Russia’s Resource Grab in Ukraine
April 29th, 2022
Via Foreign Policy, a report on how Ukraine’s extraordinary riches in energy, minerals, and agriculture are a prize for the Kremlin: Russia’s motives for invading Ukraine vary from security fears to revisionist historical claims that a Ukrainian national identity does not exist. Energy security also looms large—in particular, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s determination to ensure the […]
Read more »Ukraine War Has Killed China’s Eurasian Railway Dreams
March 7th, 2022
Via Foreign Policy, an article on the impact of the Ukraine conflict on China’s ‘Iron Silk Road’ dreams: When he was welcomed to Beijing’s Great Hall of the People on Feb. 6 for the Olympics, Polish President Andrzej Duda talked to Chinese President Xi Jinping about the long-standing vision of transforming Poland into China’s “gateway to Europe.” […]
Read more »China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway Remains Uncertain
January 13th, 2021
Via Third Pole, an article on the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway which – after more than two decades of negotiations – remains stalled on basic issues, with no clear way forward: The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway (CKU) has been under discussion for almost 25 years, but construction may never begin. Despite numerous high level meetings the three countries have failed to […]
Read more »A Pipelineistan Fable For Our Times
June 8th, 2020
Via the Asia Times, an article on how Ukraine was supposed to prevent Russia from deepening energy ties with Germany, but it didn’t work out that way: Once upon a time in Pipelineistan, tales of woe were the norm. Shattered dreams littered the chessboard – from IPI vs. TAPI in the AfPak realm to the neck-twisting Nabucco opera in Europe. […]
Read more »Pipeline Politics: Russia’s Nord Stream Blows Cold Air On Ukraine’s Negotiating Position
September 8th, 2011
Via STRATFOR (subscription required), thoughtful analysis on the impact that Russia’s now operational Nord Stream natural gas pipeline will have upon ongoing negotiations between Ukraine and Russia over natural gas prices. As the article notes: Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Minister Yuri Boyko stated Sept. 7 that Ukraine opposes a merger between its state energy […]
Read more »Russia’s Push to Take Naftogaz … and Ukraine
May 7th, 2010
Courtesy of STRATFOR (subscription required), an interesting report on Russia’s efforts to take Naftogaz — and possibly more of Ukraine from an economic & political influence perspective. As the analysis notes: “…Ukrainian Prime Minister Nikolai Azarov on Wednesday acknowledged that his newly elected pro-Russian government was seriously considering Moscow’s proposal to merge its state-run behemoth […]
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.