China and Iran Sign Large-Scale Oil Development Contract
January 15th, 2009
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 […]
Read more »Caspian Energy in 2008: “The Best of Times, The Worst of Times”
December 30th, 2008
Via Energy Daily, a summary of 2008 for the five petro-states ringing the Caspian. As the article notes “…Three of these are the former Soviet republics of Russia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. Iran, subject to nearly three decades of U.S.-led sanctions, has longstanding problems as a result that have stymied foreign investment there, while Turkmenistan’s fiscal […]
Read more »Go, Go, GOPEC…
December 24th, 2008
Via The Financial Times, a report on the recent meeting of gas exporting countries during which ministers meeting in Moscow transformed what had been an occasional talking shop into a formal body with a permanent secretariat. While, for now, Russia is probably right that “GOPEC” cannot control output and prices, (unlike oil, natural gas relies […]
Read more »A Future Middle East of Failed States?
December 17th, 2008
Via The Asia Times, a highly pessimistic look at the economies of the largest Muslim countries, namely Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey. While I do not wholly agree with the thesis of the piece, I felt it useful to present The Times’ views. As the article notes: “…Iran’s President Mahmud Ahmadinejad controls Iran through a kleptocracy […]
Read more »Iran’s Faltering Economy: Grasping at Foreign Current Debt “Straws”
December 16th, 2008
Via Stratfor (subscription required), an insightful analysis of Iran’s current economic dilemma as the price of oil — Iran’s main source of revenue — has plunged dramatically in recent months. As the article notes: “…Iran’s central bank has given permission to banks to issue foreign currency debt instruments as part of an effort to attract […]
Read more »Russia & Iran: Making Do With Less
November 12th, 2008
Via Stratfor (subscription required), an interesting analysis of the impact that falling oil prices could have upon both Russia’s and Iran’s domestic expenditures on social and economic programs. At the article notes “…Russian Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin announced Nov. 12 that the government was revising down its oil-price forecast for future budgeting decisions. Specifically, the […]
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.