Geopolitical Risk

Egypt’s parliament this week passed a law approving the construction of a pipeline from Cyprus’ economic waters, clearing the...

Cairo has launched a bid round for ten little-explored Red Sea blocks. The launch comes just days after Saudi Arabia announced plans to step up Red Sea exploration.

Under new leadership, Lebanon’s energy ministry is drafting a power sector overhaul. With $11.5bn in aid pledges GE and Siemens eye key deals.

Algeria’s 82-year old wheelchair-bound president Abdelaziz Bouteflika caved in to mass demonstrations against ‘his’ reelection bid (MEES, 8 March), announcing on...

Libya’s crude output this week pushed past 1mn b/d for the first time in three months with the 7 March restart of the 315,000 b/d Sharara field.

It is difficult to see a peaceful resolution to the mass demonstrations against ailing president Bouteflika's plans to seek a fifth term. Certainly 'le pouvoir' lack answers.

Rival KRG factions are edging toward government formation. But progress is slow. ‘Normalization’ holds out the prospects of Pearl gas sales to 'federal' Iraq.

Ratings agency S&P on 1 March downgraded its outlook for Lebanon from ‘stable’ to ‘negative’ on its B- long-term...

Saudi Arabia and Russia are increasingly cooperating in the energy sphere, having come together through the onset of Opec/Non-Opec production cuts since January 2017. But when it comes to the lucrative Chinese oil market, the two are engaged in a fierce battle for market share. China looks set to be the largest market for each in 2019 and Saudi Arabia is keen to wrestle back its crown as the dominant supplier.

Buying of Iranian crude edged up from multi-decade lows in January as Korea resumed buying. Japan provided a further boost in February. But gains look short-lived.

Changes on the ground have relegated the fragile unification process to the sidelines. As ever, Libya’s vital oil and gas sector remains a hostage to politics.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has responded to more than two months of protests against the regime (MEES, 22 February) by declaring...