India and Central Asia
June 3rd, 2008
As recently presented by the Foreign Policy Association, India has recently increased its diplomatic and strategic movements in Central Asia. Given that we examined China’s interest in Central Asia in a previous post, we wanted to offer this analysis of India’s growing interests as well: …India has many reasons to desire greater influence in Central […]
Read more »China, Afghanistan, and Pakistan: A Strategic Trade & Energy Corridor
June 3rd, 2008
Via The Asia Times, a very interesting analysis of China’s strategic interest in capitalizing on the convenience that Afghanistan and Pakistan offer for the exploitation of energy resources of Central Asia and the Middle East, and its resulting prioritization of the stability of Afghanistan. As the article notes: “… Afghanistan’s geographic location has made it […]
Read more »Iran as a Counter Balance to Gazprom’s Energy Power
May 7th, 2008
Robert Amsterdam (one of our favorite blogger analysts) recently offered interesting insight into the geopolitical importance of Iran in terms of EU energy security vis-à -vis Gazprom’s dominant position, and why Iran can be considered as a Gazprom monopoly “killer”. As the article notes, this may have impacted Russia’s actions during the major powers’ recent meeting […]
Read more »Chavez “Oils” Venezuela’s Ties with China, But At A Cost
May 7th, 2008
Via Stratfor (subscription required), very interesting analysis of PetroChina’s deal with Venezuelan oil company Petroleos de Venezuela to build a 400,000 barrels per day refinery in China’s Guangdong province designed to process Venezuelan bitumen oil (extremely heavy, sour oil) into orimulsion, a fuel developed and patented by PDVSA. The deal allows Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez […]
Read more »China’s Energy Diplomacy
March 11th, 2008
Via Energy Daily, an interesting analysis of China’s energy diplomacy as part of the country’s quest for energy to feed its export economy as well as its strategic competition with India for both resources and regional influence. In addition to building of a port in Pakistan, its extra-polite friendship with the rulers of Myanmar and […]
Read more »The Iron Silk Road (2): China Railroads Central Asia
February 3rd, 2008
As we have discussed earlier in this forum, China is attempting to draw Central Asia into its orbit by developing extensive energy links with the region’s nations but, as noted here earlier & reinforced by a recent Stratfor analysis, it now attempting to capture the whole of Central Asian economic life. As the analysis notes: […]
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.