Reshuffles open way for reform of China's oil sector

Subject Outlook for China's oil sector. Significance China's 'big three' oil companies have this month announced changes to their top management. The three companies have been under pressure from corruption investigations, and the collapse in global oil prices has weakened them financially. The latest reshuffles reveal the importance of politics in shaping the behaviour of China's oil and gas companies, and with it the competitive landscape of China's energy industry and global oil and gas mergers and acquisitions. Impacts There will be partial consolidation of some NOC assets, but 'mega-mergers' are unlikely. China's oil and gas companies will invest overseas with more robust government backing. Sinopec and CNPC will focus on upgrading refining capacity to meet more stringent fuel quality standards. Foreign investors will find new opportunities as the NOC's sell assets and the government opens the sector to private firms.

Significance The oil sector managed a slight rise in oil production in 2020, despite the challenges of the pandemic and low oil prices. The KRG mostly managed to keep up payments to oil companies but did not assist Baghdad in making production cuts under the OPEC+ agreement. Impacts Combined new gas projects could meet domestic needs and potentially allow exports by the later 2020s. The government could resume payments of overdue amounts to international oil companies from this month. Talks with Baghdad will become more complex around planned elections in October 2021 and depending on legal developments with Turkey.


Significance Libya’s hydrocarbons sector has seen a period of relative stability since the end in 2020 of eastern military commander Khalifa Haftar’s military offensive against Tripoli and the formation of the Government of National Unity in early 2021. Oil and gas revenues are central to the national budget -- and their control and distribution are focal points of political contention. Impacts The main risk to oil production in 2022 is the possibility of a renewed political crisis triggered by elections. Prompt payment of salaries and fees will remain important to discouraging private security forces from closing down oil infrastructure. Foreign oil and gas companies will become more cautious about new investment.


Significance Despite such controversies, the government is pinning hopes for economic recovery on restoring hydrocarbons production alongside longstanding plans to reduce the country’s dependence on oil. While large international oil companies are retreating to the relative safety of the deep offshore, the government will look to new partnerships with China and India for large infrastructure projects. Impacts Employment gains in the oil sector will be marginal compared to increases in the agricultural sector. Recent state interventions against oil majors are unlikely to deter future investment. Counter-insurgency operations against Boko Haram could distract from government peace efforts in the Niger Delta.


2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 118-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kwesi Amponsah-Tawiah ◽  
Kwasi Dartey-Baah ◽  
Kobena Osam

Purpose – This paper aims to examine the potential impact of the presence of oil resource on the Ghanaian society. Specifically, the paper investigates the relationship between key stakeholders in the oil sector, how stakeholder interactions create the potential for collision and advances measures aimed at turning possible collision into cooperation. Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses a literature review-based approach, drawing on existing literature in a number of areas including corporate social responsibility (CSR), oil and gas industry in Ghana and Nigeria as well as communication. Findings – The paper advances that expectations of stakeholders as regards oil being a panacea to all their problems must be managed to avoid possible collision. Additionally, Ghana’s oil industry must identify and engage all stakeholders in planning suitable and sustainable CSR programmes for economic development, thus fostering a friendly environment for oil companies. Transparency and accountability are also needed to promote cooperation rather than collision among stakeholders in Ghana’s oil industry. Originality/value – This paper raises and brings to the fore critical issues that can lead to potential collisions in the oil and gas industry in Ghana if not well-managed, and thus an innovative work in that regard.


Subject The outlook for the oil sector. Significance While Ecuador is the smallest member of OPEC, oil is its largest export and the government's primary source of revenue. The collapse of world oil prices has forced the government to introduce import controls to support the balance of payments and cut public spending to reduce the budget deficit. However, rising levels of oil production have softened the blow of falling oil prices. The government hopes to continue this trend by attracting new investment into the oil sector, despite the downturn in the world market. Impacts The perilous state of the balance of payments and public finances will increase the need to attract new foreign investment into oil. Chinese oil companies are likely to increase their presence in Ecuador, reflecting trends elsewhere in Latin America. Development of the oil fields previously integrated into Yasuni/ITT should increase total oil output significantly from 2018-19.


