China Shakes up its Pipeline Network
The national oil companies (NOCs), principally PetroChina, have played a central role in building up and operating China's network of pipelines over the last 20 years. However, the dominance of these enterprises over the network and the lack of an enforced third-party access … Continue Reading ››
China's clean energy drive faces constraints
Clean energy remains at the heart of China’s strategy to reduce air pollution and constrain the rise of carbon emissions. However, constraints to the successful implementation of these policies remain in the short-term. These include moves to stimulate the economy, a relaxation of … Continue Reading ››
ASEAN Must Act Now to Address its Energy Transition Challenges
At the recent World Economic Forum on ASEAN, I moderated a session on ASEAN's energy transition.
ASEAN is undergoing a phase of sustained economic growth and human development. Urbanisation and industrialisation … Continue Reading ››
The NOCs scale back
Five or ten years ago, we all knew where China’s national oil companies (NOCs) were going. The answer was ‘almost everywhere, and big’. What had started as putting a toe in the water in the early 1990s had … Continue Reading ››
China fights air pollution as winter approaches
Air pollution continues to be a major political issue in China. With the winter heating season starting, the government is pursuing a number of strategies to constrain the level of air pollution in northern … Continue Reading ››
China-Iran energy relations after the lifting of UN sanctions
Whilst Xi Jinping’s trip to Iran in January 2016 had great diplomatic significance, the primary objective was economic, and energy will have featured prominently among the many deals signed. This should pave the way for more inward investment … Continue Reading ››
Reform of China’s oil industry at a time of low prices
Economic reform is high on the national agenda, at least according to the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, held more than two years ago in November 2013. Specific proposals included, among … Continue Reading ››