China’s Promise of Prosperity Brought Laos Debt — and Distress
October 14th, 2023
Via The Washington Post, an article on Laos’ economy, pushed into distress by BRI infrastructure loans: At speeds of almost 100 miles an hour, the Chinese-built train zips over the Mekong River and careers through dozens of newly bored tunnels as it travels north from the capital. At its last stop, near the Chinese border, […]
Read more »Mongolia, France Strike $1.7B Uranium Mining Deal
October 14th, 2023
Via Nikkei Asia, a report on a Mongolian mining deal: France and Mongolia have signed a 1.6 billion euro ($1.7 billion) deal that paves the way for the mining of uranium in the landlocked country, the chairman of French nuclear energy provider Orano told Nikkei Asia on Thursday. Under the framework agreement, Orano will operate […]
Read more »Iranian, Syrian Oil Ministers Emphasize Bilateral Energy Cooperation
October 12th, 2023
Via Tasnim News, an article on recent moves between Iran and Syria to cooperate on energy: Iranian Oil Minister Javad Owji and his Syrian counterpart Firas Hassan Kaddour underscored the importance of enhancing bilateral cooperation in the energy sector. The two ministers met on the sidelines of the 6th Russian Energy Week International Forum in […]
Read more »Uzbekistan’s Nascent Push for Green Energy
October 12th, 2023
Via The Diplomat, a look at how – amidst the energy and electricity crisis – Tashkent’s pursuit of renewables is as much about addressing the threat of climate change as it is about shoring up its energy security; Uzbekistan is not the first country that comes to mind when talking about renewable energy. But the […]
Read more »China’s BYD Steps Up Globalization Strategy with EV Plant in Uzbekistan
October 12th, 2023
Via the South China Morning Post, a look at how China’s BYD has stepped up its globalization strategy with an electric-car plant in Uzbekistan targeting Central Asia: The Warren Buffett-backed carmaker’s joint venture UzAuto will start producing cars in the southeastern Uzbek city of Jizzakh from next year BYD will produce the Chazor compact EV and […]
Read more »The Fall of Russia’s Gas Giant Dulls a Key Tool of Putin’s Power
October 12th, 2023
Via Bloomberg, a report on how Gazprom has lost much of its scare factor and its export ambitions are now chiefly in China’s hands: Russian President Vladimir Putin overplayed his hand by trying to use Gazprom PJSC to bring Europe to its knees, and now his efforts to bolster the state-controlled gas giant are at the mercy of China. After […]
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.