South Stream: Still a Mere Pipe Dream?
May 16th, 2009
Via Stratfor (subscription required), a detailed report on the recent agreement between Gazprom and Italy’s energy giant ENI on the development of the South Stream natural gas pipeline. Despite this step forward, there remain – as the article notes – significant political and logistical hurdles to be overcome: “…South Stream, originally proposed by Italy and […]
Read more »Gazprom: Hungry For Hungary?
May 8th, 2009
Via The Asia Times, a fascinating look at indications that Russian energy giant Gazprom may be preparing to take over a large part of the Hungarian domestic gas distribution network via a highly opaque deal which could threaten Hungary’s energy security. As the article notes: “…On April 28, Emfesz KFT, a major Hungarian gas distribution […]
Read more »Caspian Pipeline Consortium: Moving Towards Russian Control
April 30th, 2009
Via Stratfor (subscription required), a report that Russia is on the cusp of acquiring BP’s stake in the Caspian Pipeline Consortium pipeline, which would give Moscow majority ownership of a vital energy asset. As the article notes: “…Vagit Alekperov, president of Russian oil firm LUKoil, is in Kazakhstan until May 1, meeting with officials from […]
Read more »Russia’s Squeeze on Turkmen Oil: Reverberations in Iran
April 29th, 2009
Via Stratfor (subscription required), interesting analysis of the impact that a recent dispute between Russia & Turkmenistan (which resulted in Russia having an even firmer grip on Turkmenistan’s energy supplies) had upon Iran’s geopolitical power in the region. As the article notes: “…Turkmenistan was reminded recently who calls the shots in Central Asia when Russia, […]
Read more »Turkmenistan’s Relationship With Russia
April 28th, 2009
Via Stratfor (subscription required), analysis of the political relationship between the isolated and energy-rich Central Asian country of Turkmenistan and Russia, which is growing increasingly tense these days. As the report notes: “…Turkmenistan and Russia exchange approximately 50 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas annually. However, when a natural gas pipeline running from Turkmenistan […]
Read more »Dividing The Caspian
April 22nd, 2009
Via Energy Daily, an interesting look at the Caspian region which – since 1991 – has emerged as the world’s leading untapped energy source over which numerous nations/interests have been vying. However, as noted in the article below, the biggest roadblock to the full development of these hydrocarbon resources remains the fact that 18 years […]
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.