Tensions Flare in Ancient Thai City Over New Chinese-Backed High-Speed Railway Development
June 15th, 2023
Courtesy of The China-Global South Project, a fascinating article about a bitter dispute underway in the ancient Thai city of Ayutthaya over the risks posed by a new Chinese-backed high-speed railway that will pass through the city. As noted, there’s no simple answer here. On the hand, the new railway will make it easier for […]
Read more »Zola, Sun King, and M-KOPA: Three Paths To Africa’s Off-Grid Energy Future
June 15th, 2023
Courtesy of Impact Alpha, a look at three (3) different business models powering Africa’s off-grid energy sector: For a decade, access to affordable, reliable and modern energy increased by roughly 100 million people a year – until the global Covid-19 pandemic. Since then, the number of people who live without any access to electricity has […]
Read more »China, Russia Interests Diverge and Clash in Sudan
June 15th, 2023
Via The Conversation, a look at how China and Russia are involved in the Sudan conflict in which China’s approach favors economics and stability while Russia puts priority on conflict-stoking arms sales: As clashes continue between the Sudanese military and rapid support forces, the current and historic role of foreign governments in Sudanese affairs is […]
Read more »BlackRock and Brookfield Are Betting Big on Tiny Solar Farms in Chile
June 15th, 2023
Courtesy of Bloomberg, a report on how Chilean solar farms give ESG-focused investors access to stable prices: Some of the world’s biggest fund managers are piling in to a quirky Chilean business model that offers guaranteed long-term prices for power produced by tiny renewable plants. BlackRock Inc. and Brookfield Corp. are among firms buying portfolios […]
Read more »Rwanda, A Rising Star in Africa’s Economic Landscape
June 15th, 2023
Via Renew Capital, a look at Rwanda: Rwanda, the land of a thousand hills, is a vibrant nation with a population exceeding 13 million people and an estimated GDP of $32 billion (in purchasing power parity terms) as of the end of 2022. Rwanda has been recognized for its efforts in promoting gender equality and […]
Read more »Africa Seeks New Ideas on How to Fill an Infrastructure Gap
June 15th, 2023
Via Bloomberg, a look at Africa’s infrastructure challenges and opportunities: Africa will need some innovative thinking to fill a yawning infrastructure gap. That’s the message from delegates at this week’s inaugural Africa edition of the Bloomberg New Economy Gateway conference. By some estimates, the continent requires as much as $170 billion a year to build […]
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.