The Oil Drum

8 comments on Foreign deals and domestic refineries

Comments can no longer be added to this story.

Twilight on November 2, 2005 - 5:30pm

These are the surest signs of the reality of pending oil depletion. When one sees the world's major governments and their oil companies jockying for position, it's rather hard to believe that it's just business as usual. Maybe they're all just a bunch of fanatical peak oilers!

As time goes on it seems inevitable that these conflicts will become more and more serious, and likely to escalate.

Comments can no longer be added to this story.

BalticMan on November 3, 2005 - 2:55pm

In response to Twilight: "As time goes on it seems inevitable that these conflicts will become more and more serious, and likely to escalate."

Yes, I would expect more conflict, or at least for it to be less disguised than it has been to date.

On the other hand, perhaps we'll also see the occasional case of heart-warming cooperation. Lithuania's oil refinery, Mazeikiu Nafta, is in the process of (once again) changing hands. After Williams bought into it, and then Yukos scooped up the Williams stake, and then Yukos disintegrated, well, now what? Leading contenders: 1) TNK-BP (Russian / British); 2) Lukoil and ConocoPhillips (Russian / American). Oleg Deripaska, the RosAl (aluminum) guy, just stuck his nose in, too, perhaps as a front-man for Rosneft (Russian state-owned). Dunno who's gonna win, but if (1) or (2) wins, hey, chalk one up for cooperation.