more »Russia’s Russia’s Energy Politics: Short Term Impact with Long Term Implications
August 30th, 2008
As analyzed by Stratfor (subscription required), the Russian threat of turning off lights or heat in Central and Eastern European capitals — especially in winter — is a powerful one. While Europe can succeed in its efforts to diversify its energy sources in the long term, Russia is sure to use its compelling energy lever […]
Read more »Iran + Oman = Gas Partnership?
August 30th, 2008
As recently reported by Arabian Business, Iran’s oil minister will travel to Muscat to discuss plans to export Iranian gas to Oman from where it could be exported using an Omani liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant. As the article notes: “…Iran has the world’s second biggest reserves but has been slow to develop gas exports […]
Read more »Will India Be Imperial in Russia’s Far North?
August 29th, 2008
Via The Financial Times, an update on India’s bid for Imperial Oil’s Russian assets that we have discussed before. As the article notes:that “…only two events could delay the final curtain [to India’s Oil and Natural Gas Corp agreed bid]. One would be a decision by the Russian authorities to block state-controlled ONGC on antitrust […]
Read more »The Pipeline War?
August 12th, 2008
As noted by Robert Amsterdam in his ever insightful blog, Russia’s invasion of Georgia is mostly about seizing control of the only energy conduit threatening their monopoly of supply from Central Asia to Europe. As his blog notes and this piece from the Globe and Mail concludes: “…Georgia is a crucial transit point for oil […]
Read more »Original Seven Sisters: Old & Struggling
August 10th, 2008
From Newsweek, a timely reminder of the struggles facing the original Seven Sisters and the rise of the new oil majors. As the article notes: “…The escalating [BP] dispute is emblematic of the problems facing Big Oil—shrinking access, falling profit margins, underinvestment in equipment and technology and a business model that’s increasingly questioned. Major Western […]
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.