Subject Mozambican debt revelations. Significance President Filipe Nyusi’s grip on the ruling FRELIMO has been strengthened after his and his party’s convincing (albeit disputed) election victory last month. Nevertheless, the poll triumph has quickly been eclipsed by recent US court revelations surrounding a long-standing hidden debts scandal, which has implicated leading FRELIMO figures. Nyusi’s embattled government hopes that economic developments will soon dominate the headlines as it ramps up major new liquefied natural gas (LNG) investments and attempts to convince the IMF to initiate a new funding programme. Impacts The government-RENAMO peace agreement will come under increasing pressure after evidence of FRELIMO-associated election fraud. Maputo's political and fiscal woes mean oil and gas companies will have free reign to implement their preferred investment plans. Civil society pressure for greater campaign financing transparency will prove fruitless amid FRELIMO resistance over the short term.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 35
Author(s):  
Arez Mohammed Sediq Othman

In the past 20 years, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) of Iraq has signed hundreds of Production Sharing Contracts with many international oil companies to expand investment and develop its oil sector. According to the applicable laws in the region, in particular Oil and Gas Law No.22 of 2007, government shall work to establish Kurdistan National Oil Company (KNOC) to take charge of petroleum operations. Meanwhile, according to the same law, the duration of petroleum production sharing contracts shall not exceed 20 years with the possibility of five years extension. Despite the fact that KRG is abided to many legal obligations to share the produced oil under production sharing contracts, there is always a question of whether KRG will be able to administer its oil industry and what will be the future of these oil contracts? This paper argues that KRG cannot nationalize (by appropriating the whole oil industry and assets of foreign oil companies) its petroleum sector even after the establishment of KNOC as there are many legal terms preventing it from nationalizing the oil industry besides the lack of technical ability to run the sector without the direct support from foreign oil companies. Moreover, the paper also discusses different possibilities after the end of oil contracts with foreign international companies; Does KRG continue with the current contractual form or it will shift to other forms of contract such as service contract to develop oil industry in the region? It suggests that the best practice for the government is to institutionalize its oil sector with receiving direct support from oil companies. The establishment of KNOC is considered to be an effective step towards institutionalization of oil sector in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region.


Significance If successful, the lawsuit could force the government to cancel or suspend its oil production-sharing agreements (PSAs) with major international oil companies such as ExxonMobil. Given the growing economic importance of the oil sector, the outcome of the lawsuit will have major economic implications for Guyana. Impacts Some potential investors may be wary of committing to Guyana while the lawsuit remains unresolved. Other activists may be emboldened to launch further challenges on environmental grounds. Neighbouring Suriname may experience a spillover effect, with increased pressure to upgrade its environmental legislation.


Subject Turkmenistan's oil and gas prospects. Significance Turkmenistan has among the largest global gas reserves and recently reported a promising new find, but its limited export options and low gas revenues have led to economic crisis. The government has responded with energy industry personnel changes, spending cuts and a bid to attract more foreign investment. Impacts Shortages of goods and cash may lead to more local protests, which have so far been rare in this repressive state. The standard response of blaming sacking officials is looking less and less adequate. Turkmenistan may examine ways of getting gas across the Caspian Sea without building a full pipeline.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 837
Author(s):  
Yana Matkovskaya ◽  
Elena Vechkinzova ◽  
Yelena Petrenko ◽  
Larissa Steblyakova

The study of the rates of innovative development of various sectors of the modern economy makes it possible to determine the existence of a scientific and practical problem, eliciting the need for urgent identification of the reasons for non-innovative development of Oil and Gas Companies and development of the directions for innovation development. Based on a number of methods, including methods of graphical analysis, time series forecasting, construction of linear trends, correlation analysis and scenario forecasting, the authors stated the fact of the serious depth of the problem of innovative insufficiency in the oil sector in comparison with other sectors and they built six scenarios for the development of these companies. The applied methods made it possible to not only come to the conclusion that with the current level of investment in R&D in the oil and gas sector, Oil Companies may find themselves in difficult conditions, especially if breakthrough technologies show themselves in the non-hydrocarbon energy of the future, but also made it possible to determine the most important directions for the development of Oil Companies, including the formation and development of the oil and gas industry 4.0, marketing strategic management of the activities of these companies.


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