Syria’s Transit Future
Syria has always played an important role in the development of Middle East transport corridors, and the country has long held a particularly special place in the transit of energy resources.
Due to the mass protests that began in Syria in March 2011, and escalated into civil war, the country no longer occupies the position of a regional transportation center. This has a negative impact on trade in the region and the development ...
Impact of the Economic Crisis
Despite impressive technological progress, renewable energy remains largely uncompetitive with conventional energy sources. The reason for the rapid development of renewable energy in the European Union has been primarily large-scale government support. During the economic crisis, these subsidies have become ...
... 1970s-1980s, Western Europe needed Soviet hydrocarbons for two main reasons: 1) they formed the economic component of detente (trade, instead of war), and 2) were seen as an alternative to the Middle East, which was then the most unstable region in terms of energy geopolitics (“oil shocks” and so forth). In the 1990s and early 2000s, Europe closed its eyes to its energy dependence on Russia, expecting the country to become a kind of second Norway, i.e. a politically neutral energy resource base ...
... Ruehl, Group Chief Economist and Vice President of BP, this time around the multinational oil supermajor aimed to “shake-up the crystal ball” by recalibrating some of its old formulas in the bid to provide a fresh outlook on the way global energy markets will evolve. In this post Casing Point explores to what results this recalibration leads and what is in store for us in the world of energy; at the end should we anticipate major shifts or expect much of the same as in the last several ...
... mining of uranium through a contractual relationship with the French state-owned company Areva.
World annual production of U3O8 for now is growing but the market is considered “slow.” As a result spot uranium prices do not impact the broad energy market like spot oil prices do. But the market remains a target of opportunity for “pump and dump” specialists, and for speculators and arbitragers seeking to control, or otherwise stockpile inventory.
Last year, according to the ...
... credibility. Moreover, as 70% of the NSR traffic carries hydrocarbons with vessels of 50K DWT and above (i.e. Panamax Size), it makes this route reliant on shipping large hulls of natural resources in fewer vessels; hence the route rests greatly on the energy markets of both the Arctic and wider world, which are naturally volatile. In addition, historic successes of USSR leave a bitter after taste. As Vladimir Mikhailichenko of a Non-Profit Partnership points out, the recent jump is a mere hop in contrast ...
... impeding Armageddon almost by nature. Hence, this post will dwell into an Arctic from a pragmatic stance of promising potential and a need for stakeholders to cooperate, as certain waters cannot be crossed alone. As customary Casing Point will take an energy based angle and to assist analysis will draw from the recent conference hosted by RIAC. Enjoy & Feel Free to Comment!
Personal Note:
As my list of ''conferences attended'' grows, I am starting to feel like ...
... Russian consulate general in Hong Kong Friday to protest the detention of its activists by Russia's authorities. Photo: AP RD: What is more reasonable today - to focus on environmental challenges and to work on environmental projects or to invest into energy projects in the Arctic? A.Z.: Everything here is important because everything is very much interlinked. The Arctic ecosystems have been very much under shock over the past decades because of the climate change which affects both ecosystems and ...
... ears of China’s elite. As why would China eternally follow the 'rules', which are made by and for the hegemon, particularly if China becomes the world’s biggest economy?
As Yergin (2011) stresses oil has been a primary energy concern for China ever since Mao, as it was perceived as a main component of a modern economy, in turn, fuelling military and political muscle. Yet, in the 20th century China has experienced repeated cuts like: during the Sino-USSR split, USA’s ...
... recent GDP statistics we see USA has recovered quicker than any other major economy. A lot will depend on how the new legislation holds in the US, like the Dodd-Frank Act. If we look at the statistics for manipulators, its frankly shocking. Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA) highlight that from 2008 there were no changes within expenses of exploration or production of BRENT crude. Based on 1st quarter of 2012, all the costs associated to produce a barrel of BRENT account for $53 per barrel ...
