After a number of accidents, attacks by militants, and political scandals, is Shell’s honeymoon with Nigeria coming to an end? Some recent events and transactions indicate a shift in the Dutch company’s strategy in the country, opening a window of opportunity for new operators.

According to a recent piece published in the Financial Times, oil production in Angola has struggled to keep up pace, dropping to 1.65 million barrels per day, down from 1.85m b/d in 2010.  Although the African nation makes up only 2% of global oil production, back in 2008 Angola became the largest supplier of crude [...]

There’s no shortage of mutual historic distrust between the Russian and Chinese governments. Is that changing?

Foreign policy used to be a craft practised by diplomats and statesmen. No longer.

Despite a drop-off of instability in the Delta today, oil exploration in Nigeria has slumped to the lowest in a decade after producers including Royal Dutch Shell Plc and Total SA backed away from investment until the country’s petroleum law is finally passed. Just one exploration well was drilled in Nigeria over the past two [...]

This year, China overtook the United States to become Brazil’s largest investor. In the first six months of 2010, FDI flows reached an estimated $10 billion, up from literally $83 million in the same period last year. The surge to many is hardly surprising given that China became Brazil’s largest trade partner in 2008. But [...]

The Inter-American Dialogue has recently published the works of Michael Shifter, here specifically on the dangerous alliance between Iran and Venezuela, the mastermind behind the union, Hugo Chavez, a skilled provocateur indeed and its geopolitical ramifications hindering infrastructure, human rights and international development in every regard. The following is excerpted from his article, “The Chavezjad Doctrine: [...]

Oil Voice reports that right across the border from tumultuous Zimbabwe, Zambia has invited a second round of bids for licenses to explore for oil in the country, under two months after the conclusion of the first round of bidding. The second round, announced on December 26, 2009, will include 23 blocks in six of [...]

Nigeria has long been recognized as the world’s fifth largest oil producer, and a major oil supplier for the United States. There is currently enough high quality crude in the Nigerian ground to pump more than three million barrels per day. Its now producing about half that, because almost all of that oil is located [...]

Oil company Royal Dutch Shell will pay $15.5 million to settle a lawsuit against its Nigerian subsidiary by the family of executed Nigerian environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and other dissidents, the plaintiffs announced yesterday.  The lawsuit accused Shell of complicity in the 1995 hanging of Saro-Wiwa and the murders or persecution of other environmental activists [...]