The Iron Silk Road? China’s Western Rails To Form Link With Central Asia
January 28th, 2008
As reported by Xinhua, China is planning to start construction on two railways linking its westernmost Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region with the central Asian nations of Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan in 2008. Upon its completion in 2010, experts say the railway will provide a faster link between western China and central Asia and improve the […]
Read more »Uzbekistan and A Russian Energy Battle: Part of Lukoil’s Capital Flight Plan?
January 4th, 2008
Via Stratfor (subscription required), a highly interesting analysis of Uzbekistan’s status as a large natural gas producer that is locked into Russia’s interests, even though it has many potential export options beyond its large neighbor. As the article notes: “…Uzbekistan, an often-ignored energy source in the heart of Central Asia, ranks among the world’s top […]
Read more »Russia’s Energy Secret and The Chinese Threat
December 30th, 2007
A very interesting article in Newsweek, which details that – despite its aggressive energy-related dealings – Russia can barely meet its own demand. While reading this report, I can’t help but think of the Cold War years in which Russia (and other states for that matter) aggressively portrayed & projected its strength internationally, while the […]
Read more »Central Asian Business Round Up
October 20th, 2007
An interesting round up of news from Central Asia Beat, including the following business & investment tidbits: Finland’s Nokian Tyres will be working with Kazakhstan’s Ordabasy JSC to build a factory in Astana. The tires will serve the Kazakh and Russian Markets, eventually going into Eastern European distribution. Germany will sponsor Kazakhstan at the WTO […]
Read more »Should the West Pursue the New Trans Caspian Energy Project?
July 6th, 2007
Enjoyed Vasili Rukhadze’s interesting thoughts on a very strategic issue. You can read his entire article here at Neweurasia.net but, based on his analysis and my own experience in Kazahkstan in the late ’90s, believe his conclusions are very much on the mark: Pursuing the Trans Caspian Energy Project is well worth the investment. A […]
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.