Uzbekistan: In The Middle of A Central Asian Tug-of-War
February 12th, 2009
Via Stratfor (subscription required), an interesting anaylsis of Uzbekistan’s role in the spotlight as Russia and the U.S. engage in a strategic tug-of-war over Central Asia. As the article notes “…With a population of nearly 28 million, Uzbekistan it is the most populous of the former Soviet Central Asian republics. It is also one of […]
Read more »Russia and Iran: Emphasize “North-South” Routes vs. “East-West”
January 25th, 2009
Via Windows on Eurasia, an analysis of the renewed interest in the development of three major north-south routes that would link Russia with Iran — via the Caspian Sea, via a railroad through Azerbaijan, and via pipelines from Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan — a route that it is only half as long as the traditional sea […]
Read more »The New Great Game: Russia vs. The West over Caspian & Central Asian Energy Resources
January 21st, 2009
Via World Politics Review, an in-depth summary of the new geostrategic “Great Game” between Russia and the West over the future of Caspian and Central Asian energy resources. As the article notes, the prize resembles a set of traditional matreshka Russian dolls: the outermost doll represents the three nations bordering the Caspian itself — Azerbaijan, […]
Read more »Caspian Sea Energy Reserves and Geopolitical Intrigue
January 5th, 2009
Via Seeking Alpha, an interesting post which is centered on a review of a book entitled The New Great Game. However, I am noting it here as it provides a nice summary of issues related to the Caspian (with handy maps, no less). As the article notes “…The investigative journalist delves deeply into the geopolitical […]
Read more »Pipeline Politics: Uzbekistan Cuts Gas Supply To Tajikistan
January 2nd, 2009
From the Times of Central Asia, a report that Uzbekistan recently cut gas supplies to neighboring Tajikistan by 45% in a dispute over a $7 million debt. As the article notes: “…Before this weekend, Tajikistan was receiving 40,000 cubic meters of Uzbek gas per hour. As of last night, we are receiving around 22,000 cubic […]
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 »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.