China’s bid for Unocal

China on global hunt to quench its thirst for oil /
China’s bold bid for global energy /
Unocal deal: a lot more than $ at issue /
China oil bid to get close scrutiny /
Secretive US panel could block China’s Unocal bid /
Krugman: the Chinese challenge /
World oil giants fighting here, partnering there /
China’s costly quest for energy control

China throws down gauntlet to USA Inc

If you want to understand the global economy and feel the pulse of capitalism in the early 21st century, look no further than the $19 billion bid by the China National Oil Operating Company – Cnooc – for Unocal of California. Add a large measure of geopolitical tension, and you have probably the single most important corporate event of the young millennium.

Smoothing over Russian Subsoil

Article depicts the situation of Russian oilfields being auctioned off to the oil companies and coming online. It explains why Russian goverments keeps the size of its petroleum reserves secret, why the Eastern Siberia oilfields will not save the world from the lack of oil, and why the Eastern Pipeline being built to supply the countries of East Asia with Russian oil will never be filled.

Ecuador – Oil Companies’ Links With Military Revealed

Recent research by Las Lianas has brought to light a disturbing process of militarization of the Amazon region and privatization of the control of Ecuador’s military to protect the interests of multinational oil companies.
We have obtained copies of secret contracts and security agreements between the Ecuadorian armed forces and foreign oil companies that reveal a military for hire and oil companies usurping the role of the elected government.

Nicaragua’s Economic/Energy emergency

On May 30 Nicaraguan President Enrique Bolanos issued an emergency decree that, amongst other things, enabling him to raise electric prices as demanded by producers, primarily the Spanish company Unión Fenosa.
Is this a point of inflection in Nicaragua’s energy descent, or business as usual? We’ve collected a few articles to throw some light on the question.

Casualties of the oil stampede

With the recently opened pipeline from the Caspian to the Mediterranean, Big Oil in the guise of BP is showing its determination to get its hands on what seems to be the largest remaining deposits after the Middle East. But human rights abuses and a cavalier attitude to safety have come hand-in-hand with the new pipeline, writes Michael Meacher, former UK Environment Secretary.

Peak Oil the movie #2

Written by a former vice president of Goldman, Sachs & Co. in collaboration with the former head of the Goldman Sachs Oil and Gas department, The Deal is a wake-up call for America. Against the backdrop of a Middle East oil war against radical fundamentalists, The Deal tells the story of a proposed merger between an American and a Russian oil company, and the lengths and depths to which our country will find itself forced to descend in pursuit of the next “black crack fix” unless we dramatically change our ways.

China exploring ways to use forex reserves to buy oil – report

China is exploring ways to use some of its huge foreign exchange reserves to buy imported oil, the Shanghai Securities News reported, citing an unidentified source.

The newspaper said the plan, which was first proposed as early as 2000, would reach the twin objectives of making better use of the nation’s foreign exchange and ensuring vital oil supplies.