In advance of next week’s G-7 meeting in Brussels aimed at seeking ways to strengthen Europe’s energy security, the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security (IAGS) released today a new report titled "Hard truths, Difficult Choices: Recommendations to the G-7 on Bolstering Energy Security."
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Archive Spring 2014 Issue
Archive Spring 2014 Issue
Spring 2014 Issue
The Sino-Russian gas deal – not the "loss of China"
It is easy to see why the recent Russia-China pipeline deal, encompassing some $400 billion of gas over 30 years, would make policymakers on both sides of the Atlantic cringe, especially since it comes just days before the G-7 leaders meet in Brussels to discuss how to isolate Russia. But while there are many reasons for the West to dislike the gas deal, it may not as bad as it seems. In fact, it may offer some unforeseen benefits – even for the United States. Gal Luft explains.
Sino-Russian gas deal: not the loss of China
It is easy to see why the recent Russia-China pipeline deal, encompassing some $400 billion of gas over 30 years, would make policymakers on both sides of the Atlantic cringe, especially since it comes just days before the G-7 leaders meet in Brussels to discuss how to isolate Russia. But while there are many reasons for the West to dislike the gas deal, it may not as bad as it seems. In fact, it may offer some unforeseen benefits – even for the United States. Gal Luft explains.
The Sino-Russian gas deal
It is easy to see why the recent Russia-China pipeline deal, encompassing some $400 billion of gas over 30 years, would make policymakers on both sides of the Atlantic cringe, especially since it comes just days before the G-7 leaders meet in Brussels to discuss how to isolate Russia. But while there are many reasons for the West to dislike the gas deal, it may not as bad as it seems. In fact, it may offer some unforeseen benefits – even for the United States. Gal Luft explains.
Lord Howell: British fracking policy – a change of direction needed
In this Appendix to a Note on European gas supply diversification, Lord Howell writes that the UK fracking issue is being oversold and politically mishandled.
Lord Howell: Russian Gas is the Realistic Option for Europe
Lord Howell, a former British energy minister, argues that moves to diversify energy supply to reduce dependency on Russian gas are a mistake. In this Note he urges the British government and their European allies to see Russian gas as the most realistic option for long-term stable energy.
Lord Howell writes: "It is probably in everyone's interest, European and Russian, to see Russian alternative gas routes expanded (such as Southstream) which circumvent Ukraine, where there is bound to be continued trouble. But in the longer term Russian gas will prove to be far the most reliable and the cheapest gas source for Europe. Costly diversification, or hopefully waiting for American gas, will prove both pointless and ineffectual."
Lord Howell writes: "It is probably in everyone's interest, European and Russian, to see Russian alternative gas routes expanded (such as Southstream) which circumvent Ukraine, where there is bound to be continued trouble. But in the longer term Russian gas will prove to be far the most reliable and the cheapest gas source for Europe. Costly diversification, or hopefully waiting for American gas, will prove both pointless and ineffectual."
Energy in Transition: The Sahara Wind Power Project
Rarely has the future of energy been more aggressively targeted by what many may consider some of the world’s most staid institutions. However with cooperation and support over the last decade from the World Bank and even NATO, the Sahara Wind Project is bringing much needed power to one of the neediest regions of the world. From its operating 380 MW wind power base, Morocco’s wind capacity will reach 800 MW by the end of 2014. Mauritania is also a partner and beneficiary country of this project that may hold the key for unlocking the human, and industrial, potential of this region of the world.
Oil in the Hourglass: The Energy-Conflict Nexus in the South China Sea
China’s interest in the South China Sea and its potential sub-sea fossil fuel resources has implications for nations across the region and beyond. Answering when and how these interests may manifest themselves in concerted foreign policy actions exercised by China or other littoral states in the region is a major analytical objective of Part I of this two part article series focused on the nexus between natural resources and potential military action in the South China Sea neighborhood.
Asian Oil Markets in Transition
While Asia has quickly become a major magnet of global oil demand, less noticed have been Asian efforts to develop regional oil hubs. This article explores the challenges and benefits to Asia of developing significant oil storage capacity and the complexities of launching benchmarks (markers) against which regional trading and price adjustments can be made.
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